1.代词的省略
The average American changes his or her job nine or ten times during his or her working life.
普通美国人一生中换九到十次工作。
2.连词的省略
显然,下面两句话里的“and”和“or”都没有必要译出来。
They have courage and do not give in easily.
他们有勇气,不轻易屈服。
Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they have little interest in or knowledge of the outside world.
然而,外国人却有时报怨说,他们对外部世界漠不关心,一无所知。
3.冠词的省略
英语有冠词,汉语没有。在英译汉过程中,不定冠词(a, an)除了表示“一”这个数量概念时需要译出之外,其他情况下往往省略不译。
They have a wide knowledge of everyday things, and a keen interest in their particular city and state.
他们对日常事情所知甚广,对所在的城市和州深为关切。
定冠词 the 在英译汉时,如果名词前不加“这、该、那个”就能清楚地表达意思,那么,the就可以省略不译。
The individual American is generous, but the American nation is hard.
美国人作为个人是慷慨的,但美国人作为一个民族则是吝啬的。
4.介词的省略
有些表示时间的介词不必译出。
In 1988, Mikhai Gorbachev gave and important speech to the U.N. General Assembly.
1988年,米哈伊尔 戈尔巴乔夫在联大作了一次重要演讲。
有些表示地点的介词可以省译。
Smoking is prohibited in public places.
公共场所不准吸烟。