英汉互译2-diction.docVIP

Unit 2 Diction (遣词用字) Some background information about this unit: No context, no text. What is context? Context, as the term suggests, refers to all the different situations involved in language communication. 语境，就是产生语言活动的环境，包括时间、空间、语言交际参与者及语言活动的目的等，反映在文字材料中也称上下文。语境是一切语言活动存在的前提。 Firth: each word when used in a new context is a new word. Some examples: I’ll finish the book next week. “我”是谁？finish的具体措辞究竟是：看完、写完、审完？ Tension is building up. 形式紧张起来。/ 张力在增大。/ 电压在增加。/ 压力在增强。/ 血压在增高。/ 气压在加强。/ 情绪越来越紧张。/ 紧张局势在加剧。 Without context, both “tension” and “build up” may have various explanations. I’m through. 通话完毕，结束了。 (AmE) 电话接通了。(BrE) 1. Equivalence between English and Chinese at Word Level 1.1 Word-for-word equivalence This is most shown in proper nouns and technical terms. Marxism 马克思主义 Aspirin 阿司匹林 Laser 激光 Leukemia 白血病 1.2 One word with multiple equivalents of the same This is a common case in translation. Wife: 妻子、老婆、夫人、老伴、媳妇、爱人、内人…… Potato: 马铃薯、土豆、洋芋、山药蛋…… 人：human being, man, people, person… 犬：dog, hound, spaniel, mastiff, pointer, setter, retriever, terrier… 1.3 One word with several equivalents of different meanings This is also very common in translation. cousin: 堂兄、堂弟、堂姐、堂妹、表哥、表弟、表姐、表妹…… president: 总统、主席、总裁、董事长、议长、会长、社长、校长…… carry: 搬、运、送、提、拎、挑、担、抬、背、扛、抱、搂、举、端、夹、捧…… 走：walk, saunter, amble, stride, trudge, shamble, prance, scamper, clump, tiptoe. 羊：sheep, goat, ram, ewe, lamb 1.4 Equivalents interwoven with one another 1.5 Words without corresponding equivalents In this case, an explanation is given instead of an equivalent. teenager: 13到19岁的青少年 cyber slacker: 利用工作时间在公司上网、做与工作无关的事情的雇员 阴：yin (in Chinese thought) the soft inactive female principle or force in the world 阳：yang (in Chinese thought) the strong active male principle or force in the world 2. Methods of discriminating the original meaning of a given word 2.1 According to word formation parabiospheric: 外生物层的 para- (outside), bio- (biologic), spheric (having the form of a phere) pneumonoult