考研英语翻译Lesson4解释与分析

Lesson 4

Directions:

   Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)

It is not easy to talk about the role of the mass media in this overwhelmingly significant phase in European history. History and news become confused, and one’s impressions tend to be a mixture of skepticism and optimism. (46)Television is one of the means by which these feelings are created and conveyed—and perhaps never before has it served so much to connect different peoples and nations as in the recent events in Europe. The Europe that is now forming cannot be anything other than its peoples, their cultures and national identities. With this in mind we can begin to analyze the European television scene. (47) In Europe, as elsewhere, multi-media groups have been increasingly successful; groups which bring together television, radio, newspapers, magazines and publishing houses that work in relation to one another.One Italian example would be the Berlusconi group, while abroad Maxwell and Murdoch come to mind.

Clearly, only the biggest and most flexible television companies are going to be able to compete in such a rich and hotly-contested market. (48) This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in, a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks, no less than 50% took a loss in 1989.

    Moreover, the integration of the European community will oblige television companies to cooperate more closely in terms of both production and distribution.

    (49) Creating a “European identity” that respects the different cultures and traditions which go to make up the connecting fabric of the Old Continent is no easy task and demands a strategic choice—that of producing programs in Europe for Europe. This entails reducing our dependence on the North American market, whose programs relate to experiences and cultural traditions which are different from our own.

In order to achieve these objectives, we must concentrate more on co-productions, the exchange of news, documentary services and training. This also involves the agreements between European countries for thecreation of a European bank for Television Production which, on the model of the European Investments Bank, will handle the finances necessary for production costs. (50)In dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say, “United we stand, divided we fall”—and if I had to choose a slogan it would be “Unity in our diversity.” A unity of objectives that nonetheless respect the varied peculiarities of each country.

参考答案及解析

46.电视是引发和传递这些感受的手段之——在最近的欧洲事务中，电视把不同的民族和国家联结在一起，作用之大前所未有。

结构剖析
本句以破折号为界，可看作是and连接的并列句，and前面的分句主干为Television is one of the means...,后接by which引导的定语从句；and后面的分句主干为perhaps never before has it served so much...,to connect different peoples and nations为不定式结构作目的状语，as引导比较状语，补全为as (it has served to connect different peoples and nations) in the recent events in Europe.

翻译技巧
(1)定语从句中的被动语态要按照汉语表达习惯译为主动语态。
(2)and后面的分句中，never before出现在句首引起部分倒装，翻译时应将句子还原为正常语序。
(3)serve so much to do可译为“在……方面发挥如此大的作用”。
(4)people作复数，意为“民族”。
 

47.在欧洲，像在其他地方一样，多媒体集团越来越成功：这些集团把相关的电视、广播、报纸、杂志和出版社组合在一起。

结构剖析
本句主干为multi-media groups have been increasingly successful,分号后面为主语multi-media groups的同位语，里面有个which引导的定语从句，又嵌套了定语从句that work in relation to one another修饰 houses。In Europe作地点状语，as elsewhere作比较状语。

翻译技巧
(1)定语从句that work in relation to one another由于较短可译为前置定语。
(2)multi-media groups译为“多媒体集团”。

(3)bring together意为“将……组合在一起”
 

48.仅这一点就表明在电视行业生存下来并非易事，统计数据也证实了这个事实：在80家欧洲电视网中，1989年出现亏损的不少于50%。
 

结构剖析
本句主干为This alone demonstrates that...,the television business is not an easy world to survive in作demonstrates的宾语，a fact underlined by statistics...为同位语结构，that show...为定语从句修饰statistics,that out of eighty...为宾语从句，作show的宾语。
 

翻译技巧
(1)同位语结构中的underlined为过去分词表被动，可译为主动形式“统计数据也证实了这个事实”，后加冒号，修饰 statistics的定语从句可放在冒号后面单独翻译。
(2)underline本意为“加下划线，强调”，句子中与fact搭配可译为“证实”。
(3)no less than意为“不少于，多达”。
 

49.不同的文化和传统将欧洲大陆编织成一体，要创造一种尊重这些不同文化和传统的“欧洲特色”绝非易事，需要战略性选择。
 

结构剖析
本句主干为 Creating a "European identity"... is no easy task and demands a strategic choice。 that respects the different cultures and traditions...为定语从句修饰 European identity,里面又嵌套定语从句which go to make up the connecting fabric of the Old Continent 修饰 different cultures and traditions

翻译技巧
(1)嵌套式定语从句使得后置定语太长，翻译时要理清思路，根据汉语表达习惯，调整语序进行翻译。
(2)结合上下文知道European identity是不同于北美的、带有欧洲特色的标志，因此译为“特色、品牌”比较合适。
(3)fabric本义为“纤维，织物，构造”，这里比喻不同的文化传统将欧洲大陆联系起来，像织物一样紧密，因此make up...fabric(组成……的纤维）可以意译为“编织”。
 

50.在应付如此规模的挑战时，可以毫不夸张地说：“团结，我们就会站起来；分裂，我们就会倒下去。”

结构剖析
本句结构较简单，in dealing with a challenge on such a scale为介词结构作状语，it is no exaggeration to say...为主干部分，it是形式主语，真正主语是to say"United we stand,divided we fall",过去分词united和divided分别在两个分句中作条件状语。
 

翻译技巧
(1)it is no exaggeration to say…意为“说……也不为夸张”。
(2)本句关键是引号中两个并列分句的翻译。United we stand,divided we fall改自肯尼迪总统的一句话“United,there is little we cannot do,divided,there is little we can do”，译文最好能够对仗，体现出文学色彩。

参考译文
 

在欧洲历史上这个具有无比重要意义的阶段，谈论大众媒体的作用并非易事。历史事件和新闻开始混淆，对于大众媒体，人们的感受往往是怀疑和乐观情绪的结合。（46)电视是引发和传递这些感受的手段之——在最近的欧洲事务中，电视把不同的民族和国家联结在一起，作用之大前所未有。欧洲现在正在形成的正是本民族及各民族的文化和国家品牌。只有想到这一点，我们才能开始分析欧洲电视业的前景。（47)在欧洲，像在其他地方一样，多媒体集团越来越成功：这些集团把相关的电视、广播、报纸、杂志和出版社组合在一起。例如，意大利的贝鲁斯科尼集团和国外的麦斯威尔和默多克。显然，只有最大最灵活的公司才能在这个饱和的充满竞争的市场上断杀。（48)仅这一点就表明在电视行业生存下来并非易事，统计数据也证实了这个事实：在80家欧洲电视网中，1989年出现亏损的不少于50%。

另外，欧共体的形成将迫使电视公司在制作和发行方面有更密切的合作。

(49)不同的文化和传统将欧洲大陆编织成一体，要创造一种尊重这些不同文化和传统的“欧洲特色”绝非易事，需要战略性选择。那就是在欧洲做节目，为欧洲做节目。这就要求减少对北美市场的依赖，因为他们节目里有着和我们返异的生活经历和文化传统。

为了达到这些目标，我们必须更加关注在制作节目，交换新闻，文件服务及培训方面的合作。这也意味着欧洲国家需要达成协议并创建一个欧洲电视节目制作库，该制作库可以按照欧洲投资银行的模式来处理与制作成本相关的财务问题。（50)在应付如此规模的挑战时，可以毫不夸张地说：“团结，我们就会站起来；分裂，我们就会倒下去。”如果要我来选择一个口号的话，我会说“求同存异”——既要有共同的目标，又要尊重每个国家多样的特色。