英语翻译技巧——使用适当长度的连接词语

在日常用语中,语气不是很严肃,句子往往比较短，因此连接词语也比较短。在正式文体中，语气较庄重，句子往往较长，衔接词语也会相应地变长。

例1.非政府投资的港口设施建设施工项目，应依照有关法律、法规的规定实施招标、投标。（《航运交易公报》）

译文 1 ： In a project of constructing port facilities with a nongovernmental investment，bid invitation and bid submission shall be practiced in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations-

译文 2： In the case of a project of constructing port facilities with a non-governmental investment，bid invitation and bid submission shall be practiced in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations.

评析：以上译文1使用简短的In或者with/As for等，虽然不错，但显得不够正式。译文2改用较长的In the case of，不但清楚，而且庄重，合乎法律文件口吻。

现将本例的中文拉长如下：

非政府投资的港口设施建设施工项目，其投资额超过100万元的，应依照有关法律、法规的规定实施招标、投标。

With/In the case of a project of constructing port facilities with a non-governmental investment that exceeds 100 million yuan， bid invitation and bid submission shall be practiced in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations.

在译文的句首，如使用简短的With等词，不仅文风不妥，更重要的是难以拖动随后的长结构，这就好像一辆摩托车的马达不宜用来拖带一辆重型卡车。这时似乎只能改用较长的In the case of，In the event of 等。

例2．港口企业变更港口业务经营范围，吸收外资或引进外国设备的，应当经过原审批机关的审批。

港口企业停业的，应当报市港口主管部门备案。（《航运交易周刊》）

In the event a port enterprise intends to change the scope of its service，utilize overseas capital or introduce equipment from abroad, it shall apply to the original examining and approving department for re-examination and re-approval.

A port enterprise that intends to cease its operation shall file with the municipal port competent department for record

评析：以上译文中的第一句较长，宜用较长的In the event来拖动，如改用If则显得太短，不太庄重。译文的第二句较短，如译成If a port enterprise intends to cease its operation, it shall… 也很清楚，但不够简洁，因而译者索性将If从句紧缩为that引导的限定从句。

例3.在这个时期，建立比较完善的社会主义市场经济体制，保持国民经济持续快速健康发展，是必须解决好的垔左课题。（《十五大》）

译文 1: During this period，we must solve the two major problems of how to establish a more or less ideal socialist market economy and how to maintain a sustained，rapid and sound development of the national economy.

译文 2： During this period, we must solve the two major problems , that is, how to establish a more or less ideal socialist market economy and how to maintain a sustained，rapid and sound development of the national economy.

评析：以上译文1使用简短的of来拖动后面的两个how to... 结构,读上去稍稍有点累人，在口语中更不容易听懂。译文2改用更长、更明显的that is,给读者或听者一段思考的时间，有利于把后面两 个how to... 结构与前面的two major problems衔接起来。

例4.在讲话中，他就发展两岸关系，推进祖国和平统一的许多重要问题提出了八项主张。（《高级翻译》第144页）

Concerning many important issues on improvement of the cross-Strait relations and promotion of peaceful reunification of the motherland，he made an eight-point proposal.

评析：句首的引导词可以是Concerning或With regard to，但后面需要拖动一长串词语。可是使用on这个小词，似乎拉动力量不足。

不要无故使用长连接词语。

例5.本办法所称的土地使用费，系指使用土地资源性质尥费用，不包括征地拆迁安置费用和基础设施建设费用。（《土地使用》）

译文 1: For the purpose of these procedures, “land use fees” means an amount of money paid in consideration of the use of land resources and does not include expenditures for requisition of land， demolition of buildings, resettlement of families and infrastructure construction. (1991 年译本）

译文 2 ： The land use fees mentioned in these Procedures refer to the fees for the use of land resource only and do not include expenditures with regard to requisition, demolition，resettlement and infrastructure construction. (1992 年译本）

评析：译文1使用了长衔接词语paid in consideration of来连接 an amount of money 与 the use of land resources，这显得过于笨重， 没有必要。the use of land resources很短，译文2仅使用for这一短词足矣。