第9章Negation（反译法）
9.1 复习笔记
In translation, negation means the formal conversion from the affirmative into the negative or vice versa, which is one of the techniques.
反译法是将肯定句译成否定句，或将否定句译成肯定句的一种形式转化。
一、Transfer of the Negative（转移否定）
1. Transfer of the Negative from the Main Clause to the Subordinate That-Clause（把主句的否定转移到that-从句）
It is the transfer of the negative from a subordinate that-clause, where semantically it belongs, to the main clause (Quirk, 1972:789). In this case, transferred negation is limited to those verbs of belief or assumption, such as think, believe, suppose, expect, imagine, fancy, reckon.
在英语语法中，当主句的谓语动词是think，believe，suppose，expect，imagine，fancy，reckon等表示主观意见的词时，往往将从句的否定转移到主句，即语意上是对从句的否定，但在句法上要对主句进行否定。因此，在翻译时，要把主句的否定转移到that-从句。
2. Transfer of the Negative from the Finite Verb to the Adverbial（把谓语动词的
否定转移到状语）
When a negative sentence contains an adverbial, care should be taken that the negative word actually modifies the adverbial in meaning even if it appears to modify the verb in form.
如果一个否定句包含副词，要注意，虽然句中的否定词在形式上修饰动词，但在语意上修饰的是副词。
3. Transfer of the Negative to the Verb from Other Parts of the Sentence（把句子其他成分的否定转移到动词）
二、Conversion of the Affirmative into the Negative（肯定形式译成否定形式）
It is sometimes advisable and even necessary to convert affirmatives (often implying negation) in English into negatives in Chinese due to differences in the way of thinking and in the mode of expression.
由于思维方式和表达习惯的不同，有时需要将英语的肯定句译成汉语的否定句。
Examples:
三、Conversion of the Negative into the Affirmative（否定形式译成肯定形式）
1. Conversion of English Words with Negative Prefixes or Suffixes into Affirmative Forms（把含有前后缀否定的词译成肯定形式）
E.g.
Yesterday the President gave an unprepared speech before a big audience.
昨天总统在大庭广众面前即席致辞。
2. Conversion of Negative Sentences into Affirmatives（否定句译成肯定旬）
E.g.
My overcoat would not wear out.
我的大衣十分耐穿。
四、Translation of English Questions and Answers（英语问答句译法）
1. Translation of Answers to Negative Questions（回答否定问询的译法）
The same answer to negative questions is expressed differently in the two languages. care should be taken not to make a wrong interpretation.
英汉两种语言对否定疑问句的回答方式是不一样的，在翻译时要注意这一点。
Are you not prepared to do this work? 你不打算做这项工作吗？
Yes, I am. 不，我打算做。
No, I’m not. 是的，我不打算做。
2. Translation of Negative Questions（否定问句的译法）
Sometimes the negative question itself may be translated in to Chinese
affirmative.
有的时候可以将英语的否定式疑问句译为汉语的肯定式疑问句。
E.g.
Look, some buses are coming this way, don’t you see them?
瞧，有几辆公共汽车往这边开来了，你看见吗？（cf.你没看见吗？）
3. Translation of Answers to Disjunctive Questions（回答反意问询的译法）
(1) Answers to disjunctive questions with negative statements going before, wither “yes”or “no”, are expressed in the opposite way.
如果反意疑问句含有否定陈述，在翻译其答语时，先翻译“是”或“不是”，随后的内容与“是”或“不是”相反。
It’s not going to rain, is it? 不会下雨，是不是？
No.是的，不会。
Yes, it’s going to rain. 不，会下雨的。
(2) Answers to disjunctive questions with affirmative statements going before, either “yes”or “no”, are expressed in the same way as English.
如果反意疑问句含有肯定陈述，在翻译其答语时，先翻译“是”或“不是”，随后的内容与“是”或“不是”一致。
It’s a fine day, isn’t it? 天气很好，是不是？
4. Translation of Rhetorical Questions（修辞性问询的译法）
Rhetorical questions, affirmative or negative, can be translated in the same way
into Chinese which often begins with“岂不”in literary style and“难道”in modern or colloquial style.
在翻译肯定形式或否定形式的修辞性疑问句时，可以用“岂不”（书面语）或“难道”（口语）开头的汉语疑问句作为译文。
E.g.
Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? (Patrick Henry: Speech in the Virginia Convention of Delegates)
为争取自由而从事伟大而艰巨的斗争的明智人士，难道应该这样做吗？对于目前自救运动密切相关的事业视而不见、充耳不闻的人，难道我们甘心情愿与之为伍吗？
5. Translation of Indirect Negative Questions（间接否定问询的译法）
Negation can be found even in indirect questions, which in our mode of expression should be in a tone of uncertainty, such as“是否可以”，“能不能”.
一些否定词存在于间接疑问句中，表达一种不确定的语气。对于这类句子，逐字翻译会造成歧义，应译为“是否可以”，“能不能”。
I wonder if he cannot help me out of the difficulty.
我不知道他是否能帮我摆脱这个困境。
五、Translation of Various Kinds of Negations（英语各种否定译法）
1. Partial Negation（部分否定）
When we refer to persons or things, three degrees of affirmation apply: full affirmative, partial affirmative and full negative.
当我们指人或物时，主要有三种表示肯定或否定的形式，即：全部肯定，部分肯定全部否定。
In a simple sentence, the cases that the negative word “not”follows or precedes the words in these three categories show interesting differences.
在英语简单句中，随着否定词“not”位置的不同，原文意思也会发生相应的变化。
(1) “Partial affirmative + not”keeps the meaning partially affirmative:
E.g.
Some students are not here. ≈Some students are here.
不是所有的学生都来了。
(2) “Not + full negative”makes the meaning partially affirmative:
E.g.
Not all imperatives have no subjects. = Some imperatives have subjects.
不是所有的祈使句都没有主语。
(3) “Not for nothing”makes the meaning partially negative or partially
译国译民 专心翻译 做到极致 常用翻译技巧：正译法和反译法 正译法和反译法：这两种方法通常用于汉译英，偶尔也用于英译汉。所谓正译，是指把句子按照与汉语相同的语序或表达方式译成英语。所谓反译则是指把句子按照与汉语相反的语序或表达方式译成英语。正译与反译常常具有同义的效果，但反译往往更符合英语的思维方式和表达习惯。因此比较地道。如： （1） 在美国，人人都能买到枪。 In the United States, everyone can buy a gun. (正译) In the United States, guns are available to everyone. (反译) （2） 你可以从因特网上获得这一信息。 You can obtain this information on the Internet. （正译） This information is accessible/available on the Internet. （反译） （3） 他突然想到了一个新主意。 Suddenly he had a new idea. (正译) He suddenly thought out a new idea. (正译) A new idea suddenly occurred to/struck him. （反译） （4） 他仍然没有弄懂我的意思。 He still could not understand me. (正译) Still he failed to understand me. (反译) （5） 无论如何，她算不上一位思维敏捷的学生。 She can hardly be rated as a bright student. (正译) She is anything but a bright student. (反译) （6） Please withhold the document for the time being. 请暂时扣下这份文件。（正译） 请暂时不要发这份文件。（反译）
英译汉中的难句翻译技巧 英译汉是将获取的英语信息用正确的汉语表达出来，它要求译文准确、通顺、符合汉语习惯。英译汉中的难句通常有以下特点： 一、用词比较庄重，典雅 倾向于使用正式语体的词语，力求给人以持重感，一般多用拉丁语，德语、法语等来源的大词、长词、抽象词。 二、句子长、结构复杂，或者句型特殊，习语生疏 在英译汉过程中，这些难句常常令人望而生畏。其实，不管句子有多么长，多么复杂，都有一定的规律可循。掌握典型的难句翻译方法，有的放矢地运用翻译技巧，会顺利地将句子的含义清楚地用汉语表达出来，达到“信、达、雅”，提高译文质量。 1、理清主要结构 翻译长句时，要首先理清主句和从句，弄懂句子的主要结构，确定主谓（宾）关系，然后再逐一分析句义，将意思翻译出来。一般说来，英语长句结构比较复杂，作为修饰成分的定语，尤其是定语从句，常位于中心词之后，而且从句中还会套从句、短语中套短语。比较复杂的句子常带多个从句或冗长的定语和状语。因此，翻译长句时，首先要运用“化整为零”的方法，通过语法分析抓住主谓结构，弄清定语、状语的修饰关系；然后根据上下文弄清句义的层次和逻辑关系；最后用恰当的汉语准确表达出句意。进行英译汉时不能固定一种方法，必须灵活运用翻译技巧，对句子进行综合处理。例： You have heard itrepeated that men of science work by means of induction and deduction,that by the help of these operations,they,in a sort of sense,manage to extract from mature certain matural laws,and that out of these,by some special skill of their own,they build up their theories.你们多次听说过，科学家是用归纳法和演绎法工作的，他们用这种方法，在某种意义上说，力求从自然界找出某种自然规律，然后他们根据这些规律，用自己的某种非同一般的本领，建立起他们的理论。 分析：该句为复合句，主要结构为“主—谓—宾—宾补”。主句中的it是形式宾语，代替后面三个由that引导的平行宾语从句。词组by means of意为“借助于”；in a sort of sense 为插入语，意思是“在某种意义上说”。第二从句中these operations 指“归纳法和演绎法”。 2、翻译技巧 ⑴、化整为零
一．一．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体动词： 1. 1.The ache that had persisted in his chest had turned to severe pain. 2. 2.“If we lose our lives, then you’ll lose yours!” she said with a laugh. 3. 3.If he had kept his temper, the negotiation would probably have been a success. 4. 4.The two teams tied. 二．二．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜形容词： 1. 1.Appearances are deceptive. 2. 2.The teacher found some of the pupils absent. 3. 3.Her face had a strange, lost look. 4. 4.I’m terribly sorry to have given you such a lot of trouble. 三．三．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜前置词： 1. 1.But that’s very extraordinary. It seems against nature. 2. 2.Never mind, we can manage without help. 3. 3.His answer is beside the mark. 4. 4.Under fifty people were there. 四．四．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体名词： 1. 1.Her abstraction was not because of the tea party. 2. 2.He did not want to hurt her, but an itch to dominate push him on to say… 3. 3.Silence reigned all over for a while. 五．五．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体副词： 1. 1.He said idly,“Well, what does it matter?” 2. 2.They resumed their seats moodily. 3. 3.She always seemed too busy in the house. 4. 4.Slowly he pulled the letter out of the envelope, and unfolded it. 六．六．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体连接词： 1. 1.The stranger had already gone before he hurried to the hotel. 2. 2.She couldn’t sit still till her native country was free. 3. 3.They would rather have the blue one than the green one. 4. 4.You will fail unless you work harder. 七．七．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体短语： 1. 1.You should seize the opportune moment to put in a word for me. 2. 2.The news of the assassination of President Lincoln spread like wild fire. 3. 3.The pioneers made light of difficulties and dangers. 4. 4.Miss Firelie kept to her room all day. 八．八．用反面表达法处理下列各句中的斜体从句或句子： 1. 1.As was expected, the enemy walked right into the trap. 2. 2.It had been six or seven hours since I had had anything to eat, drink or smoke. 3. 3.Mr. Will was a short and skinny white man with dark hair and gray eyes, a smile that seemed to be frozen on his face and everybody knew it was anything else but a genuine smile. 九. 试译下列各句，用正面表达法处理斜体部分： 1. For him the wheel of slumber was wont to turn noiseless and slick and swift. 2. Generally she accepted the family life in all its crowded inadequacy. 3. Jim was no end upset because he couldn’t go swimming. 4. Sir Percival’s spies were not going to lose sight of me.
英译汉中的反译法 在英译汉过程中，我们常常遇到这样一种情况，即原词所表达的并不是其字面意义，而是其字面意义的反义，或者说是对其字面意义的否定，可这种否定又往往不出现否定词，这种情况并不很少，给翻译工作带来很大的麻烦。 下面是常见的两个词组，请注意它们的汉语意思： ①riot police防暴警察（即anti-riot police，而不是暴乱的警察） ②crisis law反危机法案（即anti-crisis law) 这两个词组的翻译采用的就是反译法，译文都是其字面意辽的否定或反义，这样既表达了原文的真正含义，又符合汉语的表达习惯，使人一看就懂。 另外，英文报刊文章标题的翻译有时也采用反译法。如《中国日报》China Daily）1995年1月16日头版刊登一则新闻，题目是Inflation is target of bank’s new policy，主要说的是银行在1995年将来取有力措施制止通货膨胀。但题目的字面意思恰恰相反。因此我们在翻译时必须把inflation看成是anti-inflation，使之文题一致。这样的标题在英文报刊中比较常见，目的是为简练及醒目，我们在翻译时要格外注意，切勿望文生义。 再让我们来看看下面的例子： （1）Sidney Simon called the college grading system“archaic，prescientific，bureaucratic invention，"，and“about as accurate as police estimates of crowds of peace marches.” 如果按字面翻译，这句话是这样的： 西德尼·西蒙称这种大学评级制度“是过时的，缺乏科学验证”，而且还是“官僚主义的产物”而且“简直同警察估计和平示威人数一样准确。” 既然前面已说了这个评级制度“过时无用，缺乏科学验证”，而且还是“官僚主义的产物”，后面又怎么能说它“准确”呢？这显然自相矛盾，西蒙所表达的真正含义绝非如此。 以上译文，忽略了说话人的语气。其实，西蒙是在抨击大学评级制度。他说话时，前面直接用了archaic，prescientific和bureaucratic几个贬义词，而后面的褒义词accurate实际上是一个反语。因为我们知道，警察在估计示威人数时只能说出大概，往往和实际人数出入很大，极不准确。所以说话人所表达的真正含义是not accurate，或inaccurate。这样，可理解成about as inaccurate，as police estimates of crowds of peace marches，译成汉语就是：“简直同警察估计和平示威人数一样不准确。”也就是把accurate反过来译，即反译。 以上例句是通过分析说话人的语气来采用反译法正确表达语义的。有的句子前面所表达的意思是否定的，但根据这个意思得出来的结论却是肯定的。为了使其真正含义不至于前后矛盾，我们也采取反译后面结论的方法。
正反译法练习之一 1.The newspaper accounts are far from being true. 报纸上的报道一点儿也不真实。 2.Mr. Thompson was above reproach. 汤姆森先生的行为是无可非议的。 3.Keep dry and the top side up! 请勿倒立，防止受潮！ 4.Such a chance was denied to me. 这个机会跟我无缘。 5.All are not thieves that dogs bark at. 被狗叫的人不一定都是贼。（犬之所吠，并非皆贼） 6.He kept himself apart from the other children. 他和其他孩子保持距离，一个人待着。 7.No deposit will be refunded unless ticket produced. 如果不出示票据，押金是不会返还的。 8.他决不会说出这样的话. He should never have dreamt of saying such a thing. 9.她抱怨名单上没有她的名字． She complained about her name should be on the list. 10.他尽力克服技术资料的不足． He tried his best to overcome the lack of technical data. 11.在收据尚未签字以前不得付款. Don’t pay unless the receipt was signed. 12.他上火车站去接他的朋友，可是在人群中没见到他。（miss） He goes to the railway station to meet a friend, but he missed his friend in the crowd. 13.他直到三年级才认识到广泛阅读的重要性。（not…until） He did not realized the importance of the wider reading until three grade. 14.我警告过你，不要跟陌生人谈论我的事。（warn against） I have warned you against talking about me with strangers.
【翻译技巧】英语笔译技法——正反译法 由于国家、历史、地理、社会文化背景和生活习性的不同，汉英两种语言在表达正说和反说时有很大差异，尤其英语在否定意义的表达上更为复杂，有时形式否定而实质肯定，或形式肯定而实质否定。在两种语言互译时，原文中正说的句子可能不得不处理成反说，或是用反说表达更为合适。反之亦然。翻译中，这种把正说处理成反说、把反说处理成正说的译法，就称为正反译法。 正反译法是翻译技巧中的一个重要方法，属于引申和修辞范围。 笼统的说，英语句子中含有“never”、“no”、“not”、“un-”、“im-”、“in-”、“ir-”、“-less”等否定词以及否定前缀或后缀的单词，以及汉语句子中含有“不”、“没”、“无”、“未”、“甭”、“别”、“休”、“莫”、“非”、“勿”、“毋”等否定词的即为反说，不含有这些否定词的即为正说。 但实际操作时，正说和反说的界限又变得极为模糊，例如“correct”可以翻译成“正确”（正说），也可以翻译成“没有毛病”（反说）。因此，到底译文要采用正说还是反说，就完全要看译文语言的惯用表达和上下文的语气语态了。 在正反译法中，英译汉正转反（正说反译法）和汉译英反转正（反说正译法）是最为重要的两种正反译法。 英译汉正转反 英语中有些否定概念是通过含有否定意义或近似否定意义的词来表达的，虽然形式是肯定的，但这类词大多是某些肯定词所引申或变化出来的反义词，或经过长期历史演变而引申出其他否定词义，即所谓的“含蓄否定词”或“暗指否定词”，这类词在译成汉语时，需要变成汉语的否定词组，必要时还需要作词类转换。 1、名词 —含蓄否定名词主要有：shortness / shortage（不够；不足）、lack（缺乏；没有）、absence （不在）、failure（未能；不成功）、defiance（不顾；无视）、denial（否认；否定）、exclusion （排除）、freedom（不；免除）、refusal（不愿；不允许）、loss（失去）等。 Shortness of time has required the omission of some states. 由于时间不够，没能访问那些国家。 Behave yourself during my absence. 我不在时要规矩点。 We were perplexed by his failure to answer the letter. 他何以不回信，我们大惑不解。 2、动词或动词短语 —英语中常见的含蓄否定动词包括：refuse（不愿；不肯；无法）、lack（缺乏；没有）、defy（不服从；不遵守；不让）、forbid（不许）、stop（不准；别）、ignore（不理；不肯考虑；无视；不顾）、hate（不愿意）、miss（没听清楚；没赶上）等。
专业名称应用英语 班级 07应用英语2班 学生姓名 学号 60707212023 课题名称浅介英译汉中词的省略 指导教师 完成日期 2010年 5 月 1 日 浅介英译汉中词的省略 中文摘要：英汉两种语言在表达方式上存在着许多差别。翻译中，省略是英汉两种语言中一个重要的语法内容,其目的是为了避免重复,使句子的结构显得更为紧凑。它有时还能在句子中起到承接的作用。因此,省略尤其是词的省略在英汉语言互译中占有重要的地位,是重要的翻译技巧。本文界定了某些词的省略，简单分析了英译汉翻译中省略的词类型及翻译对策，主要论述代词、连接词、冠词、介词的省略。 关键词：英译汉；词；省略 一、省略词的概说
省略词是我们在学习英语过程中能不断体验收获和趣味的一种惯用手法，无论是说话还是写作，都要求生动活泼，简明扼要。按照语法的分析, 有时句子应具备的成分出于修辞上的需要, 会缺少一个或几个句子语法结构所必要的语言成分，但在一定语境中可独立存在，仍能表达其意义完整并发挥交流功能的句子则被称为省略句。省略词的结果不仅能使句子结构更加精练，省略词可起到连接上下文并使相邻词语达到强调的作用。 英语省略句用词简练, 表意简练, 往往收到一定的修饰效果, 句中的某些成分因上下文已提供了充分明确信息或前文已出现过的某些成分，为了避免不必要的重复，也不会引起言语上的误解，并可突出中心词，从而使整文紧密连接的一种修辞手法，其语法现象就是省略。举个例子：Smoking is prohibited in public places．公共场所不准吸烟。句中表示地点的介词就可以省略。 二、英译汉中省略词的种类 在翻译时，把英语译成汉语，译文一定要符合汉语的表达习惯。与英语相比较，汉语里代词(尤其是人称代词)和连接词(尤其是并列连接词“和”)用得不多，能省略的代词和连接词一般都不在句子里出现。因此，英译汉时，应避免在句子里过多地使用代词和连接词，否则译文就会显得生硬不自然。也就是说，把一些可有可无的，或者有了反嫌累赘或违背译文语言习惯的词删去，从而使译文简洁符合汉语的表达习惯。一般来说，英译汉并不随便删减词语，但汉语有其简洁的特点，如果过分强调一切，把一个词都译出来，反而因为保全了一些次要部分而破坏了整体，即所谓因小失大。 （一）省略代词 在译文中有时需要省掉代词。其一，为了使代关系明确，一般每个句子都有主语和谓语，或有时要有宾语，这是英语句法所要求的而汉语的表达习惯往往在指代关系明确的情况下，几个谓语借用上下文提到的一个共同的主语，不必一个一个地重复。因此，在英译汉中，作为主语的人称代词往往省略，作宾语的人称代词也是如此。（1）As I lay awake, I realized that I was in trouble.我醒来，躺在地上，明白自己的处境不妙。（2）Like his friends he had many wonderful ideas, but he only put a few into practice.他像他的朋友一样，虽然头脑里有很多美妙的想法，却只有少数付之实践。其二，省略作宾语的人称代词。英语中有些作宾语的代词，不管前面是否提到过，翻译时往往都可以省略。（1）I've received your letter and read it with delight.我收到了你的来信，愉快的读了。（2）If you have read these stories, tell them in your own words.如果你已读过这些故事了，用你自己的话讲出来。其三，省略物主代词。英语中的物主代词，汉译时往往可以省略。（1）He put his hands into his pockets and then shrugged his
Review 1.The last person to be speaking about terrorism is the representative of country A. 最没有资格谈论恐怖主义问题的人就是A国的代表。 2.What, if any, effect do you feel the imports of Canadian gas will have on the American producer? 你觉得进口加拿大的天然气对美国生产者可能产生什么影响吗？ 3.他是一位中国现代优秀作家 He is an outstanding contemporary Chinese writer. [误译分析] 【原文】 The roofs loomed in front of them with starting clarity. 暗礁在他们面前令人吃惊地清楚，时隐时现。 【改译】暗礁在他们面前隐隐呈现，看得越清楚就越感到毛骨悚然 英语句子经常使用连词、关系代词、关系副词、短语中又包括介词短语、动名词短语、分词短语、不定式短语等，汉语如果照译，读者可能不知所云。按照汉语习惯，可将这些英语特有的结构转译为短句。例如： 1.The idea of a fish being able to generate electricity strong enough to light small bulbs, even to run an electric motor, is almost unbelievable. 鱼能发电，其强度足以点亮小灯泡，甚至能开动马达，这简直是令人难以置信 的。 2.Flooded with calls, the company is maximizing profits by handling in-city runs. 要车的人太多了，公司便只接来往于市区的生意，这样好多多赚钱。 【翻译技巧】转句译法 Conversion of words or phrases into sentences 有些词和各种短语所含的语义是相当的丰富，但是单靠换序、转性等方法还是 不能表达原文的真实含义，而要把原文的内容连词形式一起翻译成汉语几乎不 可能的，因此，不得不把这些词、词组转译成句子，称为转句译法。 1.Pressure of work has somewhat delayed my answer. 由于工作很忙，答复稍迟了一些。（主语转句） 2.Another hour’s ride will bring us to the village.
翻译时要注意英译汉中的反译法 在英译汉过程中，我们常常遇到这样一种情况，即原词所表达的并不是其字面意义，而是其字面意义的反义，或者说是对其字面意义的否定，可这种否定又往往不出现否定词，这种情况并不很少，给翻译工作带来很大的麻烦。 下面是常见的两个词组，请注意它们的汉语意思： ①riot police防暴警察（即anti-riot police，而不是暴乱的警察） ②crisis law反危机法案（即anti-crisis law)） 这两个词组的翻译采用的就是反译法，译文都是其字面意义的否定或反义，这样既表达了原文的真正含义，又符合汉语的表达习惯，使人一看就懂。 另外，英文报刊文章标题的翻译有时也采用反译法。如《中国日报》（China Daily）曾刊登一则新闻，题目是Inflation is target of bank's new policy，主要说的是银行在1995年将来取有力措施制止通货膨胀。但题目的字面意思恰恰相反。因此我们在翻译时必须把inflation看成是anti-inflation，使之文题一致。这样的标题在英文报刊中比较常见，目的是为简练及醒目，在翻译时要格外注意，切勿望文生义。 再让我们来看看下面的例子： （1）Sidney Simon called the college grading system"archaic, prescientific, bureaucratic inv ention, ", and"about as accurate as police estimates of crowds of peace marches." 如果按字面翻译，这句话是这样的：西德尼·西蒙称这种大学评级制度“是过时的，缺乏科学验证”，而且还是“官僚主义的产物”而且“简直同警察估计和平示威人数一样准确。” 既然前面已说了这个评级制度“过时无用，缺乏科学验证”，而且还是“官僚主义的产物”，后面又怎么能说它“准确”呢？这显然自相矛盾，西蒙所表达的真正含义绝非如此。 以上译文，忽略了说话人的语气。其实，西蒙是在抨击大学评级制度。他说话时，前面直接用了archaic，prescientific和bureaucratic几个贬义词，而后面的褒义词accurate实际上是一个反语。因为我们知道，警察在估计示威人数时只能说出大概，往往和实际人数出入很大，极不准确。所以说话人所表达的真正含义是not accurate，或inaccurate。这样，可理解成about as inaccurat e，as police estimates of crowds of peace marches，译成汉语就是：“简直同警察估计和平示威人数一样不准确。”也就是把accurate反过来译，即反译。 以上例句是通过分析说话人的语气来采用反译法正确表达语义的。有的句子前面所表达的意思是否定的，但根据这个意思得出来的结论却是肯定的。为了使其真正含义不至于前后矛盾，我们也采取反译后面结论的方法。 （2）This sort of situation highlights a critical weakness in the ANC leadership: accountab ility. 如按字面则译成：这种情况突出了非国大领导层方面的极为严重的弱点：有责任心。
Negation (正说反译、反说正译法) The English language has its peculiarities in negation. Of course, English-speaking people have their own way of thinking in the negation and expressing negative implications. What is affirmative in form in English may be implied something negative in Chinese, and vice versa. The use of “yes” and “no” is a case in point. 1.--“Are you not going tomorrow?” --“No, I’m not going.” 2. “I don’t think you’re right in this point.” Discussion: “你是人，你不是东西。你是东西吗？你真不是东西！？我认为你不是东西。你算什么东西！” Version: You’re a person, not a thing. Aren’t you a person/a thing? Are you reliable/ some-thing? No, I don’t think so./Yes, I think so. What a creature you are! What a fool you are! You are a sheer idiot. I think you are an idiot. I don’t think you are tr ustworthy. You, really, are nothing. You think you are something. No, far from it. Purposes of Affirmation and Negation 1. to make the meaning clear, 2. to strengthen the rhetorical effect, 3. make it conform to the idiomatic use of the target language A. Some Idiomatic Expressions 1. riot police 防暴警察(即anti-riot police，而不是暴乱的警察) 2. crisis law 反危机法案(即anti-crisis law) 3. spy film 反谍影片 4. After you, sir. 先生，您先请。 5. 路上辛苦了。 原译：You must have had a tiring journey. 改译：Did you have a good trip? 6. Keep in lane! 不准换线！ 7. Keep off the lawn! 请勿践踏草地！（正说反译） 8. I couldn’t agree more with you. 我完全同意你的看法。 9. Just make yourself at home. 不要客气。/别见外 10. He was the last man to say such things. 他绝不会说这样的话。 B. Negation--Affirmation 1. Isn’t it funny! 真逗！ 2. When Stephen was introduced to the old couple, they said simply, “We’ve read your article. We expected to meet an older man.” 当史蒂夫被介绍给这对老年夫妇的时候，他们只是淡淡地说：“我们看过你的文章，但没想到你这么年轻。” 3. The thought of returning to his native land never deserted him. 归国的念头始终萦绕在他的心中。 C. Affirmation--Negation 4 .That’s a thing that might happen to any man. 原译：这样的事情可能发生在任何人身上。 改译：这种事情谁也难免。 5. His speech leaves much to be desired. 他的讲话很不如人意。
常用十大翻译技巧之五：正译法和反译法 5.正译法和反译法：这两种方法通常用于汉译英，偶尔也用于英译汉。所谓正译，是指把句子按照与汉语相同的语序或表达方式译成英语。所谓反译则是指把句子按照与汉语相反的语序或表达方式译成英语。正译与反译常常具有同义的效果，但反译往往更符合英语的思维方式和表达习惯。因此比较地道。如： （1）在美国，人人都能买到枪。 In the United States, everyone can buy a gun. (正译) In the United States, guns are available to everyone. (反译) （2）你可以从因特网上获得这一信息。 You can obtain this information on the Internet. （正译） This information is accessible/available on the Internet. （反译）（3）他突然想到了一个新主意。 Suddenly he had a new idea. (正译) He suddenly thought out a new idea. (正译) A new idea suddenly occurred to/struck him. （反译） （4）他仍然没有弄懂我的意思。 He still could not understand me. (正译) Still he failed to understand me. (反译) （5）无论如何，她算不上一位思维敏捷的学生。 She can hardly be rated as a bright student. (正译) She is anything but a bright student. (反译) （6） Please withhold the document for the time being. 请暂时扣下这份文件。（正译） 请暂时不要发这份文件。（反译） 1 ——文章来源网络，仅供参考
第七节：正反、反正表达法（Negation） 1. Our PLA is worthy of being called a great army of the people. 2. He tries his best to overcome the lack of technical data. 3. The window refuses to open. 4. Yesterday he failed to get to school on time. 5. They excluded children (from) getting in. 6. That building is in a state of neglect. 7. He’s often absent-minded. 8. Lei Feng’s noble deeds are above all praise. 9. I, rather than you, should do the work. 10. The truth is quite other than what you think 11. Live up to the expectations of our own people and the people throughout the world. 12. Slips are scarcely avoidable when you’re new to your work. 13. There are two aspects to everything; to say there is only one is to be aware of one aspect and to be ignored of the other. 14. In technology, I think first we have to follow others in most cases, and it is better for us to do so, since that is what we are lacking at present and know little about. 15. The meeting were marked by such an absence of lively discussions that at times they were almost on the point of breaking up. 16. The scientists made a solemn pledge at the conference, saying,“We’ll for ever live up to what our Party expects of us.” 17 The County Party Committee there is ignorant of conditions at the lower levels. 18 The fellow is far from being honest. 19 The city and the areas around it are an ice-free port and a nuclear-weapon-free zone. 20 He stood still, trying vainly (in vain) to answer the battery of questions the boss raised. 21 The world today is far from peaceful. 22 She refrained from laughing. 23 She was refused admittance by them. 24 The evidence is conclusive, excluding all possibilities of doubt 25 Mr. White has refrained from making any official comment on the coup in that country. 26 That served to strengthen instead of weaken our determination (or: That strengthened, rather than weakened, our determination.) 27 But for the workers’ help, we should not have succeeded in this experiment. 28 The first bombs missed the target. 29 Such a chance was denied me 30 This problem is beyond me. 31 When Philip missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do. 32 He unfastened his shoelace. 33 I rode around with him one day seeing how the ships unloaded. 34 Many agreed that the Prime minister had in effect resigned dishonorably. 35 He was an indecisive sort of person and always capricious. 36 It was said that someone had sown discord among them. 37 He manifested a strong dislike for his father’s business. 38 Don’t lose time in posting this letter
第八节反译法 由于讲英语国家的历史、地理、社会文化背景和生活习性与我国不同，因此这些国家人们的思维方式和生活习性亦与我国不同。这种差别体现在语言习惯七，便产生了两种语言各自不同的表达形式。在表示否定意义时，这种差异显得尤为突出。有的英语句子形式上是否定的而实质上是肯定的，有的形式上是肯定的而实质上是否定的。在翻译某些英文句子时，应当特别注意两点：一是英语里有些从正面表达的词语或句子，汉译时可以从反面来表达，即正说反译法；二是英语里有些从反面表达的词语或句子，汉译时可从正面来表达，即反说正译法。例如： (1)The kind of machine is far from being complicated． 这种机器一点也不复杂。 这个句子如果译成“这种机器离复杂甚远”就使人感到不知所云。 (2)He wrote three books in the first two years，a record never reached before． 他头两年写了3本书，打破了以往的记录。 原文从反面表达，译文从正面表达。如译成“这是他从前从未达到的记录”则显得很别扭。 (3)I have read your articles，but，expect to meet an older woman． 我读过你的文章，但没料到你这样年轻。 本句如译成“我读过你文章，但我料想会见到一个年纪更大的女人”则不符合汉语表达习惯。 从以上例中可以看出，有些句子从正面译不顺，不妨从反面译；反面译不顺，则不妨从正面译，因为同一个概念，一个民族正着说，以为是合乎表达习惯的，而另一个民族则认为反着说才顺口。因此，在恰当的场合灵活运用反译法不失为确保译文语义明晰、文从字顺的有效手段。 一、正说反译法 英语中有些否定概念是通过含有否定意义或近似否定意义的词来表达的。一些语言学家称这些词为“含蓄否定词”，另一些语言学家则称之为“暗指否定词”。英语中的含蓄否定词或含蓄否定短语一般都要译成汉语的否定词组。 (一)名词 (1、Shortness of time has required the omission of some countries． 由于时间不够，没能访问某些国家。 (2)All international disputes should be settled through negotiations and avoidance of any armed conflicts． 一切国际争端应通过谈判，而不是武装冲突来解决。 (3 1 There was complete absence of information on t11e oil deposit in that country． 关于该国的石油储量情况，人们毫无所知。 (4)Politeness is not always the sign of wisdom，but the want of it always leaves room for．the suspicion of folly． 尽管有礼貌并不一定标志着此人有智慧，但是无礼貌却总是使人怀疑其 愚蠢。 (5)A lack of awareness of cultural differences or local customs Can create problems． 不注意文化差异或当地风俗可能会产生问题。 作为名词用的含蓄否定词还有：defiance(不顾，无视)，denial(否认，否