2017年英语六级翻译练习：明朝
来源 :中华考试网 2017-10-10
中2017年英语六级翻译练习：明朝
明朝统治中国276年，被人们描绘成人类历史上治理有序、社会稳定的最伟大的时代之一。这一时期，手工业的发展促进了市场经济和城市化。大量商品，包括酒和丝绸，都在市场销售。同时，还进口许多外国商品，如时钟和烟草。北京、南京、扬州、苏州这样的大商业中心相继形成。也是在明代，由郑和率领的船队曾到印度洋进行了七次大规模探险航行。还值得一提的是，中国文学的四大经典名著中有三部写于明朝。
这篇短文共有七句话。从意群上来划分，第一句是总起句，统领整段话。第二句至第五句是讲明朝的市场经济和城市化，即第三四五句是说明第二句的。第六句是讲明代与世界的关系。第七句则是文化领域的代表。
【第一句】明朝统治中国276年，被人们描绘成人类历史上治理有序、社会稳定的最伟大的时代之一。
这句话字面上是一个被动句，即有“被”字。由于属于对明朝的描述，建议还是按被动句来翻译，避免与后一句的主语在语义上的关联性不足。
其次，在这一句中，“明朝统治中国276年”不能直接将“中国”一词翻译出来。原因是明朝的行政统治疆域与当代中国的完全不一样。翻吧君在之前就提到过，在当前的语境下，中国一词的概念与古代中国各朝代是完全不一样的。在译成英语后，会对英语国家的读者造成理解上的混乱。
还有就是，“明朝“、“276年”与后面的“最伟大的时代之一”，这三者在时间层面有有内在的关联性，即在时间延续性上是一致的。不过，从语义的重点来看，后者肯定是最主要的。因此，可以将”统治中国276年“，当作一个修饰语，而不必单独成语。
在维基百科里，对明朝的描述中，有类似的句子：
The Ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China – then known as the Empire of the Great Ming – for 276 years (1368–1644) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming, described by some as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history."
我们借鉴性地修改一下：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled for 276 years, was described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and stable society in human history.
【第二句】这一时期，手工业的发展促进了市场经济和城市化。
在这一句中，”这一时期“，即是指整个明朝。不过，需要注意的是，”手工业的发展“是一个动态过程， 是与”市场经济“和“城市化”进程相呼应的。这里不宜用名词development 或progress 来翻译“发展”，而不是要用“动词+不定式”的句型，来显示发展会带来什么样的后果，如advance to promote。
这句话可以翻译为：
During the Ming, its handicraft industry advanced to promot the market-oriented economy and the urbanization.
【第三句】大量商品，包括酒和丝绸，都在市场销售。
“酒”可以翻译为wine，但是它特指葡萄酒或者果酒，因此，更准确的翻译应该是酒这一类物品，可用泛指各种酒精饮料的alcohol。
这句话包含了一个被动的语态，“商品在市场被销售”，可译成如下：
A large amount of goods, including embroidered silk and alcohol, were sold in markets.
【第四句】同时，还进口许多外国商品，如时钟和烟草。
这句话的中文里没有主语，不过，由于与上一句是相关联的，并且强调的是“商品”，因此，不强加一个主语，而是仍然用被动句：“商品被进口”。
可译为：
Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities, such as clocks and tobacco, were imported.
【第五句】北京、南京、扬州、苏州这样的大商业中心相继形成。
本句的句子结构比较简单，主要需要处理词汇。
“商业中心”对应的表达是“commercial center”，也可以写成“business center”
“相继形成”的英语表述为“continuously”,也可以简化为“One after another”
可译成：
Some business centers of Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou came into formation one after another.
【第六句】还值得一提的是，中国文学的四大经典名著中有三部写于明朝。
本句的句子结构比较接单，“四大名著中的三部”可以用three of four…的结构。
需要解决的词汇有：
“值得一提”对应的英语表述为“note worthy”，当然也可以简化为what’s more或者Besides。
“四大经典名著”是专有名词，为“Four Great Classical Novels”，需要注意大写。不过，也可以不用这个专有名词，用说明性的词汇，如four Chinese major fictions.
可译成：
What's worthy being noted, three of four classical fictions were developed into mature in the Ming Dynasty.
参考译文一：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled for 276 years, was described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and stable society in human history. During the Ming, its handicraft industry advanced to promot the market-oriented economy and the urbanization. A large amount of goods, including embroidered silk and alcohol, were sold in markets.Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities, such as clocks and tobacco, were imported.Some business centers of Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou came into formation one after another. What's worthy noted, three of four classical fictions were developed into mature in the Ming Dynasty.
参考译文二：
Ming Dynasty ruled China for 276 years. People say it was organized and stable. It was one of the greatest eras in human history. At this period of time, the development of handicraft industry promoted the market-oriented economy and urbanization. Many products, including alcohol and silk, were sold in markets. At the same time, it imported many foreign products, such as clocks and tobacco. Commercial centers like Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou formed one after another. Zheng Healso led a fleet to the Indian Ocean for seven large adventures in Ming Dynasty. What’s more, three of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature were written in Ming Dynasty.
参考译文三：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled China for 276 years, was depicted as the greatest era in human history because of its ordered and stable society. During this period, the market economy and urbanization was stimulated by the development of handicraft industry. A large amount of goods, including silk and wine, was sold in markets. Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities like clocks and tobacco were imported. Mass commercial centers like Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou were also aroused continually during this era. It was also in the Ming Dynasty that China dispatched large fleets for 7 times, all led by Zhen He to the Indian Ocean for great adventure. It was also noteworthy that three of Four Great Classical Novels of China were written in the Ming Dynasty.