翻译练习材料

翻译技巧篇

1、 被动语态

英汉相比，英语多用被动语态，而汉语则少用，其愿因之一也许是汉语系意合语言，这个“被”字完全可以被“融化”掉。此外，汉语表达被动的方式比较丰富。

下段共计14个谓语动词，竟用了13个被动语态。

As oil is found deep in the ground, its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the underground rocks structure must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil, a “drilling rig” is assembled. The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called “a derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by the drill. As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. If oil is struck, a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and the oil is allowed to escape through a series of valves.

2、 长句练习

（1）There is nothing more disappointing to a hostess who has gone to a lot of trouble or expense than to have her guest so interested in talking politics or business with her husband that he fails to notice the flavor of the coffee, the lightness of the cake, or the attractiveness of the house, which may be her chief interest and pride.

（2）Multitudes of bees used to bury themselves in the yellow blossoms of the summer squashes. This, too, was a deep satisfaction; although, when they had laden themselves with sweets, they flew away to some unknown hive, which could give back nothing in requital of what my garden had contributed.

（3）Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the rapid development of technologies which enable the storage and delivery of more information with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before.

（4）The thought that she would be separated from husband during his long and dangerous journey saddened Mrs. Brown.

技巧练习段落

On one of those sober and rather melancholy days， in the latter part of Autumn， when the shadows of morning and evening almost mingle together， and throw a gloom over the decline of the year， I passed several hours in rambling about Westminster Abbey. There was something congenial to the season in the mournful magnificence of the old pile； and， as I passed its threshold， seemed like stepping back into the regions of antiquity， and losing myself among the shades of former ages

技巧练习篇章

Globalization and Diversity, What Do They Mean for Translators?

---Speech at the Opening Ceremony of FIT Fourth Asian Translator’s Forum

First, I want to thank you, in my own name and in the name of the FIT Executive Committee, for your kind invitation. We come from different countries. Please let me introduce my colleagues of the executive committee of FIT: Ms. Bente Christensen from Norway, Vice President of FIT; Mr. Peter Krawutschke from the U.S., Treasure of FIT; Ms. Miriam Lee from Ireland, Secretary-General of FIT; Ms. Sheryl Hinkkanen from Finland, hostess of the next FIT World Congress in 2005. I am also happy to introduce Mr. Ari Penttilä, President of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters. He will also wait for you at Tampere, Finland next year. We are all thrilled to be here, in a part of the world we do not visit very often.

Our profession is growing. It is growing everywhere. The demand for our services is growing in volume because of globalization, and it is also growing in the number of languages translated because of emerging economies like yours, in China. For instance, Chinese is more and more in demand in the West Coast of Canada and a brand new TV Channel aimed at the Chinese community in France just hired 14 translators from Chinese to French. I really think this is a sign of vigor and health for the profession and, considering what has been done so far in China, it is probably not the last time we see each other.

Globalization is not coming. It is upon us and we see it in the news everyday. It has meant, for our profession, the creation of international providers of translation

services and of a new discipline called localization. These big translation companies have also created or are using new tools which enhance the translator’s performance, sometimes for the good, sometimes not. Sometimes, the translator is torn between conflicting requirements and is not given the right conditions to do a proper professional work. That is where professional associations and FIT have a role to play. They have to set guidelines for their members and their members’ clients so that translation is carried out professionally in order to avoid errors that can sometimes be fatal. We do not say it often enough, but a mistake in, say, assembly instructions of an electric device, can be very damaging, as can be an error in the numbers of a very important financial report. Professional translation is crucial as it is the warranty of good international communications, hence efficient trade and exchanges between countries and economies. It is our role, as associations, to make the public aware of the necessity of professional translation and to fight the belief that anyone who is bilingual can be a translator. If it were so easy, we would not have created university degrees, would we?

We have to do it, and we have to do it together. That is the strength of FIT. All together, we have to convey the same message of quality and professionalism, through our associations, through the regional centers and through FIT as an international body.

But globalization does not mean that we have to leave out culture and diversity. UNESCO has issued a Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity which, in the UNESCO General Secretary’s own words “aims both to preserve cultural

diversity as a living, and thus renewable treasure that must not be perceived as being unchanging heritage but as a process guaranteeing the survival of humanity”.

To me, diversity means first and foremost people understanding each other and exchanging. And how are they going to understand each other if not through translation and translators?

Translation and translators are therefore going to be increasingly in demand in the years to come. That is why I am talking of a golden age for our profession. Never in history have we been so indispensable to trade, culture, peace, and humanity. However, translators in general are very discreet people and do not know how to market their skills. The nature of our work requires from us to render a message and disappear, so that the final reader does not realize it is a translation. We are so accustomed to disappear that we forget how indispensable we are.

Just imagine one day in the world without translation. The United Nations, the World Trade Organization and all the NGOs, the transnational companies, TV channels, newspapers, etc. would all be mute. We are like the electricity in the wires and the water in the tap. They are so natural to most of us that it is only when they are unavailable that we realize how useful they are.

Keep that in mind and spread the word!

I want to wish you all a very fruitful and successful meeting, and thank again

the Translators Association of China for their warm welcome and exquisite hospitality. Betty Cohen

President of the International Federation of Translators （FIT）

直译与意译

rules every achiever knows

This might involve routine daily decisions—something as simple as skipping a favorite late-night TV show and getting to bed early, to be wide awake for a meeting the next morning. Or it might involve longer-term resolves. A young widow with three children decided to invest her insurance settlement in a college education for herself. She considered the realities of tight budget and little free time, but these seemed small sacrifices in return for the doors that a degree would open. Today she is a highly paid financial consultant.

The secret of such commitment is getting past the drudgery and seeing the delight. “The fact is that many worthwhile endeavors aren’t fun,” say one syndicated radio and TV commentator. “True, all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. But trying to turn everything we do into play makes for terrible frustrations because life—even the most rewarding one—includes circumstances that aren’t fun at all. I like my job as a journalist. It’s personally satisfying, but it isn’t always fun.”

翻译文体篇

A：It has been noted with concern that the stock of books in the library has been declining alarmingly. Students are requested to remind themselves of the rules of the borrowing and returning of books, and to bear in mind the needs of other students. Penalties for overdue books will in the future be strictly enforced.

B: The number of books in the library has been going down. Please make sure you know the rules for borrowing, and don’t forget that the library is for everyone’s convenience. So from now on, we’re going to enforce the rules strictly. You have been warned!

本文作者是一位美国报纸专栏作家，幽默大师。

文章由三封文体不同的求职信及回信组成。本文重在文体，译文必须有所体现

Job Hunting

1、

Vice President of Development

Glucksville Dynamics

Glucksville, California

Dear Sir,

I am writing in regard to employment with your firm. I have a BS from USC and Ph.D in physics from the California Institute of Technology.

In my previous position I was in charge of research and development for the Harrington Chemical Company. We did work in thermonuclear energy, laser beam refraction, hydrogen molecule development, and heavy-water computer data.

Several of our research discoveries have been adapted for commercial use, and one particular breakthrough in linear hydraulics is now being used by every oil company in the country.

Because of a cutback in defense orders, the Harrington Company decided to shut down its research and development department. It is for this reason I am available for immediate employment.

Hoping to hear from you in the near future, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Edward Kase

Dear Mr. Kase,

We regret to inform you that we have no positions available for someone of your excellent qualifications. The truth of the matter is that we find you are “overqualified” for any position we might offer you in our organization. Thank you for thinking of us, and if anything comes up in the near future, we will be getting in touch with you.

Yours truly,

Merriman Haslbald

Administrative Vice-President

2、

Pesonnel Director

Jessel Insternational Systems

Crewcut, Mich.

Dear Sir,

I am applying for a position with your company in any responsible capacity. I

have had a college education and fiddled around in research and development. Occasionally we have come up with some moneymaking ideas. I would be willing to start off at a minimal salary to prove my value to your firm.

Sincerely yours,

Edward Kase

Dear Mr. Kase,

Thank you for your letter of the 15 th. Unfortunately we have no positions at the moment for someone with a college education. Frankly it is the feelings of everyone here that you are “overqualified”, and your experience indicates you would be much happier with a company that could make full use of your talents. It was kind of you to think of us.

Hardy Landsdowne

Personnel Dept.

3、

To Whom It May Concern

Geis & Waterman Inc.

Ziegfried, III.

Dere ser,

I’d like a job with your outfit. I can do anything you want me to. You name it Kase will do it. I ain’t got no education and no experience, but I’m strong and moxy an I get along great with peeple. I’m ready to start any time because I need the bread. Let me know when you want me.

Cheers

Edward Kase

Dear Mr. Kase,

You are just the person we have been looking for. We need a truck driver, and your qualifications are perfect for us. You can begin working in our Westminister plant on Monday. Welcome aboard.

Carson Peters

Personnel

文学篇

China’s Seniors---The Growing Age Problem

I have solved one of the mysteries about China and its people - to be more specific, its senior citizens. When I first came here 16 months ago, I wondered where the \"oldies\" were.

Everywhere I looked, young people dominated the streetscape, walking briskly to work, riding their bikes to universities near my apartment in the Haidian District, but few elderly people appeared among them.

When I asked a local resident, she explained: \"They come out early in the morning, and you'll see them again at night, often exercising.\" Were they some kind of nocturnal species, I wondered, unable to face the light and pace of day?

I decided to investigate. Across the road from the Friendship Hotel is a set of exercise bars and swings. I had seen them during the day, mostly unused. Like Sherlock Holmes trying to crack a most puzzling case, I sneaked over to see for myself on a warm summer evening.

It was about 8 o'clock and as I crept closer, there they were. People in their 60s, 70s and probably 80s, stretching, bending and exercising in ways that would cause creaks and groans in their much younger offspring. This was indeed grey power in action.

As I watched, I could hear distant music in the still night air - not rock or pop but something more melodic. Heading towards it, I found myself outside a paved open space near the Beijing Modern Plaza, filled with about 60 mature-aged women holding fans and stepping out in a most elegant way as an instructor guided them through a traditional dance routine.

Since then I have found even more, especially in the early morning, on my way to work at CCTV. As the car passed the Zizhuyuan (Black Bamboo) Park, seniors danced together and by themselves, moving effortlessly.

My biggest surprise was while walking with friends around the Houhai Lake on a fine but bitterly cold Saturday afternoon last winter. Still the detective, I was alerted to what sounded like water splashing, followed by people cheering. This lead to an even more amazing sight - elderly men wearing only their bathing costumes, as onlookers rugged up in thick coats, applauded. I stood open-mouthed, pulling my own coat tighter against my chilled skin, watching these thick-skinned seniors dive and survive their near-naked plunge into the freezing water.

I had indeed found the Beijing equivalent of the Bondi Icebergs in Sydney and

the Brighton Icebergs of Melbourne, elderly men who swim in those cities' famous beaches throughout winter. But the water in Houhai Lake must have been much colder than the Australian beaches because it was only days away from freezing over.

My detective work had paid off. I had now uncovered the evidence and found the answer to my mystery: Elderly people are alive and well in China. But in finding the answer, questions arise as the population not only ages longer, but grows to numbers that put added pressure on the society to which we all belong. It is not just a problem here, but in many countries, developed and developing.

In China, these problems seem exacerbated in urban areas where the load of looking after ageing parents is now falling on their one-child offspring, many being handed opportunities greater than their parents ever envisaged when they were young. Some of these young people are friends of mine.

One who was offered a post overseas last year, said: \"I feel guilty.\" When I asked why, she replied: \"Because my parents cannot come with me and I will worry about their health all the time.\"

I assured her that everyone who leaves home shares the same concerns, but for her, the only child, there are no siblings to help. It weighs heavily even at a time when Mum and Dad are in good health, not yet needing special care.

Only a few days ago, another friend explained that keeping both parents

literally under his own family roof, \"will provide an environment of love and warmth. It is my duty,\" he added emphatically.

While Western countries may promote family independence by offering a range of options for those who can afford it, China's tradition of keeping the family together through interdependence seems as important today as ever, no matter how wealthy individual members may become.

In the West, retirement homes are a favoured option by a growing section of the community, often for sound reasons. They provide various levels of care ranging from independent accommodation in small villas where residents look after themselves, to dependent care in which everything from meals to medical facilities is provided within the complex.

At the same time, it is a big business with huge money to be made, and a set of conditions to ensure residents \"will back\" each dwelling to the operators.

My mother-in-law has just entered one of these homes in New Zealand after a series of falls which made living alone a worry not only for herself, but her family living in the same city. A few years ago she told me: \"I will never live in one of those places.\" But while her body is now not as sound as her mind, she admits the previous situation was untenable.

As father of two sons and a daughter, I presently have no plans to live with either of them (they may be relieved after reading this). But after the recent birth

of my third grandchild, I have become acutely aware of the passage of time.

Adding to my concern is the regular appearance in this newspaper and other media, of stories about the rapid increase in China's ageing population and the burden it places on health and welfare services.

A report in China Daily last month made clear how quickly China's ageing society is growing. It said the number of Chinese people aged 65 or older will rise from less than 100 million in 2000 to more than 200 million by 2007. By then, the elderly will make up 14 per cent of the total population.

While those with one child may need help from other relatives, I have also met a growing number of young people who will face a different situation when they become aged. For reasons of cost and career, these married couples have decided not to have any children, opening up a new dependent sector as China, like other countries around the world, plans social welfare systems for the future.

The outlook is not all bleak. As parents, we can sometimes prolong the period in which we remain lively and independent through diet and exercise. Looking after ourselves as we age becomes as important as when we were children.

Hopefully with good health enhanced by active minds and bodies, we will add to our years by continuing to work in a society that can benefit from our skills and experience rather than simply retire and withdraw from it. Perhaps our children can pursue their own endeavours without feeling guilty, while still keeping an eye on

how we are faring.

Last month I heard an interview on China Radio International (CRI) with a leading expert on ageing, Professor Wu Cangping, who confirmed the growing problem for parents of one-child families especially as the tradition of looking after them continues.

On the other hand, they might not have to worry so soon. According to Professor Wu, who holds a university position, travels and lectures regularly, one should keep active and become involved in all things like work, paid and voluntary. The good professor should know. He is only 82!

科技篇

What Is Nanotechnology?

The shotgun marriage of chemistry and engineering called

“Nanotechnology” is ushering in the era of self-replicating machinery and self-assembling consumer goods made from cheap raw atoms.

Nanotechnology is molecular manufacturing or, more simply, building things one atom or molecule at a time with programmed nanoscopic robot arms. A nanometer is one billion of a meter (3-4 atoms wide). Utilizing the well understood chemical properties of atoms and molecules (how they “stick” together), nanotechnology proposes the construction of novel molecular devices possessing

extraordinary properties. The trick is to manipulate atoms individually and place them exactly where needed to produce the desired structure. This ability is almost in our grasp. The anticipated payoff for mastering this technology is far beyond any human accomplishment so far. Technical feasibilities include:

Self-assembling consumer goods

Computers billions of times faster

Extremely novel inventions (impossible today)

Safe and affordable space travel

Medical Nano…virtual end to illness, aging, death

No more pollution and automatic cleanup of already existing pollution

Molecular food syntheses…end of famine and starvation

Access to a superior education for every child on earth

Reintroduction of many extinct plants and animals

Terra forming here and the Solar System

By treating atoms as discrete, bit-like objects, molecular manufacturing will

bring a digital revolution to the production of material objects. Working at the resolution limit of matter, it will enable the ultimate in miniaturization and performance. By starting with cheap, abundant components—molecules—and processing them with small, high-frequency, high-productivity machines, it will make products inexpensive. Design computers that each executes more instructions per second than all of the semiconductor CPUs in the world combined.

Nanotechnology will reverse the harm done by the industrial revolution. Imagine being able to cure cancer by drinking a medicine stirred into your favorite fruit juice. Imagine a supercomputer no bigger than a human cell. Imagine a four-person, surface-to-orbit spacecraft no larger or more expensive than the family car. These are just a few products expected from nanotechnology.

Humanity will be faced with a powerful, accelerated social revolution as a result of nanotechnology. In the near future, a team of scientists will succeed in constructing the first nano-sized robot capable of self-replication. Within a few short years, and five billion trillion nano-robots later, virtually all present industrial processes will be obsolete as well as our contemporary concept of labor. Consumer goods will become plentiful, inexpensive, smart, and durable. Medicine will take a quantum leap forward. Space travel and colonization will become safe and affordable.

For these and other reasons, global life styles will change radically and human behavior will be drastically impacted. The world is on the brink of a new technology revolution beyond any human experience. A new, more powerful

industrial revolution capable of bringing wealth, health, and education, without pollution, to every person on the planet. No longer will forest need to be cut or smoke spewed into the air. This is the promise of nanotechnology.

A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. That’s a thousand, million times smaller than a meter. If you blew up a baseball to the size of the earth, the atoms would become visible, about the size of grapes. Some 3-4 atoms fit lined up inside a nanometer.

Nanotechnology is about building things atom by atom, molecule by molecule. The trick is to be able to manipulate atoms individually, and place them where you wish on a structure. Nature uses molecular machines to create life. If you want to see a nanotechnology machine, just look in the mirror. Scientists from several fields including chemistry, biology, physics, and electronics are driving towards the precise manipulation of matter on the atomic scale.

How do we get to nanotechnology? Several approaches seem feasible. Ultimately a combination may be the key.

说明篇

Graduate School University of Maryland

Candidates for admission must meet the minimum requirements set by the Graduate School, which normally requires Graduate Record Examinations scores

for admission to graduate programs. The Graduate School uses GRE scores as part of the data on which it bases its admission decisions. The score, however, are never the sole criteria for admission. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

The Graduate School requires official transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate study. Some programs may require additional evidence of ability to succeed. Such evidence may include a portfolio, an interview, or documentation of prior work experience.

Applicants should have three letters of recommendation submitted from professors or others who can attest to the quality of their academic performance and scholastic potential. The recommender must include in the letter the applicant’s full name, the semester or session for which admission is desired, and the program to which the student is applying.

Applicants for admission to any Graduate School program must be submitted to:

Graduate Admission and Enrollment Services

University of Maryland

Baltimore, MD21201

To apply, you must submit the application form and transcripts to the Graduate School office along with the required nonrefundable application fee. The Graduate School will not process or review an application until the application fee is paid. The Graduate School cannot waive or defer the application fee.

报刊语篇

Prof. Hawking Celebrates

Physicist Outlives Predictions

They arrived armed with stories about a man and theories about the universe. They talked of a genius and friendship. And they celebrated a 60th birthday that some called “a miracle”.

During a week of parties and lectures, Cambridge University cosmologist Stephen Hawking was complimented by colleagues as an original thinker, cherished friend, and a strong-willed survivor who has lived for decades after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The disease is generally terminal within a few years.

The birthday week celebration ended last Friday with cheers, laughter and a stirring rendition of “Happy Birthday” as 400 friends and colleagues, many from labs and college campuses around the world, gathered for one last set of lectures on “the Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology”, topped off by a speech

from Hawking.

Wearing a red rose on his collar, grabbing a control to manoeuvre his wheelchair and speaking with a computer-generated voice, Hawking tried to sum up his career in a speech entitles “60 Years in a Nutshell”.

It turns out he almost didn’t make it to the festivities surrounding his 60th birthday, which was last Tuesday.

On December 28, Hawking was speeding down a Cambridge lane to meet his wife, Elaine, at an optician’s office when he crashed his wheelchair into a wall and fell to the ground, breaking his right leg. Hawking was taken to a local hospital where his leg was pinned and plated to stabilize the area and reduce the pain, his wife said.

He was bruised and broken, but apparently his humor was still intact.

“it was nearly 59.97 years in a nutshell,” Hawking said, “I had an argument with a wall a few days after Christmas, and the wall won.”

In his speech, he talked of his career, of arriving at Cambridge in 1962 to work with esteemed astronomer Fred Hoyle—only to discover the scientist was booked up. he was assigned to work with another equally compelling teacher, Dennis Sciama.

At Cambridge, Hawking embarked on a life of grappling with the basic laws of the universe, making grand-breaking discoveries on black holes and trying to determine the origin of the universe.

Only later in his career did Hawking reach a wider audience with the publication of the best selling book, A Brief History of Time.

“It has been a glorious time to be alive and doing research in theoretical physics,” he said, “Our picture of the universe has changed a great deal in the last 40 years, and I’m happy if I have made a small contribution. I want to share my excitement and enthusiasm.”

Hawking’s life is a tale of genius and fortitude. It was 38 years ago that he was diagnosed with a motor neurone disease and, as he noted on Friday, he “was given to expect I didn’t have long enough to finish my Ph.D”.

“When suddenly, toward the end of my second year of research, things picked up. My disease wasn’t progressing much, and my work all fell into place, and I began to get somewhere.”

Turning 60 seemed to be reaching a summit for Hawking, who has two sons and a daughter.

“He has been very excited about it,” said Hawking’s younger son, Tim, 22, who is studing French and Spanish at Exeter University. “60 years—he has done a

good job.”