定语从句与长句翻译技巧
一、定语从句翻译概述
定语从句由关系代词（who, whom, whose, which, that）或关系副词（where, when, why）引导，用来修饰名词中心词。翻译定语从句时，要特别注意位置的变化：
- 单词作定语修饰名词时，放在中心词前面，与汉语词序一致
- 定语过长时，放在中心词后面，注意断句，重复先行词
She has a perfect figure.
她身材不错。（短定语前置）
The only other people who knew the secret were his father and mother.
别的知道这个秘密的人就是他的父母。（定语从句前置）
The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually performed by students who advise the academic authorities.
有效的维持纪律通常是由一些学生来做的，而这些学生则负责给学校的领导提建议。（定语从句后置，重复先行词）
核心原则：定语从句的翻译分为限制性和非限制性两种，无论在语序还是重复先行词方面都有不同的处理方式。
二、限制性定语从句的译法
1. 前置法
定语从句较短时，放在中心词前面，与汉语词序一致。
This is the finest weather that I have ever seen this month.
这是这个月我所看到的最好的天气。
Our two countries are neighbors whose friendship is of long standing.
我们两国是友谊长存的友好邻邦。
Teachers generally like the students who achieve high scores in tests.
老师通常喜欢考试中成绩好的学生。
2. 后置法
定语从句较长时，前置不符合汉语习惯，需后置并重复先行词。
Misers are often lonely and obscure men whose wealth is revealed only after their death.
吝啬鬼经常是看起来很孤单、不为人所注意的人，可他们的财富只有等到他们死了以后才暴露出来。
3. 综合性翻译法
翻译时不需要关系词，其中的关系完全靠上下文意思来表现。
This is the place where the accident occurred.
这就是发生交通事故的地方。
The person who delivered the letter to him is his neighbor.
他的邻居把信交给了他。
Most of our patients welcomed another human being with whom they could talk openly, honestly, and frankly about their trouble.
大多数病人想找人坦率、诚实地倾诉他们的苦衷。
三、非限制性定语从句的译法
1. 前置法
We need a chairman, in whom everyone has confidence.
我们需要一个人人都信赖的主席。
The worldly well-known actor, who had been ill for two years, met thunderstorm applause when he reappeared on the stage.
那个病了很多年的著名演员，一上台观众就报以雷鸣般的掌声。
2. 后置法（重复先行词，译成并列分句）
这是最常见的翻译方法。其中"which"可以指前面的整个句子，也可以单指某个先行词。
He deposits a little sum of money in the bank, by which means he hopes to deal with any potential emergency easily.
他每个月都在银行里存一些钱，这样，碰到有任何危机时，就可以应付了。
A table has four legs, one of which is broken.
桌子有四条腿，其中的一条腿是坏的。
He decided to resign, which is the best thing he could do under the circumstances.
他决定辞职，而这是他目前所能做的最好的事。
He is late for class today, as is often the case.
他今天迟到了，而这是经常的事。
3. 省略先行词
直接把整个句子的意思讲出来，不重复先行词。
The two universities signed an agreement, under which they would exchange students and scholars.
这两个大学签定了协议，决定交换学生和学者。
He caught a young soldier coming to the farmhouse, whose face turned pale for too much loss of blood.
他看见一个士兵走进农舍，脸色因失血过多而苍白。
4. 译成状语从句
有些定语从句在逻辑上相当于状语从句，翻译时可译成相应的状语从句。
You should take advantage of the opportunity to learn English well, which is very valuable. （原因）
你应该利用这个机会好好学习英语，这太重要了。
We examine the quality of our products, which is why they are so reliable. （原因）
我们检验产品很仔细，因此产品都很可靠。
I never believe the stories, which is appealing. （让步）
我从不相信他所说的故事，即使它很动听。
5. "as"引导的定语从句
由"as"引导的定语从句，翻译时可参考"as"的比较结构。
He is not such a fool as he looks.
他并不像看上去的那么傻。
They were not such questions as could easily be disposed of.
这些问题可不是那么容易就能处理好的。
It wasn't such a good dinner as she had promised us.
这顿饭可没有她向我们说的那么好。
四、复杂定语从句的汉译
复杂的定语从句指一个句子带有两个或两个以上定语从句的结构。根据与先行词的关系，分为以下四种形式：
1. 自由式定语从句
一个句子中两个或两个以上不同成分带定语从句，先行词不固定，在句中充当不同成分。拆开来看就是简单的定语从句，翻译方法相同。
Thus the Arab Umayyed dynasty of caliphs, which had moved the capital from Medina to Damascus in 661, came to be regarded with much justification as a parasitic clique that had outlived its usefulness once the conquests were completed.
人们开始理由充分地认为，阿拉伯伍麦叶哈里发王朝是征服战争完成后毫无作用的一个寄生集团；伍麦叶王朝曾于661年从麦地那迁都大马士革。
该句中由 which 和 that 引出两个定语从句，分别修饰主语 the Arab Umayyed dynasty 和宾语 a parasitic clique，翻译时一个译成并列句，一个译成定语。
2. 嵌套式定语从句
一个定语从句套另一个定语从句。拆开来也是独立的定语从句，翻译方法与简单定语从句相同。
Likewise in the east were the Seljuk Turks who had infiltrated from their Central Asian homeland into the Islamic Empire where they were employed as mercenaries by the Baghdad caliphs.
同样，在东方是塞尔柱突厥人，他们从家乡中亚进入伊斯兰教帝国；在那里被巴格达哈里发雇为雇佣军。
由 who 引出的定语从句中又套了一个由 where 引出的定语从句，两者均译成并列句。
3. 并列式定语从句
两个或两个以上并列成分均带定语从句。这类定语从句也可译成状语从句，即先把主句译出，再把定语从句译成表示并列或转折关系的状语从句。
This was a defensive pact, designed to protect Germany against the French, who aspired to recover the Alsace-Lorraine provinces lost in 1871, and also to protect Austria-Hungary against the Russians, with whom they continually clashed in the Balkans.
这是一个防御性的盟约，旨在保护德国人免受法国人的攻击，保护奥匈帝国免受俄国人的攻击；因为法国人想收复1871年失去的阿尔萨斯-洛林地区，而俄国人则在巴尔干半岛同奥匈帝国接连不断地发生冲突。
4. 一主二仆式定语从句
一个先行词带有两个或两个以上定语从句。翻译时有以下几种处理方式：
（1）译成定语
可译成并列的定语，或分开的定语修饰先行词，或分别修饰重复的先行词。
Almost everything which really matters and which the world possessed at the commencement of the modern age was already known to man at the dawn of history.
近代史开始时，世界拥有的每一项重大成就，已为历史发端期的人们所知晓。（分开的定语）
（2）译成并列句
可译成一个并列句，也可译成两个分开的并列句，表示并列、转折或先后顺序等关系。
Consequently the manor was a self-sufficient village that was worked by serfs who were not free to leave, and who with their labor supported a hierarchy of lay and clerical lords.
因而，采邑是靠农奴经营的自足自给的村庄；农奴不能随便离开，并以其劳动养活教俗封建集团。（一个并列句）
Not surprisingly, the most complex political structures appeared in the Sudan, where long distance trade was most highly developed and where Islamic influence was the strongest.
毫不奇怪，苏丹出现了最复杂的政治组织，在那里，长途贸易发展得最快，伊斯兰教的影响最为强烈。（两个并列句）
（3）其他灵活译法
将翻译简单定语从句的方法融会贯通，如译成"定语+句子成分"、"并列句+状语从句"等。
Even so the Lisbon government admitted in March 1970 that a major attack had been launched by guerrillas who were armed with mortars and automatic weapons and who inflicted "many" Portuguese casualties.
即使如此，里斯本政府仍于1970年3月承认，配备迫击炮和自动武器的游击队已发动了一次大规模的进攻，使葡萄牙人蒙受"重大"伤亡。（定语+句子成分）
At one extreme are Hawaii and Brazil, where racial intermixture is extensive and continuing, and where racial discrimination is relatively minor.
处于一个极端的是夏威夷和巴西，在那里，种族混合十分广泛，而且正在继续进行，因此，种族歧视较少。（并列句+状语从句）
五、长句翻译技巧概述
英语长句结构复杂、修饰语多、层次重叠，翻译时需要根据句子的逻辑关系和汉语表达习惯，灵活运用不同方法。主要有以下四种基本技巧：
| 方法 | 适用情况 |
|---|---|
| 顺序法 | 英语长句的叙述层次与汉语基本一致 |
| 逆序法 | 英语长句的表达次序与汉语不同甚至完全相反 |
| 分句法 | 长句中主语或主句与修饰词关系不甚密切 |
| 综合法 | 单纯使用上述任一方法都不方便，需综合处理 |
六、顺序法
当英语长句的内容叙述层次与汉语基本一致时，可按英语原文顺序翻译。
Even when we turn off the beside lamp and are fast asleep, electricity is working for us, driving our refrigerators, heating our water, or keeping our rooms air-conditioned.
即使在我们关掉了床头灯深深地进入梦乡时，电仍在为我们工作：帮我们开动电冰箱，把水加热，或使室内空调机继续运转。
分析：该句由一个主句、三个伴随状语的现在分词以及时间状语从句组成，共五层意思，逻辑关系和表达顺序与汉语完全一致。
But now it is realized that supplies of some of them are limited, and it is even possible to give a reasonable estimate of their "expectation of life", the time it will take to exhaust all known sources and reserves of these materials.
可是现在人们意识到，其中有些矿物质的蕴藏量是有限的，人们甚至还可以比较合理地估计出这些矿物质"可望存在多少年"，也就是说，经过若干年后，这些矿物的全部已知矿源和储量将消耗殆尽。
Prior to the twentieth century, women in novels were stereotypes of lacking any features that made them unique individuals and were also subject to numerous restrictions imposed by the male-dominated culture.
在20世纪以前，小说中的妇女像都是一个模式。她们没有任何特点，因而无法成为具有个性的人；她们还要屈从于由男性主宰的文化传统强加给她们的种种束缚。
If parents were prepared for this adolescent reaction, and realized that it was a sign that the child was growing up and developing valuable powers of observation and independent judgment, they would not be so hurt, and therefore would not drive the child into opposition by resenting and resisting it.
如果做父母的对这种青少年的反应有所准备，而且认为这是一个显示出孩子正在成长，正在发展珍贵的观察力和独立的判断力的标志，他们就不会感到如此伤心，所以也就不会因对此有愤恨和反对的情绪而把孩子推到对立面去。
七、逆序法
英语有些长句的表达次序与汉语不同甚至完全相反，这时必须从原文后面开始翻译。
Aluminum remained unknown until the nineteenth century, because nowhere in nature is it found free, owing to its always being combined with other elements, most commonly with oxygen, for which it has a strong affinity.
铝总是跟其他元素结合在一起，最普遍的是跟氧结合；因为铝跟氧有很强的亲和力，由于这个原因，在自然界找不到游离状态的铝。所以，铝直到19世纪才被人发现。
分析：该句共五层意思：A. 铝直到19世纪才被人发现；B. 自然界找不到游离状态的铝；C. 它总是跟其他元素结合；D. 最普遍跟氧结合；E. 铝跟氧有很强亲和力。按汉语习惯"因在前，果在后"，逆着原文顺序翻译。
It therefore becomes more and more important that, if students are not to waste their opportunities, there will have to be much more detailed information about courses and more advice.
因此，如果要使学生充分利用他们（上大学）的机会，就得为他们提供大量关于课程的更为详尽的信息，作更多的指导。这个问题显得越来越重要了。
It is probably easier for teachers than for students to appreciate the reasons why learning English seems to become increasingly difficult once the basic structures and patterns of the language have been understood.
一旦了解英语的基本结构和句型，再往下学似乎就越来越难了，这其中的原因，也许教师比学生更容易理解。
They (the poor) are the first to experience technological progress as a curse which destroys the old muscle-power jobs that previous generations used as a means to fight their way out of poverty.
对于以往几代人来说，旧式的体力劳动是一种用以摆脱贫困的手段，而技术的进步则摧毁了穷人赖以为生的体力劳动，因此首先体验到技术进步之害的是穷人。
Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world; they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals.
假如没有那些以昆虫为食的动物保护我们，昆虫将吞噬我们所有的庄稼，害死我们的牛羊家畜，使我们不能生存于世。
八、分句法
有时英语长句中主语或主句与修饰词的关系并不十分密切，翻译时可按汉语多用短句的习惯，把长句的从句或短语化成句子，分开叙述，为使语意连贯，有时需适当增加词语。
The number of the young people in the United States who can't read is incredible about one in four.
大约有1/4的美国青年人没有阅读能力，这简直令人难以置信。
分析：若按原文结构死译，则为"没有阅读能力的美国青年人的数目令人难以相信约为1/4"，极为不通顺。分句法将其拆分为两个独立分句。
Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allows one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers an endless series of programmes which are both instructive and entertaining.
人们常说，通过电视可以了解时事，掌握科学和政治的最新动态。从电视里还可以看到层出不穷、既有教育意义又有娱乐性的新节目。
分析：该长句有插入语"it is often said"、三个并列谓语结构和一个定语从句。三个并列谓语虽同属一句，但各有独立意义，可分解成几个独立分句。
All they have to do is press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas, and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match.
他们所必须做的只是按一下开关。开关一开，就可以看到电视剧、电影、歌剧，以及其他各种各样的文艺节目。至于政治问题的辩论、最近的激动人心的足球赛更是不在话下。
Although perhaps only 1 per cent of the life that has started somewhere will develop into highly complex and intelligent patterns, so vast is the number of planets that intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe.
虽然在某处已经开始的生命中可能仅有百分之一会发展成高度复杂、有智慧的型式，但是行星的数目如此之多，以致有智慧的生命一定是宇宙的一个天然组成部分。
九、综合法
在翻译一个英语长句时，往往不是单纯使用一种方法，而是需要把各种方法综合使用。当单纯采用顺序法、逆序法或分句法都不方便时，需仔细分析，按照时间先后或逻辑顺序，顺逆结合，主次分明地对全句进行综合处理。
People were afraid to leave their houses, for although the police had been ordered to stand by in case of emergency, they were just as confused and helpless as anybody else.
尽管警察已接到命令，要作好准备以应付紧急情况，但人们不敢出门，因为警察也和其他人一样不知所措和无能为力。
分析：三层含义——A. 人们不敢出门（结果）；B. 警察已接到命令（让步）；C. 警察也不知所措（原因）。按汉语习惯，让步在前，结果居中，原因在后，综合调整语序。
Modern scientific and technical books, especially textbooks, require revision at short intervals if their authors wish to keep pace with new ideas, observations and discoveries.
对于现代书籍，特别是教科书来说，要是作者希望自己书中的内容能与新概念、新观察到的事实和新发现同步发展的话，那么就应该每隔较短的时间，将书中的内容重新修改。
Taking his cue from Ibsen's A Doll's House, in which the heroine, Nora, leaves home because she resents her husband's treating her like a child, the writer Lu Xun warned that Nora would need money to support herself; she must have economic rights to survive.
易卜生的剧作《玩偶之家》中的女主人公娜拉离家出走，因为她憎恶她的丈夫像对待孩子一样来对待她。作家鲁迅从中得到启示，从而告诫人们娜拉得需要钱来养活自己，她要生存就必须有经济上的权利。
技巧总结：翻译长句的关键步骤——先通读全句→分析语法结构→判断逻辑关系→选择翻译方法→调整语序成文。实际翻译中，大多数长句需要综合运用多种方法，灵活处理。