【中英翻译】浅谈英语长句的汉语翻译

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 Introduction EnglishChinese 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. Comparison between English and Chinese sentencesCommon types of long sentences in English Generally, there are various types of long sentences, which are different in structures. “Sentences with attributive clausesP 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 effectAn 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 clausewhether it is the cause or effect of the main clauseshould 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.” PTo use an example to clarify the process,（）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 timeAttributive 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”.（）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 Chines