-
Diversified Negations in
English
肯定与否定是两个完全对立的概念,容不得
半点含糊。然而,英语
的否定形式相当繁杂,稍有不慎,难免有“谬以千里”之虞。本文
拟
将英汉两种语言对否定概念的表达方式作一概括性分析,
并简
述部分
翻译技巧。
英语否定概念的表达形式大致可分为两类——显形否定与隐形否
定。
前者一般借助否定词或含否定意义的句型表达,
其否定含义较为
直观,
故有明否定之称;后者无明显否定词,其否定含义往往要靠上
下文或语境来推定,比较难以把握,故有暗否定或间接否定之称。
现分述如下
:
一、显形否定
常用否定词
no
,
not
,
never
,
none
,
nobody
,
nothing
,
nowhere
,
neit
her
,
nor
,
neither...nor
,
but
,
without
,
unless
,
but
for
,
but
that
,
in the absence
of
,
regardless
of
,
instead
of
,
exclusive
of
,
short
of
,
rather
than
,
anything
but
,
any more
than
,
out of the
question
,
would no
more...than
由
a-<
/p>
,
dis-
,
i
l-
,
im-
,
ir-
,
un-
,
< br>non-
,
anti-
,
mal-
,
under-
等前缀
及
-less
,
-free
,
-proof
等后缀合成的否定词
hardl
y
,
scarcely
,
barely
,
little
,
few
,
seldom
等半否定词
avoi
d
,
ban
,
call off
,
cancel
,<
/p>
deny
,
deprive
,
exclude
,
esc
ape
,
evade
,
forbid
,
free...from
,
free
from/of
,
fail
,
hate
,
ignore
,
lack
,
lose
,
miss
,
naught
,
neglect
,
prohibit
,
quit, re
fuse
,
rid
,
< br>rule out
,
stop
以
及
above
,
against
,
beneath
,
beyond
,
far from
,<
/p>
off
,
out of
< br>,
past
和
absent
p>
,
bad
,
bar
e
,
empty
,
last
,
poor
,
vacant
等可用于表<
/p>
达否定概念的词。
1)
这类否定句要注意如下三个问题:
否定程度的强弱,说话者的态度以及否定句式表肯定概念
He is not richer than I.
他不比我富。
He is no
richer than I.
他和我一样,也不富。
He is not a statesman.
他不是政治家。
He is no
statesman.
他绝非政治家。
(弦外音:他不懂政治
)
No less than
fifty people were killed in the accident.
< br>事故中多达五十人死亡
(够
多的,≈
as many as
,多达)
。
Write a short passage of not less than
200 words.
写一段短文字数不少于二百(多则不
限)
。
We have not learned more than 1,000
English words.
我们学了不超过一千个英语单词(顶多一千个,可能比
这还少)
。
We have
learned no more than 1,000 English words.
我们学了一千个英语单词(不够多)
。
I could not feel
better.
我感觉再好不过了。
I can not agree
more.
我完全同意。
You
can't
be
too
careful
when
driv
ing.
开车时愈小心愈好
(
或尽可能
小心
)
。
Cf:
We can not recommend the book too
strongly.
There
is no smallest wind
today.
今天一点风也没有。
There is no small wind
today.
今天的风可真不小。
It leaves nothing to be desired.
这已完美无缺。
2
)错位否定
It doesn't seem to be logical.
这似乎不合逻辑。
I don't
think you are right.
我认为你不对。
He didn't go there by bus.
他不是乘公共汽车去的。
Cf:
He went there not by bus, but by train.
I don't teach because teaching is easy
for me.
我之所以教书,并不是因为教书容
易。
Cf: I teach not
because
…
.but
because
…
In no
circumstances should we be
conceited.
我们绝不应该骄傲自满。
但有些否定词的位置不同,含义也不同。
I haven't decided to go there.
我没决定去不去那儿。
I have
decided not to go
there.
我已决定不去那儿。
这类词还有
advise
,
tell
,
ask
p>
,
require
,
request
,
pretend
等。
3
)部分否定(或不完全否定)
p>
除了上述
c
)
类词
以外,
当
all
,
both
,
every
,
everything
,
everybody<
/p>
,
everywhere
,
always
,
often
,
completely
,
wholly
,
entirely
,
necessarily
与
not
连用时,
也表示部分否定:
I do not remember all those
names.
我记不得所有的名称。
He does not often come here.
他不是老来这儿。
Don't
always ask for
help.
不要
老让人帮忙。
另外,
d
)类词属多义词,必须多加小心,尤
其是
beyond
等介词,要注意其搭
配关系。
如:
It's quite
beyond me (above me, past me, beyond my depth).
这个我理解不
了。
beyond: ~ expectation
(出乎意料)<
/p>
,
~ debate / contr
oversy
(无可争议,无疑
的)
,
~
dispute
(无可辩驳)
,
~ d
escription
(无法描述)
,
~ cure
(不可救药)
,
~
one
誷
grasp or
conception
(不可理解)
,
~ control (
无法控制
)<
/p>
,
~
belief
(难以置信)
,
~
all comparison
(不能相提并论,不能相比)
out of
:
~
sight
(看不见)
,
~
humour
(不高兴)
,
~
breath
(喘不过气来)
,
~
cash
(没有钱)
,
~
mind
(不去想)
,
~
bounds
(不准进入)
,
~ date / style /
fashion
(过时,不时髦)
,
~
work
(失业)
,
~
danger
(脱离危险)
beneath criticism
(不值得批评)
;
past
repair
(无法修补)
,
past
all belief
(不可
思议)
;
off one
’
s mind
(不放在心上)
,
off
colour
(精神不好,身体不舒服)
常用否定句型
1
)
too...to...
,
to
o...for...
He is too young to go to
school.
(
=He is not old
enough to go to school.
)他还
不够
上学的年龄。
That's too much for
me.
这我可受不了啦。
但下列句中无否定含义:
He is
too ready to speak.
(≈
He is
talkative.
)他太爱讲话了。
I'm only too glad to help you.
能为您效劳,我高兴极了。
2
)
stop
(
prevent
,
keep
,
hinder
,
p
rotect
,
save
,
prohibit
,
dissuade...
p>
)
...from...
Intact
skin can protect the body from being invaded by ge
rms.
未受损的皮肤可
以保护身体不受细菌侵害。
3
)利用虚拟语气表否定
You should (ought to) have done it
better.
你本应做得更好。
(还不够好)
I could have come earlier.
我本来能早点来的。
(实际上没有早来)
I wish he were here now.
我希望他现在能在这儿。
(实际上他不在)
If only he had asked for my advice!
他当初要能征求我的意见就好了!
(
实际上没有)
They would rather die
than surrender.
他们宁死不降。
< br>4
)用
before
引导的从句
表“来不及……
,
不等,未……先……,以防”等否定
含义
The bell rang
before I could look over my answers.
我还没来得及看一下答案铃就响了。
Put on more clothes before you catch
cold.
多穿点衣服以防感冒。
5
)预先安排的事未办到或计划落空
I had hoped to save some more money to
buy a new car.
我本希望多攒点钱买辆新车。
6
)用比较级句型表否定
He knows more than he lets on.
这件事他了解得很多,但不肯承认。
I know better than to believe him.
我才不相信他那一套呢。
He's
more brave than resourceful.
他勇敢有余,谋略不足(有勇无谋)
。
7
)其它含否定概念的句型
God knows how high the mountain is.
谁知道这山究竟有多高。
What's the use of
complaining?
抱怨有什么用?
Mind your own
business
!莫管闲事!
How is it
possible
?哪有这种可能
?
二、隐形否定
此类否定既无特定句型,
又无否定词,
其否定含义多为习惯
用语或引
申义,颇为费解,也最易出错,切不可望文“生译”
,
如:
I'll buy it .
我答不上来(或不晓得)
。
Catch me making the same error again.
我决不再犯同样的错误。
I
dare him to jump.
我量他也不敢跳。
You are
telling me
!
(
=Tell
me about it
!
)
这事还用你说?
Keep it
dark!
这事不可泄露出去。
She bears her age well.
她一点不显老。
For all I
care!
这事我才不管呢。
(我才不在乎呢!
)
It's anyone's guess.
这事谁也不清楚。