第七节 长句翻译

1、 Long SentencesIn English-Chinese Translation长句的翻译长句的翻译 (一一)何谓长句？多重关系 多个主谓结构 英汉长句对比英汉长句对比1. 使用频率：英语的书面语长句的频率会高于汉语。 “英语书面语长句较多；汉语一般短句较多。英语句子较紧凑，多用主从句，英语可有各种后置修饰语（介词短语、不定式短语、动词短语、分词短语以及从句），这些成分都是造成英语长句的原因；汉语句子结构较松，多用并列结构。” -王令坤，1998：582.构成：英语的长句中有多个主谓结构或多个修饰成分（包括定语和状语）；汉语的长句则指多重复句，即分句中包含着分句。 特点: 有人将英语

2、句子结构比作“葡萄”，把汉语句子比作“竹节”。 -王玲令坤，1998：583.翻译长句的过程：把葡萄式结构转变成竹节式结构，即找出句子主干，然后理清其他成分，将每一部分转换成汉语，这样“层层剥笋”，最后重组。 The prerequisites for the proper handling: -ability for correct comprehension -capability for adequate presentation The dialectical unity we strive to achieve-faithfulness - smoothness Stage I Co

3、mprehensionStep 1: Skeleton formStep 2: Logic sequence / grammatical relations (the principal and subordinate elements) Step 3: Infer the main idea Stage II PresentationStep 4: enter on a tentative translation (mind-map form)Step 5: rearrangement (基本成形)Step 6: finishing touches （加工润色） 拎出主干拎出主干，梳理结构，

4、条理分明。，梳理结构，条理分明。 从容表达从容表达，化长为短，点滴不漏。，化长为短，点滴不漏。 译后诵读译后诵读，加工润改，消除译痕。，加工润改，消除译痕。 Sample AnalysisStep 1 : Skeleton form Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that if the device had to be used the CIA ha

5、d rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. Step 1 skeleton form Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were wor

6、ried that if the device had to be used the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot.Step 2 Logic Sequence: the principal and subordinate elements: Just advanced by the Russians and later pick

7、ed up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that if the device had to be used the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. Step 2 Logic Seq

8、uence and Interelations: the principal and subordinate elements: Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that if the device had to be used the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prem

9、aturely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. Step 3Infer the main idea from the context and the whole text:Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that i

10、f the device had to be used the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. The claim was just advanced by the Russians and U-2 pilots were worried The device would explode prematurely and elim

11、inating all incriminating evidence, planes and pilots.1)If the device had to be usedStep 4-5 Tentative Translation & Rearrangement Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that if the device had to be u

12、sed the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great blast, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. 1. 俄国人原来提出了这种说法；后来美国一些作者又接过来大肆宣扬。2. U-2飞行员感到不安。3. 中央情报局在机上安上了一种装置，可以提前把飞机和飞行员统统炸毁，从而消除一切罪证。4. 条件是不得已而要使用这种装置的话。 2-4-3-1Step 5-6 Rearrangement

13、 & Finishing touches: Just advanced by the Russians and later picked up and made much of by certain American writers, was the claim that U-2 pilots were worried that if the device had to be used the CIA had rigged it in such a way that it would explode prematurely, thus eliminating, in one great bla

14、st, all incriminating evidence, planes and pilot. 1）俄国人原来提出了这种说法；后来美国一些作者又接过来大肆宣扬。2）U-2飞行员感到不安。3) 中央情报局在机上安上了一种装置，可以提前把飞机和飞行员统统炸毁，从而消除一切罪证。4）条件是不得已而要使用这种装置的话。 U-2飞机驾驶员感到担心的是：如果不得已要使用这种装置的话，中央情报局会在U-2飞机上安上一种装置，这种装置在必要时能提前爆炸，把包括飞机和飞行员在内的一切罪证一下子都消灭干净。这种说法原是俄国人提出来的，后来又被美国一些写文章的人接过来大肆宣扬。Practice In the e

15、vent that any Party fails to make any contribution to the registered capital of the Joint Venture Company as required by Article 7, interest shall accrue and be payable to the Joint Venture Company by such Party on the value of each late contribution from its scheduled payment date until the date wh

16、en such contribution is actually made, at a rate equal to 2 percentage points over the highest annual rate of interest announced by the Bank of China for loans in Renminbi or US Dollars for the same period. (全句状语:In the event that any Party fails to make any contribution to the registered capital of

17、 the Joint Venture Company as required by Article 7), (主干: interest shall accrue and be payable to the Joint Venture Company by such Party) (主干中的状语1:on the value of each late contribution from its scheduled payment date until the date when such contribution is actually made),(主干中的状语2: at a rate equa

18、l to 2 percentage points over the highest annual rate of interest announced by the Bank of China for loans in Renminbi or US Dollars for the same period. )该方应向合营企业支付利息就每次迟缴的金额,从应付日到付款日以中国银行公布的同期人民币或美元贷款的最高利率加2%1.若一方未能按照第7条规定缴纳合营企业的注册资本 In the event that any Party fails to make any contribution to th

19、e registered capital of the Joint Venture Company as required by Article 7 , interest shall accrue and be payable to the Joint Venture Company by such Party on the value of each late contribution from its scheduled payment date until the date when such contribution is actually made , at a rate equal

20、 to 2 percentage points over the highest annual rate of interest announced by the Bank of China for loans in Renminbi or US Dollars for the same period. 若一方未能按照第7条规定缴纳合营企业的注册资本,该方应就每次迟缴金额向合营企业支付自应出资之日起至实际出资之日止的利息,其利率按同期中国银行公布的人民币或美元贷款的最高利率加2个百分点计算.ConclusionThe layout of a good piece of translation

21、comes from creative work flexibility adaptability are tested Avoid : Mechanical Translation Translate for Fun For most of its enormous length, the Nile River shoots like a shimmering green stem through the Egyptian desert, emerging at the shores of the Mediterranean in a great delta that ancients co

22、mpared to a lotus blossom. 浩浩荡荡的尼罗河如同一条闪烁晶莹绿光的带子穿过埃及的沙漠，在地中海之滨形成一块巨大的三角地带，古人将其比作莲花。 Long SentencesIn English-Chinese Translation长句的翻译长句的翻译 (二二)Approaches for Translating Long Sentences 1. 顺序法2. 倒置法3. 分句法4. 合句法5. 插入法6. 重组法1.顺序法 有些英语长句与汉语比较一致,基本上可按原文顺序译出,为了使语气衔接,可增加必要的词语.-If you reach Chicago by train

23、 and spend only an hour or two there you will feel the light wind off the lake which gives it the name “Windy City”. 如果你乘坐火车抵达芝加哥，即使只在那里逗留一两个小时，你也会感到从密歇根湖那边吹拂过来的阵阵清风，这就是芝加哥之所以叫做“风城”的缘故。Practice It was the moment I ceased being a child, when I began to have an adults awareness of the pain and tragedy

24、 in life. 从那一刻起我不再是一个小孩，我开始有了成年人的意识，能意识到人生的伤痛与灾难。 (较强修饰成分) 2. 倒置法（Reversing） 英语长句的表达顺序往往与汉语表达顺序大相径庭英语中最重要的信息往往出现在句首,然后再交代条件、原因等；而汉语往往先将背景情况铺成开来，说明条件、原因等信息，然后再说出结果、态度等最重要的或最新的信息；有时则按照逻辑关系或时间的先后顺序，因而汉译时需要按汉语的表达习惯调整顺序，全部或部分倒译。 全部倒译1) Methane bubbles from the sea floor could, in theory, sink ships and m

25、ay explain the odd disappearance of some vessels, Australian researchers reported on Tuesday. （先背景信息，再主要陈述） 据澳大利亚研究人员周二报告，来自海底的甲烷气泡理论上能造成沉船事故，这可以解释船只神秘的失踪现象。2) Interest in Obamas fashion has soared since she won particular praise for the purple sheath dress and black belt she wore in June when her h

26、usband clinched the nomination as the Democratic Partys presidential candidate. 今年六月，在奥巴马接受民主党候选人提名的仪式上，米歇尔凭一件紫色紧身套裙和一条黑腰带赢得盛赞，此后人们对她的时尚品味兴趣大增。 3) Tess and the other three were dressing themselves quickly, the whole bevy having agreed to go together to Mellstock Church, which lay some three or four

27、miles distant from the dairy-house. 动作的先后顺序the whole bevy having agreed to发生在were dressing 之前， having agreed 有原因的含义，汉语先原因后结果。 which引导的非限定定语从句说明教堂的距离，为了前后呼应，移至句首 离牛奶厂三四英里地是梅勒陶教堂，苔丝和她那三个伙伴已商议好了，要一块儿那儿去做礼拜，所以现在都在屋里急急忙忙换衣裳。部分倒译4) I visited the neighboring villages, and added greatly to my stock of knowl

28、edge, by noting their habit and customs, and conversing with their sages and great man 1）找出句中最重要信息added greatly to my stock of knowledge2) 这一结果产生的原因和基于的事实译文: 我去过邻近许多的乡镇，观察当地风俗习惯，与当地圣贤交谈，因此知识大有长进。Practice Solutions of the problem of old age have to be considered against a historical background of slo

29、w but substantial changes in Chinese family structure, caused by rising living standards and family planning. （张：112） 由于人民生活水平的不断提高以及计划生育，中国的家庭结构发生着缓慢却又具有实质性的变化，必须根据这一历史背景考虑老龄化问题。 3. 分句法 (cutting) 当长句中并列成分较多，或主句与从句、短语与其所修饰的词之间的关系不很紧密，各具有相对的独立性时，可按汉语中多短句的习惯，把长句分割成若干短句译出。 The more we can enjoy what we

30、 have, the happier we are. Its easy to overlook the pleasure we get from loving and being loved, the company of friends, the freedom of living where we please, even good health. 我们越知足，就越幸福。施人以爱，被人所爱，朋辈相伴，自由择居，乃至身体健康，这一切所带来的快乐却易被我们所忽略。 比较分与不分： However, even the president Tacqueville, who predicted 15

31、0 years ago that the United States and Russia would emerge as two great contending world powers could not have foreseen that the nation that potentially could decide the world balance of power in the last decades of the twentieth century, and that could become the most powerful nation on earth durin

32、g the twenty-first century, would be China. However, even the president Tacqueville, who predicted 150 years ago that the United States and Russia would emerge as two great contending world powers could not have foreseen that the nation that potentially could decide the world balance of power in the

33、 last decades of the twentieth century, and that could become the most powerful nation on earth during the twenty-first century, would be China. 150年前，托克维尔总统曾预言过美国和俄国将成为互相争夺的两个世界大国；然而他却未能预见到20世纪最后几十年具有决定世界均势潜力并能成为21世纪地球上最强大的国家，将是中国。 然而，即使是150年前曾预言过美国和俄国将成为互相争夺的两个世界大国的托克维尔总统，也未能预见到20世纪最后几十年具有决定世界均势潜力

34、并能成为21世纪地球上最强大的国家，将是中国。（虽然定语很长，但层次是清楚的，清晰可读。）4.合句合句 (synthesis)如果原文中一个长句后跟着一个短句,或短句在前长句在后,而这个短句是对长句的解释或总结,那么可以将两句合为一句翻译.如果原文用连续几个短句来表达一个中心意义,那么翻译时将其合为一句.1. HOV stands for “heavily occupied vehicle”, and the road sign means that if you are driving a passenger automobile on that stretch of highway dur

35、ing the morning and evening rush hours, you had better have at least two other people in the car with you. Otherwise, you may be pulled over and given a 100$ fine. HOV 是英文 “高承载车辆”的缩写,此路标的意思是如果在早晚高峰时段驱车通过该路段,车上至少要有两人同行,否则就可能被勒令停车交纳100美元的罚款.(P.280)2. Confucius was a believer in moral action and in wha

36、t we today call human development. He advocated the establishment of harmony within the social order. 孔子信仰道德的力量,信仰今人所谓的人类进步,提倡建立和谐的社会秩序. (P.281) Practice One weekend evening a concert was being held near the room where he was poring over a book. The noise disturbed him so much that he couldnt concen

37、trate. 一个周末的晚上他正在房间潜心读书,附近开起了音乐会,吵得他无法集中精力. 5. Inserting(P.259-265) By inserting here we mean putting some additional punctuation marks such as dash（破折号）, parenthesis（括号）, colon（冒号）,etc., in a long and complex sentence so as to make the Chinese version both clear and smooth. So far as idiomatic Chin

38、ese is concerned, the inserting part should be restricted in length (approximately within 20 Chinese characters), otherwise, it would be incongruous with Chinese usage. As far as sight could reach, I feasted my eyes on a vastness of infinite charm, which presents itself in a profusion of color, in v

39、erdant luxuriance, in dulcet warbling, in pervading perfume, in rippling undulation, in cataract sprays, in hilly waves, in field crisscross and verily in vitality and variety. 纵目眺望，我饱览了一片无限娇艳的风光：万紫千红，郁郁葱葱。鸟语悦耳，花香袭人，涟漪荡漾，瀑布飞流，层峦起伏，阡陌纵横。真可谓生机勃勃，气象万千。（inserting a colon)Practice 1. Remember the three “

40、respects.” Respect yourself , respect others, stand on dignity and pay attention to your behavior. 2. The snow falls on every wood and field, and no crevice(缝隙) is forgotten; by the river and pond, on the hill and in the valley.1. 记住三个 “尊”: 尊重自己;尊重别人;保持尊严,对自己的行为负责. 2. 雪，在四处飘落着。雪花撒在树上，撒在田野里，撒在河边、湖畔、山

41、上、谷底没有一条岩缝墙隙里不飘满雪花。(inserting a dash)6. Recasting (重组) When all the sole cosideration of the above-mentioned techniques fail, Entails skillful control over both the English and the Chinese languages on the part of the translator. The problem of possible genetic damage to human populations from radia

42、tion exposures including those resulting from the fallout testing of atomic weapons , has quite properly claimed much popular attention in recent years. （张: 114） 人类由于面临辐射威胁，其中包括原子武器试验产生的放射性散落物所造成的辐射威胁，很可能遭到基因损伤，这一问题近年来已经理所当然地引起了人们的广泛重视。Practice At the same time, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., a newspaper columnist who provided Roosevelt with accurate surveys in the past, sent him disturbing reports based on 2000 miles of travel through eight southern and Midwestern states. 拎出主干，从容表达（按时间顺序） 译：于此同时，报刊专栏作家小科尼尔斯范德比尔呈交罗斯福的报告也令人不安。这位作家过去曾向罗斯福提供过一些准确的