1、长句的语序与翻译,请看New Concept English 中的一个句子：,Such is human nature in the West that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white collar workers.译文1 许多人常常宁愿牺牲高薪以换取成为白领工人的社会地位，这在西方倒是人之常情。译文2 这在西方倒是人之常情，许多人常常宁愿牺牲比较高的工资以换取成为白领工人的社会地位。,这是一个比较长的同位语从句。按照汉语的习惯，通
2、常原因在前，结果在后；条件在前，事实在后。我们按照汉语习惯把这句话的主句Such is human nature in the West倒置到句末，不仅更符合汉语习惯，而且语言也更流畅。在这里，我们要讨论的长句语序主要指时间顺序和逻辑关系叙述的顺序，比如主从复合句中主句和从句的时间顺序和逻辑顺序。,一、 顺译法, If we wish to be free- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been to so long contending; if we mean
3、not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained- we must fight!,上述例子是一个包含三个条件从句的复合句，主句在句末，形成英语中的掉尾句（periodic sentence）。此句的主句和从句的排列顺序为条件在前，结果在后，同汉语的习惯表达顺序完全
4、一致，因此其对应的汉语译句保持了原句的顺序。,二、逆译法,由于文化和思维方式的不同，英汉两种语言在表述的顺序上有所不同。具体来说，英语国家直接的思维方式决定了英语句子的意义重心在前，修饰成分在后；而汉语正好相反，修饰成分在前，意义重心在后。所以，我们在英译汉的时候，常常有必要把英语句子的语序颠倒过来，以符合汉语句子的语序特征。, Time goes fast for one who has a sense of beauty, when there are pretty children in a pool and a young Diana on the edge, to receive w
5、ith wonder anything you can catch!译文：当你跟可爱的孩子们站在池子里，又有个年轻的狄安娜在池边好奇地接受你捉上来的任何东西的时候，如果你懂得什么是美的话，时间是过得很快的！,这个句子是由一个主句、两个定语从句和一个状语从句组成。“Time goes fast for one ”是主句，也是全句的中心内容。全句共有四层意思：时间是过得很快的；如果你懂得什么是美的话；当你跟可爱的孩子们站在池子里，又有个年轻的狄安娜在池边好奇地接受东西；你所捉上来的东西。按照汉语先发生的事先叙述以及条件在先结果在后的习惯，这句句子可逆着原文顺序译出。, 时间顺序的调整 英语复合句中
6、，表示时间的从句可以放在主句之前，也可以放在主句之后，汉语中则通常先叙述先发生的事，后叙述后发生的事。 I went out for a walk after I had my dinner（从句在主句之后） 我吃了晚饭后出去散步。（从句在主句之前）,英语复合句中有时包含两个以上的时间从句，各个时间从句的次序比较灵活，汉语则一般按事情发生的先后安排其位置。 He had flown yesterday from Beijing where he spent his vocation after finishing the meeting he had taken part in Tianjin
7、 他本来在天津开会，会议一结束，他就去北京度假了，昨天才坐飞机回来。,2. 英汉语复合句中的逻辑顺序的调整表示因果关系的英语复合句中，因果顺序灵活，在汉语中多数情况是原因在前，结果在后。 He had to stay in bed because he was ill. （后置）因为他病了，他只好呆在床上。（前置）表示条件（假设）与结果关系的英语复合句中，条件（假设）与结果的顺序也不固定，在汉语中则是条件在前，结果在后。 I still hope you will come back if arrangements could be made（后置） 如果安排得好，我还是希望你来。（前置）,表
8、示目的与行动关系的英语复合句中，目的与行动的顺序比较固定，多数是行动在前，目的在后，汉语也如此，但有时为了强调，也可把目的放在行动之前。 Better take your umbrella in case it rains（后置） 最好带上伞以防下雨。（前置）,问题： questions，problem, issue, trouble, crucial point, point (to be illustrated ),A recent phenomenon in the choice of careers on the part of college graduates is the inc
9、reasing trend towards big companies. Few are interested in the research fields. This is an unavoidable problem in a materialistic society, where tempting salaries and fringe benefits are offered by big companies to compete with each other to recruit students before they have completed their studies.
10、 On the other hand, as many big enterprises and even government departments tend to concentrate on immediate economic results and show comparatively little interest in long range research, there is a steady shift of scientists and researchers from the pure research to the applied field, where there are more jobs available with better salaries. All this has not only seriously influenced young peoples view on the choice of careers, but on education as well. Many college teachers deplore that fewer and fewer students these days acquire knowledge only for its own sake.,
