Unit 6  （1999年）

　（71）While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians，modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past. Caught in the web of its own time and place，each generation of historians determines anew what is significant for it in the past. In this search the evidence found is always incomplete and scattered; it is also frequently partial or partisan. The irony of the historians craft is that its practitioners always know that their efforts are but contributions to an unending process.

　　（72）Interest in historical methods has arisen less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves. While history once revered its affinity to literature and philosophy，the emerging social sciences seemed to afford greater opportunities for asking new questions and providing rewarding approaches to an understanding of the past. Social science methodologies had to be adapted to a discipline governed by the primacy of historical sources rather than the imperatives of the contemporary world.

　　（73）During this transfer，traditional historical methods were augmented by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study.

     Methodology is a term that remains inherently ambiguous in the historical profession.

　　（74）There is no agreement whether methodology refers to the concepts peculiar to historical work in general or to the research techniques appropriate to the various branches of historical inquiry. Historians，especially those so blinded by their research interests that they have been accused of “tunnel method，”frequently fall victim to the “technicist  fallacy.” Also common in the natural sciences，the technicist fallacy mistakenly identifies the discipline as a whole with certain parts of its technical implementation.

（75）It applies equally to traditional historians who view history as only the external and internal criticism of sources. And to social science historians who equate their activity with specific techniques.

Unit 6　　翻译题解：

71） While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past. 　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, / modern practice most closely conforms to one / that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.　　

第二、句子的结构：　　

1）主干结构是While there are almost as... as there are... +主句，While引导让步状语从句，从句中as... as结构是比较级，这句话直译为有多少历史学家，就有多少关于历史的定义。　　

2）主句中one是宾语，后面的that从句是它的定语从句。　　

3）sees history as把……看作是，不定式短语to recreate and explain...作名词the attempt的定语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

While 虽然，尽管；definitions 定义，界定；modern practice 现代（补词：史学家的）实践；conforms to 符合于，趋向于认为；attempt 试图，尝试；to recreate 再现，重现（不能说重新创造历史）；events 事件，结合上下文引申为史实　　

完整的译文：　　

71）几乎每个历史学家对史学都有自己的界定，但现代史学家的实践最趋向于认为，历史学是试图重现过去的重大史实并对其作出解释。　　

72） Interest in historical methods has arisen less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

Interest in historical methods has arisen / less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline / and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.　　

第二、句子的结构　　

1）主干结构是一个简单句：Interest... has arisen less through ...and more from...　　

2）并列状语less through ...and more from的翻译是关键，through和from意思完全相同，表示原因，直译比较少的是因为……，更多的原因是……　　

3）challenge后面的不定式短语to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline是它的定语，直译对历史作为一门学科的正确性提出异议，internal quarrels后面的介词短语among historians themselves作quarrels的定语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

Interest in historical methods 对历史方法的关注（兴趣）；arisen 来自于，产生于challenge质疑，挑战；validity 真实性，正确性；as an intellectual discipline作为一门学问（一个学科领域）；internal quarrels 内部意见不统一，内部分歧　　

完整的译文：　　

72）人们之所以关注历史研究的方法论，主要是因为史学界内部意见不一，其次是因为外界并不认为历史是一门学问。　　

73） During this transfer, traditional historical methods were augmented by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

During this transfer, / traditional historical methods were augmented / by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study.　　

第二、句子的结构：　　

1）主干结构是一个被动语态的简单句：...methods were augmented by...　　

2）过去分词短语designed to...作句子宾语methodologies的定语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

transfer 转变；augmented 充实，补充；additional methodologies 新方法； designed to用来；interpret 阐释，解释，说明；the new forms of evidence 新的证据形式，根据上下文意思引申为在历史学研究中的新史料；in the historical study 在（补译：历史学家）研究历史时　　

完整的译文：　　

73）在这种转变中，历史学家研究历史时，那些解释新史料的新方法充实了传统的历史研究方法。　　

74） There is no agreement whether methodology refers to the concepts peculiar to historical work in general or to the research techniques appropriate to the various branches of historical inquiry.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、   句子可以拆分为三段：

There is no agreement / whether methodology refers to the concepts peculiar to historical work in general / or to the research techniques appropriate to the various branches of historical inquiry.　　

第二、句子的结构：　　

1）主干结构是存在句There is no agreement因为主语部分太长，整个结构应该采用顺序倒译方法。　　

2） whether methodology refers to ...or to ...是主语agreement的同位语。　　

3） the concepts后面的形容词短语peculiar to historical work in general是它的定语；the research techniques后面的形容词短语appropriate to the various branches of historical inquiry也是作定语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

agreement 统一的意见，一致看法；whether...refers to... or to... 是指……还是指……　　the concepts/peculiar to/historical work/in general （按后置定语的顺序倒译）一般的历史研究中的特有概念；the research techniques 研究手段；appropriate to 适用于，合适于　　the various branches 各个领域；historical inquiry 历史探究

完整的译文：　　

74）所谓方法论是指一般的历史研究中的特有概念，还是指历史探究中各个具体领域使用的研究手段，人们对此意见不一。　　

75） It applies equally to traditional historians who view history as only the external and internal criticism of sources, and to social science historians who equate their activity with specific techniques.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、   句子可以拆分为三段：

It applies equally to traditional historians / who view history as only the external and internal criticism of sources, / and to social science historians who equate their activity with specific techniques.　　

第二、句子的结构　　

1）主干结构是：It applies equally to..., and to ...直译这既适应于……又适应于……引申为这既存在于……又存在于……

2） traditional historians who view history as...和social science historians who equate... with...是并列结构，指两种历史学家，各有定语从句修饰。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

It主语指示代词，联系上下文意思是这种谬论；traditional historians 传统历史学家，历史传统派；view history as 把历史看作是；sources 源泉，引申为史料来源；social science historians 社会科学历史学家，历史社科派；their activity 活动，引申为历史学研究活动，历史研究；equate... with 把……等同于，认为……是；specific techniques 具体方法　　

完整的译文：　　

75）这种谬论同样存在于历史传统派和历史社科派；前者认为历史就是史学界内部和外部人士对各种史料来源的评论，后者认为历史的研究是具体方法的研究。