大学英语四级考试精讲-翻译篇
练习1
中国烹饪(Chinese cuisine)文化是中国文化中有关烹饪和休闲的重要组成部分。中国悠久的历史、广袤的疆土、好客的习俗孕育了这一独特艺术。中餐以其“色、香、味、形”俱全而著称。它讲究原料的选配、食物的质地、佐料(seasonings)的调制、切菜的刀功、适时的烹调以及装盘艺术。负盛名的菜系有南方粤菜、北方鲁菜、东部淮扬菜和西部川菜,以“南淡北咸,东甜西辣”见称。
句1:中国烹饪(Chinese cuisine)文化是中国文化中有关烹饪和休闲的重要组成部分。
思路点拨:“…是…”结构的句子可以翻译成使用be动词的主系表结构本句中虽然给出的时“有关…”,但仔细揣摩其意思应该是“在…方面”,故译为in the aspect of.
Chinese cuisine culture is an important part of Chinese culture in the aspect of cooking and leisure.
句2:中国悠久的历史、广袤的疆土、好客的习俗孕育了这一独特艺术。
思路点拨:本句的主语是三个并列的偏正短语,如果按照原有的语序翻译成英文。则主语太长,不符合英语的表达习惯。因此,本句翻译时应该将主语和宾语互换,同时将“孕育了”意译为owe…to…(将…归因于,将…归功于),三个并列的短语作介词to的宾语。
This unique art owes itself to the long history, vast territory and hospitable tradition of China.
句3:中餐以其“色、香、味、形”俱全而著称。
思路点拨:本句中“以…而著称”用be famous for来表示;“形”不是“形状”,而是“外观”,应译为appearance; “俱全”译为perfect combination of.
Chinese food is famous for its perfect combination of “color, aroma, taste and appearance”.
句4:它讲究原料的选配、食物的质地、佐料(seasonings)的调制、切菜的刀功、适时的烹调以及装盘艺术。
思路点拨:本句中“讲究”即是“注重”,故译为gives emphasis to; “质地”不是“质量”,不可译为quality, 应译为texture. “佐料的调制”、“切菜的刀功”、“适时的烹调”和“装盘艺术”依次译为the blending of seasonings、slicing techniques、the perfect timing of cooking和the art of laying out the food on the plate.
It gives emphasis to the selection of raw materials, the texture of food, the blending of seasonings, slicing techniques, the perfect timing of cooking and the art of laying out the food on the plate.
句5:负盛名的菜系有南方粤菜、北方鲁菜、东部淮扬菜和西部川菜,以“南淡北咸,东甜西辣”见称。
思路点拨:本句可用介词Among置于句首的倒装句型,表示众多负盛名的菜系“有…”;后半句是对前半句内容的补充说明,可以用过去分词短语noted as…(以…著称)这种非谓语动词来取消句子的独立性,同时也增 加了句子的节奏感。“菜系”即是“派别”,用school较为合适,不可以译为其他词汇。原文中虽没有“味道”二字,但稍微注意一下便可得知“南淡北咸,东甜西辣”说的就是“味道”,所以翻译时应把“味道”(flavor)翻 译出来。
Among the best-known schools of cuisine are the Cantonese cuisine of the south, the Shandong cuisine of the north, the Huai-Yang cuisine of the east and the Sichuan cuisine of the west, noted as “the light flavor of the south, the salty flavor of the north, the sweet flavor of the east and the spicy-hot flavor of the west”.