Learn English free online - how to pronounce word in English - English Learning Online- www.pronounceword.com

《英汉报刊翻译常见错误》(13)

13、the last thing是指“最后的事情”吗?

a third of this group believe they are "too young" to start thinking about a pension, according to accenture. "there is a sea change in behaviour going on here," says mervyn kohler of help the aged. "for recent graduates who are saddled with debt and struggling to buy a home, the last thing they would cae about is pension planning. they have also heard the message that they will have to work until they drop, so they wonder why they should bother with a pension."

原译

据埃森哲公司说,这个年龄段中1/3的人认为,他们“太年轻”,不会开始考虑养老金的问题。帮助老年人机构的默文·科勒说,“这些人的行为正发生巨大的变化。对于负债并为买房子而拼搏到最近的大学毕业生来说,他们担忧的最后的事情才是养老金计划。他们还听到这样的信息:他们得工作到退下。因此,他们纳闷,他们干吗要为养老金操心呢?”

改译

据埃森哲公司说,这个年龄段中1/3的人认为,他们还“太年轻”,不用开始考虑养老金的问题。“帮助老年人”机构的默文·科勒说,“这些人的行为正发生巨大的变化。对于背负债务同时还要为买房子而拼搏的刚刚毕业的大学生来说,他们最不愿考虑的就是养老金计划问题。他们还听到这样的信息:他们得一直工作,直到累垮。因此,他们纳闷干嘛要为养老金操心呢?”

点评

这是从英国the observer刊登的一篇题为“youth of today:no savings, no pension, huge debts”的文章摘下来的。文章中各种公司和机构的名称较多。

1. the last thing they would care about...不能照字面译成“他们担忧的最后的事情才是……”。(the)last thing有两个意思,第一是“最后一件事,临睡前的片刻”,第二是“最不可能(不合适、不愿意)的事”,这里应该是第二种解释。请看下面的例子:

fighting is the last thing she would expect.她是决不希望打架这种事的。