主语话题转换

主语 / 话题转换

例1

There was a heightened awareness of each sunny day, the beauty of flowers, the song of bird. How often do we reflect on the joy of breathing easily of swallowing without effort and discomfort, of walking without pain, of a complete and peaceful night’s sleep?

对每一个晴天丽日，对鸟语花香，我的感触倍加强烈。平日呼吸轻松，吞食自如，走路毫不费劲，一夜安寝到天明，我们几曾回味过其中的乐趣？

译文根据汉语的习惯以话题为主线组织译文。按照话题 ＋ 评论的模式展开，符合汉语的思维和阅读习惯。

例2

…My holiday afternoons were spent in rambles about the surrounding country. I made myself familiar with all its places famous in history or fable. I knew every spot where a murder or robbery had been committed, or a ghost seen. I visited the neighboring villages, and added greatly to my stock of knowledge, by noting their habits and customs, and conversing with their sages and great men …（Washington Irving: The Author’s Account of Himself）

A. ……无数假日下午尽行消磨在郊垌的漫游之中。那里一切在历史或传说上有名的

地方，我无不十分熟悉。我知道那里的每一处杀人越货之所与鬼魂出现之地。我继而访问了许多邻村，观察其地的风俗习惯，并与当地的圣贤与伟人接谈，因而极大地增加了我原有的见闻。……

B. ……每逢假日下午，我总到附近乡村去漫游。有些地方是有神话传说的，我都亲加堪察，把它们摸熟了。什么地方发生过盗案或者凶案的，什么地方有过鬼魂出现的，我都知道。邻近各村我常去观光，当地的耋老硕德我总去踵门求教，因此我的智识大为增加。

都使用了主题化技巧，但A保持了以“我”作主语的构架，B使用了更多的主题转化。B似乎更有益于传递新信息。

B. 篇外因素：

1. 语篇功能

1) 祈使功能

例

The hub of public life is the “Piazza San Marco” (St. Mark’s Square) where tourists and citizens sit on the terraces of the famous Florian and Quadri cafes to listen to the music, dream and see the mosaics of St. Mark’s glow under the rays of the setting sun. The Quardri is more popular but the Florian is the best-known café: founded in 1720, it has received Byron, Goethe, Musset and Wagner within its mirrored and allegory-painted walls.

Venice, English World

A. 公众生活的中心是圣马可广场，那儿的游客和市民坐在广场内著名的弗洛里安和夸德里咖啡店里听听音乐，梦想着并观望着圣马可教堂的马赛克在落日光线下闪烁。夸德里咖啡店众所周知，但1720年建立的弗洛里安咖啡店则更出名：在那墙上镶有镜子和画有寓言壁画的地方曾接待过拜伦、歌德、缪塞和瓦格纳等人。

B. 圣马会广场是公众的生活中心，游客和市民坐在广场内著名的弗洛里安和夸德里咖啡店，聆听着店内的音乐，目睹着夕阳余晖下圣马可教堂熠熠生辉的马赛克墙面，恍然入梦。夸德里咖啡店虽名扬全城，却不及弗洛里安咖啡店声名显赫：在这家四壁明镜镶嵌、（寓言）壁画环绕的百年老店内，自1720年开店以来，先后接待过拜伦、歌德、缪塞和瓦格纳邓一大批文化名人。

2) 叙述功能

传达动作、活动、事件等动态形象信息的功能。译文语篇的重点在把时间脉络及动态形象的传达。

All his life John had been aware of enemies lying in wait for him and had protected himself not only by going armed, when he was old enough, but also by keeping his movements as unpredictable as possible. First there had been the big brothers of small schoolmates who had unjustly accused him of bullying. Then there had been his fellow soldiers who had resented his knack for ingratiating himself with officers and getting easy and safe assignments. Then there had been his rivals at the Transport Commission, some of whom could have given lessons in

treachery to Machiavelli.

A． 约翰一生都觉察到有敌人潜伏在他左右。为了保护自己他不仅携带武器，在年龄足够大的时候，尽量使别人无法预知自己的行动。首先，学校中的小同学的大哥哥们不公正地指责他仗势欺人。其次，他的士兵伙伴们恨他用伎俩讨好以得到既轻松又安全的任务。在运输局，他的对手们简直可以给狡诈多端的马其维利当老师。

B． 他素来小心谨慎，随时警惕有敌人潜伏在四周窥视着他。够了年龄之后，他便随身带着武器防身，而且一直保持自己的行动诡秘莫测。早先是学校里有些小同学的大哥哥们专门不公正地指责他欺辱小孩；后来是与他一起当兵的伙伴，对他善于阿谀逢迎上司，捞取轻松安全的差使深感厌恶；最后，他到运输委员会工作，他的对手有几个十分狡诈。