Unit10文献阅读与翻译第10章

1、Translation Skill(10): Subordinate Clauses (a) Nominal Clauses What nEnglish subordinate clauses are classified into six groups, namely, subject clauses(主语 从句), object clauses(宾语从句), predicative clauses(表语从句), appositive clauses(同位语 从句), attributive clauses(定语从句), and adverbial clauses(状语从句). nSince

2、 the first four of them function as nouns in a complex sentence, they are generally called nominal clauses. Subject Clauses(主语从句主语从句) 1)Subject Clauses Introduced by Such Pronouns as What, Whatever, Whoever, How, etc. When such clauses are translated, they may generally retain their original positio

3、n. Subject Clauses(主语从句主语从句) (1)What he told me was only half-truth. 他告诉我他告诉我的只是半真半假的东西而已。 (2)What ever he saw and heard on his trip gave him a very deep impression. 他此行所见所闻他此行所见所闻都给他留下了深刻的印象。 For example： Subject Clauses(主语从句主语从句) 2)”It” Functioning as a Formal Subject . In this case, the subject c

4、lause may either precede or follow the principal clause in the Chinese version. Subject Clauses(主语从句主语从句) (1)It seemed inconceivable that the pilot could have survived the crash. 驾驶员在飞机坠毁之后竟然还能活着，驾驶员在飞机坠毁之后竟然还能活着，这看来是 不可想象的事。 (2)It is clear that the difference between elements is in the structure of

5、 their atoms. 很清楚，元素之间的差别就在于他们的原子结构。元素之间的差别就在于他们的原子结构。 For example： Object Clauses(宾语从句宾语从句) Generally speaking, there is no need to change the order in translating object clauses. However, in some cases, for example, when “it” functions as the formal object in a complex sentence, a change of order

6、is necessary. (1)I understand that he is well-qualified, but I feel that he needs more experience. 我知道他完全够条件他完全够条件，但我觉得他需要更多的经验。他需要更多的经验。 (2)I take it for granted that you will come and talk the matter over with him. 我想当然地认为，你会来跟他谈这件事的。我想当然地认为，你会来跟他谈这件事的。 For example： Object Clauses(宾语从句宾语从句) (3)I r

7、egard it as an honor that I am chosen to attend the meeting. 我被选参加会议我被选参加会议，感到十分荣幸。 Predicative Clauses(表语从句表语从句) English predicative clauses are generally translated in the original order. (1)This is where the shoe pinches. 这就是问题的症结所在。问题的症结所在。 (2)Things are not always as they seem to be. 事物并非总是如其表象

8、那样。如其表象那样。 For example： (3)His view of the press was that the reporters were either for him or against him. 他对新闻界的看法是，记者们不是支持他就是反对记者们不是支持他就是反对 他。他。 Predicative Clauses(表语从句表语从句) Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) An appositive clause is clause that, functioning as a noun, stands in apposition to a noun.

9、 The following methods are usually used to translate appositive clauses. 1)Treat the Appositive as an Attributive, i.e., Putting the Appositive Clause before the Noun. (1)We are not investigating the question whether he is trustworthy. 我们不是在调查他是否可以信任他是否可以信任的问题。 Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) For exa

10、mple： (2)Yet, from the beginning, the fact that I was alive was ignored. 然而，从一开始，我仍活着这个事实我仍活着这个事实却偏偏被忽视 了。 2)Use Punctuation Marks or Other Means. Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) Punctuation marks such as colon, dash, or such expressions as “这样”,”这种”,”这一”,” 即”,etc. are used for stress. The appositive

11、 clause can be placed either before or after the noun. (1)But considering realistically, we had to face the fact that our prospects were less than good. 但是现实地考虑一下，我们不得不正视这样一个事这样一个事 实：我们的前景并不美妙。实：我们的前景并不美妙。 (2)And there was the possibility that a small electrical spark might accidentally bypass the m

12、ost carefully planned circuit. For example： 而且总有这种可能性这种可能性一个小小的电火花可能会一个小小的电火花可能会 意外地绕过最为精心设计的线路。意外地绕过最为精心设计的线路。 Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) (3)The fact that the gravity of the earth pulls everything towards the center of the earth explains many things. 地球引力把一切东西都吸向地心这一事实地球引力把一切东西都吸向地心这一事实解释了许 多现象

13、。 (4)Not long ago the scientists made an exciting discovery that this “waste” material could be turned into plastics. For example： 不久以前，科学家们有了一个令人振奋的发现，即即 可以把这种可以把这种”废废”物变为塑料。物变为塑料。 Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) (5)It does not alter the fact that he is the man responsible for the delay. 延迟应由他负责，延迟应

14、由他负责，这个事实是改变不了的。 For example： Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) 3)Change the Structure of the Sentence. Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) For example： (1)An order has been given that the researchers who are now in the skylab should be sent back. 已下命令将现在在航天实验室里的研究人员送回来。将现在在航天实验室里的研究人员送回来。 (2)Even the most

15、precisely conducted experiments offer no hope that the result can be obtained without any error. 即使是最精确的实验，也没有希望获得无任何误差也没有希望获得无任何误差 的实验结果。的实验结果。 3)Change the Structure of the Sentence. Appositive Clauses(同位语从句同位语从句) For example： (3)However, the writing of chemical symbols in the form of an equation

16、does not give any assurance that the reaction shown will actually occur. 但是，将化学符号写成反应式，并不意味着所表示并不意味着所表示 的反应确实会发生。的反应确实会发生。 The concept of nominal clauses does not exist in Chinese syntax. Generally speaking, Chinese complex sentences are classified into two categories: combined sentences(联合复句)and a

17、sentence containing a modifier(偏正复句). Judging from their sentence structure, English complex sentences are always combined in long sentences by strict rules, with sentences embedded in one another; whereas Chinese sentences are short and brief. The following is a typical illustration: As was cleared

18、 up some time later when news came from a distant place that an earthquake was felt the very day the little copper ball fell. 过了一些时候，从远方传来了消息，在小铜球坠落的当 天，确实感觉到了地震。问题终于得到了澄清。 The above English complex sentence, when translated into Chinese, is divided into several segments-this obviously shows the dif

19、ference in sentence structure between these two languages. Therefore in Chinese-English translation, we may reverse this method, namely, translate clusters of short, brief Chinese sentences into long and overlapped English sentences. Special Attention: The translation of Reports The nature of report

20、s is similar to that of proposals, both in category and in structure. The following is a sample of Letter Report: The General Manager, 堪培拉，ACT2600 Acme Electronics Ltd., Acme电子有限公司 Canberra, ACT2600. 总经理 Special Attention: The translation of Reports Dear Sir, (总经理先生) RENOVATIONS, 153 HILLCREST You i

21、nstructed me on 20th June,1998 to report on the repairs and renovation needed at the Companys premises at 153 Hillcrest. (您于1998年6月20日指示，要我对Hillcrest街153号公司 房舍需修整翻新的事宜向您报告。) I accordingly visited the premises on 25th June and made the following observations: (为此，我于6月25日视察了该处房屋，现向您书面汇报 如下：) Special Attention: The translation of Reports 1.That the walls of the Branch Office Managers office need to be repainted. (分公司经理室的墙壁需要粉刷油漆。) 2.That the air-conditioning plant needs to be serviced in the near future. (空调设备需要尽快维修。) 3.That the carpet in the reception hall is very worn and need