商贸英语定语从句的翻译技巧

1、摘要:定语从句在商贸英语中屡见不鲜。商贸英语定语从句的翻译应根据上下文的语境,对原文深层含义及逻辑关系进行剖析,并能识别隐含具有状语职能的定语从句。本文主要以商贸英语为语料,谈谈定语从句的翻译技巧。关键词:商贸英语;定语从句;翻译技巧中图分类号:H315.9文献标识码:A 文章编号:1671-1084(200803-0144-04商贸英语定语从句的翻译技巧伍柳(柳州职业技术学院,广西柳州545006【收稿日期】2008-06-24【作者简介】伍柳(1959-,女,广西柳州人,柳州职业技术学院副教授,主要从事高职英语教学与研究。定语从句是商贸英语语言表达过程中最常用、重要的基本句型之,其结构严谨

2、,层次繁多,涵义复杂,可用来表现汉语“的”字偏正结构、联合复句、复指成分、独立句及偏正复句等。全面地掌握定语从句的特点可使我们更熟练地解决商贸英语翻译中的很多难题。现就五种类型分别进行阐述。一、译成“的”字偏正结构如果定语从句较短,与主句关系密切,汉译时一般采用前置法,即把定语从句译成带“的”字的偏正结构,放在被修饰词之前。例如:(1Those who have received a pre -servicetraining will qualify as corporate officers.接受过岗前培训的人均有资格担任公司的高级职员。(2The pharmaceutical compan

3、y is the mostcompetitive one we have inspected so far.我们迄今考察的公司中,最有竞争力的要数这家制药厂。(3A Sight Draft is a draft which is ex-pressed to be payable on demand,or at sight,or on presentation.即期汇票是一种表示要求即付或见票即付或提示即付的汇票。(4In case of losses caused by a breach ofcontract,the financial responsibility shall be born

4、e by the party that has breached the contract.因违反合同而造成的损失,应由违反合同的一方承担经济责任。二、译成联合复句商贸英语的定语从句可翻译成汉语的联合复句,如并列复句和解说复句。1.并列复句译成汉语时,汉语中的并列复句常常使用几个分句说出有关的几件事,或者说出同一事物的几个方面。后一分句中包括或暗含前一分句中已出现过的某一名词的并列复句。例如:(1The two giant companies,which grew upin the same area,developed in parallel and without negative imp

5、act on each other.两个公司发迹于同一地区,它们的发展并行不悖,互不影响。(2The owners elect a board of directors,whose members will select individuals to serve ascorporate managers.股东选举董事会,董事会成员选任公司的管理干部。2.解说复句翻译时,汉语中的后一句往往对前一句进行解释、说明或概括,解说复句一般靠分句的次序柳州职业技术学院学报JOURNAL OF LIUZHOU VOCATIONAL &TECHNICAL COLLEGE 第8卷第3期2008年9月Vo

6、l.8No.3Sep.2008来体现,不用关联词。有的后分句解释前分句,有的先概括后分述。例如:(1In most governmental agencies,the devo-lution of decision-making rights to the department head has been effective,which means that the company is given the autonomy to decide on the staffing within the company and also to utilize the available funds

7、under certain guidelines.大多数政府机关已有效地将权利下放给企业,也就是说,企业有了确定本企业人员编制和按原则使用现有经费的自主权。(2In1994the firm had￥190.750in operat-ing expenses,which included selling expenses,ad-ministrative expenses and depreciation expenses.该公司1994年的经营费用为190.750美元,其中包括销售费用、管理费用和折旧费。三、译成复指成分当定语从句与主句关系并不十密切,而且也没有隐含状语职能时,译成前置定语会显得

8、冗长而不符合汉语表达习惯。在这种情况下,通常采用后置法,即先译主句,然后将定语从句译成复指成分,这时往往需要重复先行词或者用代词等来指代先行词或整个主句。例如:(1The project has proceeded quite smooth-ly,which shows the correctness and objectivity of the feasibility study report.项目进行得十分顺利,这说明可行性研究报告是正确和客观的。(2In his speech he strongly advocated ad-ministrative reforms,which touc

9、hed a responsive chord in our hearts.讲话中他极力主张行政改革,这一点引起了我们的共鸣。(3Afterwards,another price increase took place in May2006,which was officially announced to you in our e-mail of15May which accompa-nied a new price list.此后,在2006年5月又有另一次提价,这次提价在我方5月15日的电子邮件中已正式向贵方宣布,在该邮件中还附有一份新的价目表。(4If any damage should

10、 happen to your goods,you may file your claim with their agent at your end,who will take up the matter without delay.如果贵方发现货物损坏,可向他们在贵处的代理人提出索赔,他将迅速处理。四、译成独立句在商贸英语翻译中,将主句的先行词和定语从句溶合在一起译成一个独立的句子,将定语从句译成谓语或并列谓语,以使译文的句子结构紧凑精练,体现出商贸语篇的简洁和具体。英语中的“there be”结构汉译时往往就是这样处理的。例如:(1Currently,there are more than

11、80%of state enterprises which are confronted with such problems as equipment obsoleteness and fund scarci-ty.目前有80%以上的国有企业存在设备陈旧和资金不足的问题。(2There are quite a few imitation and shoddy products at the market,which still cause a headache to the consuming public.市场上有不少假冒伪劣产品仍令广大消费者感到头痛。(3In case no amica

12、ble settlement can be reached between the two parties,the case in dis-pute shall be submitted to arbitration which shall be held in the country where the defendant re-sides.若双方不能达成谅解,争议可提交被告所在国进行仲裁。(该句是带有两个定语从句的主从复合句,把原句译成一个简单句,使句子结构简单紧凑。五、译成偏正复句商贸英语中常常会有这样一类定语从句,它们对先行词的限制修饰作用较弱,在意义上与主句有状语关系,说明原因、结果

13、、时间、条件、让步、目的等关系。翻译这类定语从句时,要仔细分析主从句之间的逻辑关系,要善于发现寓于语意上、逻辑上的内在联系,化隐为显,把具有各种状语职能的定语从句转译成汉语中各种相应伍柳:商贸英语定语从句的翻译技巧第8卷第3期145的偏正复句。1.译成表示“原因”的分句英语的定语从句如果在意义上具有说明主句原因的含义,在翻译时可以加上汉语表示原因关系的词语,如"因为"等词,并译成汉语表示“原因”的分句。例如:(1Tianjin,which abounds in natural re-sources and cultural heritage,is destined to p

14、lay a decisive role in Bohai R im economic development.句中which引导的非限定性定语从句不能按通常的方法去理解和翻译,因为该定语从句的真正内涵是解释天津要在环渤海经济圈中发挥决定性作用的原因。译文:因为天津拥有丰富的自然资源和文化底蕴,所以,注定要在环渤海经济圈中发挥决定性的作用。(2The strike would prevent the docking of ocean steamships,which require assistance of tug-boats.句中which引导的定语从句,相当于:be-cause they

15、require.。译文:罢工将使远洋货轮无法靠岸,因为它们需要拖船的帮助。2.译成表示“结果”的分句英语的定语从句如果在意义上具有说明主句结果的含义,在翻译时可以加上汉语表示结果关系的词语,如"因此、所以"等词,并译成汉语表示“结果”的分句。例如:(1As you know,we operate in a highly competitive market in which we have been forced to cut our prices to the minimum.从主句和定语从句的逻辑关系来看,该定语从句隐含结果的状语职能,所以,在译文中增加“因此”,将定语

16、从句译成表示结果的分句,这样不仅语言通顺明快,而且更忠实地表达了原句的深层含义。译文:如贵方所知,我方正处在一个高度竞争的市场,因此,我方不得不把价格降至最低限度。(2There was something original,indepen-dent,and heroic about the plan that pleased all of us.句中由that引导的定语从句相当于:so it pleased.。译文:这个方案富于创造性,独出心裁,很有魄力,所以我们都很喜欢。3.译成表示“时间”的分句定语从句隐含有时间状语的职能,这种隐含关系不是显而易见的,它是根据汉语行文的需要而转换,当然转

17、换不能改变原文真正的逻辑内涵。翻译时可以加上汉语表示时间先后顺序关系的词语,如“当.时、起初”等词。例如:(1Disputes arising between the parties to a joint venture which the board of directors fails to settle through consultation may be settled through conciliation or arbitration by an arbitrating body of China or through arbitration by an arbitrating

18、 body agreed upon by the parties.句中“which the board.”相当于“when the board.”。译文:合营各方发生纠纷,董事会不能协商解决时,由中国仲裁机构进行调解或仲裁,也可由合营各方协议在其他仲裁机构仲裁。(2It was a keen disappointment when I had to postpone the visit which I had intended to visit your company in January.句中由which引导的定语从句在意义上具有表明主句的时间含义。译文:我起初打算元月份拜访贵公司,后来不

19、得不推迟,这使我深感不快。4.译成表示“条件”的分句英语的条件状语从句并不都是用if或其他的表示条件的从属连词来予以明确,它可以隐含在定语从句中。例如:(1For any order,the volume of which ex-ceeds￥50,000,we will allow3%special discount.此句相当于:If the volume of order ex-ceeds.,we will allow.。译文:如果订单的金额超过5万美元,本公司可以给予3%的特扣。(2No such heavy losses would have been inflicted on the

20、company,which had watched out for the risks underlying its business operations.句中由which引导的非限定性定语从句相当于由if引导的条件句。译文:要是当初注意经营风险,公司就不会柳州职业技术学院学报1462008年9月蒙受如此大的损失。5.译成表示“让步”的分句英语的让步状语从句一般都用though ,al-though ,等来引导,但有的让步关系隐含在定语中,通过句子意义上的逻辑关系反映出来。例如:(1Our products,which sell at a higherprice,are of excelle

21、nt quality and we believe that the superiority of the products we forwarded to you will induce a larger order.这句话翻译成表示让步的分句,能使原文的意义更贴切地表达出来,也就是说把定语从句理解为:Although they sell at a higher price,ourproducts are.。译文:本公司的产品虽然售价较高,但是质量上乘,因此本公司相信,我们运交的优质产品将使贵方下更大的订单。(2Many people do business who shouldnot.句中

22、“who should not ”相应于“though they should not ”。译文:有许多人虽然不应该经商,却要经商。6、译成表示“目的”的分句英语的目的状语从句如果用表示目的的从属连词来引导,语意关系很清楚,但有些目的状语从句如果用定语从句来表达,似乎更简洁。例如:(1He is planning to organize a lecture thatwill provide us with a general understanding of theUS financial market system.可以把句中that 引导的定语从句理解为:sothat it will.,说

23、明这次讲座的目的。译文:他计划组织一次讲座,好让我们对美国的金融市场体系有个大概了解。(2Chinese delegations have been sent toEuropean countries,who will negotiate trade a-greements with the respective government.可以把句中who 引导的定语从句理解为“sothat they will.”,说明代表团的使命。译文:中国已派出几个代表团前往欧洲数国,以便与有关政府商谈贸易协定。综上所述,商贸英语定语从句的翻译方法灵活多变。翻译时,须认真阅读理解其字里行间存在的逻辑关系,联系上下文,根据语境灵活处理,只有这样,才能达到翻译标准的原则“信”、“达”、“雅”。参考文献1贾文波.汉英时文翻译M .北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,2000.2马秉义.汉英翻译基础教