第五讲 名词性从句的翻译

第五讲名词性从句的翻译

英语名词性从句包括主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句等，分别在复合句中充当主语、宾语、表语、和同位语。

（1）主语从句的译法

I．“that + 从句的主语+ 从句的谓语 + 主句的谓语”、

“It is + 形容词+ 从句”句型

1. That the living conditions are improving is evident./ It is evident that

the living conditions are improving.

生活条件在改善，这是很明显的。/ 很明显，生活条件在改善。

2. It is important that the hotel receptionist make sure that guests are

registered correctly.

前台服务员应该确保每一位客人都登记无误，这点很重要。/重要的是，前台服务员应该确保每一位客人都登记无误。

3. It’s probable that we will be a little late.

我们很可能要迟到一会儿。

4. It was really astonishing that she refused to talk to her parents.

令人吃惊的是，她竟然拒绝和父母谈话。

(常用于“ It is + 形容词+ that 从句”结构的形容词有“clear, important, possible, strange, necessary, essential”等。翻译时，先将that 后的主语从句翻译出来，然后加上“（这是）很+ 形容词”的结构。但有时将形容词转换成副词短语，会使译文更符合汉语的表达习惯。

II．” It is + 名词+ that从句”句型: 翻译这类结构时，通常也会涉及“词类转换”和“语序调整”等翻译技巧。常用于此结构的名词词组有“a fact, a pleasure, a pity, a pleasant thing, one’s duty, an hour, a shame, no easy job, good news, a waste of time”等

例：

1．That the climate around the world is changing is an accepted fact./ It is an accepted fact that the climate around the world is changing.

世界各地的气候都在变化，这是人所共知的事实。

2．It is a pity that you missed such a fine talk.

真遗憾，这么好的报告你没有听到。

3．It is sheer waste of time that we read such kind of trash.

阅读这样的垃圾图书简直就是浪费时间。

III. “ It + 被动语态+ that从句“句型：这种句型常译成汉语的主动句，并增加泛指性的主语“大家、我们、人们”等。通常这种结构的译法是保留原文句子结构的前后顺序，先译主句。再译从句，即将主语从句译成句子的宾语。

例:

1. It is generally regarded that stress should be put on the prevention of

disease.

人们普遍认为，疾病应当以预防为主。

2. It was well known that Napoleon always asked the same questions,

and usually in the same order. 大家都知道，拿破仑总是问那同样

的三个问题，而且通常是按照同样的顺序来问的。

IV.. “ It + 谓语+ that从句”句型：通常按原文句子结构的顺序翻译，形式主语It不译出来。

例：

1．It seems that she is going to buy a car on installment.

她好像要用分期付款的方式购买汽车。

2．It goes without saying that plants cannot grow without sunlight.

不言而喻，没有阳光，植物就不能生长。

V. 有其他连词引导的主语从句：翻译时，主语从句在译文中通常还是作主语。

（who, whom, whose, whoever, what, whatever, whether, which, whichever, where, wherever, etc.）

例：

1．Whoever breaks the rule should be punished.

（无论谁违反了这条规定都要受到处罚）

2．What he said made me very happy.

（他所说的话令我十分开心）

3．Whether he attends the meeting or not doesn’t make much difference.

（他参不参加会议都没有多大关系）

（2）宾语从句/表语从句的译法：通常按照英语句子的语序翻译即可，但有时也需要对原文语序进行调整。

例（宾语从句）：

1．They proposed that we take certain precautions.（他们建议我们采取一定的预防措施）

2．Let’s see how we can raise our efficiency.

（咱们看看怎样才能提高效率）

3．I know nothing about it except what you told me.

（除了你告诉的情况以外，我对此事一无所知）。

例（表语从句）：

1．The question is whether he has signed the contract.

（问题是他是否已经在合同上签了字）