英語翻譯訓練:直譯的誤區

這位姑娘是神槍手。(不能譯作“死射手”)
After the failure of his last novel, his reputation stands on slippery grounds.
他上部小說失敗之后,聲譽一落千丈。(不能譯為“站在滑動場地上了。”)
2、有些借喻不能直譯
He went west by stage coach and succumbed to the epidemic of gold and silver fever in
Nevada's Washoe Region.
誤:他乘公共馬車到了西部,患了瓦肖地區金銀發燒流行病。
正:他乘公共馬車到了西部,卷入了淘金熱和淘銀熱。
The rather arresting spectacle of little old Japan adrift amid beige concrete skyscrapers
is the very symbol of the incessant struggle between the kimono and the miniskirt.
誤:古老小日本漂游在灰棕色鋼筋混凝土摩天大樓之間引入景象是和服與超短裙之間不斷斗爭象征。
正:式樣古老小巧日本房屋像小船一般,漂游在灰棕色鋼筋混凝土摩天大樓之間,這引入注目景象象征著舊傳統和新發展之間不斷斗爭。
3、引典。如果是盡人皆知典故。可以直譯,不必加說明,如果多數人不知道,最好是意譯,或者直譯加注釋。
He met his Waterloo.
句中meet one's Waterloo是成語典故,由 拿破侖在Waterloo遇到慘敗而來,所以要意譯。"他吃了大敗仗"
I asked whether for him ,the arch anti-communist ,this was not bowing down in the House of Rimmon.句中bowing down in the House of Rimmon 是成語典故,表示表面上與宗教信仰一致,但心里卻有不同政治主張,這是口是心非。Rimmon是大馬士革人所崇拜神。House of Rimmon借指英國下院。如果將這個典故直譯,表達不出原意。“我問道,做為頭號反共人物(邱吉爾),他這樣做是否言行不一,口是心非。”
四、習語成語中誤區
英語中有豐富習語成語,增強了語言表達能力。其中大部分可以直譯,或用漢語中相應習語套用。 例如:the open door policy開放政策,the cold war 冷戰,to fish in troubled waters 混水摸魚,strike while the iron is hot 趁熱打鐵,at sixes and sevens 亂七八糟。但是還有一些習語成語必須意譯才能表達出其正確含義。
She was born with a siver spoon in her mouth.
她長生在富貴之家。
You're talking through your had again.
你又在胡說八道了。
You should keep your nose out of here.
你別管閑事。
Good to begin well ,better to end well.
要善始善終。
五、詞匯翻譯中誤區
有些詞匯在某些場合下具有了新義,如果直譯就會曲解原意。所以,要根據語言環境確定具體詞義。英語中詞義發展變化十分常見。
He is the last its roses and thorns.
他最不配干這件事。
Every life has its roses and thorns.
人生有苦有甜。
The wedding ,which Heyward still remembered with pride ,was attended by a who's who of Boston Society.
赫華德仍然記得,參加婚禮人中有波士頓一位社會名流,這使他感到十分得意。
從上述例句可以看出,有些詞在某些場合或結構中具有特殊意義,例如the last, who's who,有詞用其比喻意義,如roses and thorns ,有詞在特殊場合與句型中詞義發生了遞轉,如yes,no,有詞義有了引伸或發展。總而言之,一個詞具體意義要依其所處場合、條件、意識和句型而定,不可捕風捉影。直譯與意譯各有所長、要用其所長。進行直譯時要防止進入誤區,在有誤區地方要采用意譯,使直譯與意譯相互補充,只有這樣才能取得比較理想效果。
