辞典·语法·常识──翻译选词纵横谈

Dictionary, grammar and common sense

翻译中选词时，要注意如下几点：语境构成横拍，词语的潜在意义构成纵轴，一个词语的确切的意义就是两条轴的交点。所谓“潜在意义”，就是权威词典里有的或是由合法的引申手段引申出来的意义。其他硬加的意义，不管语境如何，都是不允许的。在此条件下，语境起决定性的作用。但是，在构成语境的各成分中，直接语境（或“上下文”）尤其是语法第一，间接语境（情境）次之，在直接语境中，应从小到大考虑。在间接语境中，常识应优先。

In deciding on the meaning of a word when translating , one should pay attention to the following points. The exact meaning of a lexical unit is the intersection of the horizontal axis formed by context and the vertical axis fomed by all its potential meanings. The potential meanings of a word are those which can be found in authoritative dictionaries or those which are results of legitimate extension . Other alleged 'meanings' are impermissible regardless of context. Under this condition, context is decisive. But among the various components of context, direct (linguistic context), especially grammar, comes first, and indirect context (situation), next ; within the direct context, units should be considered from smaller to bigger . Wighin the indirect context , what constitutes constitutes common sense should be given priority.