2017年6月的大學(xué)英語(yǔ)六級(jí)的翻譯考試題分別是唐宋明三朝。這三個(gè)朝代可謂是中國(guó)古代史上的三個(gè)巔峰時(shí)代，也確實(shí)是揚(yáng)我中華威風(fēng)的時(shí)代。
卷三：明朝
明朝統(tǒng)治中國(guó)276年，被人們描繪成人類歷史上治理有序、社會(huì)穩(wěn)定的最偉大的時(shí)代之一。這一時(shí)期，手工業(yè)的發(fā)展促進(jìn)了市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)和城市化。大量商品，包括酒和絲綢，都在市場(chǎng)銷售。同時(shí)，還進(jìn)口許多外國(guó)商品，如時(shí)鐘和煙草。北京、南京、揚(yáng)州、蘇州這樣的大商業(yè)中心相繼形成。也是在明代，由鄭和率領(lǐng)的船隊(duì)曾到印度洋進(jìn)行了七次大規(guī)模探險(xiǎn)航行。還值得一提的是，中國(guó)文學(xué)的四大經(jīng)典名著中有三部寫(xiě)于明朝。
這篇短文共有七句話。從意群上來(lái)劃分，第一句是總起句，統(tǒng)領(lǐng)整段話。第二句至第五句是講明朝的市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)和城市化，即第三四五句是說(shuō)明第二句的。第六句是講明代與世界的關(guān)系。第七句則是文化領(lǐng)域的代表。
【第一句】明朝統(tǒng)治中國(guó)276年，被人們描繪成人類歷史上治理有序、社會(huì)穩(wěn)定的最偉大的時(shí)代之一。
這句話字面上是一個(gè)被動(dòng)句，即有“被”字。由于屬于對(duì)明朝的描述，建議還是按被動(dòng)句來(lái)翻譯，避免與后一句的主語(yǔ)在語(yǔ)義上的關(guān)聯(lián)性不足。
其次，在這一句中，“明朝統(tǒng)治中國(guó)276年”不能直接將“中國(guó)”一詞翻譯出來(lái)。原因是明朝的行政統(tǒng)治疆域與當(dāng)代中國(guó)的完全不一樣。翻吧君在之前就提到過(guò)，在當(dāng)前的語(yǔ)境下，中國(guó)一詞的概念與古代中國(guó)各朝代是完全不一樣的。在譯成英語(yǔ)后，會(huì)對(duì)英語(yǔ)國(guó)家的讀者造成理解上的混亂。
還有就是，“明朝“、“276年”與后面的“最偉大的時(shí)代之一”，這三者在時(shí)間層面有有內(nèi)在的關(guān)聯(lián)性，即在時(shí)間延續(xù)性上是一致的。不過(guò)，從語(yǔ)義的重點(diǎn)來(lái)看，后者肯定是最主要的。因此，可以將”統(tǒng)治中國(guó)276年“，當(dāng)作一個(gè)修飾語(yǔ)，而不必單獨(dú)成語(yǔ)。
在維基百科里，對(duì)明朝的描述中，有類似的句子：
The Ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China – then known as the Empire of the Great Ming – for 276 years (1368–1644) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming, described by some as 'one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history.'
我們借鑒性地修改一下：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled for 276 years, was described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and stable society in human history.
【第二句】這一時(shí)期，手工業(yè)的發(fā)展促進(jìn)了市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)和城市化。
在這一句中，”這一時(shí)期“，即是指整個(gè)明朝。不過(guò)，需要注意的是，”手工業(yè)的發(fā)展“是一個(gè)動(dòng)態(tài)過(guò)程， 是與”市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)“和“城市化”進(jìn)程相呼應(yīng)的。這里不宜用名詞development 或progress 來(lái)翻譯“發(fā)展”，而不是要用“動(dòng)詞+不定式”的句型，來(lái)顯示發(fā)展會(huì)帶來(lái)什么樣的后果，如advance to promote。
這句話可以翻譯為：
During the Ming, its handicraft industry advanced to promot the market-oriented economy and the urbanization.
【第三句】大量商品，包括酒和絲綢，都在市場(chǎng)銷售。
“酒”可以翻譯為wine，但是它特指葡萄酒或者果酒，因此，更準(zhǔn)確的翻譯應(yīng)該是酒這一類物品，可用泛指各種酒精飲料的alcohol。
這句話包含了一個(gè)被動(dòng)的語(yǔ)態(tài)，“商品在市場(chǎng)被銷售”，可譯成如下：
A large amount of goods, including embroidered silk and alcohol, were sold in markets.
【第四句】同時(shí)，還進(jìn)口許多外國(guó)商品，如時(shí)鐘和煙草。
這句話的中文里沒(méi)有主語(yǔ)，不過(guò)，由于與上一句是相關(guān)聯(lián)的，并且強(qiáng)調(diào)的是“商品”，因此，不強(qiáng)加一個(gè)主語(yǔ)，而是仍然用被動(dòng)句：“商品被進(jìn)口”。
可譯為：
Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities, such as clocks and tobacco, were imported.
【第五句】北京、南京、揚(yáng)州、蘇州這樣的大商業(yè)中心相繼形成。
本句的句子結(jié)構(gòu)比較簡(jiǎn)單，主要需要處理詞匯。
“商業(yè)中心”對(duì)應(yīng)的表達(dá)是“commercial center”，也可以寫(xiě)成“business center”
“相繼形成”的英語(yǔ)表述為“continuously”,也可以簡(jiǎn)化為“One after another”
可譯成：
Some business centers of Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou came into formation one after another.
【第六句】還值得一提的是，中國(guó)文學(xué)的四大經(jīng)典名著中有三部寫(xiě)于明朝。
本句的句子結(jié)構(gòu)比較接單，“四大名著中的三部”可以用three of four…的結(jié)構(gòu)。
需要解決的詞匯有：
“值得一提”對(duì)應(yīng)的英語(yǔ)表述為“note worthy”，當(dāng)然也可以簡(jiǎn)化為what’s more或者Besides。
“四大經(jīng)典名著”是專有名詞，為“Four Great Classical Novels”，需要注意大寫(xiě)。不過(guò)，也可以不用這個(gè)專有名詞，用說(shuō)明性的詞匯，如four Chinese major fictions.
可譯成：
What's worthy being noted, three of four classical fictions were developed into mature in the Ming Dynasty.
翻吧參考版：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled for 276 years, was described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and stable society in human history. During the Ming, its handicraft industry advanced to promot the market-oriented economy and the urbanization. A large amount of goods, including embroidered silk and alcohol, were sold in markets.Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities, such as clocks and tobacco, were imported.Some business centers of Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou came into formation one after another. What's worthy noted, three of four classical fictions were developed into mature in the Ming Dynasty.
滬江基礎(chǔ)版：
Ming Dynasty ruled China for 276 years. People say it was organized and stable. It was one of the greatest eras in human history. At this period of time, the development of handicraft industry promoted the market-oriented economy and urbanization. Many products, including alcohol and silk, were sold in markets. At the same time, it imported many foreign products, such as clocks and tobacco. Commercial centers like Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou formed one after another. Zheng Healso led a fleet to the Indian Ocean for seven large adventures in Ming Dynasty. What’s more, three of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature were written in Ming Dynasty.
滬江提高版：
The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled China for 276 years, was depicted as the greatest era in human history because of its ordered and stable society. During this period, the market economy and urbanization was stimulated by the development of handicraft industry. A large amount of goods, including silk and wine, was sold in markets. Meanwhile, a lot of foreign commodities like clocks and tobacco were imported. Mass commercial centers like Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Suzhou were also aroused continually during this era. It was also in the Ming Dynasty that China dispatched large fleets for 7 times, all led by Zhen He to the Indian Ocean for great adventure. It was also noteworthy that three of Four Great Classical Novels of China were written in the Ming Dynasty.
注：本文部分內(nèi)容參考了滬江英語(yǔ)的相關(guān)內(nèi)容。
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