這兩種方法通常用于漢譯英,偶爾也用于英譯漢。所謂正譯,是指把句子按照與漢語相同的語序或表達方式譯成英語。所謂反譯則是指把句子按照與漢語相反的語序或表達方式譯成英語。正譯與反譯常常具有同義的效果,但反譯往往更符合英語的思維方式和表達習慣。因此比較地道。如: (1)在美國,人人都能買到槍?! n the United States, everyone can buy a gun.(正譯) In the United States, guns are available to everyone.(反譯) (2)你可以從因特網上獲得這一信息。 You can obtain this information on the Internet.(正譯) This information is accessible/available on the Internet.(反譯) (3)他突然想到了一個新主意。 Suddenly he had a new idea.(正譯) He suddenly thought out a new idea.(正譯) A new idea suddenly occurred to/struck him.(反譯) (4)他仍然沒有弄懂我的意思?! e still could not understand me.(正譯) Still he failed to understand me.(反譯) (5)無論如何,她算不上一位思維敏捷的學生?! he can hardly be rated as a bright student.(正譯) She is anything but a bright student.(反譯) (6) Please withhold the document for the time being. 請暫時扣下這份文件。(正譯) 請暫時不要發(fā)這份文件。(反譯)
6.倒置法:
在漢語中,定語修飾語和狀語修飾語往往位于被修飾語之前;在英語中,許多修飾語常常位于被修飾語之后,因此翻譯時往往要把原文的語序顛倒過來。倒置法通常用于英譯漢,即對英語長句按照漢語的習慣表達法進行前后調換,按意群或進行全部倒置,原則是使?jié)h語譯句安排符合現代漢語論理敘事的一般邏輯順序。有時倒置法也用于漢譯英。如: (1) At this moment, through the wonder of telecommunications, more people are seeing and hearing what we say than on any other occasions in the whole history of the world. 此時此刻,通過現代通信手段的奇跡,看到和聽到我們講話的人比整個世界歷史上任何其他這樣的場合都要多。(部分倒置) (2) I believe strongly that it is in the interest of my countrymen that Britain should remain an active and energetic member of the European Community. 我堅信,英國依然應該是歐共體中的一個積極的和充滿活力的成員,這是符合我國人民利益的。(部分倒置) (3)改革開放以來,中國發(fā)生了巨大的變化。 Great changes have taken place in China since the introduction of the reform and opening policy.