英汉翻译技巧 III
词义的选择技巧
英汉两种语言都有一词多类和一词多义的现象。翻译时首先应该根据句法结构判明一个词在原句中属于哪一词类，然后进一步确定词义。 如英语的record可作动词，也可作名词：
I record all my thoughts in a notebook. （动词） 我在笔记本上记下我所有的想法。
I'll bring you some records next time. （名词） 下次我给你带一些唱片来。
汉语的“书”字，既可作名词，也可作动词： 你读过多少书？（名词）
How many books have you read? 振笔直书。（动词）
Take up the pen and write vigorously.
即使词类不变，一词多义也是很常见的。因此，译者在确定词类的基础上，应根据上下文来确定其确切的含义。越是简单的词，其释义和搭配越多。如take，在《英汉大词典》里，仅作为及物动词就有37项释义，作为不及物动词有15项，作为名词有12项，再加上几十个搭配词组就更多了。在《现代汉语词典》中，“走”字的释义有9项，搭配词组有61项。
现以英文的help作动词为例，看看在不同的上下文里会有多少不同的译法： He helped sweep the floors of the waiting rooms. 他帮助打扫了候车室。
The government needs to help the needy. 政府要救济穷人。
Trade helps the development of industry. 贸易促进工业的发展。 I couldn't help crying. 我忍不住哭了。
This organization may be able to help you with such information. 这个组织也许能为你提供这类信息。
Maybe it would help if you took some adult education courses. 你要是学点成人教育课程也许会有好处。
This room is so depressing — I suppose new curtains would help. 这房间让人觉得压抑——我想换上新窗帘会觉得好些。 I helped Oakley inside. 我扶奥克利走进去。
Can you help me with this case please? 请帮我抬一下这箱子好吗？
Can I help you to some more meat? 给你再来点肉好吗？
Mr. Stokes helped himself to some more rum. 斯托克斯先生又自己动手斟了些朗姆酒。
He's been helping himself to the contents of the till again!
他又在偷账台抽屉里的钱了！
Humor often helps a tense situation. 幽默常能缓和紧张局面。
A: Do you let your holiday cottage? B: Oh yes, it helps with the upkeep. 甲：你出租你的度假别墅吗？
乙：是啊，这样可以贴补房屋的保养费。 同样，汉语里一字多义和一字多种搭配也是相当常见的。就以“打”字为例，译成英文，十有八九要译成不同的英文词： 雨打在窗户上。
The rain was beating against the windows. 她用力打一下锣。
She sounded the gong lustily. 趁热打铁。
Strike the iron while it is hot. 他用瓶子打她的头。
He hit her on the head with a bottle. 李梅亭打门进来。
Li Meiting knocked on the door and entered. 我打了一个碗。 I broke a bowl. 别把茶壶打了。
Don't drop the teapot. 他们打了一仗。
They fought a battle. 他们又打下了一座县城。
They've captured another town. 他们在打墙（堤）。
They are building a wall （ dyke ） . 他在打篱笆。
He is putting up a fence. 他正在打行李。
He is packing his luggage. 她善于打毛衣。
She is good at knitting a sweater. 你最好先打方格儿。
You had better draw squares first. 昨天他们又打了一口井。
Yesterday they sank a well again. 她习惯于打伞。
She is used to holding up an umbrella. 让她在前面给我们打手电。
Let her go in front and flash a torch for us. 我们必须打起精神来工作和学习。
We must raise our spirits to work and study. 他打起了日本式的印花纱帘。
He parted the Japanese-style gauze — curtain patterned with flowers. 他打电话到她家里。 He called her at home. 高松年直接打电报来的。
Kao Songnian cabled me directly. 请你给我打介绍信。
Write a letter of introduction for me. 打 一盆水来！
Fetch a basin of water! 小孩打酱油去了。
The boy went to buy soy sauce. 我爱好打鱼。
I am fond of catching fish. 他昨天打了 1000 斤谷子。
He got in 1000 jin of rice yesterday. 他为妻子把柴打。
He gathers firewood for his wife. 你最好先打个草稿。
You'd better work out a draft first. 成本你得打五百元。
You should estimate the cost at 500 yuan. 我在篮球队打中锋。
I played center on the basketball team. 我们应给植物打农药。
We should spray insecticide upon plants. 咱告诉大家这官司打不得呀 ！
I can tell you nobody should try any lawsuit.
另外，我们还得考虑专业内容，一个词用在不同专业的文本中，词义自然就不同。如： The hearing aids are operated from batteries. 助听器用电池供电。
The doctor operated on the patient for a tumor. 医生为病人施行肿瘤切除手术。
The frontier forces had to operate against the invaders. 边防军不得不对入侵敌人作战。
On what terms do you supply spare parts? 贵方根据什么条件供应备件。
He is in very good physical condition. 他身体条件很好。
We have to consider the subjective factors and objective circumstances. 我们必须考虑主客观条件。
以上这些实例充分说明，在翻译时，词典虽然能起很大的作用，然而，光有词典没有具体的上下文是不够的。一个词在语境中的功能以及它的前后搭配是我们判断和选择词义的重