第四:有时候中文字面的意思表达不充分,部分信息被省略了或被隐藏起来了。例如,特区是个窗口,是技术的窗口,管理的窗口,知识的窗口,也是对外政策的窗口。不是:The special zone is a window. It is a widow for introducing technology, management and knowledge. It is also a window for foreign policy.
而是The special economic zones are a window opening onto the outside world. They are a window through which to bring in from abroad sophisticated technology, advanced managerial expertise and up-to-date know-how. It is also a window through which to disseminate China’s external policies.
再如,退耕还林:不是return farmland to forest,而应该是restore “woodland-converted farm-plots” back for afforesting 。春运:不是spring transportation,而是the rush / peak season of passenger transportation during the Spring Festival。
第五:有些中文词语没有什么特殊涵义,而与之相对应的英文词语却有着特殊的涵义。例如,与“便宜”、“价廉”相对应的“cheap,”它有时候会带有贬义,成为“质次价低”的意,如cheap jewelries, cheap dresses, cheap furniture 等。我们可以说I bought a cheap watch for my child,对小孩无所谓;但不能说I bought a cheap dress for my girlfriend. 因为这样说会冒犯对方。在后一种情况下必须用inexpensive一词。
第六:避免用中式英语进行表达,而要尽量用地道的英语进行表达。假如我们要把“我过去学过一些法语,但现在都忘了,都还给老师了”这句话翻译成英语,最好不要说 I learned some French in the past. Now I have forgotten it. I’ve returned it to the teacher. 比较好的说法是 I used to know some French, but I’ve forgotten it. It has found its way back to my teacher.
再比如我们要用英语说“我攒了一大堆赃衣服,等着周末来洗,”最好不要说I have accumulated a large amount of dirty clothes. I’m going to wash them at the weekend. 比较好的说法是 I have a lot of laundry to catch up at the weekend.
第七:根据不同场合,英语的表达有庄重(formal) 与随意(informal) 之分。比如“禁止吸烟”(No Smoking)、“请勿吸烟”(Thank you for not smoking) 和“为了您和他人的健康,请勿在此吸烟”(For hygiene’s sake, please refrain yourself from smoking in this room.)下面两组例子中都各包含有formal- normal - informal 三种文体风格(style):