On the Application of reverse translation

Because of the differences between the way of thinking and the way of expression in English and Chinese, some sentences cannot faithfully express the Original Meaning in front of the literal meaning, the opposite expression may have an equivalent or approximate equivalent effect to the original text, which is called reverse translation. Reverse translation includes two aspects: one is to translate positive expressions into negative expressions, or to translate negative expressions into positive expressions. The other is to reverse the order of the two aspects of comparison, for example, if a is better than B, it is weaker than B and the object is converted into a subject. According to the author's translation practice, it is best to perform reverse translation in the following situations. The following is an example of several texts in the selection of Contemporary English prose edited by Mr. Wu jingrong.

1. When positive translation is difficult to express the original meaning:

1. At the close of 1933, Keynes addressed a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, which, not seeking reticence, he published in The New York Times .... The following year he visited FDR but the letter had been a better means of communication. Each man was puzzled by the face-to-face encounter.

In the above sentence, how can we understand and translate not seeking reticence? He does not want to keep silence. However, from the perspective of Cairns's practice, he sent a letter to the President and published the letter in the most famous newspaper in the United States, in order to gain public support and expand influence, the translation also serves to put pressure on the President's public opinion. The above translation does not reflect this positive meaning. If translation is based on reverse translation, it can be translated into "to make the public know", or even "to pursue sensation effect", it can better reflect the original meaning.

If the second sentence is translated as "he visited Roosevelt in the next year, but his letter has become a better way of communication", not only cannot express the original meaning, but it is just a cloud. If we conduct reverse translation and translate the following sentence into "but the effect of this talk is worse than that of the last letter", it will not only reflect the original meaning, but also be coherent:

At the end of 1933, Cairns sent a letter to President Roosevelt. To make the public know, he published this letter in the New York Times ....... He visited Roosevelt The next year, but the meeting was not as effective as the last letter. Both of them are confused about this face-to-face meeting.

2. In economics one shoshould never be right too soon. The shrewd schlar always waits until the parade is passing his door and then steps bravely out in front of the band.

It is difficult to translate the first sentence literally into "people shouldn't be correct too fast", which is obviously incomprehensible. According to the detailed description in the following sentence, this section can be reversed:

In economics, people should wait patiently to announce their correct ideas. Smart scholars always rush out before the parade passes through their own door and come to the forefront of the team.

2. When the positive translation has unclear meanings and is prone to misunderstandings:

3. I was singled out for attack as the Crown Prince of 'keynesism '. I was greatly pleased and stored ed that my friends wocould be properly resentful.

ArticleThe author said that he was picked out by (conservative) and attacked as the number one disciple of Cairns. He went on to say, "I am very pleased with this and hope that my friends will not be overly angry." He translated properly into "not excessively ", the meaning is clear. If it is literally translated into "Appropriate indignation", it is hard to understand.

4. The uneventful dignity of his life makes for a biography which it wocould be odd to be thrilled by and which it wocould be insensitive not to be stirred.

This is a comment on the life of James Murray, a famous British dictionary. Literally translated as "… He was surprised by his biography, but not excited is not sensitive. "The meaning is not clear. It is easy to understand if he translated it by reverse translation. His life is ordinary, but solemn. Reading his biography is not surprising, but if you are not touched by it, it is feeling numb.

Iii. When reverse translation highlights the problem and expresses it effectively:

5. At all costs time must be gained.

This is what Churchill said during his war on Germany. This powerful statement can be expressed more easily by saying "you have to fight for time at all costs.

6. it is within our power to build better cities and revive the civic pride of their citizens, but we shall have to stop operating on the fringe of the problem. we shall have radically to replan them to achieve a rational density of population.

This is a question about how to solve traffic congestion in cities. We shall have to stop operating on the fringe of the problem, literally translated on the front, "we must stop working on the details of this problem." We cannot effectively express our original meaning, it is best to reverse translate:

We have the ability to build better cities and restore the pride of citizens. However, we must grasp the key points of the problem. We need to completely re-plan the city to make the urban population density reasonable.

4. When reverse translation makes the translation expression more coherent and smooth and more compliant with Chinese standards:

7. You may find it difficult to understand the thought of Hume, and if you have no philosophical training its implications will doubtless escape you.

Its implications will doubtless escape you in the sentence are expressed in a positive manner in the original order, which is neither coherent nor fluent, because the third clause has changed the subject. Reverse translation can achieve consistent meaning and smooth writing. You will find it hard to understand Tom's thoughts, and you will not be able to understand what it means if you have not been trained in philosophy.

8. In full face he does not inspire confidence. His profile, however, is simply ridiculous, and the back view of him is really horrible.

This is an exaggerated and funny description of the "at the tailors" text. In order to make the previous sentence consistent with the latter sentence, we can conduct reverse translation and translate negation into affirmation. His positive image is disappointing. The side is funny, and the back is even more frightening.

5. When reverse translation is more concise and clear:

9. Nature seldom provides me with the word, the turn of phrase, that is appropriate without being far-fetched or commonplace.

This sentence is complicated. Two negative words are used, and the expression is quite special. It is difficult to translate words literally. reverse translation can be concise and clear:

There are very few words that I naturally think of. They are not far-fetched, they are just too bad.

Reverse translation is used in two parts of the translation. First, set nature provide me... "What I naturally think of is to convert the object into the subject; the second is to convert seldom... Without being far-fetched o 'r commonplace ..., Is ...".

To sum up, reverse translation is a good remedy when positive translation is difficult to express the original meaning or the translation is incoherent, fluent, and concise. This is what we call "no way to restore questions, but the village is different ".

(Source: Chuan ShenCommunity, English dianjin editing)