2．3．3　Commendatory and Derogatory词义的褒贬

2．3．3　Commendatory and Derogatory词义的褒贬

When the meaning of a word narrows toward a more favorable meaning，it is called elevation or amelioration．For example ，“naughty”once meant wicked and depraved．Today it means only mild mischief．“Mischief”itself once meant wicked behavior．Today it can apply to a merely naughty child．At one time ，“shrewd”meant depraved or wicked．Today it is somewhat complimentary．Simultaneously，when the meaning of a word narrows toward an unfavorable meaning，it is called degeneration or pejorative change．Some words once respectable may become less so and others once neutral in meaning may acquire a pejorative connotation．For example，the word “peasant”originally was a person who worked on the land，but now it usually refers to a person without education or manners．Such a change has its own historical background，yet we are really required to notice such changes in translation．

In English，it is true that some words are originally used in derogatory sense，some in commendatory sense and others in neutral．When we translate the words in derogatory sense，we have to make them fall into ill reputation，and vice versa．If we know elevation and degeneration of word meaning in mind and follow some principles，everything in this case will be carried out under way in translation．

1)Directly express meanings of commendatory and derogatory words．

He was a man of high renown．

　他是位有名望的人。

His notoriety as a rake did not come until his death．

　他作为流氓的恶名是在死后才传开的。

The tasks carried out by them are praiseworthy．

　他们所进行的事业是值得赞扬的。

Henry keeps boasting that he has talked to the President．

　亨利总是吹嘘说他曾同总统谈过话。

“He was polite and always gave advice willingly，”she recalled．

　她回忆说: “他彬彬有礼，总是诲人不倦。”

We were shocked by his coarse manners．

　我们对他的粗暴态度感到震惊。

The boy is appreciated by all his teachers for his carefulness in his homework．

　这个男孩因功课做得仔细认真而受到所有老师的赞赏。

In fact，it is his meticulousness that is preventing him from making any progress in his research work．

　事实上，正是因为他的谨小慎微，他的研究工作才得不到任何进展。

Comments Carefully studying the above sentences，we will easily identify some of the underlined words are derogatory in meaning，and some are commendatory．The words “renown” ，“praiseworthy” ，“carefulness” and “polite” are commendatory in meaning，and “notoriety” ，“boasting” ，“meticulousness”and “coarse”are derogatory in meaning．So we are expected to directly express meanings of commendatory and derogatory words in Chinese versions．

2)When we translate some neutral words，we should decide whether they are commendatory or derogatory according to the context．

That young man has a bright future before him as a painter．

　那个年轻人当画家的前途十分光明。

　It was time to hold a court and the subject for discussion was the future of that prisoner．(= life in front of somebody)

　开庭时间到了，大家讨论的话题是那名罪犯的下场。

John was an aggressive salesman who did his job quite well．(= not afraid of opposition)

　约翰是个积极肯干的推销员，他工作干得很出色。

　Hitler pursued an aggressive policy after he seized power．(= always ready to attack)

　希特勒夺取了政权之后就推行侵略政策。

The stubborn boy refused to listen to his parents＇advice．

　这个犟男孩不肯听父母的忠告。

　The invaders met a stubborn resistance from the local people．

　侵略者遭到了当地人民顽强的抵抗。

The old couple made a persistent effort to search for their daughter lost in the earthquake．

　这对年老的夫妇执著地寻找着他们在地震中丢失的女儿。

　She was vexed by the persistent ringing of the phone．

　没完没了的电话铃声搞得她心烦意乱。

Comments Let us compare the four pairs of sentences above．In the first sentence，the word“future”indicates that the young man will become successful and famous．In the second one，the word“future”is derogatory in meaning，judging from the context，expressing a life in front of the prisoner．In the second pair of sentences，we also have the same word “aggressive” ，but it is commendatory in the former sentence and derogatory in the latter depending on the context．The word“stubborn”in the next pair has the different versions，and the word “persistent” in the last pair is also rendered into different translations，although they are neutral in meaning．A neutral word is determined by its context and its mode of behaving in a certain sentence，and then is decided whether derogatory or commendatory in meaning．