考研英语一翻译突破

以英语一2022年真题为例：

The Man Who Broke Napoleon’s Codes - Mark Urban

Between 1807 and 1814 the Iberian Peninsula (comprising Spain and Portugal) was the scene of a titanic and merciless struggle. It took place on many different planes: between Napoleon’s French army and the angry inhabitants; between the British, ever keen to exacerbate the emperor’s difficulties, and the marshals sent from Paris to try to keep them in check; between new forces of science and meritocracy and old ones of conservatism and birth. (46) It was also, and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period, a battle between those who made codes and those who broke them.

I first discovered the Napoleonic cryptographic battle a few years ago when I was reading Sir Charles Oman’s epic History of the Peninsular War. In volume V he had attached an appendix, “The Scovell Ciphers.” (47) It listed many documents in code that had been captured from the French army of Spain, and whose secrets had been revealed by the work of one George Scovell, an officer in British headquarters. Oman rated Scovell’s significance highly, but at the same time, the general nature of his History meant that (48) he could not analyze carefully what this obscure officer may or may not have contributed to that great struggle between nations or indeed tell us anything much about the man himself. I was keen to read more, but was surprised to find that Oman’s appendix, published in 1914, was the only considered thing that had been written about this secret war.

I became convinced that this story was every bit as exciting and significant as that of Enigma and the breaking of German codes in the Second World War. The question was, could it be told?

Studying Scovell’s papers at the Public Record Office, London, I found that he had left an extensive journal and copious notes about his work in the peninsula. What was more, many original French dispatches had been preserved in this collection. I realized at once that this was priceless. (49) There may have been many spies and intelligence officers during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is usually extremely difficult to find the material they actually provided or worked on. Furthermore, Scovell’s story involved much more than just intelligence work. His status in Lord Wellington’s headquarters and the recognition given to him for his work were all bound up with the class politics of the army at the time. His tale of self-improvement and hard work would make a fascinating biography in its own right, but represents something more than that. (50) Just as the code breaking has its wider relevance in the struggle for Spain, so his attempts to make his way up the promotion ladder speak volumes about British society.

It was also, and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period, a battle between those who made codes and those who broke them.

① It was also, and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period, a battle between those who made codes and those who broke them.

主干：It (struggle) was also, and this is unknown, a battle. 这同样也是一场战争，且是不知道的。

介词短语1：even to many people → 副词修饰is unknown → 译为“甚至对于很多人来说”

形容词短语：well read about the period → 形容词修饰people → 译为“熟知这个时期的人”

介词短语2：between those who made codes and those who broke them → 形容词修饰battle → 译为“在那些设定密码和破解密码的人之间”

【参考译文】这同样也是一场在那些设定密码和破解密码的人之间的战争，甚至对很多熟知这个时期的人来说也是不清楚的。

② It listed many documents in code that had been captured from the French army of Spain, and whose secrets had been revealed by the work of one George Scovell, an officer in British headquarters.

主句：It listed many documents. 它列出了很多文件。

介词短语：incode → 形容词修饰documents → 译为“加密”

形容词从句1：that had been captured from the French army of Spain → 形容词修饰documents → 译为“从西班牙的法国军队那儿捕获”

形容词从句2：and whose secrets had been revealed by the work of one George Scovell→ 形容词修饰documents → 译为“其秘密为乔治·斯克威尔的著作所揭露”

名词短语：an officer in British headquarters → 指George Scovell→ 译为“英国司令部的一位长官”

【参考译文】它列出了很多从西班牙的法国军队那儿捕获的加密文件，这些文件的秘密为英国司令部的一位长官乔治·斯克威尔所揭露。

③ he could not analyze carefully what this obscure officer may or may not have contributed to that great struggle between nations or indeed tell us anything much about the man himself.

介词短语：to that great struggle between nations→ 副词修饰may or may not have contributed → 译为“对于那场国与国之间的伟大斗争”

【参考译文】他无法细细分析这位默默无闻的军官是否可能为那场国与国之间的伟大斗争做出什么贡献，他也无法告诉我们关于这位军官本人的任何情况。

④ There may have been many spies and intelligence officers during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is usually extremely difficult to find the material they actually provided or worked on.

主干：There may have been many spies and intelligence officers, but it is usually extremely difficult to find the material. 可能存在很多间谍和情报人员，但是要找到材料往往是极其困难的。

介词短语：during the Napoleonic Wars→ 副词修饰主句 → 译为“在拿破仑战争期间”

形容词从句省略：they actually provided or worked on→ 形容词修饰material→ 译为“他们实际提供或处理（材料）”

【参考译文】在拿破仑战争期间，可能存在许多间谍和情报人员，但是要找到实际由他们提供和处理的材料常常是极其困难的。

⑤ Just as the code breaking has its wider relevance in the struggle for Spain, so his attempts to make his way up the promotion ladder speak volumes about British society.

副词从句：Just as the code breaking has its wider relevance in the struggle for Spain→ 副词修饰主句 → 译为“正如密码破译在西班牙争夺中有着更广泛的实用性”

不定式：to make his way up the promotion ladder→ 形容词作attempt的对象 → 译为“他对于晋升所做的努力”

【参考译文】正如破译密码在争夺西班牙的斗争中具有更广泛的实用性一样，他试图晋升的努力也充分体现了英国的方方面面。

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