醫(yī)學(xué)行業(yè)專(zhuān)業(yè)英文翻譯-醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)翻譯中長(zhǎng)句及被動(dòng)句的研究

醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)翻譯中長(zhǎng)句及被動(dòng)句的研究

   要搞好醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)翻譯,首先必須了解醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言方面的特點(diǎn)。醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)既有與普通英語(yǔ)相同的詞匯和語(yǔ)法現(xiàn)象,又有其特有的習(xí)慣表達(dá)和用法。就句式來(lái)說(shuō),長(zhǎng)句、難句及被動(dòng)句多,這是理解、翻譯文獻(xiàn)的一個(gè)難點(diǎn),本文就這些句式的分析及翻譯方法作一歸納。  

1 長(zhǎng)句、難句

醫(yī)學(xué)文獻(xiàn)中常常需要表達(dá)多重密切相關(guān)的概念,同時(shí)科技英語(yǔ)文體還特別講究推理嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)和敘述準(zhǔn)確,因此,句中常出現(xiàn)包含有許多附加成分的簡(jiǎn)單句和有許多從句的復(fù)合句。常常是一個(gè)主句帶著若干個(gè)從句,從句帶短語(yǔ),短語(yǔ)帶從句,從句套從句,互相依附,相互制約,一步接一步,一環(huán)扣一環(huán)。要理解原文,除了要弄清詞義,還要根據(jù)原文的句子結(jié)構(gòu),搞清這些詞之間的語(yǔ)法關(guān)系。具體說(shuō),首先應(yīng)弄清整句的脈絡(luò),先搞清該句是簡(jiǎn)單句還是復(fù)合句。若是簡(jiǎn)單句,則首先確定其主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞,然后再逐個(gè)確定其它附屬成分或修飾語(yǔ)等;若是復(fù)合句,則首先確定是并列復(fù)合句,還是主從復(fù)合句。若是并列復(fù)合句,則先分別按簡(jiǎn)單句的方法對(duì)各并列子句進(jìn)行分析,然后再根據(jù)其間連詞的含義,構(gòu)筑整句的語(yǔ)義。若是主從復(fù)合句,則先分別確定主句和從句,而后弄清各子句的類(lèi)型,是定語(yǔ)從句,還是狀語(yǔ)從句,或其它。然后,再按簡(jiǎn)單句的方法分析每個(gè)句子,包括主句和各子句。

在分析句中各語(yǔ)法成分時(shí),將主語(yǔ)或賓語(yǔ)搞錯(cuò)的很少,弄錯(cuò)的往往是謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞。主要原因是英語(yǔ)中規(guī)則動(dòng)詞的過(guò)去時(shí)形態(tài),與該動(dòng)詞的非謂語(yǔ)形式的過(guò)去分詞大多相同。醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)中動(dòng)詞的非謂語(yǔ)形式用得很多,眾多的動(dòng)詞以相同的形式出現(xiàn)在同一句中,加上動(dòng)詞的過(guò)去時(shí)形態(tài)又沒(méi)有數(shù)的變化,因此,稍不注意,就會(huì)將作定語(yǔ)用的過(guò)去分詞誤認(rèn)為是謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞。

1.1 長(zhǎng)句、難句的分析方法  

首先分析句子的語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu),然后搞清句子的邏輯關(guān)系(因果、時(shí)間、條件等),最后按照漢語(yǔ)的習(xí)慣和表達(dá)方式,正確譯出原文的意思,但不必拘泥于原文的形式。

例一 : An immediate practical problem in dealing with a patient who is thought to have viral meningitisis to exclude the presence of leptospirosis or a bacterial infection that might be susceptible to antimicrobial therapy. 譯文:在處理一個(gè)被認(rèn)為是患病毒性腦膜炎病人時(shí),一個(gè)迫切的實(shí)際問(wèn)題是排除掉細(xì)螺旋體病或可能對(duì)抗菌療法敏感的細(xì)菌性感染。

說(shuō)明:翻譯此句的要點(diǎn)是能識(shí)別出主語(yǔ)是problem,謂語(yǔ)部分是is to exclude..., 而 in dealing...短語(yǔ)是定語(yǔ),修飾problem,此短語(yǔ)中又包含一個(gè)who引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句,修飾a patient,在謂語(yǔ)句中that might be...是定語(yǔ)從句,修飾infection。例二:Women with fibroid tumors usually have no knowledge of their presence until the tumor gets so large that there is a sense of heaviness in the lower abdomen, or until they are conscious of frequent urination from pressure on the bladder or until pressure on the rectum causes obstinate constipation.譯文:有子宮纖維瘤的婦女,通常直到腫瘤長(zhǎng)得相當(dāng)大以致下腹有沉重感覺(jué)時(shí),或直到由于膀胱受壓而發(fā)覺(jué)小便頻繁時(shí),或直到由于直腸受壓而引起頑固性便秘時(shí),才知道子宮內(nèi)存在瘤了。  

說(shuō)明:①此句主謂語(yǔ)部分是Women...have no knowledge of their presence。② that there is a sense of heaviness in the lower abdomen是由從屬連接詞that與前面的副詞so連用引導(dǎo)的結(jié)果狀語(yǔ)從句 ; ③ until the tumor gets..., until they are conscious..., until pressure on the rectum causes...,是由三個(gè)從屬連接詞until引導(dǎo)的并列的時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句。

例三 : A review of 113 bacteriologically proven cases of meningococcemia at the Royal Children’s Hospital from 1990 to 2003, confirmed the prognostic value of these criteria of DIC ( disseminated infravascular coagulation),so accurate that those cases with more than three of these features present were associated with a very high mortality. 譯文:通過(guò)回顧1990～2003年間皇家兒童醫(yī)院的113例為細(xì)菌學(xué)所證實(shí)的腦膜炎球菌血癥之后,證實(shí)了關(guān)于彌漫性血管下凝血的診斷指標(biāo)的預(yù)后價(jià)值。這些指標(biāo)是如此準(zhǔn)確,以致符合其中三項(xiàng)以上者均伴有較高的死亡率。

說(shuō)明:①此句中主語(yǔ)、謂語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)分別是 : a review, confirmed, the prognostic value; ② 主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)之間的 of 介詞短語(yǔ)作定語(yǔ),修飾 a review; ③ 賓語(yǔ)后的of 短語(yǔ)也作定語(yǔ), 修飾 value ;  ④so... that 引出結(jié)果狀語(yǔ)從句,其中 those cases 為主語(yǔ), were associated with 為謂語(yǔ), with 短語(yǔ)作定語(yǔ),修飾 cases。  

1. 2  長(zhǎng)句 、難句的翻譯方法  

長(zhǎng)句的翻譯方法多種多樣,但基本原則有兩條,即拆句和改變順序。拆句是把原文的一個(gè)句子拆成漢語(yǔ)的幾個(gè)分句,改變順序指的是按漢語(yǔ)表達(dá)習(xí)慣,重新排列拆出的分句。依據(jù)這兩條原則,實(shí)際翻譯時(shí),一般可采用下列譯法。  

1. 2. 1  順譯法

如果長(zhǎng)句的敘事層次依次相接,與漢語(yǔ)的習(xí)慣大體相同,可按原文順序翻譯。有時(shí)為了使前后語(yǔ)氣銜接,可增加必要的詞語(yǔ)。

例 :Due to the deposit left by evaporating perspiration, the collection of oily, and adhering dirt, it is necessary to clean the skin regularly. 譯文 : 由于汗蒸發(fā)留下的沉積物,油狀皮脂物質(zhì)的聚集和粘著的污垢,經(jīng)常清潔皮膚是必要的。

1.2.2 逆譯法

當(dāng)英語(yǔ)長(zhǎng)句的敘述層次與漢語(yǔ)習(xí)慣相反,若硬按原文詞序翻譯就會(huì)造成概念模糊,譯文不通。這時(shí),就必須逆著原文順序翻譯。

例 :  The information thus obtained is of no value unless the physician is familiar with the ways in which various maladies affect the body to be able to select and correlate the pertinent facts in any given case and to recognize the clinical pictures which they indicate.

譯文:如果醫(yī)生不熟悉各種疾病感染機(jī)體的方式,不能在任何特定的疾病中選擇出有關(guān)的事實(shí),把它們聯(lián)系起來(lái),并認(rèn)識(shí)這些事實(shí)所表示的臨床征象,那么這樣得到的資料是沒(méi)有價(jià)值的。

1.2.3 分譯法

當(dāng)長(zhǎng)句中的主句與從句,分詞短語(yǔ)、介詞短語(yǔ)等與所修飾的詞之間的關(guān)系不很緊密,各自具有相對(duì)的獨(dú)立性時(shí),往往可把這種從句或短語(yǔ)分開(kāi)來(lái)翻譯,譯成獨(dú)立的句子。為了使前后語(yǔ)氣連貫,可酌情增減適當(dāng)?shù)脑~。

例 : A woman aged 29 was see n four weeks after a third uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery with a-week history of lower back pain.譯文:一女性患者,29歲,第三次妊娠和分娩時(shí)無(wú)任何并發(fā)癥,四周后下背部疼痛持續(xù)一周。  

2 被動(dòng)句

醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)著重描寫(xiě)的是事物的過(guò)程,不是動(dòng)作的執(zhí)行者,而且被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)能給讀者以客觀、不帶個(gè)人感情色彩的印象,所以被動(dòng)句在醫(yī)學(xué)文獻(xiàn)中應(yīng)用很廣。翻譯時(shí)不能一概沿用原文的句式結(jié)構(gòu),通常要將被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)轉(zhuǎn)化為主動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu),用規(guī)范的漢語(yǔ)表達(dá)方式,忠實(shí)而恰當(dāng)?shù)胤从吵鲈鞯恼鎸?shí)含義。英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)句,可有以下幾種譯法:

2.1 保留被動(dòng)句的主語(yǔ),把被動(dòng)謂語(yǔ)譯為主動(dòng)謂語(yǔ)  

  例一:Children a re more often afflicted than adults, and epidemics in schools and institutions are commonly observed.譯文:兒童比成年人更易患病,在學(xué)校和福利院?？梢?jiàn)此病流行。

例二: A t least five million Americans are being treated for diabetes, and another five million will develop it sometime in their lives.譯文:至少五百萬(wàn)美國(guó)人正在接受糖尿病的治療,而還有五百萬(wàn)人在他們的一生中遲早會(huì)患此病。

2.2 把被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的主語(yǔ)譯為賓語(yǔ),即漢語(yǔ)的無(wú)主語(yǔ)句

例一:Much has been learnt about their clinical features, course and prognosis.譯文:關(guān)于其臨床特征,病程及預(yù)后,已知甚詳。

例二 : This method is preferred in a patient with a bleeding tendency since the periphery of a cauterized area may begin to bleed. 譯文 : 由于燒灼區(qū)周?chē)€可能再出血,對(duì)有出血傾向的患者宜用此法。

2. 3  補(bǔ)出一合適的主語(yǔ),把原句的主語(yǔ)譯為賓語(yǔ)

例一 : In this investigation, thirty adolescent and young adults were interviewed between eight and twenty years after they had attended a children’s hospital with the main complaint of recurrent abdominal pain. 譯文 : 在本次調(diào)查中,作者訪(fǎng)問(wèn)了 30 名出院已 8～20 年的少年及青年,他們都曾因反復(fù)腹痛住過(guò)兒童醫(yī)院。

例二 : It has long been known that adequate amounts of ascorbate are essential for the proper healing of wounds and to enhance the defensive mechanisms against bacterial infection. 譯文 : 很久 以來(lái)人們就已知道適量的抗壞血酸鹽對(duì)創(chuàng)傷的充分愈合和對(duì)增強(qiáng)細(xì)菌感染的防御機(jī)制是極為必要的。

2. 4  把 by 、with 或其它介詞引導(dǎo)的狀語(yǔ)譯成主語(yǔ),

原主語(yǔ)譯成賓語(yǔ)

例一 : Prevention of such disease as diphtheria, smallpox, poliomyelitis and measles has been accomplished by active immunization.譯文:主動(dòng)免疫使像白喉、天花、小兒麻痹和麻疹這樣的病得以預(yù)防。

例二: Pain may be treated with drugs, physical measures or surgery.譯文:藥物、物理療法或外科手術(shù)可以治療疼痛。  

2. 5  按原文被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)順著譯,不加任何詞  

例一 : This term was used to include all the diseases of the lungs due to the inhalation of various kinds of dust.譯文:這個(gè)術(shù)語(yǔ)被用來(lái)指所有由于吸入各種塵埃而引起的肺部疾病。

例二 : A patient was not considered to be afebrile until all temperatures recorded sequentially for 48 hours were less than 37.2℃.譯文:48小時(shí)內(nèi)體溫連續(xù)記錄低于37.2℃時(shí),病人才被認(rèn)為無(wú)發(fā)熱。  

2. 6  將“形式主語(yǔ) It + 被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu) + that 從句”譯為 “據(jù) ??”“、眾所周知”等

例一 : It has been reported that electrical stimulation of this region in animals induces sleep.

譯文 : 據(jù)報(bào)告,電刺激動(dòng)物這一部位會(huì)引起睡眠。  

例二 : It is well known that disease might be communicated from one individual to another.  

譯文:眾所周知,疾病可由一個(gè)人傳給另一個(gè)人。

綜上所述,翻譯醫(yī)學(xué)論著時(shí),只有透徹、準(zhǔn)確地領(lǐng)會(huì)原作的含義,才能找到能準(zhǔn)確、完整表達(dá)英語(yǔ)內(nèi)容的漢語(yǔ)詞匯,使譯文曉暢達(dá)意,合情合理。在整個(gè)翻譯過(guò)程中,切忌望文生義,自始至終要遵循“信”、“達(dá)”的準(zhǔn)則。要做到這樣,譯者不但要有扎實(shí)的英語(yǔ)基礎(chǔ),還需學(xué)習(xí)、了解一定的醫(yī)學(xué)專(zhuān)業(yè)知識(shí),熟悉常用醫(yī)學(xué)術(shù)語(yǔ)的漢語(yǔ)表達(dá)法、漢英搭配關(guān)系及運(yùn)用規(guī)律,這對(duì)做好醫(yī)學(xué)文獻(xiàn)的翻譯工作是不可或缺的。