可见,中美双方在“断交”一词上的措辞有所差异,分别使用了 sever和 terminate两个不同的动词。根据《韦伯斯特第九版大学词典》(Ninth Collegiate Dictionary),terminate 指 to bring to an end,而 sever 指 to remove by cutting。显然,sever等于是“一刀两断”,更加利索,更符合我方的要求。“is terminating”表示有一个过程,语气也较为缓和。但这两种 表达方式传达的是同一个信息,即美国承诺与台湾断交。所以,我们表现出了灵活性,接受了美国的措辞。
2.根据具体情况选择正确的时态
翻译外交公报时,要根据具体情况决定时态的选择。以下介绍几种常见的情况:
(1)对指导性原则的翻译,通常采用一般现在时,或用should、shall之类的情态动词。例如:
双方领导人认为,当前国际形势处于深刻复杂的变化之中,威胁世界和平与发展的不确定因素增多。中欧双方应本着互信、互利、平等、协作的原则共同维护国际安全,加强联合国在维护世界和平、稳定与安全及促进可持续发展方面的重要作用,推动多边主义和国际关系民主化。
Leaders were of the view that the current international situation was undergoing profound and volatile changes with increasing uncertainties that posed a threat to world peace and development. China and the EU should endeavor to maintain international security on the basis of mutual trust, mutual benefit,equality and cooperation> uphold the vital role of the United Nations in maintaining peace,stability and security and promoting sustainable development throughout the world,and promote multilat¬eralism and democracy in international relations.
(2)“建交公报”是关于两国建立或恢复正常外交关系的一种文书,主体一般包括两项内容:其一,宣告双方承认对方是唯一合法政府;其二,宣告双方愿意在和平共处五项原则基础上发展两国的友好合作关系。所以,主体部分的英文译文,动词均采用一般现在时态。
如:美利坚合众国承认中华人民共和国政府是中国唯一的合法政府。
The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China.
(3)“联合公报”或“联合新闻公报”的正文部分主要陈述两国或两国政府领导人访问期间或会晤中,双方就若干指导性原则或具体事务达成的一致看法,英语动词一般采用过去时态。比如,《中欧联合新闻公报KEU- China Joint Press Statement)是2004年5月6日我国国务院总理温家宝对欧盟总部进行了首次访问后发表的,以下例句均选自这一公报。
双方领导人重申中欧共同致力于环境保护,对中欧环境部长对话取得 的进展表示欢迎,并愿深化在此领域的务实合作,特别是通过欧方的发展援助项目。
Leaders reaffirmed China and EU's joint commitment to environmental protection, welcomed the achievements made by the EU-China ministerial dialogue on environment and expressed their willingness to deepen practical cooperation in this area, notably through the EU’s development assistance program.
(4)若公报中有具体时间,则根据具体事情的时间选用适当时态。例如:
双方领导人对今年2月(即2004年2月——编者注)在北京成功举行的中欧政策文件研讨会取得的成果表示欢迎,认为研讨会成果有助于进一 步确定中欧加强合作的领域,有利于确定今后中欧关系的发展方向。双方领导人同意中欧主管部门目前应该在可能的情况下着手落实所提出的措施。双方领导人表示希望继续就更新1985年中欧贸易和经济合作协定的可能性进行有益的探讨,双方在研讨会期间曾就此初步交换了意见。
Leaders welcomed the results of the EU-China Seminar on their respective policy papers, which was successfully held in Beijing in February. They agreed that the outcome of the seminar had helped in identifying further areas for strengthened EU-China cooperation and in defining the direction of the EU-China relationship. They agreed that competent departments on both sides should now,wherever possible,work on implementa¬tion of the measures proposed. They also expressed the hope of continuing with the useful exchange of views that had commenced at the seminar on the possibility of modernizing the EU-China 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.
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