6.3 汉英翻译中的人称向物称的转换
基于上述对汉语人称倾向和英语物称倾向的论述，我们在汉英的翻译过程，一定要注意人称向物称转换的技巧。下面就物称化的四种方法分别举例分析：
6.3.1 用物称代替人称：这是一种有效的翻译方法，可以使英语译文地道、流畅。
例58.许多研究使用沙和更粗的颗粒作为沙相。
In many of the studies, sand size and coarser solids have been used as the sediment phase.
汉语原文中“使用”这一动作的发出者或主语空缺，它隐含于句子之中，我们都能理解，是“研究人员”。但在英语中，“研究”不能发出“使用”这个动作；“沙和更粗的颗粒”和“使用”之间成被动关系，因此可以用作主语，用被动语态翻译更符合英语表达习惯。
例59.随着经济实力的增加，中国在继续引进来的同时，也开始稳步地走出去，为繁荣世界经济作出了贡献。（常玉田2010）
The increased strength has enabled China, while continuing to introduce foreign technologies, to start her venturing out and contributing our own share to the global prosperity.
此例译文调整了句型，采用了物称主语，实现了译文多样化，增加可读性。
例60.你只要稍稍比较一下，就会发现不同。
Careful comparison of them will show you the differences.
例61.他得到一笔优厚的奖学金，便出国到耶鲁大学进修去了。
Asizable grant took him abroad to Yale University.
例62.五四运动以后，开始了“新红学时代”，代表人物有胡适、俞平伯等一些学者。
The May Fourth Movement of 1919 saw the beginning of the New Redology, represented by such scholars as Hu Shi and Yu Pingbai.
例63.我惊讶得说不出话来。
Astonishment deprived me of my power of speech.
以上几个例句英译文均采用了物称主语, comparison, grant, astonishment, The May Fourth Movement of 1919，代替了原文的人称主语“你”“他”“我”，而动词则用了有灵动词show, took, deprived, saw。无灵主语和有灵动词搭配，形象生动，译出了更符合英语习惯的译文。
6.3.2 用被动句：把汉语句子转变成英语被动语态，用原句的宾语作主语：
例64.几年前发现了一种新的彗星。
Anew comet was discovered a couple of years ago.
The resistance can be determined provided that the voltage and current are known.
例66.成都新改建的府南河两岸将修建许多草坪和居民大楼。
Plenty of lawns and apartment houses will be built along both the banks of the newly-renovated Funan River.
以上例句均用原文的宾语做译文被动句的主语，也就轻松地实现了主语物称化，使译文更加地道。
以“有人”、“人们”、“大家”等泛称作主语的汉语句子往往可译成英语的被动句，用原来的宾语作主语：
例67.人们发现那个失踪的人被捆在卡车后面，昏迷不醒。
The missing man was found bound and unconscious in the back of a truck.
例68.大家知道，电子是极微小的负电荷.
Electrons are known to be minute negative charges of electricity.
例69.在教堂，人们不仅要有礼貌，而且应该有一种虔诚的态度。
Not only politeness but an attitude of reverence is demanded in church.
这里几个例句均用被动句，原文的宾语作译文的主语，避免提及行为者，使得表达更客观。
泛指人称做主语的句子在汉译英时，更常见的处理方法是使用it引导的被动句（丁菲菲2004），如：
人们/大家认为…… It is considered/ thought that...
人们希望…… It is expected/ hoped that...
有人主张…… It is asserted that ...
普遍/一般/通常认为…… it is generally/usually accepted/agreed/recognized that...
例70.大家相信这是他的真正意图。
It is believed that this is his real motive.
例71.人们普遍认为，孩子们的早年经历在很大程度上决定了他们的性格及其未来的人品。
It is generally accepted that the experiences of the child in his first years largely determine his character and later personality.
例72.人们发现一个智力上一直活跃的老人的头脑比一个只干体力活的年轻人更敏捷。
It has been found that an old person who has always been mentally active has a quicker mind than a young person who has done only physical work.
在翻译无主句或主语省略句时，一般可根据上下文译成被动句：
例73.必须保证产品的质量。
The quality of products must be guaranteed.
无主句和主语省略句也可以用it引导的被动句来翻译：
必须承认……It must/should be admitted that...
无可否认……It cannot be denied that...
已经证明……It has been proved /demonstrated that...
可以肯定……It can be confirmed that... .
可见……It can be seen that...
例74.可以有把握地说，会议如期召开。
It may be safely said that the meeting will be held on schedule.
例75.敌人的武力是不能征服我们的，这一点已经得到了证明了。
It has been proved that the enemy cannot conquer us by force of arms.
汉语含有“据悉”、“据说”、“据称”等词语的句子，通常用it引导的被动句来翻译，（丁菲菲2004）例如：
据说……It is said that...
据发现……It is found that...
据推测……It is estimated/predicted/calculated/ that...
据称……It is declared that...
据信……It is believed that...
据悉……It is learned that
例76.据说，核电站正在筹建中。
It is said the nuclear power plants are under preparation for construction.
例77.应该说，情况基本上是正常的。
It should be said that the situation is basically sound.
6.3.3 运用非人称代词“it”来翻译
英语中的非人称代词“it”的使用具有明显的物称倾向，因为借助它，说话者可以避免提及自己或读者，可以避免使用“I”、“we”、“you”等人称代词或指人的名词。
1.用it作形式主语或形式宾语，替代逻辑主语或逻辑宾语，尤其是泛指人称句的翻译：
例78. He made it clear that he wouldn’t take the job.
他明确表示不会接受这份工作。
例79.我们认为开支还可以进一步削减。
It is our idea that expenditure can be further reduced.
例80.他想到把这件事全都交给他妻子去办。
It occurred to him to leave the who1e things to his wife.
王力先生曾对英语形式主语做过精辟的论述：就句子结构而言，西洋语言（英语）是法治的，中国语言是人治的，法治的不管主语用得着用不着，总要呆板地求句子形式的一律；人治的用得着就用，用不着的就不用，只要能使对话人听懂说话人的意思，就算了。这为汉译英中“it”形式主语的处理提供了依据。
2.用it引导的强调句：
例81.人总是在面临考验的关头，才发现自己的专长。
It is in the hour of trial that a man finds his true profession.
例82.正是因为我们互不相同，每个人才各有千秋
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
例83.正是由于用了电子计算机，这个复杂的问题才在几分钟内就算出来了。
It is by an electronic computer that this complicated problem has been worked out in a few minutes.
例84.是良好的气候使西班牙成为旅游胜地。
It is the good weather that makes Spain such a popular tourist destination.
6.3.4 运用there be句型或用不定代词one做主语
例85.全市有人工煤气气源厂3座，日供气能力300万立方米；同时使用天然气供气，日供气能力130万立方米。全市居民炊事气化率90%以上。（常玉田2010）
译文1 The cityhas three coal gasworks, with a daily supply capacity of 3 million cubic meters; in addition, natural gas was also used, with a daily supply of 1.3 million cubic meters. Over 90 percent of the people use coal gas and natural gas for cooking.
译文2 There arethree coal gasworks in the city, supplying 3.0 million cubic meters of coal gas every day. In addition there isa daily supply of 1.3 million cubic meters of natural gas. Combined, the gas supplies provide energy to over 90 percent of the residents.
原文三个分句，两个主语，译文1用了三个句子，三个主语；而且视角在主动和被动之间来回跳跃。而译文2采用了两个there be句型就避免了这样的问题。
例86.要当主人，先当仆人。
One must be a servant before one can be a master
汉语中的格言、谚语、哲理、经验等的无主语句，译成英语时，往往都采用there be结构：
例87.必须改革旧的教育制度。
There must be a reformation of the old educational system.
小结
本章通过大量的例证论述，对比分析了汉语人称倾向、英语物称倾向的表现形式，介绍了汉英翻译中实现人称向物称转换的几种方法。我们可以灵活运用不同方法来翻译，实现物称化，译出最地道、最合适的译文。
练习
一、对比分析下列句子的不同译文，体会人称主语与物称主语带来的差异。
1.从这条山路往南走，就是公路。（冯庆华2011）
译文1 Walking south along this mountain path, you will get to the high way.
译文2 This mountain path leads south to the highway.
2.世纪之交，中国外交空前活跃。
译文1 At the turn of the century, China is very active in its diplomatic activities.
译文2 The turn of the century finds China most attractive on the diplomatic arena.
3.我起先很以为奇，接着便有些悲伤，而且不快了。
译文1 Strange as I felt at first, I was rather hurt and annoyed.
译文2 This struck me as strange, then I felt rather hurt and annoyed.
4.据传说，吃了龙船上的食品，能消灾免难，百事如愿。
译文1 It was said that one would be free from disaster and have good luck if he ate food from a dragon boat.
译文2 Legend has it that eating food from a dragon boat would protect one from disaster and bring him good luck.
5.有了书，我就不再愁寂寞，不再怕人情冷暖，世态炎凉。
译文1 Accompanied by books, I never feel lonely, nor fear social snobbery or fickleness of the world.
译文2 Books can divert me from loneliness, relieve me of worries and isolate me from the snobbish ways of the world.
6.他心直口快，总是愿意和任何人交朋友，所以很快就赢得了大家的信任。
译文1 Outspoken and always ready to make friends with anyone, he soon won their trust.
译文2 His outspokenness and readiness to make friends with anyone soon won their trust.
7.心中充满恶念的人，看别人的眼光就会变异，而心中充满友谊、宽容的人，便会给别人和自己带来欢乐。
译文1 Those brooding evils in their hearts will have biased eyes towards others while those cherishing friendliness and tolerance in their hearts will bring joy to others and themselves.
译文2 The evil in one’s heart will bias one while one’s friendly and tolerant heart will bring joy to others and oneself.
8.经过二十多年的快速发展，中国西部地区已奠定了一定的物质技术基础，社会保持稳定，市场经济体制正在逐步建立和完善，为西部经济持续快速增长创造了有利的市场环境。
译文1 Thanks to the rapid development in the past 20-plus years, we have laid a relatively solid foundation in terms of material wealth and technology in the western region of China.
译文2 The rapid development in the past 20-plus years has witnessed a relatively solid foundation in terms of material wealth and technology in the western region of China.
二、运用不同技巧翻译下列句子，注意人称物称的转换。
1.用物称代替人称
（1）看到孩子们开心地笑了，我们不禁转忧为喜。
（2）想起焦裕禄的光辉形象，我感到浑身充满了力量和勇气。
（3）这四十年内，有近一千万移民移居到美国。
（4）人群沉默了。
（5）他在新作中对美国人性格的描写入木三分。
（6）走过草地几步，我们就到了一个华丽的大酒店。
（7）大家都知道氢是最轻的元素。
（8）在罗马发生过许多重大历史事件。
（9）新县长上台以来全县情况非但没有好转，而且每况愈下。
（10）一看到那棵大树，我便想起了童年的情景。
2.用被动句
（1）有人听见呼救的声音。
（2）我们都知道物质占用空间。
（3）弄得不好，就会前功尽弃。
（4）看树看果实，看人看行为。
3.用非人称代词“it”来翻译
（1）据说他可能会当选为主席。
（2）人们广泛认为，孩子们应根据他们的兴趣分组。
（3）我突然想起烘箱未关。
（4）人们普遍认为香港回归后会继续保持繁荣和稳定。
4.用there be句型来翻译
（1）电话里有人在叽里咕噜地交谈，过了一会儿，一个男人给了我回话。
（2）电视正在播放一个关于艾滋病的节目。
（3）人们普遍承认需要一种混合经济，即资本主义经济与相当程度的政府干预相结合。
（4）没有改革开放，就没有今天的经济发展。
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