翻译题目

四大发明(the Four Great Inventions)是指中国古代对世界有巨大影响的四种发明。即造纸术、印刷术、 火药(gunpowder)和指南针。造纸术和印刷术使信息的记录和传播有了革命性的进步。火药的发明和传播改变了中世纪(the Middle Ages)的战争模式。而指南针大大帮助了欧洲航海家探索新航路。四大发明是古代中国先进科学和技术的象征在中国和世界文明发展中都有着重要的意义。

表达难点

1.第1句中的定语“对世界有巨大影响的”较长，故将其处理成定语从句，表达为that had great influences on the world。“中国古代”(in ancient China)置于中心词“四种发明”之后。
2.第2句中的“几”实为“它们是”，译为they are。
3.第5句中的“大大地帮助 了......”可用短语greatly help... to...,也可用短语be of great help to...来表达。“探索新航路”表目的，故将其译作状语，用不定式短语to explore new routes来表达。
4.最后一句“四大发明是……的象征，在……中都有着……的意义”可用并列结构译出：the Four Great Inventions are symbols of... and of great significance...。“有着……意义”用短语be of 表达，此处承前 省略are。“古代中国先进科学和技术的”译为advanced science and technology in ancient China。“在中国和世界文明发展中”表达为 in the development of Chinese and the world's civilizations。
参考译文

The Four Great Inventions refer to the four inventions in ancient China that had great influences on the world. They are papermaking, printing, gunpowder and compass. Papermaking and printing lead to revolutionary progress in recording and transmitting information. The invention and spread of gunpowder changed the mode of war in the Middle Ages. And the compass greatly helped the European navigators to explore new routes. The Four Great Inventions are symbols of advanced science and technology in ancient China and of great significance in the development of Chinese and the world's civilizations.