The Song Dynasty began in 960 and lasted until 1279. During this period, the Chinese economy grew significantly, becoming the most advanced in the world, while science, technology, philosophy and mathematics all flourished. Song China was the first country in the world to issue paper money. The Song Dynasty was also the first to use gunpowder and invented movable-type printing. The population grew rapidly, and more and more people moved into cities, where there were lively entertainment venues. In addition, social life was diverse: people gathered to view and trade precious works of art. The Song government system was also advanced for its time, as government officials were all selected through competitive examinations.
逐句译法
1. 宋朝始于960年,一直延续到1279年。
参考译法:The Song Dynasty began in 960 and lasted until 1279.
主干:主语宋朝 + 并列谓语始于/延续到(主语策略:原句主语)中文主语明确就是 宋朝,对应英文主语 the Song Dynasty;核心动作是“始于”与“延续到”,可处理成 began ... and lasted ...,主谓宾骨架为 The Song Dynasty began ... and lasted ...。
语法点:- 时态回指全篇基调用一般过去时:began、lasted,因为宋朝起止都在过去。 - 介词搭配“始于某年”用 began in 960(年份前用 in);“延续到某年”用 lasted until 1279(持续到某终点用 until / till),不要误用 to。
降级处理:两个时间动作用 and 并列谓语本句两个动作“始于960年”“延续到1279年”共用同一主语,是典型的并列谓语,译成 began in 960 and lasted until 1279 即可,结构简单、无需进一步降级从句。“一直”的持续意味由 lasted until 自然体现,不必硬加 always。
2. 这一时期,中国经济大幅增长,成为世界上最先进的经济体,科学、技术、哲学和数学蓬勃发展。
参考译法:During this period, the Chinese economy grew significantly, becoming the most advanced in the world, while science, technology, philosophy and mathematics all flourished.
主干:拆成两套主谓:经济 + 学科(主语策略:原句主语)本句信息量大,含两条线:一是 中国经济大幅增长,成为世界上最先进的经济体,主语“中国经济”;二是 科学、技术、哲学和数学蓬勃发展,主语是四门学科。可立两套主干:The Chinese economy grew ... 和 science, technology, philosophy and mathematics flourished,用分号或两句承接。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:grew、flourished;分词 becoming 不显时态,随主句即可。 - 主谓一致后半主语是“科学、技术、哲学和数学”四项并列,视作复数,谓语用 flourished(过去式无单复数变化,但若用现在时须用复数 flourish,提醒考生看清主语是复数)。 - 冠词特指中国的经济用 the Chinese economy;最高级前必须加 the:the most advanced economy。 - 单复数学科名作泛指均用不可数/无冠词单数:science, technology, philosophy and mathematics,不加 the、不加复数 s。
降级处理:状语前置 + 成为降级为分词“这一时期”是时间状语,前置作 During this period;“成为世界上最先进的经济体”与“大幅增长”同主语且是增长的结果,可降级为现在分词作结果状语 becoming the most advanced economy in the world,挂在 grew significantly 之后,避免 and 平铺。后半“蓬勃发展”另起一套主谓。
3. 宋代中国是世界历史上首先发行纸币的国家。
参考译法:Song China was the first country in the world to issue paper money.
主干:主系表:宋代中国 + was + 国家(主语策略:原句主语)主语是 宋代中国(Song China / China during the Song Dynasty),句子核心是判断“是……的国家”,用系表结构 was the first country ...,表语 country 带一长串定语“首先发行纸币的”。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:was、issued。 - 冠词“首先(第一个)国家”用序数词意味,前加 the:the first country;纸币 paper money 不可数,不加冠词、不加 s。 - 搭配“发行纸币”地道动词用 issue(issue paper money),比 print 更准确(print 偏“印刷”动作)。
降级处理:首先发行纸币降级为定语从句“首先发行纸币的”是修饰“国家”的长定语,英文不能照中文摆名词前,降级为定语从句后置:the first country in the world to issue paper money(用不定式 to issue 修饰 the first,更地道),或 ... that issued paper money。“世界历史上”作范围状语 in world history / in the world。
4. 宋朝还最早使用火药并发明了活字(movable-type)印刷。
参考译法:The Song Dynasty was also the first to use gunpowder and invented movable-type printing.
主干:主语宋朝 + 并列谓语用/发明(主语策略:原句主语)主语 宋朝 即 the Song Dynasty;两个核心动作“最早使用火药”“发明了活字印刷”共用此主语,骨架 The Song Dynasty was the first to use ... and invented ...。“还”是承上递进,可用 also 体现。
降级处理:最早使用处理为 the first to use“最早使用火药”含“最早”的首例意味,与第3句呼应,处理成 was the first to use gunpowder;“发明了活字印刷”是另一并列动作 invented movable-type printing。两动作并列用 and 连接,因主语相同、地位平等,此处并列是合理的(不属流水句)。
5. 人口增长迅速,越来越多的人住进城市,那里有热闹的娱乐场所。
参考译法:The population grew rapidly, and more and more people moved into cities, where there were lively entertainment venues.
主干:三小句各有主语:人口/人/场所(主语策略:原句主语)本句含三个分句:人口增长迅速(主语 population)、越来越多的人住进城市(主语 more and more people)、那里有热闹的娱乐场所(表存在)。主线立 The population grew rapidly, and more and more people moved into cities ...,末句“那里有”降级处理。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:grew、moved、were。 - 单复数“住进城市”泛指多座城市,cities 用复数;“娱乐场所”不止一处,entertainment venues / places 用复数。 - 主谓一致people 是复数概念,谓语用 moved(过去时不变形,但若改现在时须用 move);定语从句 there were 因 venues 为复数用 were。
降级处理:那里有热闹娱乐场所降级为定语从句“那里有热闹的娱乐场所”中“那里”指代前面的 cities,最地道是降级为 where 引导的定语从句:cities, where there were lively entertainment venues,把“住进城市”和“城市里有场所”自然挂接,避免另起 There were ... 一句显得割裂。
6. 社会生活多种多样。
参考译法:Social life was diverse.
主干:主系表:社会生活 + was + 多样的(主语策略:原句主语)主语 社会生活 即 social life;“多种多样”是状态描述,用主系表 Social life was diverse / varied,骨架极简。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:was。 - 单复数social life 作抽象概念不可数,谓语用单数 was,不加冠词、不加 s。
参考译法:People gathered to view and trade precious works of art.
主干:主语人们 + 谓语聚集(主语策略:原句主语)主语 人们 即 people;核心动作是“聚集在一起”,谓语 gathered;“观看和交易珍贵艺术品”是聚集的目的,骨架 People gathered to view and trade ...。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:gathered。 - 单复数“珍贵艺术品”不止一件,用复数 precious works of art(work of art 的复数是 works of art)或 precious artworks。 - 搭配“聚集在一起”用 gather(together 可省,gather 本含聚拢义);“交易艺术品”用 trade;“观看”用 view / admire 比 see 更贴“欣赏”意。
降级处理:观看和交易降级为目的状语 to do“观看和交易珍贵艺术品”是“聚集”的目的,降级为不定式目的状语 to view and trade precious works of art;两个动作 view 与 trade 对等并列共用一个 to,不必重复。
8. 宋朝的政府体制在当时也是先进的。
参考译法:The Song government system was also advanced for its time.
主干:主系表:政府体制 + was + 先进的(主语策略:原句主语)主语 宋朝的政府体制 即 the Song government system / the government system of the Song Dynasty;“也是先进的”用主系表 was also advanced;“在当时”作时间状语 at that time / for its time。
语法点:- 时态回指基调用一般过去时:was。 - 冠词特指宋朝的政府体制,用 the:the Song government system / the government system of the Song Dynasty。 - 主谓一致主语 system 为单数,谓语用 was。
降级处理:也字与在当时作状语处理“也”承接前文宋朝诸多先进之处,用 also 体现递进;“在当时”译 at that time 或更地道的 for its time(就那个时代而言),作状语,本句无须从句降级。
9. 政府官员均通过竞争性考试选拔任用。
参考译法:Government officials were all selected through competitive examinations.
主干:官员被选拔:用被动语态(主语策略:转被动)动作“选拔任用”的发出者(朝廷/政府)未点明,承受者是 政府官员,最适合用被动语态把承受者提作主语:Government officials were selected ...。“均”表示全部,用 all 修饰。
降级处理:通过竞争性考试降级为方式状语“通过竞争性考试”是选拔的方式,降级为介词短语作方式状语 through competitive examinations,挂在被动谓语后:were selected through competitive examinations。“选拔任用”可合并为 selected / recruited,无须逐字两译。
词汇与译名提示
宋朝 / 宋代原文反复出现 宋朝 与 宋代中国,全篇统一译作 the Song Dynasty(Song 为约定俗成的官方拼写,首字母大写,Dynasty 大写专名化);指“宋代的中国”时用 China during the Song Dynasty 或 Song China。切忌一处写 Song 一处写 Sung(旧式威妥玛拼法),同一篇里只用一种。
纸币纸币 统一译为 paper money(或 paper currency / banknotes),属意译,全篇用同一说法即可。