词或词组的重复,在汉语和英语里都是一种表达手段,有时是为了加强语气,有时是为了求得句子的平衡、对称或其它修辞效果。但是,由于汉语和英语的结构不同,这种表达手段也不尽相同、甚至有时完全不同。例如、汉语常见重复动词与名词,而英语则重复介词。英语中常用代词和助动词来代替某些前面相同的成分,而汉语不习惯这种用法。因此在汉译英时,有时要重复,有时则不要重复,有时要部分重复。有时则要全部重复。
(一)汉语重复,英语也重复
在汉译英过程中有时为了保持原文的强调语气和独特风格,有时为了明确传达原文的意思,避免产生歧义。原文中重复的词语和重复结构,需要在英译中全部对应重复。例如:
1)很久很久以前,我们中国人似乎早已知道一种以两位数为基础的计算制。
Long, long ago, we Chinese seemed to have known about a numbering system based on two numberals.
2)我们首先需要的是学习、学习、再学习。
What we want, first and foremost, is to learn, to learn and to learn.
3)机器帮助我们用越来越少的力气做越来越多的工作。
Machines help us to do more and more work with less and less power.
4) 工作时工作,玩时就玩。
Work while you work, play while you play.
5)自己干的事,自己负责。
One should be responsible for what one does.
(二)汉语重复动词,英语重复介词
1)信噪比取决于天线信号的强弱,也取决于接收机第一级噪声的大小。
The signal to-noise ratio is determined by the strength of the aerial signal and also by the amount of noise produced in the first stage of receiver.
2)很久很久以前人住在洞穴内或住在树上。
Long long ago, people lived in caves or on trees.
3)应用科学直接研究如何将理论科学中的定律用于生活实践,用于加强人类对周围世界的控制。
Applied science is directly concerned with the application of the working laws of pure science to the practical affairs of life, and to increasing man's control over his environment.
4)我们谈到自己,谈到前途,谈到旅程,谈到天气,谈到彼此的情况。
We talked of ourselves, of our prospects, of the journey, of the weather, of each other.
5)一个工程师不仅要知道一种材料的性能是什么,意味着什么,而且要知道它们是怎样测定的。
An engineer must have a knowledge not only of what the properties of a material are and mean, but also of how they are determined.