如何翻译名词性、定语、状语从句(四) 状语, 词性, 定语, 翻译

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37.在翻译过程中，如何处理非限制性定语从句？　　非限制性定语从句和它的先行词之间只有比较松散的关系，对先行词不起限定的作用。就其意义来说，在句中有时相当于一个并列分句。翻译此类句子，一般可采用以下方法：
　　（1）译成独立句
　　一般来说，非限制性定语从句较少译成带的的定语词组。在翻译成汉语时可以将从句与主句分译，独立成句。
　　经典例题201 Attending services at the Cathedral of Pisa，he found himself watching a swinging chandelier，which air currents shifted now in wide arcs，now in small ones.
　　分析：定语从句被翻译为后置的并列分句，用人称代词它代替先行词吊架灯。
　　参考译文一次在比萨大教堂做礼拜时，他发现自己正看着一个吊灯架，它随着气流时而划一个大弧，时而划一个小弧。
　　经典例题202 Although he got generally good grades and was outstanding in mathematics，Einstein hated the academic high school he was sent to in Munich，where success depended on memorization and obedience to arbitrary authority.
　　参考译文虽然爱因斯坦门门功课都很优异，数学尤为突出，但他很讨厌上这所慕尼黑的中学。在这所学校里成功取决于死记硬背和对专制权威的服从。
　　经典例题203 One is the visible edge of the sun，which is a gaseoussurfacefrom which visible light photons（光子）freely emerge.
　　分析：本句中在非限制性定语从句里又包含一个限制性定语从句，为了符合汉语表达习惯，我们将两个定语从句都译成后置的并列分句。
　　参考译文一个例子就是太阳的边缘，这是一个气状的表面，可见光光子从中源源涌出。
　　（2）断开法
　　我们同样可以用括号或破折号将非限制性从句和主句断开。
　　经典例题204 All commercial communication satellites，which began to be launched in1965，are now designed for use in geosynchronous orbits（地球同步轨道）。
　　参考译文所有商业性通讯卫星（1965年开始发射）现在都设计用于地球同步轨道。
　　经典例题205 On this and succeeding days，during which our anticraft guns were doubled in numbers，very hard and continuous air fighting took place over the capital，and the Lufewaffe were still confident through their overestimation of our losses.
　　参考译文在当天和随后几天（我们的高射炮在这几天增加了一倍），首都上空发生了连续不断的激烈空战，德国空军由于过高地估计了我们的损失，因而仍然怀有信心。
　　（3）翻译成有状语职能的句子
　　非限制性定语从句在语义上有时起状语分句的作用，表示原因、目的、结果、条件、让步等意义。因此可将此类从句译为相应的状语分句。
　　经典例题206 Rockets perform best in space，where there is no atmosphere to impede their motion.分析：在语义上，定语从句与主句的关系为因果关系，因此我们将定语从句译成原因状语从句。参考译文火箭在太空中运行最佳，因为在那儿不存在阻碍他们运动的大气。
　　经典例题207 Congress，which had met to continue its protests to the Crown，found itself raising an army and selecting George Washington as its commander in chief.分析：定语从句与先行词融合起来，翻译成时间状语从句。
　　参考译文代表大会先前已集会决定继续向英皇提抗议，而现在则发展到招募兵员并推选乔治·华盛顿为总司令了。历年真题分析
　　经典例题208 The food supply will not increase nearly enough to match this，which means that we are heading into a crisis in the matter of producing and marketing food.（1991年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是The food supply will not increase…to match this，which means that we are heading into a crisis…。关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句。其先行词是前面一整句。翻译时译成另一个分句。在这个从句中又包含一个由that引导的名词从句作means的宾语。指示代词this在这儿指代上文的人口增长。
　　参考译文食品供应的增加将赶不上人口的增长，这就意味着我们在粮食的生产和购销方面正陷入危机。
　　经典例题209In short，a leader of the new school contends，the scientific revolution，as we call it，was largely the improvement and invention and use of a series of instruments that expanded the reach of science in innumerable directions.（1994年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是…，a leader of the new school contends，the scientific revolution，…was largely…a series of instruments that expanded the reach of…。直接引语作contends的宾语。在这个直接引语中，主语是the scientific revolution，as we call it是插入语。关系代词that引导定语从句，修饰先行词the improvement and invention and use of a series of instruments.翻译时重复这个先行词。largely在本句中相当于mainly，译为主要的。
　　参考译文新学派的一位领袖人物坚持说：简而言之，我们所谓的科学革命，主要是指一系列器具的改进、发明和使用，这些改进、发明和使用使科学发展的范围无所不及。
　　经典例题210 This trend began during the Second World War，when several governments came to the conclusion that the specific demands that a government wants to make of its scientific establishment cannot generally be foreseen in detail.（1996年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是This trend began during the Second World War，when several governments…conclusion that the specific demands that a government wants to make of…cannot generally be foreseen in detail.关系副词when引导非限制性定语从句，修饰the Second World War.这个从句在本句中兼有状语从句的功能，翻译时可以译成时间状语从句。此从句包含一个由that引导的同位语从句，作conclusion的同位语。在这个同位语从句中又套一个由关系代词that引导的定语从句，修饰demands.demands的谓语是cannot generally be foreseen in detail.make demands of意为对…提要求。establishment在此意为机构。
　　参考译文这种趋势始于第二次世界大战期间，当时一些国家的政府得出结论：政府要向科研机构提出的具体要求通常是无法详尽预见的。
　　经典例题211 It 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.（1999年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是It applies equally to traditional historians who…and to social science historians who…。本句中包括两个由关系代词who引导的定语从句。其两个先行词traditional historians和social science historians是并列的宾语。翻译此句可采用组合法，先译两个先行词，再具体分述两个定语从句。it指代上文的fallacy，意为谬误。activity原意为活动，在此句中应转译为历史研究。参考译文这种谬误同样存在于历史传统派和历史社科派，前者认为历史就是史学界内部和外部人士对各种史料来源的评论，后者认为历史的研究是具体方法的研究。
　　经典例题212 Pearson has pieced together the work of hundreds of researchers around the world to produce a unique millennium technology calendar that gives the latest dates when we can expect hundreds of key breakthroughs and discoveries to take place.（2001年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Pearson has pieced together the work…calendar that gives the latest dates when we can expect…to take place.关系代词that引导定语从句，修饰calendar.此从句中又包含一个由关系副词when引导的定语从句。piece常用作名词，意为碎片，片，在本句中作动词译为汇集，聚集。produce在此根据上下文应译为编制。
　　参考译文皮尔森汇集世界各地数百位研究人员的成果，编制了一个独特的新技术千年历，它列出了人们有望看到数百项重大突破和发现的最迟日期。熟能生巧
　　经典例题213 The reason why a great conductor makes notations on his musical scores—mark themup again and again each time he returns to study them—is the reason why you should mark your books.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是The reason why a great conductor…is the reason why you should…。句子的主语是the reason，谓语是is the reason why…。两个关系副词why都引导定语从句修饰先行词the reason.两个破折号中间的mark them up again and again each time he returns to study them起强调和重复的作用。名词性连接词each time引导状语从句。musical scores在此句中应译为音乐曲谱。conductor译为指挥家。
　　参考译文一个伟大的指挥家会在他的音乐曲谱上做上符号，在每次复习它们的时候一遍又一遍地做上标记，指挥家这样做的原因就是你为什么应该在你的书上做标记的原因。
　　经典例题214 Other issues that concern the body politic，such as crime，poverty，and welfare，are not easily linked to public support of scientific research，save at the educational level.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Other issues that concern…，are not easily linked to…，save at…。这是一个含有that引导的定语从句的长主语，other issues是主语，也是先行词。such as引导并列成分。谓语是are not easily linked to public support of scientific research.save在这个句子中相当于except，意为除了…。body politic可译为国家。
　　参考译文除了在教育层次上，其他一些与国家息息相关的问题，如犯罪、贫穷和福利都难以与公共支持的科研相提并论。
　　经典例题215 I worry，particularly，about the effects on our children of our own society，a society that is less safe and less hospitable than the one I experienced as a child growing up during the1950‘s and1960’s.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是I worry about the effects on…，a society that is less…than the one I experienced as…。a society that is…是our own society的同位语，关系代词that引导定语从句修饰a society.在这个从句中又包含另一个定语从句I experienced，关系代词that被省略，the one是先行词，指代the society.现在分词短语growing up…作child的后置定语。句中还要注意比较级less…than的翻译。
　　参考译文我特别担心对于我们这个社会的孩子们所产生的影响，同我孩提时代所生活的五、六十年代相比，如今的社会缺少安全感，也显得冷漠。
　　经典例题216 Smart cards，which can carry as much as80times more information on them than conventional cards with a magnetic stripe，are already widely used in European countries where centralized banks can roll out new services on a nationwide basis.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是smart cards，which…，are already widely used in European countries where…。关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句，修饰主语smart cards.谓语是are already widely used…。关系副词where引导定语从句修饰countries.more…than…，在此表示比较级。on a nationwide basis即意为nationwide。magnetic stripe在句中译为磁条。
　　参考译文智能卡能载有的信息量是磁带普通卡信息量的80倍，已在欧洲各国广泛应用。欧洲各国实现中央化的银行在全国范围展开新型的服务。
　　经典例题217 In the Greek heritage of the west，myth has always been in tension with reason，which signified the rational and analytic mode of arriving at a true account of reality.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是In the Greek heritage…，myth has always been…，which signified…。关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句，修饰reason.在这个句子中，which引导的非限制性定语从句兼有状语从句的功能，翻译时可视作原因状语从句翻译。reason在此句中不译为原因，理由，应译为理性。
　　参考译文在西方希腊遗产中，神话与理性始终处于紧张冲突状态，因为理性意味着对现实进行合情合理、符合实际的分析描述。
　　经典例题218 Medicine，like all branches of science，needs scholars who are able to develop appropriaterule of evidenceand then apply those rules to the continuously flowing stream of new idea to determine what is relevant.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Medicine，like all…，needs scholars who are able to…。like all branches of science是插入语。关系代词who引导定语从句修饰scholars.在这个从句中包含一个名词从句———what is relevant作determine的宾语。flowing stream of new data在此译为新数据流。apply…to在此句中译为把…应用于…。
　　参考译文正像所有的科学分支一样，医学也需要这类学者，他们既能开发适当的实证规则，又能把那些规则应用到不断变化的新数据流中去，进而确定哪些信息是相关的。
　　经典例题219 Behaviorists suggest that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Behaviorists suggest that the child who is…environment where there are…stimuli which develop…will experience greater…。that引导名词从句作suggest的宾语。在这个从句中又包含三个定语从句，一层套一层。从句中的主语是the child，谓语是will experience greater intellectual development.关系代词who引导定语从句修饰child.关系副词where引导定语从句修饰environment.关系代词which引导定语从句修饰stimuli.stimuli译为刺激物。
　　参考译文行为主义者指出，如果一个孩子在有许多刺激物的环境中长大，那么这个儿童将会有更高的智力发展。
　　经典例题220 My idea of a good P.E.class is one where youth are involved in at least20minutes of basic movement that gets their heart rates up.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是My idea of a good P.E.class is one where youth are…movement that gets their heart rates up.关系副词where引导定语从句修饰one，而关系代词that引导定语从句修饰movement.a指代one P.E.class.
　　参考译文谈到一堂好的体育课，我的想法是，青年人在体育课中至少要进行20分钟使他们心跳加快的基本运动。
　　经典例题221 That summer，those who remained were found fleeing down river to return home to England by new settlers with fresh supplies，who encouraged them to reconsider.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是That summer，those who remained were found fleeing down…by new settlers…，who encouraged them…。这是一个被动句，翻译时译成主动句。who remained是限制性定语从句修饰主语those.谓语部分是were found fleeing down…。第二个who引导定语从句，它的先行词是new settlers.介词短语with fresh supplies作new settlers的定语。them指代those who remained.
　　参考译文那年夏天，带着给养刚刚到来的拓居者发现前期的幸存者们顺着河流逃往英国，便劝说他们三思而行。
　　经典例题222 By and large，the American diet continued to reflect a considerable reliance upon animal products，rather than on grains，which meant that a relatively large acreage was required to feed the American public.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是By and large，the American diet continued to…，rather than on grains，which meant that…。关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句，其先行词是上文的一整句。在这个从句中又包含一个由that引导的名词从句作meant的宾语。by and large意为总之，总而言之。rather than意为而不是。
　　参考译文总的说来，美国人的膳食仍大量依赖家畜产品而不依赖粮食，这就意味着需要比较大的土地面积来养活美国公众。
　　经典例题223 The purpose of this book is to place at the disposal of the design engineer who is facing these challenges a survey of the experience gained from the many and diverse applications of aerostatic bearings which have already been successfully accomplished.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是The purpose of this book is to place…a survey of the experience gained from…bearings which have…。关系代词who引导定语从句修饰engineer.关系代词which引导定语从句修饰bearings.句中的谓语动词place和它的宾语a survey of the experience被介词短语at the disposal of the design engineer who…分开。aerostatic bearings意为空气静压轴承。at the disposal of somebody原意为由…支配，在此句中应转译为向…。diverse是形容词，意为许多不同的。
　　参考译文空气静压轴承已经研制成功，在许多方面的应用中都取得了经验。本书的目的就是向面临这些任务的设计工程师提供这些经验。
　　经典例题224 The challenge we both face is to avoid forcing people to make a hard choice between a system at one extreme which provides equality but would perpetuate poverty and one at the other extreme which provides prosperity but would ignore poverty.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是The challenge…is to avoid forcing…at one extreme which provides…and…other extreme which provides…。we both face是省略了关系代词that的定语从句，修饰主语the challenge.两个关系代词which均引导定语从句，修饰extreme.one at the other extreme中的代词one指a system.句中的between…and…被从句隔开。两个含which的定语从句在此起到对比的作用。extreme在句中译为极端。
　　参考译文我们两国面临的共同挑战是避免强迫人民在两个极端之间作出困难的选择：一种制度实现了平等，但会使贫穷长期继续下去；另一种制度带来了繁荣，却会无视贫困。
　　经典例题225 Many of China‘s aging singles are victims of the Cultural Revolution lasting to the1970s，when they were sent to the countryside to live among the peasants for re_education，andmade a career and settled down in the expanse of the country_side.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Many of China‘s aging singles are victims of…the1970s，when they were sent to…andmade a career and settled down…。现在分词短语lasting to the1970s修饰the Cultural Revolution作定语。关系副词when引导非限制性定语从句，修饰1970s.从句中包含一个主语they和三个谓语。expanse of意为宽广的空间。
　　参考译文多数大龄单身男女是延续至70年代的文化大革命的牺牲品。他们被送到农村与农民们一起生活，接受教育，在广阔天地里扎根落户。
　　经典例题226 These new_age executives are likely to cause trouble in companies where longer_serving middle managers，who have done their time in a less_privileged environment，resent the concessions the recruits are winning.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是These new_age executives are likely to cause…companies where longer_serving middle managers，who have…，resent the concessions…。关系副词where引导定语从句，修饰先行词companies.在这个从句中，谓语resent the concessions被由关系代词who引导的非限制性定语从句隔开。the recruits are winning是一个省略了关系代词that的定语从句，修饰concessions.concessions译为特许权。the recruits译为新手，新成员。
　　参考译文这些新时代的管理人员很有可能在一些公司制造事端，因为在这些公司里，在特权现象较少的环境里，有较长工作年限的中等经理对这些新成员所赢得的特许权深感不满。
　　经典例题227 Pantomime，for example，which originally began as a means of communicating ideas too profound or too difficult to express in verbal language，has since turned into a means of communication that cuts across many languages.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Pantomime，…which originally began as…，has since turned into a means of communication that cuts…。这是一个含有关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句的长主语。which从句中的too profound or too difficult to express in verbal language作定语，修饰ideas.相当于省略了that are.关系代词that引导定语从句，修饰communication.cut across在此句中译为超越。
　　参考译文例如哑剧最初只是用于交流那些太深奥或很难用语言表达的思想。现在它已成为一种超越许多语言的交流手段。
　　经典例题228 This is an elegant，antimagnetic，waterproof，shock_protected and heat_resistant watch which is made of stainless steel and high_precision fittings.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是This is an…watch which is made of…。这个句子中的中心名词watch既有形容词作前置定语，又有定语从句作后置定语。一般在翻译时，将前置定语后置。
　　参考译文这是一只不锈钢和高精度配件制成的手表，它既美观、又防磁、防水、抗震、耐热。
　　经典例题229 They send out pulses of sound waves，pitched at50，000cycles per second，far above the limits of the human ear，which can hear sounds up to frequencies of about20，000cycles per second.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是They send out pulses of…，far above…the human ear，which can hear sounds…。关系代词which引导定语从句，修饰human ear.过去分词短语pitched at…和介词短语far above…作sound waves的定语。they指代前文的蝙蝠。pitch原意为定基音，在此译为发出。
　　参考译文人类的耳朵仅能听见最高频率为20000赫兹的声音，蝙蝠却可以发送出大大超过这个限制的高达50000赫兹的声波脉冲。
　　经典例题230 Refugee laws，laid down in international treaties and adopted into national legal codes，acknowledge and spell out legal obligations toward people whose own governments are unwilling or unable to protect them.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Refugee laws，laid down…，acknowledge and spell out…people whose own governments are…。关系代词whose引导定语从句，修饰people.过去分词短语laid down…and adopted into…作定语，修饰主语refugee laws.lay down原意为放下，在此句中应译为确定，认定。spell out意为明白地解说。
　　参考译文难民法是经国际公约确定并已融入各国法律的，它对那些本国政府无意或无力提供保护的人承担法律责任，并明确规定了这样的法律责任。
　　经典例题231 Article I of the GATT is the celebrated most favored nation（MFN）clause under which each member nation must give treatment to other member nation‘s imports and exports that is at least as favorable as that applied to the most favored nation.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Article I of the GATT is…clause under which each member nation must give treatment…that is at least as favorable as that applied to…。介词under+which引导的定语从句，修饰clause.在这个从句中又包含了由关系代词that引导的定语从句，修饰treatment.先行词treatment被短语to other member nation‘s imports and exports隔开。第二个that是指示代词，指代treatment.过去分词短语applied to the most favored nation作定语，修饰that.clause在此句中译为条款。
　　参考译文关贸总协定的第一条是著名的最惠国（MFN）条款。按照该条款，每一个成员国给予其他成员国的进出口货物的待遇至少应和给予最惠国待遇一样优惠。
　　经典例题232 On the other hand，the person who is really guilty and whose past experience has prepared him for such tests can distort the results by anticipating the crucial questions or deliberately giving exaggerated responses to neutral ones.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是On the other hand，the person who is…and whose past experience has…can distort the results by anticipating…or giving…。这是一个简单复合句。句子的主语the person和谓语can distort the results被两个并列的定语从句隔开，分别由关系代词who和whose引导。介词短语by anticipating…作状语。代词ones指代questions.
　　参考译文另一方面，一个真正犯了罪的人由于过去的经验使他对这种测验有所准备，或对关键问题早有所料，或对中性问题故作夸大的反应，他是能使测验结果出现反常现象的