英語定語從句狀語化研究及翻譯

摘 要: 英語中有些定語從句實際上只是形式上的定語結構, 對它的先行詞所起的限定、修飾功能很弱, 在句子中起着狀語的作用, 有表示原因、結果、條件、讓步、目的、時間等狀語的性質。本文主要以英美新聞報紙爲語料, 談一談這種帶有狀語性質的定語從句——狀語化定語從句的理解和翻譯。
關鍵詞:定語從句 關係 狀語從句 翻譯
英語中有些定語從句對它的先行詞所起的限定、修飾功能很弱, 只是形式上的定語結構,實際上在意義上與主句有狀語關係,說明原因、結果、條件、讓步、轉折、目的、時間、空間等關係。翻譯時首先判斷主、從句之間的關係, 然後再將定於從句轉換成適當的狀語從句形式加以翻譯。本文主要以英美新聞報紙爲語料,談談這種帶有狀語性質的定語從句——狀語化定語從句的理解和翻譯。
1 譯成原因狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有說明主句原因的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示原因關係的詞語, 如“因爲”等詞, 並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
The strike would prevent the docking of ocean steamships,which require assistance of tugboats.
[試譯] 罷工將使遠洋貨輪無法靠岸,因爲它們需要拖船的幫助。
The Carter Administration has tentatively decided against the sale to Taiwan of long-range F-4 Phantom fighters that could be used to attack China,Administration officials said today.
[試譯] 一些政府官員今天說,卡特政府已初步決定不向臺灣出售F-4 幻影遠程戰鬥機,因爲臺灣當局極可能使用這種戰鬥機來攻打中國大陸。
“We are not too worried about Congress,where we have many good friends,and we are convinced that Sadat will fall on his face if he tries to weaken our ties with American Jewry.” Said a policymaker in Jerusalem.“But we are apprehensive about what will come out of Sadat’s meetings with Carter,who likes to please his guests by saying something they want to hear.”
[試譯]“我們對美國國會並不太擔心,因爲我們在裏面有許多好朋友。我們深信, 如果薩達特企圖削弱我們與美國猶太人的聯繫,他肯定會碰一鼻子灰。”耶路撒冷某一決策者說:“我們所擔心的是,一旦薩達特同卡特爾總統會晤成功,會產生什麼樣的後果,因爲薩達特總喜歡說些奉承客人的話。”
2 譯成結果狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有說明主句結果的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示結果關係的詞語,如“因此”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Copper,which is used so widely for carrying electricity,offers very little resistance.
[試譯] 銅的阻力很小,因此被十分廣泛地用於輸電。
Scientists say this could lead to design changes in airplanes that would save hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel costs.
[試譯] 科學家們說,這項成就將引起飛機設計上的變化,從而可以在飛機燃料費用方面節約數億美元。
The first computers used the same types of component which made equipment very large and bulky.
[試譯] 首批計算機採用同類元件,致使設備既龐大又笨重。
3 譯成條件狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句條件的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示條件關係的詞語, 如“如果”等詞, 並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Anybody who commits the land power of the United States on the continent of Asia ought to have his head examined.
[試譯] 如果誰要把美國的地面部隊派遣到亞洲大陸,那他就應該檢查一下他的腦子是否正常。
They amounted to near twenty thousand pounds,which to pay would have ruined me.
[試譯]金錢總額將近兩萬英鎊,如果要我個人賠,非要了我的命不可。
It may seem somewhat odd to get water from fire,but we shall find that water is a common by-product of any fire in which hydrogen takes part.
[試譯] 火中取水,似乎有點離奇？但我們不難發現:水乃是火燃燒後所產生的一種常見的副產品;只要燃燒過程中有氫氣的存在,便會產生水。
4 譯成讓步狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句讓步的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示讓步關係的詞語,如“雖然”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Although we have suffered heavy losses by assisting the French and during the Dunkirk evacuation,we have managed to husband our air fighter strength in spite of poignant appeals from France to throw it improvidently into the great land battle,which it could not have turned decisively.
[試譯] 在援助法國和敦克爾克大撤退中,我們損失慘重,但還是設法保存空戰實力,我們沒有因爲法國的強烈呼籲而草率投入地面戰鬥。即使當時我們這樣做,也是回天乏術,敗局已定。
The statement was phrased in language unfamiliar to anyone who had listened to his speeches for years.
[試譯] 他在這一聲明中所用的措辭,對於那些即使是多年來聽過他演講的人來說,也是陌生的。

President Asssad,who earlier this year had been flirting with such hard – liners as Libyan President Muammar Kaddafi,drooped his bitter claim that Egypt's Sinai Agreement with Israel were“a sell out of the Arabs” and seemed willing to let Sadat lead the diplomatic search or a political solution to the Arab Israel conflict.
[試譯] 阿薩德總統雖然今年早些時候曾與利比亞總統卡扎菲這樣的強硬派人物打得火熱,現在卻不再強烈攻擊埃以簽訂的《西奈協議》是“出賣阿拉伯國家的協議”,並且看來還願意讓薩達特帶頭尋求解決阿以衝突問題的政治外交辦法。
5 譯成目的狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句目的的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示目的關係的詞語,如“爲了”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Chinese trade delegations have been sent to African countries,who will negotiate trade agreements with the respective governments.
[試譯] 中國貿易代表團前往非洲各國,(以便)屆時將與非洲各國政府進行貿易協定談判。
The present generation is provided with more facts than any previous generation,but we seem to be less and less capable of receiving the facts into our imaginations where they may come alive with feeling.
[譯文]我們這一代人所掌握的客觀知識比以往任何一代人所掌握的更爲豐富,但我們似乎愈來愈不善於把客觀知識和我們的主觀想象力結合起來,以使這些知識活靈活現。
Some nuclear reactors are used to produce the heat that runs machines for ships and for electric power plants.
[試譯] 有些核反應堆是用來產生熱能的,以開動輪船和發電廠的機器。
6 譯成轉折狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句轉折的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示轉折關係的詞語, 如“但是”等詞, 並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
She was very patient towards the children,which her husband seldom was.
[試譯] 她對孩子很有耐心,可她的丈夫卻常常不是如此。
When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life,most of which had never happened.
[試譯] 我每每回顧起這些憂慮時,就會想起一位老人在臨終前說過的話:他也曾經有過諸多憂慮, 可這些憂慮大多沒有發生。
The suit asks the court to block Kodak from selling its cameras,which it had planned to do starting this month in Canada and late next month in the US.
[試譯] 原告要求法庭禁止科達公司出售其生產的相機,但該公司早已計劃於本月幾下月底分別在加拿大和美國出售。
7 成遞進狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句遞進的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示遞進關係的詞語,如“而且”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
The fact that the new alliance was locally generated and sustained should be a strong inducement to the US whose interests already dictate such support.
[試譯] 新聯盟是在當地形成並且得到了當地政府的有力扶持,這一情況對於美國來說應該具有很大的誘惑力,更何況美國自身的利益也要求它對新聯盟給予支持。
8 譯成時間狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句時間的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示時間順序關係的詞語,如“起初”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Congress,which had met to continue its protests to the Crown,found itself raising an army and selecting George Washington as its commander in chief.
[試譯] 代表大會原先已經集合,決定繼續向英皇提出抗議,而現在則發展到募集軍隊,並且推選喬治.華盛頓爲總司令了。
It was a keen disappointment when I had to postpone the visit which I had intended to pay to China in January.
[試譯] 我原先打算元月份訪華,後來不得不推遲,這使我深感不快。
Samuel was just an ordinary - looking citizen like you and me,except for a curious,shoe - shaped scar on his left cheek,which he got when he fell against a wagon - tongue in his youth.
[試譯] 薩繆爾.布魯這位老兄相貌平平,猶如你我,只不過是年少時有一回摔倒,撞在大車轅杆上,從此,左頰留下了一道疤痕;那疤痕倒也別緻,形狀像只小小的鞋印,令人感到好奇。
9 譯成空間狀語從句
英語的定語從句如果在意義上具有表明主句遞進的含義,在翻譯時可以加上漢語表示空間順序關係的詞語, 如“在⋯⋯”等詞,並轉譯成漢語相應的從句。
Can you answer a question,which I want to ask,and which is puzzling me?
[試譯] 我有一個問題弄不懂,相請教你,你能回答嗎？
由此看來,翻譯時首先應擺脫英語形式的束縛,把握其各個部分含義的內在關係,對定語從句的外在形式進行重組,判斷主、從句的邏輯關係,然後再按照漢語的行文習慣,將轉換成適當的狀語從句形式翻譯。
參考文獻
[1] 賈文波.漢英時文翻譯:政治經濟漢譯英300 句析[M].上海:中國對外翻譯出版公司,1988.
[2] 陸國強.英漢和漢英語義結構對比[M].上海:復旦大學出版社,1997.
[3] 趙世開.漢英對比語法論集[M].上海:上海外語教育出版社,1999.
[4] 朱德熙.現代漢語語法研究[M].上海:商務印書館,2001.
[6] 孫海.漢譯英實用技能訓練[M].北京:外文出版社,1998.