中譯英應(yīng)該注意的問(wèn)題及同聲傳譯的成功秘訣

　　1 不合習(xí)慣的說(shuō)法

　　(1) 見(jiàn)面問(wèn)候：中國(guó)人見(jiàn)面時(shí)喜歡問(wèn)：你吃過(guò)了嗎? Have you had breakfast (lunch, supper, dinner )? 你到哪去? Where are you going? 如果見(jiàn)面就問(wèn)外國(guó)人“你到哪里去?”,人家會(huì)以為你要了解人家的私事,對(duì)你會(huì)產(chǎn)生反感。外國(guó)人喜歡問(wèn)：“你好嗎?” 這句話有多種表達(dá)方法,如How are you? How do you do ? How have you been doing? Hello! Hey! 用哪一句來(lái)表達(dá)你的問(wèn)候,取決于你與被問(wèn)候人的關(guān)系密切程度。這一類問(wèn)候語(yǔ),直譯可能會(huì)讓人感到莫名其妙,還是按外國(guó)人的習(xí)慣翻譯比較好。 特別要注意中外文化差異，中國(guó)人是以“collectivist”(集體主義)的”WE ”為中心的文化，而西方人是以“individualist”(個(gè)人主義)的 “I”為中心的文化。

　　(2) 對(duì)病人的問(wèn)候：中國(guó)人喜歡對(duì)病人深表同情。外國(guó)人則輕易不愿表現(xiàn)出其軟弱的一面,對(duì)他們表達(dá)過(guò)分同情的話未必會(huì)收到好的效果。例如：中國(guó)人在聽(tīng)說(shuō)一個(gè)人生病后可能會(huì)說(shuō)：得知您貴體欠佳,我深感不安和關(guān)切。直譯：I was rather disturbed by and concerned about your illness.但這樣翻譯會(huì)使人感到病情很重,只會(huì)加重病人的顧慮,達(dá)不到安慰病人的目的。按照英文的表達(dá)習(xí)慣,可譯為：I am sorry to hear about your illness and wish you a speedy recovery. 這樣翻譯既表達(dá)了講話者的難過(guò)心情,又表達(dá)了希望病人盡快康復(fù)的愿望。

　　(3) 對(duì)待他人的表?yè)P(yáng)和感謝：在受到表?yè)P(yáng)或感謝時(shí),中國(guó)人往往比較謙虛,會(huì)說(shuō)：“這沒(méi)什么。” “這是我應(yīng)該做的。”,“哪里,哪里,我還做得很差?！比绻弊g：It is nothing. This is my duty. This is what I should do. Well, I have not done very well. There is still much to be improved. 所有這些謙恭的話,讓外國(guó)人聽(tīng)起來(lái)顯得做作。西方人通常會(huì)說(shuō)：It’s my pleasure. Thank you for your kind words. I feel flattered.翻譯這些話時(shí),宜根據(jù)西方人的習(xí)慣來(lái)翻譯。

　　(4) 迎接外賓時(shí)：中國(guó)人迎接遠(yuǎn)道而來(lái)的客人時(shí)常常會(huì)說(shuō)：“一路上辛苦了。累不累?” You must have been tired after the long flight (journey) 而外國(guó)人喜歡在別人面前顯得年輕、有朝氣,不喜歡被人認(rèn)為體弱,或有疲勞感。因此,這類問(wèn)候話直譯效果不好,可譯成：How was the flight? Have you had a pleasant flight?或者You have had a long flight.

　　2 不夠委婉的語(yǔ)氣

　　有時(shí)候有的人講話比較直率、唐突,直譯可能會(huì)使人感到不太客氣,甚至?xí)ФY。翻譯應(yīng)該會(huì)用委婉的說(shuō)法來(lái)表達(dá),翻譯時(shí)要把握好語(yǔ)氣。但為外交斗爭(zhēng)需要而使用針?shù)h相對(duì)的語(yǔ)言除外。

　　例1 中國(guó)可作為貴國(guó)資源性產(chǎn)品的穩(wěn)定市場(chǎng),同時(shí)中國(guó)的許多工業(yè)產(chǎn)品可滿足貴國(guó)市場(chǎng)的需要。直譯：Your resource-based products can find a stable market in China and Chinese industrial products can meet the needs of your market這么直譯也許會(huì)讓人擔(dān)心,以為中國(guó)的工業(yè)品要去占領(lǐng)他們的市場(chǎng)。同樣的意思可以翻得更客氣一些。如：You may find a stable market in China for your primary products and may also get a number of industrial products from China to meet some of your needs.

　　例2 我想向大家介紹一下你們所關(guān)心的經(jīng)濟(jì)問(wèn)題。直譯：I wish to talk on China’s economic development in which you are interested.

　　這樣翻譯,顯得講話者太肯定聽(tīng)眾會(huì)對(duì)他所講內(nèi)容感興趣。盡管講話者知道聽(tīng)眾是有興趣的,但說(shuō)得客氣一點(diǎn)效果更好?？勺g為：I would like to brief you on China’s economic development, which might be of interest to you.

　　3 翻譯應(yīng)該學(xué)會(huì)使用禮貌而文雅的語(yǔ)言,否則,會(huì)產(chǎn)生距離、反感,從而失去朋友,有損我形象。

　　1974年,加拿大“白求恩紀(jì)念委員會(huì)”訪華代表團(tuán)中有一位團(tuán)員對(duì)我接待官員說(shuō),我方翻譯像警察,原因是那天早晨,翻譯到他房間對(duì)他說(shuō)：You have breakfast at 8, get your luggage downstairs at 8:30 and leave here for the airport at 9, OK? 語(yǔ)言簡(jiǎn)單、生硬、不禮貌,給外賓留下了不好的印象。有經(jīng)驗(yàn)的翻譯會(huì)對(duì)外賓說(shuō)：Breakfast is at 8, Would you please get your luggage downstairs at 8:30 ? We are going to leave here for the airport at 9.

　　曾有一位女翻譯招呼外賓,大聲喊叫“Hello”, “Hello”,而不知道說(shuō)："Excuse me",在宣布事情時(shí)總是說(shuō)：Attention please. 而不是說(shuō)：Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. 問(wèn)姓名時(shí)不是說(shuō)：“May I have your name?”,而是說(shuō)：“What’s your name?” 提醒大家安靜,會(huì)議馬上開(kāi)始了,不會(huì)對(duì)代表說(shuō)：“Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to call the meeting to order.”, 結(jié)果一位外賓對(duì)此感到不快,說(shuō)：I don’t want to talk to that wild girl.又比如,需要人幫忙時(shí),我們時(shí)常會(huì)說(shuō)：你能告訴我到×××地方怎么走嗎? 你能說(shuō)英語(yǔ)嗎? 如果英文譯成：Can you tell me how to get to……? Can you speak English?那將是很不客氣的問(wèn)話。對(duì)方會(huì)以為你懷疑他的能力。因?yàn)橛⑽淖謈an表示能力。如果改為could,含義就不同了?？勺g為：Could you please tell me how to get……? Do you speak English?一個(gè)陌生人問(wèn)你如何去某地時(shí),你很可能會(huì)說(shuō)：“你最好坐公共汽車去。”如將此句話譯為You’d better take a bus,聽(tīng)起來(lái)不夠禮貌。因?yàn)閅ou’d better……這個(gè)句型含有You have a duty to do something 或You have an obligation to do something …的意思。是一種命令語(yǔ)氣,常用于對(duì)晚輩或下屬。這樣翻譯不夠禮貌,可以翻譯為：You may/might take a bus/taxi. 這樣譯外賓會(huì)感到較客氣和好接受。