英譯漢時,由于詞匯中包含著英漢兩個不同的民族的風土人情和生活習慣,常常會遇到某些英語詞匯的意義很難處理,僅僅靠詞典上的釋義來選擇詞義是不夠的,甚至很難找到適當的漢語詞義,如果采用直譯的方法,不能準確的表達原文得意思,甚至造成誤解.但是,如果在翻譯時,采取靈活的手段,根據上下文, 從句子的語境出發,根據詞的基本含義,進一步考慮詞的內涵意義,搭配意義,將意義加以引伸,把該詞所關聯的深層意義表達出來,就會使譯文流暢 自然,達到翻譯的要求.

譯文的錯誤是譯者簡單地考慮單詞的字面意義,沒有深入地考慮原文本意,同時譯者忽視了每一個詞或詞組在特定的語言環境中有特定得意義,克服望文生義的有效方法是加強自己的語言修養,特別在詞匯,語法,慣用法方面下工夫,另一方面,要細心,多琢磨,不要想當然(特別是做翻譯的時候).

以下幾種常用于引伸方面的例句,加以歸納,分析,并加上正確的譯文,以共譯員朋友參考:

一:英語名詞的引伸

(1):She can speak Esperanto after a fashion.
她能說一點世界語. (句中after a fashion不能理解為come into fashion or be in fashion"追求時髦",即:不能譯成------她最求時髦,會世界語,而這里after a fashion作not very well or a little"略微地"解.)

(2): Sometimes an informal program will be organized after the meal, with dances, songs, or short talks followed by a question period.
有時候,在飯后舉辦非正式的活動,如:舞會,唱歌,或演討講座.(句中program 不可譯為 broadcast item(eg, a play, discussion or documentary) or plan of what is intended to be done"節目或計劃",根據上下文而應該引伸為 activities"活動"解.)

(3): If we want your two cents, we`ll ask for it.
如果我們需要你的意見,我們會向你征詢的. (句中cent 在這里已經不是one 100th part of a US dollar"一美分"的含義,引伸之意為 opinions or advice"意見或建議"解.)

二:英語動詞詞義的引伸

(1): He showered her with kindness and words of praise until she consented to be his wife.
他向她大獻殷勤,百般贊美,直到她同意做他的妻子.(句中shower不能簡單地譯作to rain in showers/ pour down in showers"下陣雨,陣雨般地落下",其真正引伸含義為to shower with praise "大獻殷勤,百般贊美"解.)

(2):Millet made a portrait of lady Chesterfield, which flattered her.
米勒給柴斯特菲爾德貴夫人畫了一副像,該像之美簡直超過了她本人.(句中flatter在這里不作to praise too much"逢迎"解釋,而引伸含義為to make better looking than the reality"超過"解.)

(3):The explorers worked their way up the mountain.
勘測工作者十分艱難地慢慢爬上那座高山.(句中work one`s way up 是to make one`s (or its) way up to或to move slowly and with difficulty"艱難地移動"之意解,已經不含"to work"的含義.)

三:形容詞詞義的引伸

(1): His skills in use of colours was so great that some who viewed the paintings he created said that they were more true to life than
life itself.
他運用色彩的技巧如此嫻熟,有些看過他創作的油畫的人都說它們比真實的生命還要逼真.(句中great不能作of remarkable ability or quality"偉大的"解釋,根據語境應該譯為skillful at"嫻熟的"解.)

(2): I can`t even talk about it, except to you, because anybody else would think I was yellow.
除你之外,這種事不能對別人說,因為別人會覺得我窩囊. (句中yellow形容詞,不可譯為 of the colour of ripe lemons, egg yolks or gold "黃色的",其聯想意義為cowardly"膽怯",故譯為"窩囊".)

(3): Conditions seem moderate by western standards, but compared with those existing in China a little over thirty years ago, the change is
dramatic.
這些條件用西方的標準來衡量似乎很一般,但是如果和30年前中國條件相比,變化是出乎意料的.(句中dramatic愿意為of drama"戲劇的",在此引伸為unexpected"出乎意料的"解.)

英譯漢翻譯中, 只有在長期的翻譯實踐中摸索,才能達到較高的境界.