英汉翻译实务第9讲--技巧篇.doc

英汉翻译实务第9讲
Amplification 增词法
前言：
By amplification, also called addition, means supplying necessary words in our translation work on the basis of accurate comprehension of the original so as to make the version correct and clear, to make it appear more like the language translated into.
A translator should try to supply necessary words to make his version both accurate in meaning and in keeping with the idiomatic use of the target language. It is for the purpose of faithful representation of the thought of the author that we often resort to “amplification”.

例1：
presidential historian

è总统的历史学家

è研究总统的历史学家

例2：
For mistakes had been made, bad ones, he was severely criticized.

è因为已经犯了错误，很严重，他受到了严厉的批评.

è“因为已经犯了错误，而且是很严重的错误，他受到了严厉的批评”
一 根据意义或修辞上的需要
（一） 增加动词：由于意义上的需要及英汉语言上的差异，英语中重复用词的情况较少，而汉语有时为了达到一定的修辞效果，经常使用重叠或排比句，翻译成汉语时需要在名词前增加动词。

1) In the evening, after the banquets, the concerts and the table tennis exhibitions, he would work on the drafting of the final communiqué.

晚上在（参加）宴会、（出席）音乐会、（观看）乒乒球表演之后，他还得起草最后公报。

2) Matter can be changed into energy, and energy into matter.

物质可以转换成能量，能量可以转化为物质。

3) His parents cannot afford the loss of their son; our young son, his father; and I my husband.

他（王伟）的父母不能失去儿子，我们的儿子不能失去父亲，我不能失去丈夫。

4) My work, my family and my friends were more than enough to fill my time.

我干工作，做家务， 朋友往来，这些占用了我的全部时间。

5) Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man.

读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，写作使人准确。

（二）增加形容词
1) With what enthusiasm the Chinese people are building socialism.

中国人民正在以多么高的热情建设社会主义啊！

2) It will make a man of him in the Army.

军营将会把他造就成堂堂的男子汉。

（三）增加副词
根据原文的上下文，有些动词在一定的场合可增加适当的副词，以确切表达原意。

1) After the thunderstorm, the clouds melted away.

雷雨过后，乌云渐渐散去。

3) Now and then, his boots shone.

他的靴子时时闪闪发光。

4) A seagull saw the light from my window and darted up to it.

一只海鸥看见从我窗户透出的灯光，一下子扑了上去。

(四) 增加名词
1．在不及物动词后增加名词
由于英语中有及物动词和不及物动词之分，有时宾语隐藏在动词后面，翻译成汉语时需要把宾语补充出来。
To do some shopping 买东西
To do some washing 洗衣服
He began to see things and to understand.

他开了眼界，懂了一些名堂。

He ate and drank, for he was exhausted.

由于疲倦了，他吃了些东西，喝了点酒。

The invading troops looted and raped wherever they went.

入侵士兵到处抢劫财物，奸污妇女。

2. 在形容词前增加名词
1) “It is really nice and cheap. You will regret for not buying it later.”

这真是物美价廉，你不买会后悔的。

2) She was walking in the street alone, weary and ragged.

她独自一人走在大街上,面容憔悴，衣衫褴褛。

3) She is extroverted, smiling all the day.

她性格开朗，整天面带笑容。
4) He is a complicated man---moody, mercurial, with a melancholy streak.

他是个性格复杂的人——喜怒无常，反复多变，有些忧郁寡欢。

3. 在抽象名词后增加名词：
某些由动词或形容词派生出来的抽象名词，翻译时可根据上下文在其后面增添适当的名词，使译文更符合汉语习惯，表达更为准确。
to persuade 说服 persuasion说服工作
to prepare 准备 preparation 准备工作
to resolve 解决 resolution 解决方案
backward 落后 backwardness 落后状态
tense 紧张 tension 紧张气氛
arrogant 自满 arrogance 自满情绪
mad 疯狂 madness 疯狂行为
antagonistic 敌对 antagonism 敌对态度
patriotic 爱国的 patriotism 爱国热情
romantic 浪漫 romance 浪漫色彩/风格
complacent 自满 complacency 自满情绪
necessary 必要 necessity 必要性

1) The remedies you proposed are neat and easy but impossible.

你提的补救措施倒是干净利落，轻而易举，但是行不通。

2) From the evaporation of water people know that liquids can turn into gases under certain condition.

人们从水的蒸发现象了解到，液体在一定条件下能变成气体。

（五）增加表示复数的词：由于汉语名词的复数没有词形的变化，很多情况下不必表达出来，但有时需要通过增加“们，各位，诸位”等。如“各位领导，各位嘉宾，老师们，同学们，大家好！” （ladies and gentlemen）
1. 增加重叠词表示复数
1) Flowers bloom all over the yard. （朵朵）
2) Newsmen went flying off to Iraq to get the latest news. （记者纷纷）
3) There were rows of houses which he had never seen before. （一排排）

2．增加数词或其他词
1) The lion is the king of animals. （百兽之王）
2) The very earth trembled as with the tramps of horses and murmur of angry men.
连大地都震动了，仿佛万马奔腾，千夫怒吼。
3) She passed the exams with the help of the classmates. 同学们
4) The US had a brief period of regional feudalism during the period of slavery in the southern states. 南方各州
5) Note that the words “sense” and “sensitivity” are different. 两个词不同

（六）增加表达时间的词：
由于英汉语言的差异，英语动词随时态的变化而变化，而汉语动词没有词形的变化，但有时为了表达的需要和准确性，需要增加一些表示时间的词如：曾，曾经，已经，过了，了，那时，此时，当时，在，正在, 着，将，将要，就要，就会，便等。
1) She came to the school in 1998. She had taught English in two schools.
在那以前
2) The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.曾经
3) Whereas Kissinger had once needed Nixon as a channel to power, Nixon now needed Kissinger to help him remain in power.

当年，基辛格曾需要尼克松的援引而获得权势，而今（如今），尼克松需要基辛格帮他继续掌权。

4) They say his father was a fisherman. Maybe he was as poor as we are.

他们说他父亲曾是个渔夫，或许他过去跟我们现在一样穷。

5) My father is cooking, but my mother watching TV.

我爸爸在煮饭，而妈妈正看电视。

6) I knew it quite well as I know it now.

我当时（过去）就跟现在一样清楚。

（七）增加语气词。
汉语中的语气词很多，如：的，吧，呢，啊，呀，嘛，啦，了，罢了，而已，在翻译时，需要在准确理解原文意义和修辞色彩的基础上增加适当的语气词。
1) Don’t take it seriously. I’m just making fun of you.

不要认真嘛，我只不过开开玩笑罢了（而已）。

2) As for her, she did not love him from the very beginning.

（她呢，从一开始就没爱过他）

3) That shop has been moved for ages, don’t you know? （难道）

（八）增加量词：英语中数词与可数名词直接连用，他们之间没有量词，而汉语必须借助量词，因此，翻译时需要增加量词。
1. A bike a desk
A computer a tractor
An apartment a full moon
A gift a paper
1) A stream was winding its way through the valley into the river.
一弯溪水蜿蜒流过山谷，会合到江里去了。

2) This too was a complete lie. 那简直是一派胡言。

2． 英语中有些动词或者动作名词，翻译时需要增加一些表示行为、动作量的动量词。E.g. Have a rest, have a wash (洗一下)
1） He gave her a sly look. 他狡猾地看了她一眼。

2） Please come in and take a look. 请进来看一看。

（九）增加概括词
有时候把英语翻译成汉语时，需要把句中的连词省略掉而增加概括词。
1) The Americans and Japanese conducted a completely secret exchange of message.美日双方在完全保密的情况下交换了情报。

2) The thesis summed up the new achievements made in electronic computers, artificial satellites and rockets. 三方面的成就

3) The principal functions that may be performed by vacuum tubes are rectification, amplification, oscillation, modulation and detection. （五大主要功能）
(整流，放大，震荡，调制，检波)

4) You and I are good friends. We should trust each other. （你我两人）

（十）增加承上启下的词：在翻译时，特别是进行语篇翻译时，更需要目的语的连贯性，以准确表达原文意义，这就需要增加适当的词以起承上启下的作用。
1) For mistakes had been made, bad ones.
因为已经犯了许多错误，而且还是很糟糕的错误。

2) Yes, I like Chinese food. Lots of people do these days. Sort of the fashion.
不错，我是喜欢中国菜。现在很多人都喜欢中国菜，这种情况算是有点赶时髦吧。

二、根据惯用法的需要：有些惯用词语或短语意义载量很大，如不恰当增加词语，很难将原语言的意义准确表达出来。
1） He intends to drop names.
他常常提及名人或有权有势的人，以便提高自己的身价让人对自己刮目相看。
To be nice more than wise因爱面子而损害自己的实际利益
To see how the cat jumps 先观望一下形势，然后再行动
To run as fast as one’s legs can carry one 用尽吃奶的力气拼命地跑
To be a back-seat driver 喜欢插手超越自己职责范围的事务

3) Their “May-December” marriage ended in a stormy divorce.

他们两个人的婚姻是老夫配少妻，最后吵得昏天黑地，只好以离婚散伙而告终。

3）Britain suffered a considerable brain drain to the United States after World War II.
第二次世界大战以后，英国人才外流严重，许多精英都去了美国，这给英国造成了很大的损失。

4）Taking cars off the streets does not create a new city centre; something must be added such as beauty and usefulness, as well as a good transportation plan.
禁止汽车在街道上行使并不能创造出一个新的城市中心。除了一个好的交通规划以外，还必须增加一些诸如美和有用的东西。X
禁止汽车在街道上行使并不能创造出崭新的城市中心。要使市中心彻底翻新，需要很好的规划交通，同时还要对城市进行美化以及增添实用有效的公共设施。