复杂的汉字(Chinese characters)书写体系是中国古代文化遗留下来的瑰宝。而这一体系正面临着退化的命运。随着电脑和智能手机的迅速发展和普及,年轻人拿起笔却写不出字来的现象越来越常见。若不借助电子产品的帮助,很多人难以写出10万个日常用字。为此,中央电视台开播了一档汉字听写比赛(Chinese Character Dictation Competition)节目,以引起人们对汉字的重视,帮助观众提高汉字书写能力。
表达难点
1.第1句中的“是中国古代文化遗留下来的瑰宝”如果逐字对译为isa treasure left over by Chinese ancient culture,则出现英文表达逻辑错误,left over by应后接施动者,而Chinese ancient culture 显然不合适,故“遗留下来”应省译,而用介词of表达“汉字简体系”和“中国古代文化”之间的所属关系。
2.第3句“随着......,......的现象越来越常见”可套用句型with... comes a commonly seen phenomenon that。年轻人拿起笔却写不出字来的“现象”的同位语,由that引出,译为young people are barely able to write with pen In hand, “拿起笔”可译为时间状语从句when they take up the pen,但不如介词短语with pen in hand来得简单、地道。
3.第4句中的“很多人难以写出10万个日常用字”可套用句型sb. find it hard/difficult to do sth.,译为 many people find it hard to write 10,000 characters frequently used in daily life。
4.最后一句中的“以引起……,帮助……”,两个并列结构均表目的,故将其译作状语to arouse... and improve...。
参考译文
The complex writing system of Chinese characters is a treasure of Chinese ancient culture. But this system is facing a decline. With the rapid development and popularity of computers and smart phones comes a more commonly seen phenomenon that young people are barely able to write with pen in hand. Without the help of an electronic product, many people find it hard to write 10,000 characters frequently used in daily life. Thus, the CCTV launched a program, "Chinese Character Dictation Competition", to arouse people's attention to Chinese characters and improve the audience's handwriting ability.