语态转换译法

第二节　语态转换译法

被动语态的广泛使用是英语有别于汉语的一大特点。一般说来，无论是书面语中，还是口头语中，英语比汉语用得被动语态更多。因为被动语态能够更好地突出客观事物的本质特征，描述其发生、发展及变化过程，表述客观事物间的联系，所以语言学家Quirk等（1972）认为这些特点使得英语被动句广泛应用于科技文体、新闻文体、官方文件及学术写作当中。反观汉语中，被动语态用得相对较少，原因在于汉语注重主题，既汉语中的主语实际上相当于一个主题，句子中的主语和谓语的关系是话题和说明的关系，所以主题可以是施事也可以是受事。因此英译汉时被动语态经常需要转译为主动语态。

一般来说，英语的被动语态多用于以下几个方面：

1.当强调动作承受者，而不必表明施动者或施动者含糊不清时，多用被动式。例如：

We are kept strong and well by clean air.

清洁的空气使我们保持强壮和健康。

2.当施动者已知但无需表明时，多用被动式。例如：

Visitors are requested not to touch the exhibits.

游客请不要触摸展品。

3.当需要特别强调施动者时，多用被动式。例如：

The three machines can be controlled by a single operator.

三台设备仅需一名操作工控制。

4.当需要被动结构来保持句子结构连贯时，多用被动式。例如：

John was a lawyer’s son and was destined to the bar.

约翰是律师之子，也注定会做这一行。

在翻译被动语态时，译者可以注意以下四种转译方法。

一、转译为主动语态

英语被动句式转换为汉语主动句式时，原文中的主语在译文中有时仍可作主语，有时也可作宾语，有时全句还可译成带表语的主动句。例如：

（一）保留原文主语不变

The whole country was armed in a few days.

几天时间全国就武装起来了。

In a moment he will turn and see us,and his face will be lighted by a smile so radiant you’ll feel warm all the way through.

马上他就会转身看着我们，同时脸上会焕发出灿烂夺目的微笑，让你浑身暖洋洋的。

In future conflicts,similar logistical problems are likely to be repeated—raising the prospect of mass confusion in a full-scale mobilization.

在未来的冲突中，类似的物流难题可能还会复现，从而极大地增加了全面调动时出现大范围混乱的可能性。

With the development of speech,the number of occasions producing sudden experiences of pleasure increased,and since laughter was closely associated with speech,man had this means of expressing his pleasure.

随着口头交流的发展，人们突然间感受愉快的机会增多了，而且因为快乐与话语紧密相关，人类便具有了这种表达欢愉的方式。

（二）将原文非主语成分转译为主语

By the end of the war 800 people had been saved by the organization.

到战争结束时，这家组织已经拯救了800人。

Heat is constantly produced by the body as a result of muscular and cellular activity.

肌肉和细胞活动使得身体不断地产生热能。

A new way of displaying time has been given by electronics.

电子技术提供了一种新的显示时间的方法。

二、转译为被动语态

有时英语中的被动语态甚至部分主动语态句子都可以翻译成汉语的被动句式，特别是在受动者不愿意或处在不好的情况下。例如：

（一）译成“被……”或“给……”

He won me over as I researched his life deeper and deeper.

当我对他的生活调查越来越深入时，我被深深折服。（主动转译为被动）

In this country the exclusion of girls starts at primary school,where students are supposed to learn gender equality.

这个国家里，女孩子从小学开始就被排除在外，但学校本应是教育学生性别平等之处。（主动转译为被动）

At the end of the year he was fired for incompetence.

到年底他因无法胜任工作而被解雇了。

If the scheme is disapproved,work on the project will stop immediately.

如果方案被否决，这项工程将马上停工。

Any minute we would surely be spotted by enemy planes flying in and out of the airfield.

我们随时都会被出入机场的敌机发现。

（二）译成“遭……”、“受……”、“为……所”等

The visitor was flattered and impressed.

客人受宠若惊，深为感动。

Vegetable oil has been known from antiquity.

植物油自古以来就为人们所熟悉。

Everyone in the community was fed up with her gossip.

社区里人人都受够了她的闲话八卦。

The proposal for issuing additional shares was approved by the board of directors of the company.

增发股票的建议获得了公司董事会的批准。

Such conduct will be looked down upon by all with a sense of decency.

这种行径将会为一切有良知的人所鄙视。

三、转译为无主语句

主语的省略是中文句法中的一个典型特征。在英汉翻译中，当施动者已知且无须表明时或为了体现客观性时都可以译为汉语无主语句。例如：

The unpleasant noise must be immediately put to an end.

必须立刻停止这恼人的噪声。

Law-enforcement must be strengthened to prevent corruption.

必须加强执法力度以预防腐败。

Best surface finish is provided by machining methods,especially by grinding.

采用机械加工的方法，特别是利用磨削法，可以获得最佳表面光洁度。

四、转译为其他结构

有些情况下，以上方法都很难将英语被动语态转译为通顺且符合汉语表达习惯的句子。因此，译者有必要进行灵活调整进行翻译。例如：

It is well known that smoking is harmful to the health.

众所周知，吸烟有害健康。

It should be said that the situation is basically sound.

应该说，情况基本上是稳固的。

To explore Mars,rockets carrying Mars Exploration Rover were launched again and again.

为了探索火星，人们一次又一次地发射载有火星探测车的火箭。

Acid is known to have a strong corroding effect on plastics.

我们知道，酸对塑料有很强的腐蚀作用。

The campus is populated by students craving for knowledge.

校园里都是渴求知识的学生。

He has been wedded to translation.

他与翻译结下了不解之缘。