句子是由單詞組成的,詞的順序直接影響意思的準(zhǔn)確及句子的通順。詞與詞如何結(jié)合應(yīng)以意思需要為準(zhǔn),不能死搬硬套原文詞序。分句組成復(fù)句,復(fù)句組成段落,同樣也有一個順序問題。
不論詞序、句序,如果紹織不當(dāng),或者影響譯文通順,或者影響意思準(zhǔn)確,絕不可等閑視之。必要時應(yīng)徹底撇開原文的詞序、句序, 按照中文習(xí)慣重新進(jìn)行組合。
1. [原文]“Aren't you going to eat?”
“I'm not hungry. ”
“You were before.”
[譯文]“你不想吃飯了?”
“我沒有餓?!?/p>
“你剛才說不是餓了嗎?”
[討論] 譯文后一句不順?!罢f”與“不是”應(yīng)顛倒一下。
[后一句改]“你剛才不是說餓了嗎?”
2. 兩個駐非美軍想起了家。一個說,一想起家,便想開小差;另一個說:
[原文]“S'posen you went over the hill --- where the hell would you go? There ain't no place to go. ”
“I'd go home, ”said Sligo. “I'd go to the Series. I'd be first in the bleachers,like I was in '40. ”
[譯文]“就算你開成了,又能上哪兒?沒地兒去呀?!?nbsp;
“回家去唄?!彼谷R戈說?!翱创舐?lián)賽去。我要頭一個上看臺,就像四O年?!?/p>