Русские проблемы в английской речи - Линн Виссон

Перспективный. Слову «перспективный» в английском соответствуют promising / long-range / long-term, а не perspective или prospective, которые, в свою очередь, переводятся на русский как «будущий».

Претендовать на… — не соответствует английскому to pretend. Pretend — по-русски «притворяться». Русский глагол «претендовать на…» передается в английском оборотами и словами to lay claim / have pretensions / believe one is entitled / aspire to.

В принципе. Это выражение, часто употребляемое в русской речи, как правило, машинально и неправильно превращается в английское in principle. Однако для перевода прекрасно подойдут и такие обороты, как by and large, on the whole, basically или theoretically. А «это не принципиально» может стать в английском This is not a matter of principle. Другие подходящие варианты: This is not of great / fundamental importance, not the main thing, not crucial [107] .

Профиль. Многозначное слово, соответствующее английскому profile только в двух случаях — когда имеется в виду абрис лица, то есть так, как оно видится вполоборота (но: не анфас!). Кроме того, в русском языке есть и иные значения, которые требуют специфического перевода на английский. Так, выражение «Это не по моему профилю» можно перевести I don’t have the training / skills / ability to do that / That’s not in my field of specialization.

Сердечный. Переводится по-разному в выражениях 1) «сердечный привет» — best regards, или best wishes; 2) «Сердечный прием, оказанный нам» — a cordial / warm reception. Употребление английских слов heartfelt и openhearted предполагает большую осторожность из-за того, что они по понятным причинам приглянулись русским. Эти слова являются производными от heart и, видимо, воспринимаются так же, как прилагательное «сердечный». Но слово heartfelt часто употребляется в соболезнованиях и потому стилистически уместно не во всех контекстах. My heartfelt sympathy to your sister on the loss of her husband. Openhearted вообще лучше избегать. «Он — такой сердечный человек» можно перевести фразой: He’s such a warm person.

Характеристика. Будьте начеку с этим словом. По-английски characteristic означает типичную черту, особенность, а не рекомендательное письмо или краткий письменный отзыв о ком-то, чему соответствует letter of recommendation.

Экономный. Английское economical значит «экономный, расчетливый, практичный» — frugal / thrifty / practical. Например, An economical way of running the household and of cutting down on expenses is…

Экономический — по-английски economic, например, economic (не economical!), political and social problems.

Exercises

Note: Since some of the answers to these exercises involve vocabulary and idioms not included in this chapter, these responses are given at the end of this section. Exercises with answers are marked with an asterisk. (*)

1. Restate the following in standard English: (*)

1) And so he goes, “I’ll call you this evening”, and I go, “Fine, then we’ll decide on what movie we want to see”.2) John said, “Allan has, like, four sisters and one brother”.3) “How did you like the play”? “It was totally awesome”.4) That guy in the post office made me wait for, like an hour, while I was sending a registered letter (заказное письмо) and a package to Moscow.5) Bobchik, how’s Susia?6) Girlie, how do I get to the park from here?

2. Give English equivalents for:

1) Купить кота в мешке.2) Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает.3) Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь.

3. Rewrite using normal English word order: (*)

1) A popular American painter is Andy Warhol.2) Into the classroom came the students, laughing and talking.3) In our school the principal is Mr. Johnson.

4. Restate in standard American English: (*)

1) Скажите, пожалуйста, где ближайшая станция метро?2) Господина Томпсона сейчас нет. (Give various explanations in English indicating that «он сейчас занят».)3) Столько у меня дел! Я собираюсь — завтра еду в Лондон на три недели.4) Анна рядом — сейчас подойдет.5) Мне с вами по дороге. Вы не могли бы меня подбросить до вокзала?6) Сейчас сбегаю за молоком, а потом поужинаем.7) У меня было туго с деньгами, и я одолжила 300 долларов у подруги.8) Я знаю, что ей трудно сейчас — столько у нее расходов из-за болезни матери — и вчера одолжила ей 300 долларов.

5. Translate into English: (*)

1) Вчера мы прекрасно отдохнули — пошли в театр, а потом поужинали во французском ресторане.2) Я еще не знаю, куда поеду отдыхать летом.3) Ольга так хорошо готовит и у нее дома всегда такие интересные люди! Вчера она нам устроила настоящий праздник, все хорошо отдохнули.4) Надеюсь, ты сможешь отдохнуть после тяжелой недели во время выходных.5) Я так устала после ремонта, что мне нужно по-настоящему отдохнуть.6) Где вы встречаете Новый год?

6. Restate the following sentences in correct English: (*)

1) Laura proposed to us that we go out of the town on the Saturday.2) The whole day Jim was worrying about whether to take a work proposed to him by the firm Westinghouse.3) Why must I to say to you the same thing every time? I am tired to always say it!4) Once more he has the problem to get a promotion at his work — his chief is always promoting the other candidate.5) I am very interesting in what you are telling about the economical situation in the United States. And I was so boring to listen to the speaker before!6) Mary should take the translation job she was proposed — it is much money for her.7) She worked all the morning, and in the evening went to her friends to have some food and some drinks.8) In such a way you will never succeed to persuade him that he is wrong.9) “Thanks God, he finally understood!” “M-m-m… da… I hope he really did!”10) Paul is a student of the fourth course. His professor of history is well known for his scientific works.11) In scientific circles the sociologist Professor Jones is highly respected.12) He was just working in our department for a few months.

7. Replace the false cognate with a correct substitute: (*)

1) Addressed sanctions were imposed on that country.2) When she was applying to graduate school, Jane asked her professor to write a characteristic for her.3) Please give him my heartfelt greetings.4) The long-range perspective for this project is very promising.5) There were 10,000 people at the anti-war meeting.6) Arkady Raikin was a famous Russian comic.7) The delegates discussed the actual problem of international humanitarian assistance to cope with the consequences of the earthquake.8) Reorganizing this huge company will require a complicated combination to restructure the departments.9) The course of the British pound has not changed drastically over the last few months.10) It is not a matter of principle to us whether the delegation leaves on Monday or on Tuesday.11) The course consisted of lectures on political, economical and social problems of development.

Answers to Exercises

1.

1) And so he said, “I’ll call you this evening”, and I replied / answered, “Fine, then we’ll decide what movie we want to see”.2) John said, “I think that Allan has four sisters and one brother”.3) “How did you like the play?” “It was wonderful / fantastic / excellent.”4) The postal clerk / employee made me wait for almost / about an hour when I was sending a registered letter and a package to Moscow.5) Bob (unless you know that he uses another diminutive such as Rob or Bobbie!), how’s Susan (diminutive could be Sue or Susi, depending on the form she uses).6) Miss, how do I get to the park from here?

3.

1) Andy Warhol is a popular American painter.2) Laughing and talking, the students came into the classroom.3) The principal of our school is Mr. Johnson.

4.

1) Excuse me, where’s the nearest subway stop?2) Mr. Thompson’s tied up now / I’m afraid Mr. Thomson is seeing a client / tied up right now.3) I’m so busy right now! I’ve got to get everything done / I’m getting ready for my trip. I’m going to London tomorrow for three weeks.4) Anna’s around / right here / nearby / she’ll be over / come by right away.5) I’m going your way / I’m on your way. Could you leave me off / drop me at / near the station?6) I’ll just go get some milk, and then we’ll have dinner.7) I was hard up for / running out of money and I borrowed three hundred dollars from my girlfriend.8) I know that she’s hard up / having money problems right now — she’s got so many expenses because of her mother’s illness, and so I lent her three hundred dollars yesterday.

5.

1) Yesterday we really had a good time — we went to the theater and then had dinner in a French restaurant.2) I don’t know yet where I’ll go on vacation this summer.3) Olga’s such a good cook, and she always invites such interesting people! Yesterday she entertained us magnificently, and everyone had a great time.4) I hope that after a rough week you’ll have a chance to relax over the weekend.5) I’m so tired after all our work on the apartment / we redid the apartment that I really need to rest up / relax / take some time off.6) Where are you planning to celebrate New Year / Where are you going for New Year?

6.

1) Laura suggested that we go out of town on Saturday.2) All day Jim was worrying whether he should take the job Westinghouse had offered him.3) Why do I have to tell you the same thing all the time? I’m tired of repeating that!4) One again he’s got a problem with getting promoted — his boss keeps promoting other candidates.5) I’m very interested in what you’re saying about the economic situation in the United States. And I was so bored listening to the previous speaker!6) Mary should take the translation job she’s been offered — that’s a lot of money for her.7) She worked all morning, and in the evening went to her friends to have something to eat and drink.8) That way you’ll never succeed in persuading him that he’s wrong.9) “Thank God, he finally understood!” — “Well-uh-maybe, I hope he really did!”10) Paul is in his fourth year / Paul is a senior. His history professor is well known for his scholarly works.11) Professor Jones, who is a sociologist, is highly respected in academic circles.12) He has been working in our department for only a few months.

7.

1) targeted2) recommendation3) most sincere4) prospects5) mass demonstration / rally6) comedian7) urgent / pressing / crucial8) series of maneuvers / stratagem9) rate10) of great / fundamental importance11) economic

Глава IX. Перевод бессловесного языка