中高级口译全真题分析：英译汉

 　　"A commonplace criticism of American culture is its excessive preoccupation with material goods and corresponding neglect of the human spirit. Americans, it is alleged¹, worship only "the almighty² dollar". We scramble³ to "keep up with the Joneses". The love affair between Americans and their automobiles⁴ has been a continuing subject of derisive⁵ commentary by both foreign and domestic critics. Americans are said to live by quantitative⁶ ethic⁷. Bigger is better, whether in bombs or sedans. The classical virtues⁸ of grace, harmony, and economy of both means and ends are lost on most Americans. As a result, we are said to be swallowing up the world's supply of natural resources, which are irreplaceable. Americans constitute 6 percent of the world's population but consume over a third of the world's energy. These are now familiar complaints. Indeed, in some respects Americans may believe the "pursuit of happiness" to mean the pursuit of material things".

　　评：本段文章语气严肃，用词精致，论证严密，内部连接自然，一气呵成。若要译好，很多翻译方法都要用到。有两个考点：其一，“We scramble to 'keep up with the Joneses' （我们盲目地追逐时尚，或我们一味地人云亦云）”；其二，“The classical virtues O{grace, harmony, and economy Of both means and ends are lost on most Americans（温文尔雅，与人为善、量入为出曾经是美国的传统美德，而如今在多数美国人身上已难觅踪影）”。光看括号里的参考译文，就知道是几种翻译原则和翻译方法的结合。再如，“…excessive preoccupation with material goods and corresponding neglect O{the human spirit”（过分地热衷于物质享受而相应地忽略了人文精神）等等。可见，要使译文神形兼备，的确要动一番脑筋。

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 almighty   

adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的

参考例句：

• Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
• It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。

3 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

4 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 derisive   

adj.嘲弄的

参考例句：

• A storm of derisive applause broke out.一阵暴风雨般的哄笑声轰然响起。
• They flushed,however,when she burst into a shout of derisive laughter.然而，当地大声嘲笑起来的时候，她们的脸不禁涨红了。

6 quantitative   

adj.数量的，定量的

参考例句：

• He said it was only a quantitative difference.他说这仅仅是数量上的差别。
• We need to do some quantitative analysis of the drugs.我们对药物要进行定量分析。

7 ethic   

n.道德标准，行为准则

参考例句：

• They instilled the work ethic into their children.他们在孩子们的心中注入了职业道德的理念。
• The connotation of education ethic is rooted in human nature's mobility.教育伦理的内涵根源于人本性的变动性。

8 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。