一、科教類試題

這類試題文章的主題主要涉及科學技術、文化教育領域的創(chuàng)新與改革狀況，它要求考生既能熟練地譯出常用的科教術語,又能怡如其分地譯出漢語的一些俗語與成語,當然這需要考生熟練地掌握相應的翻譯技巧。最典型的試題當屬以“科學與藝術的關系”為主題(2001.3)的

文章。下面我們對這篇文章的英譯加以說明。

第一句:“長期以來,科學同藝術之間的關系一直是剃頭擔子一頭熱：科學熱戀著藝術，藝術卻拒科學于千里之外?！?/p>

“長期以來”可譯為“for a long time”或“over a long period of time”?！疤觐^擔子一頭熱”不能直譯,應意譯，它的意思是“單邊熱情”，所以可譯為“one-sided enthusiasm”。由于“戀愛”在英語中的意思是“be in love with ...”,所以“熱戀”就可譯為“be in deep love with .. .”。同樣,由于“拒...之外”在英語中的意思是“to keep itself away from ...”,所以“拒...于千里之外”就可譯為“to keep itself far away from ...”。因此,全句可譯為:“For a long time, the relations between science and art have been one-sided enthusiasm, that is, while science is in deep love with art, yet art keeps itself far away from science.”

第二段:“許多大科學家一生鐘愛藝術,且懂藝術,從中汲取養(yǎng)料，善養(yǎng)浩然之氣,或得到人生最大安慰。相反,熱愛自然科學并且理解工程技術的文學藝術家真可謂鳳毛麟角?！?/p>

前一句中“許多大科學家”中的“大”有“著名”或“偉大”之意,可譯為“famous, renowned, great, well-known”?！扮姁邸笨勺g為:“dote upon/on, cherish, love”等?！耙簧笨勺g為“all their lives”或“throughout their lives”。“汲取養(yǎng)料”就是“吸收營養(yǎng)”,可譯為“to absorb nutriment”?！昂迫恢畾狻本褪恰案呱械木瘛保勺g為“noble spirit”?！叭松畲蟀参俊笨勺g為“the greatest comfort of life”。后一句中的“相反”可譯為詞組“on the contrary”?？忌軌蜃R別出后一句的主語是“文學藝術家”,“的”前面是定語從句?！罢婵芍^鳳毛麟角”是謂語加表語。“鳳毛麟角”不能直譯或硬譯,可意譯為“be very rare”或“a rarity of rarities”。理解原文后可將全段譯為:

“Many great scientists dote upon art throughout their lives. They also understand art and absorb nutriment from art to enhance their noble spirits or to derive the greatest comfort of life. On the contrary, experts in literature and art who love natural science and understand engineering technology are really very rare.”(此句又可譯為“... may be well regarded as a rarity of rarities.”)

最后一段:“藝術家對自然科學望而生畏,敬而遠之，原因之一是里面有一大堆高深的數(shù)學公式。其實，撇開數(shù)學，繞過那一大堆公式，一門學科的基本思想還是可以被我們理解和欣賞的。這恰如我們雖然看不懂莫扎特樂曲的總譜,但照樣能同它的主旋律產生共鳴，擊節(jié)稱贊?！?/p>

對第一句話加以分析后即可確定該句的主語是“原因之一”，此前均為定語從句。第二句的主語在英語中應為“我們”，而不是“基本思想”，此前為狀語從句。翻譯第三句時應按照英語的表達法，將肯定或褒義部分放在前面,否定或貶義部分放在后面,考生可先譯“產生共鳴，擊節(jié)稱贊”,后譯“看不懂莫扎特樂曲的總譜”。因此，全段可譯為:

“One of the reasons why artists stand in awe of or keep a respectful distance from natural science is that natural science involves a huge stack of abstruse mathematical formulas. In fact, leaving aside mathematics and bypassing the huge stack of formulas, we may still understand and appreciate the basic principles of a science. It's just like that the main melody of Mozart's musical score can resonate with us and make us admire, although we can read nothing of the general score of Mozart's musical pieces.”