翻譯題目
中國飲茶的傳統(tǒng)可以追溯到公元前3000多年，但“下午茶”的概念卻是到17世紀中葉(the mid 17th century)才在英國出現(xiàn)的。當(dāng)時那里時興的晚餐時間是晚上8點，所以一位公爵夫人(Duchess)養(yǎng)成了在下午4點約朋友吃糕點的習(xí)慣。很快下午茶成為當(dāng)時的社會潮流。隨東西方文化交流的加深，這個英國傳統(tǒng)逐漸進入中國。如今，下午茶在國內(nèi)日漸流行起來，尤其是在廣東和福建地區(qū)。
表達難點
1.仔細分析發(fā)現(xiàn)，第1句的前后分句語義上表轉(zhuǎn)折。翻譯時，可以考慮用“雖然……但是……” (although…it… ) 的結(jié)構(gòu)來譯。“‘下午茶’的概念卻是到……才……出現(xiàn)的”可用it is not until…that…句型來表達，譯為it was not until…that the concept of “afternoon tea” appeared，但為避免顯得頭重腳輕可把謂語appeared 提前，進行倒裝以平衡結(jié)構(gòu)。
2.第二句中的“當(dāng)時那里時興的晚餐時間是晚上8點”翻譯時進行“增詞”處理，加一個late(晚的)更能準(zhǔn)確表達出下午茶的必要性;同時，“時興的”轉(zhuǎn)換成副詞popularly，使譯文自然流暢。
3. 倒數(shù)第2句中的“這個英國傳統(tǒng)逐漸進人中國”逐字對譯則為this British tradition gradually entered into China，這樣翻譯略顯生硬。實際上，這是一句沒有被動標(biāo)記詞的被動句，宜譯為this British tradition was gradually introduced into China.
4.最后一句中的“廣東和福建地區(qū)”不可直譯為Guangdong and Fujian area，應(yīng)把“廣東”和“福建”的性質(zhì)交代清楚，譯作in the area of Guangdong and Fijian provinces才符合英語表達習(xí)慣。
參考譯文
Although the tradition of drinking tea dates back to more than 3,000 B.C. in China, it was not until the mid 17th century in the UK that appeared the concept of "afternoon tea". The dinner time then was popularly late at 8 pm, so a Duchess developed a habit of inviting Mends to enjoy some cakes at 4 pm in the afternoon. Quickly, afternoon tea became a fashionable social event. With the cultural exchanges between the east and the west deepening, this British tradition was gradually in-traduced into China. Now, afternoon tea is increasingly popular in China, especially in the area ol Guangdong and Fijian provinces.
