lecture8 大学英语专业 英译汉.ppt

President George W. Bush is visiting an elementary school today and he visits one of the 4th grade classes. They are in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. 这天，乔治·W·布什总统视察一座小学，参观四年级的一个班。这个班正在讨论单词及其含义。 评论：用一般现在时描绘过去发生的事情，有历历在目的效果。翻译时需增加词语，表现这种情况。 The teacher asks the President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word, “tragedy”. So the President asks the class for an example of a “tragedy”.教师请布什引导学生们讨论“悲剧”这个词。于是总统请学生们举出一个“悲剧”的例子。 One little boy stands up and offers, “If my best friend, who lives next door, is playing in the street and a car comes along and runs him over, that would be a tragedy.” “No,” says Bush, “that would be an accident.” 一个小男孩站起来说：“假如隔壁我那个最要好的朋友在街上玩耍时，让一辆汽车撞死了，那就是一场悲剧。” “不对，”布什说，“那算是一个事故。” A little girl raises her hand: “If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved, that would be a tragedy.” “I’m afraid not,” explains the President. “That’s what we would call a GREAT LOSS.” 一个小女孩举手说：“如果一辆校车载着五十个孩子跌下悬崖，车上无人生还，那可是一场悲剧。” “恐怕不是，”布什解释说，“我们把这种情况称作重大损失。” The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. President Bush searches the room. “Isn’t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?” 教室里一时鸦雀无声，不再有孩子自告奋勇。布什总统扫视着教室：“难道没人能给我举个悲剧的例子啦？” Finally, way in the back of the room, a boy named Johnny raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says, “If Air Force One, carrying you and Mrs. Bush, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.” 最后，坐在教室后面一个名叫约翰尼的男孩举起了手。他的语气平静，说：“倘若你和布什夫人坐在空军一号里让导弹击中，炸成碎片，那就是一场悲剧。” “Correct,” exclaims Bush, “that’s right. And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?” “正确，”布什高声说道，“说对了。你能告诉我那为什么是一场悲剧吗？” “Well,” little Johnny said, “because like you just told us, it wouldn’t be an accident, and it sure as well wouldn’t be a great loss.” “嗯，”小约翰尼说道，“因为，就像你刚才告诉过我们的，那不是事故，而且肯定不是重大损失。” 评论：注意代词译法和双关语的重复效果。 这天，乔治·W·布