第四:有時候中文字面的意思表達不充分,部分信息被省略了或被隱藏起來了。例如,特區是個窗口,是技術的窗口,管理的窗口,知識的窗口,也是對外政策的窗口。不是:The special zone is a window. It is a widow for introducing technology, management and knowledge. It is also a window for foreign policy.
而是The special economic zones are a window opening onto the outside world. They are a window through which to bring in from abroad sophisticated technology, advanced managerial expertise and up-to-date know-how. It is also a window through which to disseminate China’s external policies.
再如,退耕還林:不是return farmland to forest,而應該是restore “woodland-converted farm-plots” back for afforesting 。春運:不是spring transportation,而是the rush / peak season of passenger transportation during the Spring Festival。
第五:有些中文詞語沒有什么特殊涵義,而與之相對應的英文詞語卻有著特殊的涵義。例如,與“便宜”、“價廉”相對應的“cheap,”它有時候會帶有貶義,成為“質次價低”的意,如cheap jewelries, cheap dresses, cheap furniture 等。我們可以說I bought a cheap watch for my child,對小孩無所謂;但不能說I bought a cheap dress for my girlfriend. 因為這樣說會冒犯對方。在后一種情況下必須用inexpensive一詞。
第六:避免用中式英語進行表達,而要盡量用地道的英語進行表達。假如我們要把“我過去學過一些法語,但現在都忘了,都還給老師了”這句話翻譯成英語,最好不要說 I learned some French in the past. Now I have forgotten it. I’ve returned it to the teacher. 比較好的說法是 I used to know some French, but I’ve forgotten it. It has found its way back to my teacher.
再比如我們要用英語說“我攢了一大堆贓衣服,等著周末來洗,”最好不要說I have accumulated a large amount of dirty clothes. I’m going to wash them at the weekend. 比較好的說法是 I have a lot of laundry to catch up at the weekend.
第七:根據不同場合,英語的表達有莊重(formal) 與隨意(informal) 之分。比如“禁止吸煙”(No Smoking)、“請勿吸煙”(Thank you for not smoking) 和“為了您和他人的健康,請勿在此吸煙”(For hygiene’s sake, please refrain yourself from smoking in this room.)下面兩組例子中都各包含有formal- normal - informal 三種文體風格(style):