漢語在行文時,一般按照“低值信息在前,高值信息在后”、“已知信息在前,新知信息在后”、“確定信息在前,不定信息在后”的規(guī)則來陳述邏輯關系。如:
1. Physicians in training must learn a staggering array of facts required by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, North America’s accrediting authority for medical schools.
在北美,對醫(yī)科學生確認行醫(yī)資格的機構是醫(yī)學教育聯(lián)絡委員會,它要求在學的醫(yī)生必須熟記大量的材料。
(此句中North America’s accrediting authority for medical schools是the Liaison Committee on Medical Education的補充解釋成分,信息價值最低;而本句中信息價值最高的部分在Physicians in training must learn a staggering array of facts,我們按照“低值信息在前,高值信息在后”的原則組織譯文,讀者覺得邏輯關系清晰、中心突出。)
2. Multitudes of bees used to bury themselves in the yellow blossoms of the summer squashes. This, too, was a deep satisfaction; although, when they had laden themselves with sweets, they flew away to some unknown hive, which could give back nothing in requital of what my garden had contributed.
在夏天,成群結隊的蜜蜂則喜歡一頭扎進黃色的南瓜花里。當它們載滿了蜜汁,便會飛到那些我無從知曉的巢穴中,不再對我花園的奉獻作任何酬答。而我,依然是深深的心滿意足。
(試比較:“在夏天,成群結隊的蜜蜂則喜歡一頭扎進黃色的南瓜花里。我也感到無比滿意。當它們載滿了蜜汁,便會飛到那些我無從知曉的巢穴中,不再對我花園的奉獻作任何酬答。”我們發(fā)現(xiàn),第一種譯文強調的是“心滿意足”,而第二種譯文似乎在暗示讀者這群蜜蜂只求索取,沒有奉獻。這是因為中國人往往采用“逐步進入高潮式”思維模式,最后一點常常是核心信息;而英美人往往采用“高潮出發(fā)式”思維模式,核心信息常常放在句首或句中,偶爾也放在句末。原文的核心信息或高值信息是This was a deep satisfaction,而although(盡管…)一詞表面其后面部分的信息傳遞在發(fā)生轉折,并且是對前面的補充說明,因而是低值信息。所以,按照“低值信息在前,高值信息在后”的原則,第一種譯文準確地傳達了原文的主題。)