十二 具体化
《译海一粟：汉英翻译九百例》十二 具体化,页面无弹窗的全文阅读!
（一）汉语里有些词语经常使用，很快就有简略的说法出现，用着方便，听着明白。若将这种简略的说法直译成英语，读者会感到难以理解。在这种情况下，译者不如用具体的词句，把原来的内容说清楚。
例1
一是以邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想为指导，确保高等教育事业沿着正确的方向不断向前发展。（L220）
Point one: we should take Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents (the Communist Party of China representing the demand for the development of advanced productive forces in China, the direction for the advance of the advanced Chinese culture, and the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the Chinese people) as our guideline so as to sustain development of higher education in the correct direction. (224)
例2
建设中国特色社会主义，总依据是社会主义初级阶段，总布局是五位一体，总任务是实现社会主义现代化和中华民族伟大复兴。（文件）
In building socialism with Chinese characteristics, we base ourselves on the basic reality that China is in the primary stage of socialism. Our overall approach is to promote economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress, and our general task is to achieve socialist modernization and the great renewal of the Chinese nation.
例3
在改革开放三十多年一以贯之的接力探索中，我们坚定不移高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路。（文件）
Throughout the past 30-plus years of continuous exploration for reform and opening up, we have held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejected both the old and rigid closed-door policy and any attempt to abandon socialism and take an erroneous path.
例4
广东二十年赶上亚洲“四小龙”，不仅经济要上去，社会秩序、社会风气也要搞好，两个文明建设都要超过他们，这才是有中国特色的社会主义。（DⅢ378）
Guangdong is trying to catch up with Asia's "four little dragons" in 20 years, not only in terms of economic growth, but also in terms of improved public order and general social conduct—that is, we should surpass them in both material and ethical progress. Only that can be considered building socialism with Chinese characteristics. (366)
例5
总之，只要我们的生产力发展，保持一定的经济增长速度，坚持两手抓，社会主义精神文明建设就可以搞上去。（DⅢ379）
In short, so long as we develop our productive forces, maintain a reasonable economic growth rate, promote reform and opening and, at the same time, crack down on crime, we shall be able to build a socialist society with advanced ethical standards. (367)
例6
一九八九年开始治理整顿。治理整顿，我是赞成的，而且确实需要。（DⅢ376）
In 1989 we began the drive to improve the economic environment and rectify the economic order, which I endorsed because it was plainly necessary. (364)
此例译文值得注意。两句合成一句，后半句是一个which引导的从句，其中还套一个because引导的从句。这样译，既避免了重复，又发挥了从句的作用，充分体现了英语的特点。
例7
企业下放，政企分开，是经济体制改革，也是政治体制改革。（DⅢ192）
Delegating to lower levels the power to manage enterprises and separating the functions of the government from those of enterprises are components of the reform not only of the economic structure but also of the political structure. (192)
“企业下放，政企分开”，语言简练，内容丰富，译文需要具体，才能说出其中的含义。后面加了components，因为这两件事只是改革的一部分，而不是其全部内容。
例8
天津港下放两年来经济效益显著提高。（DⅢ165）
Since the power to administer Tianjin harbour was delegated to the local authorities two years ago, its economic efficiency has greatly improved. (168)
例9
打破“大锅饭”的政策不会变。工业有工业的特点，农业有农业的特点，具体经验不能搬用，但基本原则是搞责任制，这点是肯定的。（DⅢ29）
The policy of abandoning the practice of having everybody "eat from the same big pot" will not change either. Industry has its distinctive characteristics, and so does agriculture; the experience in one can't be applied to the other. But the "responsibility system" of determining remuneration according to output remains our basic policy—of that you can be sure. (39)
例10
那里的施工队伍还是内地去的，效率高的一个原因是搞了承包制，赏罚分明。（DⅢ51）
The construction workers there are from inland cities. Their high efficiency is due to the contracted responsibility system, under which they are paid according to their performance, and to a fair system of rewards and penalties. (61)
例11
这次副食品价格一放开，就有人抢购，议论纷纷，不满意的话多得很，但是广大人民群众理解中央，这个决心应该下。（DⅢ262-263）
As soon as we lifted price controls on non-staple foods, there was a rush of panic buying. Everybody is talking about prices, and there are a lot of complaints. However, I think the masses understand the decision of the Central Committee and the State Council and believe it was correct. (257-258)
此例谈的是价格政策，在这个上下文里，“中央”这样译是恰当的，这样译也是有根据的。
例12
毫无疑问，我们仍然坚持“双百”方针，坚持宪法和法律所保障的各项自由。（DⅢ145）
It goes without saying, however, that we should follow the policy of "letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend" and uphold the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the state. (148)
例13
……实现干部队伍的革命化、年轻化、知识化、专业化；……（DⅢ3）
…make our ranks of cadres more revolutionary, younger, better educated and more competent professionally; …(15)
我觉得，“化”的这种用法，在汉语里本来是没有的，我估计是从英语引进的。没想到引进之后便受到青睐，大家都喜欢用，于是其使用范围迅速扩大，弄到现在，想回娘家都回不去了。只好想个笨办法，译作make…more…。
例14
作报告本身就是传帮带。可以讲现在的问题，也可以讲历史。讲历史我们可是有资格，都是革命几十年的人，革命故事多得很。（DⅢ7）
Making reports is in itself a way of passing our experience on and of helping and guiding people. We can tell them about current issues as well as historical events. We are qualified to talk about historical events, because we have been working for the revolution for dozens of years and have many stories to tell.(19)
“传帮带”这样译，意思就很清楚了。另外“讲历史”也不是泛泛地讲历史，从下文看，是讲一些过去发生的事情，因此译为historical events。这样译，和前面的current issues放在一起，搭配也比较好。
例15
大家要记住那个年代，钱学森、李四光、钱三强那一批老科学家，在那么困难的条件下，把两弹一星和好多高科技搞起来。（DⅢ378）
We should remember the days when scientists of the older generation, such as Qian Xuesen, Li Siguang and Qian Sanqiang, developed the atomic and hydrogen bombs, satellites and many other high technologies under extremely difficult conditions. (365-366)
例16
我们一起工作，是一九三八年在八路军一二九师，一个师长，一个政治委员，以后在晋冀鲁豫野战军、中原野战军、第二野战军，前后共事十三年，两人感情非常融洽，工作非常协调。我比他小十多岁，性格爱好也不尽相同，但合作得很好。（DⅢ185）
Beginning in 1938 we worked together for 13 years, first in the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, where he served as commander and I as political commissar, and then in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, the Central Plains Field Army and the Second Field Army. Although he was ten years older than I, and we had different personalities, we got on very well together and cooperated closely. (185)
此例原文提到“一个师长”指的是刘伯承，“一个政治委员”指的是邓小平自己。这一点，无论是讲话的人，还是听讲的人，都清楚。但如果照原文译，读者就会纳闷，究竟谁是师长，谁是政委。因此译者索性说清楚，译为he served as commander and I as political commissar。另外，原文后半句先后提到“感情非常融洽，工作非常协调”，和“合作得很好”。译文统一处理，只译作we got on very well together and cooperated closely。这也可以算是译文追求简洁之一例吧。
例17
概括全体，情况都是这个样子。就说这么多，讲的是故事，值得回忆啊。（DⅢ343）
All the units performed very well. That's all I have to say. I have been talking about the past; it is worth remembering. (332)
这是回顾第二野战军战史的一篇讲话的最后两句话，所以译文具体化，根据上文将“全体”译作all the units，将“都是这个样子”译作performed very well。另外，第二句译文断为两句，加了三个主语。可见句子该停就要停，主语一个不能少，英语就是这个样子嘛，你注意到了吗？
（二）汉语行文，有时有些词语比较笼统、简略或抽象。遇到这种情况，译者往往以比较具体的词语来处理。
例18
今后一个长时期，至少是到本世纪末的近二十年内，我们要抓紧四件工作。（DⅢ3）
For a long time to come, at least for the 18 years till the end of the century, we must devote every effort to the following four undertakings. (15)
原文是“近二十年”，译文是18 years。译者怎么知道一定是十八年呢？原文是1982年的讲话。
例19
坦率地说，中国近代以来没有对世界作出应有的贡献。这首先同一百多年的帝国主义侵略有关，也与历代反动政府的腐败有关。（DⅢ269）
To be frank, for a long time after 1840 China did not make its due contribution to the world. That was mainly because of a century of imperialist aggression and of corrupt reactionary governments. (264)
“近代以来”这样处理，能够给外国读者一个比较准确的概念。请注意：译文用了after，而没有用since，因为从上下文看，这段时间指的是从1840年鸦片战争到1949年新中国成立。如果用since，就一直管到今天了。
例20
希望所有出国学习的人回来。不管他们过去的政治态度怎么样，都可以回来，回来后妥善安排。这个政策不能变。（DⅢ378）
We hope all those who are studying abroad will come back. All overseas students may return and enjoy proper arrangements for their life and work, regardless of their previous political attitudes. This policy will not change. (366)
在这个上下文里，“妥善安排”自然包括生活、工作等方面，但英语proper arrangements未必有此含义，因此还是说清楚好。
例21
我们不论怎么困难，也要提高教师的待遇。这个事情，在国际上都有影响。我们的留学生有几万人，如何创造他们回来工作的条件，很重要。（DⅢ275）
No matter how many difficulties we have, we must try to improve the treatment of teachers. If we do that, it will affect our intellectuals in other countries too. We have tens of thousands of students studying abroad, and it is important to create suitable conditions for their work after they come back. (270)
在这个上下文里，“在国际上都有影响”不可能指国家关系，而是指我国在国外留学或工作的人员。
例22
我国百分之八十的人口是农民。农民没有积极性，国家就发展不起来。八年前我们提出农村搞开放政策，这个政策是很成功的。农民积极性提高，农产品大幅度增加，大量农业劳动力转到新兴的城镇和新兴的中小企业。这恐怕是必由之路。总不能老把农民束缚在小块土地上，那样有什么希望？（DⅢ213-214）
Peasants constitute 80 per cent of our population. So without the initiative of the peasants, China cannot develop. Eight years ago we introduced the open policy in the countryside, and it has proved successful. The initiative of the peasants has been aroused. The output of farm products has substantially increased and a great amount of surplus labour in the countryside has moved to new, rising small and mediumsized enterprises or to new, rising cities and towns. This may be the only solution for the surplus labour in the countryside. In any event, peasants should not be confined to small plots of land forever. If they were, how could they prosper? (213)
原文提到“必由之路”。是做什么的必由之路呢？上文说的是大量农业劳动力转移，下文说的是不能老把农民束缚在小块土地上，可见这里说的是解决农村剩余劳动力的必由之路，译作the only solution for the surplus labour in the countryside。原文接着又说“有什么希望”，在这个上下文里，自然是指富裕起来的希望，因此译作how could they prosper?
例23
每个党、每个国家都有自己的历史，只有采取客观的实事求是的态度来分析和总结，才有好处。（DⅢ272）
Every party and every country has its own past, which it must analyse objectively and realistically in order to learn from it. (267)
原文说“才有好处”，有什么好处呢？研究历史，只能从中得到教益，因此译作in order to learn from it。
例24
过去聂荣臻同志管过，那时管得好，人员可以按需要调动，集中使用。（DⅢ17）
Comrade Nie Rongzhen used to be in charge of these matters, and he did a good job. At the time, personnel could be transferred according to need and employed in large numbers for key projects. (27)
原文说“集中使用”，语言既精练又易懂，一看就明白。但是怎么译呢？恐怕collectively或in a collective way都不行，不知所云啊。还是如实地把具体做法说一说吧，因此译作employed in large numbers for key projects。我觉得这个译法是再准确不过了。你说呢？
例25
因此，我强调提出，要迅速地坚决地把工作重点转移到经济建设上来。十一届三中全会解决了这个问题，这是一个重要的转折。从以后的实践看，这条路线是对的，全国面貌大不相同了。（DⅢ11）
That is why I insisted that the focus of our work should be rapidly shifted to economic development. A decision to this effect was made at the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, and it represented an important turning point. Our practice since then has shown that this line is correct, as the whole country has taken on an entirely new look. (22)
原文第二句提到“解决了这个问题”。怎样解决的呢？通过了相应的决议。因此译为A decision to this effect was made，意思比较清楚。
例26
对科学技术的重要性要充分认识。科学技术方面的投入、农业方面的投入要注意，再一个就是教育方面。我们要千方百计，在别的方面忍耐一些，甚至于牺牲一点速度，把教育问题解决好。（DⅢ275）
So we must recognize the full importance of science and technology. We should put more money and effort into developing them and into developing agriculture and education. We should try every way to expand education, even if it means slowing down in other fields. (270)
例27
要注意解决好少数高级知识分子的待遇问题。调动他们的积极性，尊重他们，会有一批人做出更多的贡献。（DⅢ275）
We must try to increase the material benefits for the few top intellectuals. If we arouse their enthusiasm and show them more respect, they will make more contributions. (270)
例28
用多种形式，把所有权和经营权分开，以调动企业积极性，这是改革的一个很重要的方面。这个问题在我们一些同志的思想上还没有解决，主要是受老框框的束缚。（DⅢ192）
To stimulate the initiative of the enterprises, we have to separate ownership from management in various ways; that is a very important part of the reform. But some of our comrades, who are still bound by conventional notions of how things should be done, don't like this idea. (192)
例29
实际情况就是这样。所以，不要宣扬我起的作用有什么特别不了起，因为宣扬过分会带来一个问题，就是说，邓某人不在了政策要变。现在国际上就担心这个问题嘛。（DⅢ83）
That's the truth. So don't try to exaggerate my role. That would only raise doubts in people's minds and lead them to believe that China's policies will change once Deng is gone. That's just what the world community is concerned about. (90)
原文“带来一个问题”理解为“在人们心中产生疑问”，这样便于引出下面所担心的事情。
例30
因为这是历史遗留下来的问题，你们有人民感情的问题，我们也有人民感情的问题。只有采取“一揽子解决”的办法，才有可能各自说服自己的人民。（DⅢ19）
Because this question has a long history, you have to take into account the feelings of your people, and we also have to take into account the feelings of our people. But if the two sides agree to the "package solution", they should be able to convince their people. (29)
从以上六例可以看出，遇见“问题”二字，不一定译作problem，或question，或issue，涉及什么事情，就说什么事情好了。
例31
要利用外国智力，请一些外国人来参加我们的重点建设以及各方面的建设。对这个问题，我们认识不足，决心不大。（DⅢ32）
We should make use of the intellectual resources of other countries by inviting foreigners to participate in key development projects and other construction projects in various fields. We haven't recognized how important this is, and consequently we haven't done as much as we should have.(43)
例32
国外有些人过去把我看作是改革派，把别人看作是保守派。我是改革派，不错；如果要说坚持四项基本原则是保守派，我又是保守派。所以，比较正确地说，我是实事求是派。（DⅢ209）
Some persons in other countries regard me as a reformist and other leaders as conservatives. It is true I am a reformist. But if a person who upholds the Four Cardinal Principles is a conservative, then I am a conservative. Or to be more exact, I believe in seeking truth from facts. (209)
例33
如果六十年代以来中国没有原子弹、氢弹，没有发射卫星，中国就不能叫有重要影响的大国，就没有现在这样的国际地位。这些东西反映一个民族的能力，也是一个民族、一个国家兴旺发达的标志。（DⅢ279）
If it were not for the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb and the satellites we have launched since the 1960s, China would not have its present international standing as a great, influential country. These achievements demonstrate a nation's abilities and are a sign of its level of prosperity and development. (273)
译文所用achievements一词有分量，用在这里，与上下文相称。
例34
所有别人的东西都可以参考，但也只是参考。世界上的问题不可能都用一个模式解决。中国有中国自己的模式，莫桑比克也应该有莫桑比克自己的模式。（DⅢ261）
You may want to refer to other people's experience, but that can be useful only as background information. The world's problems cannot all be solved in the same way. China has its own way, and Mozambique must also find its own way. (256)
这里所说的“东西”指的是治国经验，所以译为experience，另外，这是一篇讲话的结尾，最后一句没有用简略的说法，而是重复了it's own way，这样译比较有力。
例35
你们还提出把科学技术工作和人才培养使用工作做好，我看最难的是这一条。没有一套办法，怎么能把几百万知识分子骨干用起来？（DⅢ17）
You propose to do good work in science and technology and in the training and employment of talented people. I think this will be the most difficult task. How can we put the several million key intellectuals to use if we haven't worked out a set of measures to be taken? (27)
“这一条”译为task。若要含糊一点，这一部分也许可以译作the most difficult thing to do。但在这个上下文里，还是task较为合适，词义明确。既有词义明确的译法，又何必含糊其词呢？
例36
已经过去的八年多证明，我们走的路是对的。但要证明社会主义真正优越于资本主义，要看第三步，现在还吹不起这个牛。我们还需要五六十年的艰苦努力。那时，我这样的人就不在了，但相信我们现在的娃娃会完成这个任务。（DⅢ226-DⅢ227）
Our experience over the last eight years or so shows that the road we have taken is the right one. But it is only after the third step that we shall really be able to show the superiority of socialism over capitalism—that's something we can't prove at the moment. We shall have to work hard for another 50 or 60 years. By then, people of my age will be gone, but I have no doubt that the younger generations will reach the third goal. (224)
这个例子很精彩。原文说“现在还吹不起这个牛”，意思是现在还不敢说这个话，口说无凭啊。前半句用了“证明”二字。译文就在该用“证明”的地方用了show，留下prove一词到后面来用。这样，后半句就译作that's something we can't prove at the moment。接下去，原文又提到“我这样的人”。指哪一方面呢？从上下文看来，是指年龄，因此译作people of my age。“这个任务”具体理解为实现第三步所要达到的目标，因为到那时就能证明社会主义真正优越于资本主义了。
例37
我们的改革是从农村开始的，在农村先见成效，但发展不平衡。（DⅢ155）
Our reform began in the countryside, and it has achieved initial success there. However, some rural areas are more developed than others. (158)
例38
打击各种犯罪活动，扫除各种丑恶现象，手软不得。（DⅢ378）
In combating crime and eliminating social evils, we must not be soft. (366)
例39
无非是给了他们权，其中最重要的是用人权。（DⅢ166）
This is only because the local authorities have been given power, especially the power to hire and fire personnel. (169)
以上三例，译文都用了具体的词语，显得灵活生动。
例40
我们现在既有顺利的情况，又有风险的情况。好在这十年来中国有了可喜的发展，人民生活有所改善，对风险的承受能力有一定的增强。（DⅢ263）
Some of our measures may go well while others may not. Fortunately, over the past ten years China has made gratifying progress in economic development, the standard of living has risen and the people can tolerate some price rises. (258)
此例的出处，通篇讲的是理顺物价、加速改革，因此“对风险的承受能力”理解为“对物价上涨的承受能力”。
例41
胆子还是要大，没有胆量搞不成四个现代化。但处理具体事情要谨慎小心，及时总结经验。（DⅢ229）
We have to be daring, or we shall never be able to modernize. But we also have to be cautious about introducing particular reforms and review our experience regularly. (227)
上文提到改革和现代化，“处理具体事情”不可能指日常事务，因此译为introducing particular reforms。
例42
特区搞建设，花了十几年时间才有这个样子，垮起来可是一夜之间啊。垮起来容易，建设就很难。在苗头出现时不注意，就会出事。（DⅢ379）
It has taken the special economic zones more than ten years to reach the present stage. They can collapse overnight. Collapse is easy, but construction is difficult. If we don't nip bourgeois liberalization in the bud, we may find ourselves in trouble. (367)
原文前面提到“资产阶级自由化”，所以这里只提“苗头”就行了。但译文不能省略，一定要说bourgeois liberalization in the bud。另外，此例第一句先说“搞建设”，又说“垮起来”，译文断为两句。第二句译文用的是并列结构，加了连词but。第三句译文用的是主从结构，加了连词if。这就是英文。最后一句find ourselves in trouble是地道的英文，值得注意。
例43
我们以前是学苏联的，搞计划经济。（DⅢ203）
At one time we copied the Soviet model of economic development and had a planned economy. (203)
原文“学苏联的”显然是指学习苏联的经济发展模式，所以译作copied the Soviet model of economic development。
例44
和八大的时候比较，现在我们党对我国社会主义建设规律的认识深刻得多了，经验丰富得多了，贯彻执行我们的正确方针的自觉性和坚定性大大加强了。（DⅢ2）
Our Party now has a much deeper understanding of the laws governing China's socialist construction than it did at the time of the Eighth Congress, and it has become much more experienced, purposeful and determined to implement correct principles. (14)
原文提到“自觉性”、“坚定性”。“性”字的这一用法，也是从国外引进的，现在我们也已经很习惯了。此处译文用了三个形容词，experienced, purposeful and determined，生动可爱，比用抽象名词好多了。你说是不是？
例45
婉儿：鸣凤，你是个有见识的人，就看远点吧。不要害怕，也许到了冯家那边，那老头子真把你当作亲人看，疼你，宝贝你——（家142）
Grace: You are a sensible person, so look on the bright side too. Don't be afraid. Maybe the old man would really treat you as a daughter and become fond of you—
“亲人”译作daughter，一下子就能让外国观众明白这种亲密的关系。如译作relative，则不一定，因为relative可以有亲有疏。
例46
觉新：爷爷他们呢？（家178-181）
Juexin: Where are Grandfather and the others?
瑞珏：都好，都在朱楼歇着呢。我去到厨房给你拿冰糖莲子。
Jade: They are all safe. Resting in the Red Pavilion.—I'll get you some sugared lotus seeds from the kitchen.
觉新：你别发疯，外面还放着枪呢。
Juexin: No, you won't. There are still stray bullets flying about.
外国观众一听stray bullets flying about，便明白到厨房去拿东西是有危险的。
例47
觉新：那么，你的通信处？（家312）
Juexin: What will be your address?
觉慧：我到一个地方就会写信告诉你。
Juehui: I'll write as soon as I settle down.
“到一个地方”为什么不译作get to a place？大概是因为只有settle down，才会有通信地址。
以上诸例，译文各有千秋。但有两个共同点。其一是原文有些含糊的、笼统的、不很具体的词语，就汉语行文来说，都没有问题，译文都加以具体化，译成了明确的语言。其二是依靠上下文，在上下文里找线索，以确定原文的具体含义，给出词义明确的译文。
说到这里，也许会产生一个问题：为什么要这样做？应不应该这样做？我以为，这样做的结果是读者可以顺畅地读下去，用不着不时停下来琢磨其含义，就能理解原作的内容，而这正是讲话或写文章的目的。以上这些译例，都是尽量把事情或道理讲清楚，译文也是越清楚越好。如果遇到一个场合，说话的人有意含糊其词，那就另当别论了。