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大学英语翻译教程
1.8.5.2 二、中国的国土和气候特征
二、中国的国土和气候特征

【翻译原文】

中国幅员辽阔,国土横跨多个纬度(degrees of latitude),地势(terrain)复杂,气候变化十分明显。中国是一个庞大的国家,疆土一望无际,其居民数量众多,且民族多种多样。中国国土面积仅次于俄罗斯和加拿大,位居世界第三,占据了亚洲约四分之一的面积。中国有多个温度和降雨量分布区,包括大陆季风气候区(continentalmonsoon areas)。中国的气候具有明显的四季特征,因此冬夏温差显著。

【表达难点】

1.横跨多个纬度,地势复杂:“维度”用degrees of latitude表示,“横跨多个维度”译为span many degrees of latitude;“地势复杂”可译为complicated terrain。注:“经度”为degrees of longitude。

2.中国是一个庞大的国家,疆土一望无际,其居民数量众多,且民族多种多样:这句的主干可翻译为China is a hugecountry with…“疆土一望无际”可用endless territory表示,territory表示“领土,领域”;“民族”翻译为ethnic groups。

3.中国的气候具有明显的四季特征,因此冬夏温差显著:“具有明显的四季特征”翻译为is featured by distinct four seasons;“因此……显著”可用which引导的非限制性定语从句来表达,即which leads to…

【精彩译文】

China has a vast land which spansmany degrees of latitudewith complicated terrain and the climate varies radically.China is a huge country with endless territory.It has a large number of population and a variety of ethnic groups.China is the third largest country in the world,only after Russia and Canada,accounting for almost a quarter of the land of Asia.China has several temperature and rainfall zones,including continental monsoon areas.China’s climate is featured by distinct four seasons,which leads to remarkable winter and summer temperature differences.