汉译英时,词的选择特别重要,同一个词在不同的上下文中具有不同的意思,翻译时一定要在准确理解原文词语的基础上,选择译入语中最为确切的词来表达愿意。务必不要仅根据字面意思进行词的翻译,这并不算忠实原文,真正的忠实原文指的是忠实原意,而非作为意思之载体的文字。
示例一:执行
1.国家鼓励、允许、限制或者禁止设立合营企业的行业,按照国家指导外商投资方向的规定及外商投资产业指导目录执行。
解析:谈到“执行”,首先就会想使用implement来翻译,但实际上,“执行”在这一句子中应被理解为“决定”、“确定”,与此对应的英文词应为“decide”或“determine”:
Industries in which the establishment of joint ventures is encouraged, permitted, restricted or prohibited by the State shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the State in the Regulations on Foreign Investment Guidelines and the Guideline Catalogue of Foreign Investment Industries.
2.企业员工的劳动合同参照《劳动法》有关规定执行。
解析:此处的“执行”应被理解为“制定”,与此对应的英文词应为“formulated”或“developed”。
Labor contracts for employees of enterprises shall be formulated with reference to the relevant provisions of the Labor Law.
3.各方同意并承诺将促使其委任的董事不以为其行使董事职权之目的或为执行公司业务之目的以外的任何其他目的使用任何保密信息。但该董事向其提名方报告工作除外,前提是该提名方遵守本协议的保密义务。
解析:此处的“执行”公司业务动词使用“implement”并不合适,与“业务”搭配的“执行”在英文中更常用“conduct”表达:
Each Party agrees and undertakes to procure that the director appointed by it shall not use any Confidential Information for any purpose other than exercise of his/her powers as a director or conduct of the business of the Company, which is not applicable to such director’s work report to his/her nominating party, provided that such nominating party complies with the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement.
示例二:违反
1.因此,每个国家都需要采取必要措施,维护社会和政治稳定以促进发展,在这一方面,任何违反法律,危害国家这一根本利益的活动都应依照法律加以惩治。
解析:关于“违反”这一词的翻译,搭配不同的词时,需要选择不同的动词。比如,此处的违反法律一般则使用violate:
Therefore, any State would need to take necessary measures to maintain social and political stability for development, and in this connection, any activity that violates the law and threatens this fundamental interest of the [...] nation should be punished in accordance with the law.
2.《快速规则》将规定其所适用的具体类型的合同诉求,例如声称对方违反合同或不当终止合同的诉求。
解析:与合同搭配时,违反合同或违约则一般不可用violate,而是应用breach来搭配:
The Expedited Rules would set out the specific types of contractual claims to which they would apply, e.g., claims alleging a breach of contract or the improper termination thereof.
总之,选词时,首先需要准确理解词在原文中的含义,其次据此找到适合的英文对应词,与此同时还要兼顾英语词组里词与词的搭配。只有这样,才能使译文既忠实于原文,又符合英语的表达习惯,从而增加译文的可读性。