浅谈英语长句的汉语翻译.docx

浅谈英语长句的汉语翻译

　　[Abstract] The aim of this essay is to tell us how to translate English long sentences into Chinese correctly and precisely. It contains the comparison between English and Chinese long sentences, and defines English long sentence. The common types of English long sentences are classified in the essay, and it also explains why and where long English sentences are used respectively. In the third part of the essay, we proposes the steps and methods in translating long English sentence. In conclusion part, we points out the key to become a good translator is to read and practice as much as possible, and also mentions the similar ways in translating Chinese long sentences to English.
[Key Words] long sentences; understanding; expressing; translating
【摘 要】本论文主要是向大家介绍如何准确到位的将英语长句翻译为中文。作者比较了中英文句子结构和表达的不同特点，同时对英语长句作了定义，对常见的几种英文长句作了说明，并且分别介绍了英语长句发生的原因和背景。在论文第三部分作者提出了翻译英语长句的步骤与方法在结论部分，作者指出成为一个好的译者关键是多读多练，同时也提出了将中文长句翻译成英文相似的方法。
【关键词】长句；理解；表达；翻译
1. Introduction
English-Chinese translation is a process which requires a detailed analysis of the original sentences in such aspects as meaning, structure and logic, and which, as a result, needs a long time of practice to perfect. However, translation is made more difficult and complex by frequent appearance of long sentences in the two languages. In this essay, we discuss how we can develop skills in long sentence translation. What is a long sentence? A long sentence is one with several attributives, subordinate and adverbial clauses, which are interdependent on and linked to each other. Long sentences are characterized by frequent use of attributive and adverbial clauses, compound structure, parenthesis and dangling structure. Besides, what makes long sentences difficult to translate is the fact that Chinese and Englishmen have different thinking habit, which naturally leads to their differences in ways of expression and sentence structure. Thus, the emphasis of this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English and Chinese sentences. Reasons why this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English are also discussed, and the types of articles where long sentences frequently appear are shown to the readers. The priority of this essay is given to the steps, which should be taken, and the methods to be used in long sentence translation and vice versa.
2. Comparison between English and Chinese sentences
types of long sentences in English
Generally, there are various types of long sentences, which are different in structures.
“Sentences with attributive clauses[1]P565--583
One common type of long sentence is one with attributive clauses. What is an attributive clause? An attributive clause is one used after a noun to modify the noun. Attributive clauses, although sharing the similarity of being modifiers, are different according to their relationship with the main clause, and can be divided into several types.
(i). Attributive clause suggesting cause or effect
An important type of attributive clause is the ones that suggest cause or effect. In translating a long sentence with this type of attributive clause, the relationship of the attributive clause with the main clause-whether it is the cause or effect of the main clause-should be determined first. Then, based on its function, a proper conjunctive word should be chosen in order to show the reader the relationship of the two clauses.
“The reason for determining the relationship first is that English is a language which uses a large number of different structures to show the relationship between clauses, while in Chinese sentences, words are employed show the readers the relationship between clauses.”　P120To use an example to clarify the process,
(1)The improvement in his health resulted from the physical exercises he did every morning.
In this sentence, the attributive clause is “he did every morning”. After reading the sentence, we can find out that the fact that “he did exercises everyday” is the reason for “his improvement in health”, thus, in English Chinese translation we should choose the Chinese equivalence of “because” to be used before the attributive clause to suggest the relationship between the attributive and the main clause, This English sentence can be translate in Chinese,因为他每天早晨都锻炼，所以身体好了很多。
(ii). Attributive clause suggesting time
Attributive clause sometimes is used to show the main clause. In translating this type of attributive clauses, an analysis of the relationship between the main and attributive clauses is necessary so as to choose a proper Chinese equivalence of the word “when”, “after” or “before”.
(2)At seven, he went up to look at John, who was sleeping at that time.
In this sentence, the attributive clause“who was sleeping at that time”can be regarded as the time when the action in the main clause took place. As a result, we should translate the attributive clause as a time adverbial clause, and the Chinese equivalence of the word “when” should be put before the attributive clause to suggest the time.
(iii). Attributive clause suggesting transition turn
Attributive clause can also be used to suggest transition turn. In this case, the Chinese equivalence of the word “but” should be put before the attributive clauses. Consider the following sentence,
(3) He didn’t want to see his wife, who, unexpectedly, came back after two days.
After reading this sentence, it is easy for us to find out that the attributive clause “who, unexpectedly, came back after two days” should be regarded as a turning point of the main clause, so it is equal to this sentence in meaning “He didn’t want to see his wife, but she came back after two days.” Thus, in translating this sentence, we should put the Chinese equivalence of the word “but” before the attributive clause”.
Adverbial clause
“The use of adverbial clauses can also result in long English sentences. Adverbial clauses are those used to suggest time, place or reason of the main clauses. Adverbial clauses can be put either before or after the main clauses, and the specific relationship between the main clause and the adverbial clause can be easily identified because the relationship is clearly suggested by the different word used before the adverbial clause.” P563 For instance, an adverbial clause beginning with the word “when” naturally suggests time, and one with the word “because” implies cause. Compared with attributive clause, adverbial clause is generally easier to translate. In translating the English sentence into Chinese, the adverbial clauses are mostly put ahead of the main clauses in Chinese. We can look at the following sentences,
(4)“Please turn off the light when you leave the room.”P140
In translating this sentence, we should put the adverbial clause when you leave the room before the main clause according to the common way of expression in Chinese.
Compound sentence
“Compound sentences are often long sentences because a compound sentence usually includes two clauses. What, however, makes compound sentences different from other long sentences is that the two clauses in each compound sentence play an equally important role in the sentence. Compound sentences usually suggest a sequence of actions that take place one after another, and the words mostly commonly used to connect the two clauses in a compound sentence are “and” and “but”.”P483
(5)She worked hard, but she failed in the final exam.
After reading this sentence, the meaning is quite apparent to us because the structure of compound sentences is the same as that of most Chinese sentences. Naturally, in translating compound sentences, we just need to translate it without changing the structure of the original sentence.
Parenthesis
Parenthesis is another attribution to large quantities of long sentences in English. “In an English sentence, the parenthesis can be a word, a phrase, or a sentence, and before translating the sentence we should first find out the relationship of the parenthesis with the main sentence and its function in an effort that the translated version complies with the Chinese way of expression.”P612-616
(6) He gets up early every morning, whether it is summer or winter, to do exercises.
Similarly, in translating this sentence, put the parenthesis “whether it is summer or winter” at the beginning, followed by the main sentence “He gets up early every morning to do exercises.”
in English and Chinese sentence structures
Difference in ways of thinking
Different peoples have different ways of thinking, so their languages, which are used to express people’s thoughts, are also different.
“In English, results are usually given ahead of the causes, while in Chinese, causes appear before their effects. This is because Chinese people put emphasis on the natural order of the verbs according to the time the actions take place. For example,
(7)Tragedies can be written in literature since there is tragedy in life.生活中既有悲剧，文学作品就可以写悲剧。”P199
And look at this example,
(8) He began to read a book after having supper.
After reading this sentence, we can identify that the action having supper takes place before the action read a book, but in the sentence, the latter is put before the former. So in translating English sentence first carefully find out the time sequence of the verbs, and then put them into Chinese according to the time sequence, as is the Chinese way of expression.
Difference in the use of prepositions
“ used to say: “A preposition may be defined as a connecting word showing the relation of a noun or substitute for a noun to some other word in the sentence. … Prepositions appear constantly in English speech and writing.…” Like the sentences,
(9)The any colors of a rainbow range from red on the outside to violet on the inside. 彩虹有多种颜色，外圈红，内圈紫。”P50-51 English sentences cannot without preposition, but Chinese sentences are not use or omit preposition.
Difference in relative pronoun
Relative pronoun is a very important part in English, but in Chinese there’re no such words as relative pronouns. Relative pronouns are frequently used in subordinate clauses, such as object subordinate clause and attributive clause. In comparison, pronouns are used instead of relative pronouns.
(10) She turned to Tom, who was watching TV. 她转向汤姆，而他正在看电视。
Different orientations of Chinese English sentences
“Chinese is characterized by its emphasis on meaning, while English, on the contrary pay much more attention to structure and logic of the sentence. A reader, while reading a Chinese sentence or article, must try hard to find out its meaning, but the meaning of English sentences is much clearer because its structure makes the meaning quite clear.”P53/58
(11) He stepped right in after them, like it or not, and he was determined that nothing as pretty as good manners should keep him from a chance of enlightenment. 他不管人家欢迎不欢迎， 紧跟着他们走了进去。什么礼貌不礼貌，他顾不得这一套了。他决心不错过这个机会，把心里的问题弄明白。
A detailed comparison between the above two sentences will show how the English sentences, in general, differ from each other.
Different relation of clauses
“Another big difference between English and Chinese sentences lies in the more frequent use of clauses in English than in Chinese. The structure of an English sentence can be compared to a “grapevine”, which means that many words in a English sentence have their own clause. In contrast, the words in a typical Chinese sentence don’t have their clauses, but appear in time sequence, each playing equally important role in the Chinese sentence.”[10]P43
(12) Lily, who is a very active girl at school, becomes quiet as soon as she arrives home, which makes her parents quite puzzled. 莉莉在学校里非常活跃，但一回到家却变得很安静，这让她的父母感到很迷惑。
In the above English sentences, there are two attributive clauses to modify two segments in the sentence, while in the Chinese sentence, all the sentences are equally important and come one after another in time sequence.
3. Steps and methods in long English sentence translation
Long sentences make up a large portion in English, and there are several reasons for its frequent appearance.
Reasons for frequent appearance of long English sentences
Frequent use of modifiers
Compared with Chinese, modifiers are much more frequently used in English, such as attributive clauses, adverbial clauses and appositives. But in Chinese, the specific nouns are not modified, but are explained by employing another independent sentence.
(13)These students, who rarely do any housework at home, will serve as waiters in the restaurant near the school, which draws a large number of customers everyday.
The main structure of this sentence is “the students will be waiters in the restaurant”, but the sentence is made long by the use of two attributive clauses, one of which is to modify the word “students”, and the other of which “the restaurant”. But in Chinese, this sentence will be put as followed. 这些学生在家几乎不做家务，而他们将要到学校附近的一家餐馆去当侍者， 而这家餐馆每天食客云集。We can see that the single English sentence is separated into three clauses, each expressing a specific meaning without employing any subordinate clauses.
Complex structures
“Compared with Chinese, in which verbs are arranged in time sequence, English sentences are much more complex with the use of various clauses, parenthesis, appositives and prepositions. Chinese students usually find it hard to identify the main structure of long English sentences, so it is necessary and quite helpful to learn the segments that make the simple sentences long.”[11]P61
(14)He, instead of standing back, walked forward to face the accuser, with others looking at him in astonishment as well as puzzlement.
This is a typical long English sentence with complex structures. A student without a thorough knowledge of English grammar is bound to fail to understand its meaning. To understand long sentences, a study of English grammar is required, and a large amount of reading of all types of articles in English is also very helpful.
Types of long sentences writing
In order to know better how to translate long sentences, it is necessary to know the types of writings where long sentences are most frequently used. Generally, long sentences frequently appear in official documents, scientific reports, and newspapers.
(i). Law documents
The reason why long sentences are frequently used in law documents is that long sentences are more formal compared with shorter ones, and official documents must be written in a formal tone and style. For example,
(15) “Any clause, covenant or agreement in a contract of carriage relieving the carrier or the ship from liability for less or damage to, or in connection with, goods arising from negligence, fault, or failure in duties and obligations provided in this article or lessening such liability otherwise than provided in these rules shall be null and void and of no effect.” [12]P256
(ii). Scientific documents
Long senten