请将下面这段话翻译成英文:
中国一度被称为“自行车王国”(kingdom of the bicycle)是因为骑自行车的人数众多。1995年中国的自行车产量高达4474万辆。然而,随着汽车行业(auto industry)的蓬勃发展,自行车市场需求急剧下降。到2000年,其产量降到2000万辆。当下人们倡导更健康的生活方式,自行车已再度回归人们的生活,重新成为人们重要的出行工具。然而过去只需要100—200元的自行车如今售价很高,其功能当然更加齐全,也更为专业。如今—些世界顶级汽车制造商所生产的自行车越来越受到人们的欢迎。
参考翻译:
China was once referred to as the "kingdom of thebicycle" because of its large cycling population. In1995, up to 44.74 million bicycles were made inChina. But with the booming of the auto industry,the bicycle market met with a sharp decline indemand. The number of bicycles that were produced fell to only 20 million in 2000. As ahealthier lifestyle is being promoted, the bicycle has come back to people's life and once againserves as an important travel tool for people. However, bicycles that only cost 100 to 200 yuanin the past now are sold at a very high price. They are of course more functional and moreprofessional.Bicycles now manufactured by some of the world's first-class automakers aregradually gaining in popularity.
1.第一句中的“因为骑自行车的人数众多”有多种译法,一是处理成短语,译成because of或due to...;翻译成原因状语从句,用连词because, as或for连接。注意人数众多要使用形容词large。
2.第三句中的“随着汽车行业的蓬勃发展”可译为with引导的介宾短语作伴随状语;“自行车市场需求急剧下降”可把“自行车市场”作为主语,将动词“急剧下降”处理为名词形式,译为thebicycle market met with a sharp decline in demand,这种译法显得生动形象。
3.翻译“当下人们倡导更健康的生活方式,自行车再度回归人们的生活”这一句时,应注意句子的时态,“当下”说的是正在进行的动作,可用现在进行时,“已再度回归”则用现在完成时。“当下人们倡导更健康的生活方式”可按参考译文翻译为被动语态,翻译成主动语态也对。
4.倒数第二句对比了自行车过去和现在的价格,同时提到了其功能,二者的联系不是很紧密,可将“过去只需要…如今售价很高”和“其功能…更为专业”拆开来译。其中“过去只需要100-200元”可处理成that或 which引导的定语从句;“功能更加齐全,也更为专业”可直接译成形容词形式more functional and moreprofessional。
5.末句的“制造”译成manufacture比produce更合适,因为manufacture侧重于“大规模的工业生产”。