1、(八八)抽象与详细抽象与详细(Abstract VS Concrete)(Abstract VS Concrete)1/98 英语名词化往往造成表示抽象化。英语抽象表示法主要见于大量使用抽象名词。这类名词涵义概括，指称笼统，覆盖面广，往往有一个“虚”、“泛”、“曲”、“隐”，特色，便于用来表示复杂思索和微妙情绪。2/98The signs of the times point to the necessity of the modification of the system of administration.=it is becoming clear that the administra
2、tive system must be modified.管理体制需要改革，这已越来越清楚了。There seems to hart been an absena of attempt at conciliation between rival sects.=the sects seem never even to have tried mutual conciliation.对立派似乎从来没有试图去寻求和解。3/98No year passes now without epidemic of the truth of the statement that the work of govern
3、ment is becoming increasingly difficult.=Every year shrives again how trace it is that)行政管理工作已改变得越来越困难了，每年都证实确实如此。4/98 抽象表示法在英语里使用得相当普遍，尤其惯用于社会科学论著、官方文章、报刊评论、法律文书、商业信件等文件。这种表示法得以流行，还有以下几个主要原因：5/98、抽象思维被认为是一个高级思维（superior mind）,是文明人一个象征（mark of vivified man）.伴随科技发达和文明社会进步，原有感性表示方式已不足以表示复杂理性概念，因而需要借助于
4、抽象、概括方法。另外，许多作者为了显耀其思想深奥而故弄玄虚、追随时尚，也癖好抽象表示法。6/98 1）The absence of intelligence is an indication of satisfactory developments.(No news is good news)没有消息即表明有令人满意进度。2）Was this the realization of an anticipated liability?(=Did you expect you would have to do this?)你有没有预料到你必须做这件事?3)The actual date of the
5、 completion of the purchase should coincide with the availability of the new facilities.(=The purchase should not be completed until the new facilities are cwailable)必须等到有了这些准备，才能购置这些货。7/98 4)A high degree of carelessness,pre-operative and post-operative,on the part of some of the hospital staff,too
6、k place.(=some of the hospital staff were very careless both before and after the operation)医院一些医护人员在手术前后都非常担心。5)The lack of figures.May prove to be an obstacle to the efficiency of the whole of the proposed statistical con tent of the exercise.(=Lack of figures may make it difficult to produce accu
7、rate statistics.).缺乏数据会使准确统计变得很困难。8/98、抽象词语定义含糊，便于掩饰作者含混（cloudy）或真实思想，以迎合其某种表示需要，现在过分使用含义抽象、内容虚泛、语气庄重大字眼（pompons words），有时简单到了装腔作势，令人难以捉摸地步。9/98 、英语有丰富词又虚化伎俩。10/98用虚化词缀构词 前缀pan-,inter-,micro-,pro-,trans-,crypt-circum-,contra-,intra-,multi-,retro-,ultra-等。后缀-ness、-tion、-ity、-ism、-sion、-ence、-ment、-an
8、ce、-ship、-hood、-ing、等。11/982.用介词表示比较虚泛意义。be in at:If any mischief was going forward,peter was sure to be in at it.只要有什么恶作剧，总少不了有彼得在内。be in for:I understand hes in for a job in the company.我知道他在申请企业一个职位。be in for it When your mother sees your torn trousers,youll be in for it.12/98in on:If theres any
9、profit to be got out of the deal,Im going to be in on it.假如这次买卖能够赚到钱，我打算凑一份。have it in for somebody Bob has it in for George because George told the teacher that Bob cheated in the exam.因为乔治向老师汇报鲍勃考试作弊，鲍勃就对乔治怀恨在心。13/98另外，英语词义内涵比较广泛，词使用方法比较灵活，一词多义，一词多用现象十分普遍，这也有利于表示比较概括、笼统意义。如service一词，能够作服务、上美、服务机构、
10、部门人员、军种、设施、维修、发球、送达、仪式等各种解释。Power一词，能够作能力、体力、动力、权力、势力，电力、强国、有权力人、有影响机构等各种解释。14/98因为上述抽象表示法倾向，不少文体子家提倡详细与抽象相结合选词法，即“a mixture of long abstract Latin words with short concrete Anglo-Saxon words”。也就是Aristotle早在2300年前就主张“mixed ol:ction”:The aim of style is to be clear but distinguished.For clarity,we ne
11、ed common,current words;but,used alone,these are commonplace,and as ephem eral as everyday talk.For distinction,we need words not heard every minute,unusual words,large words,foreign words,metaphors;but,used alone,these become bogs,vapors,or at worst,gibberish.What we need is a diction that words th
12、e popular with the dignified,the clear current with the sedgy margins of language and thought.15/98 与英语相比，汉语倾向于详细，常以实形式表示虚概念，以详细形象表示抽象内容。这主要是因为汉语缺乏像英语那样词缀虚化伎俩。汉语没有形态改变，形式相同词，能够是名词，也能够是动词，还能够是形容词或其它词。名词从形式上极难区分出“抽象”或“详细”。王力指出“我们所谓名词，和定语所谓noun，范围广狭稍有不一样。我们名词，就普通说，除哲学上名词外，只能指详细东西，而且少说是五官所能感触。”“在中国词形式上，
13、咱们区分不出抽象名词特征；它们是和形容词和动词是完全同行。”16/98 当代汉语中一些抽象词尾（如“性”、“化”、“度”、“品”、“主义”等）大多数来自外语。“性”译自美语ln-ty,-ness,-ce 等（necessity 必要性、correctness真确性、dependence依赖性）。“化”译自英语-izootion.tion等（modernization当代化，abstraction抽象化）。“度”略等于定语-th,-ty(length长度，intersity强度)。“主义”译自英语-ism,-ness等（patriotism爱国主义，slavishness奴隶主义）。“品”则相当
14、于英语一些含义较广名词，如commodity商品，narcotics毒品，daily necessities日用具。17/98 当代汉语即使能够从外文中引进这类抽象记号，但其应用依然相当有限。如“Americamism”就不能译为“美国主义”，而应译为详细词，如美国用语、美国发音、美国腔、美国习俗、美国方式、对美国信仰或效忠等；realization 也不能译为“实现化”，而应译为详细动词或名词，如“实现”、“认识”、“认清”、“了解”、“体会”、“领悟”、“变卖”、“换取”等。18/98、用动词取代行为抽象名词（表示行为或动作之义）。这类名词用对应汉语名词表示时，显得不自然，不通顺。英汉转换
15、中，汉语可充分利用其动词优势，以动代静，以实代虚。1）I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain.雨无情地下个不停，我感到惊异。2）He had surfaced with less visibility in the policy decisions.在决议过程中，他已经不那么抛头露面了。19/98 3）High blood pressure is a contraindication for this drug.高血压患者忌服此药。4）These problems defy easy classification.这些问题难
16、以归类。5）In handling the materials of history,each act of selection is also an act of judgment,and therefore the charge of bias is never completely answerable.在处理历史资料时，每选一项资料就是作出一个判断，所以不能说没有偏见。20/98 6）The basilica is a conglomeration of contrary styles and periods.这座王宫把不一样时期不一样建筑格调融为一体。7）Laser is one o
17、f the most sensational developments in recent years,because of its applicability to many fields of science and its adaptability to practical uses.激光可应用于许多科学领域，又适合用于各种实际用途，所以成了进年来轰动一时科学成就之。21/98（二）用范围词（category words）使抽象概念详细化。用范围词来表示行为、现象、属性等概念所属范围，是汉语惯用特指伎俩。1)We have winked at these irregularities t
18、oo long.我们对这些越轨行为宽容得太久了。2）He was described as impressed by Dengs flexibility.听说他对邓灵活态度印象很深。3）What they wanted most was an end of uncertainties.那时他们最渴望就是结束这摇摆不定局面。22/98 4）He discussed greatness and excellence.他探讨了伟大和出色涵义。5)The sight of his native place called back his childhood.见到他自己故乡，他想起了童年情景。6)Bot
19、h we and the Chinese approached that first opening toward each other with caution,uncertainty,even trepidation.我们和中国人双方都是怀着慎重、不定、甚至是惶恐心情来相互探讨这首次接触。23/98 7）He spoke with firmness,but his face was very sad and his eyes at times were dim.他讲话时，态度坚定，但面带愁容，时而眼神暗淡。8）This is the day for our two peoples to r
20、ise to the heights of greatness which can build a new and a better world.现在该是我们两国人民为缔造一个崭新、愈加美好世界而攀登这一伟大境界高峰时候了。24/98其它如：complexity 复杂性 relativity 相对论Display 显示器 corrosive 腐蚀剂jealousy 嫉妒心(理)arrogance 高傲态度Eccentricity 古怪行为Lightheartedness 轻松愉快心情gravity separation 重力选矿法。25/98（三）用详细词语阐释抽象词义。英语抽象词涵义比较笼统
21、，概括、虚泛，在汉语里往往找不到对应词来表示，这时经常要借助详细词语来解释其抽象词义。正如Ptcter Newmark所说“As a last resort,explanation is the translation.”26/98 1）No country should claim infallibility.任何国家都不应该自称一贯正确。2）The stars twinkled in transparent clarity.星星在清澈晴空中闪烁。3）She wondered whether he outspokenness might be a liability to Franklin.
22、她怀疑自己 那么心直口快，是否会成为弗兰克林包袱。27/98 4）This rambling propensity strengthened with years.岁月增添，游兴更农。5）In America,Wang computers hare become a fixture in offices throughout the country.在美国，王安企业电子计算机已成为各地办公室必备之物。6）On March1,Nixon internationalized his approach to china.3月1日，尼克松把他对中国问题看法扩大到国际范围里了。28/98 7）To th
23、e Chinese,theirs was not a civilization,but the civilization.中国人认为他们文化不是文化中一个，而是唯一文化。8）A foretaste of the seriousness of incivility is suggested by what has been happening in Houston.休斯顿所发生情况预示：假如不将文明，将会何种严重后果。29/98 9）To help myself live without fault,I made a list of what I considered the 13 virtue
24、s.These virtues are 1、Temperance,2、self-control,3、Silence,4、Order,5、Firmness of mind,6、Savings,7、Industry,8、Honesty,9、Justice,10、cleanliness,11、calmness,12、Morality,13、Humbleness.为了使自己生活中不犯错误，特列出我认为应该身体力行13条守则。这些守则是：1、节制饮食，2、自我抑制，3、缄默寡言，4、有条不紊，5、坚定信念，6勤俭节约，7、工作勤奋，8、忠诚老实，9、办事公正，10、衣履整齐，11、平心静气，12、品行高
25、尚，13、谦虚恭顺。30/98 （四）用形象性词语使抽象意义详细化。汉语虽较缺乏抽象词语，但形象性词语（如比喻、成语、谚语、歇后语等）却相当丰富。汉语经常借助这类生动详细词语来表示英语抽象笼统意义。31/98 1)He was open now to charges of willful blindness.这时人们指责他装聋作哑。2）He waited for her arrival with a frenzied agitation.他等着她来，急得像热锅上蚂蚁。3）I talked to him with brutal frankness.我对他讲话，即使逆耳，却是忠言。32/98 4)
26、When young he quitted his home and traveled to the metropolis,which he reached in a state of almost,which he reached in a state of almost utter destitution.年青时代，他背井离乡，徒步来到首都，几乎身无分文。5）I ask gentlemen,sir,what means this martial array,if its purpose be not to force us to submission?请问诸位先生，摆出这种张牙舞爪阵势，假
27、如不是为了使我们屈服还有什么目标呢？33/98 6)Oh,but all the rules of self-preservation were broken when we saw that little face,filled with the terror of death,being sucked downstream.是啊！不过一看见那张小脸带着怕淹死恐怖表情被激流越冲越远，我们就明哲保身金科玉律统统打破了。7）All the critical twiddle-twaddle about mostly dull jargon.全部这些相关文体和体裁蠢话，只是些风马牛不相及胡扯，多半是
28、枯燥无味、玩弄术语评论。34/98 8)Many men have recognized the similarity of plants to the behavior of animals,and have dreamed wistfully,but forlornly,upon some method or source of rejuvenation such as Ponce de Leon sought in the Fountain of routh several centuries ago.许多人认为，植物习性与动物相同，于是梦寐以求地探求什么“返老还童”“灵丹妙药”，就像数
29、百年前彭斯.估.利昂在青春泉请求仙水一样，结果只能是竹篮打水。35/98其它如：disintegration 土崩瓦解ardent loyalty赤胆忠心far-sightedness远见卓识perfect harmony水乳交融impudence厚颜无耻，不要脸careful consideration深思熟虑total exhaustion筋疲力尽feed on fancies画饼充饥with great eagerness如饥似渴offend public decency伤风败俗make a little contribution添砖加瓦on the verge of destructi
30、on危在旦夕await with great anxiety望穿秋水lack of perseverance三天打鱼，两天晒网。36/98 英译汉时，这种“化虚为实”方法，往往能够通行文，添文采，增加行文可读性；汉译英时，“化实为虚”方法则经常可化症结、消梗滞，提升转换可译性。许多形色性词语有很强民族色彩或特定文化内涵，虚化会冲淡甚至洗尽原文形象色彩，尽管出于难以对应翻译，不得已而为之。37/981）他这一阵心头如同十五个吊桶打水，七上八下，老是宁静不下来。His mind was in a turmoil these days and be was quite unable to think
31、 straight.2）唉，那是个人井蛙之见，所谓“情人眼里出西施”啦。Alas,that was owing to my ignorance,that is what is called partiality.3）允跪而言曰：“百姓有倒悬之危，君臣有危卵之急，非心不能救也。”Wang Yun knelt saying,“The people are on the brink of destruction,the prince and his officers are in jeopardy,and you,you are the only savior.”38/98九、间接与直接九、间接与直
32、接（Indirect VS DirectIndirect VS Direct）39/98 英语倾向于间接、婉约，汉语表示倾向于直接、明快。这一差异主要见于英语比汉语更多地用委婉、含蓄和迂回陈诉方式。40/98、委婉（Euphemism）用一个比较间接方式来谈论不宣直言人或事物。英语委婉语不但数量大，使用频繁，而且包括面相当广泛。当代英语中愈加扩大到几乎社会公私事务各个方面，及其它微妙敏感而又难以直言话题，其中许多委婉语常有浓厚社会文化色彩，在汉语里往往无对应表示法。41/98A、官方委婉语。严重失业现象：underutilization(未充分利用人才)human resources unde
33、r development (人力资源未充分开发)生活在贫困线下穷人：the underprivileged (受到不公正待遇)disadvantaged（机遇不佳）入不敷出、债台高筑者：negative saver（负数储蓄者）监狱：house of correction;correctional facility(改造所，教养院)42/98捏造丑闻：less than truthful(不太真实)窃听：intelligence gathering(收售情报)暗杀：liquidation(清算)侵略战争：international armed conflict(国际武装冲突)空袭：air s
34、upport(空中支援)伤亡：circadian deregulation（生理节奏反常）43/98B、职业委婉语meat technologist(=butcher)屠户sanitary engineer(=plumber)管子工prison officer(=gaoler)监狱看管rodent operator(=rat catcher)捕鼠工clairvoyant reader(=fortune teller)算命卖挂者research consultant(file clerk)档案（卷宗）管理员funeral director(=undertaker)承接丧葬者，殡仪员plant s
35、uperintendent(=foreman)工头，领班44/98aisle manager(=floor walker)百货企业巡视员，招待员proprietor of loan office(=pawnbroker)当铺老板public relations counselor(=press-agent)新闻广告员member of the oldest profession(=prostitne)妓女45/98迟钝或呆笨（学生）：unflanboyant(不浮夸)低能（儿）：subwormal(智力逊常)、exceptional(special)child(情况特殊儿子)。C、学校委婉语
36、过多地使用委婉语却给人一个闪烁其词、矫揉造作印象。许多委婉语还被用来掩盖事实影响人们直接思想交流。46/98、含蓄（Implicitness）A、抑制陈说（understatement）以含蓄语气有意把大事化小（make big things seem trifle）,以轻描淡写言辞加深对方印象0。这种节制（controlled）而又漫不经心（casual）曲言（meiosis）,往往带有幽默和冷嘲味道。47/981）It was nothing;a pinprick.没什么，刺耳话而已。2）He had five sandwiches and a quart of milk for his
37、snack.他吃了五个三明治，喝了一夸脱牛奶，作为他小吃。3）He had a mansion in the country and another little place in town.他在乡下有座大厦，在城里还有个小地方。48/98B、间接必定（litotes）用反动语否定来表示必定，这种弱或双重否定往往产生比直接必定更强烈印象。汉语也有这类反语如“未尝不可”、“难免错误”、“不虚此行”、“不无遗憾”、“没有白干”等，但较多采取直接必定。49/981）To my no small astonishment,I found the house on fire.我发觉房子着了火，这使我大吃
38、一惊。2）It serves no little purpose to continue public discussion of this issue.继续公开讨论这一问题是大有用处。3）The press,Tory and Labors alike,is not remotely concerned with these great questions.英国保守党和工人党两派报纸，对于这些重大问题 并不是慎不关心。50/984）There is no untroubled place in this troubled world.这多灾多难世界没有任何太平洋乐土。5）Not infrequ
39、ently an unpopular prisoner,stoned by the mob while helpless,was fortunate if he emerged with no greater permanent injury,than the loss of an eye.Even death from wounds so inflicted was not altogether unlikely or unprecedented.当一个令人讨厌囚犯无能为力时，受到暴民抛来石块砸打，结果只瞎了一只眼，不能不算运气。因为莫说至残，就是丧命，也不是完全不可能，也不是完全没有先例。
40、51/98 英语还用一些其它否定形式拐弯抹角地表示强烈必定意义，汉语则往往没有对应表示法。1）He didnt half like the girl.(=He liked her very much)2）I couldnt feel better.(=Im feeling first-rate)3）If that isnt what I want!(=That is the very thing I want!)4）He cant see you quickly enough.(=He desires to see you as soon as possible.)52/985）One cou
41、ld not be too careful in a new neigh bourhood.在一个陌生地方，越小心越好。6）The importance of this conference cannot be overestimated.这次会议主要性不论怎么强调也不过分。7）I couldnt agree with you more.Someones got to be tough if you want to stay in business.我太赞成你看法了。想做生意，就得有铁心肠。53/98 英语一些会有“多出否定”（pleonastic negation）句子，也用否定形式表示必定
42、语义。1）what dirty means would be not resort to?什么卑劣伎俩他都使得出来！2）There was no knowing at what moment he might not put in an in an appearance,and whenever he did show,it was to storm about something.他在什么时候出现，是无法知道；不过不论何时他一出来，总有事情使他大发雷霆。54/983)If the walls of that room could speak,what an amount of blunder
43、ing and capricious cruelty would they not bear witness to!假如这个房间墙壁会说话，多少错误和任性残暴行为，他们会说出来作证啊！汉语也有类似“多出否定”如“好不热闹”、“好不难过”、“好不高兴”等“好不+形容词”结构。55/98C、委婉否定（indirect negation）把直接否定变得含蓄、婉转，使口气温和而不武断，谦逊而还有余地。他有以下几个方法。56/98a)转移否定（transferred negation）即否定说话者主观看法来代替所要否定客观事实这类转移否定动词普通表示相信或臆断等意义如think,believe,supp
44、ose,fancy,expect,imagine,reckon等57/981）I dont think he will come=I think he will not come.2)We dont believe that Chinese is inferior to any other language in the world.我们相信，汉语并不亚于世界任何其它语言。这类动词名词化结构如“It is not our view(opinion)that”结构也往往能转移否定。58/98 b)用必定形式表示否定意义 这类表示法常见于含蓄虚拟句、反意问句省略句，诅咒语和讽刺语。1）I know
45、 better 我认为并非如此。2）Yon could have come at a better time.你来不是时候。3）As if anyone would believe that story.叫他干什么他都愿意，只要不再过以往那种日子就行。59/984）The peoples in this war crushed.Hitlerism and saved the world from slavery.在这场战争中，各国人民摧毁了希特勒主义，使世界免遭奴役。6）“The cold war”from 1946 to about 1963,it is often forgotten,wa
46、s originally seen as an admirable invention designed to keep the competition between the two great power blocs this side of open war.人们经常会忘却，从一九四六年直到一九六三年前后“冷战”当初曾被人们看作是一个很妙创造使两个大国集团竞争不致酿成战争。60/98D、婉转暗示（tactful implication）用含而不露言辞留下余音，有些说法跳过逻辑层次，让对方去玩味。这种表示法与英美民族富于幽默感甚相关系。1）It can be worse.还能够/还过得去/
47、还不算怎么坏/凑合凑合吧。2）You are late for the last time.你被辞退了。61/983）She has much more than just a pretty face.她不但长得漂亮，还真有两下子呢！4）Would you mind doing it!请你办这件事，好吗？5）A Negro could ask no more.一个黑人，还能要求什么呢？6）His accent couldnt foot a native speaker.当地人一听他口音，便知道他是外乡人。62/98、迂回（periphrasis）迂回是一个转弯抹角说法，是用较多或较长词语来表示
48、原来几个简短词就能说清意思。迂回说法原是一个修辞格，在18世纪英国社会相当盛行，因为当初非常重视礼仪考究语言优雅得体。在当代英美社会，许多作者为使言辞显得礼貌、庄重，或为了炫耀其字句深奥，或为了掩饰其含糊不清思想，也癖好这种闪烁其词，婉转波折表示法。迂回说法与英语句词化和抽象化亲密相关。63/981）迂回：Will you be good enough to advise me whether I should accept the invitation?平易：Please tell me whether I should accept the invitation.请你告诉我是否应该接收着项
49、邀请，好吗？2）迂回：I have endeavored to obtain the required information.平易：I have tried to find out what you wanted to know.我已经尽力去探询你想要知道消息。64/983）迂回：It will be observed from a perusal of these documents.平易：You will see by reading these documents.4）迂回：The cost may be upwards of a figure rather below$10milli
50、on.平易：The cost may be nearly$10million5）迂回：In London there reigns a complete absence of really reliable news.平易：There is no reliable news in London.65/98 另外，许多作者装腔作势，小题大做，用间接，非人称结构追求伪科学气氛，在无须要情况下采取行话（jargon）以借用科学和学术尊严和威望，刻意使用有技术性意味拉丁和希腊术语，言辞浮夸，抽象空泛。66/981)行话：In the 1980s the main determinant of risi
