B.词语搭配构成词组小语境,可以藉此确定相互间的意义:

1) express the idea:表达e.g. He cannot express his ideas clearly in speaking.

2) advocate the idea:鼓吹、维护e.g. This organization advocated Hitler’s Nazi ideas.

3) borrow the idea:借用、抄袭e.g. This idea was borrowed from the West.

4) spread the idea:传播e.g. Democratic ideas are being spread throughout the world.

5) deepen the impression:(加深)e.g. He did that to deepen the impression that he was generous.

6) exercise/use the influence:使用e.g. He promised to use his influence to get me a job.

7) have the influence:具有e.g. This movie has an adverse influence on teenagers.

8) exert the influence:施加e.g.…you are expected to exert positive influence on your fellow schoolmates.

二、通过语篇语境确定词义

翻译过程中,语篇不论是对原文的理解还是对译文的构建都起着非常重要的作用。由于语篇是最基本的翻译单位,译者应该予以足够的重视。合格的译者不仅要具备语篇分析的能力,还必须首先具备语篇意识。所谓语篇意识就是要求译者将语篇看作一个整体,而不局限于词、短语、句子,从语篇整体把握原文、理解原文、再现译文。

e.g. The man, who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will be not unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do (B. Russell).

译文:上了年纪而能这样看待生活的人就不会遭受怕死的痛苦,因为他所关怀的事物将继续下去。同时,如果精力衰竭了,疲乏增加了,休息的思想并非是要不得的。我倒愿意工作不息,死而后已,因为我知道别人会继续我未完成的事业(《新概念英语》第4册)。

如果只看到划线的这一句话,译文似乎没什么可挑剔。但是,如果考虑一下上下文,将整个句群看作一个整体,我们会发现译文与前文与后文都不相呼应。因为原文第一句“The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death”与最后一句“I should wish to die while still at work”都表明整篇的主题是死亡问题,“rest”的含义是“长眠”而非“休息”,但划线部分的译文却与“死亡”无关。而且,这里的“rest”是一种委婉的说法,表示死亡的这类委婉语还有很多,如“silence”、“sleep”、“quietus”等,如果原文用的是“silence”,难道应该将其译为“沉默的思想并非是要不得的”?显然,产生这一问题的根本原因就是不顾文章的整体性,孤立地“理解”部分语句,忽略了篇章整体信息的参与。划线部分的合理译文应该是:而且,如果随着精力的衰竭,疲倦之感日渐增加,长眠并非是不受欢迎的念头。

杨绛先生在她的文章《记钱钟书与〈围城〉》中,多处用到了“痴气”及与“痴”相关的词组,来描绘钱种书先生异于常人的脾性,在不同语境下其意多有不同。凌原先生,根据具体情况选用不同的英语词汇来翻译“痴气”及相关词组,请看以下诸例:

1)　　钟书写完《围城》,“痴气”依然旺盛,但是没有体现为第二部小说。

After Chung-shu finished writing Fortress Besieged, his “eccentric” bent was still going strong, but it failed to take form in a second novel.

2) 我觉得《围城》里的人物和情节,都凭他那股子痴气,呵成了真人真事。

It was those charming mischievous quirks of his that made it possible for him to create the characters and plots for the novel and pass them off as real people and real deeds.

3) “高兴”也正是钱家所谓“痴气”的表现。

“Being funny” was another manifestation of his puckish bent in the eyes of the Ch’iens.

4) 钟书的“痴气”也怪别致的。

Chung-shu’s sweet quirkiness is peculiarly his own.

5) 沦陷在上海的时候,他多余的“痴气”往往发泄在叔父的小儿小女、孙儿孙女和自己的女儿阿圆身上。

When he was stranded in Shanghai, he would take out his pent-up eccentric energy on Younger Uncle’s small children, grand children and Ah Yuan, his own daughter…