1、English Translation Joys1 / 80英语翻译方法大全I、比较结构从语法上讲，有以下几种结构可以比较：1） 如果要表达人与人、事物与事物之间是相似的，就可以用 as 或是 like。此外，so do I, neither / nor do I 等也表示相似。2） 当要表达的事物之间在某一方面一样时，可用 asas（后接形容词或副词）和 as much / manyas（后接名词或动词）结构。3） 表达事物之间差别的结构可采用 more (than) 或 less (than)，后可接形容词、副词、动词或名词。但要注意的是 morethan 还可译作“与其说，不如说”，在这
2、种结构里，more + 形容词（或副词）并不构成比较结构。另外还要注意的是，在 morethan 以后的英语虽然是肯定的，但译成中文必须是否定的。实际上，英语的比较结构比较复杂，阅读时应注意英汉两种语言在表达上的差异。1. “What we take out of the sea is no longer as important as what we do not put into it,” said a noted underwater explorer, describing how pollution of sea-life cycles ultimately threatened e
3、ven terrestrial respiration.分析：What we take out of the sea 是主语从句，它与 what we do not put into 从句相比较。这里把从海洋中获取资源和向海洋倾倒生活和工业垃圾造成严重的污染后果进行比较。否定词在 as 从句的比较结构中常见，但是在“ notas (well 等) as”结构中只否定前面的部分，后面的部分表示肯定。本句中为了强调 what we do not put into it，翻译时前置，并使用了肯定语气。译文：一位著名的海底探险家在说明海洋生物界的污染最终甚至会对陆地生物的呼吸产生威胁时指出，“现在我们
4、不往海里倾倒什么，已经比我们从海洋中捞取什么更为重要了。 ”2. Tapping the new spirit, there can be no nobler nor more ambitious task for America to undertake on this day of a new beginning than to help shape a just and peaceful world that is truly humane.分析：no nobler nor more ambitious 中的 nor 是连词，常与 neither 或 nor 连用，有时也与 no, ne
5、ver 等表示否定的词连用。主句是含有 no morethan 的普通比较句型。分词短语 tapping the new spirit 是表示目的的状语。本句选自美国前总统卡特在 1977 年的就职演说。译文：为了发扬这种新的精神，在这一新的开端开始之际，对美国来说，最崇高和最有雄心勃勃的任务是帮助建立一个真正人道、正义、和平的世界。3. A whale is no more a fish than a horse is.分析：本句虽然短，但要理解和正确翻译并不容易。首先，no more 可以换成 not any more；其次，than 后面的部分，表面上看上去是肯定的，但是实际上是否定的。
6、这个 no morethan 的真正意思是 notjust asnot（不正如不一样） ，than 的前后两部分都是否定的。注意它和 not morethan 的区别：not morethan 的意思是“不比 更” 。译文：鲸不是鱼，正如马不是鱼一样。4. A whale is no less a mammal than a horse is.分析：no lessthan 正好与 no morethan 意思相反，than 前后两部分都是肯定的，它的意思是 quite asas （是也是） 。再者，注意它和 no lessthan 的区别：no lessthan 的意思是“在方面不亚于”。译文
7、：鲸是哺乳动物，正如马是哺乳动物一样。English Translation Joys2 / 805. Interest in historical methods has arisen less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.分析：arisen 后面的基本结构是 less throughand more from，意思是“与其说 倒不如说
8、”。as an intellectual discipline 中的 as 的意思是“作为 ”，整个短语修饰 history，即把历史作为一门学问。但前面的 challenge to 则对此说法提出挑战。本句应当采用意译法为好，例如：interestarisen，如果译成“对历史方法的兴趣已经产生”，不如译为“ 人们对历史研究的方法产生了兴趣 ”。译文：人们之所以关注历史研究的方法论，其原因主要不在于外界对历史学是否是一门严格意义上的学问提出质疑，而在于历史学家内部的相互争吵。6. But we are much less conscious of the extent to which wo
9、rk provides the more intangible, but more crucial, psychological well being that can make the difference between a full and an empty life.分析：这是一个主从复合句。to which work provides the more intangible, but more crucial, psychological well-being 是 extent 的定语从句。that can make the difference between a full and
10、 an empty life 是 psychological well-being 的定语从句。intangible，crucial 和 psychological 这三个形容词很容易被误认为是平行结构，事实上，intangible，crucial 是修饰 psychological well-being 的。翻译本句不能用直译，例如extent 就不能直接译出来。故采用意译为主。译文：但我们很少认识到，工作在心理健康方面给予我们的决定生活是充实还是空虚的那种难以察觉、但至关重要的东西有多少。7. The aims of our present-day culture are avowedly
11、 ease and material well being: shorter hours; a shorter week; more return for less accomplishment; more soft-soap excuses and fewer honest, realistic demands.分析：本句虽然很长，却是简单句。句子的主干是 the aims are avowedly ease and material well being，除此之外，后面的全部与 aims 是同位语关系，进一步说明 aims 。比较结构用的是形容词的比较级 shorter hours, mo
12、re return。翻译时采用顺序法。形容词的比较级则译为汉语的偏正结构。译文：我们当代文明承认的目标就是追求舒适和物质享受：每天的工作时间越来越短；每周的工作日越来越少；以少的成就换取多的报酬；姑息宽容的理由越多，正当而又实际的要求就越少。8. Marriage has never been more popular and desirable than it is nowso appealing in fact, that even those who are in the process of divorce can scarcely wait for the law to allow
13、them to marry again.分析：本句是主从复合句，than 后面跟的是一个句子：it is (popular) now，appealing 的逻辑主语是marriage，其主干结构是 sothat; that 引导的状语从句表示结果。在该状语从句中还有 who 引导的定语从句，修饰 those，wait for 与否定词连用，表示“急于做某事”。翻译时采用顺序法。但是 who 从句需要译成定语。译文：婚姻从未像现在这样受大众欢迎，为大众所渴望。事实上，婚姻是如此地吸引人，以至那些正在办理离婚手续的人，几乎等不到法律的判决，就想再度结婚了。9. Much as she loved
14、her cat, we may imagine that she was more horror than grief-stricken at her discovery.分析：本句中的 as 放在主语前面，并与副词连用，引导让步状语从句，意思是“尽管”。在该句中还有 that 引导的宾语从句，作 imagine 的宾语。比较级结构中，总是拿两个同类的事物或概念做比较。译文：尽管她很爱那只猫，但是我们可以想象，当她发现那只猫的样子时，与其说是伤心至极，不如说是惊恐万分。10. Such estimates are little better than guesses.分析：本句的比较结构是 l
15、ittle better than，意思相当于 almost the same as，意为“几乎与一样”、“简直是”。译文：这类估算近于猜测。English Translation Joys3 / 80II、倒装和分割结构为了强调句子的某些部分，或是为了保持句子平衡，英语中常常使用倒装。大体说来，倒装可以分为主谓倒装和非主谓倒装。主谓倒装里又分为完全倒装和部分倒装。在翻译的时候，既可以按照主谓语的顺序翻译，也可以按照字面意思翻译。非主谓倒装只是将强调部分前置，以保持句子平衡或是起强调作用。翻译时可以采用顺序译法或是倒序译法。1. For example, they do not compens
16、ate for social inequality, and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.分析：本句中 had he grown up under more favorable circumstances 属于部分倒装。正常语序为：if he had grown up under more favorable circumstances。在正式文体中，可以将虚拟条件句中的 if 省
17、略，并将助动词提前。译文：例如，它们（指测试）并不弥补社会的不公，因此不能说明一个贫困青年，要是在比较有利的境况下长大，会有多大才干。2. Nonstop waves of immigrants played a role, too and so did bigger crops of babies as yesterdays “baby boom” generation reached its child-bearing years.分析：该句中 so did bigger crops of babies 属于语法倒装。用 so 来代替前述肯定句谓语部分所说情况。译文：不间断的移民浪潮也起了
18、作用而且随着昔日在“生育高峰期”出生的一代人达到生育年龄，婴儿的出生数量增加了，这同样起了作用。3. Much as I have traveled, I have never seen anyone to equal her in thoroughness, whatever the job.分析：该句的 Much as I have traveled 是一个由 as 引导的让步状语从句。相当于 though I have traveled much，但语气要比后者强。这种结构要求部分倒装。译文：我虽然见多识广，但还从未见过比她细心的人，不管什么职业。4. Only when you hav
19、e acquired a good knowledge of grammar can you write correctly.分析：相信大家对这种结构都不陌生。Only 后加副词、介词、状语从句时要用部分倒装。但是要注意的是，如果 only 修饰的不是状语，则不用倒装。译文：只有很好地掌握了语法知识，写出来的东西才会正确。5. Nowhere do 1980 census statistics dramatize more the American search for spacious living than in the Far West.分析：当句首是否定副词或含有否定词的词语时，一般要
20、部分倒装。译文：1980 年哪里的人口普查统计资料也不如远西地区的更能生动地说明美国人对宽敞的生活环境的追求。6. Hardly had he began to speak when the audience interrupted him.分析：hardlywhen 的结构表示“刚就”。含有这种结构的句子常将 hardly 置于句首，而采用部分倒装的语序。此外，hardly 分句中一般采用过去完成时，而 when（或 before）分句中使用过去时。还有，与 hardlywhen结构类似的用法还有 barely (scarcely)when译文：他刚开始讲，听众就打断了他的话。English
21、 Translation Joys4 / 807. To such length did she go in rehearsal that two actors walked out.分析：suchthat 结构可将 such 或含有 such 的词组放在句首，使全句采用部分倒装。与此用法类似的还有 sothat 结构。译文：她在排演中搞得太过分，以致两名男演员退出不干了。8. Certain it is that all essential processes of plant growth and development occur in water.分析：本句为表语前置，表示强调。正常语
22、序应为：It is certain that。译文：植物发育生长的全部基本过程当然是在水中发生的。9. We rally should not resent being called paupers. Paupers we are, and paupers we shall remain.分析：这两句话是为了使上下文紧密衔接，从而将第二个并列分句的表语前置。译文：我们确实不应因为被称作穷光蛋而愤愤不平。我们的确是穷光蛋，而且还会继续是穷光蛋。10. Then, down the crowed thoroughfare comes the University of Cambridges mos
23、t distinctive vehicle, bearing its most distinguished citizen.分析：正常语序应为：The vehicle came down the thoroughfare。为使语言生动形象，文学作品中常用这类倒装。在翻译时要尽量翻译出原句的语言效果。这里 bear=carry。译文：从拥挤的街道上驶来了一辆剑桥大学最有特色的车，车上坐着学校最著名的人物。语法关系密切的两个句子成分被其他句子成分分隔的现象称为分割结构。英语中，分割结构的类型是多种多样的。例如，英语句子的主语和谓语一般都紧密相联，它们之间很少插入介词等比较长的结构。但是，在有些情况
24、下，或是为了保持句子的平衡，避免头重脚轻；或是为了语义严密，结构紧凑，在主语和谓语之间有时也会插入其他成分。此外，还有定语（或定语从句）与其中心词被分隔；某些词语与其所要求的介词被分隔；动词与其宾语被分隔；介词与其宾语被分隔等等。总之，英语的分割应遵循尾重原则（应把长而复杂的成分放在句末，使结构匀称）和句尾信息焦点原则（把新信息，即语意重点放在句末）。同时，在阅读时要注意找出原来属于一个整体部分的意义。1. Most novelists and historians writing in the early to mid-twentieth century who considered wom
25、en in the West, when they considered women at all, fell under Turners spell.分析：本句的主干结构是：Most novelists and historiansfell under Turners spell. Turner 是美国历史学家。under a spell：被迷住，着迷。writing in the early to mid-twentieth century who considered women in the West, when they considered women at all 修饰主语，起分
26、割主谓的作用。而其中的状语从句 when they considered women at all 是定语从句 who considered women in the West 中的状语成分。译文：从本世纪初到本世纪中叶从事写作的小说家和历史学家只要描写妇女，就会描述西部妇女，而且都被特纳迷住。2. Abraham Lincoln is the most famous instance of the claim that Americans often made that in their country a man may rise from the lowest to the highes
27、t position.分析：the claim 和其同位语 that in their country a man may rise from the lowest to the highest position 被 the claim 的定语从句 that Americans often made 分割。同位语从句在翻译时可按照顺序翻译，将其翻译为分句。译文：美国人常认为，在他们国家，一个人的地位可以从社会最底层上升到社会最上层，亚伯拉罕林肯就是极好的例子。3. In the last eight years there were difficult, almost non-stop neg
28、otiations and reported threats of failure, ultimately overcome by a combination of creative compromise and stubborn determinationindeed, some call it English Translation Joys5 / 80unprecedented determinationto succeed.分析：本句的主干结构是：there were negotiations andthreats of failure。“overcome by”是过去分词短语，修饰
29、threats of failure。stubborn determination 和其定语动词不定式“to succeed”被“indeed, some call it unprecedented determination”分割。译文：在最后的八年里，进行了艰苦卓绝的、几乎是不间断的谈判，其间屡经失败之虞，但最终通过创造性的协调和要取得成功的顽强决心确实有人称之为前所未有的决心而渡过难关，取得了胜利。4. The discovery of surplus value suddenly threw light on the problem, in trying to solve which
30、all previous investigations, of both bourgeois economists and social critics, had been groping in the dark.分析：in trying to solve 插在 the problem 和定语从句 which之间，起到承上启下的作用。of both bourgeois economists and social critics 为 investigations 的后置定语，起到分割作用。译文：由于剩余价值的发现，使问题明朗化了。而先前，无论资产阶级经济学家还是社会批评家所从事的一切研究都只是在
31、黑暗中摸索。5. A better knowledge of Chinas civilization would lay open to us an empire of learning, hitherto fabulously described.分析：lay open 和 an empire of learning 被介词短语 to us 分割。本句选自英国前首相撒切尔夫人1982 年在中国欢迎宴会上的讲话。翻译时要注意转译的应用。如把“better”译为副词“更好地”。译文：更好地了解中国的文明，将为我们打开一个知识的王国，对这个王国迄今只有神话般的描述。6. It is the ins
32、istence, as a first consideration, upon the interdependence of the various elements in, and parts of, the United Statesa recognition of the old and permanently important manifestation of the American spirit of the pioneer.分析：insistence 后接 upon the interdependence of the various elements in, and part
33、s of, the United States, 中间被插入语 as a first consideration 分割，做进一步说明。该句选自美国前总统罗斯福在 1933 年的就职演说。汉语中动词用得较多，翻译时可把名词转译为动词。译文：我们首先应考虑的是，坚持美国国内各种因素之间、各个部分之间的相互依赖关系即承认体现传统的和永远重要的美国开拓精神。7. Old Henry and his wife Phoebe were as fond of each other as it is possible for two old people to be who have nothing else
34、 in this life to be fond of.分析：连词 as 引导的比较状语从句中，it 代替 for two old people to be。to be 后省略了 fond of each other。 to be 做分割成分。译文：象两位老人一生中没有其他什么东西可爱而彼此相爱一样，老亨利和他的妻子芬比也互相爱慕。8. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons: lack of physical and mental energyboth of which are ess
35、ential in turning out and throwing awayand sentiment.分析：该句包含了并列结构被分割的情况。lack of physical and mental energy 和 sentiment 是并列结构，作 two other reasons 的同位语。但是被非限定性定语从句 both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away 分割。译文：人们随着日趋年迈，积存物品还有其他两个原因：一是缺乏体力和精神，两者在清理和扔掉无用之物时不可或缺，二是感情上的原因。9. Those who
36、 believe in capital punishment may have arguments for its retention, but surely no reasonable English Translation Joys6 / 80argument can be found for retention of the sickening mumbo-jumbo that accompanies it from the moment that the judge dons the black cap with what looks like a pen-wiper balanced
37、 on the top of his wig, to the reading of the burial service over the condemned man before he is dead.分析：这是一个由 but 引导的并列句。前一分句较简单，who 引导的从句作 those 的定语，but 后的从句较复杂，从句套从句，for retentiondead 是 argument 的定语。因为它比较长，所以把谓语动词 can be found 放在它和 argument 之间，形成分割结构。该句较长，可以分为三层：第一层是 thoseretention，第二层是 butmumbo-
38、jumbo，第三层是 that accompaniesdead。基本上可采用顺序法翻译。译文：那些相信死刑的人可能有保留死刑的理由，但是肯定找不到合理的论据来保留那令人厌恶的繁文缛节。这一套繁文缛节从法官戴上顶在假发上的擦笔布似的黑帽子宣判死刑之时开始，一直伴随到为被判处死刑的人在其毙命之前诵读葬礼祷文为止。10. The second aspect is the application by all members of society, from the government official to the ordinary citizen, of the special methods
39、of thought and action that scientists use in the work.分析：这是一个很典型的分割结构。主干结构是：The second aspect is the applicationof the special methods of thought and action， application 和修饰它的介词短语被一个长长的 by 短语分割。译文：第二个方面是，社会上的一切成员，从政府部门中任工职的官员到普通公民，都应运用科学家们在研究工作中所采用的专门的思维方法和工作方法。III、定语从句与先行词分隔及其翻译通常，定语从句紧跟在先行词之后，但在具体
40、的运用中，往往也出现有定语从句与先行词被分隔的现象。本文就定语从句与先行词分隔的种种情况、分隔的原因及其汉译进行探讨。一、定语从句与先行词分隔的形式1被谓语分隔，例如：Many forms of apparatus have been devised by which a more ac- curate knowledge of blood pressure can be obtained人们已经设计出许多医疗器械，通过这些医疗器械，可以对血压有一个更为精确的了解。Hardly a man came to the exhibition but was deeply impressed by t
41、he originality of his works来参观的人几乎无一不对他的作品的创造性留下深刻印象。2被非从句定语分隔，例如：Singapore is at the start of a long road，already well trodden in the west，that leads to such solutions as shelter and rest homes新加坡眼下正踏上一条西方国家早已走了很远的漫长道路，即最终建立收容所和休养院来解决问题。Does this mean that in time fish might learn to leave alone al
42、l food on hooks that they have seen before？这难道不就意味着，鱼儿很快就可能学会避开那些它们常见的鱼钩上的食物吗？3被状语分隔，例如：Never say anything behind a persons back that you wouldnt say to his face当面不愿说的话，千万不要在背后说。I remember viewing a half dozen men in a chair factory whose job was to bend several pieces of steel and attach them so th
43、at a folding chair would result我记得曾在一家椅子厂见过六个工人，他们的工作是将几根钢管弯曲并组成一把折椅。Tem perature plays the same part in the flow of heat that pres- sure does in the flow of fluids温度在热的传导中所起的作用和压力在液体的流动中所起的作用相同。English Translation Joys7 / 804被补语分隔，例如：The cook turned pale，and asked the housem aid to shut the door，wh
44、o asked Brittles，who asked the tinker， who pretended not to hear厨子的脸色变得苍白，要女仆把门关上，女仆叫布立特尔关，布立特尔又叫补锅匠关，而补锅匠装着没听见。5被同位语分隔，例如：One was a violent thunderstorm ，the worst I had ever seen，which obscured my objective有一次是暴风骤雨，猛烈的程度实为我平生所仅见。这阵暴风雨遮住了我的目标。6被插入语分隔，例如：Is there anyone you can think of who may know
45、 which hospital he was sent to？你能不能想到有谁可能知道他被送往哪一家医院了？二、定语从句与先行词分隔的原因1为了保持句子结构平衡，避免 “头重脚轻”，将定语从句与先行词分隔，例如：MrLeon said in the future，computer would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the pocket利昂先生说，将来会生产出小得可以放在口袋里的计算机。2为了突出或强调主句中的主谓结构所表达的意义，将定语从句与先行词分隔，例如：Chinese trade delegations
46、have been sent to African countries，who will negotiate trade agreem ents with the respective govern-ments中国已派出贸易代表团前往非洲各国，以便与这些国家的政府商谈贸易协定。The day is not far off when a lot of housework can be done by machine大量家务活由机器来干的日子不远了。3先行词所带的非从句定语常需置于定语从句之前而造成先行词与定语从句分隔，例如：There was som ething original，indepe
47、ndent and heroic about the plan that pleased all of them 这个方案有创造性，而且别出心裁，又有魅力，所以深得他们的喜欢。No doubt there are questions of princi- ple involved which can not be ignored and underestimated无疑，这里涉及人们不能忽视或低估的原则问题。三、与先行词分隔的定语从句的汉译1将定语从句译为汉语“ 的”字结构，置于先行词之前，例如：Yet there exist com plex computations in science
48、and engineer-ing which people are unable to make到目前为止，在科学和工程方面还存在许多人们无能为力的复杂计算。He merely swallows this theory because there is something about it that appeals to the twentieth-century m entality他全盘接受这一理论，只是因为这一理论中有一种迎合二十世纪心理的东西。I think it is clear that each side entertainssuspicions of the other which are unjust我认为双方显然相互怀着没有正当理由的猜疑。2将定语从句单独译为一个分句，例如：There is som ebody waiting for you who I think might be one of your friends from your native town有个人在外面等你，我想这个人可能就是你家乡的一位朋友。The molecules exert forces upon each other，which depend upon the distance between them 分子相互之间存在着力的作用，该力的大小取决于
