谈谈“情况”的英译
(2011-01-07 10:41:11)
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我是一名老年英语学习者,喜欢做点翻译练习,主要是人文类的翻译。我特别喜欢汉译英。今后希望多向大家学习。
下面是我的一篇论文,题目是:谈谈“情况”的英译,发表在东北师范大学人文学院学报2008年第二期。愿意和大家讨论、学习。请多批评:
谈谈“情况”的英译
田中雨[1]
(东北师范大学人文学院
[提
[关键词] 情况, 灵活, 语境
将“情况” 译为英语, 不是件容易的事。 它的意义范围很广,凡是发生的事情都是“情况”。 它可以指条件,所处的形势,局势,案例,信息, 进展,事态,实况,与个人相关的环境条件,某一实物的现状,状态,出现的新事,事物本身的状态,外观,处境,不同于常见现象的特例。也可以是确指的某一事物或者是前文所讲述的而在下文中用代词表现的内容。 下面通过具体译例分别讨论一下。
一、
1.
Mothers would protect their babies in/under almost any circumstances.
2.
Our plan has to be modified in accordance with the altered circumstances.
3.
In exceptional circumstances the commision may allow the project duration to exceed 6 monthes.
4.
二、
1. 我知道你最近的情况有所好转。
I know your circumstances have considerably improved of late.
What does it take to succeed in American business? Opinions vary widely. Given approximately equal qualifications and circumstances, some claim the success factor is largely a matter of luck—being in the right place at the right time.
The student is in full-time employment or has domestic circumstances which make full-time study impossible.
三、 “情况” 指所处客观形势、客观环境时,可译situation: picture ,climate.
The situation may arise where there is insufficient data available on this topic.
4. 市场情况、形势
market situation;
6. 出现下面情况,按你判断,指出问题可能出现的原因。
Faced with the following situations, according to your perception, please indicate first the probable cause of each problem.
7. 上个月经济情况(形势)发生了很大变化。
8. 翻看历史纪录, 情况往往不一样。
A review of the historical record suggests a different picture.
四、 “情况” 有时指的是案情、案例、此情此景,这时可译为case:
1. 病人可能会出现恶心或困倦等症状。在这种情况下,针灸往往会比药物或其他疗法更有效。
The patients may feel dizzy or tired. Acupuncture can often be more effective than drugs or other treaments (therapies) in those cases.
2.
As far as I know, there are not cases like that.
3. 情况确实如此。
It was indeed the case .
The investor did not know what to do with himself in that case.
五.有时”情况”指现象、所发生的事,这时也可译为case.
In practice unexpected case can often occur.
2. 只买过一次东西的人,经过不断联系成为回头客这种情况也不少见。
Not rare are cases where a buyer in a single sale is made a regular customer if pursued continually.
六.有时“情况”指希望得到的信息、有关方面的内容,这时可译为 information.
1.
We would like to know all the necessary information.
2.
You should supply information to settle your appeal as soon as you have it.
3.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us .
4.
He advised me to contact you for information about work-study opportunities.
5.
We are awaiting your information about the L/C position.
6.
He avoided giving me the information I wanted.
7.
七. “情况”有时表达的是某一领域的新变化,进展情况,这时可以用 development,change,circumstances 等词表达。
1.
There are so many developments taking place in our world that it would be wonderful if we could meet and have regular dicussion about them.
2.
3.
4.
Please survey the situation closely and keep us informed of the developments.
.
八. 有时“情况”是指与某人有密切关系的总形势与事物进展情况,这时可以译成 thing(s)或其派生词everything等:
1.
How are things going? 或 How ‘s everyting ?
2.
That was in 1996. Since then things have been much better.
3.
How are things with you?
4.
Things aren’t what they used to be.
九.在商务往来中,“情况”指实际情况、具体内容,或案情的实际内容,这时往往可译成fact, detail, particulars, particular fact 等词:
1.
Here are the particulars furnished by the shipper.
2.
The sample cutting book, price list and catalog will give you the details you requrie.
3.
Whether or not we can accept an arrangement will depend on the particular facts.
4.
Corporation A purchased a parcel of land in Year 1 for two million. It sold the land in Year 3 for 2.5 million. The facts with Corporation B are the same as those with A except that B sold the land for 2.3 million.
5.
6.
To charge the buyer at actuals.
7.
We have learned the truth .
十.”情况”往往可以指某一事物本身的状态,也可以指与其他事物相互的关系。这时可译为position, standing, status 或是state等词:
3. 实际情况怎样?
What is the actual position of affairs?
5. 不正常的情况给我们带许多不方便。
The improper state of affairs caused us a lot of inconvenience.
6. 情况/状态调查case status request
7.
就业情况/状态employment status
8. 失业情况/状态inactive status in employment
9. 人口流动情况/状态mobility status
十一、 Position ,standing 或status 等词含义也较广。既可以指有利形势,又可指不利形势。如果情况涉及拨款与分配或再投资内容,用soundness 或benefit 可能会比position, standing, status 更好些:
1.
Their financial soundness is favorable to the investment.
2. 每年提取储备基金的比例由董事会根据公司经营状况讨论决定。
十二、 当被叙述的内容处于某种受控状态、秩序井然时,“情况”可以译为 condition 或order 等词:
1.
We can assure you that the goods were in good order when they left here.
2.
We believe that the goods will arrive at the destinantion in perfect condition.
3.
The slushing compound will not liquify and run off under changing weather conditions.
4.
The goods (packages) are in apparent good order and condition.
十三、如果“困难”与“情况”连用,那就是指困难处境,可以译为trouble,problem,或plight 等。
1.
After she had heard about the family’s financial troubles (problems), she agreed to look for a job.
2.
Everyone was horrified about the plight of the vicitims.
十四、有时”情况”指的是一个人过去的经历,这时不妨译为experience.
1.
He had the same experience.
2.
I ‘ve heard about her experience in the country.
十五、“情况”有时指的是上文提到过的情况,因此这种“情况“实际在译文行文中是有所指的,应该用代词表现出来。如:
1. 在以后报价时,请考虑上述情况。
Please take the above into consideration when submitting quotations in future.
2. 听到这种情况,我们都很遗憾。
5.
Don’t you think we can talk about it on another occasion?
十六、某些事实、数字、现状本身就是一种“情况”,汉语中不加上“情况”这两个字,好像话没说完。而在英文的表达中,不一定要有“情况”的对应词出现。硬行译出,反觉别扭:
1.
We know nothing of balance.
2.
These companies and banks know the Chinese market very well.
3.
Any exceptions will be considered on an individual basis.
4.
十七、 很多情况下,“情况”在英语译文中不通过相应的词,而是通过其他词语或语言环境体现出来。
1. 我们很高兴收到你方来信,了解我校情况。
2. 他们谈了工作的情况,谈得很晚。
They talked about their work far into the night.
3. 做小手术时会是一种什么情况。
4. 有贸易往来的国家建立了一种叫做国际收入的记账概念,它记录了一个国家和别的国家在贸易和资本流动方面的情况。
Trading nations have developed an accounting concept called balance of payments , which records a country’s trade and capital flow in relation to other countries.
5.
In view of force majeure at your end we agree to cancel the order.
6.
7.
We should never omit a word at the expense of clearness.
十八、“特殊情况”的译法
1.
2. 可能由于业务上复杂,会带来特殊情况。There are unique situaions which could be a result of business complexity.
3.
特殊情况特殊处理。Any exceptions will be considered on
an individual basis.
4. 特殊情况、案例special case; extraordinary case;
十九、 “情况”的其它表现方式。
1. 美国人如何看待到中国进行商业谈判的问题----常见的几种情况:
2. 各分公司根据业务情况,自行决定。
3. 他们向经理汇报的谈判情况。
4. 考虑到实际情况,要有灵活的办法。
5. 情况介绍会
6. 货源情况
7. 一国,把矾土加价六成,迫使其他成员国就范。在磷酸盐和锡的卡特尔里,也出现同样的情况。(同样的模式/格局)
8. 合营企业各方认为,合营企业的账目与记录应准确地反应收入与支出,以确定其经营的获利情况。
9. 帐目与记录应准确公正地反映合营企业的财务活动情况。
10. 我们必须根据具体情况来判断每件案子。
11. 统计数字反映出合营企业所进行的各个项目的财务情况.
13. 当事一方可由于业务需要向其指定的需要了解这种情报的职工透漏独有情报。在这种情况下,该当事方应采取一切合理措施防止这些职工用独有情报替自身利益服务。
14. 如果天气情况有利,我们就可以去。
If the weather turns out favorable, we will go.
15. 在财力,人力许可的情况下within constraints imposed by the fiscal and human resources available
16. 交货执行情况delivery performance
17. 合同执行的进展情况(指执行任务情况的好坏)the progress of the performance of the contract
18. 生活水平的改善要依情况而定(指周边环境情况)。
The improvement in living standards needs to be put into context.
19. “工作情况”(指工作性质,任务),这时可译成about the work/job
20. “工作情况”( 某人的工作情况,也就是此人的工作表现),可翻译为(one’s) work performance
总之,中文里“情况”所指的情况很复杂,此文所谈的这些情况远非全面,翻译成英文时,要针对具体情况选用英文的对应词,或者通过语境等方法表现出来,不能见字就译,切不可机械地处理。
【1】剑桥国际英词词典,上海外语教育出版社,1995.
【2】Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ,Pitman Press,1978.
【3】Gage Canadian Dictionary, Gage Educational Publishing Co. 1979
【4】汉英大辞典,上海交通大学出版社,1993.
【5】现代汉语词典, 商务印书馆,1978.
Qingkuang-- The Best Way in English
Tian Zhongyu
Abstract: The Chinese word情况 (qingkuang) has a wide semantic coverage. It should not be restricted to only a few English “equivalents” when translated into English. Different contexts demand different wording.
Key words: qingkuang, flexibility, context