深圳翻译公司如何提高英语翻译质量

           在翻译界，深圳翻译公司质量是最为棘手的话题。英语翻译公司要想提供质量，建议要求译员在实际工作中按照下列方法来操作。
一、总览全文，统筹兼顾每个字、每句话都是全文的一部分，在文章中占据一定地位、起一定作用。字与字、句与句之间是互相联系的。不管哪种语言，一词多义都是普遍现象。究竟取其哪一层意思，得看上下文。不同的词语搭配、不同的句子结构以及在不同的上下文中，同一词会有不同的含义和翻译方法。这是指语言上的上下文，是传统的上下文观念，还要联系实际生活，要考虑说话者的意图、使用的场合等诸多因素，这是语言环境的“上下文”。脱离了上下文，有时很难判断一个词、一句话的真实含义。如果可文章，拿来就译，有些词句就有可能理解错，翻译错。

           但如果先看一二遍全文，对原文的中心思想有比较清楚的了解，然后再译，就会更好地理解、翻译每个字、每句话。这样才能使译文前后连贯、语句通顺，取得最佳整体效果。总之，翻译要有全局观念，要把每句话放到全文中去理解和翻译。例1 she acknowledged herself puzzled.这句话语法简单，也没有任何生字，但它至少可以有三种虽然相互联系但侧重不同的理解。i)她承认自己感到困惑。究竟取哪一种?要看上下文，看语境。如果她在考虑问题。可译为“想不通”。如果她在问路，问了两个人，但两个人所指的方向完全相反，那就应译为：“不知所措”。例2 The police were told to stop drinking.这句话也很简单，但可以理解为：i)要求警察去禁酒；ii)要警察本人停止酗酒。没有上下文，很难判断。例3 必须注意改革、发展和稳定的关系。“关系”是中国人用得比较多的一个词。但在不同的上下文中，这个词有不同的含义专利文件翻译及专业技术类文件翻译。

           通常情况下，“关系”译为：relationship.在这里，主要是讲三者之间互相影响的问题。似可译为：It is imperative to pay attention to the interplay of reform, development and stability. 或It is important to properly handle the interplay of reform, development and stability.例4 这是一个较长的过程。这句话是简单陈述句。如果没有上下文，可以译为：It is a fairly long process.但如果整段话是讲社会主义市场经济的建设问题，译成It takes a fairly long period of time to accomplish that.也许更好一些。例5 中美双方互利互补性很强。“互利”通常译为：mutually beneficial.然而此句如果译为：Our two economies are highly complementary and mutually beneficial.则意味着两国的经济自然是互相有利的，这不符合实际情况。根据上下文，应理解为：两国的经济互补性强，如发挥这种互补性对双方有利。似可译为：Our two economies are highly complementary and can be mutually beneficial.例6 (我领导人已经接受访问邀请，由于发生了一些新情况，我方在回答记者问题时表示)，是否成行，取决于综合考虑。“综合考虑”是译为comprehensive consideration,还是overall developments,要看具体情况。

           鉴于要访问的国家出现了一些令我不满的事情，是否去访还要看事态的进一步的发展，所以译为：Whether ××× will make the trip or not depends on overall developments.这样翻译也有助于向该国保持压力。例7 东盟地区论坛会是在18国范围内就亚态政治安全问题的首次接触。直译：It is the first time for ARF to meet on the political and security issues of Asia-Pacific within the framework of 18 countries.译文中部分意思表达得不够清楚，问题是如何理解“18国范围内”和“首次接触”?这里的“18国范围”是指由18国家参加，因此没有必要译出“the framework of”这里的“接触”指由这些国家共同讨论这一问题。似可译为：The ARE meeting will be the first time for the 18 countries to discuss political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.例8 领导太复杂，不但下边不好办，就是我们处理问题画圈圈都难，都是些麻烦事。With too many leaders, not only do the comrades at lower levels find it hard to get things done, but we ourselves have trouble circulating paper for approval.在这句话中，“复杂”指什么?是指领导太多，还是指领导间有矛盾，只有看上下文才清楚。例9 我们这些老同志摆在那里，他们也不好工作。没有上下文，不太清楚这句话中的“摆在那里”这四个字的含义。联想到上文中讲到老同志应该退下来，就清楚了，是指老同志继续担任职务，要影响新上来同志的工作。可译为：If we old comrades remain at the posts, newcomers will find it difficult to play their part.例10 每个国家的实际情况不同，改革和发展没有固定的模式。

            直译：As countries differ in national conditions the mode of reform and development vary.从字面上看，这句话可以理解为陈述一种情况，即：世界上还没有固定的改革和发展模式。但从上下文看，是指评某些国家总想把它们的一套强加于人。直译没有将这句话的实质含义译出来。似可译为：As countries differ there should not be a uniform model of reform and development for all countries.或As conditions vary with each country, there can be no set model of reform and development for all countries.例11 中国在本国财政并不宽裕的情况下，向非洲国家提供了一些援助。初译：China offered some assistance to African countries when it was not better off.译文用的是过去式，可能会被理解为：中国过去不宽裕时提供过援助。那么，现在宽裕了，就更应该援助了。但把它放在整篇讲话中去理解，它的内在含义是，尽管我们不宽裕，我们还是提供援助了。

          似可译为：China has offered assistance to African countries, although it is not better off itself.例12 建立社会主义市场经济是一项前无古人的开创性事业，必须在保持社会稳定的前提下秩序渐进。初译：To establish the socialist market economy is an unprecedented creative undertaking. Therefore, it should be pursued in an incremental manner under the premise of social stability.这句话的后半句“在……的前提下”如何理解?译文使用“under the premise of”符合中文的字面意思。但从上下文来看，是强调建立社会主义市场经济不要影响社会稳定。似可译为：To establish the socialist market economy is a pioneering enterprise never tried before. Therefore, it must be accomplished step by step without prejudice to social stability.例13 东盟地区论坛应在已经取得共识的领域先行推进建立信任措施和其他合作。初译：Prior to other things, efforts should be made to have cooperation in implementing confidence-building measures and in other areas where consensus has been arrived in ARF.译文把“先行”译成“在做其他事之前，先进行合作”。把“先行”放在句子中去理解。它显然不是指时间上的先后，而是内容或重点上的先后，指合作先从已取得共识的领域开始。

         似可译为“ARF should identify confidence building measures and conduct cooperation first in those areas where there is consensus.例14 中国积极参加关于全面禁止核试验协议的谈判，争取不迟于1996年达成协议。初译：China has taken an active part in the negotiations on CTBT, with a view to concluding a comprehensive test ban treaty no later than 1996.译文的毛病是，它含有协议的达成取决于中国一家的意思。这里“争取”的实际含义是，我们希望这一协议能在1996年以前达成，并在为此尽我们的努力。可译为：China has taken an active part in the negotiations on CTBT, hoping to see it concluded no later than 1996.例15 1992年我曾有幸在这里就中国改革开放和中英关系的发展发表了一些看法。初译：It was a privilege for me to express some opinions on China’s reform and opening-up and on the development of Sino-British relations in this Institute in 1992.这是我领导人在外国一家研究所演讲中的一句话。在这种场合谈中国改革开放，不是在讨论中发表个人的看法，而是代表国家介绍我改革开放情况。因此，用“express some opinions"不太合适。考虑到当时的场合和环境，似可译为：Here in 1992,I had the honor sharing my views with you on the reform and opening-up in China and on Sino-British relations.例16 我们将进一步提高对外开放的水平，有步骤地开放金融等服务领域。初译：We will open China even wider and take a step-by-step approach to open such service sectors as banking.原文中“水平”两字是指广度，还是指深度?孤立地看很难确定。但把它放在整句话中去看，就不难理解。这句话的前后两部分是有机联系的，后一部分明确说明前一部分的含义。

           原文的意思显然不是将中国更多城市或地区向国外开放，而是指在更多的领域上放开。可译为：We will further deepen the opening-up and gradually open our service sector such as banking.例17 今天上午，我同贵国总理和外长等领导人进行了会晤。在这句话中，要正确翻译“等”字，就要弄清“等”的含义，是虚的，还是实的；是列举未尽还是列举后的煞尾?如是虚的，就是只同总理和外长会晤了，可译为：This morning ,I met Their Excellencies Prime Minister and Foreign Minister separately.如是实的，则指还同其他人进行了会晤，就应译为：This morning, I met Their Excellencies Prime Minister , Foreign Minister and other leaders.总之，翻译必须有全局观念，联系上下文。“从大处着眼，从小处着手”。二、分清主次，突出重点每篇文章、每个段落、每句话都有中心思想。为了阐述中心思想，必然使用不少辅助语言。翻译时，要分清主次、轻重，抓住重点。1．有时，中文修辞上的主语与语法上或形式上的主语不一致。这时，译成英语时就需把修辞上的主语放在首或句尾，以突出重点。例1 各国人民的正义斗争都是互相支持的。这句话的形式上的主语是“斗争”，但相互支持的动作发出者是“人民”而不是“斗争”，应该突出“人民”。可译为：The people of all countries support one another in their just struggles.如果译为：The just struggles of the people of the world support each other. Struggles与support each other搭配不当，不符合英语的习惯。而且，主语太长，头重脚轻。例2 The interpretation of a right of such importance as the right of reproduction should be in reasonable harmony all over the world.在这句话里，语法上的主语是“……权利的解释”，而实际上的动作发出者是“全世界”。因此，似可译为：“全世界对像复制权这样重要的权利的解释应该有相当一致的标准。”这样翻译，既为了突出重点，也符合中文的表达习惯。2．突出重点，意思明确。翻译任何东西，都要吃透原文、原话的精神，抓住重点。这样翻译出来的成品才能让人一目了然。现举几例说明。例1 不管天下发生什么事，只要人民吃饱肚子，一切就好办了。As long as the people are well fed, everything else would be easier, no matter what may happen.例2 我们两国国情虽不同，但我们能超越社会制度和意识形态的差异，尊重各自选择的发展道路。初译：Although our two countries differ in the national conditions, we have respected each other’s choice of the road to development, despite the differences in our social system and ideology.改译：Our two countries respect each other’s choice of road to development, regardless of the difference in social system, ideology and national conditions.这句话的重点是“尊重各自的选择”，而国情、社会制度和意识形态不同可以合在一起。

           比较一下两种译法。在这里，第二种译法突出重点，将原文主要意思表达得更明确。例3 联合国维和行动在缓解地区冲突方面可以起一定的积极作用。但近年来，随着维和行动数量增加，规模扩大，频频使用强制性手段，并越来越多地涉及一国内部事务，维和行动再度陷入进退两难的境地。初译：UN peace-keeping operations can play a considerably positive role in relaxation of regional conflicts. In recent years, however, with the expansion in numbers and scales, peace-keeping operations have frequently resorted to mandatory means and more and more involved in the internal affairs of the country concerned. As a result, peace-keeping operations are time and again trapped in dilemma.中文习惯于先陈述理由，然后出结论。而英文则习惯先说出总结性的话，然后陈述理由。翻译时应注意这一特点，使译文中心明确、重点突出。似可译为：UN peace-keeping operations can, to some extent, play a positive role in easing regional conflicts. However in recent years, they have now again landed themselves in a predicament with their expansion in number and on scale, frequent imposition of mandatory means and increased involvement in the internal affairs of the receiving countries.例4 中华人民共和国将与海岸相向或相邻的国家，通过协商，在国际法基础上，按照公平原则划定各自海洋管辖权界限（摘自1996年我人大常委会批准《联合国海洋法公约》时发表的声明）。

         初译：The People’s Republic of China will discuss with the countries with coasts opposite or adjacent to China how to delimitate the boundary for the respective maritime jurisdiction according to the equitable principle.此译文重点放在上。而原文的重点在“划定”上，“协商”则是方式。因此，应译为：The People’s Republic of China will, through consultations with the countries with coasts opposite or adjacent to China, get their boundaries of their respective maritime jurisdiction delimited in accordance with the equitable principle and on the basis of international law.例5 我由于国内工作，出访时间不能太长。这次很遗憾不能访问所有朋友们。初译：Due to my domestic schedule which does not allow too long an overseas trip, I am not capable of visiting all my friends time, which I very much regret.中文里“不能访问所有朋友”的原因不是“没有能力”，而是没有时间。因此，“not capable of”这一词组用在这里不合适。为使句子的中心更加突出、意思更加明确，似可译为：My tight domestic schedule does not allow me to be away from home too long. I am very sorry for not being able to visit all my friends this time.例6 Investment will not take place unless a stable and uniform regime of legal protection is established.这句话要强调的显然是后半部分的状语从句。翻译时，为突出重点，可先译从句，再译主句。可译为：如果没有一个稳定、统一的法律保护制度，人们则不会来投资。例7 国际社会正越来越多议论建立一个什么样的国际新秩序问题。初译：Discussions about establishing a new world order are heard more and more often in the international community.这句话的重点不在于是否经常听到议论，而在于人们关注什么。因此，可译为：The international community is focusing more and more on the issue of what kind of new international order should be established.三、头尾呼应，前后一致当拆译长句子或翻译无人称句子时，要注意前后一致、头尾呼应。例1 要和平、不要对抗；要合作，不要强权；要发展，不要贫困；既是深刻的历史教训，也是当今社会发展的主流，是世人的共同呼声。初译：We want peace instead of confrontation. We want cooperation instead of power politics. We want development instead of poverty. This is not only a profound lesson of history, but also the main trend of the time and the common aspiration of the world people.前面三个小句子的主语都是“we”，最后一句话又用了“the world people”两者不统一。另外，“we want”重复三次，译文显得不够简练、有力。为了加重语气，并使句子前后紧密联系，似可译为：We the people of the world want peace, not confrontation; cooperation, not power politics; development, not poverty. This is a profound historical lesson we have learned and it represents the main trend of the times and our common aspiration.例2 由于历史的原因，当今国际社会存在许多争端。妥善处理和解决这些争端，维护世界和平是有关各国共同的责任。初译：In the current world, behind the numerous disputes we may find their historical sources. It is therefore the common responsibility for all countries to properly handle and settle these disputes so as to safeguard world peace and stability.第一句与第二句的逻辑关系并不是很密切，因此，“therefore”用得勉强，呼应不起来。重新组织句子，可译为：Owing to historical reasons, there exist a number of disputes in the international community. Proper settlement of these disputes and maintenance of world peace are the common responsibility of all countries involved.例3 如果双方要对抗，我们可以找很多麻烦，制造很多人为障碍。初译：Should the two sides go in for confrontation, we will be able to find out a lot of trouble and create many man-made obstacles.原文是批评某些国家制造事端。行文中人称不一致，“我们”实际上是泛指，而不是真正指“我们”。按字面译成“我们”容易引起误解。似可译为：Should one want confrontation, one can always create trouble and set up obstacles.四、逻辑紧密，结构严谨无论是理解原文，还是表达，都需要依靠逻辑为指导。理解原文、原话要靠逻辑帮助判断。而表达最要注意的是抓住重点，理清思路，符合逻辑。中文有时靠内在逻辑联系将句大连在一起，而英文则需要依靠句子结构或虚词将句子联系在一起。例1 我们摆脱了传统的计划经济模式，一个有中国特色的社会主义市场经济体制正在逐步形成。初译：We have abandoned the traditional model of planned economy and a socialist market economic structure with the Chinese characteristics is gradually taking shape.这句话的前后两部分是“破和立”的关系。按现在这样翻译，两部分联系不够紧密，而且，主语也不一致。似可改为：We have moved away from the traditional model of the planned economy and gradually into a socialist market economy suited to the conditions in China.例2 深圳翻译公司(在谈判是否在东盟地区论坛会上讨论地区安全合作问题时，我表示)中方赞成利用学术研究第二轨道，在民间层次对安全合作课题进行先期研究。

        初译：China favors academic study as the parallel track of ARF so that preliminary study on security cooperation can be conducted.这样翻译，意思不清楚，逻辑也不严谨。实际上，这句话的后半句解释了它的前半句。地区论坛是官方轨道，学术研究是民间轨道。我们希望先在学术研究这一层次上对这一问题进行研究，而不要一开始就拿到地区论坛上来谈。似可译为：China favors the use of academic study as a supplementary channel to ARF, i.e. preliminary study of the issue of security cooperation at the non-governmental level.例3 值得一提的是，我们认为安全合作应旨在增进了解。初译：It is worth pointing out that we deem the purpose of security cooperation as promoting mutual understanding. Worth doing something这一词组一般用在做真正有价值的事。这句话中“值得一提”的内容是一种看法，是讲话者想强调的东西。可以译为：It should be particularly stressed that security cooperation should be aimed at promoting understanding.