1、各级政府部门加强信访工作,畅通群众监督的渠道。老年人通过信访主张自己的权利,反映意见和建议。2005年,全国老龄工作机构共受理老年人来信来访近40万件(次)。Government
departments at all levels are improving the work of handling petitions and visits,
in order to make sure that the channel for the people's supervision is unimpeded.
By letters and visits, senior citizens protect their rights and air their opinions
and advice. In 2005, agencies on ageing around China handled altogether nearly
400,000 letters and visits from senior citizens.
问题:“信访”是一种独特的中国民主制度,如何翻译是一个非常值得探讨的问题。根据2005年5月1日国务院第76次常务委员会通过的新的《信访条例》,信访是指“公民、法人或者其他组织采用书信、电子邮件、传真、电话、走访等形式,向各级人民政府、县级以上人民政府工作部门反映情况,提出建议、意见或者投诉请求,依法由有关行政机关处理的活动。”可见,“信访”作为一种制度,其目的和方式都具有多样性特点,很难找到一个近似的英语单词或短语。目前,笔者所能看到的译文都有待于改进,如letters and visits;complaint letters and people’s visits;
complaint letters and visits from civilians; Xinfang (letters and visits);
petition letters and visits; petitions submitted through letters and visits;
petitions delivered via letters and visits;letters and visits (xinfang)
system;grassroots letters and visits; letters and calls (i.e. letters of
complaints from the people and the calls they make to lodge complainst)。我们需要一个比较固定的说法。当然,需要指出的是,该词在不同的语境中,其既可以理解为一种制度。也可以理解为一种方式,翻译时也需要具有灵活性。
在这段话里,“信访”有两种译文:petitions and visits;letters and visits。第一种译文显然存在问题,petitions 和visits两者在意思上并不存在并列关系,一个表示目的,一个表示方式。事实上,我们知道,petitions也是visits的一个目的(但不是唯一的目的)。第二句中,“信访”指一种方式,将其译成by letters and visits有一定道理,但不准确。如上所述,信访并不限于“写信”和“走访”两种形式,在By letters and visits前加一个mainly可能会更恰当。另外,
handle visits的搭配也值得商榷,可能正是出于这种考虑,国家信访局网站上提供的信访条例中文版和英文版分别使用了“处理来信、接待来访”handle letters and receive visits的说法。
2、国家建立社会统筹与个人账户相结合的城镇职工基本医疗保险制度,规定退休人员个人不缴纳基本医疗保险费,对个人账户计入金额和个人负担医疗费的比例给予适当照顾。
The state has established a basic medical insurance system which combines the
unified planning program with individual accounts for urban employees. Under
this system, retirees do not have to pay the basic insurance premiums, and they
are given appropriate consideration in the ratio of medical costs paid between what
is put into their individual accounts by their former employers and the part they
have to pay personally.
问题:这句话涉及医疗保险制度,专业性较强。“个人账户计入金额和个人负担医疗费的比例”如何理解?是分别指“个人帐户计入金额中的比例”( 据笔者上网查询得知,个人帐户计入金额中,一般要求个人承担8%的费用)和“个人承担医疗费的比例”两种情况?还是如译文所理解的,指“个人账户计入金额”与“个人负担医疗费”之间的比例?第二,译文中添加的by their former employers是否恰当?第三,译文中ratio一词存在用法不当问题,其搭配习惯一般为the ratio of A to B。
3、对执行计划生育政策的农村独生子女或两女户夫妇,在年满60周岁以后,由中央或地方财政安排专项资金,实施计划生育家庭奖励扶助制度。
For rural couples who have followed the state family planning policy and given birth
to only one child (or two daughters), when they turn 60 they receive a bonus from
a special fund made available by the central and local governments.
问题:这句话中,“计划生育政策”和“独生子女或两女”之间不是并列关系,而是补充说明关系。而译文容易给人一种误解,以为计划生育和独生子女是两种不同的政策。另外,对于没有重男轻女思想的西方来说,译文one child (or two daughters)也令人费解。建议改为:The central
and local governments have allocated a special fund as a reward for rural couples
over the age of 60 who have followed the state family planning policy to give birth
to only one child (usually a boy) or two daughters.
1、积极发挥社会力量在老年贫困救助中的作用,推动各地老年基金会等社会团体、企事业单位和个人开展慈善救助和社会互助,创造结对帮扶、认养助养、志愿服务、走访慰问等多种救助形式,普遍为贫困老年人提供多样化扶助。
China should give full play to the role of all social sectors in helping poor
elderly people, encouraging NGOs like the old-age foundations to be found all over
the country, as well as enterprises, public institutions and individuals to
provide charitable and other assistance.
Various other forms of assistance are officially encouraged, such as pairing up
between a well-off family and a poor elderly person so that the former may give
more help to the latter, making commitments to support poor elderly people,
doing volunteer work for them or paying visits to convey greetings to them.
Therefore, various types of assistance are provided to the poor elderly
people.
问题:纵观全文,这份政府白皮书阐述的是政府过去一年来实际做的工作,而不是应该做什么。句子使用should显然与原文语气不符。第二,“推动各地老年基金会等社会团体、企事业单位和个人开展慈善救助和社会互助”与“创造结对帮扶、认养助养、志愿服务、走访慰问等多种救助形式”在意义上不是同一层次的并列关系。因此,译文中的Various other forms of assistance are
officially encouraged中的other一词使用不当。第三,encouraging NGOs like the
old-age foundations to be found all over the country中的found显然应该改为founded才符合逻辑。
2、在农村,国家实施特困户定期定量救助和临时性生活救助制度。
In the rural areas, the state practices an aid system by which families in
most straitened circumstances receive a fixed amount of aid regularly or
other livelihood assistance when the need arises.
问题:译者过于拘泥于原文的字句和结构,而且添加了不必要的内容。建议译为In rural
areas, the state provides the families in most straitened circumstances with a
fixed amount of aid regularly and temporary livelihood assistance.
3、国家还鼓励开展个人储蓄性养老保险,多渠道加强老年人的生活保障。
The state also encourages the development of old-age insurance attached to
personal savings deposits; and guarantees the livelihood of elderly people
through multiple channels.
问题:原文第二句应该是对第一句所作的补充说明,两句之间存在目的关系。而且,即便译文的理解是正确的,但表达也有问题,分号显然应该改为逗号。因此,译文应改为The state
also encourages the development of old-age insurance based on personal savings
deposit so as to guarantee the livelihood of elderly people through multiple channels.
4、最高人民法院制定有关司法救助的规定,对贫困老年人的诉讼费用实行缓交、减交和免交。
The Supreme People's Court of China has formulated regulations on judicial
assistance, and on postponing, reducing or exempting court costs for poor senior citizens.
5、全国老龄工作委员会主任由国务院副总理担任,成员单位由国家26个部门组成,委员由各成员单位一位副部长级领导担任。
A vice-premier of the State Council serves as the director of the China
National Committee on Ageing, which comprises 26 state-level departments, with
one senior leader equivalent to a vice-minister from each department as
its representative.
问题:原文的语意重心在于通过其成员组成情况说明全国老龄工作委员会的重要性和广泛性。而译文却没有在认真分析原文的基础上进行重新组织,导致语意重心没有很好地传达出来。建议改为
The China National Committee on Ageing is composed of a vice-premier of the
State Council as its director and 26 vice-ministers from relevant departments as
its members.
第二部分 表达问题
一、语法错误
1、特别是近年来,中国政府全面贯彻落实科学发展观,积极应对人口老龄化挑战。
Especially in recent years, the Chinese government has implemented the outlook
of scientific development in an all-round way and positively meet the challenge
posed by the ageing of the population.
问题:撇开其他问题,仅从语法角度而言,这句话就存在主谓数不一致的情况。主语the
Chinese government是第三人称单数,而且译文中其后第一个谓语动词也使用了单数形式,为何后一个并列动词形式的使用不一致呢?
2、新闻媒体围绕老年人权益保障问题开展多种形式的舆论监督。
The news media too has carried out different forms of supervision by public
opinion centering on the issue of protecting the rights and interests of
senior citizens.
问题:从语法上来说,这句话存在主谓数不一致问题。Media是medium的复数形式,其作主语时谓语动词应用复数形式。如:The media are to blame for starting the rumours.(《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》)而且《牛津词典》对该词的用法专门作了说明,指出:“media(单数为medium)一字有时误用作单数名词。”(Medium is sometimes incorrectly used as a singular noun)并举例予以说明:The medium are (NOT is) often accused of being biased.由此可见,media用作主语时,谓语动词不能使用单数形式。
3、大中城市道路、车站、机场、商场、公交站点、住宅居住区和其他公共建筑的无障碍设施建设发展较快,老年人安居和参与社会生活的设施环境不断改善。
Construction of barrier-free facilities on roads, in stations, airports, shops, at
bus stops, in residential areas and other public buildings in large and medium
cities have been developing rapidly, creating convenience for senior citizens in
their daily lives and enabling them to engage more fully in social activities.
问题:这句话的主语construction是第三人称单数,谓语部分have been developing的助动词have却是复数形式,显然存在主谓数不一致的情况。
4、中国老教授协会和老科技工作者协会的个体会员数量超过65万人。
The membership of China Senior Professors Association and Association of
Senior Scientists and Technicians together exceed 650,000.
4、目前已初步形成多层次、多形式、多学制、多学科的老年教育体系。
Today, an educational system for elderly people that is multi-level, multi-form
and multi-disciplinary with different lengths of schooling has taken initial shape.
问题:按照英语表达习惯,定语从句that is multi-level, multi-form and multi-disciplinary中的表语部分应该使用形容词形式。但实际上,只有disciplinary一词是形容词,其他两个词level 和form为名词,这样一来还存在结构不平行的问题。而且,with different lengths of schooling的位置容易导致误解,以为其是用来修饰名词multi-disciplinary的。另外,lengths的恰当性值得怀疑。建议改为:So far, an educational system with different levels, forms, disciplines
and duration of schooling has taken initial shape.
5、依托省、市、县各级现有群众文化设施多渠道、多层次发展老年教育,努力实现“县县有老年大学”的目标,并逐步向社区、乡镇延伸。
On the basis of existing provincial, municipal and county-level mass
cultural facilities, education for seniors has been developing through
different channels and at various levels, aiming to achieve the goal of making
higher education available for elderly people in every county, and extending
to townships and communities.
问题:首先,从原文结构和意思上看,“县县有老年大学的目标”与“逐步向社区、乡镇延伸”不是并列关系,因此译文中不宜处理成平行结构making higher education available for
elderly people in every county, and extending to townships and communities。第二,即便可以处理成平行结构,但extend一词的使用仍存在问题。虽然该词既可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词,但在这里显然是用作及物动词,所以应该在其后面加it才符合语法。而且and extending前的逗号完全是画蛇添足,造成误导。
6、积极发展多种形式的保障制度,把农村特殊老年群体优先纳入社会保障范围。对无劳动能力、无生活来源、无法定赡养人、扶养人,或者其法定赡养人、扶养人确无赡养、扶养能力的农村老年人,由国家实施在吃、穿、住、医、葬方面给予生活照顾和物质帮助的“五保”供养制度。
China actively develops social security systems of various forms, and priority is
given to a special group of elderly people to be covered in the social security
system in rural areas. These are elderly people who have lost the ability to work,
who have no source of income, and who have no legal guardians whatsoever to
support them, or their legal guardians do not have the ability to support them.
They enjoy the state's "five guarantees" system, which means that their food,
clothing, housing, medical care and burial expenses are taken care of and subsidized
by the government.
问题:从语法角度来说,These are elderly people who have lost the ability to work,
who have no source of income, and who have no legal guardians whatsoever to
support them, or their legal guardians do not have the ability to support them一句中,
or their legal guardians do not have the ability to support them与前面的并列成分不是平行结构。
7、“老有所养、老有所医、老有所教、老有所学、老有所为、老有所乐”是中国老龄事业的发展目标。
China's goals for the development of undertakings for the aged can be described
as follows: All elderly people are to be provided for and enjoy proper medical
care. They are to be given opportunities to pass on their experience as well as to
learn new things. They should be given the opportunity to do what they can for
the society, while enjoying their later years.
问题:根据原文,引号内的内容都是中国老龄事业的发展目标。但译文让人误解为只有一个目标,即All elderly people are to be provided for and enjoy proper medical care。因此,后面其他的完整句应使用分号连成一体。
8、发挥土地养老的保障作用,保护包括广大老年人在内的农民土地承包经营权。
Giving full play to the role of the land in ensuring elderly people's livelihood
and protecting farmers', including the elderly people's, right to operate
land contracted to them.
问题:这句话不是用作标题,不知译者为何突然使用现在分词短语这种片断句?
9、300多万参保农民领取养老金,当年支付养老保险金21.3亿元人民币。
And more than three million farmers now receive pensions. The total disbursement of
old-age insurance payments in 2005 was 2.13 billion yuan.
10、2005年底,城市社区和农村老年人协会发展到31.7万个,在组织广大老年人参与基层社区建设、社会公益活动和维护老年人自身权益等方面发挥了积极作用。
By the end of 2005, China had 317,000 such associations in both urban and rural
areas, playing an active role in organizing large numbers of elderly people to take
part in grassroots community construction and public welfare activities,
and safeguarding the rights and interests of elderly people.
问题:按照英语语法,译文中的分词短语playing的逻辑主语是China。但根据原文,其实施者应该是“协会”。而且译文容易导致误解,让人以为这里的playing与safeguarding形成并列关系。因此,建议译文改为:By the end of 2005, in urban and rural communities, 317,000
such associations were established and they played an active role in involving
large numbers of elderly people in grassroots community construction, public
welfare activities and the protection of their own rights and interests.
二、词语搭配问题
1、开展了创建全国无障碍设施建设示范城(区)活动,北京、上海、天津等12个城市被确定为首批全国无障碍设施建设示范城(区)创建城市。
A campaign to build demonstration cities/districts of barrier-free facilities is
being carried out around the country, and 12 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai
and Tianjin, have been listed among the first to build such bases.
问题1:这句译文存在介词搭配问题。demonstration cities/districts of barrier-
free facilities中的介词of改为with为佳。
2、各级政府采取多种形式,大力弘扬中华民族敬老养老的优良传统,提高社会的敬老意识和水平。
Governments at all levels have adopted a variety of methods to invigorate the
tradition of the Chinese nation of respect and support for elderly people, and
improve people's awareness of the importance of respecting seniors.
问题:improve people’s awareness存在搭配问题,改为increase people’s awareness为佳。译文the tradition of the Chinese nation of respect and support for elderly people读起来给人一种不顺畅的感觉,建议改为the Chinese tradition of respecting and supporting elderly people。
3、国家积极发展补充性养老保险,引导和扶持有条件的企业为职工建立企业年金,由企业和职工共同缴费,实行基金完全积累,个人账户管理。2005年底,全国已有2.4万家企业建立企业年金,参加职工达924万人。
The state is actively developing supplementary old-age insurance. It guides and
helps enterprises with adequate capacity to set up annuities for employees.
Both enterprises and employees pay toward the annuity, so that funds are accumulated
and managed under individual accounts. By the end of 2005, a total of 24,000
enterprises all over China had set up enterprise annuities, with 9.24 million
employees participating.
问题:pay toward the annuity中,pay的用法不正确;在with 9.24 million
employees participating中,participate的用法也不正确。另外,根据上下文,
enterprise annuities中的enterprise显然多余。
4、中国政府重视老龄法律法规政策的宣传普及工作,把《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》纳入“三五”(1996—2000年)、“四五”(2001—2005年)和“五五”(2006—2010年)普法计划,开展了形式多样的宣传学习活动,强化全社会维护老年人合法权益的法律意识和老年人的自我保护意识。
The Chinese government attaches importance to publicizing and popularizing
laws, regulations and policies concerning senior citizens. It has included the Law
of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests
of Elderly People in the Third Five-Year (1996-2000), Fourth Five-Year (2001-2005)
and Fifth Five-Year (2006-2010) plans on spreading general knowledge of the law,
and launched educational activities in varied forms, strengthening the
people's awareness of the importance of protecting seniors' legitimate rights
and interests, as well as seniors' self-protection awareness.
问题:on spreading general knowledge of the law中的介词on符合英语搭配习惯,建议改为for。plan作名词时,一般与介词for或of搭配;作动词时才与on搭配。而这里的plan显然是名词。
1、开展了创建全国无障碍设施建设示范城(区)活动,北京、上海、天津等12个城市被确定为首批全国无障碍设施建设示范城(区)创建城市。
A campaign to build demonstration cities/districts of barrier-free facilities is
being carried out around the country, and 12 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai
and Tianjin, have been listed among the first to build such bases.
问题:译文第二句与原文第二句意思上出入很大。原文是说“北京等12个城市已经成为全国无障碍设施建设示范城市”,而译文的大意是说“北京等12个城市已被列入首批将要建造无障碍设施的城市之中,而且这类城市还不止12个。”此外,还存在表达累赘的情况。建议改为:and 12
cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, have been designated as such models.
2、同时,建立老龄事业统计指标体系和老龄统计工作制度,为制定规划和完善督查评估工作提供基础数据。
It has also established a system of statistical indices for undertakings for the
aged and a statistical work system which will provide basic data to help the
formulation of plans, supervision and evaluation in this field.
问题:根据原文,这两种制度都是针对老龄的。但译文中,由于for undertakings for the aged位置不当,容易给人一种误解,以为a statistical work system是另外一种性质的制度,不如将其提到句首。另外,从上下文看,这两个体系应该已经开始发挥提供数据的功能,所以使用一般将来时态也不准确,不如改为表示目的的动词不定式短语,从而避免歧义。建议全句改为For undertakings
for the aged, it has also established statistical indices and a statistical work
system aimed at providing basic data for the formulation of plans and the improvement
of supervision and evaluation.
3、国家通过政策和舆论引导等多种形式,积极营造发展老龄事业的社会环境,引导全社会关心、支持和参与老龄事业的发展。
Through policies and public opinion guidance, the state is actively engaged in
creating a social environment for the development of undertakings for the aged,
leading the public at large to be concerned with, support and participate in
the development of undertakings for the aged.
问题:把本句中的“关心”翻译成be concerned with,不符合原意,因为be concerned with sth意思是“关于某事”。另外,这句也存在表达累赘问题,可以把后一个the development
of undertakings for the aged简化为such undertakings。
1、 中国政府历来关心和重视老龄事业。多年来,国家大力弘扬中华民族敬老养老的文化传统,采取切实有效措施,积极探索适合中国国情的老龄事业发展模式。特别是近年来,中国政府全面贯彻落实科学发展观,积极应对人口老龄化挑战,把发展老龄事业作为经济社会统筹发展和构建社会主义和谐社会的重要内容,综合运用经济、法律和行政手段,不断推动老龄事业发展。
The Chinese government has always cared for and paid attention to undertakings for
the aged. For years, the state has made great efforts to promote the cultural
tradition of the Chinese nation that elderly people are respected and provided for;
and taken effective measures to explore a development mode of undertakings for the
aged that suits China's conditions. Especially in recent years, the Chinese
government has implemented the outlook of scientific development in an all-round way
and positively meet the challenge posed by the ageing of the population. It
has considered undertakings for the aged an important part of balanced social
and economic development as well as of the building of a harmonious society, and
has adopted economic, legal and administrative measures to constantly promote
the development of undertakings for the aged.
问题:这段话中, “老龄事业” 在原文中出现了四次,而其译文undertakings for the aged也完全重复出现了四次,不符合英语表达习惯。另外,and taken effective measures前使用分号似乎不当。
2、从2003年起,国家开始进行个人缴费、集体扶持和政府资助相结合的新型农村合作医疗制度试点工作。到2006年6月底,全国新型农村合作医疗试点县(市、区、旗)扩大到1399个,覆盖农业人口4.95亿,3.96亿农民参加新型农村合作医疗,试点地区老年人参加新型农村合作医疗的比例超过73%;全国共补偿参加新型合作医疗的农民2.82亿人次,补偿资金支出144.12亿元人民币。国家要求各地为70岁以上农村老年人参加新型合作医疗给予适当政策优惠,照顾老年人的特殊需求。积极建立农村医疗救助制度,采取政府拨款和社会捐助相结合筹集救助资金,资助农村“五保”老年人和困难群众参加新型农村合作医疗,对因患大病个人医疗费负担过高、影响家庭基本生活的贫困农民给予适当补助,在一定程度上缓解了老年人基本医疗困难。目前31个省(自治区、直辖市)全部建立了农村医疗救助制度,2005年农村实施医疗救助达1112万人次,救助资金总支出10.8亿元人民币。
Experimental work began in 2003 to set up a new type of rural cooperative medical
system by pooling funds from individual payments, collective support and
government subsidies. By the end of June 2006, such experimental work had been
extended to 1,399 counties (cities, districts, banners), covering 495 million
rural dwellers. Up to 396 million farmers, and over 73 percent of the elderly people
in the experimental areas, had participated in this new type of rural
cooperative medical system. A total of 14.412 billion yuan had been paid in 282
million cases as subsidies to farmers covered by the new type of rural
cooperative medical system.
The central government requires local governments to give appropriate
preferential treatment to people over the age of 70 participating in the new type
of rural cooperative medical system to meet their special needs. A rural medical
aid system has been established, with funds from government appropriations and
public donations to help the elderly covered by the "five guarantees" system and
poor farmers to join the new type of rural cooperative medical system. The medical
aid system provides certain subsidies to poor farmers whose high medical costs
for serious diseases have affected their basic family life, and has to a certain
degree alleviated the basic medical burdens on the aged. So far the rural medical
aid system has been set up in all of the 31 provinces, autonomous regions
and municipalities directly under the central government. In 2005, a total of
1.08 billion yuan of medical aid subsidy was given to farmers in 11.12 million
cases.
问题:这段话中的关键词“新型农村合作医疗制度”在原文中出现六次,其相应的译文new type
of rural cooperative medical system也原封不动地重复五次。读起来非常别扭。
3、2005年,包括贫困老年人在内的2233万城市贫困人口领取了最低生活保障金,基本实现应保尽保。
In 2005, some 22.33 million impoverished urban residents (including impoverished
elderly people) received such allowances, including almost all the people eligible
for receiving the minimum living allowance.
问题:这句话的译文与原文一样,两次重复“贫困”和“保障金”,使译文读起来不符合英语表达习惯,而且在意思在与原文有出入。译文应改为In 2005, some 22.33 million impoverished
urban residents, including the aged, received the minimum living allowance. Thus,
the goal of covering all the people eligible to such aid is basically realized.
4、国务院有关部门和地方各级人民政府,分别制定本部门老龄工作行动计划和本地方老龄事业发展规划。
Relevant departments under the State Council and local people's governments at
all levels have formulated action plans for work concerning elderly people in
their departments and plans for the development of undertakings for the aged in
their localities.
问题 译者没有对原文进行整合,而是逐字翻译,结果导致表达重复。可以简化为:The
relevant departments under the State Council and local governments at various
levels have formulated their respective plans concerning elderly people.
5、近二十年来,全国人大及其常委会、国务院及其有关部门颁布的老龄法律、法规、规章及有关政策达200余件,初步形成以《中华人民共和国宪法》为基础,《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》为主体,包括有关法律、行政法规、地方性法规、国务院部门规章、地方政府规章和有关政策在内的老龄法律法规政策体系框架。
Over the past 20 years or so, the National People's Congress and its Standing
Committee, the State Council, and departments concerned have promulgated some 200
laws, regulations and policies concerning elderly people. A framework of
laws, regulations and policies in this regard has been established with the
Constitution of the People's Republic of China as its foundation, and the Law of
the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of
Elderly People as its backbone, together with other relevant laws,
administrative regulations, local regulations, rules, regulations and related
policies formulated by departments of the State Council and local governments.
问题:该段译文的累赘现象也是显而易见的。试比较:Over the past 20 years or so,
the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee, and the State Council
and its relevant departments have promulgated more than 200 laws, regulations, rules
and policies concerning elderly people, thus evolving an initial legal framework
with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China as its foundation and the Law
of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests
of Elderly People as its backbone.
(二)意思重复
1、二十世纪末,中国60岁以上老年人口占总人口的比例超过10%。
At the end of the 20th century, the proportion of people aged 60 and above in
China accounted for over ten percent of the entire population.
问题:这句中的proportion多余,因为account for已经包含了此意。
2、地方政府积极组织实施开发式扶贫,扶持低龄、健康、有劳动能力的贫困老年人从事种植、养殖和加工等项目,增强贫困老年人的生产自助能力。
Meanwhile, local governments are actively organizing "helping the poor
through production" schemes. They are doing their best to help poor people in their
60s who are generally healthy and strong enough to work to engage in
farming, aquaculture and processing business, so that they can support
themselves.
问题:在分析本句存在的问题之前,值得指出的是,译者充分运用了英语中的代词来避免重复“老年人”,在这点上做得很好。但to work显然多余,而且第一句和第二句之间不能很好地衔接起来。另外,时态的使用也值得商榷。建议改为:Meanwhile, local governments have
actively organized "helping the poor through production" schemes. They are doing
their best to help poor people in their 60s who are generally healthy and strong
enough to work to engage in farming, aquaculture and processing business, so that
they can support themselves.
3、《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》规定,赡养人有义务耕种老年人承包的田地,照管老年人的林木和牲畜等,收益归老年人所有,以保障老年人的基本生活来源。
The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and
Interests of Elderly People stipulates that an elderly person's guardian is obligated
to till the land contracted to the elderly person he/she supports, and also to
tend forestry and livestock under the elderly person's charge. The revenue from
these will go to the elderly person as a guaranteed source for his/her basic
livelihood.
问题:an elderly person's guardian is obligated to till the land contracted to
the elderly person he/she supports一句中的he/she supports与前面的guardian属于意思重复,显然多余。后半句中的also也多余。最后一句也存在表达累赘问题,而且his/her的使用容易与前面的he/she相混淆,以为指同一人(实际上完全不同),从而给读者带来阅读困难,而且语气助词will的使用不符合法律英语规范。建议全句改为:According to the Law of the People's Republic
of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Elderly People, a guardian
is obligated to till the contracted land and tend forestry and livestock for the
elderly person. The revenues thereof shall be used to guarantee the basic livelihood
of the elderly person.
1、中国作为世界上最大的发展中国家,如何在老年人口基数增大、人口老龄化加快而且发展不平衡的条件下,保障老年人的合法权益,促进老龄事业的发展,是社会发展中面临的重大问题。
China is the biggest developing country in the world. As the number of elderly
people keeps increasing and ageing of population accelerates, and due to the
country's uneven development, one big challenge facing China in its social
development is how to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the
elderly people and promote the development of undertakings for the aged.
问题:这段译文的第二句话中,表示原因的状语部分出现了两种结构,一个是由as 引导的妆语从句,另一个是由due to引导的介词短语。它们完全可以合并为一种结构。而且,原文只有一句话,按照英语以长句为主的特点,也完全可以翻译成一句话。试比较:As the largest developing country
in the world, China is faced with a serious challenge in its social development,
that is, how to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly people
and promote the development of undertakings for the aged under the conditions of
the continuous increase of the pure number of elderly people, the acceleration of
the ageing process of population, and the uneven development in different areas.
2、国家颁布《关于在全国推进城市社区建设的意见》、《关于加强和改进社区服务工作的意见》等一系列政策文件,采取积极措施,加大投入力度,加强社区建设与服务工作,为包括广大老年人的社区居民提供多种便民利民服务,使老年人居家养老的服务环境不断改善。
The state has promulgated a series of policies and documents, such as Opinions
on Promoting Urban Community Construction Nationwide and Opinions on Strengthening
and Improving Community Services, and has taken active measures, increased its
input, strengthened community construction and service work, so as to
provide diversified and more convenient services to community residents, including
the aged, and to constantly improve the social service environment for
them.
问题:分析原文可以看出,“加大投入力度,加强社区建设与服务工作”应该是“采取积极措施”的具体说明,不是并列关系。因此,在翻译时,不应该都处理成谓语动词。而就译文本身来说,也存在问题。按照英语习惯,在存在并列的情况下,应该在最后一个谓语动词即这里的strengthened之前加and,而不是在第二个动词has taken active measures前加and。另外,“政策文件”应该是一个偏正结构,而不是并列结构,
3、各地把青少年作为宣传教育的重点,将敬老教育内容纳入中小学教学课程,在青少年中开展“敬老爱老助老主题教育活动”,弘扬敬老养老的社会风尚。
Local governments target teenagers for education in respect for senior citizens,
include relevant content in primary and middle school courses, and conduct
the Educational Activity of Respecting, Loving and Helping Senior Citizens
among teenagers, and boost a sound social environment for giving respect to
and providing for the aged.
4、国家鼓励有条件的地方建立养老基地,发放养老补贴和高龄津贴,积极改善老年人的生活。
The state encourages areas with adequate capacity to build homes for the aged, grant
old-age subsidies and, for those over the age of 80, a special allowance in order
to improve the lives of elderly people.
问题:这句话受汉语思维影响明显,存在宾补搭配不当问题。另外,整个句子结构也很别扭。建议改为:The State encourages the establishment of homes for the aged and the provision
of old-age subsidies and a special allowance for those over the age of 80 so as
to improve their lives.
5、积极发展多种形式的保障制度,把农村特殊老年群体优先纳入社会保障范围。
China actively develops social security systems of various forms, and priority is
given to a special group of elderly people to be covered in the social security
system in rural areas.
问题:这句译文明显受中式思维的影响,后句主语作了不恰当的突然转换。建议改为:China
has developed various kinds of social security systems, with the elderly people in
rural areas as the priority target.
中国的老龄事业取得的成就有目共睹。但是,作为有着13亿人口的发展中国家,中国的老龄事业还存在着问题和不足。例如,老龄法律法规还不够健全,侵害老年人合法权益的现象时有发生;社会保障制度尚需完善,一些城镇生活困难老年人的保障水平较低,部分农村老年人口的贫困问题还比较突出;全社会尊老敬老的社会氛围有待于进一步形成,等等。在中国,解决好老龄问题,促进老龄事业不断发展,任务十分艰巨。当前,中国老年人口正以年均约3%的速度增长,面对日益严峻的人口老龄化挑战,中国政府将积极采取更加有效的战略措施,努力推动老龄事业与经济社会协调发展,促进老年人共享经济社会发展成果。
China has made obvious achievements in its undertakings for the aged. However, as
a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China still has problems
and shortcomings in the work concerning elderly people. For example, laws
and regulations concerning senior citizens need further improvement, and there are
still acts infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of elderly people;
the social security system is yet to be perfected; elderly people with difficulties
in their everyday lives in some urban areas do not have adequate social security;
the problem of impoverished elderly people in some rural areas is still conspicuous;
and a social atmosphere of respecting elderly people needs to be further developed.
In China, the task of solving problems concerning elderly people and
continuously promoting the development of undertakings for the aged remains an
arduous one. At present, the population of senior citizens in China is growing by
three percent every year. Facing the growing challenge of the ageing population,
the Chinese government will adopt more effective strategies to promote the
undertakings for the aged in coordination with economic and social development, in
order to enable senior citizens to share the fruits of economic and social development.
1、中国政府重视老龄法律法规政策的宣传普及工作,把《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》纳入“三五”(1996—2000年)、“四五”(2001—2005年)和“五五”(2006—2010年)普法计划,开展了形式多样的宣传学习活动,强化全社会维护老年人合法权益的法律意识和老年人的自我保护意识。各级政府采取多种形式,大力弘扬中华民族敬老养老的优良传统,提高社会的敬老意识和水平。各地普遍设立老人节或敬老日,在每年中国传统节日重阳节和本地敬老节日期间,政府有关部门积极组织大型宣传教育活动和敬老活动。各地把青少年作为宣传教育的重点,将敬老教育内容纳入中小学教学课程,在青少年中开展“敬老爱老助老主题教育活动”,弘扬敬老养老的社会风尚。
The Chinese government attaches importance to publicizing and popularizing
laws, regulations and policies concerning senior citizens. It has included the Law
of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests
of Elderly People in the Third Five-Year (1996-2000), Fourth Five-Year (2001-2005)
and Fifth Five-Year (2006-2010) plans on spreading general knowledge of the law,
and launched educational activities in varied forms, strengthening the
people's awareness of the importance of protecting seniors' legitimate rights
and interests, as well as seniors' self-protection awareness. Governments at all
levels have adopted a variety of methods to invigorate the tradition of the
Chinese nation of respect and support for elderly people, and improve people's
awareness of the importance of respecting seniors. Senior Citizens' Day is
celebrated nationwide.
On the Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month) and local
Senior Citizens' Day, government departments concerned actively organize large-
scale educational activities and activities for respecting senior citizens.
Local governments target teenagers for education in respect for senior citizens,
include relevant content in primary and middle school courses, and conduct
the Educational Activity of Respecting, Loving and Helping Senior Citizens
among teenagers, and boost a sound social environment for giving respect to
and providing for the aged.
问题:分析上述中文段落可以看出,这段的中心思想是介绍各级政府在老年工作方面所做的努力:普及老年法规政策,弘扬敬老、养老的优良传统,弘扬敬老、养老的社会风尚。也可以理解为中央政府和地方政府在老年工作方面所采取的措施。应该说层次分明。但英文版没有把这种层次感充分体现出来,尤其是分段的位置完全没有任何根据。第一段最后一句是关于老年节的,而第二段第一句也是关于老年节的,按照英语思维特点,这两句话毫无疑问应放在一起。因此,如果要分成两段的话,那么英文版应该作如下处理:
The Chinese government attaches importance to publicizing and popularizing
laws, regulations and policies concerning senior citizens. It has included the Law
of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Rights and Interests
of Elderly People in the Third Five-Year (1996-2000), Fourth Five-Year (2001-2005)
and Fifth Five-Year (2006-2010) plans on spreading general knowledge of the law,
and launched educational activities in varied forms, strengthening the
people's awareness of the importance of protecting seniors' legitimate rights
and interests, as well as seniors' self-protection awareness.
Governments at all levels have adopted a variety of methods to invigorate the
tradition of the Chinese nation of respect and support for elderly people, and
improve people's awareness of the importance of respecting seniors. Senior Citizens'
Day is celebrated nationwide. On the Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the
ninth lunar month) and local Senior Citizens' Day, government departments
concerned actively organize large-scale educational activities and activities
for respecting senior citizens. Local governments target teenagers for education
in respect for senior citizens, include relevant content in primary and middle
school courses, and conduct the Educational Activity of Respecting, Loving and
Helping Senior Citizens among teenagers, and boost a sound social environment for
giving respect to and providing for the aged.
2、积极发展多种形式的保障制度,把农村特殊老年群体优先纳入社会保障范围。对无劳动能力、无生活来源、无法定赡养人、扶养人,或者其法定赡养人、扶养人确无赡养、扶养能力的农村老年人,由国家实施在吃、穿、住、医、葬方面给予生活照顾和物质帮助的“五保”供养制度。目前,全国享受“五保”供养的老年人达460多万人。对执行计划生育政策的农村独生子女或两女户夫妇,在年满60周岁以后,由中央或地方财政安排专项资金,实施计划生育家庭奖励扶助制度。2005年底,享受该奖励扶助的人群达到135万人。中国政府重视城镇化过程中被征地农民的养老问题,确保被征地农民基本生活和长远生计,逐步将被征地农民纳入社会保障体系。目前已有15个省(自治区、直辖市)出台了被征地农民社会保障办法,约600万人被纳入社会保障范围,筹集资金约500亿元人民币。
China actively develops social security systems of various forms, and priority is
given to a special group of elderly people to be covered in the social security
system in rural areas. These are elderly people who have lost the ability to work,
who have no source of income, and who have no legal guardians whatsoever to
support them, or their legal guardians do not have the ability to support them.
They enjoy the state's "five guarantees" system, which means that their food,
clothing, housing, medical care and burial expenses are taken care of and subsidized
by the government.
At present, more than 4.6 million elderly people across the country are benefiting
from this government policy. For rural couples who have followed the state
family planning policy and given birth to only one child (or two daughters), when
they turn 60 they receive a bonus from a special fund made available by the central
and local governments. By the end of 2005, some 1.35 million people had received such
a bonus.
The Chinese government pays attention to taking care of elderly farmers whose land
has been requisitioned in the process of urbanization. By gradually including
those farmers in the social security system, the government makes sure that their
basic livelihood is permanently guaranteed. So far, 15 provinces, autonomous
regions, and municipalities directly under the central government have drawn up
social security policies regarding farmers whose land has been requisitioned. About
six million farmers are now covered by social security schemes, and some 50 billion
yuan has been raised for this purpose.
3、在政府的引导和扶持下,中国老教授协会、老科技工作者协会、老年法律工作者协会等全国性老年社会团体已发展到13家,分会遍及全国各地。中国老教授协会和老科技工作者协会的个体会员数量超过65万人。各地成立了退休工程师协会、老教育工作者协会、离退休医务工作者协会等一批以老年知识分子为主体的社会团体,组织老年知识分子继续为社会经济发展作贡献。各地重视城乡基层老年群众组织建设,2005年底,城市社区和农村老年人协会发展到31.7万个,在组织广大老年人参与基层社区建设、社会公益活动和维护老年人自身权益等方面发挥了积极作用。
Under the guidance and with the support of the government, 13 national associations
for senior citizens have sprung up, including the China Senior Professors
Association, Association of Senior Scientists and Technicians and Association of
Senior Lawyers, branches of which have appeared all over China. The membership of
China Senior Professors Association and Association of Senior Scientists and
Technicians together exceed 650,000.
In local areas, societies with senior intellectuals as the mainstay have been
founded, such as the Association of Retired Engineers, Association of Senior
Teaching Staff and Association of Retired Medical Workers, which help their members
to continue to make contributions to the social and economic development of China.
Local governments attach importance to the building of grassroots senior
organizations in urban and rural areas.
By the end of 2005, China had 317,000 such associations in both urban and rural
areas, playing an active role in organizing large numbers of elderly people to take
part in grassroots community construction and public welfare activities,
and safeguarding the rights and interests of elderly people.
问题:原文讨论了老年协会的发展情况,大致可以分为两部分,即老年知识分子协会和老年群众组织。第一部分还可以细分为全国性协会和地方协会。因此,译文分为三段,从理论上来说是可以的。但不管怎样分段,显然“各地重视城乡基层老年群众组织建设”作为一个主题句都应该与其后面的展开内容放在一起。然而,译文却把该句相应的英文Local governments attach importance to
the building of grassroots senior organizations in urban and rural areas放在第二段末尾,完全不符合英语思维模式。
By the end of 2005, experimental work had been conducted in 1,119 counties
(cities, districts, banners), providing medical aid in 1.633 million cases.
问题:正文中的“县”与括号内的“市、区、旗”之间是什么关系?逐字译出,让人感到莫名其妙。尤其是把我国独特的行政区划单位“旗”译为banner更是值得商榷。笔者认为,由于我国行政区划体系的复杂性和独特性,外国读者很难理解,而且在这里也不是信息核心,不宜完全直译,可采用比较笼统的说法。
试译:By the end of 2005, experiments in medical aid had been conducted in 1,119
county-level administrative areas, benefiting a total of 1.633 million cases.
2、委员会下设办公室,负责日常工作。目前,全国已基本建立起省(自治区、直辖市)、地(市、州、盟)、县(市、区、旗)、乡镇(街道)各级老龄工作委员会及其办事机构,村(居)民委员会有专人负责老龄工作,初步形成从中央到地方的工作网络。
An office under the committee is responsible for routine work. Committees on ageing
and related routine work offices have been established throughout the country at
the provincial (autonomous region, municipality directly under the central
government), prefectural (city, league), county (city, district, banner) and
township (urban community) levels. Village and neighborhood committees have
special personnel engaged in undertakings for the aged. These committees and
offices have formed a complete network all the way from the central government down
to the grassroots level.
问题:该句中行政区域的翻译provincial (autonomous region, municipality directly under
the central government), prefectural (city, league), county (city, district,
banner) and township (urban community) levels存在同样的问题。
3、对执行计划生育政策的农村独生子女或两女户夫妇,在年满60周岁以后,由中央或地方财政安排专项资金,实施计划生育家庭奖励扶助制度。
For rural couples who have followed the state family planning policy and given birth
to only one child (or two daughters), when they turn 60 they receive a bonus from
a special fund made available by the central and local governments.