与汉语类似,同样的意思在英语中也可有多种表达方式,而不同表达方式之间的差别往往在于语气和情感,语气和情感的选择又取决于具体的环境,所以英语翻译一定要考虑具体的场合与对象,考虑被提示对象的阅读心理与情感,意思正确只是翻译的第一步。下面我们以提示语为例进行说明。
在中国的公共场所,我们随处都可以看到禁止入内、禁止踏草坪以及违者罚款等字眼。禁止翻译成英语就是Dont,在英文中,Dont口气比较生硬,缺乏委婉之意。如Dont pick the flowers,Dont throw something out of the train,Dont tread on the lawn,Dont make noise等,这些句子无论是在语法上还是意思上都非常正确,但并不建议大家这么翻译。因为Dont使这些句子语气显得太重,易使人产生距离感。
公共场合应该营造的是一种快乐随意的气氛,让大家身心愉快。一定程度的善意提醒是必要的,但是应该尽力避免生硬。而且英语是一种比较强调委婉的语言,一般不会在公园这样的地方使用Dont这样生硬的词。如禁止摘花可译做Keep away from the flowers , please 。或者Take care of the flowers, please.同样表达一个意思,但这两句让人看了很舒服,一种爱花的心情油然牌上,与竖牌人的初衷一致。尤其take care of短语本身带有拟人色彩,将花看成是一个baby,提醒人们像爱护和关心baby一样去爱护花木。如此,树立这个牌子的目的便达到了。再比如,Dont make noise这种牌子也经常看到,我们完全可以将它译为Quiet , please.既简练,又标准。因此公共场合不用Dont照样能够达到如期的效果。
此外有些公共场所的提示语在英语中往往有其固定的用法,如No spitting,No smoking等等,需要提醒一点的是,No与Dont不一样,前者更多地被用在中性语境中。我们见到不许动,脑海中立即闪现Dont move, 而事实上外国警察所说的却是Freeze,或者Hold it。见到动我就打死你自然想到If you move, Ill shoot you.,而外国警察常说的却是Move and you are dead, man.所以,我们应该掌握外国人在类似情况下的表达习惯,而不是按照自己的思维和表达方式进行翻译,虽然有时词可达意,但毕竟不够地道。
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