从英语倍数的翻译看中英文思维的差异

How Translating Expressions of Multiplicity in English Reflects Differences between Chinese-based and English-based Way of Thinking

正确和准确地翻译英语倍数并非易事,特别是如何理解和翻译句型"A is N times greater than B",一直存在着很大的争议和不同见解。本文力求通过用英语原文中的具体数值计算来证实和说明这一句型,并通过对这一句型的理解和翻译揭示出英文与中文表达中思维方式的差异与不同。

As is testified to by the continuous controversy over how to render the sentence pattern ＂A is N times greater than B＂ into Chinese, it is not easy to translate expressions of multiplicity in English correctly. This article takes a close look at a number of real-life cases involving the said pattern by referring to the exact quantitative values each denotes in its context, and argues that the difficulties one encounters in translating the sentence stems from differences in the English-based and the Chinese based way of thinking.