一个英国人的汉译英试译（以此接得某大项目）

ysun wrote:

Steve,

由于大家的教育背景、工作经验、生活经历不同等种种原因，产生不同意见是很正常的。 但如果大家心平气和地讨论问题，就可产生积极的结果。即使不能达成一致意见，也还可以求同存异，不伤和气。至于 Refrigeration 的问题，我看再讨论下去也意义不大，还是求同存异吧。

ysun wrote:

不久前，对于下面这句话中的“升压运行”应如何翻译，与某人有不同意见：
“快开门式压力容器应当设置满足下列要求的安全联锁装置：当快开门达到预定关闭部位方能升压运行的联锁控制功能。”

我建议译成 “pressure boosting operation”，但某人认为 boosting 是用词不当，应该用 increasing。其实，有不同意见很正常，但当我列出几本词典作为根据时，对方就开始以 “boosting American economy” 等言语来嘲笑我，并说“我翻译时从来不查词典，但也决不不懂装懂”，等等。他还列出自己对全句的翻译如下：
“The the speed shutter reaches the preset shutting position, the ability to Chain control the pressure increasing operation starts.”

以前遇到这种人，我会以牙还牙。但这次我只是列出自己对全句的翻译如下，让别人去判断到底是谁在“不懂装懂”：
“Pressure vessels with a quick-actuating closure should be equipped with a safety interlocking device that meets the following requirement: having such an interlocking control function that pressure boosting operation can not be started until the quick-actuating closure reaches the predetermined closing position.”

“翻译时从来不查词典”倒不去说它，但最起码翻完之后应该再看它一遍，把那重复的 “the” 去掉一个。声明一点，我只是就事论事，对事不对人。同时，我也欢迎对我的译文“拍砖”，不过可别对我本人“拍砖”。:D

nigerose wrote:

全句可否改成：
“Pressure vessels with a quick-actuating closure should be equipped with a safety interlocking device that meets the requirement of having such an interlocking control function that pressure boosting operation can not be started until the quick-actuating closure reaches the predetermined closing position.”

lai an wrote:

提一个小问题: 二位 can not 为什么不写 cannot 呢？
另外that pressure boosting operation -> that the pressure boosting operation 怎么样？

[Edited at 2009-03-23 05:37 GMT]

nigerose wrote:



恐怕没那么多时间学习背景知识。
如果有良心，就不要做自己不熟悉的领域。

dumont wrote:

I have a (I think) good idea to resolve the "native" issue that has been so much in Mr. Steve's mind.
Or at least a goodish idea.

We can have the translation done by the "native" (at least that's what Mr. Steve so fervently believes) posted on a place somewhere in the site where true English natives can be invited in some workable numbers to comment on its "nativity", without the original Chinese since it's not really necessary for the purpose.

Further, we can have the one done by me posted alongside it or following it, and let the same native people comment on its "non-nativity".

In addition, it would be so much the better, if the commenter can be invited to grade the two works in nativity or non-nativity. If my score is so much as one iota lower than that of the one compared to, I will promise to admit wrong doing of whatever and even apologize to Mr. Steve for the perceived insults he thinks he has sustained from my clumsy remarks, as he deems appropriate.

I guess the off topic forum would be one of the places worth considering?

isahuang wrote:

My two cents,

well, since the dollar has depreciated, it is probably only worth 1 cent now

I think what you mean by "nativity" should be "nativeness". And "native people" is different from native speakers.

dumont wrote:

wherestip

I had to have a little laugh at the way you are seizing whatever opportunity to comment on my low level of competence. What a great satisfaction it would be to point it out to people who might not be able to see it clearly themselves.

You must have hated me.

But i must say i have no real personal feelings towards you, at least it's definite not a match of that which seem to be palpable from you.

What i am intending to do is to find out whether true English natives think the same way as you regarding the piece of translation in question. The attempt by me, I think is to your credit, not to your discredit, since this would entail that your words have still some weight with me.

If I do it, I am not doing it to bash anybody. As I said I will apologize to you after proving you are right.

On a side not, if you are for whatever reason feeling a victim, getting unduly defensive, it does not look good in your case.