詞義精當(dāng),是指譯者對(duì)原文的每一個(gè)詞都譯得恰如其分。當(dāng)然,怎樣才算是“恰如其分”,這是個(gè)相對(duì)標(biāo)準(zhǔn),但我們?cè)诜g實(shí)踐中,務(wù)必高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)、嚴(yán)要求、精益求精。
(一)一詞多義
同一個(gè)詞,由于語(yǔ)境的不同,其詞義可千差萬別。
試看下面幾個(gè)例子:
1) He got all the credit for the discovery.
2) The ledger shows 300 pounds on the debit side and 50 pounds on the credit side.
3) The availability of cheap long term credit would help small businesses.
4) They sold grain on credit during time of famine.
5) How much do I have to my credit?
6) They cannot obtain credit at all in the trade.
7) They have opened the covering credit with the Bank of China, London.
以上七個(gè)句子都包含有 credit 這個(gè)詞,但每個(gè)句子中的 credit,其詞義都有所區(qū)別:
1)他因這項(xiàng)發(fā)現(xiàn)而獲得各項(xiàng)榮譽(yù)。
2)從分類賬上可以看出,發(fā)生金額借方300英鎊,貸方50英鎊。
3)低息長(zhǎng)期貸款可以扶持小型企業(yè)。
4)饑荒季節(jié),他們則賒銷糧食。
5)我們的銀行戶頭上還有多少存款?
6)他們?cè)跇I(yè)內(nèi)的信譽(yù)已蕩然無存。
7)他們已從倫敦中國(guó)銀行開立了足額信用證。
只要翻開一般的詞典,我們就可知道,一詞多義是語(yǔ)言的普遍現(xiàn)象。因此,根據(jù)不同的語(yǔ)境正確選詞是翻譯的一項(xiàng)最基本的技能。再看幾個(gè)漢譯英的例子:
1)價(jià)廉物美
2)我們不銷售廉價(jià)質(zhì)次的貨物。
3)我們已按很低的價(jià)格向你們報(bào)盤。
4)你們會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)我們這批貨物的價(jià)格是很便宜的。
5)請(qǐng)按照最低價(jià)報(bào)這批體溫表的價(jià)格。
6)如對(duì)我們的業(yè)務(wù)建議有興趣,請(qǐng)寄樣品,并告最惠條款。
7)我們的報(bào)價(jià)已是最低價(jià),折扣不能再多給了。
以上七個(gè)句子都涉及到“價(jià)格低”這么一個(gè)概念,但若要譯得貼切,卻可能須用不同的詞來表達(dá)。試譯如下:
1) fine and inexpensive
2) We do not sell cheap quality goods.
3) We have made you an offer at a very competitive price.
4) You will find our prices for these goods very popular.
5) Please make us your lowest quotation for Clinical Thermometers.
6) If you feel interest in our business proposal, please send us the samples together with your best terms and conditions.
7) As we have quoted you our rock-bottom price, we can't give you any more discount.
如果查閱一般的漢英詞典,比如查“便宜的”這一詞條,往往不可能給出所有的釋義。即使倒過來去查英漢詞典,也并非每一個(gè)詞都能找到確切的對(duì)應(yīng)漢語(yǔ)詞義,如 best 一詞,只是在特定的搭配中,才具有“優(yōu)惠的”、“便宜的”等類含義。一談到“便宜的”,很多人可能馬上就聯(lián)想到 cheap 一詞,但這個(gè)詞常常含有貶義,這點(diǎn)不能不知。
(二)詞義的引申
在英漢互譯中,有時(shí)會(huì)遇到某些詞在詞典上難以找到貼切具體上下文的詞義,如生搬硬套,譯文往往語(yǔ)意不清,甚至導(dǎo)致誤解。在這種情況下,需要根據(jù)上下文和邏輯關(guān)系,從該詞固有的基本含義出發(fā),進(jìn)一步加以引申。例如:
1) We have an interest for your athletic goods.
2) To cover our shipment, we would request you to establish a commercial letter of credit in our favour for the contracted amount through an American Bank.
3) We enclose a list showing our present availabilities.
4) The arrivals do not conform to the sample. You must have shipped the wrong parcel.
5) It is one of the most useful of the household conveniences.
6) We insist that international trade should not be a one-way street.
7) Oil prices came tumbling down, brightening the outlook for inflation and helping to touch off a rally on Wall Street.
以上七個(gè)句子中"interest","shipment","availabilities","arrivals","conveniences","one-way street",和"Wall Street",如查詞典,它們的基本含義可分別是“興趣”、“裝運(yùn)(的貨)”、“可得到的東西”、“到達(dá)(的東西)”、“便利(設(shè)施)”、“單行道”和“華爾街”。如果將這些詞義直接放入譯文,顯然不能充分表達(dá)原文的含義,故需進(jìn)一步引申。
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(來源:原版英語(yǔ),英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津編輯)