<strong>2019年翻譯資格考試英語筆譯初級模擬題：歷史學
<strong> 漢譯英
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 historian' s craft is that its practitioners always know that their efforts are but contributions to an unending process .
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. 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.
<strong>參考譯文
幾乎每個歷史學家對史學都有自己的界定，但現代史學家的實踐最趨於認為歷史學是試圖重現過去的重大史實並對其做出解釋。由於受時間和地點的限制，每一代史學家都要重新判斷過去哪些史料對其有重要價值。在這種探索中所發現的證據總是不完整的、零碎的，而且常常是有偏見的或帶有派別意識的。實際從事歷史研究的人總是知道，他們的努力只不過是為永無止境的探索過程添磚加瓦，這就使其工作頗具諷刺意味。
人們之所以關注歷史研究的方法論，主要是因為史學界內部意見不一，其次是因為外界並不認為歷史是一門學問。儘管歷史學曾經崇尚它與文學和哲學的相似性，但新興的社會科學似乎為人們提出新問題和提供瞭解過去的有效途徑開闢了更為廣闊的天地。社會科學研究的方法必須改變以適應這樣一條指導，即以史料為基礎，而不是為當代社會之需。在這種轉變中，歷史學家研究歷史時，那些解釋新史料的新方法充實了傳統的歷史研究方法。
在歷史學界，方法論這個詞從來都是模稜兩可的。所謂方法論究竟是指一般的歷史研究研究中的特有概念，還是指歷史探究中各個具體領域適用的研究手段，人們對此意見不一。史學家，尤其是那些侷限於他們的研究興趣，以致被指責為“單方同研究法”的史學家，常常成了“單純技術方法論”的犧牲品。這種謬論在自然科學領域裡也是屢見不鮮的，它錯誤地把整個學科與學科研究的某些操作方法等同起來。這種謬論同樣存在於歷史傳統派和歷史社科派;前者認為歷史就是史學界內部和外部人士對各種史料來源的評論;後者認為歷史的研究是具體方法的研究。
<strong> 詞義推敲：
While 雖然，儘管
as many … as … 和……一樣多，多達……
modern practice 現代實踐
practice：a habitual or customary action or way of doing something 習慣習慣性或慣例性的行為或辦事方式
most closely conforms to 最符合於
conform：to correspond in form or character; be similar 一致在形式或特徵上相符;相似
one：指代“definition”，譯作“一個定義”。
attempt：an effort or a try 企圖或努力
to recreate 再現，重現(不能說重新創造歷史)
events 事件，結合上下文引申為史實
Interest in historical methods (人們)對歷史(研究)方法的關注(興趣)
less through … and more from … “更少是通過……更多是來自……”沒有“與其說是因為……不如說是因為……”好。
through 和from意思相同
external：外部的，客觀的
challenge：a demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question 質疑要求解釋或證明為正當;質疑
validity 真實性，正確性，效度
reliability信度
as an intellectual discipline作為一門學問/學科
intellectual：appealing to or engaging the intellect 知性的需用或使用智力的
discipline：a branch of knowledge or teaching 學科;科目知識或教學的分支
internal quarrels 內部意見不統一，內部分歧
this transfer：這個轉變。
transfer：(instance of) transferring or being transferred 轉移，調動，轉變
were augmented by：增加了
augment 充實，補充
additional methodologies 新方法
methodology：方法，方法論
designed to用來/旨在
the new forms of evidence 新的證據形式，根據上下文意譯為在歷史學研究中的新史料
in the historical study 在研究歷史時
there is no agreement 人們尚未達成一致意見
agreement 統一的意見，一致看法
whether... or ... 究竟是……還是……
refer to 指
the concepts / peculiar to / historical work / in genera多重後置定語——後浪推前浪。我們翻譯為: 一般的歷史研究中的特有概念
the research techniques / appropriate to / the various branches of / historical inquiry：重後置定語——後浪推前浪。我們翻譯為:歷史探究中各個具體領域使用的研究手段
the research techniques 研究手段、手段
historical inquiry 歷史探究
the various branches 各個領域
appropriate to 適用於，合適於
It指示代詞，聯繫上下文可以看出是指“technicist fallacy”(這種謬論)。
apply to 適用於
traditional historians 傳統歷史學家，歷史傳統派
view history as 把歷史看作是
sources 源泉，引申為史料來源
social science historians 社會科學歷史學家，歷史社科派
their activity 活動，引申為歷史學研究活動，歷史研究
equate... with 把……等同於，認為……是
specific techniques 具體方法
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