增词法和减词法

第二节　增词法和减词法

英汉两种语言，由于表达方式上不能一一对应，翻译时常常有必要在译文的字面上作一些适当的增减，使译文既能忠实地传达原文的内容和风格，又能符合译入语的表达习惯，总的原则是增词而不增意，减词亦不减意。比如当代著名翻译家王佐良教授对培根《论读书》里经典名句“Reading makes a full man,conference a ready man,and writing an exact man.”的翻译“读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。”中对原文中两处省略的“makes”进行了增译，使其更符合汉语重排比的句法结构。增词法和减词法这两种翻译技巧也可称为增补法和省略法。

一、增词法

增词法的原则是增词而不增意，就是指在翻译时，原文中有些意义在字面上没有明确表现出来，需要译者按照意义上或修辞上或句法上的需要增加一些词来更忠实、通顺地表达原文思想内容，但不违背翻译的忠实性原则。英汉两种语言虽然表达方式不尽相同，但是增词必须是根据具体情况增加非增加不可的词语。

（一）增译名词

1.译抽象名词时增译名词，例如：

Design should incorporate provisions to avoid any accidental collapse of a bed.

在设计中要有各种预备措施以避免床层的意外崩塌。

原文中provisions直译为“预防”，增译后变为“预备措施”，更符合汉语表达习惯。

In the summer of 1969,the government publicly urged an easing of tensions with China.

1969年夏天，政府公开地极力主张与中国缓和紧张关系。

原文中tensions直译为“紧张”，增译“关系”一词后更符合汉语搭配。

2.译具体名词时增译名词，例如：

He felt the patriot rise within his breast.

他感到胸中蓬勃而起的爱国热情。

原文中patriot直译为“爱国者”，但在译文中增译成“爱国热情”使得汉语译文更容易理解。

He allowed the father to be overruled by the judge,and declared his own son guilty.

法官的职责战胜了父子亲情，他宣判自己的儿子有罪。

原文中the father直译为“父亲”，显然这样翻译读者无法理解，所以译文中增译成“父子亲情”使得汉语译文通俗易懂。

3.译不及物动词时增译名词

Light travels very fast.

光的传播速度非常快。

原文中travels直译为“传送”，增译为“传播速度”更符合汉语搭配。

Doesn’t she wash after getting up？

难道她起床后不洗漱吗？

Day after day she does the same:washing,sweeping,and cooking.

她日复一日地做着同样的家务：洗衣服、拖地板、做饭。

4.译形容词时增译名词

The radio is indeed cheap and fine.

这台收音机真是价廉又物美。

She is a complicated girl—moody,sensitive and skeptical.

她是个性情复杂的人：喜怒无常、多愁善感、疑神疑鬼。

5.增译表示名词复数的词

汉语中名词的复数没有词型变化，很多情况下不必表达出来，但要表达指多数人的名词时，可用“们”，如the teachers（教师们）；或在该名词前面加上“诸位”、“各（位）”，如ladies and gentlemen（诸位/各位女士和先生）。此外，英语名词复数，汉译时还可以根据情况，增加重叠词、数词或其他一些词来表达，以提高修辞效果。

（1）增加重叠词表示复数

Flowers bloom in the fields.

朵朵鲜花开满田野。

Every summer,tourists go to the coastal cities.

一到夏季，旅游者纷纷涌向海滨城市。

To look after the hordes of sick men there were only a few old doctors who were helpless before such scene of suffering and misery.

只有这些老医生来照看一群群的伤员，他们在如此的痛苦、悲伤面前，显得无可奈何。

（2）增加数词或其他词表示复数

汉语中有些数字词汇在文中并不表示具体的数字，只是表示“多，众多”的意思，如百（百花齐放、百家争鸣、百鸟朝凤、百感交集）、千（千篇一律、千人一面、千方百计）、万（万众一心、万紫千红、万水千山、千难万险）等；还有些词，如群、众、历、丛等也表示数量的多，例如：

The very earth trembled as with the tramps of horses and murmur of angry men.

连大地都震动了，仿佛万马奔腾，万众怒吼。

The crowd made a way for him.

众人给他闪开了一条路。

You can almost put it down as a general rule in this town that presidents often invite“ honest criticism”from their aides.

你几乎可以把这视为此地的一种惯例：历任总统经常请他们的助手们要直言不讳地批评。

（二）增译动词

由于英语是一门静态的语言，在句法组织当中多用名词；而相比较而言，汉语则无此限制，不管有多少动词都可以并列使用。因此，许多英语名词翻译成汉语时都要加上一些动词，使句子意义明确，通顺自然，符合汉语习惯。例如：

There were no speeches,no foreign diplomats,no“ ordinary Chinese”with paper flags and flowers.

没有发表讲话，没有各国外交官到场，也没有“中国群众”挥舞纸旗和花束的场面。

After the banquets,the concerts,and the table tennis exhibitions,he would work on the drafting of the final communiqué.

参加完宴会，出席过音乐会，观看了乒乓球表演赛之后，他还得起草最后公报。

Nobody could count on his restraint or rationality.

谁也不能指望他会采取克制或讲道理的态度。

My work,my family,my friends were more than enough to fill my time.

我干工作，我做家务，我与朋友来往，这些占用了我的全部时间。

（三）增译形容词和副词

根据原文的上下文，有些英语句子中的名词译成汉语时，需要增加一些适当的形容词。有些动词在一定的场合可以增加适当的副词，才能确切表达原意。

What a day/life！

多么难熬的/幸福的/悲惨的一天/生活啊！（增译形容词）

原文如果直译，既不通顺也无法使读者明白，而译文中增译的三个形容词是根据上下文由译者代为添加，可使句意具体而明确。

He doubtlessly expected hugs,tablefuls of food,tears,laughter,and conversation followed by more conversation,then hugs and more hugs all over again,without end.

毫无疑问，他以为会有热烈的拥抱，满桌的食物，激动的泪水，欢乐的笑声，一段接一段的谈话，一次又一次的拥抱，没完没了。（增译形容词）

译文中增加了三个相应的形容词，形象地描绘出他想象中的欢乐场景，使意思更加明确，表达更加生动。

With what enthusiasm the Beijingers are studying foreign languages！

北京人正以很高的热情学习外语啊！（增译形容词）

O,Tom Canty,born in rags and dirt and misery,what sight is this！

啊，汤姆·康地，生在破烂、肮脏和苦难中，现在这番景象却是多么的煊赫呀！（增译形容词）

With the meeting to begin in just a couple of hours,I hadn’t time to worry about such trifles.

不出两三个小时会议就要开始了，我没有闲工夫为这些琐事操心了。（增译形容词）

“Army will make a man of him,”said his father.

他的父亲说：“军队会把他造就成为一个堂堂的男子汉。”（增译形容词）

They started up into the sky until the noise of the rocket died away.

他猛地抬头往天空看，直到火箭发射的声音渐渐远去。（增译副词）

增译副词后译文更加形象、更加传神。

She lingered long over his letter.

她反反复复地回味着他的来信。（增译副词）

The crowd melted away.

人群渐渐地散去了。（增译副词）

Time drops in decay,like a candle burnt out.

时间一点一滴地逝去，犹如蜡烛慢慢燃尽。（增译副词）

（四）增译量词

1.英语中的名词，特别是可数名词，一般直接与数词或冠词连用；而汉语几乎总是要用量词。例如：

A red sun rose slowly from the calm sea.

一轮红日于平静的海面上冉冉升起。

To the east and the south a faint pink is spreading.

一抹浅红正在向东南方扩展。

A stream was winding its ways through the valley into the river.

一弯溪水蜿蜒流过山谷，汇到江里去了。

2.英语中有些动词或动名词，译成汉语动词时经常需要增加一些表示行为、动作量的量词。例如：

Once they quarreled bitterly.

曾经他们大吵了一场。

I was extremely worried about her,but this was neither the place nor the time for a lecture or an argument.

我真是替她万分担忧，但此时此地既不便说教她一番，也不宜与她争论一通。

He squeezed his sister too and gave her a gentle push.

他也捏了一下他的妹妹，并且轻轻推了她一把。

You might just take a look at my coat before this afternoon.See if it wants pressing.

你最好在下午之前瞧一下我的外套，看是否要熨烫一下。

（五）增译表示时态的词

英语动词的时态是靠动词词型变化和加助动词来表达的。汉语动词没有时态变化，表达时态时多用具体表示时间的词或词组，例如用“曾经”、“已经”、“过”、“了”等表示过去时；用“在”、“正在”、“着”等表示进行时；用“将”、“就”、“要”、“会”等表示将来时。除此之外，为了强调时间概念或强调时间上的对比，往往需要加一些其他的词来帮助完成翻译。

1.对时间概念作强调时，往往加词翻译。

I had heard about him before I met him.

我在见到他之前就听说过他了。

Once I was his boss,but now he is mine.

我一度曾是他的上司；不过现在是他领导我。

China has been implementing the birth control policy over the past decades.

过去几十年来，中国一直在推行计划生育政策。

2.强调时间的对比时，要加词翻译。

I was,and remain grateful for his influence on my life.

他在我生命中有着重要的影响，对此，我过去很感激，现在依然很感激。

English prose is elaborate rather than simple.It was not always so.

现今英国散文华巧而欠简朴，过去却并非总是如此。

I knew it quite well as I know it now.

我在当时就知道得同现在一样清楚。

The high-altitude plane was and still is a remarkable bird.

该高空飞机过去是现在仍然是一种了不起的飞机。

（六）增译语气助词

语气助词是汉语中特有的一种修辞手段，用在句中停顿处或句尾以表示各种语气，如：的、吧、呢、啊、呀、吗、嘛、啦、了、罢了、而已等。不同的语气助词可以起不同的作用，如肯定、疑问、祈使、中间的停顿等等，但英语中没有相应的语气助词。在英译汉时，要细心体味原文，使用汉语语气助词，以更好地表达原文的修辞色彩。

“Some six or eight thousand men,”returned Montcalm,with much apparent indifference....（J.F.Cooper,The last of the Mohicans）

“只不过就是六千到八千人而已，”蒙卡姆显然满不在乎地说，……（《最后的莫西干人》，又译《大地英豪》，作者James Fenimore Cooper）

原文中并无语气助词，译者在译文中增加了语气助词“只不过……而已”，把蒙卡姆毫不重视的语气表达了出来，更加清晰地传递了原作的含义和修辞色彩。

Don’t take it seriously.I’m just making fun of you.

别那么认真嘛！我就是开开玩笑罢了。

As for me,I didn’t agree from the very beginning.

至于我呢，从一开始就不同意。

He described it（Latvia）—its forests,its little villages,its people,its fierce nationalism—with an eloquence that could only arise out of deep love for one’s motherland.

他把它（拉脱维亚）的风土人情——森林啦、村庄啦、人民啦、强烈民族理念啦等等描述得生动流畅，只有深深热爱祖国的人才会如此。

It is entirely possible that things are being done for my release right now and that it takes time to do this.

现在是完全有可能想办法使我获释，只不过需要时间而已。

（七）增译结构词语

中英文在句法构成上存在很大差异，英语经常可以省略一些词而用其他的语法成分把被省略的词义暗含出来，翻译时可根据汉语的表达习惯，增译结构词语以达到汉语句法的构成需要，例如：

Studies serve for delight,for ornament,and for ability.

读书足以怡情，足以博采，足以长才。（培根：《论读书》王佐良译）

英语的并列句中通常省略重复的动词，该句省略了serve。而汉语则通过重复动词，构成排比句式，增强表达效果，因此译文中添加了“足以”。

The villagers are as ready to help her as they were their own daughter.

村民们愿意帮助她，正如他们愿意帮助自己的女儿一样。

Without Bill Gates,there surely will not be Microsoft.

如果没有比尔·盖茨，就不会有微软帝国。

We are concerned to develop the abilities of all our students to the full,not just their academic ability.

我们关心的是全面发展学生的各种能力，而不仅仅是发展智力。

The system of job responsibility can be adopted where the conditions are ripe and not otherwise.

工作责任制度，条件成熟了就可以实行，条件不成熟的不要实行。

The best conductor has the least resistance and the poorest the greatest.

最好的导体电阻最小，最差的导体电阻最大

（八）增译承上启下的词语

Yes,I like Hunan cuisines.Lots of Chinese people do these days,sort of the fashion.

不错，我喜欢湘菜，现在很多中国人都喜欢湘菜，这种情况算是有点赶时髦吧。

You have made a mistake,and a serious one.

你犯了一个错误，而且还是个严重错误。

二、减词法

（一）减词法及其特点

很多翻译爱好者在比较英文原著与经典中文译本时会发现许多的“冗余”语单词在汉译后被省略了。但如果不进行删减而全部直译，很多中文句子读起来就会显得冗长且不自然。这是由于英汉两种语言在词法、句法和修辞上存在很大不同，所以会出现部分词句成分虽在英语表述中很自然、地道，但若直译为中文就会变得“冗余”，从而影响译文质量。在英译汉中采用减词译法就是将原文中存在但译文中不必要的词语省去，这是针对译入语的句法需要而采用的一种翻译技巧，使译文更加简练，更符合汉语的习惯。

（二）减词原则

减词法固然是将一些冗余、累赘甚至不符合译入语语言习惯的语言单位进行减省，但并不是将原文的某些思想内容删去，即减词而不减意。例如：

The time-keeping devices of electronic watches are much more accurate than those of mechanical ones.

电子表比机械表准确得多。

“The time-keeping devices of electronic watches”在译入汉语时会出现语意重复，因此在译文中减省了“time-keeping devices”。

减词一般存在两种情况：一是语法性减词；二是修饰性减词。

1.语法性减词

汉语没有冠词，代词（尤其是人称代词、关系代词）、连词、介词、关系副词等用的也远远比英语少。上述词类汉译时往往省略，省略后意思反而更为简洁。

（1）代词减译

英语代词的使用频率远远高于汉语。因此，英文汉译时往往按照汉语习惯将原文中的一些代词省略。

①减译作主语的人称代词

英语重形合，语表形式规范，特别是代词充当主语的情况相当多，而汉语重意合，语表比较凝练。所以翻译时为了使译文句意紧凑，避免重复用词，汉语多调整为无主语句，省略的主语多是最前面的代词。例如：

For two weeks,he had been studying the house,looking at its rooms,its electric wiring,its path and its garden.

两周以来，他一直在仔细查看房子的状况，检查各个房间，观察电线、通道和花园。

But it’s the way I am,and try as I might,I haven’t been able to change it.

但是我就是这样，虽然会尽力去改，终究还是改不了。

Whether the laws are good or bad,they cannot complain,they cannot question,and they cannot suggest changes.

无论法律公正与否，他们都无法抱怨、无法质疑、也无法建议修改。

②减译作主语的泛指人称代词

泛指人称代词作主语时，即便是在句首位置，翻译时也往往将其省略。例如：

We eat to live,but not live to eat.

吃饭是为了活着，但活着不是为了吃饭。

Anyone who does not recognize this fact is not a materialist.

不承认这个事实，就不是唯物主义者。

Before handing in your translation,you have to read it over and over again and see if there is anything in it to be corrected or improved.

上交翻译作品之前应反复读几遍，看看还有没有要修改或提升的地方。

Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age;and if we do not plant it while young,it will give us no shade when we grow old.

知识是人到老年后舒适且必需的精神归宿。如果年轻时不播种，年老时就得不到树阴的遮蔽。

③减译物主代词

物主代词在英语中属于高频词汇，但汉语用词简练，进行汉译时可以将其省略。例如：

The mass of one unit of volume of a material is called its density.

物质单位体积的质量叫做密度。

The train came.He pinched his little sister lovingly,and put his great arms about his mother’s neck and then was away.

火车来了。他疼爱地捏了捏小妹，粗壮的胳膊搂了一下母亲的脖子，然后就走了。

Her dark hair waved untidy across her broad forehead,her face was short,her upper lip short,showing a glint of teeth,her brows were straight and dark,her lashes long and dark,her nose straight.

她的黑发蓬卷地拂在宽宽的前额，脸是短小的，上唇也是短短的，牙齿闪亮，眉毛黑直，睫毛长而密，鼻子挺且直。

④减译比较级句子中的代词

The climate in Denmark is absolutely different from that in South Africa.

丹麦的气候与南非迥然不同。

⑤减译it

非人称代词it在句中作主语时是虚词，并不指代上下文中具体的事物，一般主要用于表示自然现象、时间、距离、环境及一般情况等。汉译时，常将这一非人称代词it省略。同时it用于强调句中，没有实际意义，也应省略。例如：

Outside it was raining cats and dogs as she shut the door.

她关门时外面正下着滂沱大雨。

It was only then that I began to have doubts whether my story would ever be told.

直到那时我才开始怀疑，我的经历究竟能不能公之于众。

（2）连词减译

英语重形合，词与词之间、短语之间、句子之间的关系，主要通过连词表达；而汉语作为一种分析性语言，词与词之间靠顺序体现，句子之间的关系也往往通过句序体现，因此很多在英语中必不可少的连词在译成汉语时显得冗余。在进行英汉翻译时，应根据上下文情况将不必译出的连词减译。例如：

He looked gloomy and troubled.

他看上去有些沮丧不安。

If I had known it,I would not have joined in.

早知这样，我就不参与了。

He considered the National Security Council too large and bulky and thus too leaky,too many people who talked too much.

他考虑国家安全委员会太过庞大臃肿，人多嘴杂，极易泄密。

We knew that summer was coming,as we could see a swallow.

一燕可知夏至。

Because the departure was not easy,we’d better make it brief.

离别让人难受，我们还是简短些吧。

He did not sleep much,but when he did he dreamed of beautiful princess,splendid castles,and gold and silver.

他没睡多久，要是一入睡便梦到如花似玉的公主，梦到富丽堂皇的城堡，梦到黄金，梦到白银。（杨莉藜，1993）

（3）冠词减译

英语中，冠词是虚词，没有词义，它用在名词的前面，表示名词的数量或者特征，不能离开名词而独立存在，只是为了满足语法对遣词造句形式上的需要。因而，汉译时这种冠词经常省略不译。

Any substance is made of atoms whether it is a solid,a liquid,or a gas.

任何物质，不论是固体、液体或气体，都由原子组成。（不定冠词表类别）

The moon was slowly rising above the sea.

月亮从海上慢慢升起来。（定冠词表独一无二的事物）

When I got to the cinema,the film had already begun.

我到电影院时，电影已经开始了。（定冠词表特指）

但在下列情况中冠词的翻译不能省略：

①不定冠词a/an强调数目“一”或“每一”、“同一”时：

twice a week　一周两次

birds of a feather　同一种类的鸟

He left without saying a word.

他一句话不说就走了。

②定冠词the强调“这”、“那”时：

This is the boy who broke our window five minutes ago,sir！

先生，这就是五分钟前打破我们玻璃的那个男孩。

（4）介词减译

汉语的特点是它的简洁和介词出现频率较低，英语介词用得很多，词与词、词组与词组之间的关系，多用介词表达，因此汉译时许多介词可以省略。例如：

Smoking is prohibited in public places.

公众场合禁止吸烟。

The difference between the two machines consists in power.

这两台机器的差别是功率不同。

The products produced by this factory are good in quality and low in price.

该厂生产的产品物美价廉。

The battle began at 11:00 p.m.

夜晚11点，战斗开始了。

An ancient castle stood on the edge of the cliff.

悬崖边矗立着一座古堡。

但是，表示地点的介词如不是位于句首而是紧随动词之后，翻译时一般不可省略。例如：

She hid behind the door.　她藏在门背后。

（5）动词减译

汉语注重意合，语法结构比英语更随意，英译汉时常常出现省略动词的现象，有些谓语动词省去不译，使句子更为简洁有力。例如：

When the pressure gets low,the boiling point becomes low.

气压低，沸点就低。

Russia covers vast territories and abounds in natural resources.

俄罗斯国土面积辽阔且资源丰富。

2.修饰性减词

修辞性减词是从译文修辞角度考虑，将英文中的某些词语省略不译。往往这些词语的涵义在译文中虽无体现但意义明确，但如果不省略，就可能造成译文语意的重复或累赘。

（1）原文同义词或近义词省略

英语有些同义词或近义词连用，或表示强调，使意思更加明确，或表同一名称的不同说法，有时是出于释义、修辞或以旧词带新词等修辞作用的考虑。汉译时，常常不必或不能译成同义词或近义词连用的形式，只选择其中一个翻译即可。例如：

Semiconductor devices have no filament or heaters and therefore require no heating power or warmed up time.

半导体器件没有灯丝，因此不需要加热功率或加热时间。

原文中filament和heaters都可以译为“灯丝”，and和therefore都可以译为“因此”、“所以”，于是译文中各只出现一次。

Instead of one old woman knocking me about and starving me,everybody of all ages knocked me about and starved me.

打我并使我挨饿的不只是一个老太婆，而是老老少少各式各样的人。

（2）简练性减译

语言讲究简洁美，原文中有的词、词组或分句，如果照译，会使译文出现冗词赘语，为了求简洁，这样的词、词组或分句通常应省去不译。例如：

Her younger sister is an actress.

她妹妹是个演员。（减译“女”演员）

As scheduled,Chinese and American diplomats met on January 20，at the Chinese Embassy in Poland.It was their first get-together in more than two years.

按照预定时间，中美两国外交官于一月二十日在驻波兰的中国大使馆进行会晤。这是两年多来的首次。（减译首次“会晤”）

University applicants who had worked at a job would receive preference over those who had not.

报考大学的人，有过工作经验的将优先录取。（减译“比没有工作经验的人”）

The First manned landing on the Moon surface was achieved by American astronauts on July 20,1969.

1969年7月20日美国宇航员首次登上月球。（减译“载人的”）

练习Exxercises

一、请将下面的句子译成中文，注意词义的引申或褒贬

1.Public opinion is demanding more and more urgently something must be done about noise.

2.When the Jones were little they were forbidden to set foot there because of the revolting language and of what they might catch.

3.Therefore I knew,beyond doubt or question,that the world was mistaken about this hero:he was a fool.

4.The publishing house has to take the readability of the novel into consideration.

5.In order to survive,to feed,clothe,and shelter himself and his children,man has to learn to use things he finds in nature,and this means that he has to study and learn about nature.

6.She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

7.It is all very well,again,to have a tiger in the tank,but to have one in the driver’s seat is another matter together.

8.Americans do not like to be called materialistic because they feel that this unfairly accuses them of loving only material things and of having no religious values.

9.My whole ambition is to serve my country and maintain its greatness.

10.Hitler’s ambition to conquer the whole of Europe was doomed to fail.

11.He is crazy about reading.

12.You were crazy to let such a man drive your car.

13.“Poor chaps aren’t so well off either these days,”said Mr.Bond,putting up one of his artificial smiles.

14.The artificial improvement of drainage could soon lead to a marked loss in nutrients.

15.She is the uttermost ass in the universe;and until half an hour ago nobody knew it but herself and me.

二、翻译下列句子，注意增词法和减词法的使用

1.Everything was on a larger scale for him,the highs were higher,the lows lower.

2.Better be wise by the defeat of others than by your own.

3.He became one of the prominent men of the House,speaking clearly,sensibly,and modestly and never too long.

4.They talked about inflation,unemployment and environmental pollution.

5.Thus he grew in body and soul.

6.Border formalities,the French officials were polite and efficient,the Nazi authorities aloof and superior.

7.He is a complicated man—moody,mercurial,with a melancholy streak.

8.The patient this morning is much the same as he was yesterday.

9.Our country produced many eminent scientists and countless skilled craftsmen and created a magnificent science and culture in ancient times.

10.The cities utilize these funds for education,police and fire departments,public works and municipal buildings.

11.Deprived of sleep,an individual can only function for about three days.

12.Nobody knows for sure,but most experts think it will soon be difficult to obtain sufficient electricity from these sources.

13.In spite of the fact that his initial experiments had failed,Prof.White persisted in his research.

14.You may rely on it that everyone here will do his duty with utmost efforts.

15.Modesty helps one to go forward,whereas conceit makes one lag behind.

【注释】

[1] http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/how-many-words-are-there-in-the-english-language