畢靜芝
山東省文登整骨醫(yī)院 ,山東文登 264400
醫(yī)學(xué)英語中從句的省略及翻譯
畢靜芝
山東省文登整骨醫(yī)院 ,山東文登 264400
英語中省略的情況很常見,翻譯過程中如何補充省略的部分則顯得尤為重要。本文主要就than引導(dǎo)的從句中的省略情況來討論醫(yī)學(xué)英語中從句的省略翻譯。
醫(yī)學(xué)英語;從句;省略與翻譯
英語中省略的情況很多,有一些詞或成份在英語中可以省略,但按漢語語法卻不能省略,如果省略了,譯成漢語就晦澀難懂,不夠通暢,所以,出于語法結(jié)構(gòu)和修辭效果的考慮,則必須補充其省略的部分,以使譯文意義更完整、更準(zhǔn)確。英語口語中的省略情況大都局限于簡單句,書面語中的省略則多見于復(fù)合句。本文將以than 引導(dǎo)的從句中的省略情況來談一談醫(yī)學(xué)英語中從句的省略翻譯。
than這一連詞引導(dǎo)的是比較狀語從句,一般這種比較狀語從句都是不完全的,省略的情況有以下幾種:
例如:
The attempt to explain the increase of atherosclerosis in the postwar years from the point of view of nervous theory leads to the conclusion that people of all countries suffered in the postwar years from greater nervous strain than they did in the year during World War II.
譯文:試圖從神經(jīng)學(xué)說的觀點出發(fā)來解釋戰(zhàn)后動脈粥樣硬化發(fā)病率的增加,就得出了這樣結(jié)論:各個國家的人們在戰(zhàn)后比第二次世界大戰(zhàn)期間神經(jīng)更為緊張。(此句中的代動詞did代替了suffered from great nervous strain.)
They generally differ more from each other than do the individuals of any one species in a state of nature.
譯文:一般來說,它們彼此間的差異大于自然狀態(tài)下任何物種中個體間的差異。(此句中的代動詞do代替了主句中已有的differ from each other,而且倒裝于從句之首。)
有時甚至將整個謂語都予以省略,例如:Mental workers are more often affected by atherosclerosis and IHD (ischemic heart disease) than manual workers.
譯文:腦力勞動者較體力勞動者更常罹患動脈粥樣硬化癥及缺血性心臟病。
例如:
For such patients diets with lower fat content and less calories than they are used to have should be strictly adapted.
譯文:對于此類患者,他們飲食中的脂肪含量和熱量要比以前的低,應(yīng)嚴(yán)格調(diào)配。(此句中在have的后面省略了賓語diets。)
例如:
Congenital dilatation of the common bile duct is of greater surgical interest than congenital atresia, because it is so much more amenable to surgical treatment.
譯文:先天性總膽管擴張較先天性總膽管閉塞更具有外科學(xué)上的意義,因為在手術(shù)上它比后者要好治得多。(此句里面than引導(dǎo)的從句中的主語congenital atresia后省略了is of great surgical interest 這一復(fù)合謂語。)
At bronchography the peripheral bronchi were far more difficult to visualize than they were last time,because they had been filled with pus and narrowed by mucosal edema.
譯文:支氣管造影時,外周支氣管由于充滿濃液及因黏膜水腫而變窄,遠較上次(造影時)難于顯現(xiàn)。(此句中,在從句中的were之后省略了表語difficult to visualize。)
例如:
Radiologists tend to use plain chest radiography as diagnostic procedure in cardiovascular disease more often than angiocardiography.
譯文:在診斷心血管疾患方面,放射科醫(yī)師傾向于把攝取胸部平片作為一種比心血管造影術(shù)更常采用的方法。(從句中的主語和謂語都省略了,只剩下賓語angiocardiography。)
有時可能僅省略主語,例如:
In general, the more advanced coronary arteriosclerosis in white Americans and white South Africans is accompanied by considerably more biochemically demonstrable lipid than is seen in African subjects.
譯文:一般來說,在美國白人和南非白人中,冠狀動脈硬化癥病情較重者,可用生化方法證明其血脂濃度要比非洲黑人的高得多。(在than后面省略了主語biochemically demonstrable lipid。)
例如:
It is well known that atherosclerosis with coronary insufficiency is more likely to occur when physical activity is restricted than when it is not restricted.
譯文:眾所周知,動脈粥樣硬化癥伴冠狀動脈供血不足,在體力活動限制的情況下,比體力活動不加限制的情況下更可能發(fā)生。(than 后面的比較狀語從句atherosclerosis…is likely to occur 完全省略了。When it is not restricted 是修飾省略了的比較狀語從句的。)
It is interesting that the degree of emphysema judged from films made in life is more marked than if it is assessed at autopsy.
譯文:有意義的是患者生前所攝胸片判定肺氣腫的程度比尸檢更為顯著。(than后面的比較狀語從句也完全省略了,if引起的條件狀語從句是修飾省略了的比較狀語從句的。)
根據(jù)上述幾種類型的省略情況,可以歸納出這樣的規(guī)律:從句里的成分與主句相同的可以省略;所比較的形容詞或副詞,只需在主句里說比較級,不需在從句里說原級。
[1]張志鴻.醫(yī)學(xué)英語翻譯技巧[M].人民衛(wèi)生出版社,1981.
畢靜芝,大學(xué)本科,副譯審,研究方向:醫(yī)學(xué)英語。
10.3969/j.issn.1001-8972.2012.10.138