1、由于英汉语言在思维方式和表达方法上的差异,进行英译汉时,有些句子按字面意思正面表述不能忠实地表达原义,而反面表达则可能达到与原文等值或近似等值的效果,这种情况称之为逆向。逆向翻译包括两个方面:一是将正面表述译成反面表述,或是将反面表述译成正面表述;二是将对比的两个方面的顺序颠倒,如将甲比乙强译成乙比甲弱,把宾语转换为主语。根据笔者的翻译实践,在以下情况,最好甚至必须进行逆向翻译。现以吴景荣先生主编的《当代英文散文选读》上的几篇课文为例,说明如下。一、当正面翻译难以表达原义时:1. At the close of 1
2、933,Keynes addressed a letter to Franklin D.Roosevelt,which,notseeking reticence,he published in the New York Times.…The following year he visitedFDR but the letter had been a better means of communication.Each man was puzzledby the face-to-face encounter.在上述句
4、这次会谈的效果反而不如上次那封信”,则既能体现原义,又通顺连贯:1933年底,凯恩斯致函罗斯福总统。为了使公众皆知,他把这封信在《纽约时报》上公开发表了。……第二年他拜访了罗斯福,但这次会晤的效果还不如上次那封信。他们两人都对这种面对面的会晤感到困惑。 2. In economics one should never be right too soon.The shrewd scholar always waitsuntil the parade is passing his door and then steps
5、 bravely out in front of the band.第一句很难按字面翻译,译成“人们不应该正确得太快”,显然无法理解。根据后面一句的具体说明,这段话可以逆向译为:在经济学方面,人们应该耐心等待时机再宣布自己正确的主张。精明的学者总是待游行队伍经过自己门前时,才勇敢地冲了出来,走到队伍的前列。二、当正面翻译意义不明确,容易产生误解时:3. I was singled out for attack as the Crown Prince of'keynesism'. I was greatlypleas
6、ed and hoped that my friends would be properly resentful.文章作者说,他被(保守份子)挑了出来,作为凯恩斯的头号弟子加以攻击。他接着说,“我对此感到非常欣慰,并且希望我的朋友们不要过份的愤慨”,把properly逆向理解为not excessively,译成“不要过分的”,则意义明确。若按字面译成“适当的愤慨”,就难以理解了。4. The uneventful dignity of his life makes for a biography which it
7、 would be odd to bethrilled by and which it would be insensitive not to be stirred by.这是评论英国著名辞典家James Murray生平的一句话。按字面意义译为“…对他的传记感到吃惊是很奇怪的,而不为之激动则是不敏感的”,意义不很明确,若按逆向翻译,则易于理解。他的一生是平凡的,但却是很庄严的。读他的传记不会令人感到惊奇,但是要是不为之感动,那就是感情麻木了。三、当逆向翻译使重点突出,表达有力时:5. At all costs t
8、ime must be gained.这是邱吉尔在对德作战时说的一句话。逆向翻译为,“必须不惜一切代价争取时间”,更能表达这句铿锵有力的声明。6. It is within our power to build better cities and revive the civic pride of their citizens,but weshall hav