【华慧考博】2020年考博英语翻译每日一练(10月28日)
【翻译-段落翻译练习】在科学上对美国历史发生兴趣主要集中在其民族特性,以及一个注定要大起来、强调个性的社会的运转方式上。尽管这种兴趣不同于对欧洲历史的兴趣,但至少对于世界说来是同样重要的。如果有一天历史会成为一门真正的科学的话,它必定要建立起自己的规律。这些规律不是来自对手欧洲列强的复杂历史,而是来自一个伟大的民主国家的经济发展。北美是全球最适宜这样一个社会发展的地方,这个社会是如此地大物博,统一而又与欧洲大陆隔离,可以适合科学研究的各种需要。在那里只要没有干扰发展的条件,一个同质的社会能毫不困难地达到三四亿人口。在欧洲或亚洲,不受干扰的社会进化过去是未听说过的。没有干扰,进化似乎就停止了。而只要有出现干扰的地方,就不可能有永久一成不变的东西。各个民族都相继适应了这条必然的规律。
【翻译参考译文】
(1) The scientific interest of American history centered in national character and in the workings of a society destined to become strong in which individualism is emphasized. (2) Although this kind of interest was different from that of European history it was at least equally important to the world. (3) Should history ever become a true science it must expect to establish its laws not from the complicated story of rival European nationalities but from the economical evolution of a great democratic country. (4) North America was the most favorable field on the globe for the development of such a society which is so large, uniform and isolated from continental Europe as to suit the needs of scientific research. (5) There a single homogeneous society could easily attain a population of three or four hundred million under conditions of undisturbed growth. (6) In Europe or Asia undisturbed social evolution had been unknown. (7) Without disturbance evolution seemed to cease. (8) Wherever disturbance occurred, permanence was impossible. (9) Each nation in turn adapted itself to the law of necessity.