广告的用词特点
英语广告是一种独特的语言形式,它遵循正规的英语语法规则,但是仍有许多独特的处理方式。在用词方面,英语广告可以说是兼收并蓄,不拘一格,绚丽多姿。
1)在政府颁发公文、学校招生等的广告中,用词极为严肃正统。例如:
Our present Principal/Chief Executive has reached retirement age and the Governing Board wants to make the crucial appointment of his replacement in 1994. If you are a well-qualified and experienced individual and you think you have the vision, energy and enthusiasm to lead the College from the current solidly based nineties into the next century, then please write for further information and post particulars to:
这是一篇招生广告,其中用词是非常正规的,所以,反映了广告的内容也是严肃认真的。
2)大多数广告具有用词简单、口语性强的特点,常用be,make,get,take,try,come,go,have,need,use,buy等动词,以及一些表示赞美的形容词,如well,clean,white,real,fresh,natural,big,great,bright,slim,soft, wholesome,improved等,使广告显得通俗活泼,给人留下深刻的印象。如在一件外衣的广告中,为了强调该衣的特色,衣袋设计的不同凡响,甚至可以防盗,文字是这样的pity the pickpocket (可怜那些三只手吧),其中pickpocket 就属于口语体,相当于汉语中的“三只手”或“扒手”。假如把它换成thief(贼),效果就不如pickpocket 生动有趣。
3)另外,广告为了产生一种幽默和诙谐的效果,有时故意使用一些非正式的语言,有的甚至使用了大量的俚语和非正式的词汇或创新词等。例如:
Each transfer weight advantage and power into real, all round performance at prices we know won?t freak you out. 在这则广告中,freak out 是一非正式词组,意思是精神恍惚,极度兴奋(尤其指吸毒之后),它在此的意思是frighten(使人害怕),或是scare 的意思。
Keep the frog out of your throat. 这是一篇咽喉片的广告中的最后一句话,广告策划者故意用这样一个非正式的短语取得一种幽默的效果。
TWOGETHER
The Ultimate All Inclusive One Brice Sunkissed Holiday.
4)专有名词的使用在广告中也很广泛,利用名人或名地等效应可以增加广告的说服力,引起读者的注意。例如: This is one place Mick Doohan will never race。
From the country that brought you Alain Delon. A new range of traditional cast-iron pots and pans, with smooth bottoms for use on all types of hob. 广告中Alain Delon (阿兰?德龙)是一位著名影星。
广告的句法特点
英语广告的句型也多种多样,但最常用的句型有以下几类: 1) 祈使句
为了使广告更简洁明快,广告中使用最多的是祈使句。 See, Experience and Enjoy in ?94. (马拉西亚旅游广告) Lay down your arms. (桌子广告语) 2) 一般疑问句
疑问句在广告中备受青睐,通常用在广告的前面。
Have you ever dreamed of ascending the steps of great temple built to the Gods? (梦想过登上宏伟圣庙的台阶吗?——旅行社广告) Can a tired overworked voice command attention in class? 3) 省略句
在英语广告中,省略句比比皆是,甚至整篇广告都由省略句构成。
Special purchase too good to miss.(在purchase后省掉了is,意为特价购买,机不可失。)
Serviced green-field sites aplenty. Ready for development. For sale. For manufacture. For business. For services. For leisure. A million square feet of ready-to-wear premise. Brand new business parks. Four-star conference facilities. Backed by 14 years? success in helping business to relocate, set-up, prosper, expand.
4) 比较级
比较级在广告中用得非常多,这是由于英语广告中有大量的形容词和副词做修饰语的缘故。 Does More Jobs in Less Time.
In short, the stronger your character, the brighter your future. 5) 直接引语
在英语广告中直接引语出现得很多,原因:一是直接引语使得广告显得形式活泼、新颖;二是采用直接引语从心理学的角度看可以增强说服力。
“It?s like we?re all in the same office. The office just happens to spread across 7000 miles of ocean,” Tom Hughes MIS Director, Construction. 这是IBM公司的一则广告的开头语,通过该公司经理的话,使广告显得生动具体。
“Through the NVQ initiative we have discovered talents and competencies we would never otherwise have known about.” Says Ian McDermot of Philips Components in Blackburn.
这是用人单位对NVQ职业培训机构的赞扬。 6)巧用分离句
分离句在英文广告中比比皆是。广告英文的分离句是利用句号、破折号等将句子分隔成更短的结构。它是英文广告的一种特殊现象,目的旨在增加更多的信息量。例如:
My Summer Adventure.By Matthew.- My summer adventure by Matthew. Be Specific—Go Union Pacific.- Be specific to go by Union Pacific. 7)常用并列结构
并列结构短促有力,易于理解。因而广告英语中并列结构使用频繁。例如: 5
You've worked at it.You've earned it.You've taken advice from so many people you could write a book.(马自达(Mazda)汽车的广告词) Follow Your Head. Follow Your Heart. Follow Your Hormones.
8)借用谚语、成语和名言警句语和名言警句都是日常生活中流传的一些固定佳句,通俗朴素的语反映深刻的道理。使用这些佳句可使得广告语言起到妙语连珠的效。例如:
Nobody is perfect.(健身器材广告用语)
A Mars a day keeps you work,rest and play.(仿\和\ Once tasted,always loved.(仿 “Once bitten,twice shy”,这是一则饮料广告) 在英语广告中,人们往往还借用英语成语。例如:
The prose without the con.(书籍广告,仿英语成语 “the pros and cons”)
再如:We take no pride in prejudice. (The Times的广告用语,它巧用了英国文学名著Pride and Prejudice1名称)。
广告的修辞特点
英语广告语言的修辞色彩非常浓厚。为了引起读者的注意,给消费者和读者以深刻的印象,广告撰写者往往使用各种修辞手法来加强表达效果,极力渲染其产品的功能或服务效果。在广告语言中,如果修辞运用得当,它则可以为广告带来事半功倍的效果。对读者来说,如果不留心这种修辞特点则很难明白广告的内容,若要翻译则更难。英语广告中最常使用的修辞手段有以下几类:
(1)夸张(hyperbole)
Lounge? ?Sanctuary? might be a better word. It?s a place to take stock. To plan your strategy. To keep in touch with base, by phone or fax. 这是一篇航空公司的广告,lounge的意思是“候机室”,而广告中用sanctuary来形容,意思是“圣殿”,可以说是夸张至极。 One warrior deployed in the pass makes thousands of burglars lose heart.(保险门) (2)头韵(Alliteration)
It?s peace, perfect peace at a perfect price.
Health, Humour & Happiness…Gifts we love to give. (3)排比(parallelism) Small deposit, big return。
No problem too large. No business too small. (IBM) (4)双关(pun)
Let us help you extend yourself.
How to go on holiday without getting into the red? (5)拟人(Personification)
广告中的拟人是把所宣传的事物人格化,使读者倍感亲切。例如: The first bra to understand the facts of life.(这是一则胸罩广告)。 Flowers by Interflora speak from the heart.(花店广告) (6)押韵(Rhyming)
押韵在广告中使用广泛,赋予广告以优美的韵律,使广告读起来琅琅上口,便于记忆。 Don?t say, “show me another.” But say, “Give me Brother.”(日本Brother牌打字机广告) My Goodness! My Guinness!(天啦!我的Guinness啤酒!)
广告的翻译原则
(1)广告(商务广告)三种语言功能 信息功能(informative function) 祈使功能(imperative function) 劝说功能(persuasive function)
(2) 广告翻译应以功能对等(functional equivalence)为准则, 使译文对译语受众(读者或观众)产生的效果大致与原文对原文受众(读者或观众)产生的效果相当。 (3) 奈达的功能对等
“Translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source-language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.”
广告翻译方法:
1直译 主要用于处理一些原意较明确,语句结构较简单完整,按字面意思翻译能同时表达句子表层与深层意义的广告口号与标题。 Challenge the Limits.挑战极限(三星)
Winning the hearts of the world.赢取天下心(法国航空公司) Hand in Hand,Future in Your Hand.伴你同行·齐握未来(太平人寿)
Tle Relentless Pursuit of Perfection.专注完美,近乎苛求(Lexus—automobile) 为你未来,做好现在Striving today for all your tomorrows.(中银集团)
培育新一代,携手创未来Nurture the Young.Create the Future.(香港小童群益会)
2 意译
For next generation.新一代的选择。(百事可乐)
The COLOR 0F SUCCESS!让你的业务充满色彩。(Minolta复印机) Whatever makes you happy.为您没想周全让您称心如意(Credit Suisse) UPS.0n time,every time.UPS——准时的典范(UPS快递) Every time a good time.分分秒秒欢聚欢笑(麦当劳) 6
3 创新型翻译
Connecting People科技以人为本(诺基亚)
The Way Ahead九铁动力 拓新领域(九广铁路) Music makes US.生有趣·乐无穷(2000/01乐季蜒康乐及文化事务署)
Quality Services for Quality Life凝聚新动力 文康展新姿(康乐及文化事务署) Ma Belle is Diamond只因为您更有价值(Ma Belle.jewel ry)
在以上中文译文中,已经很难找到原文的蛛丝马迹了。即使将英文广告作“释义”(paraphrase)处理,也很难像上一类别那样,在译文中找出达到“灵活对等”的足够信息。由此可见,上述中英广告已基本脱离翻译框架,属于重新创造的一类;其中的中文文本从修辞学上讲都已经达到很高的水准,句子精辟程度和可读性都不比原文差。而译文的意境往往都比原文深远。
4 增词翻译
Elegance is an attitude.优雅态度真我性格(浪琴表) Beyond your imagination.意想不到的天空(大韩航空)
Be good to yourself.Fly emirates.纵爱自己纵横万里(阿联酋航空)
Any shape and size to Europe.不同大小各种形状,火速直飞欧洲。(联邦快递) You?re at 35 000 feet.Your head is in New York.Your heart is in Paris.You r
Rolex can be in both places at once.身在35 000英尺的纽约上空,巴黎的浪漫仍系心中…唯你的劳力士可两地相容。(劳力士表)
5 省词翻译
Overseas. Time set free Overseas. 自由真义(VacheronConstantin)
Wherever you are. Whatever you do. The Allianz Group is always on your side. 安联集团,永远站在你身边(安联集团)
常见广告用语
1) with beautiful appearance 外形美观 elegant and magnificent in appearance 外观雍容华贵
attractive and durable 美观耐用 2) bright in colour 色泽艳丽 in fancy colours 色彩绚丽多彩 pretty and colourful 瑰丽多姿
3) with fashionable design,款式时髦
modern and elegant in design 设计摩登典雅 novel in design 设计新颖
with the latest design 最新款式
designed with distinctive traditional features 设计富有传统特色
4) a great variety of selection/models 款式多样 a complete range of specifications 规格齐全 complete in specifications 规格齐全
supply in all sizes, colours, and designs 贵的齐全、花色繁多、款式多样 available in designs and styles 备有各种款式,供您选择
5) excellent/fine /high/super quality 质量上乘 superior in quality 质量考究
6) with reliable properties 性能可靠 unique in performance 性能卓越 durable in use 经久耐用
exquisite workmanship/craftsmanship 做工精湛
7) elegant packing 包装精美 strong packing 包装牢固 diversified in packing 包装款式多样 with fashionable packing 新潮包装
8) easy to use 使用方便 easy to handle/operate 操作简便 easy to repair 易于维修
9) comfortable and easy to wear 穿着舒适、方便 have a comfortable feel 手感舒适_ soft and light 柔软轻盈
with a superb texture 质地上乘
made/manufactured with selected materials 以精选材料制成 with updated technology 采用最新工艺
10) pure and superb taste 味道纯正 delicious in taste 鲜美可口
mouth watering flavour 令人闻而垂涎 mild and mellow in taste 口感醇和 nourishing and healthy 营养卫生,有益健康 easy to cook 烹调方便 7
11) in ample/sufficient supply 货源充足 timely/prompt delivery guaranteed 保证及时交货
12) at moderate cost/price 价格适中、公道 at incredible*price 价格低廉,令人难以置信
13) free of charge ~免费 trouble-free 无故障 most up to date 最新式 up-to-the minute-style 最最新潮的款式 fully automatic 全自动化 crease-resistant 防皱抗皱 water-proof 防水 shock-proof 抗震 shrinkage-free 不缩水 much-sought-after quality 最理想的质量
superexeellent 超优异
superfine 超精 superlight 超轻便 supercool 超酷
著名广告欣赏
1.Good to the last drop. 滴滴香浓,意犹未尽。(麦斯威尔咖啡) 2.Obey your thirst. 服从你的渴望。(雪碧) 3.The new digital era. 数码新时代。(索尼影碟机) 4.We lead. Others copy. 我们领先,他人仿效。(理光复印机) 5.Impossible made possible. 使不可能变为可能。(佳能打印机) 6.Take time to indulge. 尽情享受吧!(雀巢冰激凌)
7.The relentless pursuit of perfection. 不懈追求完美。 (凌志轿车) 8.Poetry in motion, dancing close to me. 动态的诗,向我舞近。(丰田汽 车) 9.Come to where the flavour is Marlboro Country.光临风韵之境——万宝路世界。(万宝路香烟)
10.To me, the past is black and white, but the future is always color. 对我而言,过去平淡无奇;而未来,却是绚烂缤纷。(轩尼诗酒)
广告的翻译练习(1) 1. Good to the last drop.(麦斯威尔咖啡) 2. The new digital era.(索尼影碟机) 3. Impossible made possible.(佳能打印机) 4. Take time to indulge.(雀巢冰激凌) 5. Poetry in motion,dancing close to me.(丰田汽车)
6. To me,the past is black and white,but the future is always color.(轩尼诗酒) 广告的翻译练习(1)答案 广告的翻译练习(2)
1. Just do it.(耐克运动鞋)
2. Ask for more.(百事流行鞋)
3. Intelligence everywhere. (摩托罗拉手机) 4. The choice of a new generation.(百事可乐) 5. Take TOSHIBA, take the world. (东芝电子)
6. No business too small, no problem too big. (IBM公司) 广告的翻译练习(2)答案
Unit 3 商品说明书翻译
说明书的结构
一、说明书类型:
机械、电子、食品、药品、日用品 二、通常由四个组成部分:
1. 商品的特征、功能和成份
2. 安装/使用/服用/饮用/食用的方法 3. 注意事项
4. 主要性能、指标及规格
说明书实例
?Foaming Face Wash youthful looking. ?Olay? Foaming Face Wash not only cleanses thoroughly, but also helps maintain skin?s moisture. It keeps skin soft and smooth and leaves it
?泡沫洁面乳
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