定语从句翻译技巧

定语从句翻译技巧
在英语中, 定语从句很常见, 翻译时如不进行仔细分析就会出现误译;通过实例对定语从句的翻译技巧做一探讨, 并将这些翻译技巧赋予理论概念, 即定语从句定语化, 定语从句谓语化, 定语从句状语化;在把汉语翻译成带有定语从句的英语时,中国学生常常会受到母语的影响会出现误译;因此我们要对比英汉两种语言,以便避免汉语的负迁移;
一英译汉时定语从句翻译中的易错点
英语中的定语从句是在句中起形容词作用的结构, 通常分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句两大类;进行英译汉翻译时如不进行仔细分析,就会造成误译;比如,下面两个句子仅有一个逗号之差,含义却不同：
His brother who is a soldier is eighteen years old now.
His brother, who is a soldier, is eighteen years old now.
第一句应译为：他那个当兵的哥哥今年十八岁了;含义为：他不止一个哥哥;句中的限制性定语从句起到限定的作用;
第二句应译为：他的哥哥今年十八岁了,他在当兵;含义为：他只有一个哥哥;句中的非限制性定语从句起到补充说明的作用;
定语从句在英语中大量出现, 它有长有短, 结构有简有繁, 对先行词的限制有强有弱, 定语从句有时起着补充说明和分层叙述的作用, 或在逻辑上表示原因、目的、条件, 让步和结果等意义;在语序上, 英文定语从句置于先行词之后.; 所以汉译时必须正确体会原文
的逻辑概念, 合理安排译文的语序;
二英译汉时定语从句的翻译方法
英语定语从句虽然种类繁多, 变化复杂, 但一般均可以用以下三种方法翻译;
1 定语从句定语化
限制性定语从句往往要译成前置定语结构, 翻译成带“的”的定语词组, 这是因为它与所修饰的词关系甚密, 若分开译会影响主句意思的完整;也有一些非限制性定语从句, 或因结构短小, 或因与被修饰词关系较密切, 或因拆译后会造成译文结构松散, 在这种情况下, 可以译成前置定语结构;
限制性定语从句定语化式汉译处理
1 Lily is not a person who is ready to give in.
李利不是一个轻易放弃的人;
2 The root is that part of the vegetable which least impresses the eyes.
根是植物中最不引人注目的部分;
3 A person who is a jack of all trades has many skills.
一个全才的人是一个掌握许多技能的人;
4 Chances favor the minds that are prepared.
唯有时刻准备的人才能抓住机遇;
5 An electric field is a space where an electric force exists.
电场就是电力存在的空间;
6 Our two countries are neighboring countries whose friendship is of long understanding.
我们两国是有着悠久友谊的邻邦;
7 Have you set the day when you will move
你搬迁的日子定了吗
以上7 个例句中定语从句译成汉语时做定语化式处理, 限制性定语从句一般与汉语单句中的定语成分相对应, 译文简洁明了, 符合汉语的行文习惯;
1 A man , who bites others , gets bitten himself .
害人者, 反害已;
2 My brother-in-law’s laugh, which was very infections , broke the silence.
我姐夫那富有感染力的笑声打破了沉默;
3 A youngster, who has no playmates of his age living nearby, may benefit greatly from attending nursery school .
周围没有同龄伙伴和自己玩的儿童, 上托儿所可以得到很多的益处;
4 The American businessman, who had long been interested in Chinese products, was invited to visit a development zone in east china.
早就对中国产品感兴趣的那个美国商人, 应邀参观了华东地区的一个开发区;
5 The factory has produced three kinds of chemicals, the quality of which is good.这家工厂已生产出了三种质量合格的化学产品;
非限制性定语从句定语化式翻译远不如限制性定语从句普遍;非限制性定语从句在译成汉语时, 更多的是译成并列分句:
1Mary was made director of the dig, which made us excited.
玛丽被选为这次挖掘的负责人,这使我们大家很激动;
2 I told the interesting story to Bonita, who told it to her husband.
我把这个有趣的故事告诉了伯妮培, 伯妮培又告诉了她丈夫;
3 Mechanical energy is changed into electric energy, which in turn is changed into mechanical energy. 机械能转变成为电能, 而电能又反过来转变成机械能;
2 定语从句谓语化
这种译法也非常普遍, 是把原句中先行词译成主语, 定语从句译成谓语结构, 英语中的There be结构就可以采用这种译法来处理译文;如:
1 There is a man downstairs who wants to see you.
楼下有人要见你;
2 There are many people who want to see the film.
许多人要看这部电影;
3 There are some metals that are lighter than water.
有些金属比水轻;
4 There have been many great men who have emerged from slums.
有很多伟人出身于贫民窟;
5 There are some countries in the world where there is little rain at any time.世界上有些国家终年少雨;
除此之外, 还有一些限制性定语从句的英语复合句, 如果英语中的主句能够在缩成汉语词组并用作译文的主语, 那么定语从句就可以译成谓语结构, 从而构成一个独立句;
1 We have a social and political system which differs in many respects from your own.
我们的社会政治制度在许多方面与你们的不一样;
2 We are a nation that must beg to stay alive.
我们国家不讨饭就活不下去;
3 I saw a cow that was grazing under a tree.
我看见一头牛在树下吃草;
4 My plan, which I have used many times, is very simple.
我的方案, 已经用过很多次, 很简单;
5 An object in water experiences a buoyant force which is equal to the weight of the displayed water.
物体在水中所受的浮力, 等于它排开的水的重量;
定语从句谓语化式翻译, 译文生动形象, 不受语法限制, 行文流畅, 这是定语从句汉译的巧妙处理;
3 定语从句状语化合译法/融合法
英语中有些定语从句在意义上与主句有着逻辑状语关系, 起着主句的原因、结果、目的、让步、条件等状语的作用, 汉译时应从原文的字里行间审定这些逻辑关系, 将这些定语从句转译成相应的状语从句;
1 The computer, which seems to play the role of a human brain, is often called an
electric brain.
由于计算机起着类似人脑的作用, 所以常常被称作电脑;原因状语从句
2 She took Chinese medicine which relieved her symptom.
她服了中药, 结果缓解了症状;结果状语从句
3 Glass, which breaks at a blow, is capable of withstanding great pressure.
尽管玻璃一打就碎, 仍然能承受很大压力; 让步状语从句
4 A gas occupies all of any container in which it is placed.
气体不论装在什么容器里, 都会把容器装满;条件状语从句
5 An electrical current begins to flow through coil, which is connected across a charged condenser.
当线圈同充电的电容器相连接时, 电流就开始流经线圈;译成时间状语从句 ;
以上5 个例句中, 翻译时增译了“由于”, “结果”,“尽管”,“不论”,“当”等词, 译成汉语中相应的偏正复句, 了解并熟识这种定语从句的含义和译法, 对提高阅读理解和翻译能力是很有益处的;
综上所述, 定语从句汉译处理可运用如上所述的方法和技巧, 定语从句定语化汉译, 这是典型的归化式翻译技巧, 是东西方文化默契的融合;定语从句谓语化巧译, 增强了语言动感;定语从句状语化翻译, 加深了读者对原文的理解;当然, 翻译需要大量的实践, 实
践中把握翻译的分寸, 掌握翻译的原则, 运用翻译的技巧, 从而使译文更加生动,让译文充满活力;
三汉译英时定语从句的易错点
进行有关定语从句的汉译英时,我们也要掌握一些基本的技巧,避免汉语的负迁移：
1要避免受汉语语序的负迁移的影响,如,
坐在我旁边的女孩是我的女儿;
刚学习定语从句的学生往往把它翻译成 sit next to me the girl is my daughter.
通过对比,我们可以发现,英汉两种语言的顺序截然不同：汉语中的定语总是在被修饰语的前面,而英语的定语若是从句或短语,总是放在被修饰语的后面;上述翻译应改为
The girl who sits next to me is my daughter.
2 要避免受汉语用法的影响而误用引导词,如,
This is all what I did in Africa. 这就是我在非洲所做的一切;
上述英语句子应改为 This is all that I did in Africa.
What 往往可以翻译为“所---”,但却不可引导定语从句;
3 在“有---人做某事”的句式中,容易漏掉引导词,如,
There are thousands of visitors visit the Great Wall every year.
每年都有成千上万的游客游览长城;
上述句子应改为 There are thousands of visitors who visit the Great Wall every year. 或Thousands of visitors visit the Great Wall every year.
4 没有主句的句子里不可出现定语从句,如,
Tom, a clever boy, who is twelve years old.汤姆是个聪明的孩子,今年12岁了;
应改为 Tom, a clever boy, is twelve years old.
在把带有定语从句的英语句子翻译成汉语时,要充分考虑汉语的表达习惯,有时要进行谓语化或定语化翻译,有时要进行状语化翻译,把较长的英语句子翻译成几个汉语句子,并能体现他们之间因果、让步、并列等的关系；而在进行汉译英时则要充分考虑英语的语法,避免汉语的负迁移;。