九 避免重复
《译海一粟：汉英翻译九百例》九 避免重复,页面无弹窗的全文阅读!
现在我们讨论重复不重复的问题。这是汉英两种语言在句子结构方面的第三个重大差异。汉语句子里有些词语往往会连续反复出现，有时同一个意思，说了一遍，换个说法再说一遍。遇到这种情况，译文如何处理？是照译呢，还是另想办法呢？
例1
要用两代人、三代人、甚至四代人来实现这个目标。（DⅢ256）
It may take two, three or even four generations to reach this goal. (252)
例2
我们搞社会主义才几十年，还处在初级阶段。巩固和发展社会主义制度，还需要一个很长的历史阶段，需要我们几代人、十几代人，甚至几十代人坚持不懈地努力奋斗，决不能掉以轻心。（DⅢ379-380）
We have been building socialism for only a few decades and are still in the primary stage. It will take a very long historical period to consolidate and develop the socialist system, and it will require persistent struggle by many generations, a dozen or even several dozens. We can never rest on our oars. (367)
例3
搞科技，越高越好，越新越好。越高越新，我们也就越高兴。不只我们高兴，人民高兴，国家高兴。（DⅢ378）
We should develop science and technology, and the higher and newer the technologies are, the better, and the more delighted we shall be—and not just we, but the entire people and the state. (366)
例4
推动社会主义精神文明和物质文明全面发展，建设面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的，民族的科学的大众的社会主义文化。（文件）
We should fully promote socialist cultural and ethical progress and material progress, and develop a national, scientific, and people-oriented socialist culture that embraces modernization, the world, and the future.
例5
我们有充分的根据相信，这次代表大会制定的正确的纲领，一定能够全面开创社会主义现代化建设的新局面，使我们党兴旺发达，使我们的社会主义事业兴旺发达，使我们的国家和各民族兴旺发达。（DⅢ2）
We have every reason to believe that the correct programme that will be decided on at this congress will create a new situation in all fields of socialist modernization and bring prosperity to our Party, our socialist cause, our country and the people of all our nationalities. (14)
例6
在这里，我代表我们党，向在社会主义现代化建设中辛勤劳动的全国工人、农民和知识分子，致以崇高的敬意，向保卫祖国安全和社会主义建设的钢铁长城中国人民解放军，致以崇高的敬意。（DⅢ4）
Here, on behalf of the Party, I wish to pay high tribute to all the workers, peasants and intellectuals who have worked diligently for socialist modernization and to the People's Liberation Army—that Great Wall of steel safeguarding the security and socialist construction of our motherland. (15)
例7
党的十一届三中全会以后决定进行农村改革，给农民自主权，给基层自主权，这样一下子就把农民的积极性调动起来了，把基层的积极性调动起来了，面貌就改变了。（DⅢ238）
After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, we decided to carry out rural reform, giving more decision-making power to the peasants and the grass-roots units. By so doing we immediately brought their initiative into play, and great changes took place. (235)
例8
农业实行多种经营，因地制宜，该种粮食的地方种粮食，该种经济作物的地方种经济作物，不仅粮食大幅度增长，经济作物也大幅度增长。（DⅢ238）
By diversifying agriculture in accordance with local conditions, the peasants have grown grain and cash crops in places suited to them and have substantially increased the output of both. (235)
例9
这是我个人没有预料到的，许多同志也没预料到，是突然冒出这样一个效果。（DⅢ238）
But this result was not anything that I or any of the other comrades had foreseen; it just came out of the blue. (236)
例10
经过四十年的发展，特别是经过最近十年的发展，我们的实力增强了，中国是垮不了的，而且还要更加发展起来。这是民族的要求，人民的要求，时代的要求。（DⅢ357）
Our development over the past forty years, and especially over the last decade, has increased our strength. China will never collapse; on the contrary, it will grow stronger. This is what the nation, the people and the times demand. (344)
例11
要把我们的军队教育好，把我们的专政机构教育好，把共产党员教育好，把人民和青年教育好。（DⅢ380）
We must educate the army, persons working in the organs of dictatorship, the Communist Party members and the people, including the youth. (368)
例12
这件事，要坚持二十年，一年比一年好，一年比一年扎实。（DⅢ21）
This work should continue for 20 years and be more solid and successful every year. (31)
例13
我们过去几十年艰苦奋斗，就是靠用坚定的信念把人民团结起来，为人民自己的利益而奋斗。没有这样的信念，就没有凝聚力。没有这样的信念，就没有一切。（DⅢ190）
Over the past several decades we have united the people on the basis of firm convictions that enabled them to struggle for their own interests. Without such convictions, there would have been no cohesion among the people, and we could have accomplished nothing. (190)
以上各例，原文句中重复出现的词语在译文中只出现一次，把分别涉及的词语集中起来，这样译文既紧凑，又充分表达了原文的含义。
例14
要扩大对外开放，现在开放得不够。（DⅢ32）
We should open our country wider to the outside world. (43)
例15
我们用法律和教育这两个手段来解决这个问题。只要不放松，认真抓，就会有办法。（DⅢ156）
We shall solve this problem by means of law and education. If we work hard, we shall find a solution. (159)
例16
我们的政策是坚定不移的，不会动摇的，一直要干下去，重要的是走一段就要总结经验。因为改革涉及人民的切身利害问题，每一步都会影响成亿的人。（DⅢ113）
Our policy is firm, and we are not going to change it. What is important is that we should review our experience at regular intervals, because reform involves the vital interests of the people, and every step we take will affect hundreds of millions of them. (119)
例17
我们要借鉴两条，一是学习他们勇于借外债的精神，二是借外债要适度，不要借得太多。要注意这两方面的经验。（DⅢ193）
There are two things we can learn from them. First, we should not be afraid of borrowing money abroad; and second, we should not borrow too much. (193)
以上四例，各例都有连续的两个短句或词组，意思相近，或者说这一个包含着另一个的内容，只是说话的角度有所不同。译文都是留一个，删一个，以免重复。第三例第二句开头有“因为”二字，它是解释本句内部的因果关系吗？这句话的前半句和后半句的确是有一定的因果关系，但似乎无须加以说明。前面一句话中“走一段就要总结经验”倒的确需要说明为什么。这大概就是为什么译者用because把这两句话连在一起。这样译是比较合乎逻辑的。第四例第二句说“注意这两方面”，和第一句说的“借鉴两条”，虽不相连，意思却是一样的。因此第二句没有译，否则就显得累赘了。
如果重复的或意思相近的词语，既不能合并处理又不能略去不译，怎么办呢？那就要用替代的办法了。首先想到的是用代词。
例18
宝玉和黛玉使个眼色儿，黛玉会意，便走至里间，将镜袱揭起，照了照。（红楼梦42回）
Pao-yu then shot Tai-yu a glance. Taking the hint she went into the bedroom and took the cover off the mirror to have a look.
例19
但是，怎样全面地来看那五年的加速发展？那五年的加速发展，也可以称作一种飞跃，但与“大跃进”不同，没有伤害整个发展的机体、机制。（DⅢ376-377）
Nevertheless, what should be our overall assessment of the accelerated development in those five years? We might call it a leap, but unlike the Great Leap Forward of 1958, it did not damage the structure and mechanisms of economic development as a whole. (364)
译文用it，避免重复前一句中相当长的一个词组。另外，译文在the Great Leap Forward后面加了of 1958。不了解中国情况的外国读者可能不知道“大跃进”是什么，增加这一点信息，可能对他们有帮助。
例20
这样做，有百利而无一害。总之，大家都要从大局出发，照顾大局，千方百计使我们国家经济发展起来。（DⅢ99）
If these things are done, they can have only good results. In short, everyone should proceed from the general interest, always bear it in mind and help develop the economy by all possible means. (DⅢ105)
译文没有重复the general interest，也用了it。此外，第一句中的“有百利而无一害”，只译作have only good results，而没有译“无一害”，这是因为only一词就把坏的因素排除在外了。
例21
要抓住机会，现在就是好机会。我就担心丧失机会。不抓呀，看到的机会就丢掉了，时间一晃就过去了。（DⅢ375）
We must grasp opportunities; the present offers an excellent one. The only thing I worry about is that we may lose opportunities. If we don't seize them, they will slip through our fingers as time speeds by. (363)
在原文里，机会一词出现四次，在译文里需要出现五次，而实际上，opportunities只出现两次，其他三处用了one, they和them。在英语里，代词比汉语用得多得多。这段话里，译文还用了三个we和一个our，原文里都是没有的，你注意到了吗？
有一个代词，能量特别大，那就是that。
例22
目前我们国内正在进行改革。我是主张改革的，不改革就没有出路，旧的那一套经过几十年的实践证明是不成功的。（DⅢ237）
China is now carrying out a reform. I am all in favour of that. There is no other solution for us. After several decades of practice it turned out that the old ways didn't work. (235)
例23
中国对外政策的目标是争取世界和平。在争取和平的前提下，一心一意搞现代化建设，发展自己的国家，建设具有中国特色的社会主义。（DⅢ57）
The aim of our foreign policy is world peace. Always bearing that aim in mind, we are wholeheartedly devoting ourselves to the modernization programme to develop our country and to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. (66)
例24
要提倡科学，靠科学才有希望。（DⅢ377-378）
We must promote science, for that is where our hope lies.(365)
例25
我们的改革和开放是从经济方面开始的，首先又是从农村开始的。为什么要从农村开始呢？因为农村人口占我国人口的百分之八十，农村不稳定，整个政治局势就不稳定，农民没有摆脱贫困，就是我国没有摆脱贫困。（DⅢ237）
We introduced reform and the open policy first in the economic sphere, beginning with the countryside. Why did we start there? Because that is where 80 per cent of China's population lives. An unstable situation in the countryside would lead to an unstable political situation throughout the country. If the peasants did not shake off poverty, it would mean that China remained poor. (235)
例26
中国执行开放政策是正确的，得到了很大的好处。如果说有什么不足之处，就是开放得还不够。我们要继续开放，更加开放。（DⅢ202）
The open policy that China is currently pursuing is correct, and it has greatly benefited the country. If anything, we should open our doors even wider. And that's what we are going to do. (202)
例27
就我们国家来讲，首先是要摆脱贫穷。要摆脱贫穷，就要找出一条比较快的发展道路。（DⅢ255）
For China, the first thing is to throw off poverty. To do that we have to find a way to develop fairly rapidly. (250)例28一个国家要取得真正的政治独立，必须努力摆脱贫困。而要摆脱贫困，在经济政策和对外政策上都要立足于自己的实际，不要给自己设置障碍，不要孤立于世界之外。（DⅢ202）
To achieve genuine political independence a country must lift itself out of poverty. And to do that it must base its economic and foreign policies on its own conditions. It should not erect barriers to isolate itself from the rest of the world. (202)
以上各例都用了that一词，泛指前面的话，所指范围很广，可以指名词或动词，可以指地点，也可以指一件事情。有用得很。另外，第四例中“没有摆脱贫困”没有重复did not shake off poverty，而译作remained poor。换一个说法，也是避免重复的好办法。
例29
中印两国如果发展起来了，那就可以说我们对人类做出了贡献。也正是在这个伟大的目标下，中国政府提出，所有发展中国家应该改善相互之间的关系，加强相互之间的合作。中印两国尤其应该这样做。这是我国政府的想法。（DⅢ282）
If China and India are developed, we can say that we have made our contributions to mankind. It is precisely for this great goal that the Chinese government has suggested that all developing countries should improve relations and increase cooperation with each other. China and India in particular should do so. That is the view of our government. (275)
例30
中国经济发展的速度不会太慢。一九八八年尽管有风浪，速度仍然可能超过百分之十。天天在风浪中前进，但翻两番的任务一定能完成。这就是我们的现状和前景。（DⅢ263）
The Chinese economy will not grow too slowly. Although we are having difficulties, the growth rate for 1988 may still exceed 10 per cent. Every day we have to brave winds and waves, but I am convinced that we can reach the goal of quadrupling the GNP. That is the present situation and those are our plans. (258)
此二例虽然译文都用了that，但与前面的例子情况有所不同。前面诸例原文都有重复词语，译文是为了避免重复而使用that的。而此二例原文并无重复词语，只有一个“这”字概括上文。英语中that指上文，this指下文，只是使用起来不那么严格罢了。这里虽原文是“这”，译文为that，是对的。
例31
六届人大三次会议的政府工作报告指出了我们已经遇到的一些风险。我们在确定做这件事的时候，就意识到会有这样的风险。我们的方针是，胆子要大，步子要稳，走一步，看一步。（DⅢ113）
The "Report on the Work of the Government" made at the Third Session of the Sixth National People's Congress points out that we have already encountered some problems. When we decided to carry out reform, we anticipated that possibility. Our principle is to be bold, take a confident step and then look around carefully before taking another. (119)
译文用that possibility以避免重复。此外，第三句译文将原文的主谓结构译成动词不定式，显得十分简练，值得注意。
例32
在座的同志要教育我们各级干部，关心国家大局，就是使我们国家在二十年内发展起来，实际上从现在到二○○○年，没有二十年，只有十六年了。我们军队要一切服从国家建设这个大局。（DⅢ100）
I hope the comrades present here will encourage cadres at all levels to concern themselves with the general interest of the state, which is to develop our country over the next 20 years or, to be exact, the 16 years to the year 2000. In everything it does the army should subordinate itself to that general interest. (106)
此例译文用that general interest以避免重复。此外，原文先说“二十年”，后来又更正，说“没有二十年”，译文用了to be exact，十分巧妙，值得注意。
例33
坚定不移把信息化作为军队现代化建设发展方向，推动信息化建设加速发展。（文件）
We should unswervingly pursue full IT application as the goal in achieving military modernization and step up this effort.
例34
二○○○年要生产多少粮食，人均粮食达到多少斤才算基本过关。这要好好计算。二○○○年总要做到粮食基本过关，这是一项重要的战略部署。（DⅢ22-23）
We must carefully work out the minimum amount of grain that will have to be produced in the year 2000 in order for each person to have enough. One way or another, we must reach this target in 2000. It is a goal of strategic importance. (32)
例35
我国城乡和社会各界，蕴藏着极大的办学热情，不少爱国侨胞也热心捐资办学。（DⅢ122）
In both urban and rural areas and in all sectors of society people are enthusiastic about running schools. Quite a number of patriotic overseas Chinese are eager to donate money for the purpose. (127-128)
此三例，译文用了this effort, this target和for the purpose，都是把前面说的具体的事归纳成“这项工作”、“这一目标”、“这一目的”，以避免重复。这种办法似乎在别处也可以使用。
例36
现在国际上有一种议论，说中国改革的步子放慢了。政策要变。说放慢步子还有些根据，说政策要变就没有根据了。（DⅢ248）
Lately some people abroad have been commenting that the pace of reform in China has slowed and predicting that the government is going to change its policies. There is some basis for the first assertion but none at all for the second. (244)
例37
再从经济角度来说。现在世界上真正大的问题，带全球性的战略问题，一个是和平问题，一个是经济问题或者说发展问题。和平问题是东西问题，发展问题是南北问题。概括起来，就是东西南北四个字。南北问题是核心问题。（DⅢ105）
From the economic point of view, the two really great issues confronting the world today, issues of global strategic significance, are: first, peace, and second, economic development. The first involves East-West relations, while the second involves North-South relations. In short, countries in the East, West, North and South are all involved, but the North-South relations are the key question. (111)
此二例，译文都用了the first，the second以避免重复。此外，第二例中，“问题”一词出现十一次，译文用了两个issues和一个question。“问题”一词在许多情况下都是可以不译的。
例38
现代化就要靠发展科技和教育，以教育为本。（L259）
Modernization hinges on science and technology and education, with the latter as the basis. (262)
此例译文以the latter代替前面提到的education。在英语中，the former和the latter都是常用来避免重复的手段。
例39
一定要在党内造成一种空气：尊重知识，尊重人才。要反对不尊重知识分子的错误思想。不论脑力劳动，体力劳动，都是劳动。（DⅡ41）
We must create within the Party an atmosphere of respect for knowledge and respect for trained personnel. The erroneous attitude of not respecting intellectuals must be opposed. All work, be it mental or manual, is labour. (54)
此例原文在一个很短的句子里，“劳动”一词出现三次，如果照译，定会显得别扭。译文先以all work概括，接着用了一个倒装句be it加形容词，说明各自的特点，最后用一个labour就解决问题了。是不是很巧妙？
例40
世界上一些国家都在制订高科技发展计划，中国也制订了高科技发展计划。下一个世纪是高科技发展的世纪。（DⅢ279）
Some countries are drawing up plans for the development of high technology. China has done so too. The next century will see rapid development. (273)
为了避免重复，用so也是一个好办法。它能量很大，无论你前面说做了多少事情，一个so就都代表了。
例41
老科学家、中年科学家很重要，青年科学家也很重要。（DⅢ378）
Veteran and middle aged scientists are important, and so are young ones. (366)
例42
总之，为了发展中外的经济合作，中国要创造条件，发达国家的经济界也要创造条件，首先的一条就是不要怕冒风险，不必担心我们的政策会变，胆子放大一些，合作的步子更快一些。（DⅢ80）
In short, to increase economic cooperation between countries, China will work to encourage it, and so should the industrialists and businessmen of developed nations. First of all, they should set aside their concern about risks; there is no need to worry that our policies might change. They should confidently accelerate their cooperation with us. (87)
例43
克明：觉新，你的责任是大的，你的希望也是无穷的。（家16）
Keming: Juexin, your responsibilities are great, but so are your prospects.
此三例译文都用so引出倒装句以避免重复，显得十分简洁。尤其是第二例第三句原文有“胆子放大一些”、“步子放快一些”，译文只用了两个词confidently accelerate，就解决问题了，好不爽快。
说到这里，还有一件事要提醒大家，在使用这一用so引出倒装句的句型时，不要忘记那个连词and或but。有人可能觉得这个and可以不要，其实不然。此事前面讲过，这里不再重复。
例44
中印两国之间的问题并不是很大，既不存在中国对印度的威胁，也不存在印度对中国的威胁，无非就是一个边界问题。（DⅢ19）
The problem between China and India is not a serious one. Neither country poses a threat to the other. The problem we have is simply about the border. (29)
此例译文将两方面的情况合在一起，重新组织句子，倒也利索。
例45
我们希望自己发达，也希望你们发达。（DⅢ20）
We hope that we shall develop and that you will too. (30)
例46
这是眼前的一个问题，并不是已经顺利解决了，希望解决得好。“文化大革命”结束，我出来后，就注意这个问题。（DⅢ380）
This is a pressing problem that has not yet been solved satisfactorily, and I hope it will be. I began to think about it when I resumed work after the "cultural revolution". (368)
例47
请大家相信，中国在处理对外经济合作的一些细节问题上，不是小手小脚的。我们现在有些法律规定还不完备，因为没有经验，以后会逐渐完备的。（DⅢ79-80）
Believe me, China is not petty-minded about details regarding its economic relations and cooperation with other countries. Because we lack experience, some of our laws are not yet well defined, but they will be as time goes on. (87)
例48
最近出现的一些问题没有什么了不起，国际上有人把它看得比较严重，我们自己心里是踏实的。（DⅢ113）
The problems that have appeared recently are nothing serious. Although some foreigners think they are, we are optimistic. (119)
用省略句也是避免重复的好办法。以上四例译文都用了省略句，那个真正起作用的动词或形容词，在前面出现了，后面就不再出现了。从以上几个例子看，每句话也只节省了一两个词，但问题不在这里，主要是为了避免重复。可见重复有多么讨人嫌。
讨论到这里，也许你脑子里会有两个问题。一个是能不能做到既不用上面所说的替代等方法，又能避免重复呢？能做到。办法就是在原文重复的地方，译文换用不同的字眼。这种对同一事物用不同字眼来表现的做法也是用英语写作的人惯用的手法。请看以下五个译例。
例49
封建社会代替奴隶社会，资本主义代替封建主义，社会主义经历一个长过程发展后必然代替资本主义。（DⅢ382）
Feudal society replaced slave society, capitalism supplanted feudalism, and, after a long time, socialism will necessarily supersede capitalism. (370)
例50
我们欢迎发达国家同我们合作，也欢迎发展中国家相互之间的合作，这后一种合作是非常重要的。（DⅢ282）
China welcomes cooperation with developed countries, and we should also be happy to see cooperation between developing countries. This last is very important. (275)
例51
对中国的发展，国际上可能还有一些不同的看法。他们从各种角度来分析，中国的发展对他们有利还是有害？我想从两个角度来考察和回答这个问题，一个是政治角度，一个是经济角度。（DⅢ104）
Different people may have different attitudes towards the development of China. They analyse this question from different standpoints, depending on whether they think China's development will or will not be in their own interest. I should like to examine this question from two points of view, one political, the other economic.(110)
例52
现在有一些值得注意的现象，就是没有理想、没有纪律的表现，比如说，一切向钱看。对这种现象的批评当然要准确，不要不适当，但是这种现象确实存在。有的党政机关设了许多公司……（DⅢ111-112）
At present there are certain phenomena that demand our attention. For example, there is a lack of ideals and discipline, as is manifested in the tendency to put money above everything else. It goes without saying that this sort of thing should be subjected to appropriate criticism, but first of all we have to recognize that the problem really exists. Some Party and government departments have established companies, … (117)
例53
一时贾母醒了，就在稻香村摆晚饭。贾母因觉懒懒的，也没吃饭，便坐了竹椅小敞轿，回至房中歇息，命凤姐儿等去吃饭。他姐妹方复进园来。（红楼梦41回）
Presently the Lady Dowager awoke and the evening meal was served in Paddy-Sweet Cottage. But the old lady, too listless to eat, had herself carried back in the small bamboo sedanchair to her own apartments to rest. She insisted, however, that Hsi-feng and the others should dine, and so they returned to the Garden.
可能你心里还会想一个问题：译文是不是有时候也能像原文一样重复呢？可以。
例54
我们要根据社会主义国家自己的实践、自己的情况来决定改革的内容和步骤。每一个社会主义国家的改革又都是不同的，历史不同，经验不同，现在所处的情况不同，各国的改革不可能一样。（DⅢ241）
We socialist countries have to work out the content of the reform and specific measures to implement it in the light of our own practice and our own conditions. The particular reform to be carried out in each socialist country is different too. Since each has a different history, different experience and different current circumstances to confront, their reforms cannot be identical. (238)
例55
在发展科学技术方面，我们要共同努力。实现人类的希望离不开科学，第三世界摆脱贫困离不开科学，维护世界和平也离不开科学。（DⅢ183）
We should make joint efforts to develop science and technology. Without science the hopes of mankind will not be fulfilled. Without science the people of the Third World countries cannot cast off poverty. Without science world peace cannot be maintained. (184)
例56
伯承同志是我党我军的大知识分子，大军事家。他的军事指挥艺术和军事理论造诣，在国内外屈指可数。（DⅢ186）
Comrade Bocheng was a great intellectual and a great strategist in our Party and army. As a skilled commander and military theorist, he had few equals at home or abroad. (186)
译文和原文一样，第一例连用四个different，第二例连用三个without science，第三例连用两个great，这是一种修辞手段，取得了加强语气的效果。另外，第三例第二句译文没有说他的能力，而说他是怎样一个人，这种以人的身份来表现其才能的做法是合乎英语的表达方式的。
综上所述，汉语实词用得多，需要多次出现的词语，宁可重复，也不愿以各种办法来加以替代。英语则恰恰相反，代词比汉语用得多，遇到需要多次出现的词语，总要千方百计地加以替代，避免重复。据我观察，这重复与不重复也可以算是汉英两种语言在句子结构方面的一项重大差别。
A Grammar of Contemporary English有专门章节讨论substitution（替代），通过这个办法来避免重复。该书作者还创造了一个词pro-forms，用来涵盖所有能起替代作用的词语。Practical English Usage也有相关条目，你若有兴趣……