翻译技巧(从句)

二、翻译技巧从句的译法 1、名词从句

2、定语从句

3、状语从句 1、名词从句英语名词从句包括主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句。引导名词从句的连接词有： *从属连词： that : 无词义 if 和 whether：是否 *连接代词： what, which, who, whom, whose, whoever, whatever, whichever 等，它们既起连接作用，本身有词义又在从句中起代词的作用。 *连接副词： when, where, why, how 等，它们既起连接作用，本身有词义又在从句中起副词的作用。 1）主语从句的译法英语主语从句有两种形式： a. 从属连词、连接代词和连接副词引导的主语从句，从句在主语谓语之前方法：一般可以按原语序译出 Whether the materials could stand the test is still a question. 这些材料能否实验合格，还是个问题。 EX. Who will preside at the seminar has not yet been decided. 由谁来主持这次研讨会还没有决定。我们的计划如有任何改变，将另行通知。 Whatever changes we make in our plan will be announced later. b. 以it作形式主语引出的主语从句方法1：it 不译出来，顺译为无人称句。 It is reported that a new-type computer is coming to the market very soon. 据报道，一种新型计算机将很快进入市场。方法2：it如表示强调可译出，否则不必译出。如： It doesn’t seem likely that he will be here. 他来的可能性似乎不太大。 It is a fact that the United States always interferes in the internal affairs of other countries.

美国总是干涉别过内政，这是事实。 2）宾语从句的译法方法1：英语的大多数宾语从句在汉译时，一般按原句的语序译出。Clinical observation showed that acupuncture treatment for eczema has a better therapeutic effect than Chinese drugs. 临床观察表明针灸治疗湿疹比中药治疗的疗效好。方法2：宾语从句有时也可逆着原文语序译出，一是可以使译文通顺，二是可以强调宾语。 Heredity alone cannot explain why some people are left-handed and some people are right-handed. 为什么有些人惯用左手而有些人惯用右手，单靠遗传学也不能作出解释。方法3：以 it 作形式宾语的句子，that 引起的宾语从句一般采用顺译法，it 不译。 We have made it clear to the whole world that we’ll never behave like a superpower. 我们已向全世界表明，我们永远不做超级大国。新闻发布会取消了，我们都感到很遗憾。 We all thought it a pity that the press conference should have been cancelled. 3）表语从句的译法标语从句的位置总在系动词之后，由 that, what, why, how, when, where, whether 等连词、连接代词和连接副词引导。方法：和大多数宾语从句一样，表语从句一般按原句的语序译出。我们想要知道的是我们何时能有一个多媒体实验室。 What we want to know is when we can have a multimedia laboratory. 4）同位语从句的译法同位语从句是用来说明它前面的某个名词（先行词）的内容，通常由连词 that 引导的从句。需要指出的是，that 引导的同位语从句与 that 引导的定语从句有以下

区别： *先行词的不同定语从句或同位语从句前面都有先行词。引导定语从句的 that 是用来指代表人或务的先行词，但引导同位语从句的 that 所指的只是一些表示抽象概念的名词。如： answer, assumption, conclusion, concept, doubt, evidence, fact, hope, idea, notice, observation, problem, proof, question, rumor, suggestion, thought, truth * 两个 that 词性不同引导定语从句的 that 为关系代词，它的作用是连接主句和从句，并代表先行词在从句中充当一个句子成分。而引导同位语从句的 that 是连词，只起连接住句和从句的作用，它不充当任何成分，也不能被which 所代替。 *两种从句句法功能不同定语从句是形容词性的，它的功能是修饰先行词，描述它的性质或特征，而同位语从句是名词性的，它的功能是对所说的词语作进一步补充性的解释。方法1：一般情况下，同位语从句可按原语序译出。 This experience leads to the conclusion that unlike charges attract each other. 这个实验导致这样一个结论：异性电荷相吸。她表示希望再到北京来访问。 She expressed the hope that she would come over to visit Beijing again. 方法2：有些同位语从句，可以采用逆序译法，先把从句译成独立的句子放在句首，再译主句。 The marvel at the fact that a man in Scandinavia lived for 300 days on only spuds covered with a bit of margarine. 在斯堪地纳维亚，有个人整整300天只吃涂上少许人造黄油的土豆而健康地活着，这个事实使他们感到惊讶。 EX. 自动化能提高工作效率，这是毫无疑问的。

There can be no question about the fact that automation can raise working efficiency. 方法3：除 that 外，引导同位语从句的还有 whether 和 where 。 e.g. 这时就产生了这样一个问题：我们到哪儿去找所需要的工具。 Then arose the question where we were to get the tools needed. 2、定语从句Attributive clauses are widely used in English. In many cases, sentences are made very long because of attributive clauses. Hence it is important to have a correct comprehension and an accurate translation of attributive clauses. Different attributive clauses may express different meanings such as purpose, concession, result and so on. An attributive clauses follows the word it modifies. This is different from Chinese. In Chinese, there is no post-position attributive, and there can’t be too many modifies preceding the modified word. All this causes changes in translating some sentences which contain attributive clauses. 定语从句一般有关系代词 that, which, who, as, but 等和关系副词 when, where, how, why 等引导，用来修饰主句中的某个名词（先行词）。 1）限制性定语从句的译法限制性定语从句是用来限制其先行词范围的，它与主句的关系密切，通常不用逗号与主句分开。其译法主要有两种。方法1：前置法较短的限制性定语从句可译成带“的”的定语词组，用来修饰先行词。 Examples: Information protection is a subject on

which many computer experts are working now. 保护信息是许多

计算机专家正在研究的一个课题。我认识刚才做报告的哪个人。 I know the man who made the report just now. 方法2：后置法如

果限制性定语从句较长，可采用后置法翻译，往往可以译成后置的

并列分句，重复先行词。如： He made the sound of sympathy which comes so readily from those who have an independent income. 他发出了同情之声，这种同情是那些有独立收入的人最容易脱口而

出的。 EX. 1 The United States has long been known as a “ melting pot”, because many of its people are descended from the settlers who came from all over the world to make their homes

in the new land. 美国历来以“民族熔炉”著称，因为许多美国人

是移民的后裔，当年这些移民从世界各地来到这快新土地上安家落户。 EX. 2 Students in these schools, however, as well as those in private colleges, must pay tuition, but the state schools are much less expensive than private ones, particularly for students who are residents of the state. 但是这些学校的学生

以及私立学校的学生都得付学费，不过州立学校的学费比私立学校便

宜得多，对于是本州居民的学生来说，尤为便宜。 EX. 3 请你把

我书桌上的杂志拿走。我仍然记得我们中学时期的幸福时光。我们在北京时住的那家旅馆既便

宜又舒适。告诉我们你拒绝合作的理由。 He who flatters one to the face will surely speak ill of one behind one’s back.

Reference version Would you please take away the magazine which is lying on my desk? I still remember those happy days when we were in the middle school. The hotel where we stayed while in Beijing was both cheap and comfortable. Tell us the reason why you refuse to cooperate. 当面奉承的人必定背后诋毁。 2）非限制性定语从句的译法非限制性定语从句是用来对其先行词或对整个主句加以补充说明。因此，通常可采用后置法译出。非限制性定语从句，无论是由关系代词还是关系副词引导的，一般都译成并列分句，用以补充说明先行词的信息。 Examples: The Prime Minister will visit the town in October, when he will open the new hospital. 总理将于十月访问该市，届时他将主持新医院的落成典礼。 The meeting was cancelled, which was exactly what we expected. 会议取消了，这正是我们所希望的。方法1：重复先行词 It is he who received the letter that announced the death of your uncle. 就是他接到的那封信，信中说你叔叔去世了。方法2：不重复先行词 After dinner, the four key negotiators resumed their talks, which continued well into the night. 晚餐后四位主要谈判者继续谈判，直至深夜。方法3：译成偏正复句中的分句，表示条件、原因、目的、转折、结果等关系。 He wishes to write an article that will attract public attention to the matter. 他想写一篇文章，以引起公众对此事的关注。 The computers, which have many advantages, cannot carry out

creative work and replace man. 计算机虽有许多优点，但却无法

进行创造性活动，也无法取代人的工作。 3. 由“名词（代词）

+of+which”引导的从句译法（1）在这种从句中，“名词（代词）

+of+which”中的名词（代词）是从句中的主语。而of which 则是

该名词（代词）的定语。译成汉语时，一般都把 of which 译成“其”，“它（们）的”。整个从句译成汉语的独立句，其位置在主语之后。Examples: 1 Gas is a substance, the volume of which is determined by the temperature and pressure. 气体是这样一种

物质，其体积取决于温度和压力。 Examples:2 A survey was carried out on the death rate of new-born babies in that region, of which the result were surprising. 就该地区新生儿死亡率进

行了调查，（其）结果令人吃惊。（2）如果 of which 之前是数

词或是具有数量概念的词，通常把 of which 译成“其中”。Examples:1 Heat has many effects, most of which will be familiar through everyday experience. 热有许多效应，其中大

多数通过日常经历就可以了解。 Examples:2 The total cultivated area is 13,000 acres, of which 10,000 acres are irrigated fields. 耕地总面积为1万3千英亩，其中1万英亩为灌溉田。 Exercise:

天然元素有100多种，其中有一些是我们很熟悉的。 there are over 100 natural elements, some of which are very familiar. 4. 由 as 引导的从句译法由关系代词 as 引导的说明整个从句的非

限制性定语从句，可位于主句之前或之后。通常都将其译成一个独

立的分句，放在主句之前或之后。 Examples:1 As is often the case, we have fulfilled the teaching plan. as 在从句中作主语）

像往常情况一样，我们又完成了教学计划。 Examples:2 As we know, materials expand and contract with the increase and decrease of temperature. as 在从句中作宾语）我们知道材料随温度的

升降而胀缩。在科技英语中，由 as 引导的这种非限制性定语从句

很多，大部分都有约定俗成的翻译方法。常见的有：

as has been said before as is well known as often happens as we shall see later 如上所述众所周知正如经常发生

的那样正如下文就要谈到的那样 as can be imagined as we all can see as will be shown in Fig.2 as has been already pointed out as has been explained in the preceding paragraph 可以想象得出正如我们都能看到的那样将如图2所示正如已

指出的那样如在上段里已解释的那样 3、状语从句

英语的状语从句也是一个比较复杂的语言现象，它形式多样，变化繁多。虽然引导状语从句的连词，基本上能在汉语中找到相应的词，

但由于英汉两种语言的差异，状语从句的汉译也有一些值得注意的问题。例如状语从句的位置，，连词的译法和省略，以及状语从句的

转移等。英汉复合句的形式不同，翻译时尤其要注意状语从句的位置，在实际翻译中必须根据情况灵活掌握。汉语中，连词不多用，

语句的上下逻辑关系是靠词序或语序表示的。因此英译汉时，连词常

可省略。不要碰到 when 就译“当”， if 就译“如果”，because 就

译“因为”。连词译还是省略不译，都要根据实际需要来决定取舍。状

语从句的转移也是值得注意的问题。较为常见的有两种：时间状语从

句和地点状语从句转译成条件状语从句。 1、时间状语从句的译法

用来引导时间状语从句的连词有： when, as，while, before, after, since, until, by the time, each time, as soon as, once, no sooner…than, scarcely hardly …when, whenever, instantly, immediately, directly 等。（1）译成相应的时间状语，放在句首。 Heat is always given out by one substance and taken in by another when heat-exchange takes place. 热交换发生时，总

是某一种物质放出热量，另一种物质吸入热量。提示： when 没有

译为“当” I will return you the book when I have read it through. 我看完这本书后还给你。提示：when 译为…之后 Whenever you need any specific information or data, you may use the built-in telephone and the keyboard to call up the central computer for the information you need. 每当你需要任何专门的情报或资料时，你可使用内装电话和键盘向中央计算机查询。（2）译成并列句有

的连词如as,while 等）引导的时间状语从句，在表达主句和从句

的谓语动作同时进行时，汉译时可省略连词，译成汉语并列句。如：She sang as she prepared the experiment. The earth turns round its axis as it travels around the sun. 地球一面绕太阳运行，

一面绕地轴自转。（3）译成条件状语从句 when 等引导的状语从句，有时从形式上是时间状语，但从逻辑上判断则具有条件状语的

意义。因此，这类时间状语从句往往可转译为条件状语从句。Examples: Turn off the switch when anything goes wrong with the machine. 如果机器发生故障，就把电门关上。 When this problem is solved, even better and cheaper products can be developed. 如果这一问题得到解决，就能研制出更好、更便宜的产品。 2、地点状语从句的译法引导地点状语的连词有： where, wherever 等。（1）译成相应的地点状语 Wherever you are, you can observe the nature. （顺译）不管你在哪儿，你都可观察大自然的变化。 A signal will be shown wherever anything wrong occurs with the control system. 无论控制系统哪个部位发生故障，都会给出信号。（倒译）（2）译成条件状语从句或结果状语从句 where 或 wherever 引导的状语从句，有时从形式上看是地点状语从句，但从逻辑上判断则具有条件状语从句或结果状语从句的意义，因而可将其译为条件状语从句或结果状语从句。Examples: Where water resources are plentiful, hydro-electric power stations are being built in large numbers. 哪里水源充足，就在哪里修建大批的水电站。 It is hoped that solar energy will find wide application wherever it becomes available. 可以期望太阳能将得到广泛的利用，以致任何地方都可使用。 3、原因状语从句的译法引导原因状语从句的连词有：because, since, as, that, now that, for the reason that 等。汉语中常用来表示原因的连词有“由于”，“因为”。按照汉语习惯，

表示原因的分句应译在主句之前，英语则较灵活。 Examples: （1）译成表示“原因”的分句 The material first used was copper for the reason that it is easily obtained in its pure state. 最先使用的材料是铜，因为纯铜易于制取。（2）译成因果偏正复句的主句实际上这是一种省略连词的译法，把从句译成主句。 Pure iron is not used in industry because it is too soft. 纯铁太软，所以不用在工业上。 Because he was convinced of this fact, he stuck to his opinion. 他深信这件事正确可靠，因此坚持己见。

4、条件状语从句的译法引导条件状语从句的连词有： if, unless, as long as, in case, on condition that, except that, provided that , only that, granted that 等。（1）译成表示“条件”或“假设”的分句在语气上，“只要”最强，“如果”最弱。按照汉语习惯，不管表示条件还是假设，英语的条件从句汉译时一般应译在主句之前。 Examples: Unless there is motion, there is no work. 如果没有运动，就没有作功。 Granted that this is true, what conclusion can you draw? 假设这是实际情况，你又能得出什么结论呢？（2）译成补充说明的分句 We’ll visit Europe next year, provided that we have enough money. 我们明年去欧洲，假如我们有了足够的钱。 Iron and steel parts will rust, if they are unprotected. 铁和钢是会生锈的，如果不加防护的话。

5、让步状语从句的译法引导让步状语从句的连词有：though, although, while, even if, even though, no matter how

however , no matter what whatever 等。英语的让步状语从句，可译为汉语的让步分句或无条件的条件分句，位置通常在主句之前。为了照应上下文，可考虑译在主句之后。（1）译成表示“让步”的分句 Although planets give off no light of their own, they reflect the light from the sun and look like starts at night. 虽然行星自己不发光，但是它们反射太阳的光线，夜里看起来很像星星。（2）译成汉语的“无条件”的条件分句 All science students, no matter whether they should be physicists or chemists, should have a good foundation in basic sciences. 所有理科学生，不论他们是未来的物理学家还是化学家，均须打下基础学科的良好基础。 * *