省词法就是原文中需要而译文中不需要的单词、词组等在翻译过程中加以省略。省词法一般是出于译文语法和习惯表达法的需要。
【原文1】He was thin and haggard and he Looked miserable.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了作主语的人称代词。
【译文】他消瘦而憔捽,(……)看上去一副可怜相。
【原文2】She laid her hand lightly on his aim as if to thank him for it.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了作宾语的代词。
【译文】她轻轻地把手放在他的胳膊上,好像表示感谢(……)。
【原文3】 He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head,cast up his eyes, but said nothing.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了三个物主代词。
【译文】他耸耸(……)肩,摇摇(……)头,(……)两眼看天,一句话也没说。
【原文4】For two weeks, he had been studying the house,looking at its rooms, its electric wiring, its path and its garden.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了四个物主代词。
【译文】两周以来,他一直注意现察房子的情况,查看(……)各个房间,留心(……)电线的走向、(……)通道和(……)花园的布局。
【原文5】 The city has a dense manufacturing population.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了不定冠词“a”。
【译文】这个城市工业人口密集。
【原文6】The earth is round.
【分析】本句汉译时省略了表示独ー无二事物的定冠词 “The”。
【译文】地球是圆的。