2．3．2　Principles in Diction选词的原则

2．3．2　Principles in Diction选词的原则

2．3．2．1　Select word meaning according to word classes依据词性选择词义

Like charges repel;unlike charges attract．(adjective)

　相同的电荷相斥，不同的电荷相吸。

He likes mathematics more than physics．(verb)

　他喜欢数学甚于喜欢物理学。

In the sunbeam passing through the window there are fine grains of dust shining like gold．(preposition)

　在射入窗内的阳光里，细微的尘埃像金子一般在闪闪发亮。

Like knows like．(noun)

　英雄识英雄。

Comments Everybody knows the word“like” ，but when it is used as different parts of speech，it has different senses in translating．The above-mentioned sentences are good examples in this case．

2．3．2．2　Decide word meaning according to the contextual and logical relationship依据上下文与逻辑关系选择词义

In English，there are two sentences that we should memorize and follow．They are:“No context，no text．” (没有上下文，就不能正确理解词义。)and“You know a word by the company it keeps．” (理解一个词，要看它的搭配关系。)Let us compare a couple of sentences below．

The books are closed，as the company is privately owned．

　这是一家私营公司，账目对外保密。

The books are closed before the dictation gets started．

　书本合上后再开始听写。(或:请听写时合上书本。)

Comments In the two sentences，the context in the first one lies in a privately owned company．The context in the second sentence is，however，in class or a classroom．So the word“books”has a different sense in each example because it has a different context．In this sense，a text depends really on the context in translation．

In reading，we must let our eyes rest once in a while．

　阅读当中，每隔一段时间就让眼睛休息一下。

We go for a picnic in the park once in a while．

　我们偶尔去公园野炊。

Comments In this pair ，“once in a while”has different meanings in the different contexts．In sentence one，the phrase indicates“from time to time” (每隔一段时间)．However，in sentence two，it refers to“not often”or“not regularly”(偶尔)．

“I＇m going to have a class，” the girl said．

　那女生说: “我去听课。”

“I＇m going to have a class，” the teacher said．

　老师说: “我去给学生讲课。”

Comments In this pair of examples，we can find the same sentence“I＇m going to have a class” ，but it has completely different senses in both sentences．This is because the words“girl”and“teacher”decide the meaning of the sentence “I＇m going to have a class” ．From these examples，we can thoroughly understand how important context is in translating．

2．3．2．3　Translate literally without any extension字面直译

The invention of printing was a milestone in human progress．

　印刷术的发明是人类进步的一个里程碑。

But when you have learned English，you＇ll find ita bridge to so much knowledge．

　但是，当你学会了英语，你就会发现它是通向如此丰富知识的桥梁。

Comments Sometimes，we can directly make choice of English word meaning in Chinese translation because both languages have the same expressions．

2．3．2．4　Suit words or phrases to Chinese description依汉语的表达习惯译

The history teacher told us that making an outline kills two birds with one stone．It makes us study the lesson till we understand it，and it gives us notes to review before the test．

　历史老师说列出提纲可以一箭双雕，既可帮助我们理解课文，又为我们复习应试提供材料。

He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find a stick．

　欲加之罪，何患无辞。

Comments Some English idioms or set phrases contain the similar implications in Chinese idioms although they express in different ways．In this case，we should render them in Chinese way in order to suit the needs of Chinese readers．For instance ，“kill two birds with one stone”can be translated into一箭双雕，not一石双鸟．The translation of the sentence“He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find a stick”is欲加之罪，何患无辞．We can not say in Chinese like想打狗的人很容易找到棍子．