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大学英语翻译教程
1.8.2.16 十六、北京烤鸭
十六、北京烤鸭

【翻译原文】

俗话说,“到北京,不到长城非好汉,不吃烤鸭(roast duck)真遗憾!”烤鸭是北京的地方风味,已有1600多年的历史。对于那些想更多地了解中国菜和中国文化习俗的人来说,北京烤鸭就是一个不错的选择。脆皮(crisp skin)和嫩肉是北京烤鸭的特点。北京最出名的老字号(centuries-old/time-honored brand)烤鸭店是“全聚德”。创建于1864年的全聚德备受各国元首、政府官员及国内外游客喜爱。

【表达难点】

1.第1句中的“不到长城非好汉,不吃烤鸭真遗憾!”若逐字对译One who fails to GreatWal1 is not a hero and it is a pity if you do not dine on Beijing Roast Duck,则句子显得冗长、生硬。釆用意译的方法将其表达为No visit to Beijing is complete if you miss seeing the GreatWall or dining on Beijing Roast Duck则更胜一筹,句子结构对称,语言简洁且到位。

2.第2句“烤鸭是北京的地方风味,已有1600多年的历史”原句是并列的两个结构,但为使译文的重点更突出,可将前半句处理成主干(Roast Duck is the local flavor of Beijing),后半句则处理成伴随状语,用介词短语with a history of over 1,600 years来表达,该部分也可移至句首。

3.第3句中的定语“想更多地了解中国菜和中国文化习俗的”较长,故将其处理成定语从句,译作who want to learn more about Chinese dishes,cultures and customs.

4.最后一句中的定语“创建于1864年的”实表被动意义,故用过去分词短语setup in 1864来表达,因后面句子成分较长,为平衡句子结构,故将其置于句首作状语。

【精彩译文】

As a Chinese saying goes,“No visit to Beijing is complete if you miss seeing the GreatWall or dining on Beijing Roast Duck”.With a history of over 1,600 years,Roast Duck is the local flavor of Beijing.For thosewhowant to learnmore about Chinese dishes,cultures and customs,it is really a good choice.Beijing Roast Duck is characterized by its crisp skin and tendermeat.the mostwell-known centuries-old brand Roast Duck restaurant in Beijing is Quanjude.Set up in 1864,it is much loved by heads of state,government officials and tourists from home and abroad.