如何翻译名词性、定语、状语从句(七) 状语, 词性, 定语, 翻译

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40.在翻译过程中，如何处理原因状语从句？　　（1）译成表示原因的分句
　　经典例题240 It doesn‘t boil，despite temperatures reaching up to400degrees C，because it is under terrific pressure.
　　参考译文尽管温度可高达摄氏400度，水却因为处于高压之下而不会沸腾。（2）译成表示结果的分句
　　经典例题241 Youjump on the bandwagonwhen you decide to support a candidate because public opinion studies show he is likely to win.
　　分析：译文中将原句的语序作了前后调整，原因状语前置，而主句被翻译成表示结果的分句。
　　参考译文如果民意调查显示某个侯选人很可能会取胜，因此你决定支持他，你就跳上了宣传车。
　　经典例题242 He says computer manufacturers used to be more worried about electromagnetic interference，so they often put blocks of material inside to absorb stray signals.
　　参考译文他说过去的计算机生产商往往更担心电磁干扰，所以他们常常内置一层材料来吸收杂散信号。
　　41.在翻译过程中，如何处理让步状语从句。
　　（1）译成表示让步的分句。如虽然…但是…，尽管…等。
　　经典例题243 Although humans are the most intelligent creature on earth，anything humans can do，Nature has already done better and in far，far less space.分析：although引导的让步状语从句译成虽然…但…。
　　参考译文虽然人类是地球上最聪明的生物，人能创造一切，但大自然更富于创造性，早已创造出比人类创造的更好更小巧的东西。
　　经典例题244 While industrial lasers today are most often used for cutting，welding，rilling and measuring，the laser‘s light can be put to a much different use：separating isotopes（同位素）to produce nuclear fuel.
　　分析：while在本句中并非引导一个时间状语从句，而是让步状语从句。
　　参考译文虽然今天的工业激光器最经常用于切割、焊接、钻孔和测量，但激光可以用于与此迥异的用途：分离同位素以生产核燃料。
　　（2）译成条件句
　　由no matter引导的从句可以译为以不论，不管，无论等做关联词的条件分句。例如：
　　经典例题245 No matter how carefully you move your hand toward a fly，the insect will dart off almost every time.
　　参考译文不管你多么小心翼翼地把手伸向一只苍蝇，差不多每次它都飞走。
　　42.在翻译过程中，如何处理目的状语从句？
　　（1）将表示目的的从句前置
　　经典例题246 For example，a film can slow down the formation of crystals so that students can study the process.
　　分析：原句中由so that引导的目的状语从句在译文中放到了主句之前。
　　参考译文例如，为了能让学生研究这一过程，电影可以放慢演示晶体的形成过程。
　　经典例题247 There must be device non_linearity in order that such a phenomenon could be possible.
　　参考译文为了使这一现象有可能发生，就必须存在器件的非线性。
　　（2）表示目的的从句后置
　　经典例题248 The saddles are either further fixed so that the cables may slide over them，rmounted on rollers so that they move with any movement of the cables.
　　分析：句中有两个目的状语从句，在翻译时，并未直接翻译成为了…，而是译为这样…，更能让人接受。
　　参考译文鞍座可以是固定的，这样钢缆可以在它上面滑动，也可以安装在滚柱上，这样鞍座就会随钢缆的移动而移动。
　　经典例题249 In addition，the cameraman must have a knowledge of composition so that the arrangement of the people and objects in each shot will produce the desired effect.
　　参考译文另外，摄影师必须具备合成的知识，以便安排好每个镜头中的人和物来达到预期的效果。历年真题分析
　　经典例题250 The first two must be equal for all who are being compared，if any comparison in terms of intelligence is to be made.（1992年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是The first two must be equal for all who are…，if any comparison…。if引导条件状语从句。主句中含有一个由关系代词that引导的定语从句，修饰all.in terms of译为谈到，就…而论。
　　参考译文如果要从智力方面进行任何比较的话，那么对所有被比较者来说，前两个因素必须是一样的。
　　经典例题251 New forms of thought as well as new subjects for thought must arise in the future as they have in the past，giving rise to new standards of elegance.（1996年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是New forms of thought as well as new subjects…must arise in the future as they have…，giving rise to…。as引导方式状语从句。现在分词短语giving rise to new standards of elegance充当结果状语，修饰动词arise.并列连词as well as引导两个并列的主语。subjects在此意为研究对象。give rise to意为引起，导致。
　　参考译文同过去—样，将来必然会出现新的思维方式和新的思维对象，给完美以新的标准。
　　经典例题252 If the small hot spots look as expected，that will be a triumph for yet another scientific idea，a refinement of the Big Bang called the inflationary universe theory.（1998年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是If the small hot spots look as expected，that will be a triumph…，a refinement of the Big Bang called…。if引导条件状语从句。as引导方式状语从句，省略了they are.a refinement of the Big Bang called the inflationary universe theory是scientific idea的同位语。过去分词短语called the inflationary universe theory修饰a refinement作定语。that指那些小热点看上去同预计的一致这件事。the inflationary universe theory译为宇宙膨胀理论。refinement意为改进，提炼。
　　参考译文假如那些小热点看上去同预计的一致，那就意味着又一科学论说的胜利，这种论说即更完美的大爆炸论，亦称宇宙膨胀说。
　　经典例题253 While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians，modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.（1999年）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是While there are almost as many…as there are historians，modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as…。while引导让步状语从句，翻译时可译为尽管…但是…。as引导一个比较状语从句。主句中包含一个由关系代词that引导的定语从句，修饰one.one指代definition.definition意为定义，界定；modern practice在此意为现代史学实践；conform to原意为遵照，顺从，在此译为趋向于认为。
　　参考译文几乎每个历史学家对史学都有自己的界定，但现代史学家的实践最趋向于认为历史学是试图重现过去的重大史实并对其做出解释。熟能生巧经典例题254If，like most of mankind，you have strong convictions on many such matters，there are ways in which you can make yourself aware of your own prejudice.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是If…you have strong convictions on…，there are ways in which you can…。if引导条件状语从句。like most of mankind是插入语。主句中包含一个由介词in+which引导的定语从句，修饰ways.conviction原意为深信，信念，在这个句中应译为一味地迷信…。
　　参考译文如果你和大多数人一样，迷信诸如此类的事情，那么可以使你意识到自己偏见的办法是不少的。
　　经典例题255 Every time you try to answer a question that asks why，you engage in the process of causal analysis—you attempt to determine a cause or series of causes for a particular effect.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Every time you try to answer…，you engage in the process…—you attempt to determine…。every time引导时间状语从句，意为每当。是一个名词化的连接词。这个从句中包含一个由that引导的定语从句。破折号引导的句子作主句的同位语。engage in意为参与，参加。
　　参考译文每当你试图回答一个问及为什么的问题时，你就是在进行因果分析了。也就是说，你正努力寻找决定某个结果的某个原因或一系列原因。
　　经典例题256 While not every scientific fact is a numerical one，nor every scientific theory a predictor of numerical magnitudes，so many are that we cannot conceive of modern science without the process of measurement.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是While not every scientific fact is…，nor every scientific theory…，so many are that we cannot conceive of modern science…。while在此句中引导让步状语从句。主句是so many are…。are后省略了表语numerical.that引导结果状语从句，与前文的so相呼应。在while引导的从句中，not与nor引起并列成分，译为不是…，也不是…。magnitudes意为广大，重要。
　　参考译文尽管不是每门科学事实都是用数字来表示的，也不是每一条科学理论都是数字大小的预测器，但是用数字表示的是如此之多，以致如果没有计量我们就不可能设想有现代科学。
　　经典例题257 Where it is dry so much of the time that few plants can live，the destructive waters have their own way when the occasional rains come.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Where it is dry…，the destructive waters have…。where it is dry…是地点状语从句。it是无人称代词，表示自然现象。在这个从句中包含了一个由that引导的结果状语从句，与so相呼应。主句中包含一个由when引导的时间状语从句。the destructive waters不能直译为具有破坏性的水，而应与谓语结合转译成雨水泛滥，造成灾害。
　　参考译文在长期干旱以致植物稀少的地方，偶尔降雨便会泛滥，造成灾害。
　　经典例题258 Whatever its underlying reasons，there is no doubt that much of the pollution caused could be controlled if only companies，individuals and governments would make more efforts.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Whatever its underlying reasons，there is no doubt that…if only companies，…。whatever引导让步状语从句，谓语may be省略。句子主语为reasons，whatever是may be的表语。its指代pollution‘s.主句中that引导的是doubt的同位语从句。过去分词caused作pollution的定语。在同位语从句中包含了由if only引导的条件状语从句。整个同位语从句用虚拟语气，表示这种可能性很小。
　　参考译文不论污染的根本原因是什么，毫无疑问，只要各大公司、个人和各级政府都能作出较大的努力，所造成的大部分污染是可以加以控制的。
　　经典例题259 Now，commercial farmers have become increasingly specialized so that almost everything consumed on most farms is now bought from outside sources rather than home_grown.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是…commercial farmers have become…specialized，so that everything consumed…is bought…rather than…。so that引导结果状语从句。过去分词短语consumed on most farms作定语修饰everything.rather than译为而不是，表示比较。
　　参考译文现在，商业社会的农民已越来越专业化，因而在大部分农场消费的几乎所有东西现在都是从外面采购的，而不是农场自己生产的。
　　经典例题260 If developing countries feel that industrialized countries are trying to divert attention from their problems by focusing on the problems of poorer countries，then we risk wrestling endlessly over these issues rather than solving our common problems.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是If developing countries feel that…，then we risk wrestling endlessly over…。if引导条件状语从句。而在此从句中又套了一个由that引导的宾语从句。介词短语by focusng on…作状语。对于这样长的条件句，应采用分译法。we指代前文的developing countries.wrestle不能直译为搏斗，应转译为争论。
　　参考译文工业化国家正试图通过强调贫困国家的问题来转移人们对他们的问题的注意力；如果发展中国家意识到这一点，那我们就会冒险把这些问题无休止地争论下去，而没有解决我们共同的问题。
　　经典例题261 As the electronic cash is downloaded，the customers‘bank accounts are debited，just as they would be after an ATM withdrawal.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是As the electronic cash is…，the customers‘bank accounts are…，just as they would be…。第一个as引导时间状语从句，而后一个as引导方式状语从句。debit译为记入账户借方。ATM译为自动取款机。
　　参考译文在电子现金下载后，客户的银行存款就记入账户的借方，就像在自动取款机取款后那样。
　　经典例题262 Since most TVaction_adventuredramas occurs in urban settings，the fear they inspire may contribute to the current flight of the middle class from our cities.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Since most TVaction_adventuredramas occurs…，the fear…may contribute to…。since引导原因状语从句。they inspire修饰主句的主语the fear作定语，省略了关系代词that.contribute to在此句中应译为促使，造成。dramas在文中不表示戏剧，而译为节目，影片。
　　参考译文由于电视播放的大多数动作片、冒险片以城市为背景，由此引起的恐惧感正促使中产阶级逃离城市。
　　经典例题263 Although at first sight the legislation appears to obstruct what might otherwise be a simple process，it actually exists to facilitate the purchase，while protecting the creditors（so far as company law is concerned.）
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Although…the legislation appears to obstruct…，it actually exists to…，while protecting the creditors…。although引导让步状语从句，在这个从句中又套有由what引导的名词从句作obstruct的宾语。主句是it actually exists to…。在主句中while引导的短语作状语，在这个状语短语中又有一个as far as引导的状语从句。otherwise译为在其他方面。facilitate意为使…便利。
　　参考译文虽然乍一看，这个法律似乎妨碍本来可能很简单的程序，但实际上这个法律的存在却使购买变得便利，同时（就公司法而言）也保护债权人。
　　经典例题264 While there can be no question of considering education in isolation from science，technology，culture and information，as a social practice that may involve all the members of society in one way or another，education has its own characteristics.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是While there can be no question of considering education…as a social practice…，education has its own characteristics.while引导让步状语从句。主句是education has its own characteristics.在while引导的这个从句中，considering education与as a social practice被介词短语in isolation from science，technology，culture and information分离。关系代词that引导定语从句修饰social practice.social practice在本句中译为社会实践。
　　参考译文毫无疑问，我们可以脱离科学、技术、文化和信息，把教育作为以某种方式涉及社会全体成员的一种社会实践来加以考查，但教育毕竟还有自己的特点。
　　经典例题265 Lifts stopped working，so that even if you were lucky enough not to be trapped between two floors，you had the unpleasant task of finding your way down hundreds of flights of stairs.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Lifts stopped working，so that…，you had the unpleasant task…。so that引导结果状语从句。在这个从句中又套一个由even if引导的让步状语从句。
　　参考译文电梯停了，因此即使你幸而没有被困在两个楼层中间，你也得去完成一项不愉快的任务，即摸黑往下走百级楼梯。
　　经典例题266 So be sure not to have sleepless nights thinking because you have smoked a few or even a great number of cigarettes in your time，you are bound to get this illness，because that certainly is not true.结构分析：句子的框架是So be sure not to…thinking you are bound to…，because that certainly is not true.so引导结果状语从句。在这个状语从句中还包含两个由because引导的原因状语从句。thinking的宾语you are bound to get this illness被第一个原因状语从句隔开。指示代词that指代you are bound to get this illness这样的担忧。
　　参考译文所以，千万不可由于抽烟或曾烟瘾很大，而担忧肯定会染上这个疾病，并因此夜不能寐，因为这样的担忧实在是错误的。
　　经典例题267 Some analysts put a positive spin on a possible Clinton presidency，expecting him if elected to favor small technology_oriented companies and smaller enterprises in general.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Some analysts put…，expecting him if elected to favor small technology_oriented companies…。现在分词短语expecting him to…充当原因状语。expecting him和to favor被if elected分离。if引导条件状语从句，if之后省略了he was（he指代Clinton）。spin原意为扭转，在此应译为看法，态度。oriented意为以…为主的。
　　参考译文有些分析家对克林顿当选总统后可能带来的结果持乐观的态度。他们期望他一旦当选，会支持重视技术的小公司和小企业。
　　经典例题268 Once a few particles were created by quantum fluctuations of the empty vacuum，it became easier for a few more to appear and so，in a rapidly escalating process，the universe gushed forth from nothingness.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Once a few particles were created by…，it became easier for a few more to…，and…。once引导时间状语从句。主句是由and连接的一个并列句。介词短语in a rapidly escalating process，作第二个分句的状语。particles意为粒子。quantum fluctuations意为量子涨落。nothingness原意为虚无之状态，不存在，在此引申为虚无。
　　参考译文一旦真空中的量子涨落创造出一些粒子，更多的粒子就会接踵而至，随着这一迅速增强的过程，宇宙便从虚无中喷涌而出。
　　经典例题269 Although the power of man to change his environment is increasing，owing to both exponential population growth and rapid technological change，his activities cannot be seen as being immune to the influence of his physical environment.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Although the power of man to change…，owing to both…and…，his activities cannot be seen as being immune to…。although引导让步状语从句。主句是his activities cannot be seen as…，介词短语owing to作它的原因状语。be immune to原意为对…免疫，在此句中应译为摆脱。physical environment译为自然环境。exponential意为指数的，幂数的。
　　参考译文由于人口数量的几何数增长和科学技术的迅猛发展，尽管人类改变环境的能力也在提高，但人类活动还无法摆脱自然环境的影响。
　　经典例题270 In essence，provided a company is permitted to do so by its Memorandom and Articles of Association，any company can now acquire its own shares（subject to there being at least one left）。
　　结构分析：句子的框架是…，provided a company is…，any company can acquire its own shares…。provided引导条件状语从句，相当于if.subject to there being at least one left修饰shares作定语，省略了which is.there being是there be的非谓语形式。subject to在此译为取决于。
　　参考译文实际上，如果一个公司的组织章程和（联营）公司章程允许这样做，那么任何公司现在都能购买自身股份（条件是至少剩下一位股东）。
　　经典例题271 At the Planck scale，we need to extend General Relativity so that it includes not only the macroscopic properties of gravity but also is microscopic characteristics as well.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是At the Planck scale，we need to extend…so that it includes not only…but also…。so that引导的目的状语从句。在这个目的状语从句中又包含了一个由not only…but also引导的并列句。at the Planck scale在此意为在量子世界里。General Relativity意为广义相对论。property有多种词义，在此句中意为性质，属性。it指General Relativity.
　　参考译文在量子世界里，我们就需要将广义相对论进行扩充，使得这一理论中不仅包含引力的宏观特性，还同时包含引力的微观特性。
　　经典例题272 Modern means of communication are so rapid that a buyer can discover what price a seller is asking，and can accept it if he wishes，although he may be thousands of miles away.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是Modern means of communication are so…that…。that引导结果状语从句，与so相呼应。从句由一个主语a buyer和两个谓语can discover and can accept组成。在这个状语从句中，又包含两个状语从句。although引导让步状语从句，if引导条件状语从句，作can accept it的条件。What price a seller is asking是名词从句，作discover的宾语。
　　参考译文现代化的通讯手段非常迅速，一个买主虽然远在几千英里之外，却能知道卖主的要价，并且如果他愿意的话，就可以接受这个价格。
　　经典例题273 When I try to understand what it is that prevents so many Americans from being as happy as one might expect，it seems to me that there are two causes，of which one goes much deeper than the other.
　　结构分析：句子的框架是When I try to understand…，it seems to me that there are two causes，of which one goes…。when引导时间状语从句。在这个从句中，what it is that prevents so many Americans from being as happy as one might expect作understand的宾语。事实上，这是一个强调句，即为it is what that prevents…。主句是由先行词it引导的句子。其中包含一个由介词of+which引导的非限制性定语从句，修饰two causes.
　　参考译文我想弄清为什么那么多美国人不像人们料想的那样快乐，觉得似乎有两个原因，其中一个比另一个深刻得多。
　　练习
　　American and Japanese researchers are developing a smart car that will help drivers avoid accidents by predicting when they are about to make a dangerous move.
　　The smart car of the future will be able to tell if drivers are going to turn，change lanes，speed up，slow down or pass another car.
　　If the driver‘s intended action could lead to an accident，the car will activate a warning system or override the move.
　　（61）By shifting the emphasis of car safety away from design of the vehicle itself and looking more toward the driver‘s behavior，the developers believe that they can start to build cars that adapt to suit people’s needs，New Scientist magazine said.
　　Alex Pentland of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated on the project with Andrew Liu who works for the Japanese carmaker Nissan.
　　（62）Tests of their smart car using a driving simulator have shown that it is95percent accurate in predicting a driver‘s move12seconds in advance.
　　（63）The system is based on driving behavior which the researchers say can be divided into chains of sub_actions which include preparatory moves.
　　It monitors the driver‘s behavior patterns to predict the next move.
　　To make its predictions，Nissan‘s smart car uses a computer and sensors on the steering wheel，accelerator and brake to monitor a person’s driving patterns.（64）A brief training session，in which the driver is asked to perform certain maneuvers，allows the system to calculate the probability of particular actions occurring in two_second time segments，the magazine said.
　　Liu has also done work on tracking eye movement to predict driving behavior.（65）He said the smart car could be adapted to monitor eye movement which could give even earlier predictions of when a driver is about to make a wrong move.
　　答案
　　文章大意：为提高行车安全，过去的做法主要是在车辆的设计上大做文章；而美国和日本的研究人员正在研制一种智能汽车，这种汽车能预测驾驶员何时会做出危险的驾驶动作从而避免交通事故。
　　（61）结构分析：句子框架是By shifting the emphasis…and looking more…，the developers believe that they can start to build cars that adapt to suit people‘s needs，。此句的主干是the developers believe that…，宾语从句里cars又跟有that引导的定语从句；前面介词by引导由and连接的并列动名词构成方式状语；adapt to意思为适应，这里可翻译为面向，旨在。
　　参考译文：研究人员相信，将提高驾车安全的重点从车辆的设计上转移到更多地注意司机的行为，他们就能着手制造适应人们需要的汽车。
　　（62）结构分析：句子框架是Tests…have shown that it is95percent accurate inpredicting a driver‘s move12seconds in advance.此句的主干包含了一个宾语从句：Tests…have shown that…。using a driving simulator是现在分词结构作定语，修饰smart car，that宾语从句中介词in表示在…方面。move在这里作名词，in advance翻译为提前。
　　参考译文：用模拟驾驶装置对智能汽车的测试表明，提前12秒预测驾驶员动作的准确性达到95%.
　　（63）结构分析：句子框架是The system is based on driving behavior which…can be divided into chains of sub_actions which include preparatory moves.此句的主干是一简单句：The system is based on driving behavior，但后面有两个which引导的定语从句，第一个修饰driving behavior，第二个修饰sub_actions；the researchers say作为插入成分。chains of翻译为一系列。
　　参考译文：这套系统是以驾驶动作为基础开发的，研究人员认为可以把驾驶过程分为一系列的动作，包括预备性的动作。
　　（64）结构分析：句子框架是A brief training session，…，allows the system to…本句是个简单句，主语后有which引导的非限定性定语从句修饰，occurring in…现在分词作时间状语修饰actions.
　　参考译文：在一个短暂的训练过程中，驾驶员被要求完成一些规定动作，这个训练过程让系统计算出在两秒钟的时间内发生某些特定动作的概率。
　　（65）结构分析：句子框架是He said the smart car could be adapted to…movement which could give even earlier predictions of when a driver is about to make a wrong move.这句中首先包含了一个宾语从句：He said that…；宾语部分里又含有which引导的定语从句，但它并不是修饰紧在其前的eye movement，这里which是指代前面说的整件事；when引导的从句做介词of的宾语；be about to do表示将要做…。
　　参考译文：他说可以将智能汽车改造成监视眼球的活动，这样就能更早地预见到司机将要做出的错误动作