为了使译文符合汉语习惯,翻译被动句时,常常可以用一下几种方法:
1.变为汉语的主动形式
a. 被动句的主语仍译为汉语主动句的主语
They were divided on whether to go further by calling for a federal law that would impose a complete ban on human cloning.
是否要采取进一步行动,通过要求联邦立法完全禁止克隆人,在这个问题上,他们的意见有分歧。
b. by后面的动作的执行者作主语,英文原句中的主语作宾语。
During this transfer, traditional historical methods were augmented by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study.
在这种转变中,历史学家研究历史时,那些解释新史料的新方法充实了传统的历史研究方法。
c. done by结构,可译为:“是……的”,“是由……的”,“是因……”,“是在……”等。被动语态表示一种状态时可以译为汉语的判断句型。
This picture was taken by my brother as he went to Yunnan.
这张照片是我弟弟去云南的时候拍摄的。
d. 主语+情态动词be done,直接翻译成汉语中的无主句。
The test should be canceled. 应该取消考试。
Additional International Standards may be added to the series in the future.
将来还可能对本系列标准增加若干项国际标准。
2. 译成具有被动意义的汉语结构。这不仅包括被字句,还包括汉语特有的表示被动的手段,如“被,受到,遭到,得到,陷入,沉浸于”等都可以表示被动意义。
The Apollo XII crew reported that their spaceship was being followed by two UFOs.
阿波罗十二号的宇航员曾报告说,他们的宇宙飞船正遭到两个不明飞行物的跟踪。
The role of natural selection in evolution was formulated only a little more than a hundred years ago, and the selective role of the environment in shaping and maintaining the behavior of the individual is only beginning to be recognized and studied. (2002年翻译)
自然选择在进化中所起的作用仅在一百多年前才得以阐明,而环境在塑造和保持个人行为时的选择作用则刚刚开始得到承认和研究。
3. 添加广泛主语如“人们”、“大家”、“我们”、“你们”、“一个人”等。
The test should be canceled.
我们应该取消考试。
The area has been marked out for building more hotels.
人们划出这块地区用于建造更多的旅店。