Chinese is now the language spoken by the largest number of people as their native language in the world. An important difference between Chinese and Western languages lies in that it is composed of characters rather than letters. Among the writing systems still in use today, Chinese is the oldest. In China, people from different regions may not understand each other's dialects, but since Chinese characters share a unified written form, they have almost no difficulty communicating with one another. Throughout history, Chinese has played an important role in uniting the Chinese nation. Today, with the rapid growth of China's economy and the increase of its global influence, more and more people from other countries are beginning to learn Chinese.
逐句译法
1. 汉语现在是世界上用作本族语人数最多的语言。
参考译法:Chinese is now the language spoken by the largest number of people as their native language in the world.
主干:主语Chinese+系动词is+表语the language(主语策略:原句主语)中文已有明确主语「汉语」,直接作英文主语 Chinese;核心是判断句「A 是 B」,谓语用系动词 is,表语是「语言」the language。汉语现在是世界上用作本族语人数最多的语言 的主干即「汉语是……的语言」,定为 Chinese is the language…,「用作本族语人数最多」整块作 language 的修饰,留到下一步降级。
语法点:- 时态回指全篇基调用一般现在时:陈述汉语当下的客观事实,is spoken / is,不用过去时。 - 最高级冠词最高级前必须加 the:the largest number、the most widely used;表语「那门语言」特指、也用 the language。 - 单复数「人数」the largest number of people,people 本身即复数;如用 native speakers 则加 s。
降级处理:最高级+介词短语作后置定语「用作本族语人数最多」是 language 的修饰,按英文习惯后置:用最高级结构 the language spoken by the largest number of people as a native language,或 the most widely used native language。「用作本族语」译 as a native language / as their mother tongue,「人数最多」用 the largest number of people 或最高级 most 表达;「现在」可用 today 置于句首或省略(已由现在时体现)。
2. 汉语与西方语言的一个重要区别在于它是以方块字(character)而不是以字母构成的。
参考译法:An important difference between Chinese and Western languages lies in that it is composed of characters rather than letters.
主干:主语difference+谓语lies in+宾语从句(主语策略:原句主语)中文主干是「区别在于……」,主语取「一个重要区别」An important difference,谓语用 lies in / is that,后接「它是以方块字而不是字母构成」作内容。汉语与西方语言的一个重要区别在于它是以方块字(character)而不是以字母构成的 重构为 An important difference between Chinese and Western languages lies in that it is composed of characters rather than letters。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般现在时:构字方式是恒常事实,lies in、is composed of。 - 语态「以……构成」是被动:be composed of / be made up of characters,主语 it(汉语)是被构成者。 - 单复数方块字、字母都是泛指复数:characters、letters 都加 s。
降级处理:被动构成+rather than对比「以方块字而不是字母构成的」用被动 is composed of / is made up of characters rather than letters;「而不是」用 rather than / instead of 表对比,把方块字与字母并列对照;「西方语言」between Chinese and Western languages 作 difference 的后置定语。整句不照中文用 and 平铺,而是「主语+lies in+被动从句」一层套一层。
3. 目前仍在使用的书写系统中,汉语是最古老的。
参考译法:Among the writing systems still in use today, Chinese is the oldest.
主干:主语Chinese+系动词is+表语最古老(主语策略:原句主语)主干仍是判断句「汉语是最古老的」,主语 Chinese、谓语 is、表语 the oldest(最古老的)。目前仍在使用的书写系统中,汉语是最古老的 中「目前仍在使用的书写系统中」是范围状语,留到下一步处理;主干定为 Chinese is the oldest…。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般现在时:is、still in use 都讲当下现状。 - 最高级冠词the oldest 最高级前加 the,不可漏。 - 单复数书写系统是一类、复数:writing systems 加 s。
降级处理:范围介词短语+still in use定语「目前仍在使用的书写系统中」译为范围介词短语 among the writing systems still in use today,置于句末或句首;「仍在使用的」用 still in use / still being used 作 writing systems 的后置定语。整句重构为 Chinese is the oldest among the writing systems still in use today。
参考译法:In China, people from different regions may not understand each other's dialects, but since Chinese characters share a unified written form, they have almost no difficulty communicating with one another.
主干:转折两分句各立主谓(主语策略:原句主语)这是含「但」的转折复句,两个分句各有主语:前句主语「来自不同地区的人」people from different regions,谓语「听不懂」may not understand;后句主语「他们」they,谓语「交流(没困难)」have little difficulty communicating。他们交流起来几乎没有任何困难 主干为 they have almost no difficulty (in) communicating;「由于汉字有统一的书写形式」作原因状语。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般现在时:may not understand、share、have,讲的都是当下普遍情形。 - 固定搭配「交流没困难」用 have difficulty (in) doing 结构:have little / almost no difficulty (in) communicating,difficulty 后接 doing,不接 to do。 - 单复数主谓一致主语 people / they 是复数,谓语用原形 understand、have,不加 s;dialects、regions、characters 泛指均用复数。 - 含蓄否定「几乎没有任何困难」是含蓄否定,用 little / almost no difficulty 表达「几乎没有」,比 no difficulty 更贴原文「几乎」。
降级处理:but转折+since原因状语「但」用 but 连接两个分句显转折;「由于汉字有统一的书写形式」是后句的原因,降级为 since / because / thanks to 引导的原因状语从句 since Chinese characters share a unified written form;「来自不同地区的」用 from different regions 作 people 的后置定语;「交流起来几乎没有任何困难」用 have little / no difficulty (in) communicating 固定搭配。整句不平铺,而是「前句 but 后句」,后句内再嵌「原因状语+主干」。
5. 汉语历史上对团结中华民族发挥了重要作用。
参考译法:Throughout history, Chinese has played an important role in uniting the Chinese nation.
主干:主语Chinese+谓语played a role(主语策略:原句主语)主语「汉语」Chinese,谓语「发挥了重要作用」played an important role,「对团结中华民族」作 role 的范围/方向。汉语历史上对团结中华民族发挥了重要作用 主干为 Chinese has played / played an important role,「在团结中华民族方面」用 in uniting the Chinese nation 接在 role 之后。
语法点:- 时态偏离全篇基调:本句讲「历史上」已完成的作用,用一般过去时 played,或用现在完成时 has played 强调对今天的延续影响;不用一般现在时。这是全篇唯一明显偏离现在时的句子。 - 固定搭配play a role in doing:role 后跟 in+动名词 uniting,不接 to unite。 - 冠词an important role 用不定冠词 an(important 以元音开头);the Chinese nation 特指中华民族用 the。
降级处理:in+动名词表作用方面「团结中华民族」是「发挥作用」的方面,降级为 in uniting the Chinese nation(in+动名词);「历史上」译 throughout history / in history 作时间状语。整句 Chinese played an important role in uniting the Chinese nation throughout history,无需用 and 平铺。
6. 今天,随着中国经济的快速增长和全球影响力的增强,越来越多其他国家的人也开始学习汉语。
参考译法:Today, with the rapid growth of China's economy and the increase of its global influence, more and more people from other countries are beginning to learn Chinese.
主干:主语more and more people+谓语begin to learn(主语策略:原句主语)主干主语「越来越多其他国家的人」more and more people from other countries,谓语「开始学习」begin / start to learn,宾语「汉语」Chinese。越来越多其他国家的人也开始学习汉语 即 more and more people from other countries begin to learn Chinese;「随着中国经济快速增长和全球影响力增强」作伴随状语。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般现在时:「今天……开始学习」讲当下趋势,begin / start to learn 用现在时;today 可置句首。 - 单复数主谓一致主语 more and more people 复数,谓语 begin 用原形不加 s;countries 复数加 s。 - 名词所有格「中国经济」China's economy 用所有格,「全球影响力」global influence;influence 抽象不可数不加 s。
降级处理:with引导伴随状语「随着中国经济的快速增长和全球影响力的增强」用 with+名词短语作伴随状语:With the rapid growth of China's economy and the increase of its global influence;「快速增长」the rapid growth、「全球影响力增强」the increase / enhancement of global influence 两个名词短语并列。整句重构为 With…, more and more people… begin to learn Chinese。
词汇与译名提示
汉语统一译为 Chinese。它在 汉语现在是世界上用作本族语人数最多的语言 等处反复出现,全篇只用 Chinese 一种译法,不要一会儿写 the Chinese language、一会儿写 Mandarin 而造成前后不一;作语言名时首字母大写、不加冠词。