英语语法week_14_第五章4_定语从句的译法.ppt

第五章 第四节 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： 一、限定性定语从句的翻译1. 译成前置定语 一般说来，限制性的定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1．To 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2. The moon is a world that is completely still and 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。 例3．There is no royal road to science, and only those who do not dread the fatiguing climb of the steep paths have 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4. 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。 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1．This 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 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2．He 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。 1. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it. 凡是忘掉过去的人注定要重蹈覆辙。 2. Scientists believe that there must be hundreds of heavenly bodies in the universe where human beings or something like human beings may exist. 科学家们认为，人或类似人的生物能够生存的天体，在宇宙中可能有几百个。 2 译成后置的并列分句 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1．But world attention also is focusing on another step, which will make the smoker increasingly self-conscious and uncomfortable about his habit.