Amateur translation

The predecessors "translated everyone" such as Zhu Shenghao, Liang Yuchun, Liang Shiqiu and Fu Lei. . . Wait, it seems that I started to translate without any special "preparation". Of course, their times and cultural backgrounds are different, and their English and Chinese skills are profound, and "cultural preparation" has been basically solved in school. Moreover, Fu Lei, for example, always pays attention to absorbing nutrients in many ways (such as listening to Beijing Opera) after engaging in translation, so as to make the translation perfect. Compared with these predecessors, we all seem a little "congenital deficiency".

if I really want to say "preparation", I suddenly feel that I can't prepare enough, so I have to talk about what preparations I can make.

let's talk about "language preparation" first.

According to translation theory, the translator's level of "target language" should be higher than that of "source language". As far as "English translation" is concerned, the translator's Chinese should be better than English. Let's start with Chinese. In order to enrich and improve our Chinese expressions, we suggest reading the following "speaking parts":

A Dream of Red Mansions, Biography of Heroes of Children, Sanyan, Travel Notes of Lao Can, Jin Ping Mei, and Marriage of Awakening the World. . .

these books are lively in language, excellent in vernacular and rich in expressions, which can be used for our study and reference. For example, if you re-read A Dream of Red Mansions from the perspective of language learning, you will see many good things that you didn't pay attention to before, and there will be surprises. As for the fate of Shi Xiangyun in the future, I don't care what "Golden Kirin" and "White-headed Double Star" symbolize or imply.

English "language preparation". If the English foundation is not good enough, we can consider "supplementing" the reading comprehension level that English majors should reach after graduation. It is suggested to spend 1-2 years studying intensive reading and extensive reading.

intensive reading recommendation:

1. Onlow's Cambridge Elementary Certificate Course (equivalent to the level of intensive reading course for English majors in Grade 3) and Cambridge Intermediate Certificate Course (equivalent to the level of intensive reading course for English majors in Grade 4)

These two books, each with more than ten texts, are elegant in writing, authentic in words and fascinating in content. And each article has wonderful notes and exercises.

2. New Concept English 3 and 4.

The text is short, elegant, authentic and fascinating.

3. Yu Dazhao's English is 5 or 6 volumes, and Xu Yanmou's English is 7 or 8 volumes.

The content of the text is classic and "old", but it is literary and pays attention to language foundation and translation training.

just choose one of the above three.

extensive reading:

read at least one novel every month. If you can't reach the level of reading the original for the time being, just read the simplified version, and it is appropriate to have no more than 5-1 new words per page.

It is suggested to find some contemporary English bestsellers or short stories from the Internet, and use Kingsoft mouse to read the words on the computer. This way, you don't have to look up the dictionary, and it won't affect the consistency and interest of reading.

attention to extensive reading: just look at the outline, don't understand it very much, don't take notes, and strive to increase reading. Pursue the plot wholeheartedly, and English is among them.

Let's talk about "language translation preparation".

Generally speaking, I personally don't like such books as Translation Tutorial and Translation Skills, and I think they are a bit like Writing Practice. If both the "target language" and the "source language" have a good foundation, the translation will naturally be handy. Be sure to look at it, and after a lot of translation practice, as a mirror, summarize and improve yourself.

There are the following categories of "language translation preparation":

1. Contrast and contrast study

Select a chapter in a novel you like, or an article you like, find an excellent translation to look at, refer to other translators' translations, carefully observe and ponder the clever handling of others' translations. You can also choose some fragments from them, translate them yourself first, and then compare and refer to them to absorb nutrients from them.

2. Read some articles that are "translation criticism" (just like "literary criticism"). These articles will point out the mistakes of the original translation, or comment on the shortcomings of several translations, which is a bit like listening to the teacher disassemble and analyze a game of chess, or listening to composition comments, and can be inspired by many things.

3. Read some books and articles introducing your own translation experience

For example, Qian Gechuan's Basic Knowledge of Translation, etc.

4. Read some books or articles that introduce and discuss the "fine" understanding of English

For example, Qian Gechuan's Detailed Interpretation of English Problems (positive and continued), Mr. Lin Xiangzhou, Mr. Lu Guoqiang and other books on the special usage and understanding translation of some English "small words" (such as as it were, might as well, etc.).

"cultural preparation".

Take the initiative to make various and massive "cultural preparations": it is best to read books such as the Bible, Greek and Roman Tales, A Brief History of British and American Literature, and A Survey of Britain and America, and pay attention to dialects, slang, student language and so on when watching movies and reading novels.

In order to understand the writing methods of western novels, I recommend reading Gao/Xing/Jian's A Preliminary Study of Modern Novel Skills. This is a booklet, written clearly and vividly, which introduces writing skills such as "stream of consciousness" and "sense of distance".

"reference book preparation".

Basic:

Lu Gusun's New English-Chinese Dictionary

A dictionary of translated English names and place names-helping us to give standardized translated names in translation

Further:

Jiangsu Education Publishing House's Dictionary of English Collocation

Zhang Daozhen's Dictionary of Modern English Usage

These books are rich in examples.