(21) Jack is mentally sound but physically weak.(杰克思想健全、身体虚弱。)(副词变成名词)
(22) Yesterday's stage performance was quite a success.(昨天的舞台表演相当成功。(名词变形容词)
(23) The elimination of illiteracy is a matter of great urgency.(扫除文盲是当务之急。)(名词变成动词)
(24) We are against racial discrimination.(我们反对种族歧视。)(介词变成动词)
四、 中英文句式不吻合时,就要变动。例如:
1/ 英文被动语态变成中文主动语态。例如:
(25) A new syllabus has been drawn up.(已经拟定了一份新的课程纲要。)
(26) This can be done and must be done.(这件事可以办并且必须办。)
(27) It must be admitted that Singapore is a small island country. (我们必须承认新加坡是个小岛国。)
2/ 英文的简单句变成中文的复杂句。例如:
(28) His failure to observe the traffic rules resulted in the road accident.(由于他没有遵守交通规则,所以导致了公路意外。)
(29) With your permission, I will embark on the project as soon as possible.(如果你答应的话,我将尽快展开这项计划。)
3/ 英文长句成分复杂需要作逻辑性的变动,以符合中文句法。例如:
(30) The management's reputation fell still further when it refused to accept the suggestion of the Labour Union that an increase in the salary of the workers was a precondition for the settlement of the current dispute.(劳工联合会建议增加工人的薪水作为解决当前纠纷的先决条件,但管理层拒绝接受这建议,结果它的声望再度下降。)
总而言之,直译和意译各有所长,可以直译就直译,不可直择时就采用意译,甚至双管齐下,两者兼施。这次全国翻译比赛中的惯用语的英译就要先直译后意译,才能兼顾到译文的表层结构和原文的深层意思。例如:
(31) 不劳而获 (Reap without sowing → Profit by others' toil.)
(32) 饮水思源 (When you drink the water, think of its source → never forget where one's happiness comes.)
(33) 种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆 (Plant melons and get melons, sow beans and get beans → You reap what you have sown.)
(34) 真金不怕火 (True gold fears no fire-a person of integrity can stand severe tests.)
同学们,你们是不是这样译呢?
最后,看看下列两名翻译大师在红楼梦中的一小段有关林黛玉讲话的译文。前者是霍克斯(Hawkes)教授的意译版本;后者是杨宪益教授的直译文:
(35)黛玉说:你说你会过目成诵,难道我就不能一目十行了!
(霍克斯:“You needn't imagine you are the only one with a good memory,”said Dai-yu naughtily.
“I suppose I'm allowed to remember lines too if I like.”)
(杨宪益:“You boast that you can memorise a passage with one reading. Why can't I learn ten lines at one glance?”
各位同学,你们觉得那一段译文比较贴切,比较有韵味呢?
从上面35个例子不难看出中英对译时虽然可以字字直译,但由于两种语文差异处处,翻译时必须在译文上作些调整或变动,才不会有“翻译腔”,才可以使辛辛苦苦,绞尽脑汁的翻译品达到“信”和“达”的标准,进而朝向“雅”的巅峰境界迈步;虽不易至,心向往之。