外,第二分句中,they是指前面的these processes,如译为"他们",既不符合汉语习惯,又容易引起歧义。
例2According to the new school of scientists, technology is an overlooked force in expanding the horizons of scientific knowledge.
[译文]:新学派的科学家们认为,技术在扩大科学知识范围过程中是一种被忽视的力量。
[注释]:许多考生把school一词译为"学校",因为他们不知道school还有一个词义"学派"。可见,正确选择词义对译文质量有重要影响,而文章的上下文和逻辑联系是翻译中选择词义的重要依据。
例3Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter we must be sure that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides a "valid" or "fair" comparison.
[译文]:既然对智力的评估是比较而言的,那么我们必须确保,在对我们的对象进行比较时,我们所使用的尺度要能提供"有效的"和"公平的"比较。
[注释]:许多考生把scale译为"范围",和文章的语篇意思和句子的确切含义大相径庭。
3)有些英语名词须根据其数来选择词义
例1After their interview, he compares not their experience, but their statistics ...
[译文]:面试以后,他并不比较他们的经验,而是比较他们的统计数字……
[注释]:experience作不可数名词用时,意为"经验";作为可数名词用时,意为"经历"。如:Our journey by camel was quite an experience.(我们骑骆驼旅行正是一次难忘的经历。)
例2The parcel you post must be well packed. Inadequate packing can mean delay, damage or loss at your expense.
[译文]:你寄的邮包必须妥善包装。包装不妥会引起耽搁、损坏或丢失,而使你蒙受损失。
[注释]:在at one's expense或at the expense of中expense只能用单数,意为"归……付费(或负担)"、"在损害(或牺牲)……的情况下"。例如:Those who try to profit at the expense of others will come to no good end.(企图损人利己的人不会有好下场。)expense作复数用,意为"开支,经费",如:The government will provide you with financial support to cover your expenses during your stay abroad.(政府将向你提供经济资助以支付你在国外的费用。)
2词义的引申
英译汉时,我们常常会遇到这样的情况:有些词按词典上所