定语从句的翻译
3、不翻译关系代词或关系副词 、
有些定语从句表面上是非限制性定语从句,但在意义上却 已经和主句融为了一体。在翻译时,应该将引导定语从句 的关系词省略,从而使句子的意思显得更为连贯。 After dinner, the four key negotiators resumed their talks, which continued well into the night. 晚饭后,四个主要谈判人物继续进行会谈,一直谈到深夜。 His wife, Betty, is Shanghai-born Chinese who left China at the age of eight, and whose book “Moon”, tells of her sister’s life in China. 他妻子贝蒂是一位出生在上海的华人,八岁离开中国,写 过一本名叫《月》的书,记叙了她妹妹在中国的生活。
常用的定语从句的翻译方法
一、合译法
合译法通常用于句式较短的情况,主要以 限制性定语从句为主。在英译汉时,一般 将其译成“的”字结构,有时也将定语部 分译成谓语、兼语句的一部分或带有“这” 字句的简单句。
1.译成定语“的”字结构
这是最为常见的一种英译汉的方式,翻译成中文 时,将定语部分放在被修饰名词的前面 He is not the one who will give up easily. 他不是一个轻易服输的人。 Our two countries are neighbors whose friendship is of long standing. 我们两国是友谊长存的有好邻邦。 The people who worked for him lived in mortal fear of him 在他手下工作的人对他怕的要死。
当先行词是专有名词或物主代词和指示代词所修 饰时,其后的定语从句通常是非限制性的,例如: Charles Smith, who was my former teacher, retired last year. 查理·史密斯去年退休了,他曾经是我的老师。 My house, which I bought last year, has got a lovely garden. 我去年买的的那幢房子带着个漂亮的花园。 This novel, which I have read three times, is very touching. 这本小说很动人,我已经读了三遍。
定俗成式定语从句是指一种it...that...的句式,这 种含约定俗成式定语从句的复合句的意思实际上 相当于一个让步状语从句。如It is a wise mother that knows her own daughter.(再聪慧的母亲也 不见得了解自己的女儿。) 原句相当于一个状语 从句No matter how wise a mother is, she may not know her own daughter.翻译此类定语从句应 该用溶合法,即将主句和从句溶合在一起翻译。 例如: It is a good machine that can work without power. 再好的机器也要有动力才能开动。 It is a long lane that has no turning. 再长的巷子也会有转弯的。
There seems to be someone who wants to go with you. 好像有人想跟你去。 There happened to be a student who was able to work out the math problem. 碰巧有一个学生能解出这道数学难题。 另外,有些定语从句英译汉时要需要将主句压缩成主语, 另外,有些定语从句英译汉时要需要将主句压缩成主语, 而将定语从句译成谓语,融合为一个句子。 而将定语从句译成谓语,融合为一个句子。 We have a social and political system that differed in many respects from your own. 我们的社会和政治体制在很多方面都与贵国的不一样。 We shall have a lot of people who will visit our college. .许多人将来参观我们学校。 This is a paper mill that was built ten years ago 这家造纸厂是十年前建的。
3、译成兼语句的一部分 、
当先行词在定语从句中充当主语或宾语,即先行 词在逻辑上与定语从句中的动词构成主谓或动宾 关系时,就可采用此方法使两个分句融为一体。 I need someone who can instruct me in my English study. 我需要一个人来指导我学习英语。 When I passed by, I saw a man who was quarreling with his wife. 当我经过时,我看到一个人和他的妻子在吵架。
The fallacy 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 这种谬误在历史传统派和历史社科派中都 存在。前者认为,历史就是史学界内部和 外部人士对各史料来源的评论;而后者则 认为,历史的研究就是具体方法的研究。
非限制性定语从句还能将整个主句作为先 行词, 对其进行修饰, 这时从句谓语动词要 用第三人称单数,例如: He seems not to have grasped what I meant, which greatly upsets me. 他似乎没抓住我的意思,这使我心烦。 Liquid water changes to vapor, which is called evaporation. 液态水变为蒸汽,这就叫做蒸发
4、用主句的主语作从句主语,译成两个小分句
当主句的主语为非限制性定语从句的先行词,并且关系代 词作定语从句主语时,被非限制性定语从句说明或解释的 先行词可以与非限制性定语从句溶合在一起翻译。例如: John Smith, who teaches American literature in an American university, has been invited to be a visiting professor in our college. 约翰·史密斯在美国一所大学教美国文学,他已被聘为我 们学院的客座教授。 Abraham Lincoln, who led the American people in overthrowing the Negro slave system, is considered one of the greatest American presidents. 亚伯拉罕·林肯领导美国人民推翻了黑奴制度,他被看作 是美国最伟大的总统之一。
二、分译法
分译法是指将主句和从句分开翻译的一种 方法,主要用于较长的非限制性定语从句 里。采用这种方法可避免句子的冗长和累 赘。这种方法一般采用主句在前,从句在 后的翻译形式,将句子翻译成两个相对独 立的小分句。
1、译成“这”字句 、译成“
有时,关系代词并不仅仅只是指代先行词, 它还指代前面整个句子的内容。这时,我 们一般将其译成“这”或“这一点” He admired Mrs. Brown, which surprises me most. 他钦佩布朗太太,这使我大为惊讶。 She was very patient towards the children, which her husband seldom was. 她对孩子们很耐心,她丈夫却很少这样。
2、译出关系代词或关系副词 、
根据逻辑的需要,在翻译前ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้我们首先应该弄清 关系词所指代的内容,进而按照先行词的词义来 进行翻译。 He has learned French, which he thinks is the most beautiful language in the world. 他学过法语,他认为法语是世界上最美的语言。 This is a college of science and technology, the students of which are trained to be engineers or scientists. 这是一所科技大学,该校学生将被培养成工程师 或科学工作者。
另外,在英语中常常会把需要强调的内容 放于句首,而汉语中却习惯把附加性说明 的定语部分翻译成去前置型的并列分句, 以求在形式上突出主句的内容。
She suddenly thought of her husband, who had left her and their children behind and had never been heard of. 他丈夫早就抛弃了妻儿一直杳无音信,现在她突然想起了 他。 The men suddenly awakened to the fact that there were beauty and significance in these trifles, which they had so long trodden carelessly beneath their feet. 以前,它们一直被这些人漫不经心地踩在脚下,现在这些 人突然意识到这些小玩意儿的美丽和意义了。
4、译成连动式的一部分 、
为了行文方便,有时候在英译汉时就需要把主句、 从句中的动词连起来一起翻译,从而使句子显得 连贯,符合汉语的表达习惯。 He took out a bottle of wine out of his pocket, which he began to drink slowly. 他从衣兜里掏出一瓶酒慢慢地喝起来。 We will send the boy to Britain, where he can receive better education. 我们将要把这个孩子送到英国去接受更好的教育。