增词
英汉两种语言由于表达方式不尽相同,翻译时常常有必要在译文的词量上作适当的增加,使译文既能忠实地传达原文的内容和风格,又能符合译入语的表达习惯。但是增词必须是根据具体情况增加非增加不可的词语。增词一般用于以下三种情况:最常见是为了语法上的需要;其次是为了意义上的需要;最后为了修辞上的需要。
a. A stream was winding its ways through the valley into the river.
一弯溪水蜿蜒流过山谷,汇到江里去了。
b. But just as all nations can benefit from the promise of this new world, no nation is immune to its perils.
正如世界各国都能得益于这个崭新世界所带来的美好期望,同样,也没有一个国家能免遭其负面作用的危害。
c. In every Chinese city, we got into the streets, shops, parks, theatres and restaurants.
在中国,我们每到一个城市就遛大街、逛商店、游公园、看演出、吃名菜。
d. He is a complicated man—moody, mercurial, with a melancholy streak.
他是一个性格复杂的人—喜怒无常,反复多变,有些犹豫寡欢。
e. I was extremely worried about her, but this was neither the place nor the time for a lecture or an argument.
我真替他万分担忧,但此时此地既不宜教训她一番,也不宜与她争论一通。
f. The spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday promotes life, friendship, closeness and family unity.
感恩节的宗旨就是提升生活,增进友谊,凝聚关系和团结家庭。
g. The problems are enormous, but many experts believe that the situation is not helpless.
这些问题极为严重,但很多专家认为情况还没有到绝望的地步。
英语中常用省略句,翻译时要根据汉语的表达习惯,作些适当的增补。例如
h. She ate little. Food sickened her, and I think much of life too.
她吃得很少;她厌恶食物,我觉得她也厌恶生活。
i. Courage in excess becomes foolhardiness, affection weakness, thrift avarice.
勇敢过度,即成蛮勇;疼爱过度,即成溺爱;俭约过度,即成贪婪。
(增补被省掉的in excess becomes)