中文原文:
企业的核心竞争力来自员工的良好素质。
错误译文:
An enterprise's nucleus force for competition originates from the good quality of its personnel.
正确译文:
An enterprise's core competence/competitiveness originates from the good quality of its personnel.
翻译加油站:
nucleus force是个物理学名词,其定义是a force which can hold a nucleus together against the enormous forces of repulsion of the proton(一种能够保持核而抵制质子巨大斥力的力),即“核力”,用在这里不合适。关于“核心竞争力”,英语中有现成的 core competence 一个词。它的字面直译是“核心能力”,其定义是a unique capability that affords some type of competitive advantage(一种独有的能够提供某类竞争优势的能力),或firm skills that competitors cannot easily match or imitate(竞争者无法轻易匹敌或模仿的过硬技能)。也有人将它译为core competitiveness。例如:
1. 企业必须强化知识管理的理念,提高自身的核心竞争力。An enterprise must intensify its concepts of knowledge management and enhance its core competence/competitiveness.
“竞争”作为名词,可以译为competition。例如:
2. 国与国之间的竞争正愈演愈烈。
1) Competitions between/among countries are getting fiercer.
2) Countries are in more intense competitions with/against each other
3) There are keener competitions between/among countries
“竞争”作为动词,可以译为to compete, to contend, to vie或to contest。例如:
3. 根据这份报告,美国经济及其在国外的竞争力正在缓慢下降。 The American economy, and its ability to compete abroad, was slowing down according to the report.
4. 这两个队正在争冠军。The two teams are contending for the championship.
5. 百花齐放,百家争鸣。Let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend.
6. 在这条街上有一排饭馆相互争抢生意。 In the street there are a row of restaurants vying with each other for business.
7. 三个候选人争夺该党的领导权。Three candidates contested the leadership of the party.