三、翻译中的宏观设计
鉴于英语和汉语在思维逻辑和语言结构上有很大的差异,在进行英汉对译的时侯,必须首先考虑从宏观上进行系统的设计,然后再在句子层次上使用各种技巧进行微观处理。
宏观设计时,对于本源语的思维逻辑应保留其粗线条以保持其源文的风格(符合“忠实”的标准),修改其细的支线条使符合目的语的思维逻辑以达到目的语通顺流畅(符合“通顺”的标准)的目的。
所谓宏观设计,其范围当然是所翻译材料的独立整体,指全书,整篇文章,至少是整个段落。现举例说明,由于受篇幅的限制,仅选段落为例。
I、英译汉的例子
Americans have a warmth and friendliness which is less superficial than many foreigners think. They are considered sentimental. When on ceremonial occasions they see a flag, or attend parades celebrating America's glorious past, tears may come to their eyes. Reunions with family and friends tend to be emotional, too. They like to dress correctly, even if "correctly" means flamboyantly. They love to boast, though often with tongue in cheek. They can laugh at themselves and their country, and they can be very self-critical, while remaining always intensely patriotic. They have a wide knowledge of everyday things, and a keen interest in their particular city and state. Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they have little interest in or knowledge of the outside world. (选自英语高级口译资格证书考试《翻译教程》)
译文:美国人热情友好,这感情并非象许多外国人认为的那样浅薄。美国人被认为多情善感。当他们举行仪式见到国旗,或者缅怀光荣的往昔举行游行的时侯,总是热泪盈眶。家庭团聚,朋友相会也总是很动感情。美国人讲究衣着“得体”,甚至“得体”意味着奢华。美国人好说大话,虽然常常前说后忘。美国人可能会嘲笑自己,嘲笑自己的国家,严厉地自我批评,但始终保持强烈的爱国热情。美国人有广泛的日常知识,对他们所在的城市和所在的州甚为关注。不过,外国人有时说,他们对外面的世界不大感兴趣,或者说知之甚少。
分析:原文中第一次提到美国人用American一词, 以后全部用代词they。在这段文章里作者讲了美国人热情友好,多情善感,讲究衣着,好说大话,有爱国热情以及有广泛的日常知识六个方面的性格表现。其中两个方面,即多情善感以及有广泛的日常知识,在中间另有展开说明
译成中文时用了六个“美国人”来讲那六个大的方面的情况,对两个说明性部分仍用代词“他们”。这样就更符合汉语的思维逻辑和表达习惯。
II、汉译英的例子
东方明珠广博电视塔位于黄浦江畔、浦东陆家嘴嘴尖上,塔高468米,三面环水,与外滩的万国建筑博览群隔江相望,是亚洲第一、世界第三的高塔。设计者富于幻想地将11个大小不一、高底错落的球体从蔚兰的空中串联至如茵的绿色草地上,而两颗红宝石般晶莹夺目的巨大球体被高高托起,整个画面浑然一体,充满了“大珠小珠落玉盘”的诗情画意。 (选自英语高级口译资格证书考试《翻译教程》)
译文:The Huangpu River twists sharply to form a duck-beak-shaped area called Lujiazui on its east. At the point of the beak stands abruptly the radio and television tower ---Oriental Pearl, which, with its height of 468 meters, is the highest tower in Asia and the third highest in the world. It is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the River, and looks onto the row of buildings in multinational styles of architecture along the Bund on the other side of the River. In the designer's fanciful imagination, eleven spheres are arranged in a line and hung from the blue sky down to a carpet of green lawns like a string of pearls, with two colossal splashy ruby-like spheres held high on it. The entire tower is harmonious in architecture and presents a picture which arouses the poetic and artistic imagination of "large and small jewels falling onto an enormous jade plate."
分析:原文两句。第一句写明珠塔的地理位置与外