6. But we are much less conscious of the extent to which work provides the more intangible, but more crucial, psychological well being that can make the difference between a full and an empty life.
分析:這是一個(gè)主從復合句。to which work provides the more intangible, but more crucial, psychological well-being 是 extent 的定語(yǔ)從句。that can make the difference between a full and an empty life 是 psychological well-being 的定語(yǔ)從句。intangible,crucial 和 psychological 這三個(gè)形容詞很容易被誤認為是平行結構,事實(shí)上,intangible,crucial是修飾 psychological well-being 的。翻譯本句不能用直譯,例如extent 就不能直接譯出來(lái)。故采用意譯為主。
譯文:但我們很少認識到,工作在心理健康方面給予我們的決定生活是充實(shí)還是空虛的那種難以察覺(jué)、但至關(guān)重要的東西有多少。
7. The aims of our present-day culture are avowedly ease and material well being: shorter hours; a shorter week; more return for less accomplishment; more soft-soap excuses and fewer honest, realistic demands.
分析:本句雖然很長(cháng),卻是簡(jiǎn)單句。句子的主干是 the aims are avowedly ease and material well being,除此之外,后面的全部與aims 是同位語(yǔ)關(guān)系,進(jìn)一步說(shuō)明aims 。比較結構用的是形容詞的比較級 shorter hours, more return…。翻譯時(shí)采用順序法。形容詞的比較級則譯為漢語(yǔ)的偏正結構。
譯文:我們當代文明承認的目標就是追求舒適和物質(zhì)享受:每天的工作時(shí)間越來(lái)越短;每周的工作日越來(lái)越少;以少的成就換取多的報酬;姑息寬容的理由越多,正當而又實(shí)際的要求就越少。
8. Marriage has never been more popular and desirable than it is now——so appealing in fact, that even those who are in the process of divorce can scarcely wait for the law to allow them to marry again.
分析:本句是主從復合句,than 后面跟的是一個(gè)句子:it is (popular) now,appealing 的邏輯主語(yǔ)是marriage,其主干結構是 so…that…; that 引導的狀語(yǔ)從句表示結果。在該狀語(yǔ)從句中還有who 引導的定語(yǔ)從句,修飾those,wait for 與否定詞連用,表示“急于做某事”。翻譯時(shí)采用順序法。但是who 從句需要譯成定語(yǔ)。
譯文:婚姻從未像現在這樣受大眾歡迎,為大眾所渴望。事實(shí)上,婚姻是如此地吸引人,以至那些正在辦理離婚手續的人,幾乎等不到法律的判決,就想再度結婚了。
9. Much as she loved her cat, we may imagine that she was more horror than grief-stricken at her discovery.
分析:本句中的as 放在主語(yǔ)前面,并與副詞連用,引導讓步狀語(yǔ)從句,意思是“盡管”。在該句中還有 that 引導的賓語(yǔ)從句,作 imagine 的賓語(yǔ)。比較級結構中,總是拿兩個(gè)同類(lèi)的事物或概念做比較。
譯文:盡管她很愛(ài)那只貓,但是我們可以想象,當她發(fā)現那只貓的樣子時(shí),與其說(shuō)是傷心至極,不如說(shuō)是驚恐萬(wàn)分。
1(世博翻譯公司)0. Such estimates are little better than guesses.
分析:本句的比較結構是little better than,意思相當于 almost the same as,意為“幾乎與……一樣”、“簡(jiǎn)直是”。
譯文:這類(lèi)估算近于猜測。
倒裝和分割結構
為了強調句子的某些部分,或是為了保持句子平衡,英語(yǔ)中常常使用倒裝。大體說(shuō)來(lái),倒裝可以分為主謂倒裝和非主謂倒裝。主謂倒裝里又分為完全倒裝和部分倒裝。在翻譯的時(shí)候,既可以按照主謂語(yǔ)的順序翻譯,也可以按照字面意思翻譯。非主謂倒裝只是將強調部分前置,以保持句子平衡或是起強調作用。翻譯時(shí)可以采用順序譯法或是倒序譯法。
1(世博翻譯公司). For example, they do not compensate for social inequality, and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.
分析:本句中had he grown up under more favorable circumstances 屬于部分倒裝。正常語(yǔ)序為:if he had grown up under more favorable circumstances。在正式文體中,可以將虛擬條件句中的if 省略,并將助動(dòng)詞提前。
譯文:例如,它們(指測試)并不彌補社會(huì )的不公,因此不能說(shuō)明一個(gè)貧困青年,要是在比較有利的境況下長(cháng)大,會(huì )有多大才干。
2. Nonstop waves of immigrants played a role, too and so did bigger crops of babies as yesterday’s “baby boom” generation reached its child-bearing years.
翻譯公司 (責任編輯:世博翻譯公司) |