翻译辨析: begin to count 是「开始」数吗?

英语作文    发布时间:2024-09-30  
划词翻译

原 文:

Sure I can't begin to count the number of theTV sets in the town.

原 译:

我当然不能开始数全镇电视机的数目。


辨析

  1. 表达习惯:

    • 原译中的「数……电视机的数目」是硬译,不符合汉语表达习惯。可以改为「数数……有多少电视机」。

  2. 动词解析:

    • 关键错误在于“begin”一词。在此句中,"begin"并非指“开始”,而是用来强调否定,通常与情态动词“can”连用。例如:

      • His statement does not begin to be comprehensive.

      • (他的说法一点也不全面。)

      • I can't begin to understand him.

      • (我一点也/根本/完全不懂他的话。)

      • He couldn't begin to compete with that large firm.

      • (他根本无法同那家大公司竞争。)

      • Your offer can't begin to meet our demand.

      • (贵方的提议/开价和我们的要求差得太远。)

  3. 修正翻译:

    • 原句可译为:我当然无法数清镇上有多少电视机。

    • 也可意译为:镇上电视机那么多,我怎么数得过来呢?

强调否定的其他方式

英语中除了“begin”以外,还有其他方法强调否定,最常用的是“least”一词。例如:

  • He is not in the least interested.

    • (他一点儿也不感兴趣。)

在口语中,可以使用各种形象的表达来表示最小量,例如:

  • I don't care a farthing.

    • (我根本不在乎。)

  • It's awfully oppressive today; there is not a breath of wind.

    • (今天真闷,一丝儿风都没有。)

  • There is not a word of news.

    • (一丁点儿消息也没有。)

  • People didn't see a dime's worth of difference between the two candidates.

    • (人们看不出这两个候选人之间有任何哪怕细小的差别。)

  • He didn't seem to like the toy by a jugful.

    • (看来他一点也不喜欢那个新玩具。)

  • I'll answer for it; he never cared three straws about her.

    • (我敢发誓,他一点儿也没有把她放在心上。)

  • There was not a single person in front of the gate.

    • (大门口连一个人也没有。)

幽默双关语

“single”一词还有其他意思,英语中有个双关语利用了这种用法:

—Why is a room full of married people very empty?
—Because there is not a single person in it.
(为什么一间充满已婚人士的房间显得很空?因为里面一个单身的人都没有。)