Nothing Is Impossible to a Willing Mind邹韬奋Zou Taofen驾雾腾云，在从前哪一个人不视为“封神传”里的“瞎三话四”？Nobody in the past ever believed that man could fly in the air like “gods and spirits” in classical Chinese mythology.Q:这一句该怎么翻译？🎈通读原文可知，「驾雾腾云」在这里是指「人类飞上天」，因此这一句话可以理解为「过去没有人相信有人可以像‘封神传’里的神仙一样在天上飞」，译作Nobody in the past ever believed that man could fly in the air like “gods and spirits” in classical Chinese mythology.其中like “gods and spirits” in classical Chinese mythology是根据原文内容进行的意译，《封神传》本可译作Canonization of the Gods，但在这里避而不用，改译作classical Chinese mythology（中国古代神话），便于外国读者领会。不但在中国，就是在西洋，他们原来也有一句俗谚，遇着你说出不可能的事情，往往揶揄地说道：“你不如尝试去飞上天吧。”可见他们原来也是把“飞”视为不可能的事情。In the West, people would say mockingly to anyone attempting the impossible, “You might just as well try to fly.” Evidently, they also disbelieved that man was capable of “flying”.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「揶揄地说道」即「带着嘲讽的语气说」，译作say mockingly。🎈「把‘飞’视为不可能的事情」意即「不相信人能够飞上天」，译作disbelieved that man was capable of ‘flying’。我们试一考这件由不可能而变为可能的事情所经过的大略情形，便觉得很饶趣味。It is very interesting to make a brief study of how man changed the impossible into the possible in the matter of flying.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「便觉得很饶趣味」属评价性的内容，翻译时可放置到开头部分，即It is very interesting to…，如此更符合英文表达习惯。🎈「试一考…的大略情形」意即「对…进行简要分析」，译作make a brief study of。🎈「这件由不可能而变为可能的事情」是指「人类将飞上天这件事情由不可能变为可能」，译作how man changed the impossible into the possible in the matter of flying。在西洋一百二十年前已经有人在那里实验这件“瞎三话四”的事情，他们看见鸟有翼膀能飞，所以实验的时候，总在那里用尽心力于构造人工的翼膀。Westerners began to make aviation experiments as early as 120 years ago. Ascribing a bird’s flight to its wings, they concentrated their efforts on making artificial wings for man.Q：「他们看见鸟有翼膀能飞」该怎么翻译？🎈这句话的意思为「他们认为鸟能飞是因为它们有翅膀」，译作Ascribing a bird’s flight to its wings，若按照字面进行直译，则不符合原文语意。🎈「在西洋一百二十年前已经有人在那里实验这件‘瞎三话四’的事情」译作Westerners began to make aviation experiments as early as 120 years ago.其中「实验这件“瞎三话四”的事情」就是指进行飞行实验，因此译作make aviation experiments。此外，「在西洋有人…」直接译作Westerners…，简洁地道。最初不但在实验方面屡次失败，而且被人笑为发痴，这是所谓“意中事”。But they failed again and again in the attempt and, as was to be expected, ended up as targets of public ridicule.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「被人笑为发痴」意即「成为众人耻笑的对象」，可译作ended up as targets of public ridicule。🎈「这是所谓‘意中事’」意即「意料之中」，译作as was to be expected。这几个“痴子”里面有一位叫做凯雷，在一八〇九年做一篇文章登在一家杂志上，大发挥他的精密的“痴想”，据说现在飞机里的许多机件和原理，没有一件不被他猜着的，所以现在说起飞机的发明家，有许多人推他做“鼻祖”。Among them was a man named George Cayley, who in 1809 published an article in a journal to enlarge on his dream, reportedly foreseeing a modern aircraft in terms of its mechanism and theories. He is, therefore, today popularly known as the father of aviation.Q：「大发挥他的精密的‘痴想’」该怎么翻译？🎈这一句可译作to enlarge on his dream，其中to enlarge on意为「细说」，可概括「大发挥」和「精密」的含义。🎈「据说现在飞机里的许多机件和原理，没有一件不被他猜着的」意思是「他当初已经预见到许多现在飞机里的机件和原理」，译作reportedly foreseeing a modern aircraft in terms of its mechanism and theories，其中reportedly以副词形式表达了动词的内涵，简洁地道，值得我们在翻译中学习借鉴。他原是英国一位有名的哲学家，不知怎地会跳出哲学的范围，想起什么飞上天的把戏来。Originally a famous philosopher in England, he later suddenly quit his special field to pursue his dream of flight.Q：Originally a famous philosopher in England在译文中充当什么成分？🎈根据原文可知，这一句是对主语进行补充说明，因此在翻译时处理为同位于成分，在译文中被提前到开头部分，是为了强调突出，符合原文的表达意图。他不但实行“痴想”，而且就在发表该文的第二年，竟造了一个飞机实验起来，起先上面没有什么原动机，后来竟给他配上了一个原动机。A year afterwards, he went so far as to build a craft for experiment, which he later fitted with a motor.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「他不但实行“痴想”，而且就在发表该文的第二年，竟造了一个飞机实验起来」中许多信息在上文已经提及，在这里就不需要赘述，译作A year afterwards, he went so far as to build a craft for experiment，简洁明了交代清楚原文内容。其中went so far as to有「竟然」之意。🎈「起先上面没有什么原动机，后来竟给他配上了一个原动机」的语意重点在后半句，直接译出这一句即可which he later fitted with a motor。但是他发明的飞机在实验的时候，非但飞不起来，而且炸毁得一塌糊涂，算是失败了。Unfortunately, instead of rising into the air, it was completely wrecked by explosion.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「算是失败了」在译文中没有明确译出，但开头的Unfortunately可体现这一层语意，表达对失败的惋惜之情。但是从此以后，便唤起若干人的注意，有的研究机件，有的研究机身，慢慢地比以前较有端倪，不可能的程度已渐渐减少。Nevertheless, his failed venture attracted the attention of some followers. They started researches on the working parts of an aircraft and its fuselage, indicating man’s slow but steady progress towards making the impossible possible.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「便唤起若干人的注意」其主语为前文提及的失败尝试，可译作his failed venture attracted the attention of some followers，与上文衔接紧密。🎈「慢慢地比以前较有端倪，不可能的程度已渐渐减少」意思是「将不可能变为可能的进程虽然缓慢但却在稳步推进」，译作indicating man’s slow but steady progress towards making the impossible possible。不过这还是极少数“痴子”的信心，一般人还是嗤之以鼻。Yet the handful of “dreamers” of those days were subjected to jeers and laughter.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这句话意译为Yet the handful of “dreamers” of those days were subjected to jeers and laughter.意为「当时那些心怀飞行梦想的人饱受他人的嘲讽」，其中dreamers对应原文中的「痴子」许多“痴子”虽仍在那里继续的研究来，研究去，但是总飞不起来，一点距离都未曾飞过。Many “dreamers” persisted in the flight research without getting their flying machines off the ground.Q：「一点距离都未曾飞过」怎么翻译？🎈「一点距离都未曾飞过」意即「没有非离地面」，可译作without getting their flying machines off the ground，因这时进行试验的还不是真正意义上的飞机，译作flying machines要比直接译作airplane更为恰当。一直到了一八九六年，有位美国物理学家叫蓝格雷造了一个飞机，才算第一次有些效验，不过这个飞机还不能在空中飞，不过在波陀马克河旁，沿着地飞了半英里左右的距离。It was not until 1896 that a little relevant progress was made for the first time in history by an American physicist named Samuel Pierpont Langley. However, instead of rising into the air, his flying model barely moved close to the ground along the Potomac River for only about half a mile.Q：「才算第一次有些效验」怎么翻译？🎈这句的意思为「取得一点与飞行相关的进步」，可译作a little relevant progress was made for the first time in history…。同时有一位由学徒出身的在美国的英国发明家，叫做麦克沁，和还有一位发明家叫做爱德，也在那里“痴干”，改良了许多地方，但弄来弄去，还是飞不起来。Meanwhile, an English apprentice- turned- inventor in the USA named Hiram Maxim and another inventor by the name of N. C. Ader were also obsessed with aerial experimentation and made quite a few relevant modifications. But, in spite of their repeated tries, they never got their models to take off.Q：「由学徒出身的在美国的英国发明家」该怎么翻译？🎈「由学徒出身的在美国的英国发明家」译作an English apprentice- turned- inventor in the USA，其中apprentice- turned- inventor中的turned不及物动词的过去分析，在这里用作形容词。🎈文中的「痴干」意即「沉迷于飞行试验」，译作were also obsessed with aerial experimentation。🎈「弄来弄去」是指「进行反复多次试验」，译作their repeated tries。后来爱德也在一八九六年总算造成一个飞机，能稍微离开地面飞过三百五十码的距离。However, Ader finally built in 1896 a craft that was capable of flying at a low altitude over a distance of 350 meters.Q：「能稍微离开地面飞过三百五十码的距离」怎么翻译？🎈这一句译作was capable of flying at a low altitude over a distance of 350 meters，其中「三百五十码的距离」是指垂直距离，因此要使用介词over，意为「垂直在上」同时在德国柏林也有一位工程师名叫李令索对飞机的研究也有些成绩，他实验了二千次，最后一次由十七米之高跌下来，把头颈跌断，做了科学界的“烈士”。Then, in Berlin, Germany, an engineer named Otto Lilienthal also got some good results in aviation research. He made as many as 2,000 experiments, but, unfortunately, he died later when he fell from a height of 17 meters, breaking his spine.Q：「把头颈跌断」该怎么翻译？🎈「把头颈跌断」据查证应该是指「把脊椎跌断」，译作breaking his spine，在句中作结果状语。以上所说的实验，都还不够真正说得上一个“飞”字，可是没有先锋队的牺牲，真正的“飞”当然也无从达到。Without the above-mentioned early trailblazers, there would be no human flight to speak of today.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈以上所说的实验，都还不够真正说得上一个‘飞’字”在上文已经多次表明，在这里可以不再译出，直接省略。🎈「真正的‘飞’当然也无从达到」译作there would be no human flight to speak of today，其中speak of意为「称得上」到了一九〇三年的十二月十七日，美国有一位叫赖奥维和他的弟弟赖威柏，他们不过受过中等教育，后来做机匠，不过做做寻常的脚踏车，竟对于飞机大饶兴趣，尽心研究，一跃而为发明家，At the turn of the century, an American named Orville Wright and his brother Wilbur, enamored of the flying machine, made a name for themselves overnight as aviation inventors. They were originally two bicycle mechanics with only high school education.Q：原文中信息点众多，翻译时该怎么处理？🎈结合全文内容，这一句所要强调的重点是两兄弟潜心飞机研究并成为发明家，因此可以将这部分信息先译出，再将其他内容作为人物背景介绍后译出。根据他们研究所得，算是第一次乘着飞机飞了起来，但是只飞了二百六十米的距离。On December 17, 1903, they made the world’s first flight in an engined airplane, covering a distance of no more than 260 metres.Q：「算是第一次乘着飞机飞了起来」该怎么翻译？🎈这一句可以理解为「第一次在世界上乘机动飞机飞了起来」，译作made the world’s first flight in an engined airplane或made the first flight in human history in a power-driven airplane。一九二七年美国人林德白第一次一口气从美国纽约飞越大西洋而达法国巴黎，三十二小时飞过三千六百三十三哩，距今不到两年。Less than two years ago, in 1927, an American named Charles A. Lindbergh made the first transatlantic solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris, covering a distance of 3,633 miles in 32 hours.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「第一次一口气从美国纽约飞越大西洋而达法国巴黎」译作made the first transatlantic solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris，其中nonstop对应原文中的「一口气」，即「不停的，不断的」赖奥维一九〇三年的飞机也还不是一蹴而成的，他们弟兄在一九〇〇年最初制成的飞机格式，原是想照放纸鸢办法，上面本预备坐一个人，但因为气力不足，只得让飞机独自飞翔，他们弟兄在一九〇一年实验用的第二个飞机，要载人上飞还是不行，若在地上沿地拖着飞，可以一口气飞二十七哩，在水面可一口气驶三百呎，Orville’s 1903 plane was something he accomplished after going through numerous setbacks.In 1900, the Wright brothers made their first glider patterned after a paper kite, but it lacked the power to carry a person. Their second glider, made in 1901, also failed, but the manned machine could move nonstop for 27 miles on the ground, and for 300 feet on the surface of water.Q：「不是一蹴而成」该怎么翻译？🎈在遇到成语翻译时，我们首先要考虑在英文中有没有相对应的表达，若没有，那就需要采取意译，将其核心意思译出。如这里的「一蹴而成」的否定形式可译作accomplished after going through numerous setbacks。🎈「上面本预备坐一个人，但因为气力不足，只得让飞机独自飞翔」译作it lacked the power to carry a person，直接译出其核心意思，即「这一飞机因气力不足无法载人」他们弟兄在一九〇三年，替航空事业开新纪元用的飞机，上面装有汽油原动机，其构造比之现在的飞机当然粗率得很，在当时则已经是空前的完备（该机现在英国伦敦科学博物院陈列）。However, their airplane of 1903, fitted with a gasoline engine, was a success ushering in a new era for aeronautics. Compared with today’s plane, it was of course very crude, but regarded then as a perfect model. And it is now on exhibition at the Science Museum in London, England.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「他们弟兄在一九〇三年，替航空事业开新纪元用的飞机，上面装有汽油原动机」中较为重点的信息点为「替航空事业开新纪元」，而「上面装有汽油原动机」是重点信息，在翻译时要处理为不同主次成分。译作their airplane of 1903, fitted with a gasoline engine, was a success ushering in a new era for aeronautics.其中was a success…是根据原文语意进行的补充。赖威柏已于一九一二年逝世，赖奥维尚健在，已经五十八岁了。自他成功以后，从前似乎不可能的“飞”，已成为无疑的可能的事情了。Wilbur died in 1912. Orville is now 58. Their success indicates that human flying, impossible in the past, has now become perfectly possible.Q：原文该怎么翻译？🎈「自他成功以后，从前似乎不可能的“飞”，已成为无疑的可能的事情了」意思是「他们的成功证明了以前不可能的人类飞行，现在完全可能实现了」译作Their success indicates that human flying, impossible in the past, has now become perfectly possible.天下事只要人努力去干，什么事不可能？但是我们对此问题至少还有下列两个更为明确的要点。Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. Now, however, I would like to call your attention to two vital points as follows：Q：原文该怎么翻译？🎈「天下事只要人努力去干，什么事不可能？」译作Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.这一句的意思等同于Where there is a will, there is a way.（有志者事竟成），是英语谚语，因酷似原文，故不妨借用在此处。🎈「但是我们对此问题至少还有下列两个更为明确的要点」意思是「对此我还有两点需要提醒你注意」，译作I would like to call your attention to two vital points as follows。事业愈大则困难亦愈甚，抵抗困难的时期也随之俱长，有的尽我们的一生尚不能目见其成者，我们若能尽其中一段的工夫，替后人开辟一段道路，或长或短，即是贡献。The greater an undertaking, the more difficult it is, and the longer it will take to accomplish it. Sometimes it can’t be accomplished even after a lifetime of effort. But it will nevertheless be a contribution of ours if we can devote part of our lifetime to opening up a way, long or short, for the future generations.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈「事业愈大则困难亦愈甚，抵抗困难的时期也随之俱长」含有明显的「越…，就越…」的语意，可译作The greater an undertaking, the more difficult it is, and the longer it will take to accomplish it.其中「抵抗困难的时期也随之俱长」意为「实现这一事业所需的时间就越长」🎈「我们若能尽其中一段的工夫，替后人开辟一段道路，或长或短，即是贡献」的意思是「如果我们可以用我们一生中的一段时间为后人开辟一段道路，那么这也算是一种贡献」，译作But it will nevertheless be a contribution of ours if we can devote part of our lifetime to opening up a way, long or short, for the future generations.其中nevertheless是增益成分，有加强语气的效果。有所成功以备后人参考，固是贡献；即因尝试而失败，使后人有所借镜，亦是贡献。所以能向前努力者，无论成败，都有贡献。The same is true if what little we have done serves as a good example to them, or if our fruitless efforts serve as a useful lesson to them. Therefore, succeed or fail, one is considered to have made a contribution so long as he has tried his utmost.Q：原文中出现与上文「即是贡献」语意相同的「固是贡献」和「亦是贡献」该怎么处理？🎈因上文已经提到it will nevertheless be a contribution of ours，在这一句中为避免重复，尽量不要再次使用同样的方式来表达，可译作The same is true if…，即「…也是如此」，如此表达既可避免重复，也显地道。🎈「尝试而失败」译作fruitless efforts，也可译作failed ventures/endeavors/tries。🎈「所以能向前努力者，无论成败，都有贡献。」译作Therefore, succeed or fail, one is considered to have made a contribution so long as he has tried his utmost.其中so long as he has tried his utmost是根据原文语意进行的内容补充。此外，「无论成败」在这里译作succeed or fail，也可译作succeed or not，在句中作状语。最无丝毫贡献者是不干，怕失败而不敢干，或半途遇着困难即不愿干。Those who refuse to act, those who are afraid to act for fear of failure and those who stop half way in the face of obstacles will have nothing to their credit at all.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这一句在翻译时进行了意译，「最无丝毫贡献」理解为「没有什么可值得赞扬的」，译作will have nothing to their credit at all，其中习语to one’s credit意为「使值得赞扬，使受尊重」🎈「半途遇着困难即不愿干」意为「遇到困难后就半途而废」，译作stop half way in the face of obstacles。林德白可以三十二小时一直不停的飞渡万余里，在最初发明者横弄竖弄，竟飞不起来，至赖奥维算是成功了，也不过飞渡二百六十米。Before Lindberg made the solo nonstop transatlantic flight of 32 hours, early aviation experimenters had failed again and again to get their flying models off the ground until the Wright brothers succeeded in building a piloted airplane that could fly over a distance of no more than 260 meters.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈这一句中的信息间暗含着时间逻辑关系，在翻译时需要增加必要的介词来体现其关系，如「林德白可以三十二小时一直不停的飞渡万余里，在最初发明者横弄竖弄，竟飞不起来」可以理解为「在林德白可以三十二小时一直不停的飞渡万余里之前，最初发明者横弄竖弄，竟飞不起来」，译作Before Lindberg made the solo nonstop transatlantic flight of 32 hours, early aviation experimenters had failed again and again to get their flying models off the ground。可见从不可能达到可能的境域，不是由这一点到那一点的那样简单。It is thus clear that changing the impossible into the possible is no simple or easy matter. Q：「不是由这一点到那一点的那样简单」该怎么翻译？🎈这一句在翻译时提取其核心意思即可，「不简单、不轻松」，译作…is no simple or easy matter。必须经过许多麻烦，经过许多失败，经过许多时间，经过许多筹划，经过许多手续，经过许多改进，若是性急朋友，老早丢了哪有成功的可能？To attain it, you need to endure numerous troubles and frustrations. You need to take much time, do a lot of planning, go through countless procedures and carry out many improvements. And you’ll never make it unless you show the utmost patience.Q：这一句该怎么翻译？🎈结合上文可知，这一句暗含一个条件状语「要想实现从不可能到可能」，译作To attain it，其中it指代上文的changing the impossible into the possible。🎈「若是性急朋友，老早丢了哪有成功的可能」意为「要想成功就必须要有耐心」，译作you’ll never make it unless you show the utmost patience。所以昔贤告诉我们说“欲速则不达”。As the ancient Chinese saying goes, “Haste does not bring success.”Q：「欲速则不达」该怎么翻译？🎈「欲速则不达」是中国谚语，可直译为Haste does not bring success.如果借用英国谚语More haste, less speed.也并为不可，但既然原文说这句话是出自我国「昔贤」，还是直译可取，这是出于照顾民族色彩的考虑。🔥必背词汇ascribe v.认为是…的特点;认为…具有 英义If you ascribe a quality to someone, you consider that they possess it.例句We do not ascribe a superior wisdom to government or the state. 我们并不认为政府或是国家有超凡的智慧。ridicule v.嘲笑；奚落；讥笑英义unkind comments that make fun of sb/sth or make them look silly例句She is an object of ridicule in the tabloid newspapers.她是小报讥笑讽刺的对象。wreck v.破坏；损坏；毁坏英义to damage or destroy sth 例句The building had been wrecked by the explosion.那座楼房被炸毁了。fuselage n.（飞机的）机身英义the main part of an aircraft in which passengers and goods are carried 例句Some oscillation of the fuselage had been noticed on early flights.在之前的几次飞行中，就已经察觉到机身有些摇晃。jeers v.嘲笑，嘲弄，讥讽，奚落（的言语）英义a rude remark that sb shouts at sb else to show that they do not respect or like them 例句He walked on to the stage to be greeted with jeers and whistles. 他登上舞台，结果迎来阵阵嘲笑和口哨嘘声。trailblazer n.创始人；先驱；拓荒者；开路先锋英义a person who is the first to do or discover sth and so makes it possible for others to follow 例句He has been the trailblazer and given British sprinters the belief that we are able to take on and beat the world’s best. 他一直是开路先锋，让英国短跑选手相信我们能与世界上最好的运动员一决高下，并且击败他们。enamor v.使倾心；使迷恋英义to inspire with love; captive; charm 例句I became totally enamored of the wildflowers there. 我特别喜欢那里的野花。🔥重点表达揶揄地说 say mockingly对于…大饶兴趣 be enamored of一跃而为 made a name for oneself overnight as中等教育 high school education开新纪元 usher in a new era for使…有所借镜 serve as a useful lesson to欲速则不达 Haste does not bring success.驾雾腾云 fly in the air一考…的大略情形 make a brief study of用尽心力于 concentrate one’s efforts on大发挥 enlarge on被嗤之以鼻 be subjected to jeers and laughter🔥复盘测试驾雾腾云一考…的大略情形用尽心力于大发挥被嗤之以鼻揶揄地说对于…大饶兴趣一跃而为中等教育开新纪元使…有所借镜欲速则不达🔥表达对比有关「嗤之以鼻」的不同说法这条路对那些站在中国“左派”的人来说太过了，他们对西方嗤之以鼻，并坚持党对垄断统治的所有权。Such a path would be too much for those on the Chinese “left”, who look scornfully at the West and insist on the Communist Party’s claim…因此，在美国大选巡回宣传途中，左派攻击米特?罗姆尼，认为他是一个敛财大亨；而右派对巴拉克?奥巴马嗤之以鼻，认为他是一个阶级斗士。Thus, on America’s campaign trail, the left attacks Mitt Romney as a robber baron and the right derides Barack Obama as a class warrior.但19世纪前，所有教派人士都对他的观点嗤之以鼻。直到十九世纪后，美国新教摩门教接受了这一观点。But the idea was abhorrent to all denominations until the 19th century, when the new American religion of Mormonism adopted it.有观点认为“云”将令整个商用软件行业受制于甲骨文以及该公司位于德国的服务器访问点。长期以来，埃里森对此说法一直嗤之以鼻。For a long time, Oracle’s Mr Ellison pooh-poohed the notion that the cloud would transform the industry dominated by his firm and SAP of Germany.那些对“转基因”食物嗤之以鼻的人很少想到，其实所有的农作物都是经过基因改造的。Those who turn their noses up at “genetically modified” food seldom seem to consider that all crops are genetically modified.他回忆，2009 年金融危机发生前不久，一位俄罗斯官员对中国所谓的现代化嗤之以鼻，斥之为弄虚作假的面子工程，认为中国庞大的 GDP 反映出「成百上千万的穷人愿为一碗饭出卖劳动力」。He recalls a Russian official, just before the financial crisis in 2009, scoffing at China’s supposed modernity, calling it a Potemkin village whose big GDP reflected “millions of poor people who will work for a bowl of rice”.不过这还是极少数“痴子”的信心，一般人还是嗤之以鼻。Yet the handful of “dreamers” of those days were subjected to jeers and laughter.
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爱是一颗心遇到另一颗心（出处+配图） 
