1、英语长句的翻译方法在翻译长句时, 首先，不要因为句子太长而产生畏惧心理，因为，无论是多么复杂的句子，它都是由一些基本的成分组成的。其次要弄清英语原文的句法结构, 找出整个句子的中心内容及其各层意思, 然后分析几层意思之间的相互逻辑关系, 再按照汉语的特点和表达方式, 正确地译出原文的意思, 不必拘泥于原文的形式。 一、英语长句的分析 一般来说, 造成长句的原因有三方面: (1) 修饰语过多;(2) 并列成分多; (3) 语言结构层次多。 在分析长句时可以采用下面的方法: (1) 找出全句的主语、谓语和宾语, 从整体上把握句子的结构。 (2) 找出句中所有的谓语结构、非谓语动词、介词短语和从句的
2、引导词。 (3) 分析从句和短语的功能, 例如, 是否为主语从句, 宾语从句, 表语从句等,若是状语, 它是表示时间、原因、结果、还是表示条件等等)。 (4) 分析词、短语和从句之间的相互关系, 例如, 定语从句所修饰的先行词是哪一个等。 (5) 注意插入语等其他成分。 (6) 注意分析句子中是否有固定词组或固定搭配。 下面我们结合一些实例来进行分析: 例 1. Behaviorists suggest that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or
3、 her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development. 分析: (1) 该句的主语为 behaviorists, 谓语为 suggest, 宾语为一个从句, 因此整个句子为 Behaviorist suggest that-clause 结构。 (2) 该句共有五个谓语结构, 它们的谓语动词分别为suggest, is raised, are, develop, experience 等, 这五个谓语结构之间的关系为: Behaviorist suggest that-c
4、lause 结构为主句; who is raised in an environment为定语从句, 所修饰的先行词为 child; where there are many stimuli 为定语从句, 所修饰的先行词为environment; which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses 为定语从句, 所修饰的先行词为stimuli; 在 suggest 的宾语从句中, 主语为 child, 谓语为 experience, 宾语为 greater intellectual development. 在作了如上的分析之
5、后, 我们就会对该句具有了一个较为透彻的理解, 然后根据我们上面所讲述的各种翻译方法, 就可以把该句翻译成汉语为: 行为主义者认为, 如果儿童的成长环境里有许多刺激因素, 这些因素又有利于其适当反应能力的发展, 那么, 儿童的智力就会发展到较高的水平。 例 2. For a family of four, for example, it is more convenient as well as cheaper to sit comfortably at home, with almost unlimited entertainment available, than to go out in
6、 search of amusement elsewhere. 分析: (1) 该句的骨干结构为 it is more to do sth than to do sth else. 是一个比较结构, 而且是在两个不定式之间进行比较。 (2) 该句中共有三个谓语结构, 它们之间的关系为: it is more convenient as well as cheaper to 为主体结构, 但 it 是形式主语, 真正的主语为第二个谓语结构: to sit comfortably at home, 并与第三个谓语结构 to go out in search of amusement elsewhe
7、re 作比较。 (3) 句首的 for a family of four 作状语, 表示条件。另外, 还有两个介词短语作插入语: for example, with almost unlimited entertainment available,其中第二个介词短语作伴随状语, 修饰 to sit comfortably at home. 综合上述翻译方法，这个句子我们可以翻译为： 譬如, 对于一个四口之家来说, 舒舒服服地在家中看电视, 就能看到几乎数不清的娱乐节目, 这比到外面别的地方去消遣又便宜又方便。 二、长句的翻译英语习惯于用长的句子表达比较复杂的概念, 而汉语则不同,常常使用若干短
8、句, 作层次分明的叙述。因此, 在进行英译汉时, 要特别注意英语和汉语之间的差异, 将英语的长句分解, 翻译成汉语的短句。在英语长句的翻译过程中, 我们一般采取下列的方法。 (1) 顺序法。当英语长句的内容的叙述层次与汉语基本一致时, 可以按照英语原文的顺序翻译成汉语。例如: 例 1. Even when we turn off the beside lamp and are fast asleep, electricity is working for us, driving our refrigerators, heating our water, or keeping our rooms
9、 air-conditioned. 分析: 该句子由一个主句, 三个作伴随状语的现在分词以及位于句首的时间状语从句组成, 共有五层意思: A. 既使在我们关掉了床头灯深深地进入梦乡时; B.电仍在为我们工作; C. 帮我们开动电冰箱; D. 加热水; E. 或是室内空调机继续运转。上述五层意思的逻辑关系以及表达的顺序与汉语完全一致, 因此, 我们可以通过顺序法, 把该句翻译成: 即使在我们关掉了床头灯深深地进入梦乡时, 电仍在为我们工作: 帮我们开动电冰箱, 把水加热, 或使室内空调机继续运转。 例 2. But now it is realized that supplies of some
10、 of them are limited, and it is even possible to give a reasonable estimate of their “expectation of life”, the time it will take to exhaust all known sources and reserves of these materials. 分析: 该句的骨干结构为“It is realized that”, it为形式主语, that 引导着主语从句以及并列的 it is even possible to 结构, 其中, 不定式作主语, the tim
11、e 是“expectation of life”的同位语, 进一步解释其含义, 而 time 后面的句子是它的定语从句。五个谓语结构, 表达了四个层次的意义: A. 可是现在人们意识到; B. 其中有些矿物质的蕴藏量是有限的; C. 人们甚至还可以比较合理的估计出这些矿物质“可望存在多少年”; D. 将这些已知矿源和储量将消耗殆尽的时间。根据同位语从句的翻译方法, 把第四层意义的表达作适当的调整, 整个句子就翻译为: 可是现在人们意识到, 其中有些矿物质的蕴藏量是有限的, 人们甚至还可以比较合理的估计出这些矿物质“可望存在多少年”, 也就是说, 经过若干年后, 这些矿物的全部已知矿源和储量将消
12、耗殆尽。 下面我们再列举几个实例: 例 3. Prior to the twentieth century, women in novels were stereotypes of lacking any features that made them unique individuals and were also subject to numerous restrictions imposed by the male-dominated culture. 在 20 世纪以前, 小说中的妇女像都是一个模式。她们没有任何特点, 因而无法成为具有个性的人; 他们还要屈从于由男性主宰的文化传统强加
13、给他们的种种束缚。 例 4. This method of using “controls” can be applied to a variety of situations, and can be used to find the answer to questions as widely different as “Must moisture be present if iron is to rust?” and “Which variety of beans gives the greatest yield in one season?” 这种使用参照物的方法可以应用于许多种情况, 也
14、能用来找到很不相同的各种问题的答案, 从“铁生锈, 是否必须有一定的湿度才行?”到“哪种豆类一季的产量最高?” 例 5. It begins as a childlike interest in the grand spectacle and exciting event; it grows as a mature interest in the variety and complexity of the drama, the splendid achievements and terrible failures; it ends as deep sense of the mystery of
15、 mans life of all the dead, great and obscure, who once walked the earth, and of wonderful and awful possibilities of being a human being. 我们对历史的爱好起源于我们最初仅对一些历史上的宏伟场面和激动人心的事件感到孩童般的兴趣; 其后, 这种爱好变得成熟起来, 我们开始对历史这出“戏剧”的多样性和复杂性, 对历史上的辉煌成就和悲壮失败也感兴趣; 对历史的爱好, 最终以我们对人类生命的一种深沉的神秘感而告结束。 对死去的, 无论是伟大与平凡, 所有在这个地球上
16、走过而已逝的人，都有能取得伟大奇迹或制造可怕事件的潜力。 例 6. If parents were prepared for this adolescent reaction, and realized that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgment , they would not be so hurt, and therefore would not drive the child into oppo
17、sition by resenting and resisting it. 如果做父母的对这种青少年的反应有所准备, 而且认为这是一个显示出孩子正在成长, 正在发展珍贵的观察力和独立的判断力的标志, 他们就不会感到如此伤心, 所以也就不会因对此有愤恨和反对的情绪而把孩子推到对立面去。 (2) 逆序法。英语有些长句的表达次序与汉语表达习惯不同, 甚至完全相反, 这时必须从原文后面开始翻译。例如: 例 1. Aluminum remained unknown until the nineteenth century, because nowhere in nature is it found fr
18、ee, owing to its always being combined with other elements, most commonly with oxygen, for which it has a strong affinity. 分析: 这个句子由一个主句, 两个原因状语和一个定语从句, “铝直到 19 世纪才被人发现”是主句, 也是全句的中心内容, 全句共有四个谓语结构, 共有五层意思: A. 铝直到 19 世纪才被人发现; B. 由于在自然界找不到游离状态的铝; C. 由于它总是跟其他元素结合在一起; D. 最普遍的是跟氧结合; E. 铝跟氧有很强的亲和力。按照汉语的表达习
19、惯通常因在前, 果在后, 这样, 我们可以逆着原文的顺序把该句翻译成: 铝总是跟其他元素结合在一起, 最普遍的是跟氧结合; 因为铝跟氧有很强的亲和力, 由于这个原因, 在自然界找不到游离状态的铝。所以, 铝直到 19 世纪才被人发现。 例 2. It therefore becomes more and more important that, if students are not to waste their opportunities, there will have to be much more detailed information about courses and more
20、advice. 分析: 该句由一个主句, 一个条件状语从句和一个宾语从句组成, “变得越来越重要”是主句, 也是全句的中心内容, 全句共有三个谓语结构, 包含三层含义: A. 变的越来越重要; B. 如果要使学生充分利用他们的机会; C. 得为他们提供大量更为详尽的信息, 作更多的指导。为了使译文符合汉语的表达习惯, 我们也采用逆序法, 翻译成: 因此, 如果要使学生充分利用他们(上大学)的机会, 就得为他们提供大量关于课程的更为详尽的信息, 作更多的指导。这个问题显得越来越重要了。 下面我们再举几个实例: 例 3. It is probably easier for teachers tha
21、n for students to appreciate the reasons why learning English seems to become increasingly difficult once the basic structures and patterns of the language have been understood. 一旦了解英语的基本结构和句型, 再往下学似乎就越来越难了, 这其中的原因, 也许教师比学生更容易理解。 例 4. They (the poor) are the first to experience technological progres
22、s as a curse which destroys the old muscle-power jobs that previous generations used as a means to fight their way out of poverty. 对于以往几代人来说, 旧式的体力劳动是一种用以摆脱贫困的手段, 而技术的进步则摧毁了穷人赖以为生的体力劳动, 因此首先体验到技术进步之害的是穷人。 例 5.A great number of graduate students were driven into the intellectual slum when in the Unit
23、ed States the intellectual poor became the classic poor, the poor under the rather romantic guise of the Beat Generation, a real phenomenon in the late fifties. 50 年代后期的美国出现了一个任何人都不可能视而不见的现象, 穷知识分子以“跨掉的一代”这种颇为浪漫的姿态出现而成为美国典型的穷人, 正是这个时候大批大学生被赶进了知识分子的贫民窟。 例 6. Such is a human nature in the West that a
24、great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white collar workers. 许多人宁愿牺牲比较高的工资以换取成为白领工人的社会地位, 这在西方倒是人之常情。 例 7. Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world; they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not fo
25、r the protection we get from insect-eating animals. 假如没有那些以昆虫为食的动物保护我们, 昆虫将吞噬我们所有的庄稼, 害死我们的牛羊家畜, 使我们不能生存于世。 (3)分句法。有时英语长句中主语或主句与修饰词的关系并不十分密切, 翻译时可以按照汉语多用短句的习惯, 把长句的从句或短语化成句子, 分开来叙述,为了使语意连贯, 有时需要适当增加词语。例如: 例 1. The number of the young people in the United States who cant read is incredible about one
26、in four. 上句在英语中是一个相对简单的句子, 但是如果我们按照原文的句子结构死译, 就可能被翻译成: 没有阅读能力的美国青年人的数目令人难以相信约为 1/4。 这样, 就使得译文极为不通顺, 不符合汉语的表达习惯, 因此, 我们应该把它译为: 大约有 1/4 的美国青年人没有阅读能力, 这简直令人难以置信。 例 2. Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allow one to follow the latest developments in science and politi
27、cs, and offers an endless series of programmes which are both instructive and entertaining. (85 年考题) 分析: 在此长句中, 有一个插入语“it is often said”, 三个并列的谓语结构, 还有一个定语从句, 这三个并列的谓语结构尽管在结构上同属于同一个句子,但都有独立的意义, 因此在翻译时, 可以采用分句法, 按照汉语的习惯把整个句子分解成几个独立的分句, 结果为: 人们常说, 通过电视可以了解时事, 掌握科学和政治的最新动态。从电视里还可以看到层出不穷、既有教育意义又有娱乐性的新节目
28、。 下面我们再举一个例子: 例 3. All they have to do is press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas, and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match. (85 年考题) 他们所必须做的只是按一下开关。开关一开, 就可以看到电视剧、电影、歌剧, 以及其他各种各样的文艺节目。至于政治问题的辩论、最近的激动人心的足球赛更是不在话下。 例 4. Althoug
29、h perhaps only 1 per cent of the life that has started somewhere will develop into highly complex and intelligent patterns, so vast is the number of planets that intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe. 虽然在某处已经开始的生命中可能仅有百分之一会发展成高度复杂、有智慧的型式, 但是行星的数目如此之多, 以致有智慧的生命一定是宇宙的一个天然组成部分。
30、(4) 综合法。上面我们讲述了英语长句的逆序法、顺序法和分句法, 事实上,在翻译一个英语长句时, 并不只是单纯地使用一种翻译方法, 而是要求我们把各种方法综合使用, 这在我们上面所举的例子中也有所体现。尤其是在一些情况下, 一些英语长句单纯采用上述任何一种方法都不方便, 这就需要我们的仔细分析, 或按照时间的先后, 或按照逻辑顺序, 顺逆结合, 主次分明地对全句进行综合处理,以便把英语原文翻译成通顺忠实的汉语句子。例如: 例 1. People were afraid to leave their houses, for although the police had been ordered
31、 to stand by in case of emergency, they were just as confused and helpless as anybody else. 分析: 该句共有三层含义: A: 人们不敢出门; B: 尽管警察已接到命令, 要作好准备以应付紧急情况; C: 警察也和其他人一样不知所措和无能为力。在这三层含义中, B 表示让步, C 表示原因, 而 A 则表示结果, 按照汉语习惯顺序, 我们作如下的安排: 尽管警察已接到命令, 要作好准备以应付紧急情况, 但人们不敢出门, 因为警察也和其他人一样不知所措和无能为力。 下面我们再举几个例子: 例 2. Mode
32、rn scientific and technical books, especially textbooks, requires revision at short intervals if their authors wish to keep pace with new ideas, observations and discoveries. 对于现代书籍, 特别是教科书来说, 要是作者希望自己书中的内容能与新概念、新观察到的事实和新发现同步发展的话, 那么就应该每隔较短的时间, 将书中的内容重新修改。 例 3. Taking his cue from Ibsens A Dolls Hou
33、se, in which the heroine, Nora, leaves home because she resents her husbands treating her like a child, the writer Lu Xun warned that Nora would need money to support herself; she must have economic rights to survive. 易卜生的剧作玩偶之家中的女主人公娜拉离家出走, 因为她憎恶她的丈夫像对待孩子一样来对待她。作家鲁迅从中得到启示, 从而告诫人们娜拉得需要钱来养活自己, 她要生存就必
34、须有经济上的权利。 例 4. Up to the present time, throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this new tendency placed the home in the immediate suburbs, but concentrated manufacturing activity, business relations, government, and pleasure in the centers of the cities. 到目前为止, 经历了 18 和 19 两个世纪, 这种新的倾向是把
35、住宅安排在城市的近郊, 而把生产活动、商业往来、政府部门以及娱乐场所都集中在城市的中心地区英语长句分析经典 100 句长难句结构分析最新经典一百句/ h; n, G“ o. N1. The American economic system is, organized around a basically private-enterprise, market- oriented economy in which consumers largely determine what shall be produced by spending their money in the marketplace
36、 for those goods and services that they want most. 参考译文 美国的经济是以基本的私有企业和市场导向经济为架构的，在这种经济中，消费者很大程度上通过在市场上为那些他们最想要的货品和服务付费来决定什么应该被制造出来。2. Thus, in the American economic system it is the demand of individual consumers, coupled with the desire of businessmen to maximize profits and the desire of individu
37、als to maximize their incomes, that together determine what shall be produced and how resources are used to produce it. 参考译文 因此，在美国的经济体系中，个体消费者的需求与商人试图最大化其利润的欲望和个人想最大化其收入效用的欲望相结合，一起决定了什么应该被制造，以及资源如何被用来制造它们。- T# |, q( G- s3. If, on the other hand, producing more of a commodity results in reducing its
38、 cost, this will tend to increase the supply offered by seller-producers, which in turn will lower the price and permit more consumers to buy the product. 6 m/ s# d* r1 j9 q% Y; z7 n参考译文 另一方面，如果大量制造某种商品导致其成本下降，那么这就有可能增加卖方和制造商能提供的供给，而这也就会反过来降低价格并允许更多的消费者购买产品。% V 5 B9 O% h0 6 n4. In the American econo
39、my, the concept of private property embraces not only the ownership of productive resources but also certain rights, including the right to determine the price of a product or to make a free contract with another private individual. $ Q v* /; - b x0 n $ |/ S+ | i N) O K+ 14. The individual now has m
40、ore information available than any generation, and the task of finding that one piece of information relevant to his or her specific problem is complicated, time-consuming, and sometimes even overwhelming. 参考译文 现在每个人能够得到的信息比任何时代的人都多，而找到与他她的特定问题相关的那一点信息的任务不仅复杂、耗时，有时甚至令人难以招。1 15. Expertise can be shar
41、ed world wide through teleconferencing, and problems in dispute can be settled without the participants leaving their homes and/or jobs to travel to a distant conference site. 参考译文 通过远程会议，专家知识可以在全世界范围内被分享，而争论的问题能够得到解决，同时相关人员也不必离开他们的家庭或工作跑到一个遥远的开会地点。16. The current passion for making children compete
42、 against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A-types seem in some way better than their B type fellows. * 6 y. _8 k# L( O5 b5 q, 参考译文 现在这种让孩子们和其同学或时间竞争的热情导致了一个双层结构，在这个结构里面善于竞争的 A 类好像在某个方面要比他们 B 类的同辈更胜一筹。17. While talking to you, your could-be emplo
43、yer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your “wares“ and abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner. 参考译文 在跟你谈话的时候，可能成为你的雇主的人就一直在衡量你的教育、经 验和其他资格是不是值得他雇用你，而你的“商品“和能力一定要以一 种有条不紊而且合情合理的相互关联的方式被展示出来。:
44、 Q v7 f! E% m1 v20. The change met the technical requirements of the new age by engaging a large profess signal element and prevented the decline in efficiency that so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders. 参考译文 这种变化通过引入许多的专业因素从
45、而适应了这个新时代的技术要求， 并且它(这种变化)防止了效率的降低。这种效率的降低在精力充沛的 创业者之后的第二代和第三代人(领导公司)的时候，经常会毁掉那些 家族公司的财富。21-3021. Such large, impersonal manipulation of capital and industry greatly increased the numbers and importance of shareholders as a class, an element in national life representing irresponsible wealth detached
46、 from the land and the duties of the landowners: and almost equally detached from the responsible management of business. : P$ q) m I7 V n# v3 E( h) w参考译文 这样巨大而非个人的对资金和产业的操纵极大地增加了股东的数量和他们作为一个阶级的重要性，这是国家生活中代表不负责任的财富的一个 因素，这种财富不但远离了土地和土地拥有者的责任，而且几乎同样与 公司的负责任的管理毫无关系。22. Towns like Bournemouth and Eastb
47、ourne sprang up to house large “comfortable“ classes who had retired on their incomes, and who had no relation to the rest of the community except that of drawing dividends and occasionally attending a shareholders meeting to dictate their orders to the management. * 0 |/ ?% s( e- k . A ! m% 2 O4 P8
48、 J. a2 r/ r c24. The paid manager acting for the company was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen which the employer had often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business now passing away.
49、参考译文 代表公司的花钱雇来的经理与工人及其需求的关系更加直接，但是就连 他对工人们也没有那种熟识的私人之间的了解。而在现在正在消失的古老家族公司的那种更加家长式的制度下的雇主们却常常对他们的工人有 这样的私人关系。5 j7 D0 h) J. d and above all the American genius for nonverbal, “spatial“ thinking about things technological. 参考译文 在许多形成因素当中，我将挑选出这些：这个国家优秀的小学教育：欢 迎新技术的劳动者们：奖励发明者的做法；而且最重要的是美国人在对那些技术性事物的非言语的、“空间性的“思考方面的天赋。4 s- u; L* V+ /9 J26. As Eugene Ferguson has pointed out, “A technologist thinks about objects that can not be reduced to unambiguous verbal descriptions: they are dealt with in his mind by a visual, nonverbal process.The des
