【翻译真题二】
中国结(the Chinese knot)最初是由手工艺人发明的，经过数百年不断的改进，已经成为一种优雅多彩的艺水和工艺。在古代,人们用它来记录事件,但现在主要用于装饰的目的。"结"在中文里意味着爱情、 婚烟和团聚。中国结常常作为礼物交换或用作饰品祈求好运和避邪。这种形式的手工艺(handicraft)代代相传，现在已经在中国和世界各地越来越受欢迎。
【参考译文】
The Chinese knot, originally invented by the craftsmen, has become an elegant and colorful art and craft over hundreds of years' improvement. In ancient times’ it was used to record events, but nowadays it is mainly functioning as decorations. "Knot" signifies love, marriage and reunion in Chinese. Often used as gift exchanges or decorations, the Chinese knot is believed to bring good luck as well as ward off evil spirits. The handicraft has been passed down from one generation to another and now is gaining popularity both at home and abroad.
【难点点拨】
1. 第一句的句子主干是:中国结已经成为一种优雅多 聪的艺术和工艺。"最初是由手工艺人发明的"可 以译作后置定语补充说明"中国结经过数百年不断的改进"可译力时间状语。"不断的改进"可以减译"不断的",直接译为improvement,因力"不断 的"是一个加强语气的词;"一种优雅多彩的艺术和 工艺"中的"优雅多彩的"可以用elegant and colorful来表示。
2. 第四句中"作为礼物交换或用作饰品"是为了"祈求 好运和避邪"，因此可译为Often used as gift exchanges or decorations, the Chinese knot is believed to bring good luck as well as ward off evil spirits.
3. 最后一句中，句子的重心在后面，因此可以选择弱 化处理成 being passed down from one generation to another,也可以将其处理成两个并列结构has been passed down from one generation to another and now is gaining...,为使句子结构更清晰,第二种译法更佳。此外这种形式的手工艺"就是指中国结这种手工艺,故可直接译为The handicraft.
