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1、 Translation skills (2): DictionBy “diction” we mean the proper choice of words and phrases in translation on the basis of accurate comprehension of the original.通过用词，我们意味着在准确理解原义基础上的翻译中选择合适的短语和词组。In the practice of translation, what perplexes a translator most is how to find the equivalents in the
2、language to be translated into. Great care is called for in the translation of “familiar” English words into Chinese, as their meanings vary with the change in collocation 排列 or context. Take the following simple sentence for example:在翻译的实践中，使译者最为困惑的如何在译文中找到替换词。Tension is building up.Without a given
3、 context, both “tension” and “build up” may have various explanations. Thus this simple English sentence can be translated into different Chinese versions:(1) 形式紧张起来。(2) 张力在增大。(3) 电压在增加。(4) 压力在增强。(5) As regards this phenomenon, a noted British philosopher puts it very well: “The meaning of a word is
4、 its use in the language.” A noted British linguist puts it even bluntly: “Each word, when used in a new context, is a new word.”In comparison with Chinese, English words are more flexible both in form and in meaning: English words of different parts of speech often assume different forms and the me
5、aning of each word mainly depends on the context. Therefore it is often a hard task for a translator to find the Chinese equivalent of a given English word. Take the word “story” for example：(1) This war is becoming the most important story of this generation.(2) It is quite another story now. (3) S
6、ome reporters who were not included in the session broke the story.(4) Hell be very happy if that story holds up.(5) The Rita Haywoth story is one of the saddest.(6) A young man came to Scottis office with a story.Each of the six “story” here manifests its own connotation. In sentence(1)it refers to
7、 “event”; (2) “situation”; (3) “inside information”; (4) “statement”; (5) “experience”; (6) “law case.” And therefore, the corresponding Chinese versions are:(1) 这场战争将成为这一代人经历的最重大的事件。(2) 现在的情况完全不同了。(3) 有些没让参加那次会议的记者把内情捅出去了。(4) 如果这一说法当真，那他就太高兴了。(5) 丽泰海华丝的遭遇算是最惨的了。(6) 一个年轻人来到斯科特的办公室报案。Diction in Chine
8、se-English translation is somewhat different from that in English-Chinese. If the crux of the latter lies in picking out the right Chinese word from among those we have known very well, the former then is much more different-we are confronted with an English vocabulary that we are not so familiar wi
9、th. For example, the Chinese word”书”：(1) 申请书 Letter of Application(2) 报告书 Report(3) 协议书 Agreement(4) 成绩通知书 Grade Report(5) (使用)说明书 Directions(6) 旅行委托书 Booking Form(7) 成交确认书 Sales Confirmation(8) 电视机使用说明书 Television Operation Guide(9) 白皮书 White book(10) 家书 a Letter from HomeApparently, the translatio
10、n of the same original word varies with the context.1. Correspondence Between English and Chinese at Word LevelFrom the above illustrations, we may come to the realization that in many cases there is no fixed pattern in the practice of translation,nor is there always ready-made equivalents for each
11、word or phrase.Generally speaking,the correspondence between English and Chinese at word level may be categorized as follows:1)Word-for-word CorrespondenceThis is most evidently shown in proper nouns and technical terms.For example:Marxism=马克思主义aspirin=阿司匹林激光=laser白血病=leukemia2）One Word with Multipl
12、e Equivalents of the Same MeaningThis is a common case in translation.For example:wife:妻子、爱人、夫人、老婆、老伴、媳妇、堂客、内人.potato:马铃薯、洋芋、土豆、山药蛋.医生:doctor,physician,surgeon,medical man.3)One Word with Multiple Equivalents of Different MeaningThis is also very common in translation.For example:cousin:堂兄、堂弟、堂姐、堂妹、
13、表哥、表弟、表姐、表妹、卿.president:总统、总裁、主席、董事长、议长、委员长、会长、社长、校长.carry:搬、运、送、提、拎、挑、担、抬、背、扛、搂、抱、端、举、夹、捧.羊：sheep,goat,ram,ewe,lamb.猎犬:hound,spaniel,mastiff，pointer，setter，retriever，terrier.4)Equivalents Interwoven with One AnotherIn this case,a certain word may be treated differently according to various circumst
14、ances or collocation.For example:say(speak,talk,tell,relate.):说（讲、谈、扯、叙、唠、侃.）拿（取、打、带.）:take(fetch,get,bing.)5)Words Without Corresponding EquivalentsIn this case,an explanation is given instead of an equivalent.For example:teenager:13-19 岁的青少年prey:被捕食的动物阴：（in yin Chinese thought）the soft inactive fe
15、male principle or force in the world阳：（in yang Chinese thought）the strong active male principle or force in the world2.Methods to Discriminate the Original Meaning of an English WordSince English words are prone to various meanings,it is of vital importance for a translator to discern the right mean
16、ing of a given word in the context.And the following are the major methods of discriminating the meaning of words.1)Judging from the Word FormationIn order to discriminate the original meaning of an English word,it is necessary for us to have a knowledge of English lexicology.English vocabulary consists of a large number of compound words,and many more come from derivation, affixation, blending, acronym, or clipping.If we have a good command of English word-format
