转译:英语中常用介词来表达动作意义。汉译时,可将介词转译成动词。
①在作表语的介词短语中,介词常转译为动词,而连系动词则省略不译。如:This machine is out of repair.这台机器失修了。
②在作目的或原因状语的介词短语中,介词有时转译成动词。如:
The plane crushed out of control.这架飞机失去控制而坠毁。
The letter E is commonly used for electromotive force.通常用E这个字母表示电动势。
③在作条件、方式或方法状语的介词短语中,介词有时转译成动词。如:
But even the larger molecules with several hundred atoms are too small to be seen with the best optical microscope.但是,即使有几百个原子的分子也是太小了,用最1好的光学显微镜也看不见它们。
④介词短语作补足语时,其中介词常转译成动词。如:
Heat sets these particles in random motion.热量使这些粒子作随机运动。
增译:增词不是无中生有,而是要根据上下文特别是与介词搭配的动词或形容词的含义加得恰当。有不少情况,句中与介词搭配的动词或形容词不出现,如照原文结构无法把意思表达清楚,甚至易于误解时,这就需要增词。
如:Thats all there is to it.那就是与此有关的全部内容。(原句中 to=related to)
The engineer was taken ill with consumption. It was flour on the lungs, the doctor told him at the time.这个工程师得了肺一病、那是由于面粉对肺部的影响,当时医生这样对他说的。(on=effect)
因此,熟悉介词与动词或形容词的习惯搭配是增词并正确理解词义的一种重要手段。
表语从句
It seems that it is going to snow.
看起来要下雪了。
That is why Jack got scolded.
这就是杰克受到训斥的原因。
The question remains whether we can win the majority of the people.
问题是我们能否赢得大多数人民群众的支持。
His view of the press was that the reporters were either for him or against him.
他对新闻界的看法是,记者们不是支持他,就是反对他。