第9章 核心句分析：克服句法障碍

第九章核心句分析：克服句法障碍的有效手段
9．1核心句种类
9．2核心句分析
9．3核心句分析在汉译英中的应用
9．3．1翻译复杂句
9．3．2翻译长句
9．3．3翻译主题句
第九章核心句分析：克服句法障碍的有效手段
9．1 核心句种类
奈达认为英语中所有的句子都可以分解为以下7种结构的核心句：
·John ran quickly．
·John hit Bill．
·John gives Bill a ball．
·John is in the house．
·John is sick．
·John is a boy．
·John is my father．
9．2 核心句分析
核心句分析的实质是找到“谁做了什么”。

进行核心句分析时，我们通常需要先找到“动作”。

在英语中，动作可能由一个动词表示，也可能由名词化动词(nominalization)表示。

找到动作后，再根据逻辑关系、百科知识或常识，找到这个动作的发出者：例1．
The current estimate is of a 50％reduction in the introduction of new chemical products in the event that compliance with the Preliminary Manufacturing Notice becomes a requirement under proposed Federal legislation．
·Who estimates? We．
·Who reduces what? [The chemical industry] reduces new products by 50％．
·Who introduces what? The chemical industry introduces new products．
·Who complies with what? The chemical industry complies with Preliminary Manufacturing Notice．
·Who requires what? The Congress requires that the chemical industry complies with．．．根据核心句分析，考虑句子之间的关系，可以把表层结构复杂的句子重组为表层结构简单的句子：
If Congress requires that the chemical industry comply with Preliminary Manufacturing Notice，we estimate the chemical industry will reduce introduction of new products by 50％．这个例子取自Joseph M．Williams所著Style：Toward a Clarity and Grace。

Williams认为原句不够清楚，建议把原句改为：
If Congress requires that the chemical industry comply with the Preliminary Manufacturing Notice，we estimate that the industry will introduce 50％fewer new products．尽管Williams没有提到核心句分析，但他修改的结果与核心句分析的结果何等相似! Williams提倡每个句子都有人物和动作(character／action)，这与核心句分析的结果一致。

经过核心句分析和句子重组，不但意思更加清楚，翻译起来也会简单得多：
如果国会要求化学工业遵守《生产预告》，估计化学工业推出的新产品会减少50％。

例2．
Our lack of knowledge about local conditions precluded determination of committee action effectiveness in fund allocation to those areas in greatest need of assistance．
按表层结构翻译为：
由于对当地情况缺乏了解，无法确定在向最需要援助地区提供资金时，委员会行动的有效性。

核心句分析：
·We did not know local conditions．
·We could not determine sth．
·(Committee) allocated fund to areas effectively．
·Some areas needed assistance most．
根据各句之间存在的关系，“翻译”为简明易懂的英语：
Because we knew nothing about local conditions，we could not determine how effectively the committee had allocated funds to areas that most needed assistance．
翻译为：
由于我们不了解当地情况，无法确定委员会是否有效地向最需援助的地区提供了资金。

例3．
The closure of the branch and the transfer of its business and non-unionized employees constituted an unfair labor practice because the purpose of obtaining an economic benefit by means of discouraging unionization motivated the closure and transfer．
核心句分析：
·(The partners) closed the branch．
·(The partners) transferred its businesses and non-unionized workers．
·(The partners)discourage unionization．
·(The partners)obtain economic benefits．
·(This)is an unfair labor practice．
句子重组：
In order to discourage unionization and thereby obtain an economic benefit，the partners closed the branch and transferred its business and non-unionized employees．This is an unfair labor practice．
翻译为：
为阻挠工人加入工会，牟取经济优势，合伙人关闭了这家分公司，并将分公司业务和没有加入工会的雇员转移出去，从而构成不当劳动行为。

9．3 核心句分析在汉译英中的应用
英语提倡简单句。

作为译者，我们虽然不能苛求作者都使用简单句、短句，但我们可以运用一些技术手段，使译文更加简明易懂。

核心句分析是我们使用的重要手段。

核心句分析的关键，是通过逻辑关系、百科知识或常识，找到各个动作的逻辑主语。

翻译时，按照逻辑关系，对原文进行重组。

通过核心句分析可以摆脱原文句法对译文的影响。

9．3．1翻译复杂句
结构复杂的句子，不容易一下子翻译出来，如果对其进行分解，可以变得较为容易。

例1．
保险人应保障被保险人由于货物遭受机器设备运输保险内所承保的风险造成工程中断或延误所引起的还本付息及固定成本的赔偿。

(合同)
这句话结构非常复杂，难以一下子翻译出来。

我们可以先对它进行核心句分析：
·(如果)货物遭受机器设备运输保险内所承保的风险。

If its goods are exposed to risks covered by machinery and equipment transportation insurance
·(如果)机器设备运输保险内所承保的风险造成工程中断或延误
If risks covered by machinery and equipment transportation insurance cause disruption or delay of the project
·(如果)工程中断或延误引起(被保险人)还本付息及固定成本(损失)
If the disruption or delay of the project cause losses related to debt service and fixed costs ·(保险人)应赔偿被保险人还本付息及固定成本损失
The insurer must compensate the insured for its losses related to debt service and fixed costs 通过分析发现原文少了“损失”，翻译时应当补上。

在此基础上进行翻译：
译文l：
The insurer must compensate the insured for its losses related to debt service and fixed costs if：a)its goods are exposed to risks covered by machinery and equipment transportation insurance；
b)the risks cause disruption or delay of the project；and c)the disruption or delay cause losses related to debt service and fixed costs．
这个句子虽然仍然是一个长句，但结构简化了许多，每一个分句都不长，而且在外观上显得清楚明了。

如果你愿意，可以把以上翻译变为结构复杂的句子，像原文一样，但这样做不一定可取：
译文2：
The insurer must compensate the insured for losses related to debt service and fixed costs that the insured incurs when Project is disrupted or delayed because its goods are exposed to risks covered by the machinery and equipment transportation insurance．
例2．
经人民法院调解结案或判决结案的案件，根据案情责任应由受援方承担的受理费和其他诉讼费用，受援人交纳确有困难的，人民法院应当酌情减、免。

我们可以翻译为“法言法语”，但句子较长，不便于理解：
Case acceptance fees and other costs of action chargeable as against an assisted person pursuant to the assignation of responsibility in a case settled through mediation or concluded through adjudication by the people’s court shall at the discretion of the court be waived in part or in whole where payment would clearly create difficulty for the assisted person．这句话的汉语并不难懂，因为汉语由很多小句组成；而英语只有一个长句，所以不易理解。

为简化句子，可以先进行深层结构分析：
·人民法院通过调解或判决结束了案件；(条件l，大前提)The people’s court closes a case through mediation or judgment．
·根据案情受援方应当承担受理费用和其他诉讼费用；(条件2)The assisted person has to pay case acceptance fees and other costs of action by the merits of the case.
·受援人交纳受理费用和其他诉讼费用确实有困难；(条件3)The assisted person has clear difficulty paying such fees and costs．
·法院应当酌情减免受理费用和其他诉讼费用。

(结果)The court must exempt or reduce such fees and costs at its discretion．
可以依据分析结果进行多种组合：
译文l：
Where t he people’s court closes a case through mediation or judgment，if the assisted person
has to pay case acceptance fees and other costs of action by the merits of the case，but has clear difficulty paying such fees and costs，the court must exempt or reduce such fees and costs at its discretion．
译文2：
In a case closed through mediation or judgment by the people’s court，if the assisted person clearly has difficulty paying case acceptance fees and other costs of action chargeable against him or her by the merits of the case，the court must at its discretion waive such fees and costs in part or in whole．
译文3：
Where the people’s court closes a case through mediation or judgment，if the assisted person，who otherwise has to pay the case acceptance fees and other costs of action by the merits of the case，has clear difficulty paying such fees and costs，the court must reduce or exempt them at its discretion．
9．3．2翻译长句
长句翻译时经常需要断句。

断句实际就是一种核心句分析和重新组合。

例1．
第二，中国现有的外交战略是建立在国际社会基本承认各国的独立自主权为基础上的，但以美国为首的西方国家在人权问题尤其是科索沃问题上采取新干涉主义的立场，这不仅是对中国主张和坚持的以不干涉内政为核心的建立国际政治新秩序构成了威胁，而且也对中国按自己主张解决国内问题的原则形成了潜在的威胁。

首先把长句拆分为短句，并按照事物发展的顺序排列：
·第二，中国现有的外交战略是建立在独立自主权基础上的China’s current strategy is based on the principle of independence of all nations．
·国际社会基本承认各国的独立自主权The principle has been generally recognized in the international community．(使用被动语态是为了与上文衔接)
·中国主张和坚持建立以不干涉内政为核心的国际政治新秩序China advocates the establishment of a new international political order based on non-intervention in the internal affairs of any country．
·中国坚持按自己的主张解决国内问题的原则China asserts that each country should handle，its own domestic affairs as it sees fit．
·但以美国为首的西方国家在人权问题尤其是科索沃问题上采取新干涉主义的立场对中国的主张／原则构成了威胁。

But these principles are being challenged by the neo-interventionist approach to human rights issues that has been adopted by Western nations following the lead of the United States，as seen in particular in the case of Kosovo．(使用被动语态是为了与上文衔接) 适当调整后变为：
The second pillar of China’s current strategy is the principle of independence of all nations，which has been generally recognized in the international community．China advocates the establishment of a new international political order based on non-intervention in the internal affairs of any country，and asserts that each country should handle its own domestic affairs as it sees fit．These principles are being challenged，however，by the neo-interventionist approach to human rights issues that has been adopted by Western nations following the lead of the United States，as seen in particular in the case of Kosovo．
例2．
1978年，卫生部针对当时全国地、市以上输血站只有30多个，不少地区没有输血机构，
自1949年前一直延续下来的卖血现象没有得到根本改造的情况，提出建立公民义务献血制度。

先进行核心句分析(略)，然后再翻译：
In l978，there were only some 30 blood donation centers at or above the prefecture level．Many places did not have such centers at all．Selling one’s blood，which had existed before l949，was still common．In response to this situation，MOH proposed to create a system of voluntary blood donation without compensation．
9．3．3翻译主题句
汉语往往先用介词短语(关于、对于、至于等)提出问题，然后再加以阐述。

英语中虽然也有类似结构，但用得不多。

翻译时，多数情况下需要把汉语的主题句变为英语普通句子。

可以通过简单的核心句分析，摆脱汉语结构的束缚。

例1．
对于已经出现临床症状的感染者，经当地卫生行政部门指定的医学专家确诊为艾滋病病人，而关押场所内又无条件隔离治疗的，可保外就医。

粗略的核心句分析：
1．感染者已出现临床症状if an infected individual demonstrates clinical symptoms
2．感染者被当地卫生行政部门医学专家确诊为艾滋病病人the infected individual is confirmed to have AIDS by medical experts designated by local health administrative departments 3．关押场所不能提供隔离治疗if no treatment in quarantine can be provided within the place of detention
4．感染者可以在交纳保证金的条件下寻求治疗the infected individual may seek treatment outside the detention center on bail
重组后可以翻译为：
译文l：
An infected individual may seek treatment outside the detention center on bail if he or she demonstrates clinical symptoms and is confirmed to have AIDS by medical experts designated by local health administrative departments，and if no treatment in quarantine can be provided within the place of detention．
译文2：
Treatment may be sought outside the detention center on bail if an individual demonstrates clinical symptoms and is confirmed to have AIDS by medical experts designated by local health administrative departments，and if no treatment in quarantine can be provided within the place of detention．(避免了he or she)
译文3：
If an individual demonstrates clinical symptoms and is confirmed to have AIDS by medical experts designated by local health administrative departments，he or she may seek treatment outside the detention center on bail if no treatment in quarantine can be provided within the place of detention．
而不用翻译为：
For an infected individual that demonstrates clinical symptoms，if he or she is confirmed to have AIDS by medical experts designated by local health administrative departments and if no treatment in quarantine can be provided within the place of detention，he or she may seek treatment outside the detention center on bail．
例2．
对于中国来说，问题更为复杂。

The problem is more complex for China．
例3．
此外，对于艾滋病病人和艾滋病病毒感染者家属的强制检查问题，也应予以关注。

In addition, we should highlight the issue of mandatory testing of family members of AIDS ／HIV victims．
例4．
1987年，认为：对于艾滋病，开放是传入的重要途径；暗娼和同性恋的存在，是传播蔓延的条件；此外，血液制品传播和医源性传播的可能也存在。

In l987，it was noted that opening-up was a major reason for AIDS entering China；hidden prostitution and homosexuality were conditions for its spread；and infection through blood products and medical treatment was a possibility．
例5．
对献血者，发给营养补助费和副食品票证，职工献血当日算公休，照发工资；农村社员照记工分。

Blood donors were given nutrition allowances and coupons to obtain meat，poultry and eggs．They did not have to work on donation day：workers were paid as usual and farmers got credits for a day’s work．
例6．
至于世界经济暂时的不景气，中国民航业有着充足的信心去克服。

Our civil aviation is fully confident that we will be able to overcome the present slowdown in the world economy．
不过，少数情况下汉语的主题句仍须译为英语主题句。

例如：
此后，一些有影响的学者和学术机构的量化研究反映：被调查人自认有婚外(含婚前)性交行为的，在上海刘达临教授l988年全国非随机抽样调查中占6％左右(20 000多个样本)；在中国社会科学院李银河教授l991年北京夫妻抽样调查中占3．7％(500个样本)；在中国人民大学潘绥铭教授l991年滚雪球式调查中占11％(1 279个样本)；在……
Later，quantitative studies by some influential scholars and academic institutions showed：on whether or not the respondents had experienced extra-marital (including pre-marital)sex，about 6％(from over 20，000 surveyed) said yes in the l988 national non-random sampling survey conducted by Professor Liu Dalin of Shanghai；3．7％(of 500 couples)said yes in the l991 sample survey of Beijing’s married couples conducted by Professor Li Yinhe of China Academy of Social Sciences(CASS)；11％(of l，279 surveyed)said yes in the l991 snowballing survey conducted by Professor Pan Suiming of Renmin University of China．．．。