Unit 7 句子成分转换-合句-断句

Unit 7 Translation Techniques of Simple Sentences

句法翻译（2）

Conversion of sentence components

Combination

Division

Outline of this unit

1. Conversion of sentence components 句子成分转换

2. Combination 合并法/缩句法

3. Division 分译法/断句法

Conversion of sentence components 句子成分转换

句子成分的转换与之前的词性转换译法有相同之处，也有不同之处：

前者是从词性角度考察转译；这里讨论的是句子成分的转译。

立足点：摆脱英语原文形式的束缚，满足汉语译文的需要。

Conversion of sentence components 句子成分转换

Outline：

1. 主语的转换

2. 谓语的转换

3. 宾语、定语和状语的转换

4. 独立主格结构的转换

主语的转换

Conversion of subjects

根据英语和汉语的词法、句法和修辞，英语的主语可转换为汉语的谓语或宾语。翻译并对比直译和运用了翻译方法之后的译文效果：

A short introduction to binary arithmetic （二进制）follows.

接来下是关于二进制的简单介绍。（?）

Modern industry requires that more and more natural gas be tapped.

现代工业要求越来越多的天然气被开发。（?）

With the fear of largely imaginary plots against his leadership, his self-confidence seemed totally to desert him.

由于……的担心，自信抛弃了他。（？）

练习：

My suggestion is that he should quit smoking at once.

Ford?s first pledge （承诺，保证）was, “Mr. President, you have my support and my loyalty .”

Conversion of sentence components 句子成分转换

谓语的转换Conversion of Predicates

根据需要，英语的谓语可转换为汉语的主语、状语或定语等。

Seawater contains about 3.5 percent salt.

海水中包含大约3.5%的盐。

若把contain转换为名词呢？

In the past decade the engineering design of jet engines has continued to advance very rapidly.

The sun produces in three days more heat than all earth fuels could ever produce. (提示：把标注词汇翻译为定语。)

Most U.S. spy satellite are designed to burn up in the earth?s atmosphere after completing their missions.

(把标注词汇翻译为名词。)

宾语、定语和状语的转换Conversion of objects, attributives and adverbials

在一定语境下，英语的宾语可以转译为汉语的主语或谓语，定语可以转译为汉语的状语或谓语，状语可以转译为汉语的主语。

Cast iron contains a larger proportion of carbon than steel.

在一定语境下，英语的宾语可以转译为汉语的主语或谓语，定语可以转译为汉语的状语或谓语，状语可以转译为汉语的主语。

He is physically weak and mentally sound.

The machine is featured by novel shape, easy operation, high calorific efficiency and low fuel consumption.

The machine is featured by novel shape, easy operation, high calorific efficiency and low fuel consumption.

练习：

He gave him a gentle little shake.

(把标注词汇转译为谓语)

He lived in the racing events, and the small boy lived with him.

(把标注词汇转译为主语)

独立主格结构的转换Conversion of Absolute Structures

独立主格结构有自己逻辑上的主语、宾语等成分，表达独立的意义，表示原因、结果、条件或伴随等。这种结构属于意合表达方式，不使用关系连接词。译为汉语时，常作汉语相应的状语从句。

She was waiting for us, her figure defined by the light from the half-opened door.

The café was quiet, the soft rain black and endless in the street outside.

练习：

All other conditions being still the same, we should first adjust the instrument to …zero?.

Combination 合并法/缩句法

分两种常见的情况：

1. 把原文中的一个句子紧缩成译文中另一个句子的组成部分。一般是把原文上下文中的相对次要的句子作此操作，大多紧缩成状语，定语或者同位语。

2. 翻译定语从句（限制性和非限制性）时：

较短的限制定语从句常被紧缩为内嵌式的定语修饰语；

对于非限制性定语从句，为了保证译文的连贯和紧凑，有时也紧缩为译文中的定语。分类举例如下：

1. 把原文中的一个句子紧缩成译文中另一个句子的组成部分。一般是把原文上下文中的相对次要的句子作此操作，大多紧缩成状语，定语或者同位语。

It was April 1945. The Second World War was coming to an end.

例中的一个独立句在译文中紧缩为时间状语。

She went back home to take care of her husband. He was seriously ill.

Her father became the mayor of the city. He was a murderer in the Second World War.

练习：

They sat down in the waiting-room to some reading. People come to and fro there.

2. 翻译定语从句（限制性和非限制性）时：

较短的限制定语从句常被紧缩为内嵌式的定语修饰语；

In the room where the electronic computer is kept, there must be no dust at all.

July and August are the months when the weather is hot.

练习：

Pollution is a pressing problem which we must deal with.

The people who worked for him lived in mortal fear of him.

污染是我们必须解决的一个迫切问题。

在他手下工作的人对他怕得要死。

非限制定语从句紧缩为句内成分的情况：

对于非限制性定语从句，为了保证译文的连贯和紧凑，有时也紧缩为译文中的定语。The sun, which had hidden all day, now came out in all its splendor.

练习：

He liked his sister, who was warm and pleasant, but he did not like his brother, who was aloof (冷漠)and arrogant.

Transistors, which are small in size, can make previously large and bulky radios light and small.

Division 分译法/分句法

从两个方面考察分译法/分句法：

1. 一般情况：

英语中的状语、定语或者名词词组常包含丰富的语义，翻译时要保持原文的形式同时又想确保汉语的流畅，几乎不可能，此时可以转译成汉语中的一个句子。这种词转句的翻译技巧，与汉语中多见的短小精悍、含义丰富的大量词组恰相呼应。

2. 定语从句的情况：

较长、较为复杂的定语从句可以采用分译法，把原文的一个单句肢解为有多个分句组成的句子；或者肢解为几个独立的句子。

逐个分析：

1. 一般情况：

英语中的状语、定语或者名词词组常包含丰富的语义，翻译时要保持原文的形式同时又想确保汉语的流畅，几乎不可能，此时可以转译成汉语中的一个句子。

A crashing thunderstorm, with thick rain hissing down from skies black as night, stopped Henry from leaving the White House.

Nixon was greatly impressed by Stassen?s firm handshake.

I tried vainly to put the pieces together.

It?s very bad, madam, obviously.

2. 定语从句的情况：

较长、较为复杂的定语从句可以采用分译法，把原文的一个单句肢解为有多个分句组成的句子；或者肢解为几个独立的句子。

A fuel is a material which will burn at a reasonable temperature and produce heat.

He managed to raise a crop of 200 miracle tomatoes that weighed up to two pounds each.

（注：1磅=0.454千克）Between these two tiny particles, the proton (质子) and the electron, there is a powerful attraction that is always present between negative and positive electric charges.

I told the story to John, who told it to his brother.

After dinner, the four key negotiators resumed their talks, which continued well into the night.

Summary

1. 句子成分转换

---主语的转换

---谓语的转换

---宾语、定语和状语的转换

---独立主格结构的转换

2. 合并法/缩句法

---一般句子的缩句翻译

---定语从句的缩句翻译

3. 分译法/断句法

---一般句子的断句翻译

---定语从句的断句翻译

This is the end of Unit 7.

For assignment, please refer to EOL.