英语翻译与写作-Omission
2023年10月21日发(作者：销售培训优质课件)
深圳明天上班不-
Omission
A translator has no right to subtract any meaning from the original work. But it does not follow that he
should refrain from omitting any word at all in translation.
What is regarded as a natural or indispensable element in one language may be regarded as
superfluous or even a stumbling block in the other.
Omission in EC translation:
Generally speaking, omission in EC translation is used to achieve the effect of succinctness, especially
in the cases of English pronouns and functional words such as the article, the preposition, the
conjunction, etc.
1. Omitting the pronoun
1) He is not well today, but he still comes to class.
2) He was thin and haggard and he looked miserable.
3)
4)
5)
6)
If I learn to drive a motorcycle, I will certainly buy a new one.
He put his hands into his pockets and then shrugged his shoulders.
He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.
One can never get real rest without a peaceful mind.
7) It’s your pen. I found it on the playground.
8) That dishonest boy is not at all ill. He is alive and kicking in the swimming pool. We all saw
him.
2. Omitting the article
The article is the hallmark of English nouns. When translated into Chinese, it is usually omitted
except when the indefinite article is intended to indicate the numeral “one” , or “a certain”.
1) The moon was slowly rising above the sea.
2) Any substance is made of atoms whether it is a solid, a liquid, or a gas.
3) The direction a force can be represented by an arrow.
4) The sun is setting down beyond the western hill.
5) The fear of being alone is a primary reason they are staying together.
6) Milk is sold by the pound.
7) If oil supplies run out, man may have to fall back on the horse.
8) The young Thomas Edison pictured himself as an inventor.
☆
1) The children in this class are of an age.
2) Give me a cup and saucer, please.
3) I take computer lessons twice a week.
4) Jane is an honest girl and never tells lies.
5) A Mr Johnson came to see you last night.
6) It was a different William from the William he had long known.
7) The audience loved the music of the film very much.
3. Omitting the preposition
1) On December 20, 1999, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.
1 2) The news has already spread along the streets and lanes.
3) She soon fell asleep with the light still burning.
4) Now complaints are heard in all parts of that country.
5) Many new factories have been set up since liberation in their home town.
4. Omitting the conjunction
Conjunctions are not frequently used in Chinese. The connection between sentences are more often
implied than directly conveyed through conjunctions. English is just the opposite in this respect.
1) I came here in 1972 and I have lived here ever since.
2) As he had been up since he was no doubt now very tired.
3) It may be a long time before an immigrant can fully get used to the customs and habits of the
country to which he moves.
4) If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
5) You can describe this policy as rigid and inflexible, when, in fact, it has been extremely
flexible.
6) Because it was getting dark, I had to say good-bye.
5. Omitting the verb
1) These suggestions are so valuable that we must put them into practice.
2) He is in a stormy mood.
3) Startled as he was, he did not lose his balance.
6. Omitting the impersonal pronoun “it”
This often occurs when “it” stands for time, weather, distance, or formal subject / object of a
sentence.
1) Outside it was pitch dark and it was raining cats and dogs.
2) How far is it from the school to the zoo?
3) It was very noisy outside at the moment.
4) It was with some difficulty that he found the way to his house.
5) It is only shallow people who judge by appearances.
只有浅薄的人才会以貌取人。
6) It is much to be regretted that he died at so young an age.
7) It never occurred to me that he was illiterate.
8) Computers made it possible to run the complicated experiment automatically.
☆
1) “Don’t think,” I said. “Just take it easy.”
2) Will you please see to it that the children got a hot meal after their swim?
3) Stick to it, Tom! Don’t let him get ahead of you.
4) The train is leaving at 9:00. Do you think you can make it?
Omission in CE translation
Omission in CE translation is usually used to avoid unnecessary repetition. It is generally employed in
three circumstances:
1. Omitting redundant words
1)
质子带正电，电子带负电，而中子既不带正电，也不带负电。
2 A proton has a positive charge and an electron a negative charge, but a neutron has neither.
2)
我已经提前完成了交给我的任务，他也提前完成了交给他的工作。
I have fulfilled my assigned work ahead of schedule, so has he.
3)
长征是历史记录上的第一次，长征是宣言书，长征是宣传队，长征。
The Long March is the first of its kind in the annals of history. It is a manifesto, a
propaganda force and a seeding-machine.
4)
匪军所至，杀戮人民，奸淫妇女，焚毁村庄，掠夺财物，无所不用其极。
Where the bandit troops went, they massacred and raped, burned and looted, and stopped at
nothing.
5)
艰苦奋斗的精神要贯彻始终。
We must adhere to the principle of plain living and hard struggle.
6)
把他的思想彻底肃清。Rid him of his wrong ideas.
7)
狠抓管理，安全生产。Improving management and ensuring safe production.
8)
我们要大力发扬求真务实，勇于创新的精神。
We must carry forward and promote the spirit of practicality, truth-seeking and courage in
innovation.
2. Omitting words of conceptual category
任务、工作、情况、问题、事业、局面、现象、态度、制度、行为、状态、方法、途径、领域
说服工作 (persuasion)
准备工作 (preparation)
自满情绪
（arrogance）
敌对行为
（antagonism）
测量方法
（measurement）
落后状态
（backwardness）
紧张局势
（tension）
疯狂行为
（madness）
科研活动
（scientific research）
腐败现象
（corruption）
发展状况 (development)
矛盾问题 (contradictions)
1)
讨论的范围涉及中美关系、中俄关系。
2)
他要讲经济问题，国际形势问题。
3)
中国足球的落后状态必须改变。
4)
我们党结束了那个时期的社会动荡和纷扰不安的局面。
5)
这些都是人民内部矛盾问题。
6)
她的朋友听到他家中的困难情况后，都主动伸出援助之手。
3. Omitting meticulous descriptions
1) 200公里航道上遍布着无数险滩。险滩上江流汹涌，回旋激荡，水击礁石，浪花飞溅，声如雷鸣。
Numerous shoals scattered over the 200 km course give rise to many eddies. Pounding on
the midstream rocks, the river roars thunderously.
2)
花园里面是人间乐园。有的是吃不了的大米白面，穿不完的绫罗绸缎，花不完的金银财宝。
The garden was a paradise on earth, with more food and clothes than could be consumed and
more money than could be spent.
3 Translation practice:
1. Put the following sentences into Chinese, using the technique of omission.
1) A square has four sides.
2) We have seven days in a week.
3) You can never tell!
4) Is it a he or a she?
5) As it is, we got there at 10.
6) The higher the tree, the stronger the wind.
7) If you give him an inch, he will take a mile.
8) Never trouble yourself with trouble till trouble troubles you.
9) The true joy of joys is the joy that joys in the joy of others.
10) Patients with influenza must be separated from the well lest the disease should spread from
person to person.
11) These developing countries cover vast territories, encompass a large population and abound in
natural resources.
12) In order to survive, to feed, clothe and shelter himself and his children, man is engaged in a
constant struggle with nature.
2. Put the following sentences into English, using the technique of omission.
1) 每条河流都有上游、中游、下游。
2) 他把事情一五一十地都给父母讲了。
3) 人们利用科学去了解自然，改造自然。
4) 这些新型汽车速度快，效率高，行动灵活。
5) 多年来那个国家一直存在严重的失业现象。
6) 独立自主，自力更生，无论过去、现在和将来，都是我们的立足点。
Answer to 《机智的“教授”》：
The Quick-witted “Professor”
A famous professor was often invited to lecture at various colleges, most of the time in company with his
driver. One day, before he went to a college to make a speech on invitation, his driver said to him,
“Professor, I’ve been working for you for over ten years and have heard your speeches for at least hundreds
of times. Would you let me take your place this time to give a speech?” Although a little worried about him,
the professor thought it very interesting and agreed.
As expected, the false professor was humorous and eloquent, and made a wonderful speech full of witty
remarks. When he finished he won prolonged applause. Suddenly, an audience put up his hand and asked
him to explain an abstruse academic question. All was quiet, waiting for his answer. The “professor”
thought for three seconds, smiled and said, “It’s a very easy question and I will ask my driver to explain it
to you.”
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