此處僅談復(fù)合名詞詞組的譯法。復(fù)合名詞詞組的附加部分是它的定語(yǔ),譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)通常放在所修飾的名詞前,即譯成“……的+ (名詞)”結(jié)構(gòu),但有時(shí)也根據(jù)詞組各部分間的語(yǔ)義關(guān)系和漢語(yǔ)習(xí)慣進(jìn)行擴(kuò)展與轉(zhuǎn)換。
1. 將整個(gè)復(fù)合名詞詞組擴(kuò)展成句子
① The slightly porous nature of the surface of the oxide film allows it to be colored with either organic or inorganic dyes.
氧化膜表面具有輕微的滲透性,因而可以用有機(jī)或無(wú)機(jī)染料著色。
② This position was completely reversed by Haber's development of the utilization of nitrogen from the air.
由于哈伯發(fā)明了利用空氣中的氮?dú)獾姆椒?,這種局面就完全改觀了。
2. 將整個(gè)名詞詞組轉(zhuǎn)換成動(dòng)賓結(jié)構(gòu)
Two-eyed, present-day man has no need of such microscopic delicacy in his vision.
普通的現(xiàn)代人看物體時(shí)不需要這種顯微鏡般的精密程度。
3. 將定語(yǔ)部分轉(zhuǎn)換成狀語(yǔ)
A great deal of success in cheapening the process has been achieved in the last few years.
過(guò)去幾年里,在降低此過(guò)程成本方面已經(jīng)取得了巨大的成功。
4. 將定語(yǔ)從句轉(zhuǎn)換成并列分句、狀語(yǔ)從句等
① This is an electrical method which is the most promising when the water is brackish.
這是ー種電學(xué)方法,它最有希望用于半咸水。(并列分句)
② Nowadays it is understood that a diet which contains nothing harmful may result in serious disease if certain important elements are missing.
現(xiàn)在,人們已經(jīng)懂得,如果食物中缺少了某些重要成分,即使其中不含有任何有害物質(zhì),也會(huì)引起嚴(yán)重疾病。(狀語(yǔ)從句)
復(fù)合名詞詞組的譯法很多,但萬(wàn)變不離其宗,即離不開(kāi)語(yǔ)義關(guān)系和語(yǔ)言習(xí)慣。例如the flow of water直譯是“水的流動(dòng)”,意譯可以是“水流”、“流水” 或“流動(dòng)的水”,這都符合語(yǔ)義要求和漢語(yǔ)習(xí)慣。因此下面一句:
The flow of electricity along a wire may he compared to the flow of water along a pipe, and consequently in known as current.
可譯作:我們可以把沿電線流動(dòng)的電比作沿水管流動(dòng)的水,為此,我們稱電的流動(dòng)為電流。