【否定成分的轉(zhuǎn)譯】
(一)否定主語轉(zhuǎn)換為否定謂語
No energy can be created, and none destroyed.能量既不能創(chuàng)造,也不能毀滅。
No sound was heard.沒有聽到聲音。
Neither plan is practicable.兩個方案都行不通。
(二)否定謂語轉(zhuǎn)換為否定狀語
He doesn't study in the classroom.他不在教室里學(xué)習(xí)。
I was not playing all the time.我并不是一直都在玩。
The woman did not come here to ask us for help.這位婦女來這兒不是為了求得我們的幫助。
Metals do not change their form as easily as plastic bodies do.金屬不像塑料物體那樣容易變形。
(三)否定主句的謂語轉(zhuǎn)換為否定賓語從句的謂語
1.常常出現(xiàn)在動詞think, believe, except, suppose, imagine, reckon, fancy, anticipate, figure等后面的賓語從句中。
I don't think that they must have arrived there by now.我認(rèn)為他們現(xiàn)在一定還沒有到達(dá)那里。
I don't suppose they will object to my suggestion.我想他們不會反對我的建議的。
I didn't imagine that he would go abroad.我料想他不會出國了。
2.當(dāng)有view, wish, belief, thought, opinion等名詞作主句的表語從句時
It is not my opinion that he is the best man for the job.我認(rèn)為他并不是做這項工作的最佳人選。
It is not my thought that he can finish the work within a week.我認(rèn)為他不可能在一周內(nèi)完成這項工作。
It is not my wish that you should break your word.我希望你不要違背諾言。
(四)主句的否定轉(zhuǎn)換為從句的否定
She did not come because she wanted to see me.她并非因為想見我才來。
You should not despise him because he is young.你不應(yīng)該因為他年輕就輕視他。
【形式否定但意義肯定】
這一類翻譯方法與上面一類“形式肯定但意義否”結(jié)合起來,就是通常人們所說的“正話反說、反話正說”的翻譯技巧。
常見的帶有隱含肯定意義的詞組或單詞主要有:
not…until(直到……才),not…too(越……越好),none but(只有),nothing but(只有,只不過),nothing more than(僅僅),no sooner…than(剛一……就),none other than(不是別的人或物而正是),none the less(依然,仍然),not but that(雖然)“make nothing of ”(對……等閑視之),for nothing(徒然,免費),not only…but also(不僅……而且),not…long before(很快就),no more than(僅僅,只是),no other than(只有,正是)等等。
There is no material but will deform more or less under the action of forces. 各種材料在力的作用下,多少都會有些變形。
It is no more than a beginning. 這僅僅是個開端。
They gave me the wrong book, and I didn't notice it until I got back to my room. 他們把書給錯了。直到我回到我的房間才注意到了。
You can't be too careful in doing experiments. 你做實驗要特別小心。
【形式肯定但意義否定】
(一)more than can…結(jié)構(gòu)
more than can…相當(dāng)于英語的can not…,翻譯為“簡直不,無法,難以”;而more than one can help相當(dāng)于as little as possible,翻譯“盡量不,絕對不”。
The beauty of the park is more than words can describe. 這個公園美得無法形容。
The boy has become very insolent and it is more than his parents can bear. 這男孩變得非常無禮,到了他父母都不能忍受的地步。
Don't tell him more than you can help. 能不跟他講就盡量不要跟他講。
She never does more work than she can help. 能不做的事情,她是絕對不做的。
(二)have yet to do…結(jié)構(gòu)
have yet to do…結(jié)構(gòu)表示否定意義,相當(dāng)于have not yet done…,常常翻譯為“還沒有”。
I have yet to hear the story. 我還沒有聽過那個故事。
I have yet to learn the new skill. 我沒有學(xué)那項新技術(shù)。
(三)may (might) as well…結(jié)構(gòu)
may (might) as well…結(jié)構(gòu)表示否定意義,常常翻譯為“還不如”。
It is still raining hard outside; we may as well stay here over the night. 外面依然在下大雨,我們還不如呆在這里過夜呢。
You might as well burn the book than give them to her. 你把這些書給他還不如燒毀了好。
(四)anything but…結(jié)構(gòu)
anything but…結(jié)構(gòu)表示否定意義,常常翻譯為“絕對不,根本不,一點也不”。
He is anything but a scholar. 他絕對不是一個學(xué)者。
The wood bridge is anything but safe. 那座木橋一點也不安全。
(五)借助具有否定意義的動詞或動詞短語
這樣的動詞或者動詞短語常常有:miss(錯過,即沒有碰到),deny(拒絕,即沒有答應(yīng)),lack(缺乏,即不足),refuse(拒絕,即否認(rèn),沒有答應(yīng)),escape(逃避,即沒有被發(fā)現(xiàn)),resist(抵抗,即沒有放棄),reject(拒絕,即沒有答應(yīng)),decline(拒絕,即沒有答應(yīng)),doubt(懷疑,即不太確信),wonder(想知道,即不明白),fail(失敗,即沒有完成),exclude(排除,即沒有接受,不包括),overlook(沒有注意到),cease(終止,即沒有堅持),neglect(沒有注意到),defy(不服從),forbid(不許),give up(放棄,即沒有堅持),refrain from(不允許),lose sight of(不管),keep up with(不落后于),save…from(使…不),shut one's eyes to(不看),to say nothing of(更不用說),not to mention(更不用說),protect(keep, prevent)…from(不讓),keep off(不接近),keep out(不讓 進(jìn)入),turn a deaf ear to(不聽,不顧),fall short of(不足),live up to(不辜負(fù)),dissuade…from(勸…不要),keep…dark(不把…說出去)等。