翻译网站unit9

Unit 9

Nominal Clauses

Highlights of the Unit 单元要点概述 Practical Translation Training 实用翻译训练

I. Translation of English Nominal Clauses 英语名词性从句的翻译 II. Translation of Chinese Complex Sentences 汉语复句的翻译 Reflections and Practice 思考与练习 BACK

单元要点概述

实用翻译训练英译汉：The Difference between a Brain and a Computer

实用翻译训练汉译英：硅谷

I. 英语名词性从句的翻译 1. 主语从句 2. 宾语从句 3. 表语从句 4. 同位语从句

II. 汉语复句的翻译 1. 句子的合并 2. 句序

本单元分析探讨了英语名词性从句的翻译方法及汉语复合句的一般翻译方法。

英语名词性从句可分为主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句、同位语从句四大类。这些从句的翻译一般按原文的语序处理即可，相对较为容易。不过，在翻译以 \为形式主语、形式宾语的主语从句、宾语从句时，语序往往应颠倒。

本单元重点为同位语从句的翻译。英语同位语从句的翻译可按这样四种方法来处理：1. 保持原本的语序；2. 译为类似定语的结构或独成一句；3. 加入冒号、破折号或“这样”、“这一”、“即”等字眼进行翻译；4. 改变原文的同位语结构，用汉语的无主句或其他方式译出。

汉语不存在类似英语的名词性从句。汉语的复合句主要分为联合复句和偏正复句两类。我们在翻译汉语复句时，关键在于抓住句子的重心，将主要信息译为英语的主句，其余部分视情况可分别用分词、动名词、不定式、介词短语等来翻译。与英语

相比，汉语句子较为简短、零散，词序也较为固定，翻译时应注意句子的合并、语序的调整。

Practical Translation Training

1. English-Chinese Translation

The Difference between a Brain and a Computer

It is frequently said that computers solve problems only because they are \to do so. They can only do what men have them do. One must remember that human beings also can only do what they are \instant the fertilized ovum is formed, and our potentialities are limited by that \

Our \is so mach more enormously complex, though, that we might like to define \in terms of the creativity that goes into writing a great play or composing a great symphony, into conceiving a brilliant scientific theory or a profound ethical judgment. In that sense, computers certainly can't think and neither can most humans.

Surely, though, if a computer can be made complex enough, it can be as creative as we are. If it could be made as complex as a human brain, it could be the equivalent of a human brain and do whatever a human brain can do.

To suppose anything else is to suppose that there is more to the human brain that the matter that composes it. The brain is made up of cells in a certain arrangement and the cells are made up of atoms and molecules in certain arrangements. If anything else is there, no signs of it have ever been detected. To duplicate the material complexity of the brain is therefore to duplicate everything about it.

But how long will it take to build a computer complex enough to duplicate the human brain? Perhaps not as long as some think. Long before we approach a complex as complex as our brain, we will perhaps build a computer that is at least complex enough to design another computer more complex than itself. This more complex computer could design one still more complex and so on and so on.

In other words, once we pass a certain critical point, the computers take over and there is \duplicate the human brain-but far surpass it.

Notes and Explanations

1. fertilized ovum 受精卵, fertilize v. 施肥，使受精 2. in terms of 以……的措辞，用……的话

3. goes into 进入（某种状态）；此处可根据中文表达的需要，分别译作“写出”、“创作”、“提出”、“创立” 4. In... sense 从……意义上讲

5. it could be the equivalent of a human brain 它可能与人脑不相上下；注意此句中的两个could，表示虚拟语气

6. to suppose that there is more to the human brain 假设人脑还有更多的奥秘；此处more为名词

7. If anything else is there 假如真有别的什么奥秘；此处的anything可具体化处理 8. duplicate v. 复制；此句中的两处不定式to duplicate分别作主语和表语 9. approach 向……靠近，接近，此处为“接近完成”之意 10. critical point 临界点 11. take over 接收；取代

2. Chinese-English Translation

硅谷犹如一块磁铁，把许许多多天资聪颖的工程师、科学家、企业家从世界各地聚集到这里，一起追求成名致富，投身于技术革命的大潮，其影响及于人类，必将远远超过划时代的欧洲文艺复兴和产业革命。

许多国家也有或正在着手建设自己的“硅谷”，但至今无一威胁到美国硅谷的领先地位。美国硅谷与众不同，究竟秘诀何在呢？

首先，硅谷有着世界最大最密集的优秀电脑专才群体、最佳的后援服务体系，并紧密联系着斯坦福大学等世界一流的研究机构，而后者正源源不断地培育出电脑业赖以发展的明日天才。若缺少这些有利条件，硅谷的面貌便会大不一样。

Notes and Explanations

1. 硅谷Silicon Valley

2. 天资聪颖的工程师、科学家、企业家talented engineers，scientists and entrepreneurs 3. 追求成名致富in search of fame，fast money

4. 划时代的欧洲文艺复兴the epoch-making European Renaissance 5. 着手建设in the process of creating /setting up

6. 美国硅谷的领先地位the preeminence of the U. S. prototype 7. 最密集的……群体the largest concentration of 8. 后援服务体系supporting services 9. 斯坦福大学Stanford University

10. 源源不断地培育continually nurture/cultivate/foster 11. 明日天才would-be geniuses

English subordinate clauses are classified into six groups，namely，subject clauses，objective clauses，predicative clauses，appositive clauses，attributive clauses，and adverbial clauses. Since the first four of them function as nouns in a complex sentence，they are generally called nominal clauses. And here are some nominal clauses from the above Practical Translation Training:

● It is frequently said that computers solve problems only because they are \（subject clause） 人们常说，电脑之所以能解决问题，只是因为给它们输入了解决问题的“程序”。

● They can only do what men have them do.（objective clause） 它们只能做人让它们做的事。

● One must remember that human beings also can only do what they are \to do.（objective clause） 我们应该记住，人类同样也只能按“程序”办事。 ● It could be the equivalent of a human brain and do whatever a human braid can do.（objective clause）它就能与人脑旗鼓相当，完成人脑所能做的一切。

● To suppose anything else is to suppose that there is more to the human brain than the matter that composes it.（predicative clause）如果还要设想别的什么的话，那就是假设人脑除了构成它的物质之外，还有更多的奥秘。

In this section we ace going to find some specific methods of translating nominal clauses. Besides，we'll touch on the translation of Chinese complex sentences.

I. Translation of English Nominal Clauses

1. Subject Clauses

1) Subject Clauses Introduced by Pronouns

These clauses include such pronouns as what，whatever，whoever，etc. and when they are translated into Chinese, they may generally remain their original position.

● What he told me was only half-truth. 他告诉我的只是半真半假的东西而已。 ● Whatever he saw and heard on his trip gave him a very deep impression. 他此行所见所闻都给他留下了深刻的印象。

● Whoever comes to our public. reference library will be welcome. 什么人到我们公共参考图书馆来都受欢迎。

2） \

In this case，the subject clauses may either precede or follow the principal clauses.

● It doesn't make much difference whether he attends the meeting or not. 他参不参加会议都没多大关系。

● 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，这看来是不可想像的事。

● It is strange that she should have failed to see her own shortcomings. 真奇怪，她竟然没有看出自己的缺点。

● It is rumored that the meeting will be held in June. 据传闻，这次会议将在六月举行。

2. Object Clauses

Generally speaking, there is no need to change the position of the object clauses in translation. However，in some cases，when \functions as the formal object of a complex sentence，or sometimes，preceded by a preposition，a change of order is necessary：

● I understand that he is well qualified，but I feel that he needs more experience. 我知道他完全够条件，但我觉得他需要更多的经验。

● I take it for granted that you will come and talk the matter over with him. 我理所当然地认为，你会来跟他谈这件事的。

● I regard it as an honor that I am chosen to attend the meeting. 我被选参加会议，感到十分荣幸。

● We have no definite information yet as to which route he will take. 关于他将走哪条路线，我们还没有确切的消息。

3. Predicative Clauses

English predicative clauses，like object clauses，are generally translated without changing their original position.

● This is where the shoe pinches. 这就是问题的症结所在了。 ● Things are not always as they seem to be. 事物并不总是如其表象。

● 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，就是反对他。

4. Appositive Clauses

Apposition，a state of affairs in grammar in which one simple sentence contains two or more noun phrases that describe the same person or the same thing and are used in the same way，appears more frequently in English than in Chinese. The following methods are usually used to translate appositive clauses.

1) Keeping the Original Order

● He expressed the hope that he would come over to visit China again. 他表示希望能再来中国访问。

● We are not investigating the question whether he is trustworthy. 我们不是在调查他是否可以信任的问题。

● She had no idea why she thought of him suddenly. 她不明白自己为什么突然想到了他。

2) Converting into an Attributive Order or an Independent Clause

● Yet，from the beginning，the fact that I was alive was ignored. 然而，从一开始，我仍活着这个事实却偏偏被忽视了。

● They were very suspicious of the assumption that he would rather kill himself than surrender. 对于他宁愿自杀也不投降这种假设，他们是很怀疑的。

● It does not alter the fact that he is the man responsible for the delay. 迟延应由他负责，这个事实是改变不了的。

3）Using Punctuation Marks or Specific Words

Punctuation marks such as colon，dash or such expressions as“这样”，“这种”，“这一”，“即”，etc.，are usually used to introduce appositive clauses.

● 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实：我们的前景并不妙。 ● And there was the possibility that a small electrical spark might accidentally bypass the

most carefully planned circuit. 而且总有这种可能性—一个小小的电火花，可能会意外地绕过了最为精心设计的线路。

● 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解释了许多现象。 ● Not long ago the scientists made an exciting discovery that this \be turned into plastics. 不久以前，科学家们有了一个令人振奋的发现，即可以把这种废物变为塑料。

4) Changing into Sentences without the Subject

● An order has been given that the researchers who are now in the skylab should be sent back. 已下命令将目前在太空实验室里的研究人员送回来。

● Even the most 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的实验结果。

● However, the writing of chemical symbols in the form of an equation does not give any assurance that the reaction shown will actually occur. 但是，将化学符号写成反应式，并不意味着所表示的反应确实会发生。

II. Translation of Chinese Complex Sentences

The concept of nominal clauses does not exist in Chinese syntax. Generally speaking，Chinese complex sentences are classified into two categories：combined sentence（联合复句）and sentence containing a modifier(偏正复句).

1. Sentence Combination

In point of structure，English complex sentences tend to be long with clauses embedded one in another，whereas Chinese sentences are short and brief. And the following illustration is a typical example. Original English：

As was cleared up some time later，news came from a distance that an earthquake was felt the very day the little copper ball fell. Chinese Version：

过了一些时候，从远方传来了消息：在小铜球坠落的当天，确实发生了地震。这一切终于得到了澄清。

The above English complex sentence，when translated into Chinese，is divided into several segments-this shows the difference in sentence structure between these two languages. Therefore in Chinese-English translation，we may reverse the process，namely，combine clusters of short, loose Chinese sentences into long and compact English sentences.

And the following are more examples to illustrate this approach.

● 门口放着一堆雨伞，少说也有12把，五颜六色，大小不一。 In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colors.

● 我访问了一些地方，遇到了不少人，要谈起来，奇妙的事儿可多着呢。There are many wonderful stories to tell about the places I visited and the people I met.

● 我有一个问题弄不懂，想请教你，你能回答吗？ Could you answer kindly a question which is puzzling me?

● 因为距离远，又缺乏交通工具，农村社会是与外界隔绝的。这种隔绝状态，由于通讯工具不足而变得更加严重了。The isolation of the rural world because of distance and the lack of transport facilities is compounded by the paucity of the information media.

● 我们不知不觉地朝公园走去。公园就在人行桥那边，桥下很深的地方，汹涌的河水滚滚流过。Somehow our path took us toward the park, across the footbridge high above the rolling waters of the river.

● 他这时已是将近六旬的人，一表人才，高个儿，眉清目秀，头发又多又黑，带花白，恰好衬出他那堂堂的仪表。He was at this time in his late fifties, a tall, elegant man with good features and thick dark hair only sufficiently graying to add to the distinction of his appearance.

● 为了实现儿时的梦想，我毫不犹豫地选择了化学专业。四川大学录取了我，这令我心满意足。四川大学是中国的著名重点高校，有着近百年的悠久历史。In order to realize my childhood dream I chose chemistry without hesitation，and to my great satisfaction，I was admitted by Sichuan University, one of China's famous key universities with a history of nearly 100 years.

2. Sentence Sequence

Sentence sequence is another point for attention in Chinese-English translation of combined sentences. Different sentence sequences may be used to stress on different aspects. For instance： Original Chinese 1:

黑龙江省林业厅顾问赵树森在人民日报上撰文指出，中国的森林是丰富的再生能源，在农村地区应当大力开发，用作烧柴。

English Version A:

In an article carried in \People's Daily\Zhao Shusen, consultant to Heilongjiang Forestry Bureau, says that, \forests are a vast source of renewable energy and should be largely developed for firewood in the rural areas.\

English Version B:

Heilongjiang Forestry Bureau consultant Zhao Shusen says in an article carried in \People's Daily\largely developed for firewood in the rural areas.\

English Version C:

China's forests are a vast source of renewable energy and should be largely developed for firewood in the rural areas，says Zhao Shusen，Heilongiiang Forestry Bureau consultant，in an article carried in \．

Original Chinese 2：

只要已发现有可能反对他的人，他就本能地要用他的魅力和风趣将这个人争取过来。

English Version A:

When he catches a glimpse of a potential antagonist，his instinct is to win him over with charm and humor.

English version B：

As soon as he finds any possible opponent，he is，by instinct，to have an inclination for winning him over with charm and humor.

English version C：

The sight of any potential antagonist arouses his innate impulse for winning him over with charm and humor.

Reflections and Practice

I Discuss wing questions.

1. What are English subordinate clauses? And what are nominal clauses?

2. What special attention should be paid to in the translation of subordinate clauses or object clauses preceded with \？

3. What are appositive clauses? How do they differ from attributive clauses?

4. What are the different approaches to translating appositive clauses in English-Chinese translation and in Chinese-English translation?

5. What is the decisive factor that affects sentence order in the translation of Chinese complex sentences?

II Put the following sentences into Chinese, paying attention the subordinate clauses.

1. whatever form is used by the majority of educated speakers or writers is correct or as Sweet puts it,“Whatever is in general use is a language is, tams that reason，grammatically, correct.”

2. He boasts that a slave is free the moment his feet touch British soil and he sells the children of the poor at six years of age to work under the lash in the factories for sixteen hours a day.

3. It is flattering to believe that they (ideas) are too profound to be expressed so clearly that all who run may read, and very naturally it does not occur to such writers that the fault is with their own minds which have not the faculty of precise reflection.

4. It is not that the scale in the one case, and the balance in the other, differ in the principles of their construction or manner of working; but that the latter is a much finer apparatus and of course much more accurate in its measurement than the former. 5. There are several reasons why he no longer appears to be the magician the world press had made him out to be, an illusion which he failed to discourage because, as he would admit himself, he has a tendency toward megalomania.

6.... but since what used to seem to the great majority of civilized humanity the assurance of another life beyond the grave has come to seem to more and more people less certain, a feeling for the value of human life has become deeper and more widespread.

7. He was puzzled that I did not want what was obviously a \toward what all Americans are taught to want when they grow up; money and power.

8. He poured into his writing all the pains of his life and the conviction it had brought to him that the world could be made a better place to live in if the exploited would rise up. 9. There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.

10. Furthermore, it is obvious that the strength of a country's economy is directly bound up with the efficiency of its agriculture and industry, and that this in turn rests upon the efforts of scientists and technologists of all kinds.

11. 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 favourable circumstances.

12. 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加consideration at all.

III Put the following passage into English.

森林给人提供木材，还能调节气候、保持水土、防风固沙、改善水质、防烟防尘、消毒杀菌、减少噪音、美化环境、维持及改善生态平衡。

如果没有绿色植物不断制造氧气和吸收有害的气体，人类就无法生存。人们的健康与空气的优劣有关，而空气的优劣又与森林的多少有关。

许多树木都能吸收空气中的有害物质和致癌物质。林区空气中的细菌数量只有无林区的1%。而百货商店内每立方米空气中则含有400多万个细菌。绿化区可以使噪音减弱四分之一左右。森林上空和附近的空气的含水量比无林地区多10% -20%；林区降雨量一般比非林区多17%，5万亩森林所涵养的水相当于100万立方米容量的水库。树木的绿使人看了舒适，有利于缓和紧张心情，给人以美的享受。

IV Translate the following sentences, paying mention to the essence of each senfence instead of their formal structure.

1. He always lives ahead of his salary.

2. A divorced woman is likely to find herself in an unenviable position. 3. He acts a lot older than his years.

4. Life here is as cheap as taxies are expensive.

5. The minimal cost far outweighs the inconvenience of being immobile in this vast urban area

6. Hardly a day passes without him getting scratched or bruised as he scrambles for a place on a bus.

7. It's one of Asia’s most traditional cities，rich with a Chinese culture that is gracious and lively，and boasts an amazing archive of Chinese art and artifacts.

8. All told China has roughly 380 million women between the age of 15 and 55，and few of them-particularly in the cities-want to look any less than their budgets allow.

9. Eager to trust but determined to verify，many single women in an age of risky romance are hiring private detectives to check the background of their suitors.

10. Battered by an almost daily terror of worrisome reports about the hazards of what they eat and how they live，Americans have become engulfed in an epidemic, not of cancer but of fear.

11. The company's top executives all are refugees from the country's bureaucratic and underfinanced state research sector.

12. A potentially dangerous blunder by police and security authorities here yesterday saw Mrs. Thatcher mobbed by yelling demonstrators during a shopping mall walkabout. 13. Opponents of a proposed agreement with Japan to build the new generation FSX fighter plane have made a vigorous appeal to President George Bush, and a long debate at the White House has left Mr. Bush tom between differing views in the cabinet.

14. In the space of three decades he (Lee Kuan Yew) built a poor island of tinroofed shacks and chicken coops into a clockwork city of gleaming office towers.

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/pnh6.html