例1 ____________(将领你们去参观我们的新车间)by the secretary.
译文:You will be shown our new workshop.
简评:如果这句话不是划线填内容,你完全可以将它翻译成The secretary will show you our new workshop。正是因为题型是补全句子,这就给翻译带来了一定的难度,你必须去适应题型要求而不是让题型来适应你。让我们看看译文已给出部分:by the secretary显然是一个被动语态特征,“秘书”在译文里已经由原来的主语变成了译文句子的补足成分。所以,题目是暗示我们要把原句中“你们”转换成译句里的主语,这样才符合出题要求。
例2 You __________(我们期待你能组织贸易推广活动)this time.
译文:are expected to organize the trade publicity campaigns.
简评:根据题目可推知全句意思是:我们期望你能组织这次的贸易推广活动。中文句子主语、谓语、宾语分别是:我们、期望、你。但是在英文译文的给出部分中我们看到句子以you开头,也就是说“你被期望能组织这次贸易推广活动”。中文的宾语变成了英文的主语,这就要求我们在翻译时要使用被动语态。全句完整答案是:You are expected to organize the trade publicity campaigns this time.
2)当汉语句以“我们”、“人们”、“大家”等泛指性代词作主语时,在翻译成英文的时候常常可以忽略主语不译,并把英文译句处理成被动语态。处理后的英文译句往往带有 know,see,find,say,suppose,estimate,report,suggest,stress,consider, expect,admit,point,understand 等动词。
例3 如果原子失去一个或多个电子,我们就说这个原子带正电荷。
译文:If one or more electrons are removed,the atom is said/believed/thought to be positively charged.
简评:这句话是一个条件从句。即:在原子失去一个或多个电子的情况下,这个电子带正电荷。“我们就说这个原子带正电荷”可理解为“这个原子被认为/ 被确信/ 被说成是带正电荷”。那么根据前面所说的原则,我们在翻译时可以将泛指性主语“我们”省略不译,并使用被动语态。
从这个例子里我们还可以看出,在科技文章中,根据英语表达习惯我们应当多采用被动语态,以强调事物的客观性。
例4 人们采用各种措施来防止腐蚀。
译文:All kinds of measures are taken to prevent corrosion.
简评:这句话可以按原文译成主动态,即:People have taken all kinds of measures to prevent corrosion。也可以用被动语态来翻译——All kinds of measures are taken to prevent corrosion。两者比较而言,被动态译文更突出表明所有、种种措施已经付诸实施,all kinds of measures得到强调,而主动态译法只是平铺直叙,重点不突出。
此外,汉语句子中有“据说”、“据了解”、“据报道”、“据估计”、“据传言”等词语时,可以酌情译成相应的英语被动句,如:It is supposed that(据推测……),It is said that(据说……),It is estimated that(据估计……),It is calculated that(预计……),It is reported that(据报道……),It is suggested that(有人建议),It is stressed that(有人强调……),It is thought that(有人认为……),It is considered that(有人认为……),It is expected that(据期望……),It is well known that(众所周知……),It must be admitted that(必须承认……),It must be pointed out that(必须指出……),It is understood that(谁都知道……),It may be safety said that(可以有把握地说……)等。
例5 据了解,这个地区有丰富的自然资源。
译文:The area is known to be rich in natural resources.
例6 众所周知,自然光其实是由许多种颜色构成。
译文:It is well known that natural light is actually made up of many colors.
1. He is ________________ (他与其说是个学者)as a writer.
2. The parents should also set the kids free _______________ (以便他们自己做选择).
3. Some freshmen _____________(打定主意)to pursue a master's degree after undergraduate studies.
4. So it is essential for the students _____________(深入社会实践)in order to learn something that they can't get in class.
5.In order to improve the competence of state-run enterprises,the central government ________________(已经实行了一系列改革),among which is cutting down the staff.
1. not so much a scholar
解析:本句意为:与其说他是个学者不如说是个作家。考查的是"与其......倒不如......"的句型。句中所给部分已有as,所以最好用 not so much...as...。如:In many cases,nursing is not so much a job as a way of life.(在许多情况下,护理与其说是是一件工作倒不如说是一种生活方式。)
2. to make their own choices
解析:考查目的状语"以便"的英文表达,正确答案可以是:in order to/to/so as to+动词,也可以用in order/so+that从句。具体要根据字数要求定。
3. make up their minds
解析:本句意为:许多大一新生打定主意要在本科毕业后继续争取硕士学位。"打定主意、决定下来"可选用:make up one's mind to do,be determined to do,decide to do。题中pursue表示坚持不懈地追求,如:She pursued the study of English for five years.(她持续不断地学了五年英语。)
4. to participate in social practice
解析:本句意为:对学生而言,有必要深入社会实践,从而学到课堂上学不到的东西。"深入"事实上是指学生要参与社会实践,因此确切译法是to participate,"社会实践"可译成social practice或social activity。
5. has implemented a series of reforms
解析:本句意为:为了提高国有企业的竞争力,政府已经实行了一系列改革,其中一项是裁员。这里大家要记住"国有企业"的表达,而"外资企业"应译为 oversea-funded enterprise或foreign-based company。"实行"可选用implement,carry out,由于是"一系列"改革,因此reform要用复数形式。另外"已经"暗示句子应该用完成时态。