漢語常以層次分明、簡練易懂的句子為主,但也不乏表意豐富的長句。那么在翻譯的過程中,如何把漢語句子中的各部分與英語句子中的各部分相對應(yīng),更清晰地表達(dá)出原意呢?

漢語的無明顯邏輯長句

漢語中有一類句子,短句之間并沒有明顯的關(guān)聯(lián)詞,形如“流水賬”。在翻譯時(shí),需要確定句子中的重點(diǎn),將主要部分譯為英語中的主句;另外,還可以整合漢語中的幾個短句,用非謂語動詞、從句等形式使譯文更簡練,表意更清晰。

例句:下午,我來到圖書館,借了一本最近很火的小說。之后我將這本書放在包里,在圖書館附近吃了晚飯。晚上回家后,我讀了這本書的第一章,卻發(fā)現(xiàn)它不是很對我胃口。

譯文:I went to the library in the afternoon. I borrowed a recently popular novel. Then I put this book in my bag. I had my dinner near the library. After I went back home in the evening, I read the first chapter of this book. But I found I just couldn’t get into it.

這一翻譯雖然表達(dá)出了漢語句子的完整意思,但過多的單句顯得十分雜亂,加上每句都以I開頭,完全沒有英語句子的美感。因此,可以將漢語句子中的某些單句整合,突出重點(diǎn)。

更正譯文:In the afternoon I went to the library to borrow a recently popular novel. Then, with this book in my bag, I had my dinner near there the library. When I read the first chapter of this book after going back home in the evening, I found I just couldn’t get into it.