(单词翻译:单击)
英语和汉语比较起来,汉语中动词用得比较多,这是一个特点,往往在英语句子中只用一个谓语动词,而在汉语中却可以几个动词或动词性结构连用。例如,在He admires the President's stated decision to fight for the job. (他对总统声明为保住其职位而决心奋斗表示钦佩)中,英语的谓语动词只有admires一个词,其他用的是过去分词(stated)、动词派生名词(decision)、不定式(to fight)和介词(for)等。汉语没有词形变化,但可以几个动词连用。因此,英语中不少词类(尤其是名词、介词、形容词和副词)在汉译时往往可以转译成动词。
(一)名词转译成动词
1. 由动词派生的名词转译成动词,在政论文体中出现比较多。如:
1) The 1967 UN document calls for the settlement of the Middle East conflict on the basis of Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and Arab acknowledgement of Israeli's right to exist. (1967年联合国文件要求在以色列撤出所占的土地以及阿拉伯承认以色列的生存权利的基础上来解决中东冲突。)
2) Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe. (火箭已经用来探索宇宙。)
2.含有动作意味的名词(在记叙、描写文体中出现较多)往往可以转译成动词。如:
1) The sight and sound of our jet planes filled me with special longing. (看到我们的喷气式飞机,听见隆隆的机声,令我特别神往。)
2) A glance through his office window offers a panoramic view of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. (从他的办公室窗口可以一眼看到华盛顿纪念碑和林肯纪念馆的全景。)
3. 英语中有些加后缀-er的名词,如teacher教师,thinker思想家等等,有时在句中并不指其身份和职业,而是含有较强的动作意味,在汉语中没有恰当的对应名词时,往往可以译成动词。如:
1) I am afraid I can't teach you swimming. I think my little brother is a better teacher than I. (我未必会教你游泳。我想我的小弟弟比我教得好。)
2) Talking with his son, the old man was the forgiver of the young man's past wrong doings. (在和儿子谈话时,老人宽恕了年轻人过去所干的坏事。)
4. 作为习语主体的名词往往可以转译成动词,如:
1) They took a final look at Iron Mike, still intact in the darkness.
他们最后看了铁麦克一眼——它依旧安然无恙地耸立在黑暗中。
2) The next news bulletin, shorter than usual, made no mention of the demonstration.
下一个新闻节目比通常短,没有提到游行。
(二)介词转译成动词
1) "Coming!“Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch.
"来啦!"她转身蹦着跳着地跑了,越过草地,跑上小径,跨上台阶,穿过凉台,进了门廊。
2) I barreled straight ahead, across the harbor and out over the sea.
我笔直向前高速飞行,越过港口,飞临海面。
(三)形容词转译成动词
英语中表示知觉、情欲、欲望等心理状态的形容词,在系动词后作表语用时,往往可转译成动词。如:confident, certain, careful, cautious, angry, sure, ignorant, afraid, doubtful, aware, concerned, glad, delighted, sorry, ashamed, thankful, anxious等。
1) Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life.
医生们说他们不敢肯定能否救得了他的命。
2) The fact that she was able to send a message was a hint. But I had to be cautious.
她能够给我带个信儿这件事就是个暗示。但是我必须小心谨慎。
(四)副词转译成动词
1) That day he was up before sunrise.
那天他在日出以前就起来了。
2) She opened the window to let fresh air in.
她把窗子打开,让新鲜空气进来。