名词译成动词⑴The application of directional control valve shall be compatible w ith the control valve performance such that the systemoperation w ill not be affected by back p ressure.译为:应该使用与控制阀的性能相适应的方向控制阀,这样,系统的工作就不会受反压力的影响。翻译时将名词app lication译为动词“使用”(以下几个例句的词性转换形式与本句基本相同,不再逐句说明)。⑵The dependence of the rate of evaporation of a liquid ontemperature is enormous.译为:液体的蒸发速度很大程度上取决于它的温度。⑶W ith the use of the increased temperature and pressure,the oil is cracked into lighter or heavier fractions.译为:利用高温,可将石油裂化成轻馏分或重馏分。⑷Where the source is normally mounted on a horizontalp lane surface,the corresponding free field is a hem isphere,andthus sound p ressure measurements are made at points on the sur2face of the hypothetical hem isphere.译为:在声源正常地安装在一个水平表面的地方,相应的自由声场就是一个半球面,这样就可在相应这个假设的半球面上的一些点测量声压级。
反译:在不少情况下,有的介词短语如不从反面着笔,译文就不通,这时必须反译。如:
①beyond, past,against等表示超过某限度的能力或反对……时,其短语有时用反译法。如:
Radio telescopes have been able to probe space beyond the range of ordinary optical telescopes.射电望远镜已能探测普通光学望远镜达不到的宇宙空间。
②off, from等表示地点,距离时,有时有反译法。如:
The boat sank off the coast.这只船在离海岸不远处沉没了。
③but,except,besides等表示除去、除外时,有时用反译法。
Copper is the best conductor but silver.铜是仅次于银的最1优导体。
The mdelecular formula, C6H14, does not show anything except the total number of carbon and hydrogen atoms.分子式C6H14只用来表示碳原子和氢原子的总数。
④from,in等介词短语作补足语时,有时用反译法。如:
An iron case will keep the Earths magnetic field away from the compass.铁箱能使地球磁场影响不了指南针。
The signal was shown about the machine being order.信号表明机器设有毛病。
“一个词脱离上下文是不能翻译的”(索伯列夫),没有上下文就没有词义。介词的翻译须根据上下文和词的搭配灵活处理,切忌作对号入座的机械翻译。
译成汉语的被动语态
英语中的许多被动句也可以翻译成汉语的被动句,句中经常使用汉语中表示被动意义的一些标志词,如“被”、“给”、“遭”、“挨”、“为……所”、“使”、“由……”、“受到”等。例如:
1)These signals are produced by colliding stars or nuclear reactions in outer space.
这些讯号是由外层空间的星球碰撞或者核反应所造成的。
2)Over the years, tools and technology themselves as a source of fundamental innovation have largely been ignored by historians and philosophers of science.
多年来,工具和技术本身作为根本性创新的源泉在很大程度上被科学史学家和科学思想家们忽视了。
3)For a long period to come, most of China’s elderly will continue to be provided for by their families.
在未来很长的一段时间里,中国的老年人仍旧要由他们的家庭来赡养。