英译汉omission.ppt

Lecture 6: Omission I. What is Omission Omission: Amplification to leave out some unnecessary words (though necessary in the source language) One of the differences in syntax between English and Chinese is the disparity in wording. What is regarded as a natural or indispensable element in one language may be regarded as superfluous or even “a stumbling block” in the other. Wordy and unnatural! For the sake of succinctness, functional words in English such as the article, the preposition are usually omitted in translation. By omission, we make our translation more expressive and explicit. He took off his coat and shoes. Then he put on his slippers，went to the sofa and began to watch TV. After a moment, he asked his wife to bring him a cup of tea. 他脱了大衣和鞋子，然后穿上拖鞋，走到沙发前，开始看电视。过了一会儿，他叫妻子给他端杯茶来。 A difference arose between the neighbors over the height of the fence. 邻居之间为了篱笆的高度惹起了一场争论。 Better: 邻居为篱笆的高低有过争论。 （思果，《译道探微》，2002） Specific techniques I. Omission of pronoun 1. E: Pronoun as subject: you, we, one(s), it, Pronoun as object: us, you, one(s), it Pronoun as attributive: one’s, C: No-subject He was thin and haggard and he looked miserable. 他消瘦而憔悴，看上去一副可怜相。 He was well-favoured, bright, a good dancer, a fair shot and a fine tennis player. He was an asset at any party. He was lavish with flowers and expensive boxes of chocolate, and though he entertained little, when he did it was with an originality that pleased. 他很聪明，舞跳得不错，枪打得也可以，网球也打得挺好，深得（女孩子）喜爱。他是宴会中的宝贝儿，任意购买鲜花和高价巧克力送人。尽管他不大请客，请起来也别有一番创意，让人开心不已。 As you come into the room, you’ll notice a piano. 一进房间门，就会看见一台钢琴。 One can never be too careful in one’s work. 工作越仔细越好。 The significance of a man is not in what he attains but rather in what he longs to attain. 人生的意义不在于已获取的，而在于渴望获得什么样的东西。 Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old. 知识是人到老年舒适而又必须的归宿。如果