中高級口譯翻譯技巧

2)Success is often just an idea away.
譯文一:成功往往只是一個念頭距離。
譯文二:成功往往只是一念之差。
譯文三:成功與否往往只是一念之差。
譯文一讓人看后莫名其妙;譯文二改變說法,但仍讓人似懂非懂,而譯文三只是簡簡單單增加了一個“與否”,但卻使人豁然開朗!原句意思表達得淋漓盡致。
如同文學翻譯一樣,經貿文字翻譯增詞現象也是千變萬化。有教材試圖將形形色色增詞情況加以概括歸類,但結果卻都有牽強之嫌,因為許多例子都很難說屬于某一具體范疇,很可能幾種情況都兼而有之。但從整體上來說,增詞要么為使譯文意思明確,要么為使譯文結構完整,要么為使譯文符合目語行文習慣,要么為使譯文具有某種修辭或語體色彩……下面實例可供學習者體會增詞原理和技巧。
1)All cash bonus shall be subject to income tax.
所有現金紅利,均須繳納所得稅。(根據漢語行文習慣,增加動詞)
2)It's more expensive than it was last time but not as good.
價錢比上次高,但質量卻比上次差。(增補原文省略部分,原句后半句完整形式應該是:...but it's not as good as it was last time.)
3)The application of plastics in automobile industry has brought about great increase of the consumption.
塑料在汽車工業上使用大增加了塑料消費量。(增補原文省略部分,以使意思更加清楚)
4)Commission depends on the quantity of goods ordered.
傭金多少取決于訂貨量大小。(增詞以使譯文語意完整,更合漢語表達習慣)
5)All the multilateral arrangements need to be examined for clauses that restrict the free trade.
(對于)所有各種多邊安排都必須加以審查,以便研討其中有無限制自由貿易條款。
2、減詞
由于兩種語言表達習慣不同,翻譯時如果一字不漏照搬,往往會顯得累贅、拖沓、冗雜、或不合行文習慣,甚至產生歧義。采取減詞譯法可以使譯文言簡意賅。涉外文書翻譯常有以下幾種減詞情況:
(1)、減去代詞
這種情況尤見于外貿信件翻譯,例如:
1)Please let us know the detailed information on your market.
請千貴方市場詳情。
2)We assure you of our prompt attention to this matter.
我們保證立即處理此事。
3)You are kindly requested to let us have your best quotation for the canned fish.
請報魚罐頭最惠價。
(2)、減去陳腐或不必要套語
1)We take this opportunity to inform you that we are now in position to make prompt shipment of the merchandise.
茲奉告,該商品可即期裝運。(譯文比原文大為簡明,除減去了"take this opportunity"這一陳腐表達外,還省略了三個代詞,并用一個"可"字代替了原文中"in a position"這樣繁復表達方式)
2)We are enclosing herewith the captioned contract in two originals, of which please return one copy to us duly countersigned.
今寄上標題合同正本一式兩份,請會簽后寄回一份,以便存檔。
(3)、減去不言而喻或冗雜詞語
1)Any expenses accruing from this credit inquiry will be gladly paid on receipt of your bill.
對此信用咨詢所需任何費用,在接到帳單后即付。
2)On condition that you sign this receipt, I will pay the money.
你在收據上簽字,我就付款。(原文是通過連詞來表示"條件",而漢語則是通過從句和主句前后順序來表達這一關系)
3)The price of the products should be set according to the price in the international market. It should be fixed by the two parties at a level that will bring profit to both.
產品價格應該根據國際市場價格,由雙方共同商定,須照顧到雙方利益。(譯文看似沒譯"at a level",但字里行間卻含有其意)
4)Part-time waitress applicants who had worked at a job would receive preference over those who had not.
應聘業余女服務員者,有工作經驗優先錄用。(如果不作省略,譯成“應聘業余女服務員者,有工作經驗,比沒有工作經驗,優先錄用”,其中“比沒有工作經驗”就屬多余了)
5)男女老少咸宜。
Suitable for men, women and children.
6)互能有無
the exchange of needed goods(試比較:the exchange of what one has for what one needs)
從以上譯例可以看出,減詞譯法是煉詞煉句一種最重要手段,可以充分顯示譯文語言優勢。減詞譯法情況同樣也十分復雜,往往一個句子中多種情況省略兼而有之,因此很難加以歸類,以上編排僅是為了敘述方便。除所列幾種情況外,我們可以看出,許多冠詞、介詞、連詞都沒有在譯文中出現,它們往往都是翻譯時減詞對象。
