随着我国改革开放的不断深入和加入世界贸易组织(wto) , 中国的贸易业务与国际有着越来越广泛和深入的联系。为了使国内从事贸易业务的人员能了解更多、更准确的国际经济与市场动态, 从而在国际交易中能应付自如, 外贸英语翻译受到越来越多的翻译界专业人士和外贸业务人员的关注,其重要性也显得越来越突出。由于各种因素的影响,目前的外贸英语翻译并不尽如人意,还存在不少的错误和问题。本文拟从以下三方面对其中的一些常见词汇翻译的问题进行初步的归类分析,探讨它们产生的主要原因,并就此提出一些相应的解决办法,以期对提高翻译的质量有所帮助。
一、充分认识外贸英语词汇的特点
词是语言中最小的、可以独立运用的结构单位,词义辨析是英汉翻译基本功,因词义理解错误而导致的翻译错误是外贸英语翻译中最常见的错误,它主要包括一词多义导致的错误,以虚指实的名词导致的错误和名词复数变义导致的错误。
1、一词多义
英汉两种语言都有一词多义现象,而且这种现象非常普遍。因此,在翻译中如何分析把握原语中的多义词在特定的语言环境中的具体含义,准确无误地使之在目的语中再现,是翻
译的关键问题之一。许多常用的英语词汇在外贸英语中既有普通含义,又被赋予新的含义,有的进而发展成为专业词汇、外贸术语。许多外贸英语翻译错误由此而生。如例句:
provided you fulfill the terms of the credit , we will accept and pay at maturity the误: 在贵公司履行信用证条款的条件下,我行将接受并于成熟之日支付信用证下提示的汇票。
正:我行将承兑并于期满时支付信用证项下提示的汇票。此句中的accept 和maturity 都是我们熟悉的词汇,其常用意义分别为“接受”和“成熟”,而在此处,accept 意为“承兑,即远期汇票的付款人接受汇票,正式确认如期支付汇票金额的责任”;maturity 意为“(票据的) 到期”。这两个错误显然是由于忽略了这两个词在外贸英语中的特别意义所致。
由此可见,在外贸英语翻译中遇到一词多义的词汇时,千万不能想当然,要根据上下文来确定其含义。在不能确定时要勤查专业词典和书籍,弄懂词汇的确切意义和可能具有的特定意义,才能使传达的内容符合原文。
2、以虚指实的名词
外贸英语中的抽象名词在很多情况下也可变成可数名词,表示比较具体的东西,并可有复数形式,这些以虚指实的抽象名词能大大简洁英语的表述。在这种情况下,翻译应该把虚化为实,使之具体化,从而使译文更为贴切。例如:
(1) thank you for informing us about the damage to our shipment 。
(2) the united states is a heavy consumer of natural resources , and it is increasingly re2liant on certain import s , especially on oil。shipment 做不可数名词时有“装运,运送”的意思,而在例(1) 中,该词用作可数名词,其语义具体确定为“所交运的货物”则更准确。在例(2) 中,import s 并非抽象的“进口”之意,而是指“进口的产品”。在处理类似情况时,需要一点灵活变通,在原词词义的基础上加以适当的引伸或添补,即可使中文译文很确切到位。
3、名词复数变义
在外贸英语中,有些名词在从单数构成复数时词义发生了变化。有些名词的单、复数意义截然不同,复数意义并非单数意义的扩展或引申,也非联想意义。处理这类词的翻译时需要格外小心,认真辨析,不能简单当作复数概念看待,不然的话,译文也容易出现偏差。如:
(1) commodity futures t rading is an important part of the buying and selling process(商品的期货交易是买卖过程当中的重要组成部分) 。
(2)for accounting and other purposes , the above2mentioned current asset s and liabilitiesare those actually shown in the balance sheet as per incorporation date (为了核算和其他目的,上述流动资产及负债就是那些实际反映在公司成立那天的资产负债表内的数字)以上两例中futures 和liabilities 的意义分别为“期货”和“负债”,与各自单数形式的抽象意义“未来”和“责任”相去甚远。类似的例子还有: securities 表示“有价证券”,而非“安全”,facilities 表示“设备,设施”, 而非“容易,便利”,等等。这类词尽管为数不多,但是若译者稍有疏忽大意,处理不慎,就会造成误译。
二、全面把握外贸英语词汇的翻译原则
1、把握适合的语场
语场, 即话语范围, 是指在交际过程当中实际发生的事, 以及参与者所从事的活动, 其中语言活动是重要组成部分。外贸英语的语场既包括外贸工作者从事的各种进出口业务活动, 又包括他们用以表达进出口业务的语言。在外贸活动中, 为了达到有效交际, 主要语言活动必须紧紧围绕着贸易活动这个话题进行, 贸易工作者必须使用能够有效表达这个话题的语言项目, 如贸易术语、贸易习惯用语、固定语法和语篇格式( 例如国际贸易定价单、合同) 等。也就是说, 外贸英语的语域在很大程度上是由语场来决定的。在国际贸易的悠久历史中, 其词汇、语法结构、习惯用语等已经形成了许多固定表达方式, 而这些表达方式大多数是由语场决定的。在外贸英语翻译时, 译者必须使用表达国际贸易语言意义的词汇和习惯用语,也应当符合外贸英语的语场义。
2、了解不同的文化
翻译意味着传达信息。其准确性依赖于很多因素: 文章本身的可信度、文章类型、目标读者、被翻译文章在使用中的风格以及翻译的目的。而在实际翻译过程当中, 译者要了解原文读者对文章的理解如何以及译文读者的反应如何是很困难的, 也就是说如果译者不了解原文和译文各自所代表的文化的特点, 那么他就很难达到对等翻译的目的。中国人和西方人在观察和思维上都存在着差异, 因而对同一种东西及其特征和属性有着不同的概念和表达方式, 翻译时译者必须清楚地了解中西方对某一具体事物各自不同的表达方式, 越过英汉表达形式的局限进行意义上的对等翻译。例如:
(1)we are interested in the samples you sent to onjuly 4 and have decided to place a trial order for 300clests of black tea and 400clests of golden sugar,but onlyif you can guarantee dispatch in time to reach us by theend of july。对于贵公司7 月4 日寄来的样品我们非常有兴趣。现决定试定300 箱红茶和400 箱赤砂糖。惟请规范法保证能在7 月底之前及时交货。
在这一例中如果将black tea 译成“黑茶”、goldensugar 译成“金色糖”的话, 会令人难以理解, 而将它们分别译成“红茶”和“赤砂糖”则符合中国人的文化习惯。
三、密切注意词汇惯用法和搭配
熟悉和掌握英语的惯用法和搭配会对翻译有所帮助,可以帮助我们克服本民族语言和文化的影响而产生的错误,避免直译或不合习惯的类推,从而提高翻译的质量。若不知redtape 常用来表示“繁文缛节”的话,就很可能把它直译成“红带子”。外贸英语中to draw adraft 也可能被想当然地译为“提取一张汇票”,因为draw 一词在to draw money f rom thebank 中有“提取、提款”的意思。请看例句:
(1) the exporter has drawn a draft on the importer for usd 5 ,800 with relevant shippingdocument s attached。此句中to draw a draft 是to write out a draft ,即“开立一张汇票”之义,而该义一般不用to open a draft 来表达。明确了该搭配的意义后,全句可译为:“出口方开立了一张金额为5 800 美元、以进口方为付款人的汇票,随附相关货运单据”。再如,in favor of 和in the red 在外贸英语中也有其习惯用法和意义,翻译时要引起注意。例(10) 中的in favor of 根据上下文应译为“以某某为受益人”,而不应译为“支持”或“有利于”。
当然,外贸英语合同语言还有其他一些特点,如多用正式和法律用词,多在here , there ,where 后加后缀使用等,限于篇幅,在此不逐一列出这些翻译错误。总之,在翻译外贸英语合同时,了解类似用法特点是十分必要的,只有这样才能保证合同翻译的准确无误,才能充分体现合同具有的法律效力。
以上只是对外贸英语词汇翻译中常见的一些错误进行初步分析,外贸英语的翻译错误决不只是局限于以上三个方面,还有其他一些因素,如中英文化、思维方式的差异,译者中英文两种语言理解和驾驭能力不够,等等,都会给语际间的转换造成实际障碍,从而导致各种各样的错误产生。在翻译外贸英语内容时,除了勤查词典、字斟句酌之外,平时还应注重外贸知识学习,了解外贸英语的特点,熟悉外贸术语、常用表达,善于积累,掌握丰富的英语语言知识和外贸专业知识,尽可能消除交际中种种障碍,从而达到准确、忠实传递信息的目的。
英文的英文:
English language
参考例句:
i temp bopok
中文例句 英文例句 People who suffer from addiction are called addicts
吸毒成瘾的人英文是addicts。Ampersand:The symbol "&" for the word "and".
&号:用以代替英文and字的符号。The English language is allied to the German language.
英文和德文属同一语系。Translate a Book from English into Chinese
将一本书由英文译成中文This is an argumentative advanced English essay topic.
这是一个高等的英文辩论题目。BC: Short for before Christ. Usually set in small caps and after the figures(e.g. 150 BC).
公元前:英文是基督降生前和意思。排字时(英文),应用小型大写,放于年份之后。GATF: Abbreviation for Graphic Arts Technical Foundation,Pittsburg, U.S.A.
印刷技术基金会:英文是“印刷技术基金会”的缩写,它在美国的匹兹堡市。Wanted:Stenographer with some knowledge of bookkeeping.Ability to speak and write English highly desirable.
聘速记员一名,要略懂簿记。能说英语及写作英文,优先录取。The most popular method to do that now is PCM. PCM stands for pulse code modulation.
现在最常用的方法是PCM,这是英文脉冲编码调制的缩写。english是什么意思:
n. 英语;英格兰人
adj. 英格兰的;英格兰人的;英国的;英国人的;英语的
A degree in English does not qualify you to teach English.
你的英语程度教书不够格。John tutored the child in English.
约翰辅导那孩子学英语。 His knowledge of English is fair.
他的英语水平尚可。 Her English is indifferent.
她的英文很一般。This is not in agreement with standard English usage.
这不符合标准英式用法。language是什么意思:
n. 语言,语言文字;表达能力;术语;粗话;文风,措辞
Pilipino language
菲律宾语 natural language
自然语言(指人类语言集团的本族语,与世界语或计算机语言等人造语言相对) Has a feeling for language.
对语言有领悟力 A subfamily of the Austronesian languages that includes the languages of Melanesia.
美拉尼西亚之南岛语南岛语的一个分支,包括美拉尼西亚语Reference is a language construct designating a declared language object .
引用是一种语言构成成分,它可指引一个被说明过的语言对象。
《大学英语》旨在紧密结合大学英语的教学实际,反映教与学两方面的要求,满足不同层次读者的需要。下面是小编收集的大学英语翻译课文翻译,希望大家认真阅读!
《Smart Cars》
1 Even the automobile industry, which has remained largely unchanged for the last seventy years, is about to feel the effects of the computer revolution.
即便是过去70年间基本上没有多少变化的汽车工业,也将感受到计算机革命的影响。
2 The automobile industry ranks as among the most lucrative and powerful industries of the twentieth century. There are presently 500 million cars on earth, or one car for every ten people. Sales of the automobile industry stand at about a trillion dollars, making it the world"s biggest manufacturing industry.
汽车工业是20世纪最赚钱、最有影响力的产业之一。目前世界上有5亿辆车,或者说每10人就有1辆车。汽车工业的销售额达一万亿美元左右,从而成为世界上最大的制造业。
3 The car, and the roads it travels on, will be revolutionized in the twenty-first century. The key to tomorrow"s "smart cars" will be sensors. "We"ll see vehicles and roads that see and hear and feel and smell and talk and act," predicts Bill Spreitzer, technical director of General Motors Corporation"s ITS program, which is designing the smart car and road of the future.
汽车及其行驶的道路,将在21世纪发生重大变革。未来“智能汽车”的关键在于传感器。“我们会见到能看、能听、有知觉、具嗅觉、会说话并能采取行动的车辆与道路,”正在设计未来智能汽车和智能道路的通用汽车公司ITS项目的技术主任比尔?斯普雷扎预言道。
4 Approximately 40,000 people are killed each year in the United States in traffic accidents. The number of people that are killed or badly injured in car accidents is so vast that we don"t even bother to mention them in the newspapers anymore. Fully half of these fatalities come from drunk drivers, and many others from carelessness. A smart car could eliminate most of these car accidents. It can sense if a driver is drunk via electronic sensors that can pick up alcohol vapor in the air, and refuse to start up the engine. The car could also alert the police and provide its precise location if it is stolen.
美国每年有大约4万人死于交通事故。在汽车事故中死亡或严重受伤的人数太多,我们已经不屑在报纸上提及。这些死亡的人中至少有半数是酒后开车者造成的,另有许多死亡事故是驾驶员不小心所导致。智能汽车能消除绝大多数这类汽车事故。它能通过会感测空气中的酒精雾气的电子传感器检测开车者是否喝醉酒,并拒绝启动引擎。这种车还能在遇窃后通报警方,告知车辆的确切地点。
5 Smart cars have already been built which can monitor one"s driving and the driving conditions nearby. Small radars hidden in the bumpers can scan for nearby cars. Should you make a serious driving mistake (e.g., change lanes when there is a car in your "blind spot") the computer would sound an immediate warning. 能监控行车过程以及周围行车状况的智能汽车已经建造出来。藏在保险杠里的微型雷达能对周围的汽车作扫描。如果你发生重大行车失误(如变道时有车辆你“盲点”内),计算机立即会发出警报。
6 At the MIT Media Lab, a prototype is already being built which will determine how sleepy you are as you drive, which is especially important for long-distance truck drivers. The monotonous, almost hypnotic process of staring at the center divider for long hours is a grossly underestimated, life-threatening hazard. To eliminate this, a tiny camera hidden in the dashboard can be trained on a driver"s face and eyes. If the driver"s eyelids close for a certain length of time and his or her driving becomes erratic, a computer in the dashboard could alert the driver.
在麻省理工学院媒介实验室,业已制造出能测知你行车时有多少睡意的样车,这对长途卡车司机意义尤其重要。一连数小时注视着中夹分道线这样一个单调、几乎能催眠的过程是被严重低估的威胁生命的重大隐患。为消除这一隐患,藏在仪表板里的一架微型相机可对准开车者的脸部及眼睛。如果司机的眼帘合上一定时间,行车变得不稳,仪表板里的计算机就会向司机发出警报。
7 Two of the most frustrating things about driving a car are getting lost and getting stuck in traffic. While the computer revolution is unlikely to cure these problems, it will have a positive impact. Sensors in your car tuned to radio signals from orbiting satellites can locate your car precisely at any moment and warn of traffic jams. We already have twenty-four Navstar satellites orbiting the earth, making up what is called the Global Positioning System. They make it possible to determine your location on the earth to within about a hundred feet. At any given time, there are several GPS satellites orbiting overhead at a distance of about 11,000 miles. Each satellite contains four "atomic clocks," which vibrate at a precise frequency, according to the laws of the quantum theory.
开车最头疼的两个麻烦是迷路和交通堵塞。虽然计算机革命不可能彻底解决这两个问题,但却会带来积极的影响。你汽车上与绕轨道运行的卫星发出的无线电信号调谐的传感器能随时精确地确定你汽车的方位,并告知交通阻塞情况。我们已经有24颗环绕地球运行的导航卫星,组成了人们所说的全球卫星定位系统。通过这些卫星我们有可能以小于100英尺的误差确定你在地球上的方位。在任何一个特定时间,总有若干颗全球定位系统的卫星在11000英里的高空绕地球运行。每颗卫星都装有4个“原子钟”,它们根据量子理论法则,以精确的频率振动。
8 As a satellite passes overhead, it sends out a radio signal that can be detected by a receiver in a car"s computer. The car"s computer can then calculate how far the satellite is by measuring how long it took for the signal to arrive. Since the speed of light is well known, any delay in receiving the satellite"s signal can be converted into a distance.
卫星从高空经过时发出能被汽车上计算机里的接收器辨认的无线电信号。汽车上的计算机就会根据信号传来所花的时间计算出卫星有多远。由于光速为人熟知,接收卫星信号时的任何时间迟缓都能折算出距离的远近。
9 In Japan there are already over a million cars with some type of navigational capability. (Some of them locate a car"s position by correlating the rotations in the steering wheel to its position on a map.)
在日本,具有某种导航能力的汽车已有一百万辆之多。(有些导航装置通过将方向盘的转动与汽车在地图上的位置并置来测定汽车的方位。)
10 With the price of microchips dropping so drastically, future applications of GPS are virtually limitless. "The commercial industry is poised to explode," says Randy Hoffman of Magellan Systems Corp. , which manufactures navigational systems. Blind individuals could use GPS sensors in walking sticks, airplanes could land by remote control, hikers will be able to locate their position in the woods -- the list of potential uses is endless.
随着微芯片价格的大幅度下降,未来对全球卫星定位系统的应用几乎是无限的。“制造这一商品的工业定会飞速发展,”生产导航系统的麦哲伦航仪公司的兰迪?霍夫曼说。盲人可以在手杖里装配全球卫星定位系统传感器,飞机可以通过遥控着陆,徒步旅行者可以测定自己在林中的方位—其潜在的应用范围是无止境的。
11 GPS is actually but part of a larger movement, called "telematics," which will eventually attempt to put smart cars on smart highways. Prototypes of such highways already exist in Europe, and experiments are being made in California to mount computer chips, sensors, and radio transmitters on highways to alert cars to traffic jams and obstructions.
全球卫星定位系统其实只是叫做“远程信息学”的这一更大行动的一部分,这一行动最终将把智能汽车送上智能高速公路。这种高速公路的样品已经在欧洲问世,加州也在进行试验,在高速公路上安装计算机芯片、传感器和无线电发射机,以便向汽车报告交通拥挤堵塞情况。
12 On an eight-mile stretch of Interstate 15 ten miles north of San Diego, traffic engineers are installing an MIT-designed system which will introduce the "automated driver." The plan calls for computers, aided by thousands of three-inch magnetic spikes buried in the highway, to take complete control of the driving of cars on heavily trafficked roads. Cars will be bunched into groups of ten to twelve vehicles, only six feet apart, traveling in unison, and controlled by computer.
在圣迭戈以北10英里的15号州际公路一段8英里长的路面上,交通工程师正在安装一个由麻省理工学院设计的引进“自动司机”的系统。这一计划要求计算机在公路上埋设的数千个3英寸长的磁钉的协助下,在车辆极多的路段完全控制车辆的运行。车辆会编成10辆或12辆一组,车距仅6英尺,在计算机的控制下一齐行驶。
13 Promoters of this computerized highway have great hopes for its future. By 2010, telematics may well be incorporated into one of the major highways in the United States. If successful, by 2020, as the price of microchips drops to below a penny a piece, telematics could be adopted in thousands of miles of highways in the United States. This could prove to be an environmental boon as well, saving fuel, reducing traffic jams, decreasing air pollution, and serving as an alternative to highway expansion.
这种计算机化的公路的倡导者对其未来的应用充满希望。到2010年,远程信息技术很可能应用于美国的一条主要公路。如果成功的话,到2020年,当微芯片的价格降到一片一美分以下时,远程信息技术就会应用在美国成千上万英里的公路上。这对环保也会很有利,能节省燃油,减轻交通阻塞,减少空气污染,还可用作公路扩建的替代办法。
Harvey Mackay, who runs his own company, often interviews applicants for jobs. Here he lets us into the secret of what qualities an employer is looking for, and gives four tips on what can help you to stand out from the crowd.
自己经营公司的哈维?麦凯经常对求职者进行面试。文中他告诉我们关于雇主看重什么样品质的秘密,并提出4点建议,帮助你显得比众人突出。