1、翻译技巧翻译技巧(八八)被动语态译法被动语态译法 LOGOv被动语态的广泛使用是英语区别于汉语的显著特点之一。被动句式在汉语中的使用范围要窄小得多。英语和汉语在语态使用上存在的差异决定了英汉翻译中语态转换的必要性。v对这一点缺乏足够的了解，一概用“被”字句式来译，往往造成译文生涩别扭、有悖于汉语表达习惯。例如：LOGOv(1)So many times Ive been told that something cannot be done.v 原译：很多时候，我被告知，有的事情不能被完成v(2)The secretary was thrown into confusion by the une
2、xpected return of her boss.v 原译：秘书被老板意想不到的归来投入惶惑不安之中。v LOGOv当然，这也并不意味着英语被动语态的汉译中绝对不能出现“被”字。在实际翻译中所遇到的被动语句纷繁多样，不能一概而论。即使是同一个句子在不同的场合可能也有几种不同的译法，而且这些译法均可接受，例如：v(3)All thousands of materials in the world are made up of only these elementsv a.世界上成千上万种物质均由这些元素构成。v b.正是这些元素构成了世界上成千上万种物质。v c.构成宇宙间成千上万种物质的正
3、是这些元素。LOGOv有时，即使是同一个表达方式，在不同的上下文中也可能同样要求采取不同的译法。试比较be said在下面两例中的译法：v(4)Nuclear power plants are said to be under preparation for construction.v据说，核电站正在筹建之中。v As these minute charges move along a wire，that wire is said to carry an electric current.v当这些极其微小的电荷沿着一根导线运动时，我们便说，那根导线是带电的。LOGO 12.1顺译法顺译法v顺
4、译法也即按原句顺序翻译英语被动句的方法。只要忠实于原义并且符合汉语表达规范，对于某些被动句，尤其是那些突出被动者或被动动作的被动句，经常可以按照原句的语序顺译。v顺译时，原文的主语在译文中仍然充当主语，而原文的谓语则视不同情况予以不同处理。具体而言，顺译法主要将英语被动句译成以下几种汉语句式：LOGOv12.1.1译成汉语的主动句v12.1.2译成汉语的被动句v12.1.3译成“是的”汉语判断句LOGO 12.1.1译成汉语的主动句v翻译某些被动句时，如果无须指出施事(即动作的发出者)，主动意义与被动意义也不致产生歧义，动词动作又不带有不利于受动者(亦称受事)的色彩，那么往往可以按原文语序翻译
5、成主动句，原文的主语仍然充当译文的主语。经常需要采用“受事主语谓语动词”的句式。例如：v(5)Water can be changed from a liquid into a solid.v(6)The meeting of the two presidents is scheduled for October 10th.v(7)The atomic particles cannot be accelerated past the velocity of light.v(8)When rust is formed,a chemical change is said to have taken
6、 place.v(9)The military base has not been used for 10 years.v(10)The old lady had been stricken with a heart attack earlier in the morning.LOGO12.1.2译成汉语的被动句v英语被动语态使用范围颇广，但其被动标记却很单一，主要是“be动词的过去分词”及其变化形式。v汉语被动句式使用较少，但其被动标记要繁杂得多。汉语中表达被动意义的语言手段主要包括使用“被”、“受”、“遭”、“让”、“给”、“由”、“把”、“为所”、“加以”、“予以”，等等。v有时，为了突
7、出被动意义，而且某些英语被动句又不宜译成汉语主动句，那就译成带有这类被动标记的被动句式。例如：v(11)He was found to have embezzled company funds.v(12)The heated water is thus cooled as it goes through the radiator.v(13)The novel I had thrown away was chosen by the Book Society.v(14)The finished products must be carefully inspected before delivery
8、.v(15)Last year the region was visited by the worst flood in 100 years.v(16)The old lady was knocked down by a taxi when crossing the street.v(17)The second half of her words was torn away by the wind.v(18)This water is heated by the uranium fuel and is pumped to a boiler.v(19)For a long period of t
9、ime,most of Chinas elderly will continue to be provided for by their families.v(20)Two systems of units are commonly used by the scientists.v(21)Problems should be resolved in good time.v(22)The satellite must be carefully inspected before launching.12.1.3译成“是的”汉语判断句v有些英语被动句并不突出强调被动动作，而着重对事物的状态、过程和性
10、质等加以描述，其作用与系表结构类似。因此，翻译时经常采用“是的”判断句式。例如：v(23)The avenue is flanked by rows of new buildings.v(24)Iron is extracted from the ore by smelting in the blast furnace.v(25)Many basins were formed by the subsidence of the earths crust.v(26)The high voltage section of power supply is solid encapsulated.v(27
11、)The credit system in America was first adopted by Harvard University in 1872.LOGO12.2转换法v12.2.1把动作发出者转译为主语v12.2.2把原句的主语转译为宾语v12.2.3把原句中的某一部分转译成主语12.2.1把动作发出者转译为主语v英语被动句中一般由介词by引出动作的发出者(或称施动者)。在译成汉语时，为使施动者处于相应的突出地位，可以将其转译为主语。例如：v(28)Human power is replaced by electric power.v(29)Those towering peaks
12、 are only to be scaled by the most daring.v(30)Heat and light can be given off by the chemical change.v(31)The magnificent hotel had been practically destroyed by the big fire.v(32)His car was towed away by a towing truck from Lewis Company.12.2.2把原句的主语转译为宾语把原句的主语转译为宾语v英语中许多被动句未提及施动者，这种句子常常可以译成汉语的无主
13、句。这时，原句中的主语往往就相应地转译为宾语。这种译法在科技文章中颇为常见，例如：v(33)Additional International Standards may be added to the series in the.v(34)Measures have been taken to prevent the epidemic from spreading quickly.v(35)These computers would be large and bulky，if vacuum tubes were used.v(36)A cure for the disease was foun
14、d by experimentation on animals.v(37)A decisive battle was fought near this city.v(38)The arms race must be immediately put an end to.12.2.3把原句中的某一部分转译成主语v经常转译为主语的成分包括一些地点(方位)状语(中的名词)以及某些谓语。谓语转译成主语时，谓语动词也就相应地转换为名词。例如：v(39)40 was read from the clinical thermometer.v(40)Rust is often formed on a water
15、 pipe.v(41)Yet in the Western Hemisphere the wheel was never invented.v(42)The power supply with constant voltage should be used for transmitting station.v(43)The numerical data concerned are provided in the next chapter.v(44)A“triangle is defined as a plane figure with three sides and three angles
16、LOGO12.3增补法v12.3.1 增译某些含泛指意义的词作主语v12.3.2 以it作形式主语的被动语态句型的习惯译法12.3.1增译某些含泛指意义的词作主语v若原句没有表示施动者的现成词语，又不宜将其他成分转译成主语，那么在翻译有些英语被动句时，可以依据逻辑意义增译某些泛指性词语作主语，如“人们”、“大家”、“有人”、“我们”等。如：v(45)Mount Rainier is known to be one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in America.v(46)Many elements in nature were foun
17、d to be mixtures of different isotopes.v(47)In connection with the revision work within the ICC Working Party，suggestions were made to present the trade terms in another manner for the purpose of easier reading and understanding.v(48)With 2 neutrons and protons，the helium atom weighs four times as m
18、uch as a hydrogen atom.On this account helium is said to have an atomic weight of 4.v(49)Do not be surprised if you are offered milk，coffee or soda with a meal.v(50)Yet,what we say here will not be long remembered.What we do here can change the world.LOGO12.3.2以it作形式主语的被动语态句型的习惯译法v以it作形式主语，被动语态动词作谓语
19、，后接that引导的主语从句的结构是英语中的一种常用句型。LOGOv对于这种类型的英语被动句，译成汉语时大多转为主动句，而将it作形式主语的主句中的被动语态谓语译成主动式，有时不加主语(It is assumed that假设假定；It must be pointed out that必须指出；It should be noted that应当指出；It is reported that据报道；It has been proved that业已证明；It will be seen from this that由此可见)；v有时则需增补一些泛指性词语作主语，包括“有人”、“人们”、“大家”等。这
20、类需增补主语的常见句型及其习惯译法如下：It is admitted that 人们(大家)承认 It is asserted that 有人主张(断言)It is believed that 有人相信(认为)It is claimed that 有人(人们)主张(要求)It is felt that 人们(有人)认为(感到)It is found out that 人们发现 It is known that 大家知道(众所周知)It is noticed that 人们注意到(有人指出)It is pointed out that 有人指出 It is regarded that 人们认为 It will be said that 有人会说 It is stressed that 有人强调说 It is suggested that 有人建议 It is taken that 有人(人们)认为 It is thought that 有人(人们)认为 It was told that 有人曾经说
