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:

（1）Mary 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