階段一、查看各辭典的定義
英文用語難度不一,較困難、較晦澀難懂的,必須參考各種定義,選擇語意清楚易懂的,如:
put sb's nose out of joint, definition
l)to offend or upset someone, especially by getting something that that person wanted for himself or herself;
2)If something puts someone's nose out of joint, it upsets or offends them because it makes them feel less important or less valued.;
3) to make someone resentful.;
4)to do something that will annoy someone;
5)To upset one, usually through actions or words.
6)to do something that will annoy someone
這麼多例句,一時要消化,當然不容易,特別是有的定義寫得很曖昧(如2),根本不知道到底是甚麼意思,那沒關係,找到這些定義的說明後,就可進入第二階段。
階段二、查閱例句
字典上所有的例句都要看、都要檢視,然後選擇語境較熟悉的(也就是較接近中文說話語境的),去抓意思、去翻譯,自覺可以後,再進入下一階段。
階段三、檢驗翻譯是否精準
很多翻譯者寫出的中文,看似中文,卻不是道地的中文,是不是道地的中文,把你寫出的詞句放到google搜尋即可,如a feather in sb's cap,很多人翻譯成「可引以為傲的成就」,但這是從英文定義an achievement to be proud of 翻譯過來的,不是正統的中文說法,正統的中文說法是「一項殊榮」,如果不翻譯成「一項殊榮」,你不知道「一項殊榮」的英文是a feather in sb's cap,誠如我之前一再強調的,翻譯是兩種語言的相互對應,不只是單向詮釋。
以上全屬理論,要做過許多翻譯實務工作後才知put sb's nose out of joint 的意思是:
1 讓..不快 She put his nose out of joint because she didn’t consult him.
2 讓...吃味