67.怎样用综合法来翻译长句?
有些英语长句顺译或逆译都不合适，分译也有困难，单纯的使用一种译法不能译出地道的汉语时，就应该仔细推敲，或按时间先后，或按逻辑先后，或按逻辑顺序，有顺有逆地进行综合处理。例如：
经典例题477 The phenomenon describes the way in which light physically scatters when it passes through particles in the earth‘s atmosphere that are1/10in diameter of the color of the light.
分析：该句可以分解为四个部分：The phenomenon describes the way/in which light physically scatters/when it passes through particles in the earth‘s atmosphere/that are1/10in diameter of the color of the light.其中，第一、二和三四部分之间是修饰与被修饰的关系。总体考虑之后，我们可以使用综合法来处理这个句子，即合译第一、二和第三部分，第四部分用分译法，这样译出来的句子就非常符合汉语的表达习惯。
参考译文这种现象说明了光线通过地球大气微粒时的物理散射方式。大气微粒的直径为有色光直径的十分之一。
经典例题478 When Hetty read Arthur‘s letter she gave way to despair.Then，by one of those conclusive，motionless actions by which the wretched leap from temporary sorrow to life_long misery，she determined to marry Adam.
分析：该句可以分解为五个部分：When Hetty read Arthur‘s letter/she gave way to despair/by one of those conclusive，motionless actions/by which the wretched leap from temporary sorrow to life_long misery/she determined to marry Adam.首先，第四部分是修饰第三部分的，对第四部分采用分译法，然后再适当地根据汉语的表达习惯调整语序，增减词语，对句子进行综合处理。
参考译文海蒂读过阿瑟的信后陷入绝望之中。后来，她采取了一个不幸者常常采用的那种快刀斩乱麻的行动：嫁给了亚当，从而陷入了终身的痛苦，为的不过是跳出那一时的悲伤。
语序调整是保证句子通顺的关键所在。由于长句的翻译大多需要将原句拆分成多个较短的句子，并且要通过多个短句表达出原来长句的修饰关系和意思，汉语句子的逻辑关系在很大程度上依靠各语法单位在句中的顺序得以表现。所以语序的调整是长句翻译中极其重要的一个环节，直接关系到意思是否完整，句子是否通顺。语序调整是各类词语翻译方法和各种特殊句型翻译的综合运用。
历年真题分析
经典例题479 This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high_energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.(1991年)
结构分析：句子的框架是This will be particularly true since…。since引导原因状语从句。此从句中又套嵌一个由关系代词that引导的定语从句，修饰the high_energy American fashion.this指代前句中提到的这种困境。energy pinch译为能源的匮乏;in…fashion译为用…方法、方式。
参考译文这种困境将是确定无疑的，因为能源的匮乏将使农业很难以高能量消耗这种美国耕种方式继续下去，而这种耕种方式使投入少数农民就可获得高产成为可能。
经典例题480 Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter，we must be sure that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides avalidorfaircomparison.(1992年)
结构分析：句子的框架是since…，we must be sure that…。since引导原因状语从句。主句中又有that引导的原因状语从句。此宾语从句中又套嵌一个由介词with+which引导的定语从句修饰先行词the scale.scale在此处意为尺度、衡量标准。
参考译文既然对智力的评估是比较而言的，那么我们必须确保，在对我们的对象进行比较时，我们所用的尺度能提供有效的或公平的比较。
经典例题481 In general，the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can be well defined.(1995年)
结构分析：句子的框架是the tests work most effectively when…and least effectively when…。and连接两个并列分句，每个并列分句中皆有一个when引导的时间状语从句分别说明work most effectively和and(work)least effectively.第二个时间状语从句中还有一个主语从句what…predicted.the tests是主句的主语，work为动词做谓语，不能译作这些测试工作，应译成起作用或奏效。most effectively不译成(测试)效率最高，least effectively不应译作无效，失去效果，应译为效果最差;qualities在此处是可数名词，不译为质量，而译为特征。defined不能直译为被定义为，而应译为主动态界定。
参考译文一般地说，当所需要测定的特征能很精确地界定时，测试最为有效;而当所测定或预测的东西不能明确地界定时，测试的效果则最差。
经典例题482 For example，they do not compensate for gross social inequality，and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.(1995年)
结构分析：句子的框架是they do not compensate…，and thus do not tell how…。and连接两个并列分句，第二个并列分句中由how引导的宾语从句是一个带有虚拟条件句的主从复合句，其中had he grown up…(=If he had grown up…)是省略了连词if的非真实条件句，译成汉语时，通常译在主句之前。主句主语的they，在此代指上文提到的tests，应译为测试、这些测试(验)、这些测试手段;compensate for译为补偿，弥补;gross在此句中不能译为总的或整个的，而应译为明显的，显著的;able应译为有能力的或能干的，在句中作might have been的表语。underprivileged在此不能译为没有特权的，而译为没有地位的或物质条件差的。
参考译文例如，测试并不能弥补明显的社会不公;因此，它们不能说明一个物质条件差的年轻人，如果在较好的环境中成长的话，会有多大才干。
经典例题483 It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the consideration humans extend to other humans，or with no consideration at all.(1997年)
结构分析：句子的框架是It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that…。冒号后的复合句是对冒号前部分作进一步说明。复合句中that引导宾语从句，从句中有either…or…引导的两个并列的介词结构作状语，修饰动词be treated，其中第一个with介词结构中还有一个省略了关系代词that或which的定语从句humans extend to other humans，修饰the consideration.it代指上文的观点，即如果对人权没有达成一致看法，而谈论动物的权力是徒劳的，译为这种说法或这种观点。介词短语at the outset译为从一开始。动词invites应转译为使、让或促使。动宾结构extend consideration to应意为给予关怀或关心，consideration不应译为考虑。
参考译文这种说法从一开始就将讨论引向极端，它使人们认为应该这样对待动物：要么像对人类自身一样关怀体谅，要么完全冷漠无情。
经典例题484 But even more important，it was the farthest that scientists had been able to look into the past，for what they were seeing were the patterns and structures that existed15billion years ago.(1998年)
结构分析：句子的框架是it was the farthest that…。但It was…that…在本句中不是强调句型，因此将句子译为更重要的是，正是这种最远的距离使得科学家们能够研究过去，因为…是错误的。it为一个有具体指代意义的实义词，it应是指上句中所提到的150亿年前形成的巨大云团(a strip of enormous cosmic clouds some15billion light_years from earth);that引导的应是一个定语从句，修饰先行词the farthest.for引导的是原因状语从句，从句中还有that引导的定语从句，修饰the patterns and structure.
参考译文但更重要的是，这是科学家们所能观测到的最遥远的过去的景象，因为他们看到的是150亿年前宇宙云的形状和结构。
熟能生巧
经典例题485 Thus it happened that when the new factories that were springing up required labor，tens of thousands of homeless and hungry agri cultural workers，with their wives and children，were forced into the cities in search of work，and any work，under any condition，that would keep them alive.
结构分析：句子的框架是it happened that…。it做形式主语，that引导的从句做真正的主语。主语从句中，又有一个由when引导的时间状语从句，主句为tens of thousands of homeless and hungry agricultural workers…were forced…，时间状语从句中从句主语the new factories又带有一个定语从句that were springing up;that would keep them alive做work的定语从句。spring up意为发生，出现，建立。
参考译文于是就出现了这样的情况：正当新办的工厂纷纷建立，需要劳动力的时候，成上万无家可归、饥肠辘辘的从事农业的劳动者携家带口，被迫溜入城市;他们要找活干，不管什么活儿，不讲什么条件，只要不使他们饿死就行。
经典例题486 As a result of two or three centuries of scientific investigation we have come to believe that Nature is understandable in the sense that when we ask her questions by way of appropriate observations and experiments，she will answer truly and reward us with discoveries that endure.
结构分析：句子的框架是…we have come to believe that…。that引导的从句做believe的宾语从句;此从句中有一个that从句作the sense的同位语从句;同位语从句中又套嵌一个由when引导的时间状语从句;此时间状语从句又套嵌一个定语从句that endure，修饰其先行词discoveries.by way of意为经由，通过…方法;reward sb.with意为以…报答，酬劳;endure此处应译为持久，持续，不要译为忍受，容忍。
参考译文由于两三个世纪以来科学研究的结果，我们逐渐相信，如果运用合适的观察和实验方法向大自然探究问题，她会真心实意地给我们答复，并且以永垂不朽的发现来报答我们。从这个意义上来说，大自然是可以认识的。
经典例题487 These new observational capabilities would result in simply a mass of details were it not for the fact that theoretical understanding has reached the stage at which it is becoming possible to indicate the kind of measurements required for reliable weather forecasting.
结构分析：句子的框架是These new observational capabilities would result in simply a mass of details…。后面紧跟省略了if引导的虚拟条件句were it not for the fact that…，即if it were not for the fact that…;that从句作the fact的同位语从句。此从句中又套嵌一个定语从句，修饰其先行词the stage;required for reliable weather forecasting为过去分词短语修饰the kind of measurements.simply译为只不过，仅仅，不应译为简单地。
参考译文理论上的认识已达到了这样的阶段———现在已能指出需要哪种测量方式才能可靠地预报天气，如果做不到这一点，那么上述这些新的观察能力只不过提供了一大堆细节而已。
经典例题488 The story of the discovery of what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes，namely that a solid body when immersed in a liquid loses a portion of its weight of the liquid it displaces，has many different versions，of which the following is one.
结构分析：句子的框架是The story…has many different versions…。what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes为名词性从句做介词of的宾语。namely that a solid body…作the principle of Archimedes的同位语;when immersed in a liquid是省略了主语的过去分词短语，句子补充完整为when the solid body is immersed in a liquid，修饰其主句a solid body loses a portion of its weight of the liquid…;it displaces是省略了关系代词that的定语从句修饰the liquid，it代指前面提到的the solid body;同时，of which the following is one又构成先行词versions的定语从句。displace意为排(水);version不译为版本，此处指根据个人观点的(对事件等的)说，看法;句尾的one代指a version.
参考译文当固体浸没到液体中时，固体会失去它所排出的液体的那部分重量，这就是现在通常所谓的阿基米德原理。有关这一发现的故事有很多说法，下面的故事就是其中之一。
经典例题489 We assumed that there were forces of attraction between molecules which varied rapidly with the distance so that the attraction between molecules that were more than a few ten_millionths of a millimeter apart was very small but became considerable when the molecules approached more closely.
结构分析：句子的框架是We assumed that there were forces of attraction…。that引导宾语从句。此宾语从句中套嵌一个由which引导的定语从句修饰先行词forces of attraction;so that the attraction between molecules…是so that结构引导的结果状语从句;在此状语从句中，除主干结构the attraction…was very small but became considerable…，又有that were more than a few ten_ millionths of a millimeter apart做定语从句修饰先行词molecules和when the molecules approached more closely做状语从句，修饰…but became considerable.considerable译为相当大(或多的)。
参考译文我们曾经假定，分子之间存在着引力，这种引力随着分子之间距离的不同而有显著的变化，因而，在间距为千万分之几毫米的分子之间的引力是很小的，但是分子靠得很近时，这种引力会变得相当大。
经典例题490This need is enshrined in the concept of sustainable development，which means that we must，for the benefit of coming generations，leave enough environmental space so that these generations will be able to address their needs and fulfill their aspirations.
结构分析：句子的框架是This need is enshrined in the concept of sustainable development…。其后紧跟着一个which引导的定语从句，修饰先行词sustainable development.此定语从句的谓语动词means又套嵌一个that引导的宾语从句，即we must…leave enough environmental space.此宾语从句中又有so that结构做此从句的目的状语。be enshrined in意为被深深地珍藏(或铭记)在…，此处转译为主动态纳入到。sustainable development译为可持续发展。
参考译文这一需要能纳入到可持续发展的概念之中。所谓可持续发展是指：为了子孙后代的利益，我们必须保留足够的生存环境空间，以满足他们的需要，施展抱负。
经典例题491 Painting lacks only the means to represent movement in time and space，which is the special property of sculpture and architecture，since a painting is designed to be seen from one point at one time，whereas sculpture and architecture are created to be seen from various points of view，thus supplying movements in space and time.
结构分析：句子的框架是Painting lacks only the means…，since…。since引导的原因状语从句修饰主句;关系代词which引导的定语从句修饰the means to represent movement in time and space;property在此处应译为性质，特性，不译为财产，资产。
参考译文绘画仅仅缺少的是表现空间与时间变化的手法，而这正是雕塑与建筑的特性。一幅画在绘制时就只要求在某一时刻，从空间的一点来欣赏，而雕塑和建筑的创造要求从各个角度来欣赏，这样就表现出了空间，时间的变化。
经典例题492 Once intimidated by arguments that their children would feel more at home in bilingual classes，and that they might lose their heritage in regular classes，these women have since given voice，loudly and persuasively，to what they know from experience that unless they are fluent in the language of their adopted country，their children will never attend college or land any but the most menial of jobs.
结构分析：句子的框架是these women have…given voice…to what they know from experience that…。that从句做what they know的同位语从句;此从句中又套嵌一个unless引导的条件状语从句;Once intimidated by arguments是过去分词做状语修饰these women，其施动者arguments又有两个that引导的同位语从句修饰限定它。intimidated by arguments意为被论点搞得惊慌害怕;feel at home不能直译为感到在家，而译为感到自在;give voice to意为表达，表露;land jobs译为找到工作。
参考译文有人说，孩子们在双语课堂里会感到更加自由自在，而在正规班级会丧失其传统文化。这几位母亲曾被这一论点搞得惶恐不安，现在发表了最响亮，最有说服力的意见。从她们自身的经验中，他们深知：如果孩子们不熟练掌握他们所移居国家的语言，除了那些最简单的体力活儿外，根本谈不到上大学，也谈不到找到理想的工作。
经典例题493 The presumption on which human cloning rests is that all these cells，though now specialized，still contain exact copies of the original set of genetic instructions needed to make an entire individual—and can do so if a way is found to switch them back on.
结构分析：句子的框架是The presumption is that all these cells…contain genetic instructions…and can do so…。其中介词on加which引导定语从句修饰主语the presumption;that从句为表语从句;此表语从句中contain和can do并列做all these cells的谓语;表语从句中又插入一个though引导的省略了主语all these cells的让步状语从句，补充完整为though these cells are now specialized;needed to make an entire individual为过去分词短语做genetic instructions的后置定语;并列谓语can do so又有if条件句修饰。rest on意为依赖，仰赖。为避免重复do so代替前文提到的make an entire individual.
参考译文人类无性生殖赖以存在的假想是：虽然所有的细胞现已全部特化，但却仍然包含有发育为完整个体所需的与母体完全一致的全部遗传指令;如果能找到一个方法使失去作用的部分恢复作用，这些细胞就能发育成为完整的个体。
经典例题494 Thus，a regularity for which there are general theoretical grounds for expecting it will be more readily called a natural law than an empirical regularity that cannot be subsumed under more general laws or theories.
结构分析：句子的框架是a regularity…will be more readily called a natural law than an empirical regularity…。介词for加关系代词which引导定语从句修饰a regularity.an empirical regularity后又有定语从句that cannot be subsumed under more general laws or theories修饰。grounds意为根据，理由;subsume意为把…归入，纳入。
参考译文因此，与一条不能被归入更普遍的法则或理论而是基于经验的规律相比，一条具有普遍的理论依据支持的规律很可能被认可为一条自然法则。
经典例题495 It is because of the close association in most people‘s minds of tools with man that special attention has always been focused upon any animal able to use an object as a tool，but it is important to realize that this ability，on it’s own，does not necessarily indicate any special intelligence in the creature concerned.
结构分析：句子的框架是It is because of…that…，but it is important to realize that…。but连接两个并列句，but前的并列分句为It is…that…强调结构，强调because of引导的状语。but后的并列分句又有that引导的宾语从句做realize的宾语。the close association in most people‘s minds of tools with man中注意in most people’s minds把the close association of tools with man(工具与人类的密切联系)分隔开来。两个并列句中分别有able to use an object as a tool和concerned分别做其前面名词animal和the creature的后置定语。man根据上下文在此处指人类，而不是男人;not necessarily译为不一定、未必;on it‘s own意为独立地，凭自己力量，在此转译为就其自身而言。
参考译文正是由于在大多数人头脑中工具与人类的密切联系，人类才特别关注可以把物体当工具使用的任何一种动物，但值得注意的是，这种能力就其自身而言并不表明这种动物有什么特别的智慧。
经典例题496 The point at which tool_using and tool_making acquire evolutionary significance is surely when an animal can adapt its ability to manipulate objects to a wide variety of purposes，and when it can use an object spontaneously to solve a brand_new problem that without the use of a tool would prove insoluble.
结构分析：句子的框架是The point…is…when…and when…。两个when引导的从句为并列的表语从句。at which tool_using and tool_making acquire evolutionary significance为定语从句修饰主语the point;第二个when引导的表语从句中也有that引导的定语从句修饰a brand_new problem.ability to manipulate objects译为操纵物体的能力;…a brand_new problem that without the use of a tool would prove insoluble中without和insoluble为双重否定可译成肯定句。
参考译文当一种动物能够使自己操纵物体的能力适用于更广泛的目标范围，并且能够自发地使用物体解决只有通过工具才能解决的崭新问题时，工具的使用和制造就肯定达到了具有进化意义的阶段。
经典例题497 It was the desire to be scholarly that brought about a wave of Latin terms which appeared in the16th century when the humanist movement brought new impetus to learning throughout Europe.
结构分析：句子的框架是It was the desire…that brought about a wave…。it is…that…是强调句型，强调主语the desire to be scholarly.关系代词which引导定语从句，修饰Latin terms;关系副词when引导定语从句，修饰century.句中scholarly作博学多才讲;humanist movement译为人文主义运动;impetus意为动力，促进。
参考译文在16世纪的时候，人文主义运动促进了欧洲各国的学术运动，人们都想显示自己的博学多才，从而出现了一股使用拉丁字词的潮流。
经典例题498 So don‘t be surprised if you never encounter some of the expressions that still appear in school textbooks;and next time you hear somebody using a strange word you haven’t heard before，you can comfort yourself that there may well be a native speaker somewhere who doesn‘t know it either.
结构分析：句子的框架是…don‘t be surprised if you…;and next time…，you can comfort yourself that…。分号连接两个并列分句。在前面句子中，if引导状语从句;关系代词that引导定语从句，修饰expressions.在后面句子中，you hear…是省略了关系副词when的定语从句，修饰next time;you haven’t heard before又是省略了关系代词which的定语从句，修饰strange word;主句是you can comfort yourself that…，这里的that引导宾语从句，而关系代词who引导定语从句，修饰native speaker.may和well连用表示有充分的理由，译为(完全)能，(很)可能。
参考译文因此，如果在某些教科书里你碰到某些词组是你从未见过的，你不必惊讶。如果下次你听到有人用一个你以前从未听到过的新词，你可以这样安慰自己说，很可能在什么地方有一个讲英语的本地人也不认识这个字呢!
发表于 2016-7-22 11:49:07