英汉基础翻译要点—第五章 定语从句的译法

1、三、英汉基础翻译要点,第五章 定语从句的译法,英语定语从句在句法结构上虽属次要部分，在语言作用上却占有重要的地位，应用极广。英语定语从句的结构有简有繁，对先行词的限制性有强有弱，翻译时需分别灵活处理。汉语里没有类似英语中定语从句的结构，一般说来，定语放在它所修饰的词的之前，往往只起修饰或限定的作用，而英语定语从句的功能却不止于此。另外，英语从句可以写得很长，可以由几个从句并列同时修饰一个名词，可以借助关系代词由一个从句套出另一个从句，而汉语名词前一般少用结构复杂、描写性的长定语。因此，翻译英语定语从句时不能一律把它提前译作定语。常用的定语从句译法有：,5.1 译成前置定语,一般说来，限制性的定

2、语从句可提前译成定语。还有一些定语从句，虽然不明显地带有限定性质，但本身较短，和被修饰语关系紧密，也可译为前置定语。如：,例1to be sure, a great rebuilding project would give jobs to many of those people who need them. 诚然，一个宏伟的重建计划也许能为许多需要工作的人提供就业机会。,例2there is no royal road to science, and only those who do not dread the fatiguing climb of the steep paths hav

3、e a chance of gaining its luminous summits. 在科学上没有平坦的大道，只有不畏劳苦，沿着陡峭的山路攀登的人，才有希望达到光辉的顶点。,例3. in recent years, however, people have begun to become aware that cities are also areas where there is a concentration of problems. 可是，近几年来人们开始意识到城市也是问题成堆的地方。,例5. the moon is a world that is completely still a

4、nd where utter silence prevails. 月亮是一个声断音绝的世界，是一个万籁俱寂的世界。,如以上例句所示，这种译法最适于翻译较短的限定性定语从句。有时较长的也可采用这种译法，以使修饰关系清晰，句子结构紧凑。 如：,例1this practice book is intended for foreign engineers or students of engineering who have already mastered the elements of english, and who now want to use their knowledge of the

5、language to read books on their subjects. 这本练习课本是给那些已经掌握了英语基础知识而现在要利用学到的语言知识来阅读专业书籍的外国工程师或学习工程学的学生用的。,例2he liked his sister, who was warm and pleasant, but he did not like his brother, who was aloof and arrogant. 他喜欢热情活泼的妹妹，而不喜欢冷漠高傲的哥哥。,5.2 译成后置的并列分句,a一些结构较复杂，或者意思上又较强的独立性的限定性定语从句，通常可译为后置的并列分句。采取这种译法

6、往往要重复关系代词所代替的词，有时可在这词之前加指示词“这”、“这些”等，以使译文明确。如：,例1but world attention also is focusing on another step, which will make the smoker increasingly self-conscious and uncomfortable about his habit. 同时，人们也正把注意力集中在另一项措施上，这项措施将使吸烟者越来越意识到自己的不良习惯并为之感到不安。,例2in 1883, an american physician, a. king, listed twent

7、y observations, which pointed to mosquitoes as factor in malaria. 1883年，美国医生a金列举了二十个观察报告，这些报告表明蚊子是引起疟疾的一个因素。,例3this volume is prepared as examples for writing compositions which as it were has been taken as a difficult task. 本书旨在为写作提供范例，可以说写作是一个难题。,例4i was endeavoring to put off one sort of life for

8、 another sort of life, which was not better than the life i had known. 我一直在竭力摆脱一种生活，改换另一种生活，但是我所改换的生活并不见得比我原先的生活好。,例6matter is composed of molecules that are composed of atoms. 物质是由分子组成的，而分子又是又原子组成的。,有些定语从句翻译时可不必重复关系代词所代替的词，而将其译成人称代词“他”、“他们”等，使句子简明扼要。如：,例1above the english lettering the words are re

9、peated in the chinese calligraphy of premier zhou, who wrote the brief text. 在这些英文字的上方，是周总理亲笔书写的同样内容的汉字，他拟订了这简短的铭文。,b. 非限定性定语从句与先行词的关系不十分密切，只是对先行词加以说明，描述或解释，或对整个语句所陈述的事实或现象加以总结概括、补充说明。在汉译时，一般译为后置的并列分句。如：,例1in english, attributive clauses are used extensively, some of which are very long and complica

10、ted in structure. 在英语中，定语从句的运用极为广泛，有的从句很长而且结构复杂。,例2these books, which are only a small part of my collection, i picked up in america. 这些书是我在美国买的，它们在我的藏书中只占一小部分。,例3he gave in his resignation, which was the best thing he could do in the circumstance. 他提出了辞职，这在当时的情况下是最佳选择。 例4he blamed me for everything

11、, which i thought very unfair. 他把一切错误都归罪于我，我认为这很不公平。,例7she was very patient towards the children, which her husband seldom was. 她对孩子们很耐心，她的丈夫却很少这样。 例8a friend is someone who draws out your best qualities, with whom you sparkle and become more knowledgeable. 朋友就是能使你表现出自己最佳品质的人，与他在一起你就会精神焕发，更有见识。,5.3

12、溶合译法,溶合译法是指把主句与定语从句结合起来译,使之溶合成一个独立的句子。如：,例1you are the only person who could do it. 只有你才能做这事。 例2this was the first time i had serious trouble with my boss. 这是我第一次和老板发生严重纠葛。,例3our team, who are in good form, will do well in the coming matches. 我队竞赛状态良好，将在未来的比赛中取得好成绩。 例4he has a son of twenty who is n

13、ow at the high school. 他有一个二十岁的儿子现在正在上中学。,英语中含有定语从句 “there be.” 的结构汉译时常常使用溶合译法。如：,例5there was no one who did not praise them for their great accomplishments. 没有人不赞同他们取得的巨大成就。（人人称赞他们所取得的巨大成就。） 例6there is nothing that does not contain contradiction. 没有什么事是不包含矛盾的。 例7there was little that the doctor cou

14、ld do for the patient. 医生对这个病人无能为力。,例8 unesco, which places action in favor of young people at the heart of its programmers, notably those concerned with education and training, is making its contribution to the achievement to this goal. 联合国教科文组织把有利于青年的活动，特别是那些青年教育和培训有关的活动，作为其各项计划的核心内容，从而为实现这一目标做出贡献

15、。,例9ours is a profession which traditionally has been guided by a precept that transcends the virtue of uttering truth for truths sake, and that is “as far as possible do no harm”. 我们这个职业在传统上恪守一条信念，那就是：“尽可能不造成伤害”，这一信条胜过讲真话而讲真话的美德。,5.4 译成状语,英语中有些定语从句在内容上含有时间、原因、目的、结果、条件、让步等状语意思，翻译时往往可以加上相应的词语，以表达出其相应

16、的状语意义。,a.表示原因,例1we engage professor wu, who understands english. 我们聘请吴教授，因为他懂英语。 例2many of our welsh people are going to settle in north carolina, where land is cheap. 我们威尔士人有许多去北卡罗来纳定居，因为那里的土地便宜。,例3we can read of things that happened 5000 years ago in the near east, where people first learned to wr

17、ite. （因为）在近东人们最早使用文字记事，所以，即使追溯到五千年前那里发生的事情，我们也能知道。,例4wells, who had spent years studying science, used to consider the future of man in the light of scientific knowledge. （由于）威尔斯花了多年时间研究科学，因而他经常根据科学知识考虑人类的未来。,b. 表示时间,例1you, who are the prime of your life, come forth with greater contributions for th

18、e benefit of the people. 趁你年富力强的时候，为人民做出更多的贡献吧。 例2a sailor who was fixing a rope lost balance and tumbled overboard. 一个水手正在系绳子的时候，失去平衡，掉到水里去了。,例3i had the honor of seeing chairman mao, who was visiting the jinggang mountain in 1965. 毛泽东1965年重访井冈山时，我曾荣幸地见到他。,c. 表示目的,例1he is collecting authentic mater

19、ial that proves his argument. 他正在收集确凿的材料以证明他的论点。 例2steel parts are usually covered the grease, with which they may not rust. 钢零件通常用润滑油覆盖，免得生锈。,例3chinese trade delegations have been sent to african countries, who will negotiate trade agreements with the respective governments.中国派了贸易代表团前往非洲各国，以便与各国政府商

20、谈贸易协定。 例4the imperialist states maintain enormous armies and gigantic navies which are used for oppressing and exploiting the people in distant land. 帝国主义国家维持庞大的陆海军，用以压迫和剥削远地的人民。,d. 表示结果,例1he ate a fungus, which made him ill. 他吃了一个蘑菇，结果病倒了。 例2the rain washed away the track, which prevented the train

21、 from running. 大雨冲走了铁轨，因而火车无法行使。,例3any student who tries to cheat while the examiner is watching is playing fire. 一个学生若在监考人的监督下作弊，那可是在冒险。,e. 表示条件,例1nothing is hard in this world for one who dares to scale the height. 世上无难事，只怕有心人。 例2a person is an idealist who thinks that rational knowledge need not

22、to be derived from perceptual knowledge. 如果认为理性知识可以不从感性知识得来，他就是一个唯心主义者。,例4the difficulties that would have to be encountered by anyone who attempted to explore the moon would be incomparably greater than those that have to be faced in the endeavor to reach the summit of mount qonolangma. 任何人如果打算登上月球

23、探险的话，他必然遭遇的种种困难。困难之大，是努力攀登珠穆朗玛峰时所面临的困难无法比拟的,f. 表示让步,例1my grandfather, who is now in his eighties, is still a keen cyclist. 我爷爷虽然八十多岁了，可还是顶喜欢骑自行车。 例2electronic computer, which have many advantages, cannot carry out creative work and replace man. 电子计算机虽然有许多优点，却不能进行创造性的工作，代替不了人。,例3glass, which breaks a

24、t a blow, is nevertheless capable of withstanding great pressure. 玻璃虽然一击即碎，却能承受巨大的压力。 例4even the pine log which burned all day in the fireplace couldnt keep my little house warm and dry. 尽管壁炉里成天烧着松柴，也不能使我的小屋温暖干燥。,练习题五,试译下列各句，原文中的定语从句可译为前置定语：,1. the question, which worries everyone today, is: how lon

25、g will these fuels last? 2. those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it. 3. scientists believe that there must be hundreds of heavenly bodies in the universe where human beings or something like human beings may exist.,（一）,1今天人人都担心的问题是：这些燃料能维持多久？ 2凡是忘掉过去的人注定要重蹈覆辙。 3科学家们认为，人或类似人的生物能

26、够生存的天体，在宇宙中可能有几百个。,（二）试译下列各句，原文中的定语从句可译为后置的并列分句：,1. shakespeare was a great english dramatist and poet whose name was known all over the world. 2. small wonder then that more scientists are visiting the region to acquire new knowledge which will help us to have a better understanding of the earth as

27、 a whole.,3. marx was a loving, gentle and considerate father. he used to spend hours playing with his children. they remember to this day the sea fights in a large basin of water with fleets of paper boats, which he made for them and which be would then set on fire to their great joy.,（二）,1莎士比亚是英国伟

28、大的戏剧家和诗人，他的名字全世界都知道。 2难怪现在越来越来的科学家前往该地区以获得新知识，这些知识将有助于我们更好地了解整个世界。,3马克思是位慈祥和蔼、体贴子女的父亲。他常常同孩子们玩上几个小时。孩子们至今仍然记得在大盆中进行纸船舰队大海战，那些纸船是他为孩子们做的，而后他又点火把纸船烧掉，使孩子们非常高兴。,（三）试译下列各句，把原文中的定语从句溶合成一个独立的句子：,1. teheran conference was the first opportunity which i had of observing him at close hand. 2. there is somethi

29、ng that keeps worrying me.,3. in time, men say that there were seasons, which followed one another in regular order. 4. this is the paper mill they set up in 1970.,1.德黑兰会议是我第一次有机会在近处观察他。 2 有一件事老使我不安。 3 过了一段时间，人们发现季节按有规律的顺序前后到来。 4 这个造纸厂是他们在1970年建造的。,（四）试译下列各句中的定语从句译成表示原因、时间、目的、结果、条件、让步等状语：,1表示原因,(1)

30、the door of which you lost the key cannot be opened. (2) we know that a cat, whose eye can take in more rays of light than our eyes, can see clearly in the night.,1 ,1）这个门打不开，因为你丢了钥匙。 2）我们知道，由于猫的眼睛比我们人的眼睛能吸收更多的光线，所以在夜里也能看得很清楚。,2表示时间,(1) electrical energy that is supplied to the motor may be converted into mechanical energy of motion. (2) he always makes fun of anyone with whom he chats.,2,1）当把电能提供给电动机时，它就能变成运动的机械能。 2）他老是一面和人聊天，一面跟人家开玩笑。,3表示结果,(1) he decided not to complete his university