汉语常以层次分明、简练易懂的句子为主,但也不乏表意丰富的长句。那么在翻译的过程中,如何把汉语句子中的各部分与英语句子中的各部分相对应,更清晰地表达出原意呢?

汉语的无明显逻辑长句

汉语中有一类句子,短句之间并没有明显的关联词,形如“流水账”。在翻译时,需要确定句子中的重点,将主要部分译为英语中的主句;另外,还可以整合汉语中的几个短句,用非谓语动词、从句等形式使译文更简练,表意更清晰。

例句:下午,我来到图书馆,借了一本最近很火的小说。之后我将这本书放在包里,在图书馆附近吃了晚饭。晚上回家后,我读了这本书的第一章,却发现它不是很对我胃口。

译文:I went to the library in the afternoon. I borrowed a recently popular novel. Then I put this book in my bag. I had my dinner near the library. After I went back home in the evening, I read the first chapter of this book. But I found I just couldn’t get into it.

这一翻译虽然表达出了汉语句子的完整意思,但过多的单句显得十分杂乱,加上每句都以I开头,完全没有英语句子的美感。因此,可以将汉语句子中的某些单句整合,突出重点。

更正译文:In the afternoon I went to the library to borrow a recently popular novel. Then, with this book in my bag, I had my dinner near there the library. When I read the first chapter of this book after going back home in the evening, I found I just couldn’t get into it.