Babel Tower Old Testament of Holy Bible Genesis
第一章 绪论 “洪荒造塔语言殊,从此人间要象胥”。 Babel Tower Old Testament of Holy Bible Genesis 11
• To translate is therefore to let go of your (English) writing in a way, to hold it at arm’s length, open it to scrutiny, allow it to float in the ether (universe) for a while, and to let others, pivot you toward relative truth. (blog) esp. for C-E translation
Tytler’s 3 principles • A translation should give a complete transcript of the original work. • The style and manner of writing should be of the same character as that of the original. • A translation should have all the case of the original composition.
Basic Requirements For Translator • The 1 st and most obvious requirement of any translator is that he have a satisfactory knowledge of the source language. It is not enough that he be able to get the “general drift “ of the meaning, or that he be adept in consulting dictionaries. Rather, he must understand not only the obvious content of the message, but also the subtleties of meaning , the significant emotive values of words, and the stylistic features which determine the “flavor and feel” of the message. • Even the more important than knowledge of the resources of the source language is a complete control of the receptor language. See ppt 2 Certainly the most numerous and serious errors made by translators arise primarily from their lack of thorough knowledge of the TL.
• It is one thing, however, to know a language in general and another to have a special knowledge of a particular subject. In other words, in addition to a knowledge of the two or more languages involved in the translation process, the translator must have a thorough acquaintance with the subject matter concerned. acquaintance with • The translator should also have something of the same cultural background as that of the author he is translating. If such is not the case, “the translator should be willing and readily able to make up for this deficiency. ” At the same time, a translator must be content to be like his author, for it is not his business to try to excel him.
• In translating the Bible, most outstanding translators have also insisted a further requirement, namely, a devout recognition of dependence upon divine grace. • The translator should not only make use of the best scientific philology and exegesis, but also invoke and rely upon divine grace for the fulfillment of his task.
• The same is true of translation theory. It is not necessary for everyone to know translation theory, nor is it even necessary for pastors and teachers to know everything about translation everything theory. • It is necessary for pastors and teachers in the American church at the end of the twentieth century to know something about translation something theory, for two reasons.
First, it will affect the way we interpret the Bible for our people. If we are completely unaware of translation theory, we may unwittingly mislead our brothers and sisters in our interpretation. Second, there are so many English translations available, that no contemporary pastor will be able to escape the inevitable questions about which translations are superior.
第二章 词汇分析和得体选词 Lexical relationship between Chinese and English • • One-to-one relationship One-to-none relationship Pseudo one-to-one relationship One-to-many or many-to-one or manyto-many relationship
shift of perspective • • 不二价 one price 听电话 answer the phone 太平门 emergency exit 北屋 a room with a southern exposure 座钟 a standing clock 好票 a good seat “冷板凳”队员 bench warmer
第三章 句子分析与得体表达 Full sentence, minor sentence, fragments “……西洋人做文章把语言化零为整,中国人做文章几乎可以 说是化整为零。” ----王力 洞庭湖“衔远山,吞长江,浩浩荡荡,横无际涯”。 Carrying distant mountains in the mouth and swallowing Yangtze River, the vast and mighty Donting Lake stretches endlessly. 整合IT市场资源,追求专业化、市场化、规模化、规范化。 We have integrated IT market resources, striving to be specialized and market-oriented with scale and standardization.
经济发达,交通便利以后,频频南调北运,外加塑料大棚养 殖什么的,水果上市不分了季节。 As the transportation system had developed and economy had improved in China, fruit could be transported to every corner of the country and, with greenhouses, at any season.
词性和语态之间的转换 Shift between parts of speech and voices • v. - n. 他喜欢在晚饭后静静地抽支烟。 He likes a quiet smoke after supper. 他在讲话中特别强调提高产品质量。 In his speech he laid special stress on raising the quality of the products. 林则徐认为,要成功地禁止鸦片买卖,就得首先 把鸦片焚毁了。 Lin Zexu believed that a successful ban of the opium trade must be preceded by the destruction of the drug itself.
你一定很不善于学习,要不然就是教你的人很不 会教。 You must be a very bad learner, or else you must be going to a very bad teacher. Exceptional cases: n. -v. 他的讲演给听众的印象很深。 His speech impressed the audience deeply. 他在最后的一幕里占了很突出的地位。 She figured prominently in the last act.
• V. --adj. (表示知觉、情感等心理状态) 1、获悉日本遭受大地震,我们极为关切。 We are deeply concerned at the news that Japan has been struck by the devastating earthquake. 2. 、他们怀疑他是否负担得起。 They are doubtful whether he can afford it. • Adv—v 匆匆地下结论 jump to a conclusion 偷偷地看一眼 steal a glance 急忙赶来相助 rush to help 他笑着同意了。He smiled his consent.
• Shift between voices (汉语重思维形态的主体性, 主体“尽在不言中”。汉语主动---英语被动) 饭在锅里,我在屋里。 The meal has been prepared and I’m waiting for you in the bedroom. 如果开支确属必要,钱总是可以筹到的。 If the expenditure is really necessary, the money can be found/fund can be raised somehow.
• v. -prep. 这种人闹什么东西呢?闹名誉,闹地位,闹出风头。 What are these people after? They are after fame and position and want to be in the limelight. 有人给他撑腰。 He has someone behind him. 他是一个脱离了低级趣味的人。 He is a man above vulgar interests.
第四章 语篇分析与得体表达 I、语篇类型分析(Analysis of text types) According to Newmark, the text can be classified into expressive (“表情类”), informative (“信息类” ), and vocative (“呼唤鼓动类”),that is: • expressive:nonfiction, speech, biography, prose, and private letters • informative:teaching material, scientific report, news, academic paper, thesis, meeting minutes or agenda, etc. • vocative:public notices, products instructions, advertisement, political propaganda, persuasive writings, etc.
Moreover, the type of the text can also be classified into: literary and non literary, that is: • literary:novel, biography, prose, poem, anecdote, joke, etc. • non literary (practical): government’s document, diplomatic document, legal document, scientific and technological material, business letters, public notice, product instruction, advertisement, name card and tourist catalogs, etc.
II、语篇功能分析(Analysis of text functions) • Only in few cases a text can be judged with a single function, in many cases, a text is always endowed with several functions whereas taking one or two of them as the main functions. • The significance of analysis of text functions during the course of translation lies: because the text functions and context are closely correlated, hence to determine the text functions can contribute actively to the due analysis of the original works; at the same time, the translator can also evaluate the original factors in the TL context to ensure that the equivalent function can work on the TL.
• In conclusion, a translator should recognize and finalize the types of the text because it may decide his understanding and expression during the course of translation. And the analysis of the text can help to differentiate various texts with its own focuses, e. g. text focusing on the contents(scientific); on the form and content equally (literary text); on the effect and eye-catching (practical), and hence to translate the text appropriately, effectively and efficiently.
III. 语篇分析与翻译 (Text analysis and translation) In accordance with the views of translating the text functions, translator should not take the equivalence to the original or simply the original function as the criterion or basis to judge the quality of the version. Instead, the expected function of the version in the target language should be the standard. The function of the version can be similar or consistent to that of the original, or can be completely different. Hence the method and strategy should be decided by the translator on the basis of the analysis and comparison of the function of the original and the expected function of the version.
The analysis of the original is equally important to translation of the literary works or the nonfiction and a translator should pay due attention to the important factors such as the discourse factors from the viewpoints of the version during the process of analyzing and translating the original.
IV. 各种语篇类型翻译点评 (Comments on translation of various types of text) 1、散文(prose) original:但是,朔方的雪花纷飞之后,却永远如粉,如沙,他们决不 粘连,撒在屋上,地上,枯草上,就是这样。屋上的雪是早就有消化 了的,因为屋里居人的火的温热。别的,在晴天之下,旋风忽来,便 蓬勃地奋飞,在日光中灿灿地生光,如包藏火焰的大雾,旋转而且升 腾,弥漫太空,使太空旋转而且升腾地闪烁。(“雪”,摘自鲁迅《野 草》) version: But the snowflakes that fall in the north remain to the last like powder or sand never hold together, whether scattered on roofs, the ground or the withered grass. The warmth from the stoves inside has melted some of the snow on the roofs. As for the rest, when a whirlwind springs up under a clear sky, it flies up wildly, glittering in the sunlight like thick mist around a flame, revolving and rising till fills the sky, and the whole sky glitters as it whirls and rises.
2、诗歌(poetry) original: 静夜思 李白 床前明月光,疑是地上霜。 举头望明月,低头思故乡。 version: In The Quiet Night By Li Bai So bright a gleam on the foot of my bed— Could there have been a frost already? Lifting myself to look, I found that it was Moonlight. Sinking back again, I thought suddenly of home.
3、特写(feature articles) original:为了庆祝香港的历史性回归,7月1日将在 维多利亚港举行有史以来最大规模的烟花表演。 观众可以免费观看长达 1小时的烟花表演。同时, 维多利亚湾两侧的公园里也将华灯齐放,展示一 幅极为美丽的景象。灯展将历时 100天。 version: To celebrate Hong Kong’s historic return to China, the greatest fireworks display ever seen will take place above Victoria Harbor on July 1. The show is scheduled to last for one hour and admission is free. On both sides of the harbor, parks will light up with colorful lanterns and the illuminated decorations will remain for 100 days.
政论文(political essay) original:同时必须清醒看到,在一些地方和部门的领导 作 4、 中,忽视思想教育,忽视精神文明,“一手比较硬,一手 比较软“的问题还没有解决。在社会精神方面还存在不少 问题,有的还相当严重。一些领域道德失范,拜金主义、 享乐主义、个人主义滋长;封建迷信活动和黄赌毒等丑恶 现象沉渣泛起;假冒伪劣、欺诈活动成为社会公害;文化 事业受到消极因素的严重冲击,危害青少年身心健康的东 西屡禁不止;腐败现象在一些地方蔓延,党风、政风受到 很大损害。 version: At the same time, we must see with a sober mind that in the work of leadership in some localities and departments, the problem of neglecting ideological education and ethical and cultural progress, and “attaching importance to some things while neglecting others” has not been solved. Quite a number of problems still exist in the social, ethical and cultural life, some rather serious.
The standard of moral conduct has been lowered in some spheres, and the practice of worshipping money, seeking pleasure and individualism has grown; feudal superstitions and such social vices as pornography, gambling and drug abuse have resurfaced; production fo shoddy and fake goods and fraud have become a social scourge (cause of great harm or suffering); the cultural cause has been seriously affected by negative factors; things that damage the physical and mental health of youngsters and children have not been eliminated despite repeated prohibitions; the phenomenon of corruption has been spreading in some places, seriously damaging the work style of the Party and the government.
Culture: 第五章 文化差异、接受及文化词语的处理 1. The customs, beliefs, art, music, and all the other products of human thought made by a particular group of people at a particular time. e. g. : ancient Greek culture, a tribal culture pop culture 2. Artistic and other activity of the mind and the works produced by this.
Leo Loveday, an American sociolinguist It does not refer to theatre going or the possession of a refrigerator. It refers to something rather abstract and difficult to grasp immediately as one is part of it. It involves the implicit norms and conventions of a society, its methods of going about doing things, its historically transmitted but also adaptive and creative ethos, its symbols and its organization of experience.
• Culture is a historical phenomenon 龟 蛤蟆 a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh Elevation vs. degeneration • Culture is a geographical phenomenon green hat/cap: an Aussie’s experience 龙 She was guarded by a woman obviously her mother, who tried to stare Hagan down with a cold arrogance that made him want to punch her in the face. The angel child and the dragon mother, Hagan thought, returning the mother’s cold stare. ( The Godfather p 54)
• 十里蛙声不断,九溪曲流不断。 You can hear frog’s continuous crying in ten miles and can enjoy the babbling of the winding streams. • 别以为熊猫长得都一样,娇娇是特别的漂亮。 You may think pandas look all alike, but Jiaojiao is particularly beautiful. • 爱屋及乌 Love me, love my dog red
Version 1: Lo, how my lawn is rife with golden blooms Of bunched chrysanthemums--- Weary their heads they bow. Who cares to pluck them now ? While I the casement keep Lone, waiting for night And, as the shades fall Upon broad leaves, spares raindrops drip. Ah, such a plight Of grief-grief unbearable, unthinkable. (John A. Turneer, 1976)
Version 2: The ground is covered with yellow flowers, Faded and fallen in showers. Who will pick them up now ? Sitting alone at the window, how Could I but quicken The pace of darkness that won’t thicken ? Upon the plane-trees a fine rain drizzles As twilight grizzles Oh, What can I do with a grief Beyond belief ? (Xu Yuanchong, 1981)
Version 1: Incense from a jade censer And a tearful vermilion candle Evoked autumn moods within the painted chamber. Penciled eyebrows worn, Cloud-like locks in disarray; Long is the night, the covers and pillow cold. Upon the Wu-t’ung trees Fall a midnight rain, In different to the persistent pains of separation. Leaf upon leaf, Drop by drop, On empty steps it drips until the dawn. (William R. Schultz. 1975)
Version 2: The tearful candle red And fragrant censer spread Within the painted bower a gloomy autumn light. Fad’d eyebrows penciled And hair dishevelled, She feels her quilt the colder and longer the night. The lonely withered trees And midnight rain and breeze Don’t care about her bitter parting sorrow. Leaf on leaf without grief, Drop by drop without stop, They fall on vacant steps until the morrow. (Xu Yuanchong, 1988)
第六章 实用类语篇的翻译翻译 Translation of Practical Chinese 1、公共告示(Bills &Notices) Characteristics: • posted in public • aiming at catching attention • incl. labels, bulletins, notices, warnings, shop front signs, etc. • short, concise, brief, simplified structure
How to translate? • “While in Rome, do as Roman does”. Following the way things are expressed in English usually • Try to make use of the existing similar expressions of the target language • Try to make the version achieve the function and effect equivalent to the original
e. g. 1、请止步 No Admittance! 2、非公莫入 No admittance except on business. 3、仓库重地闲人免进 Warehouse: Authorized Persons Only. 4、谢绝参观 Inspection/Visitors Declined. 5、切勿倒置 Keep Upright.
6、自备零钞,不找零钱 (公共汽车) Exact Fare Only 7、头手不要伸出窗外 Please Keep Arms and Heads Inside the Bus. 8、谨防扒手! Beware of Pickpockets. 9、老弱病残孕专座 Courtesy Seats; Courtesy Seating 10、请勿乱丢烟头 Thank You for Using the Ash-tray. com. : Please don’t litter the floor with cigarette ends.
11、禁止喧哗 Quiet, please. 12、请勿酒后开车 Please don’t drink and drive. 13、请勿用物件预留座位(图书馆、餐厅) Seats shall be reserved for warm bodies only. 14、严禁在此大小便 Decency Forbids; Commit No Nuisance. 15、先来先办,售完为止 First come, first served, until it is fully booked. 16、昼夜营业/全天营业 Round-the-Clock Business; Always Open.
17、照常营业 Business As Usual. 18、暂停营业 Business Temporarily for Repairs. 19、今日盘点,暂停营业 Closed for Stock-taking. 20、内部修理,暂停营业 Closed Temporarily for Repairs. 21、立等可取 Instant Repair; Instant Service. 22、当日可取 Same Day Service
Version for reference: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Fast Food To Go. Grand Opening. Two for the price of one; Buy one and get one free. Sale; Sale Price; Big Sale. Factory Outlet Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price For Display Only; Not for Sale Hands Off. Handle at Your Own Risk. 20 percents off
11. White Sale. 12. Clearance Price. 13. Crazy Price. 14. Terrific Value; Special Buy. 15. Best Value In Town. 16. It’s Now or Never. 17. All sales are final. 18. Satisfaction Guaranteed, Or Money Back; Goods Satisfactory Or Money Refunded.
2、广告(Advertisement) • Characteristics 1. Selling power (推销能力) 2. Memory power(记忆价值)“fresh” “creative” 3. Attention value(注意价值) 4. Readability(可读性) 5. Persuasive power(说服力) 6. Loaded , figurative language (鼓动性、修辞性语言)
• 隐喻(metaphor) EAR FOOD Give a listen to Sanyo’s newest CD players. They’re moveable feasts for music-hungry ears. 耳朵的美餐 可移动的新一代三洋CD机,饱您耳福的音乐美餐。
• 排比 (parallelism) The CORDIA: Shaped by the wind; born for the road. 戈迪亚牌汽车:应路而生,风雨造就。 • 头韵(alliteration) Choosy mother choose Jif. 挑剔的母亲专爱挑吉弗牌花生酱。 • 尾韵(rhyme) Compact impact. 体积虽小,颇具功效
• 仿拟(parody) A Mars a day keeps you work, rest and play. 一天一块“金星”巧克力,令你精力充沛、生活愉悦。 (模拟An apple a day keeps the doctor away. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ) • 重复( repetition) Any bar that serves Remy Martin XO is not just any bar. 任何供应人头马XO的酒吧都是非同寻常的酒吧。
汉英广告翻译(C-E advertising translation) • Following the way things are usually expressed in Englsih • Making full use of rhetorical devices 1、牡丹香烟,醇味盖冠 (牡丹牌香烟) Peony stands out for taste. Parody: Camel stands out for taste. (Camel Cigarette) 2、值得信赖, 惟有兄弟 (台湾兄弟牌运动用品) Only Brother Your Very Own Brother. (repetition) 3、不求今日拥有,但求天长地久。(青岛电视) Choose once and choose for good. (pun)
4、追求美的真谛,创造美的事业,奉献美的至诚,共建美 的世界。(丝宝集团 parallelism) Challenge, Creation, Contribution, Cooperation. 5、默默无蚊的奉献。(蚊香片广告 pun) Mosquito-repellent incense, repelling mosquitoes in silence. (rhyme)
Adaptation (改译) 天时、地利、人和 (房产投资广告) The best time to invest, the best place to invest, the best property to invest. Com. : Favorable climatic, geographical and human conditions 长城电扇,电扇长城 A fan is no comparison to the Great Wall, but the Great Wall Fan will show you that it is just as cool. (pun: “cool” )
Version for reference 1. 2. 3. East or west, “Zhanggong” (distilled spirit) is the best. “Jinri” (VCD/DVD) in hand, success in the end. Manufactured with advanced technology and selected materials, our products are novel in design and reasonable in price. 4. The world’s only one in China; an unrivalled specialty in China 5. You can’t beat the feeling; something you cannot afford to miss.
6. Try it once and you’ll love it; Com. : …with lingering aftertaste. It means “the taste that remains in the mouth after eating or drinking, I. e. unpleasant flavor 7. Shelf date 8. A real extra 9. Quality and quantity assured 10. Surpass the standards issued by the Ministry of (hint: context)
第七章 不可译性与创造性翻译 Untranslatability and Creative translation: creation (译例1) 鲁大海:(挣扎)放开我,你们这群强盗! 周 萍:(向仆人)把他拉下去! 鲁侍萍:( 大哭)这真是一群强盗!(走到周萍面前) 你是萍……凭----什么打我儿子! (曹禺《雷雨》) Hai: (struggling) Let go of me, you hooligans! Ping: (to the servants) Hustle him outside! Ma: (breaking down) You are hooligans, too! (going across to Chou Ping) You’re my--- Mighty free with your fists! What rights have to hit my son?
Madame Hu gave a sigh and watched her husband anxiously pacing about and before. “What did Chang Tieh-tsui say? ” She asked timidly. “He gave me very good news. We need not look for trouble, I have the possibility of being a member of a Committee!” “What’s a common tea? ” asked the wife, who only vaguely caught the sound. “A Committee! Lord and esquires are out of date, and the prevailing nomination is to a Committee. Don’t you still understand? ”
Version Peanuts By Xu Dishan There was a small piece of open land behind our house. One day, mother said to us, “it’s a pity to leave it lying waste. Since you are so fond of peanuts, let’s turn it into a peanut garden. ” Hearing that, we kids and the little maids were so delighted that we set about working immediately. Some went to buy the seeds, some broke ground and others watered the garden. To our happy surprise, several months later we had a real harvest.
The harvest over, mother suggested, “what about holding a celebration of our harvest this evening and inviting your Daddy to have a taste of our newly-reaped peanuts? ” To this we all agreed. Mother prepared many kinds of peanut food and told us to hold the celebration in the thatched pavilion in the garden. The sky was not so clear that evening. But to our great pleasure, we had Daddy with us. He asked us, “do you like peanuts? ” We all rushed to the answer, “Yes!”
“Who can tell us the advantage of peanuts? ” My elder sister said, “They taste good. ” “We can extract oil from them, ” was my elder brother’s reply. I said, “They are so inexpensive that everyone can afford them and like them. That’s their advantage. ”
练习 那女娲氏炼石 补天之时,与大荒山无稽崖, 炼成高十二丈,见方二十四丈的顽石三万六千五 百零一块。 Version When the goddess Nu Wa melted down rocks to repair the sky at Baseless Cliff in the Great Waste Mountain, she made thirty-six five hundred and one blocks of stone, each a hundred and twenty feet high and two hundred and forty feet square.
练习 那些卖酒的青帘高扬,卖菜的红炭满炉,仕 女游人,络绎不绝,真不数“三十六家花酒店,七 十二做管弦楼。” Version Dark trade-signs flutter above the wineshops, and red charcoal glows in the teahouse stories, while men and women stream by, on pleasure bent, to throng the countless taverns and music halls.
Version Situated on the southeast China coast, Fujian Province used to be an economically backward province small in population and poor in natural resources. But this has changed since the start of the reform in the late 70 s. Taking full advantage of the special polices granted by the central government, Fujian Province has taken the initiative in breaking through traditional economic structure and moving toward a market economy. The substantial progress achieved has efficiently facilitated a rapid development in Fujian’s economy and society and made it possible for the province to leap to the leading position together with a few other provinces in the country in terms of economic growth rate and GDP. The deepening of reform and new leaps in economy are all in urgent need of science and quality personnel to back up.
Version This has provided a challenge as well as an opportunity for Fuzhou University, a university of science and engineering, concentrating mainly on engineering, the only local university of its type in Fujian Province. To keep pace with the reform and the rapid economic development in the province, Fuzhou University is now on its development fast lane.
Version The past 40 years, especially the past 20 years, have seen the number of students enrolled jump from less than 2000 in 1978 to more than 10, 000 today and specialties offered cover almost all the economic and industrial sectors and fields in the province. A variegated pattern of school running has been created which includes graduate education, undergraduate education, short 2 -to-3 -year higher education programs, adult education and education programs for overseas students. As a result, the university has entered the list of 100 selected universities in China with additional resources for further development.
Version At the age of sixteen, Bai Juyi went to Chang’an, the imperial capital, bringing with him his poems, to see an old poet, Gu Kuang, hoping to get his guidance. Seeing he was only a child, Gu Kuang did not take him seriously and said jokingly about “”Juyi (meaning literally “easy (yi) to live (ju)”) on the manuscript, “Rice here in Chang’an is expensive. It’s not ‘yi’ to ‘ju’”. But he exclaimed, tapping his desk approvingly when he came upon such lines: No prairie fire can burn it utterly, The spring wind brings it back to life again. His while tone immediately changed and he said seriously, “A man who can write such wonderful lines won’t find it difficult to live here. Pardon me for joking. ” Soon the name Bai Juyi was widely known.
Version A Perspective on Society: Please don’t join in the fun A Pickpocket’s Confession Crowded places are where we choose to pick and steal because it’s easy for us to start among a crowd and those people are so deep in the fun(what’s going on there) that they pay little attention to their purses and wallets. Our attempts can always come off without fail ( we get things /our job done easily).
Version In the street , it will never be difficult to find some crowds. There are curious crowds gathering in front of (around) jugglers (monkey shows), quacks(charlatans; mountebanks selling quack medicines) and stalls of all sorts. (In the street, you can always find crowds such as spectators around a circus, standers-by(bystanders) around a medicine peddler or onlookers before various stalls. ) I never feel worried without them. There are so much traffic (so many people walking or riding bicycles) in the street and things like clashes and quarrels always happen. They can attract crowds of onlookers. Crowds can even be made. (If you are not lucky enough to find a crowd, you can make one. ) If two persons start a pretended fight, I’m sure there will be hundreds of people gathering and watching. (A pretended fight will be enough to attract hundreds of people)
Version Peking before Dawn It was getting colder and colder. The lake in Beihai Park was already covered with a thick layer of ice. Trees on both sides of the road were stripped of all their leaves, leaving only their bare branches shivering in the icy wind.
Peking was then besieged by the mighty People’s Liberation Army. All the city gates were shut tight (strongly guarded), (shutting out all the food that was to come into the city)making it impossible to transport any food (grain, vegetable, meat and fish) from outside. Owing to the dwindling sources of food in the city, what we had for dishes were only (pickles)pickled radish which was prepared long before, and sometimes sprouts made of soybeans.
Every now and then came thundering of cannons fired by the PLA. In the city, there were still a large contingent of Kuomingtang Troops in garrison. Stricken animals as they were, they might (endanger)bring about great loss of people’s lives and properties if they continued to resist desperately. General Fu Zuoyi, then the commander of the troops, was placed in a dilemma whether to surrender to the PLA or put up a desperate fight at the sacrifice of the city and the people. In an attempt to find a way out, he invited some distinguished scholars and celebrities in Peking to meet with him for their suggestions and advices.
The meeting was held in Zhongnanhai, then the headquarters of Fu’s troops, with an unusual tension permeating the air. To start with , General Fu expressed in his brief opening speech his willingness to hear all kinds of opinions from those present. But after his speech, the whole room fell into silence. ( his speech was followed by an unusual silence). For a very long time, the only sound to be heard was the ticking of the wall clock. Glances of doubt and inquiry were exchanged and it was obvious that no one dared to speak because of the fear that they might be taking a great risk if they made any suggestion about giving up resistance.
Finally, someone found his voice to speak, breaking the silence and bringing the meeting to life. The participants, one after another, spoke to express their hope that General Fu would, valuing above everything else the safety of the people and the preservation of cultural and historical sites in the ancient capital, exert his efforts to do something for an earlier and peaceful liberation of Peking. All the while, General Fu listened with patience and attention. In the end, he stood up to express his appreciation to all the participants for their unreserved frankness.
The news spread around soon after the meeting. People in Peking were more and more assured that their hope for a peaceful liberation would come true and a long night of darkness would soon depart and a promising dawn was coming.
• “诸位记者!”他咳嗽了声,站了起来。但是那些正在谈笑 的招待对象,并未注意他的动作。连坐在附近的官方记者 也没有特别的反应。 “Reporters!” He coughed and stood up. These who were invited were only chattering and laughing without paying any attention to his gesture. Even the governmental reporters sitting nearby failed to make special response. “Ladies and gentlemen!” He cleared his throat and stood up. The reporters being treated were still chatting, paying no attention to him. Even the official journalists sitting nearby didn’t make any response.
Typical errors in ex. 7 • 经济上最强大的国家 the most economically mighty/powerful country ? the most economic country ? the strongest economic power ? the largest economy (最大的经济体) • 发生 occurring (of unpleasant events) happening/what’s going on
• 似乎不合情理 unreasonable paradoxical (combining opposing qualities , ideas, etc. ) • 内存 memory RAM (randomly accessible memory) built-in (内置) • 模拟 imitation simulation analog (vs. digital)
• 语言成分 ingredient/element component/constituent • 引人入胜、语义复杂 interesting/ravishing style, engrossing type of text… stylistically appealing and semantically complex • 非得由人来进行翻译不可 Only human beings can be the translators. Human translators will always be necessary.
Typical errors in translating “Playing chess” • Person: you, we, he; some of them, they ? • A severe threatens / when you post/poise(pose) a threat • Component opponent • In the forehead of your opponent, the blue veins pop out the blue veins stands out on the head / veins on his face blue veins standing out on his temples • Pinch his ears and face tweak his ears and scratch his cheeks (too literal, word for word) com. : scratch his head • Has to eat sth. Unpleasant/some dirt • Sweat beads / drops of perspiration stream com. : drops of cold sweat • 红头涨脸(如关公)Faces are as red as Guanggong/Guan Yu, a hero in Chinese history / his face is red through and through / flush crimson / flush as red are could be com. : flush with shame
• Feel spare energy in your body (行有余力) feeling carefree • Repent his false (a. /ad. ) mistake/error/folly/stupidity • He might burps? and yawns? ? Hiccup unceasing -ly • When plays ? (playing) chess • Use up all means /go to any absurd means com. : resort to every conceivable means • Positively? Negatively? (literal and word-for-word) • Hunting a rabbit (hare) • Phenomenons (phenomena)
Typical errors in translating “立论” • 立论 Make/present/demonstrate a point /a view/argument… On making/presenting… On expressing an opinion • 斜射出眼光 A light slanting over the glasses/a oblique glance Glancing sideways at me over his glasses • 一家人家生了男孩 A new-borned boy baby a household adds a baby boy When a son is born to a family • Every family members • When the boy is one month (old)
• 想得一点好兆头 Get some good signs/the good omen/good lucky marks expecting some compliments • The child is destined to be rich. The child is doomed to be an official *derogatory: death and destruction Men are doomed to die. • Clobber (Am. Slang) beat/beating
Version Shenzhen is adjacent to Hong Kong, and Zhuhai is close to Macao. We chose Shantou because there are many natives of nearby Chaozhou living in Southeast Asian countries. Xiamen became a special economic zone because many natives of southern Fujian have emigrated to other countries and gone into trade. However, we did not take the intellectual advantages of Shanghai into account. Since the people of Shanghai are clever and well educated, if we had decided to establish a special economic zone here, the city would look very different now.
The 14 open coastal cities include Shanghai, but these have no special status. It would have been better to develop the Pudong District a few years ago, like the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Development of the Pudong District will have a great impact on just the district itself but on all of Shanghai, which in turn will serve as a base for the development of the Yangtze delta and the whole Yangtze basin. So we should lose no time in developing the Pudong District and persevere until construction is completed. So long as we keep our word and act in accordance with international practice, foreign entrepreneurs will choose to invest in Shanghai. That is the right way to compete.
Version China will be the largest economy in the world within 15 years. No matter what your business is, Chinese will comprise/constitutes a significant portion of your suppliers, your competitors, your customers, your bankers and your stockholders or partners. What is happening in China will have consequences/results in substantial influences for our entire system.
For many people the need for human translators seems paradoxical in this age of computers. But the results of machine translating are usually an unusual form of language and sometimes just plain weird/unbelievable. The human brain is not only digital and analog, but it also has a builtin system of values which gives it a componentially incalculable advantage over machines (in terms of analysis of language components). Human translators will always be necessary for any text which is stylistically appealing and semantically complex.
Version l When you put him on the spot, you can expect to see blue veins standing out on his temples and drops of cold sweat the size of soybean appearing on his forehead. He will either wear a wan smile on his long face, or purse his lips in displeasure, or scratch his head, or let out a sharp cry, or sigh and groan, or bitterly repent his folly, or keep hiccupping unceasingly or flush with shame, and suchlike. And at such a moment, feeling carefree, you can light a cigarette or just take a sip from your teacup and savor the signs of your opponent’s discomfort.
The pleasure you have from it, I believe, is by no means less than that a hunter gets from a deadbeat hare at his mercy. And from this I have found out something--- when engaged in a game of chess, you should resort to every conceivable means to embarrass your opponent, and try hard to remain calm when yourself fall into difficulty. If you are unable to cause your opponent to suffer, why not try to let him find as little pleasure as possible from your trouble?
Version On Expressing an Opinion I dreamed I was in the classroom of a primary school preparing to write an essay, and asked the teacher how to express an opinion. “That’s hard!” Glancing sideways at me over his glasses, he said, “Let me tell you a story---” “When a son is born to a family, the whole household is delighted. When he is one month old they carry him out to display him before the guests---usually expecting some compliments, of course. ” “One says: ‘This child will be rich. ’ Then he is heartily thanked. ”
“One says: ‘This child will be an official. ’ Then some compliments are made him in return. ” “One says: ‘This child will die. ’ Then he is thoroughly beaten by the whole family. ” “That the child will die is inevitable, while to say that he will be rich or a high official may be a lie. Yet the lie is rewarded whereas the statement of the inevitable gains a beating. You…” “I don’t want to tell lies, sir, neither do I want to be beaten. So what should I say? ” “In that case, say: ‘Aha! Just look at this child! My word…Oh, my! Oho! He, hehe!’” (From “Wild Grass”)
Version Nanjing—A Lovely City Boasting a galaxy of great men and (a series of immortal) glorious achievements that shine through the ages, Nanjing, a metropolis with special cohesive power, has attracted the greatest number of celebrities and people with lofty ideals to compete with each other for pioneering a great cause. There are such outstanding statesmen and strategists as Sun Quan, Xie An, Hong Xiuquan and Sun Yat-sen; brilliant scientists as Zu Chongzhi, Ge Hong, Li Shizhen and Zheng He; distinguished writers as Liu Xie, Xiao Tong, Cao Xueqing and Wu Jingzi; famous artists as Wang Xizhi, Gu Kaizhi, Xu Beihong and Fu Baoshi; well-known educators as Tao Xingzhi and renowned architects like Yang Tingbao, who had been here on this well-endowed land to make their splendid dreams perfect.
The towering Zhongshan Mountain and the rolling Changjiang River had nurtured these excellent children (offspring) of the Chinese nation and served as an arena for them to realize their aspirations, who in turn, had added splendid chapters to the brilliant annals of the Chinese civilization.
What is more exciting and inspiring are Nanjing's great and profound changes since the founding of New China, as are vividly described in the following lines by Mao Zedong, " The City, a tiger crouching, a dragon curling, outshines its ancient glories; In heroic triumph heaven and earth have been overturned. " The day of April, 23 1949 marked the beginning of an era when working people become the real masters of this hoary ancient city.
With her rebirth, Nanjing has waken from the nightmare of humiliations and disasters that had haunted her for too long. (This beautiful historic city has been bubbling with renewed vitality especially in the last decade or so when reform and opening-up program is going on in China. ) People are working hard on their own land give the old city an entirely new look. Especially in the last decade or so, China's reform and opening-up program has added renewed vitality to this beautiful historic city.
The newly-developed industries, the excellent communication networks, the beautifully-shaped urban construction, the booming tertiary industries and rich cultural activities, all these have combined to make this modern metropolis, mingled with features of an ancient capital, full of life and vigor. "The prospects for the development of Nanjing are boundless. " This presage by Dr. Sun Yat-sen is becoming a reality. How lovely is Nanjing, (—a century-old city but still young and well-known for her long history and rich culture!)a young city loaded with history and culture!
Typical errors in translating “Nanjing” • 堆砌人名 • Nanking (Nanjing) • people of the year celebrities • Sun Zhongshan (the father of modern China) Sun Yat-sen (the forerunner of Chinese democratic revolution) • 钟山the Zhong Mountain/Purple Mountain the Zhongshan Mt. • 凝聚力drawn by her unique appeal(感染/吸引力) cohesive power
• 注入活力 Infused new energy to full of life and vigor • New China was found(ed)/the foundation/build(v. ) of China the founding of PR China • in their land • historic known city • Newly built/born industries/brand-new industries (product) • 音译诗歌! • 学生译文之间的重复!!!词、句、段
2005 英语专业八级试题 E---C It is simple enough to say that since books have classes--- fiction, biography, poetry--- we should separate them and take from each what it is right that each should give us. Yet few people ask from books what books can give us. Most commonly we come to books with blurred and divided minds, asking of fiction that it shall be true, of poetry that it shall be false, of biography that it shall be flattering, of history that it shall enforce our own prejudices. If we could banish all such preconceptions when we read, that would be an admirable beginning.
Do not dictate to your author; try to become him. Be his fellow-worker and accomplice. If you hang back, and reserve and criticize at first, you are preventing yourself from getting the fullest possible value from what you read. But if you open your mind as widely as possible, then signs and hints of almost imperceptible fineness, from the twist and turn of the first sentences, will bring you into the presence of a human being unlike any other. Steep yourself in this, acquaint yourself with this, and soon you will find that your author is giving you, or attempting to give you, something far more definite.
Typical errors in translating “生命之意义” • • • he always try best and …never waste time achievers …any principle based on which to judge. . since time immemorial, …achieved…treated , without wasting his time doing nothing. let the time split away from them silently. to draw a proper conclude…. from old…. drift through life. one’s being by
• . observing what are his attitude… • . easier/easy • . meaningfulness/sense of live
What is the significance of life? Is there any criterion for its measurement? Difficult as it is to advance an absolute one, it will not be so to judge the very meaning of one’s existence generally from whether he is serious about life and what his attitudes are towards work and life. Throughout the ages, all people of accomplishment take their lives seriously. As long as they are alive, they would rather devote themselves to more work and study than let a single minute slip by in vain. And the same is true of the common laborers as well as the great statesmen and thinkers in our country.
Typical errors in translating “中华民族” • 中华民族 Chinese Nationalities ---- Chinese Nation • 高于一切 the highest/higher/superior/super creature above everything • 苦闷 pang/depression worries • 业/农业社会 industry/agriculture society industrial/agricultural society • 欲望小得多 less wants smaller desires
2006英语专业八级试题参考译文C--E The Chinese nation has never regarded human beings above everything. As reflected in its philosophy, arts and literature, man takes a proportionate position in nature with all creatures, rather than acting as an absolute ruler of them. Therefore, we have fewer and smaller worries than the westerners because the intensity of worries varies with the magnitude of desire and ambition. People in agricultural society enjoy far less than those in industrial society and as a result their desires are much smaller. In addition, the ancient Chinese took it as their prime philosophy of life not to be confined and driven by physical pleasures.
That does not follow that we have no misers, but they will pale in comparison with the misers and aspirants described by Moliere and Balzac. Most Chinese people are even-tempered, carefree, simple, and easier to be satisfied than the westerners.
2006年英语专业试题E---C On May 13, 1940, Winston Churchill, the newly appointed British Prime Minister, gave his first speech to Parliament. He was preparing the people for a long battle against Nazi aggression, at a time when England’s survival was still in doubt. “… I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy ? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime.
2006 英语专业八级试题E---C You ask, what is our aim ? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs – victory in spite of all terrors – for without victory there is no survival. Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal. I take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. I feel entitled at this juncture. At this time, to claim the aid of all and to say, ‘ Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength’. ”
2007八级全真翻译题----英译汉 Scientific and technological advances are enabling us to comprehend the furthest reaches of the cosmos, the most basic constituents of matter, and the miracle of life. At the same time, today, the actions, and inaction, of human beings imperil not only life on the planet, but the very life of the planet. Globalization is making the world smaller, faster and richer. Still, 9/11, avian flu, and Iran remind us that a smaller, faster world is not necessarily a safer world.
Our world is bursting with knowledge - but desperately in need of wisdom. Now, when sound bites are getting shorter, when instant messages crowd out essays, and when individual lives grow more crazy, college graduates capable of deep reflection are what our world needs. For all these reasons I believed - and I believe even more strongly today - in the unique and irreplaceable mission of universities.
2007年英语专业八级参考译文C---E Beside this picture with profusions of colors, a group of sheep are lowing their heads, eating by the river bank. Hardly none of them would spare some time to raise their eyes to have a glance at the beautiful dusk. They are, perhaps, taking use of every minute to enjoy their last chew before being driven home. This is a picture of the Yellow River bank, in which the shepherd disappears, and no one knows where he is resting himself. Only the sheep, however, as free creatures, are joyfully appreciating the dusk. The exuberant water plants have nurtured the sheep, making them grow as fat as balls. When approaching near, you would find their lily-white teeth and a variety of innocent facial impressions.
Version An Ordinary Incident (Excerpted) By Luxun That happened in the winter of the 6 th year of the Republic(1917). To make a living, I hurried to the road in the early morning despite the violent/biting northern wind. There were few people on the street and it took me great effort to hire a rickshaw and ask the wheeler to rush to the Gate S. Shortly a while later, northern wind slowed down, the road became clean, even whitened, shone; and dust free, the ‘Man’ (wheeler) ran even quicker. When we were approaching the Gate S, the handle of the rickshaw got a person and fell her slowly.
跌倒的是一个女人,花白头发,衣服都很破烂。伊从 马路边上突然向车前横截过来;车夫已经让开道,但伊的 破棉背心没有上扣,微风吹着,向外展开,所以终于兜着 车把。幸而车夫早有点停步,否则伊定要栽一个大筋斗, 跌到头破血出了。 A gray-haired lady in rags, rushing from the roadside suddenly, fell down to the ground in front of the rickshaw. Though the wheeler had already gave way to her, her cotton-padded waistcoat got the handle of the cart. Fortunately, the driver slowed down timely, or she must have fallen to ground heavily and got wounded seriously.
我这时突然感到一种异样的感觉,觉得他满 身灰尘的后影,刹时高大了,而且愈走愈大,须 仰视才见,而且他对于我,渐渐的又几乎变成一 种威压,甚而至于要榨出皮袍下面藏着的“小”来。 … All of a sudden, a totally different sense came to me. The back figure of the wheeler, full of dirt, grew taller and I had to lift my eyes to see him. Slowly the image of him seemed a solemnly high pressure to me, pressing the “selfishness” beneath my leather coat. /dwarfing me pressingly.
Version KONE Corporation was established in 1910 in Finland, when a small machinery factory changed its traditional business, electric motor repairing to elevator manufacturing. In 1918 this young company designed and manufactured the first four units of Finnish made elevators. Today, KONE is one of the leaders in the global elevator and escalator business which consists of the parent company, KONE Corporation and its subsidiaries in over 40 countries with 23, 000 employees worldwide. KONE products are manufactured in Europe, Asia and North America. KONE offers a comprehensive range of products and services including sales, manufacturing, installation, modernization and maintenance of elevators, escalators and autowalks, KONE has also been a pioneer in introducing environmentally friendly products, which has gained it worldwide re-cognition as an innovator and technological leader.
Version Spring in the Gobi It is the end of April. In Beijing, it would be in the middle of the blooming season. But in the Gobi desert, it is far too early for spring. Once out of Jiayu Pass, all you can see is boundless stretch of sand; and here and there turfs of camel grass, evoking some feeling of spring. Everywhere are whirlwinds, rising one after another, lifting smoke-like yellow sand from the ground and rapidly rolling and swirling about in the desert, As soon as the weather changes, with the slightest wind drifts of snow float down from the sky. In the hot summer, snow covers the peaks of the undulating Qilian Mountains which run along the southwest of the Gobi.
No matter how far you walk and what desolate places you come to, you will see the miracles created by our people for the motherland. Right under the Qilian Mountains and in the desert, a “petroleum city” has been built by the people from all over China. This is the Yumen Oilfield. If you do not believe it, just stand on top of a hill at night and look around. Far and near, electric lights in the desert are thicker that the stars in the sky. In the north, the sky flashes red from the refinery. You cannot help thinking: “What a wonderful place! It does not even feel like a desert!” (from A Selection of Prose Pieces by Yang Shuo)
In fact, I think everyone has a small garden and that is his inner world. People’s intelligence needs to be developed, so does the inner world. The difference between people and animals, in addition to the many well-known, is also in the inner world. The heart is an important organ; however, the inner world is a landscape. It gradually takes shape under the constant influence of the outside world on the heart. Everyone is so concerned about the health of the hearts of his beloved ones as well as his that a slight disease would cause great anxiety. But not everyone is concerned about the inner world of himself and his beloved ones.
2009 -2010八级考试翻译参考译文 2009 C-E Cell phone has altered human relations. There is usually a note on the door of a conference room, which reads “close your handset”. However, the rings are resounding in the room. We are all common people and have few urgencies to do. Still, we are reluctant to turn off the phone. Cell phone symbolizes our connection with the world and reflects our “thirst for socialization”. We are familiar with the scene when a person stops his steps to edit short messages with eyes glued at his phone, regardless of his location, whether in road center or beside restroom.
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