段落功能與意義的再現(xiàn)（7）

　　段落翻譯時，我們不能拘泥于字與字、詞與詞、句與句的機械對應，應該在正確理解和忠實原文內容的基礎上，從原文表達形式的束縛中解放出來，根據(jù)需要，靈活重建段落結構。無論原文的內容如何錯綜復雜，只要譯文遵循譯語邏輯序列習慣，仍然可以做到主次分明，層次清楚。請看下例：

　　(18)歷史證明，在科學發(fā)展的進程中，一些杰出人物個人的作用不可忽視。杰出的科學家，既為人類物質文明作出貢獻，也以自己高尚的道德情操，為人類的精神文明留下寶貴的財富。愛因斯坦在評價居里夫人時說過，第一流人物對于時代和歷史進程的意義，尤其是在道德品質方面，也許比單純的才智成就方面還要大。中國科學院院士是國家設立的科學技術方面的最高學術稱號，具有崇高的榮譽和學術上的權威性。老一輩院士大多是我國現(xiàn)代科學技術的開拓者和新中國科技事業(yè)的奠基人。他們不僅通過自身的研究結果，而且通過其在科學界的活動而影響他人，甚至一個學科領域。院士們的品德、學風和獻身精神在科學界堪稱楷模，受到社會各界的尊重。青年攝影家侯藝兵，歷經(jīng)3年尋蹤采訪了1980年以前當選的291位院士，為他們留影寫真;同時，征集院士親筆題寫的他們所喜歡的一句或一段人生格言，匯編成這本大型肖像、手跡畫冊獻給讀者，做了一件很有意義的工作。

　　History bears proof that the prominent role the outstanding figures play in the advance of science should not be ignored. Distinguished scientists not only make contributions to the accumulation of material wealth with their scientific achievements, but also leave behind them rich cultural heritages with their exemplary integrity. In his appreciation of Madam Marie Curie, Albert Einstein once remarked:

　　"It is the moral qualities of its leading personalities that are perhaps of even greater significance for a generation and for the course of history than purely intellectual accomplishments."

　　The Academician of the Chinese Academy of Science (Academia Sinica) is the nation's highest academic title granted by the Government in the field of science and technology, a title of great honor and academic authority. Most Academicians of the elder generation are pioneers of modern science and technology in China and founders of the scientific and technological cause of New China. They have exerted great influence upon people as well as upon their fields of study not only through their accomplishments in science and technology, but through their activities in academia as well. They are regarded as models for scientists and held in great esteem by people from all walks of life for their moral qualities, consistent attitude towards research and altruistic devotion to the cause of science.

　　Now Mr. Hou Yibing has done something really significant. As a young photographer, he worked on his large album for three years, during which he interviewed 291 academicians elected before 1980, taking their photographs and collecting their autographs - a sentence or a paragraph they regard as their mottoes.

　　(周光召《院士風采——中國優(yōu)秀科學界肖像、手跡集序》，郭建中譯)

　　譯文以四個段落來翻譯原文。這是因為原文段落由兩個句群和一個長句組成。第一個句群包括前三句，說明杰出人物個人的作用不可忽視并引用愛因斯坦的看法支持這一論點;第二個句群包括第四、五、六、七句，說明中國科學院院士都是杰出人物;最后一句是長句，指出侯藝兵匯編中國科學院院士畫冊是很有意義的工作。由于英語已過段落通常表現(xiàn)已過主題，而且按照英語行文習慣，引述他人話語，通常另起一段，因此愛因斯坦的引文獨立成段，原文的第一個句群轉換成譯文的第一段和第二段。院士的重大影響和侯藝兵匯編畫冊的信息則分別在譯文的第三段和第四段中進行描述。譯文第四段與第三段的銜接很巧妙，加上“now”，并且把原文中最后一句變成了該段的第一句，同時調整了部分詞語的語序。結果，段落總分結構關系明確，段落主題因此顯得格外鮮明。