(1)你出什么事啦?
What has happened to you?
(2)一看到那可怜的孩子,我就想起他死去的双亲。
The sight of the poor boy reminded me of her dead parents.
(3)我兴奋得什么话都说不出来。
Excitement deprived me of all power of utterance.
二、对汉英句式转换的影响
汉英翻译过程中,要具备语言差异意识,时刻注意汉英之间的语言差异给句式转换带来的影响。首先要从汉语表层结构化解出深层的含义,然后根据英文的句式和表达要求,经过适当的弥补和变通,妥帖地再现原语所表达的内容。其间,提请特别注意以下几个环节的处理:
(一)主语的确定
汉语句子的话题与英语句子的主语并不总能吻合。英译汉语句子时,主语的确定与转换便成了首要的环节。除了常用的对译主语外,有时则要根据具体的情况,在翻译的过程中,对主语进行增补、另选,或者借助于一些特殊句型来完成整句的转换。例如:
(1)我因为信心不足而丢掉了那份工作。
Lack of confidence made me lose the job.
(2)婚姻的事,年轻人都自己做主了。
As for the marriage,the young people would make their own decision.
(3)性相近,习相远。
Men are similar to one another by nature, but learning and practice make them different.
(4)正是从太阳那里我们得到了光和热。
It is from the sun that we get light and heat.
(5)似乎没人愿意帮助我们。
There appears to be nobody willing to help us.
(二)增加连接词语
由于汉语的句子重“意合”,而轻形式结构,句子成分间靠语义衔接而少用或不用关联词语;而英语句子重“形合”,句子结构受形式逻辑制约,强调用显性的连接词语来标明句子成分之间的关系。因此,汉译英时,常常需要增补关联词以确保译文符合英语的句法要求。例如:
(1)冬天临近,白昼变短了。
As winter approaches, days are becoming shorter.
(2)你早一点来,就能见到她了。
If you had come earlier, you could have seen her.
(3)她奶奶八十多了,身体还很硬朗。
Although her grandma is over 80, nevertheless she enjoys good health.
(4)老板在场,我对你的失误只字未提。
Because the boss was present, I said nothing about your fault.
(三)词性的转换
由于汉语是动词优势语言,大量使用动词,而英语的叙述呈静态趋势,更多地使用名词、形容词和介词。因此,汉译英时,很多场合需要改变词性以适合英语的表达习惯,特别是很多汉语用动词表达的意念要转换成英语的其他词类。例如:
(1)我成功地说服他接受医生的治疗。
I succeeded in persuading him to receive the medical treatment.(副词→动词)
(2)和外国人交流时,要具备一定的文化意识。
When communicating with foreigners, we should be culturally aware.(名词→副词)
(3)他既不抽烟,也不喝酒。
He was a nonsmoker and a teetotaler. (动词→名词)
(4)人人都支持他的建议。
Everyone was in favor of his proposal. (动词→介词)
(5)我们应该同情那些遭遇不幸的人们。
We should be sympathetic with those in trouble. (动词→形容词)
(四)语序的调整
语序指组成句子的成分之间的排列顺序,它体现词语之间的组合关系,反映一定的句法结构,有时则反映一定的语气或情感要求。汉语的左枝倾向和英语右枝倾向使得汉译英时常常需要调整句子成分的组合顺序,特别是定语和状语的位置。例如:
(1)那个怀抱婴儿的妇女似乎在找什么东西。
The woman holding a baby in her arms seems to be looking for something.
(2)靠门口的沙发上坐着两个孩子。
Two children were sitting on a couch by the door.