李清江
中圖分類(lèi)號(hào):G633.41 文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識(shí)碼:B 文章編號(hào):1006-5962(2013)07-0173-01
連詞before 譯成漢語(yǔ)有多種方法。這是由于英漢表達(dá)習(xí)慣不同而造成的。因此,在把before譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)應(yīng)結(jié)合具體情況,選擇能忠實(shí)表達(dá)其含義而又符合漢語(yǔ)習(xí)慣的方法,下面歸納幾種漢語(yǔ)的譯法
1直譯成"在……之前"。往往表示主句的動(dòng)作先于從句的動(dòng)作發(fā)
例1:Before I go out , I must my homework ,
我必須在外出前完成我的回家作業(yè)。
注:在英語(yǔ)中往往把Before的從句放在主句后面,而譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)一般將它提前。
例2:Be a pupil before you become a teacher 。
在你成為老師之前先做學(xué)生
2譯成"(直到)……之后才"。副詞"才"在漢語(yǔ)中的意思是發(fā)生得慢或晚
強(qiáng)調(diào)主句所表達(dá)的時(shí)間,距離很長(zhǎng)或花費(fèi)的力氣很大 。常用的句式是:It be + 時(shí)間段 + before從句
例3: It seemed a long time before the wounded soldier came to himself.。 似乎過(guò)了好長(zhǎng)時(shí)間,傷員才醒過(guò)來(lái)。
例4:It will be five years before he returns to his homeland.
得過(guò)五年他才能回國(guó) 。
注:翻譯此類(lèi)句子時(shí),before 從句一般不提前。
3如果原文目的在于說(shuō)明在從句動(dòng)作發(fā)生之前,主句動(dòng)作業(yè)已發(fā)生
一般可譯為"末……就"或"還沒(méi)有(來(lái)得及)……就"
例5:Before I could get in a word , he got up and ran out of the room .
我一句話都未來(lái)得及插,他就在了起來(lái),奔出了房間。
例6: She offered me a cup of coffee before I could sit down.
沒(méi)等我坐下,她就給我端來(lái)了一杯茶。
注:原文中before 引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用的是肯定形式,而譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)卻是否定式。
4如果主句中謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用的是否定式,可譯成"就""便"或"快"
一般來(lái)說(shuō),主句主語(yǔ)為名詞·代詞或it 。強(qiáng)調(diào)主句所表達(dá)的時(shí)間,距離短或花費(fèi)的力氣教小。
例7:The patient had not sat long before the doctor came back .
病人沒(méi)坐多久,醫(yī)生就回來(lái)了。
例8:It was not long before the river was in flood。
不久,河水便泛濫了。
5有些句子的連詞 before 還可以譯成"趁著","還沒(méi)有……","免得"等 它所引導(dǎo)的從句可譯成帶有否定意義的語(yǔ)句。
例9:I'll water the flowers before it gets dark .
趁天還沒(méi)黑,我要把花澆好。
例 10 :He died before he wrote a will.
他還沒(méi)來(lái)得及寫(xiě)遺囑就死了。
6連詞before 還可譯成"剛……就"
在漢語(yǔ)中"就"強(qiáng)調(diào)事情發(fā)生得"早"或"快",它著眼于強(qiáng)調(diào)主句和從句的動(dòng)作緊接著發(fā)生,或幾乎同時(shí)發(fā)生。一般來(lái)說(shuō),此類(lèi)句子都還有否定副詞 hardly ,scarcely ,barely等,此復(fù)合句中主句須用過(guò)去完成時(shí)態(tài)。
例 11: We had barely got to the school before we heard the bell for class
我們剛到達(dá)學(xué)校就聽(tīng)到上課鈴響了。
例 12: I had hardly got home before it began to rain.
我剛到家天就開(kāi)始下雨
注 :hardly , scarcely , barely等否定副詞在主句主語(yǔ)之前時(shí),主句要出現(xiàn)助動(dòng)詞放在主語(yǔ)之前。此句中連詞before和when可以互換。那么例11,12可以改寫(xiě)如下:
Barely had we got to the school when we heard the bell for class.
Hardly had I got home when it began to rain.
7某些習(xí)慣用語(yǔ)中的連詞before 還可譯成"先……后……"或"先……再……",有時(shí)也可譯成"寧(可)……(也)不……"
例13:Look before you air your view 。先看看再發(fā)表觀點(diǎn)。
例14:The boy would die before he told the secret. 那男孩寧死也不肯講出秘密。
以上淺談了before 的幾種譯法。當(dāng)然。英譯漢的方法是多種多樣的,
翻譯時(shí)要視具體情況,靈活運(yùn)用。
【練一練】
一.從A, B, C, D中選出正確答案。
1. You should go over your test paper _____you hand it in.
A. as soon as B. because C. before D. though
2. Scientists say it may be a few _______it is possible to test the medicine on patients.
A. because B. after C. since D. before
3. It was evening ______we reached the little town of Winchester
A. that B. until C. before D. since
4. I must write it down ______I forget
A. after B. when C. until D. before
5. John think it won't be long ______he is ready for his new job.
A. until B. before C. after D. since
6. Hardly had she lain down ______she fell asleep
A. before B. after C. though D. because
7. We waited a long time ______he came out.
A. after B. before C. until D. while
8. It will be two months ______he comes back.
A. that B. when C. before D. after
9. The little hero would fight to death ______he gave in to the enemy
A. before B. after C. as D .if
10. They hadn't known each other long ______they got married
A. until B. when C. because D. before
Key: 1——5. C D C D B. 6——10. A B C A D