1、 翻译技巧（五）翻译技巧（五）省略法省略法 英汉翻译中的省略指的是依循“减词不减意”的原则，把原文中的一些词语舍去不译。比较下例中的两种译文：（1）We take this opportunity to inform you that we are now in a position to make prompt shipment of the merchandise.原译：我们借此机会告知你们现在我们可以立即装运那批货物。改译：兹奉告，该商品可即期装运。（2）After the picnic the kids flaked out as soon as they got came in th
2、e car.原译：野餐后孩子们一坐进汽车，他们就睡着了。改译：野餐后，孩子们一坐进汽车就睡着了。v总体说来，英译汉中的省略主要出于两个方面的考虑：v一是由于英汉句法上的差异，英语句法上所必需的一些表达某种句法关系或语法功能的词语，其表意作用不大或无表意作用，译成汉语时往往省却；v二是根据汉语的修辞习惯需要删除一些不言而喻或冗杂累赘的词语。英汉翻译中采用省略法的几种主要类型 v9.1冠词的省略 v9.2代词的省略v9.3 it的省略 v9.4介词的省略 v9.5连词的省略 v9.6动词的省略v9.7同义词语的省略v9.8冗词赘语的省略 9.1冠词的省略 v9.1.1定冠词的省略 v9.1.2不定
3、冠词的省略9.1.1定冠词的省略v英语定冠词在泛指类别、表示世界上独一无二的事物，或者用于带有限定性定语的名词之前、形容词最高级或序数词等之前时，汉译一般省略。例如：v（3）The pen is mightier than the sword.v（4）The fox may grow gray,but never good.v（5）The pump is one of the oldest machines.v（6）The proton has a positive charge and the electron a negative charge，but the neutron has ne
4、ither.v（7）The sun was slowly rising above the sea.v（8）The rate of a chemical reaction is proportional to the concentrations of the reacting substances.v（9）The color sensation produced by light depends simply upon the length of the wave producing the light.v（10）As we know,the sun is one of the greate
5、st sources of electromagnetic waves.v（11）A light year is the greatest unit of measurement for distance.v（12）The fourth section of the second chapter deals with conversion of parts of speech v然而，假如定冠词具有词汇意义、起着指示代词(this,that,these的作用时，一般就不能省译。例如：v（13）“What about the horse？”cried the crowd of Trojans.v
6、（14）The onlookers saw the little party climb ashore.v（15）The words“suitably selected should be duly stressed.v（16）The machines over there have been well lubricated.9.1.2不定冠词的省略 v不定冠词在泛指某一类事物中的任何一个或用于某些固定词组等情况下往往省译。例如：v（17）A teacher should have patience.v（18）If an investor wants to up the ante，he bor
7、rows money to buy the shares.v（19）Any substance is made up of atoms whether it is a solid，a liquid，or a gas.v（20）A camel is much inferior to an elephant in strength.v（21）A material whose deformation vanishes rapidly with the disappearance of the loads is said to behave elastically.v（22）Ohms law indi
8、cates that whenever a current flows through a resistance，a difference of potential exists at the two ends of that resistance.v一些含有不定冠词的常用短语在汉译时，省略其中的不定冠词。例如：a couple of两个，几个make an exception of将除外 a few几个on a fifty-fifty basis平均地，在对开分的基础上 a good(great)many很多on a large scale大规模地（的）a great(good)deal o
9、f很多，大量a large amount(number)of大量as a whole整个地，就总体而言a variety of各种各样的 for a long time长时间as a matter of f act事实上，其实for a time一些时候，暂时as a result结果 for a while 暂时，片刻as a(general)rule通常，照例for an instant一瞬间，片刻once upon a time从前 go a long way达到很远，用得很久put an end to结束in a sense在某种意义上quite a while相当久 in a way
10、有点，在某点上to a measure有点，有几分 keep an eye on注意，注视with a view to为了，意在 make an end of(with)结束without a hitch无障碍地v但是在不定冠词明显地表示数量在不定冠词明显地表示数量“一一”，或是表示，或是表示“每一每一”、“同一同一”之义时，往往就不宜将之省译之义时，往往就不宜将之省译。例如：v（23）The thermal energy of a lake is much greater than that of a flask of boiling water.v（24）The electric resi
11、stance is measured in ohms.An ohm is a volt per ampere.v（25）The number of vibrations a second is called frequency.v（26）The material for the tent must stand up to a wind force of at least a hundred andfifty miles an hour.v（27）The two pairs of shoes are of a size.9.2代词的省略 v9.2.1人称代词的省略v9.2.2物主代词的省略 v9
12、.2.3反身代词的省略9.2.1人称代词的省略v人称代词可用作主语或宾语。一段文字中人称代词经常会重复出现。但汉语的习惯却不同。因此，英汉翻译时，原文中的人称代词，尤其是那些重复出原文中的人称代词，尤其是那些重复出现，或是含泛指意义的人称代词，大多可以省译现，或是含泛指意义的人称代词，大多可以省译。例如：v（28）Whether the laws are good or bad，they cannot complain，they cannot question，they cannot suggest changes.v（29）I had many wonderful ideas,but I o
13、nly put a few into practice.v（30）He was thin and haggard and he looked miserable.v（31）Since copper possesses good conductivity，it is widely used in electrical engineering.v（32）We live and learn.v（33）The significance of a man is not in what he attained but rather in what he longs to attain.v（34）If yo
14、u know the frequency,you can find the wave length.v（35）The finished products should be sampled to check their quality before they leave the factory.v（36）The industrial waste gases are harmful to us and we should by all means remove them.v（37）The more he tried to hide his wants,the more he revealed t
15、hem.9.2.2物主代词的省略v英语中物主代词用得较多。英汉翻译时，经常将这类物主代词省略。例如：v（38）I put on my zip suit and went out.v（39）Susan had cut her finger;apparently there was a broken glass on her desk.v（40）Many small service firms fail to analyze their services total cost，and therefore fail to price them profitably.v（41）Mr.White put
16、 his pipe down,crossed his hands behind his neck，and turned his face towards the window.v（42）They（salmon）dig out shallow nests in the riverbed and lay their eggs；then,exhausted by their journey,the parent salmon die.v（43）Better than any other,the design engineer should know what he wants his design
17、to accomplish.v（44）According to their ability to conduct electric current，all materials may be classified into three major categories：conductors,semiconductors and insulators.9.2.3反身代词的省略v英语反身代词作宾语与人称代词作宾语时的情况类似。如：v（45）Treat yourselves to a glass of wine to help you relax at the end of the day.v（46）
18、A stream of liquid enters an air-tight container and spreads itself uniformly within it.v（47）We should concern ourselves here only with the structure of atoms.v（48）Friction manifests itself as a force that opposes motion.v（49）Although pure science usually has no apparent connection with technology,i
19、t does lend itself to the development of applied science.9.3 it的省略 v9.3.1非人称代词it的省略 v9.3.2先行代词it的省略v9.3.3非指定型代词it的省略v9.3.4强调句型中的it的省略9.3.1非人称代词it的省略v非人称代词it在句中作主语时实际上是个虚词虚词，汉译时，常将这一非人称代词it省略，作为无主句。例如：v（50）Outside it was pitch dark and it was raining cats and dogs.v（51）He glanced at his watch.It was
20、earlier than he thought.v（52）It is 112 miles from London to Birmingham.v（53）It11 be lovely in the garden tonight.v（54）It is dead quiet and extremely dark in the outer space.9.3.2先行代词it的省略 v先行代词it的主要作用是充当语法规则所要求的形式主语或形式宾语。它本身也是个虚词，没有具体的词汇意义，因此汉译时往往省略。例如：v（55）Its impossible to master a foreign languag
21、e in a few months.v（56）It was a nuisance having to work the whole night on the problem.v（57）It is evident that solids differ from liquids in that they tend to keep their shape.v（58）It should be realized that magnetic forces and electric forces are not the same.v（59）It is our firm belief that a bold
22、attempt is half success.v（60）He felt it his duty to serve in the army.v（61）They thought it best that the burial service should be on Friday.v（62）Susan deemed it advisable to keep the matter secret.9.3.3非指定型代词it的省略v非指定型it指的是出现在某些习惯用法中的it，它已失去了本身的词汇意义，在句子结构中也没有具体的指代对象。英汉翻译时，这种习惯用法中的it也经常省略。例如：v（63）The
23、 last trains gone.Come on，well have to foot it.v（64）Show them that you too have your pride.Dont let them lord it over you.v（65）They decided that they would sleep out on fine nights and hotel it and inn it when it rained.v（66）The students get with it just before examinations.v（67）The flight takes off
24、 in twenty minutes-well never make it.9.3.4强调句型中的it的省略v在“It is/was被强调成分that/which/who.”的强调句型中，it也是一个没有具体词义的虚词，汉译时一般予以省略。例如：v（68）It was Pasteur who discovered that diseases are caused by living germs.v（69）It is the gravitation which makes the satellites move round the earth.v(70)It was Grice with who
25、m Tim first came into contact.v（71）It was on a small Pacific island that they found this rare kind of spider.v（72）It was not until I met you that I knew real happiness.9.4介词的省略v9.4.1表示时间的介词常可省略v9.4.2表示地点的介词常可省略v9.4.3其他介词的省略9.4.1表示时间的介词常可省略v表示时间的英语介词译成汉语时，如果置于句首一般可以省略。例如：v（73）Europeans came to the Ja
26、panese islands in the 16th century.v（74）The space shuttle will return to earth on Monday next as scheduled.v（75）On July 1,1997,Hong Kong returned to the Peoples Republic of China.v但是，假如表示时间的介词译成汉语时不位于句首，往往不宜省略。例如：v（76）Rumor had it that hostilities were to begin on April 23.v（77）Ludwig Wittgenstein,o
27、ne of the greatest philosopher of the 20th century,was born on 26 April,1889 and dies on 29 April,1951.9.4.2表示地点的介词常可省略v同表示时间的介词类似，表示地点（包括位置、场所等）的介词译成汉语时若置于句首，也经常可以省略。例如：v（78）No smoking in the test site.v（79）Now complaints are heard in all parts of that country.v（80）There are rich deposits of fine o
28、il and gas in here.v（81）At the top of the bookshelf,there is a pot of flowers.v（82）In winter,it is much colder in the North than it is in the South.v然而，表示地点的介词在译文中若不位于句首而处于其他位置，尤其是紧随动词之后，一般不可省略。例如：v（83）Mount the meter on that panel.v（84）They are concerned for the fate of the forest and the Indians w
29、ho dwell in it.9.4.3其他介词的省略v一些用于其他场合的介词短语，汉译时若译文已明确体现有关介词的意思，这些介词也经常省译，以避免画蛇添足之嫌。例如：v（85）The capacitor is a square with all sides a half centimeter long.v（86）Most substances expand on heating and contract on cooling.v（87）I should like to make a brief statement regarding some of the considerations le
30、ading to our affirmative vote.v（88）The critical temperature is different for various kinds of steel.v（89）The products produced by this factory are good in quality and low in price.9.5连词的省略v9.5.1并列连词在并列连词中的省略v9.5.2从属连词的省略9.5.1并列连词的省略 v在并列连词中，比较常见的是and,or,but和for的省略。例如:v（90）For every action there is a
31、n equal and opposite reaction.v（91）This machine has worked in succession for seven or eight hours.v（92）Bacteria，even great in number,are invisible to the unaided eye，but they can easily be distinguished by the microscope.v（93）Both the earth and grain of sand are bodies，for each consists of a definit
32、e amount of matter.v（94）A developer bought the farm,subdivided it into lots,and built homes on them.9.5.2从属连词的省略v与并列连词相比，从属连词数量要大得多，用法也繁杂得多。汉译时这些连词经常可酌情省略。例如：v（95）Because everyone uses language to talk，everyone thinks he can talk about language.v（96）Because the departure was not easy,we made it brie
33、f.v（97）We knew spring was coming,as we had seen a robin.v（98）A gas becomes hotter if it is compressed.v（99）If winter comes,can spring be far behind?v（100）The volume of a given weight of gas varies directly as the absolute temperature,provided the pressure does not change.v（101）Check the equipment be
34、fore you begin the experiment.v（102）After she packed up her things,she hurried to the airport.9.6动词的省略v9.6.1一些连系动词的省略v9.6.2一些动词与具有动作含义的名词搭配时可省略9.6.1一些连系动词的省略v英语中最主要的连系动词be用作谓语时，本身并无具体的动作含义，汉译时往往省略。至于其他连系动词，如get,become等，若其含义在译文中已经得到体现，也可省译。例如：v（103）She is very fond of speaking ill of others.v（104）New
35、spapers，magazines and broadcasts are subject to censorship in that country.v（105）It is easier to roll something over a surface than to slide it.v（106）Abortion was an issue too explosive for him to handle.v（107）When the pressure gets low，the boiling-point becomes low.9.6.2一些动词与具有动作含义的名词搭配时可省略v英语中某些与具
36、有动作含义的名词连用的动词，本身表意作用不大或根本没有表意作用。汉译时，经常将这种动词省略，而将与之搭配使用的名词转译成动词。例如：v（108）The power plant gives factories its constant supply of electricity.v（109）In the case of a possible accident，the machine comes to a halt immediately upon the operators direction.v（110）Delivery must be effected within the time sta
37、ted on the purchase order.v（111）With regard to their products，they have the same concerns of the interrelation-ship of design，materials，and manufacturing process.v（112）They have settled border disputes with many other countries simply by having both parties make concessions.9.7同义词语的省略v英语中有时会采取同义词语连用
38、的手法。汉译时，这些同义词语有些可分别译出，有些则省略有些则省略。例如：v（113）To our knowledge，advertisements and commercials do many important thingsfor society：they convey business information，facilitate communication and help keep the business world moving.v（114）The essentials of an electric generator or dynamo are powerful magnets
39、 and a rapidly moving coil.v（115）Semiconductor devices have no filament or heaters，hence they require no heating power or warmed up time.v（116）Electrons revolve about the nucleus，or center of an atom.v（117）In processing，or refining，petroleum，the several fractions are separated from each other.9.8冗词赘
40、语的省略v一些词语如果全盘照译往往会形成不必要的冗言赘语。汉译时，根据汉语的修辞规范常常需要将这些词语省略，以使译文更加简洁洗练。例如：v（118）Stainless steels possess good hardness and high strength.v（119）Their respective destinies are becoming increasingly interdependent.v（120）Besides teaching the deaf and dumb he was absorbed in the scientific study of sound,and also in the possibilities of transmitting it by means of electricity or light.v（121）He asked the divisions to give their mutual cooperation to the project.v（122）Part-time job hunters who have some working experience will receive preference over those who have not.
