关于英语翻译的大部分问题,在这里可以找到答案(11)
2024-09-29 来源:旧番剧
《现代英语用法词典》在有关and的“成语”词条有这样一条:
for hours and hours 「years and years, etc.」好些个钟头「年等」该词典就此列出了以下三个例句:
1.We waited for hours and hours.
2.Old Mr. Bryan has known grandfather for years and years, since they were boys.
3.There are books and books.
据词典提供的汉语注释,There are books and books 应理解为“有好些本书”,即有许许多多的书。
此句叠用了books,果真强调书籍“数量之众”吗?回答是否定的。《现代英语用法词典》将第三句例句列在其中甚为不妥,值得商榷。
“There be 名词 and 名词”为一常见句型。English Idioms and How to Use Them(第三版)对此句型做了简明具体的阐述(省略英文部分……),结论是:由此可见,There are friends and friends (shop-keepers and shop-keepers / dinners and dinners) 是一种极其婉约的说法。其字面意思是:有各式各样的朋友(店主、宴会),但是,这种句型所强调的并非“花式品种”之繁多,而是意在说明所述及的人或物有好坏优劣之别。
……
……
There are teachers and teachers. = There are good teachers and bad teachers.
行文至此,There are books and books 一句的含义已不言而喻。参考译文:书有种种,好坏不一。
我们从此句的理解所得到的启发是:英美人士说话,也跟很多别国人一样,常常意在言外,尤其是有涉他人是非曲直时,常运用 understatement,或轻描淡写,或拐弯抹角。若不注意观察这种语言现象,不善把握其“弦外之音”,那就会不得要领,甚至引起误解。There are books and books 即是一例。
《译心译意》的最后一个片段,谈到了否定形式和否定意义的关系