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武汉加油
I. Definition of Chinglish
Chinglish, is that misshapen(畸形的,怪异的), hybrid (混合的)language that is neither English nor Chinese but that might be described as “English with Chinese characteristics”.
中式英语是指那种畸形的、混合的、既非英语又非汉语的语言文字,也可称其为“具有汉语特色的英语”。
例:我们应采取一系列措施,确保…
初译:We should adopt a series of measures to ensure that…
改译:We should adopt measures to ensure that…
(这里measures 是复数形式,实际上已经暗含了是一系列措施,如果再加上a series of,便有点画蛇添足的意味了,所以应当删掉a series of)
我们可以回顾一下自已以前翻译的文章,除了那些造诣很深的同事,一般人的翻译中都会不同程度的含有中式英语的成分。那么我们怎么样在翻译过程中识别自已译文中的中式英语并将其改成地道的英语呢?下面我们具体来看一下。
II. 识别和改正译文中的中式英语
(要想将自己译文中的中式英语改成地道英语,首先我们需要将中式英语从译文中识别出来,而要想识别中式英语,首先我们需要了解中式英语都会以什么样的形式出现,了解了这些,在翻译过程中我们便可做到有的放矢,快速查找到译文中的中式英语,并将其改正了。)
i.中式英语的常见形式
Type one: unnecessary words
Unnecessary words include unnecessary Nouns and Verbs, Modifiers..(修饰语)
Unnecessary Nouns:
例1: 这些苦难本质上是暂时的
初译:These hardships are temporary in nature
改译:These hardships are temporary.
(类似的还有the Chinese flag is red in color; Pandas are few in number)
解决办法:将多余的名词删除
Unnecessary Verbs:
例2:我们必须改进我们的工作。
初译:We must make an improvement in our work.
改译: We must improve our work.
(Here the verb “make” is a weak, colorless, all-purpose word having no specific meaning of its own, while the real action is expressed in the noun “improvement”, since the verb is not contributing anything to the sense, it can be edited out.)
解决办法:将无意义的动词删除,将动作的实际发出者改为动词形式或寻找到更为合适的动词来替代它。
在我们日常翻译中,最常见的unnecessary Verbs就是由make 和have 组成的一些短语,比如下面这些:
To make an investigation of=to investigate
To make efforts to=to try to
To make an analysis of=to analyze
To have an influence on=to influence
To have trust in=to trust
To have respect for=to respect
Unnecessary Modifiers
例3:现在政府正在努力改善税收。
初译:Now the government is working hard to improve taxation.
改译:The government is working hard to improve taxation.
(本句中的时间副词now实际上便是典型的中式英语,在本句中是多余的,因为本句为现在进行时,现在进行时本身表达的就是正在发生的事,所以不用再加now了)
(类似的还有previously we used to …; we will…in the future)
在中式英语中还有一个常见的词, various。
例4:数百家跨国公司已在中国开展了各种各样的业务。
初译:Hundreds of transnational firms have started various businesses in China.
改译:Hundreds of transnational firms have started businesses in China.
(在汉语中,我们通常用各种各样来表示复数,而在英语中,表达复数只需在名词后加s 就可以了,所以大多数情况下,当我们需要翻译“各种各样”的时候,只需在所需要修饰的名词上加s 即可,没必要把various 翻译出来。类似的词还有a series of, all sorts of, various kinds of…)
解决办法:把多余的修饰语删除。
Type two: unclear and illogicalsentence structure
另外一种常见的中式英语体现在句子结构上,表现为句子结构不清晰,逻辑混乱。这种中式英语通常比较难识别,也较难改正。但只要留心观察,用心总结,也一定会做好。中式英语的句子结构比较多,下面只以最常见的为例:
The noun plague (名词泛滥症)
Plain English is a language based on verbs. It is simple, concise, vigorous and, above all, clear. Chinglish is a language based on nouns – vague, general, abstract nouns. It is complicated, long-winded, ponderous, and obscure.(简明英语是一种以动词为主导的语言。它简单、简洁、有力,最重要的是清晰。中式英语是一种以模糊的、抽象名词为主导的语言。它复杂、繁琐和晦涩难懂。)
例5:在这种情况下,宜使用螺丝刀将螺丝拧紧,否则手柄会掉下来。
初译:In such a case, simple applicationof a screwdriver (螺丝刀)should be used to tighten screw. Failureto tighten the screw can eventually lead to disengagementof the handle.
改译:If this happen, simply tighten the screw with a screwdriver; otherwise, the handle may come off.
解决办法:通常的解决办法是把名词变为其它的词类。
1.把名词转变为动词
例6:阅读新出版的材料也很重要。
初译:Reading of newly published materials is also important.
改译:It is also important to readnewly published materials.
2.将名词改为动名词
例7:我们必须聚精会神搞农业。
初译:We have to concentrate our efforts on agricultural reinforcement.
改译:We have to concentrate on strengtheningagricultural.
3.将名词替换为形容词或副词
例8:这便是这些企业组织不健全的原因。
初译:This accounts for the unsoundnessin organization of these enterprises.
改译:This accounts for the poororganization of these enterprises.
总结:本小文仅对中式英语进行了细致分析,在翻译过程中,我们要不断积累和借鉴英文中的经典表达和经典句式,在积累中不断提高,避免翻译时出现中式英语。
(作者:王飞雪)
本文如果对你有帮助,请点赞收藏《中式英语之鉴》,同时在此感谢原作者。