公共场所的英文翻译方式
1.何谓"rest room"?
某校的"教师休息室"被译为"Teachers' Rest Room",一家"开心休闲屋"被译为"Happy Rest Room"。但"rest room"指的是"a public lavatory; cloakroom,公用盥洗室,衣帽间"。翻译这类型的场所可考虑"lounge"、"lobby"、"vestibule"或"foyer"。据说那所学校一个新来的外教有一天火急火燎地冲进去,结果可以想象;如此想当然的字面翻译真是令人尴尬。
2.是"wineshop"还是"restaurant"?
一些"酒家"被译为"Wineshop"。在英文里,"wineshop"指的是"a cafe or tavern that specializes in serving wine",专指供人喝酒、小憩之处,而中国人所说酒馆、酒楼、酒肆或酒家其实就是饭店、餐馆,英文都应是"restaurant"。
3.是"high school"还是"middle school"?
大多数有高中的"中学"被译为"middle school",此词实际只指初中和高一的阶段,"a school between elementary school and high school."。有高中的中学应译为"high school",用"middle school"其实是把自己将格了。
4.何来"purchase center"?
某"购物中心"英译为"PURCHASE CENTER",这是不规范的自创表达法。笔者查询牛津、剑桥、韦氏和朗文工具书都查不出"purchase center" 这样的词条,也咨询了英美人士和留学海外的学子,却都认为没有此说法。英语有"shopping center",但所指购物场所很大,而且常在市郊;而该"购物中心"一则占地与规模都很小,二则地处市中心附近,因而也不宜这么翻,充其量就是"department store"(百货商店)。
5."corporation"是什么?
某"国际机场集团公司"被译为"International Airport Group Corporation"。"corporation"指"Groups of persons authorized to act as an individual,eg,for Business purposes",实际上该词本身有总公司的意味,因而"group"是多余的,有些总公司就是用这个词来表示。查一些影响较大的词典都没有发现"group corporation",但有"group company"之说。
6."square","plaza"分别指什么广场?
"square"意为"four-sided open area,eg,in a town,used as a garden or for recreation,or one enclosed by streets and buildings","buildings and street surroundings","blocks of buildings bounded by four streets; distance along one side of such a block",所能指的广场大概相当于"天安门广场"、"五一广场"之类。现在新出现的众多的冠以"广场"名称的商业性质的写字楼群应该用"plaza",意为"a complex of stores, banks and movie theatres, etc"。目前我国广场,如"国贸广场","财经广场",大都源于该词。
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