中译英应该注意问题及同声传译秘诀

中译英应该注意的问题及同声传译的成功秘诀

　　1 不合习惯的说法

　　(1) 见面问候：中国人见面时喜欢问：你吃过了吗? Have you had breakfast (lunch, supper, dinner )? 你到哪去? Where are you going? 如果见面就问外国人“你到哪里去?”,人家会以为你要了解人家的私事,对你会产生反感。外国人喜欢问：“你好吗?” 这句话有多种表达方法,如How are you? How do you do ? How have you been doing? Hello! Hey! 用哪一句来表达你的问候,取决于你与被问候人的关系密切程度。这一类问候语,直译可能会让人感到莫名其妙,还是按外国人的习惯翻译比较好。 特别要注意中外文化差异，中国人是以“collectivist”(集体主义)的”WE ”为中心的文化，而西方人是以“individualist”(个人主义)的 “I”为中心的文化。

　　(2) 对病人的问候：中国人喜欢对病人深表同情。外国人则轻易不愿表现出其软弱的一面,对他们表达过分同情的话未必会收到好的效果。例如：中国人在听说一个人生病后可能会说：得知您贵体欠佳,我深感不安和关切。直译：I was rather disturbed by and concerned about your illness.但这样翻译会使人感到病情很重,只会加重病人的顾虑,达不到安慰病人的目的。按照英文的表达习惯,可译为：I am sorry to hear about your illness and wish you a speedy recovery. 这样翻译既表达了讲话者的难过心情,又表达了希望病人尽快康复的愿望。

　　(3) 对待他人的表扬和感谢：在受到表扬或感谢时,中国人往往比较谦虚,会说：“这没什么。” “这是我应该做的。”,“哪里,哪里,我还做得很差。”如果直译：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. 所有这些谦恭的话,让外国人听起来显得做作。西方人通常会说：It’s my pleasure. Thank you for your kind words. I feel flattered.翻译这些话时,宜根据西方人的习惯来翻译。

　　(4) 迎接外宾时：中国人迎接远道而来的客人时常常会说：“一路上辛苦了。累不累?” You must have been tired after the long flight (journey) 而外国人喜欢在别人面前显得年轻、有朝气,不喜欢被人认为体弱,或有疲劳感。因此,这类问候话直译效果不好,可译成：How was the flight? Have you had a pleasant flight?或者You have had a long flight.

　　2 不够委婉的语气

　　有时候有的人讲话比较直率、唐突,直译可能会使人感到不太客气,甚至会失礼。翻译应该会用委婉的说法来表达,翻译时要把握好语气。但为外交斗争需要而使用针锋相对的语言除外。

　　例1 中国可作为贵国资源性产品的稳定市场,同时中国的许多工业产品可满足贵国市场的需要。直译：Your resource-based products can find a stable market in China and Chinese industrial products can meet the needs of your market这么直译也许会让人担心,以为中国的工业品要去占领他们的市场。同样的意思可以翻得更客气一些。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 我想向大家介绍一下你们所关心的经济问题。直译：I wish to talk on China’s economic development in which you are interested.

　　这样翻译,显得讲话者太肯定听众会对他所讲内容感兴趣。尽管讲话者知道听众是有兴趣的,但说得客气一点效果更好。可译为：I would like to brief you on China’s economic development, which might be of interest to you.

　　3 翻译应该学会使用礼貌而文雅的语言,否则,会产生距离、反感,从而失去朋友,有损我形象。

　　1974年,加拿大“白求恩纪念委员会”访华代表团中有一位团员对我接待官员说,我方翻译像警察,原因是那天早晨,翻译到他房间对他说：You have breakfast at 8, get your luggage downstairs at 8:30 and leave here for the airport at 9, OK? 语言简单、生硬、不礼貌,给外宾留下了不好的印象。有经验的翻译会对外宾说：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.

　　曾有一位女翻译招呼外宾,大声喊叫“Hello”, “Hello”,而不知道说："Excuse me",在宣布事情时总是说：Attention please. 而不是说：Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. 问姓名时不是说：“May I have your name?”,而是说：“What’s your name?” 提醒大家安静,会议马上开始了,不会对代表说：“Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to call the meeting to order.”, 结果一位外宾对此感到不快,说：I don’t want to talk to that wild girl.又比如,需要人帮忙时,我们时常会说：你能告诉我到×××地方怎么走吗? 你能说英语吗? 如果英文译成：Can you tell me how to get to……? Can you speak English?那将是很不客气的问话。对方会以为你怀疑他的能力。因为英文字can表示能力。如果改为could,含义就不同了。可译为：Could you please tell me how to get……? Do you speak English?一个陌生人问你如何去某地时,你很可能会说：“你最好坐公共汽车去。”如将此句话译为You’d better take a bus,听起来不够礼貌。因为You’d better……这个句型含有You have a duty to do something 或You have an obligation to do something …的意思。是一种命令语气,常用于对晚辈或下属。这样翻译不够礼貌,可以翻译为：You may/might take a bus/taxi. 这样译外宾会感到较客气和好接受。