【原文】
在中国,笔、墨、纸、砚(ink slab),就是人们所说的“文房四宝”,在中华文明的传承中起了重要作用。文房四宝不仅有实用价值,它们本身也是供人观赏的艺术品,并逐步成为收藏品。文房四宝品类繁多,丰富多彩,选材制作不断趋于完善、精美,历代都有名品、名匠产生,成为一种深厚的文化积淀。在当今时代,使用笔、墨、纸、砚进行学习、写作的人越来越少了,但是,在中国的书法、绘画、收藏以及修身养性活动中,它们仍起着不可替代的作用。
【参考译文】
In China, “four treasures of the study” refers to “writing brush”, “ink stick”, “paper” and “ink slab”, playing an important role in passing on Chinese civilization. They not only have their value of practical use, but also become the works of art for appreciation and collection. There is a large variety of these four treasures. Selecting of materials and making process have become increasingly delicate and perfect. Each dynasty of Chinese history saw famous craftsmen appear and works produced, which is a profound process of cultural accumulation.In contemporary times, “four treasures of the study” have been increasingly rarely used for study or writhing, but they are still playing an irreplaceable role in the field of Chinese calligraphy, painting, collection and in the activities of cultivating one's mind.
【原文】
中国是丝绸的故乡。栽桑、养蚕、缫丝、织绸是中国古代人民的伟大发明。商周时期丝绸的生产技术就已发展到相当高的水平。西汉时张骞通西域,把中原与波斯湾、地中海紧密联系起来,开辟了中外交流贸易的新纪元。从此中国的丝绸以其卓越的品质、精美的花色和丰富的文化内涵闻名于世,成为中国文化的象征。东方文明的使者。
【参考译文】
China is the home of silk. Mulberry planting, sericulture, silk reeling and thickening are all great inventions of the ancient Chinese. As early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (1600BC-256BC), the Chinese people’s silk-weaving techniques had reached an extremely high level. During the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-25AD), Zhang Qian, an outstanding diplomat, travelled around central Asia and connected China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean, opening up a new era of Sino-foreign trade, exchange and communication. From then on, China’s silk became well known for its extraordinary quality, exquisite design and color, and abundant culture connotations. Hitherto, Chinese silk has been accepted as a symbol of Chinese culture and the emissary of oriental civilization.
【原文】
自汉朝(公元前206年—公元221年)起,元宵节就已成为了中国新年庆祝活动中的一部分了。一般农历的正月十五为元宵节,这一天也标志着新年庆祝活动的结束。据说元宵节由古代中国的一个传说演化而来,传言每至农历第一个月圆之夜,便可看到天上飞动的神灵。为了更容易寻找神灵,他们都会用一些火把照明,而这些火把也逐渐由一些形状、大小、颜色各异的灯笼所取代。
【参考译文】
The Lantern Festival has been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 221 AD). Usually held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, it marks the end of New Year festivities.It is said that the holiday evolved from an ancient Chinese belief that celestial spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar. To aid them in their search for the spirits they used torches. These torches gave way to lanterns of every shape, size and colour。
【原文】
敦煌莫高窟(Dunhuang Mogao Caves)坐落于中国西部甘肃省。这些石窟刻于距离敦煌东南方向25公里处鸣沙山的悬崖上。敦煌莫高窟是规模最大、保存时间最长的佛教(Buddhist)艺术宝库,现存735个洞窟,壁画(frescoes)4万5千多平方米。这些壁画展现了佛(Buddha)的形象和活动以及人与神之间的关系。敦煌壁画中的舞蹈人物是全人类的一颗璀璨的宝石。敦煌莫高窟在1987年被列入世界遗产名录(World Heritage List)。
【解析】
1.第2句中的定语“距离教煌东南方向25公里处鸣沙山的”较长,故将其处理成后置定语按英文的表达习惯,把相关性强的词语放一起,故将“鸣沙山”后置于cliff,但如果把on amount called Mingsha 直接置于 on a cliff后,则读起来不顺秘,故把on a mount called Mingsha置于句末。
2.第3句中的“现存735个洞窟,壁画4万5千多平方米”如果译为there now exist…, and…,则句型结构是松散,宜将其处理成伴随状语,用with more than 45,000 square meters of frescoes in 735 caves 来表达,更能体现出壁画和洞窟的关系。
3.翻译倒数第2句“教煌壁脚中的舞蹈人物是全人类的一颗璀璨的宝石”时,先译出主要结构(dancing images are a jewel),“敦煌壁画中的”作主语的后置定语,用in Dunhuang frescoes来表达,“全人类的” 作宾语的后置定语,译作for all human beings.
4.最后一句中的“被列人世界遗产名录”可译为was listed on the World Heritage List.但这种译法会产生两个list,根据英语避免重复用间的表达习惯,宜直接套用介词短语on the list来表达。
【译文】
Dunhuang Mogao Caves are located in western China's Gansu Province. These caves were cut a cliff 25 kilometers southeast to Dunhuang, on a mount called Mingsha. Dunhuang Mogao Caves are regarded the biggest and the longest preserved Buddhist art treasures, with more than 46,000 square meters of frescoes in 735 caves. Dunhuang frescoes display Buddha's images and behavior, and the relationship between Buddha and men. Dancing images in Dunhuang frescoes are a brilliant jewel for all human beings. Dunhuang Mogao Caves was on the World Heritage List in 1987.
【原文】
端午节(农历五月初五)是中国古老的传统节日,始于春秋战国时期,至今已有2000多年历史。通常在阳历的六月份。粽子:糯米中加入肉,坚果或者豆酱,用粽叶包好。朝鲜,韩国,日本和东南亚国家也有吃粽子的习惯。赛龙舟是端午节必不可少的部分。枪声一响,大家可以看见龙舟中的水手们努力划桨,和谐而迅速,伴随着急速的鼓声,加速向目的地划去。
【参考译文】
The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month,has had a history of more than 2,000 years. It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar。(粽子)tsung-tse/rice dumplings:Glutinous rice(糯米) filled with meat, nuts or bean paste(豆酱) and wrapped in bamboo leaves. The custom of eating tsung-tse is also popular in North and South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian nations.Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival. As the gun is fired, people will see racers in dragon-shaped canoes pulling the oars harmoniously and hurriedly, accompanied by rapid drums, speeding toward their destination.
【原文】
蒙古族牧民(herdsmen)的生活方式很有特色。牧民们喜欢吃牛羊肉和奶制品 (dairy product),喜欢喝红茶和砖茶(brick tea)。他们大多住在圆形的蒙古包(ger) 里。蒙古包顶上开有天窗,用来通风(ventilation)和采光。蒙古族是一个能骑善射、能歌善舞的民族。每年七、八月举行的“那达慕”大会(Nadama Fair),是蒙古族人民一年一度的盛大节日,大会上有赛马、摔跤、射箭(archery)比赛和精彩的歌舞表演。
【参考答案】
The Mongolian herdsmen's life style has distinguishing features. The herdsmen like eating red meat and dairy products,and drinking black tea and brick tea. Most of them live in circular gers with windows on the top, used for ventilation and lighting. The Mongolians are a group talented in riding and shooting,and singing and dancing.The Nadama Fair, which is held in July and August every year,is the Mongolian people's annual grand festival.There would be horse racing,wrestling,archery race and excellent musical and dance performances on the festival.