6.3　漢英翻譯中的人稱向物稱的轉換

基于上述對漢語人稱傾向和英語物稱傾向的論述，我們在漢英的翻譯過程，一定要注意人稱向物稱轉換的技巧。下面就物稱化的四種方法分別舉例分析：

6.3.1　用物稱代替人稱：這是一種有效的翻譯方法，可以使英語譯文地道、流暢。

例58.許多研究使用沙和更粗的顆粒作為沙相。

In many of the studies, sand size and coarser solids have been used as the sediment phase.

漢語原文中“使用”這一動作的發(fā)出者或主語空缺，它隱含于句子之中，我們都能理解，是“研究人員”。但在英語中，“研究”不能發(fā)出“使用”這個動作；“沙和更粗的顆粒”和“使用”之間成被動關系，因此可以用作主語，用被動語態(tài)翻譯更符合英語表達習慣。

例59.隨著經濟實力的增加，中國在繼續(xù)引進來的同時，也開始穩(wěn)步地走出去，為繁榮世界經濟作出了貢獻。（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.

此例譯文調整了句型，采用了物稱主語，實現了譯文多樣化，增加可讀性。

例60.你只要稍稍比較一下，就會發(fā)現不同。

Careful comparison of them will show you the differences.

例61.他得到一筆優(yōu)厚的獎學金，便出國到耶魯大學進修去了。

Asizable grant took him abroad to Yale University.

例62.五四運動以后，開始了“新紅學時代”，代表人物有胡適、俞平伯等一些學者。

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.我驚訝得說不出話來。

Astonishment deprived me of my power of speech.

以上幾個例句英譯文均采用了物稱主語, comparison, grant, astonishment, The May Fourth Movement of 1919，代替了原文的人稱主語“你”“他”“我”，而動詞則用了有靈動詞show, took, deprived, saw。無靈主語和有靈動詞搭配，形象生動，譯出了更符合英語習慣的譯文。

6.3.2　用被動句：把漢語句子轉變成英語被動語態(tài)，用原句的賓語作主語：

例64.幾年前發(fā)現了一種新的彗星。

Anew comet was discovered a couple of years ago.

例65.只要知道電壓和電流，就能確定電阻。

The resistance can be determined provided that the voltage and current are known.

例66.成都新改建的府南河兩岸將修建許多草坪和居民大樓。

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賓語做譯文被動句的主語，也就輕松地實現了主語物稱化，使譯文更加地道。

以“有人”、“人們”、“大家”等泛稱作主語的漢語句子往往可譯成英語的被動句，用原來的賓語作主語：

例67.人們發(fā)現那個失蹤的人被捆在卡車后面，昏迷不醒。

The missing man was found bound and unconscious in the back of a truck.

例68.大家知道，電子是極微小的負電荷.

Electrons are known to be minute negative charges of electricity.

例69.在教堂，人們不僅要有禮貌，而且應該有一種虔誠的態(tài)度。

Not only politeness but an attitude of reverence is demanded in church.

這里幾個例句均用被動句，原文的賓語作譯文的主語，避免提及行為者，使得表達更客觀。

泛指人稱做主語的句子在漢譯英時，更常見的處理方法是使用it引導的被動句（丁菲菲2004），如：

人們/大家認為…… It is considered/ thought that...

人們希望…… It is expected/ hoped that...

有人主張…… It is asserted that ...

普遍/一般/通常認為…… it is generally/usually accepted/agreed/recognized that...

例70.大家相信這是他的真正意圖。

It is believed that this is his real motive.

例71.人們普遍認為，孩子們的早年經歷在很大程度上決定了他們的性格及其未來的人品。

It is generally accepted that the experiences of the child in his first years largely determine his character and later personality.

例72.人們發(fā)現一個智力上一直活躍的老人的頭腦比一個只干體力活的年輕人更敏捷。

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.

在翻譯無主句或主語省略句時，一般可根據上下文譯成被動句：

例73.必須保證產品的質量。

The quality of products must be guaranteed.

無主句和主語省略句也可以用it引導的被動句來翻譯：

必須承認……It must/should be admitted that...

無可否認……It cannot be denied that...

已經證明……It has been proved /demonstrated that...

可以肯定……It can be confirmed that... .

可見……It can be seen that...

例74.可以有把握地說，會議如期召開。

It may be safely said that the meeting will be held on schedule.

例75.敵人的武力是不能征服我們的，這一點已經得到了證明了。

It has been proved that the enemy cannot conquer us by force of arms.

漢語含有“據悉”、“據說”、“據稱”等詞語的句子，通常用it引導的被動句來翻譯，（丁菲菲2004）例如：

據說……It is said that...

據發(fā)現……It is found that...

據推測……It is estimated/predicted/calculated/ that...

據稱……It is declared that...

據信……It is believed that...

據悉……It is learned that

例76.據說，核電站正在籌建中。

It is said the nuclear power plants are under preparation for construction.

例77.應該說，情況基本上是正常的。

It should be said that the situation is basically sound.

6.3.3　運用非人稱代詞“it”來翻譯

英語中的非人稱代詞“it”的使用具有明顯的物稱傾向，因為借助它，說話者可以避免提及自己或讀者，可以避免使用“I”、“we”、“you”等人稱代詞或指人的名詞。

1.用it作形式主語或形式賓語，替代邏輯主語或邏輯賓語，尤其是泛指人稱句的翻譯：

例78. He made it clear that he wouldn’t take the job.

他明確表示不會接受這份工作。

例79.我們認為開支還可以進一步削減。

It is our idea that expenditure can be further reduced.

例80.他想到把這件事全都交給他妻子去辦。

It occurred to him to leave the who1e things to his wife.

王力先生曾對英語形式主語做過精辟的論述：就句子結構而言，西洋語言（英語）是法治的，中國語言是人治的，法治的不管主語用得著用不著，總要呆板地求句子形式的一律；人治的用得著就用，用不著的就不用，只要能使對話人聽懂說話人的意思，就算了。這為漢譯英中“it”形式主語的處理提供了依據。

2.用it引導的強調句：

例81.人總是在面臨考驗的關頭，才發(fā)現自己的專長。

It is in the hour of trial that a man finds his true profession.

例82.正是因為我們互不相同，每個人才各有千秋

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

例83.正是由于用了電子計算機，這個復雜的問題才在幾分鐘內就算出來了。

It is by an electronic computer that this complicated problem has been worked out in a few minutes.

例84.是良好的氣候使西班牙成為旅游勝地。

It is the good weather that makes Spain such a popular tourist destination.

6.3.4　運用there be句型或用不定代詞one做主語

例85.全市有人工煤氣氣源廠3座，日供氣能力300萬立方米；同時使用天然氣供氣，日供氣能力130萬立方米。全市居民炊事氣化率90%以上。（常玉田2010）

譯文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.

譯文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.

原文三個分句，兩個主語，譯文1用了三個句子，三個主語；而且視角在主動和被動之間來回跳躍。而譯文2采用了兩個there be句型就避免了這樣的問題。

例86.要當主人，先當仆人。

One must be a servant before one can be a master

漢語中的格言、諺語、哲理、經驗等的無主語句，譯成英語時，往往都采用there be結構：

例87.必須改革舊的教育制度。

There must be a reformation of the old educational system.

小結

本章通過大量的例證論述，對比分析了漢語人稱傾向、英語物稱傾向的表現形式，介紹了漢英翻譯中實現人稱向物稱轉換的幾種方法。我們可以靈活運用不同方法來翻譯，實現物稱化，譯出最地道、最合適的譯文。

練習

一、對比分析下列句子的不同譯文，體會人稱主語與物稱主語帶來的差異。

1.從這條山路往南走，就是公路。（馮慶華2011）

譯文1　Walking south along this mountain path, you will get to the high way.

譯文2　This mountain path leads south to the highway.

2.世紀之交，中國外交空前活躍。

譯文1　At the turn of the century, China is very active in its diplomatic activities.

譯文2　The turn of the century finds China most attractive on the diplomatic arena.

3.我起先很以為奇，接著便有些悲傷，而且不快了。

譯文1　Strange as I felt at first, I was rather hurt and annoyed.

譯文2　This struck me as strange, then I felt rather hurt and annoyed.

4.據傳說，吃了龍船上的食品，能消災免難，百事如愿。

譯文1　It was said that one would be free from disaster and have good luck if he ate food from a dragon boat.

譯文2　Legend has it that eating food from a dragon boat would protect one from disaster and bring him good luck.

5.有了書，我就不再愁寂寞，不再怕人情冷暖，世態(tài)炎涼。

譯文1　Accompanied by books, I never feel lonely, nor fear social snobbery or fickleness of the world.

譯文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，總是愿意和任何人交朋友，所以很快就贏得了大家的信任。

譯文1　Outspoken and always ready to make friends with anyone, he soon won their trust.

譯文2　His outspokenness and readiness to make friends with anyone soon won their trust.

7.心中充滿惡念的人，看別人的眼光就會變異，而心中充滿友誼、寬容的人，便會給別人和自己帶來歡樂。

譯文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.

譯文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.經過二十多年的快速發(fā)展，中國西部地區(qū)已奠定了一定的物質技術基礎，社會保持穩(wěn)定，市場經濟體制正在逐步建立和完善，為西部經濟持續(xù)快速增長創(chuàng)造了有利的市場環(huán)境。

譯文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.

譯文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、運用不同技巧翻譯下列句子，注意人稱物稱的轉換。

1.用物稱代替人稱

（1）看到孩子們開心地笑了，我們不禁轉憂為喜。

（2）想起焦裕祿的光輝形象，我感到渾身充滿了力量和勇氣。

（3）這四十年內，有近一千萬移民移居到美國。

（4）人群沉默了。

（5）他在新作中對美國人性格的描寫入木三分。

（6）走過草地幾步，我們就到了一個華麗的大酒店。

（7）大家都知道氫是最輕的元素。

（8）在羅馬發(fā)生過許多重大歷史事件。

（9）新縣長上臺以來全縣情況非但沒有好轉，而且每況愈下。

（10）一看到那棵大樹，我便想起了童年的情景。

2.用被動句

（1）有人聽見呼救的聲音。

（2）我們都知道物質占用空間。

（3）弄得不好，就會前功盡棄。

（4）看樹看果實，看人看行為。

3.用非人稱代詞“it”來翻譯

（1）據說他可能會當選為主席。

（2）人們廣泛認為，孩子們應根據他們的興趣分組。

（3）我突然想起烘箱未關。

（4）人們普遍認為香港回歸后會繼續(xù)保持繁榮和穩(wěn)定。

4.用there be句型來翻譯

（1）電話里有人在嘰里咕嚕地交談，過了一會兒，一個男人給了我回話。

（2）電視正在播放一個關于艾滋病的節(jié)目。

（3）人們普遍承認需要一種混合經濟，即資本主義經濟與相當程度的政府干預相結合。

（4）沒有改革開放，就沒有今天的經濟發(fā)展。