动与静的转换——汉译英过程中动词的翻译——《红楼梦》选例分析

Transferring from dynamic to static state-The translation of Chinese verbs into English

汉语是动词占优势的语言,英语是名词占优势的语言。汉英翻译的过程实际上是个由动态向静态转换的过程,这一点在动词的翻译处理上反映得最明显。该文撷取《红楼梦》中有代表性的一个段落,研究了其中每个动词的英译情况,进行了统计分析,并由此得出了若干有意义的观察结果—汉英翻译中一半的动词仍译为动词;接近五分之一的动词译为非谓语动词;略去不译的接近十分之一;译为名词的也接近十分之一;还有少量的动词译为英语介词、连词、形容词甚至副词。

The Chinese language is a verb - prominent language while English is a noun - prominent language. Accordingly, the process of Chinese - English translation is actually a process of changing from dynamic state to static one, which is typically embodied in the translation of Chinese verbs. Based on a typical paragraph from the Chinese novel The Dream of Red Masons, this paper makes a sample study of the problem by statistics from which are derived the following enlightening observations - 1. Half of the Chinese verbs in the text are translated into English verbs; 2. Nearly one- ftfth of the Chinese verbs are translated into English non- predicate verbs; 3. About one -tenth of the Chinese verbs are omitted in translation; 4. Almost one - tenth Chinese verbs are put into English nouns; 5. A small number of the Chinese verbs are rendered into English prepositions, conjunctions, adjectives and even adverbials.