英語和漢語分屬兩種不同語系，其差別很大，翻譯起來有諸多困難，英語定語從句漢譯便是困難之一。由于定語從句在英語中應(yīng)用十分廣泛，因此，我們必須想辦法、找方法、尋規(guī)律，從而很好地解決它。
一、限制性定語從句
限制性定語從句對所修飾先行項起限制作用，在意義上與先行項密切不可分。如被省去，主句意思就含糊不清，甚至變得毫無意義。關(guān)系詞和先行項之間一般不用逗號分隔。
（一）定語詞組
①I have but one lamp by which my feed are guided. 我只有一盞指路明燈。
②It was so with the vast railroad yards with the crowded array of vessels she saw in the river. 火車站廣大場地，河里鱗次梯比船只，她也同樣不能理解。
③Before following her in her round of seeking, let us look at the sphare in which her future was to lie. 我們暫且把她找尋工作事擱下來不談，先看一看她前途所寄托這個世界。
④……and the thread which bound her so lightly to girlhood and home were irretrievably broken ……而那些把她和少女時代以及故鄉(xiāng)輕輕系住柔絲，不得不就此斷絕了。
（二）并列從句
1）省略英語先行項
①The lungs are subjecd to several diseases which are treatable by surgery. 肺易受幾種疾病侵襲，但均可經(jīng)手術(shù)治療。
②A little way on she saw a great door which, for some reason, attracted her attention. 又走了一些路，她看見一個大門，不知怎，引起了她注意。
③As a result, a hum of gossip was set going which moved about the house in that secret manner common to gossip. 結(jié)果就造成一陣閑話，暗中在公寓里流傳，閑話一般都是如此。
④A will had been made which divide the small tax –eaten property equally among the remaining four, so that it was really of no interest to any of them. 遺囑已立好，把這片快要給稅吃光薄產(chǎn)平分給四個孩子，但誰都對此不感興趣。
上述定語從句例句比（一）里定語從句例句長些，因此，就不宜譯成定語詞組成形式。否則，譯句就會顯得太長且不符合漢語表達習(xí)慣。如④就不宜譯成“把這片快要給稅吃光薄產(chǎn)平分給四個孩子中遺囑早已立好，誰都對此不感興趣?！边@類從句不是長、難復(fù)雜定語從句，一般就按原文順序位置譯。上面譯句第二分句，有承前省略了主語，如③④，有借用第一分句不定語作邏輯主語，如①②
2）重復(fù)英語先行項
①At dimmer I found myself placed between Mrs. Bradly, and a shy drab girl who seemed even younger than the other. 席間，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己坐在布拉得雷太太和一靦腆乏味女孩子中間；她看上去比其余人都年輕。
②A writer——in fact every one of us in life——needs that loving-mother force from which all creation flows…… 一個作家——實際上生活中每個人——都需要慈母力量，它是創(chuàng)造一切源泉。
③Man possesses an expressive faculty that goes far beyond gestures, that allows and even compels him to express his thoughts, feedings, dreams, and inituitions. 人類具有遠遠超過于手勢表達官能，這種官能不僅使人能夠，而且使他要把思想、感情、幻夢、直覺表達出來。
這些先行項重復(fù)，有時用是代詞如①②，有時用是限定詞如③。漢譯時，需重復(fù)先行項地方，就要重復(fù)。否則會影響意思連貫和清楚。我們一般采用分述法將帶定語從句英語復(fù)合句譯成并列分詞。分述法就將主句和從句分開翻譯方法。此方法除了將定語從句譯為并列分句外，還譯為狀語從句。
（三）狀語從句
讓我們來看看下例該怎么譯：
He insisted on building another house which he had no use for.
上例能譯成“他堅持再建一座他不用房子”或“他堅持再建一座房，這房他不用”嗎？顯然不能，因為這樣譯文令讀者莫名其妙。這兩種譯文是套用定語詞組和并列分句形式而譯，然而錯了。
正確譯文是：他雖自己不用，但仍堅持再建一座房。此句之所以這樣譯，是因為它含有狀語從句意思。英語定語從句——尤其是非限制性定語從句——有時兼有狀語從句職能，可以表示時間、條件、原因、讓步、目、結(jié)果等等關(guān)系。
茲再舉幾例說明限制性定語從句所表示狀語意思：
①I think it will grow even on non-irrlgated land where there is a forest belt. 我想即使在沒有灌溉土地上，只要有一條樹林帶，苜蓿還是會生長。（表條件）
②In a personed sense, I think of my eldest daughter, whose birthday is today. 就個人來講，我想到我大女兒，因為今天是她生日。（表原因）
（四）獨立句
①He paid that peculiar deferente to women which every member of the sex appreciates. 他對女性殷勤令每個女人所賞識。
②What were the hopes and dreams that had made of them the incredibly stubborn warriors？是什么希望，什么目標，什么理想使他們成為頑強到令人難以置信戰(zhàn)士呢？
翻譯英語There be 句型和帶定語從句復(fù)合句時，常用溶合法。溶合法就是把原主句主語同定語從句溶合在一起而譯成獨立句方法。溶合法要求改變句子構(gòu)造形式。具體作法是，將原主句詞或詞組用作獨立句主語，再將定語從句用作謂語，這樣便譯成獨立句，如①將He paid that peculiar deference to women 壓縮譯為“他對女性殷勤”而定語從句“which every member of the sex appreciates”譯為謂語“令每個女人所常識”。
（五）復(fù)合賓語
①I also found on the ground near the tracks of the lamed groups of ants which were rulling grains of corn. 我還看見駱駝腳印邊有許多螞蟻在拖玉米粒。
②He did not find any one in the house who particularly cared to see. 他認為家里沒有人特別想知道。
當主句謂語動詞是表示“感觀”或“心理活動”等意義時，修飾賓語定語從句多譯為復(fù)合賓語。
二、非限制性定語從句
非限制性定語從句同其先行項之間聯(lián)系是松散。它不是先行項必不可少組成部分，而僅是對先行項作些描寫或補充說明。非限制性定語從句前常有逗號將它與主語分開。非限制性定語從句也主要是采用前面已說過分譯法和溶合法來譯。它常駐被譯為并列分句、獨立和狀語從句，偶爾還可譯為定語詞組等。
（一）譯成并列分句
1、譯成并列分句，省略先行項
①Wait a minute, said the boss, and he opened the load and took out a ham, which he started to bone and string up. “等一會兒！”老板說道，說罷便打開火腿包，拿出一只，開始剔骨頭，并用繩子縛起來。（省主語）
②Carrie reached home in high good spirits，which she could scarely conceal. 嘉莉興高采烈地回到家，想掩飾也掩飾不住。（省主語）
2、譯成并列分句，重復(fù)英語先行項
①……from his vest dangled a real gold watch chain, from which was suspended the secret insignia of the Order of Elks……背心上蕩著一根精致金表鏈，鏈上系著“共進會”徽章。
②He came within the meaning of a still newer term, which had sprung into general use among Americans in 1880…… 他其實適合于一個更新名詞，那個名詞1880年在美國人中突然流行起來……
（二）譯成獨立句
①It has long been my wish to encounter one of the oldest civilizations in earth. I have come amidst you from Egypt, On the banks of the Nile, which also has a most ancient civilization. 我一直向往著要同世界最古老文明會晤。尼羅河畔埃及也有著最古老文明，我正是從那里來到你們中間。
②You've given Feldstyn, who dislikes me any how, the chance he was waiting for. 費爾德丁反正討厭我，你給他機會正是他求之不得。
（三）譯成狀語從句
①These actions, which have aroused universal and unreserved disapproval, must nevertheless give us a pause. 這些行動，雖已激起普遍而毫不掩飾反對，卻也使我們舉棋不定。（表讓步）
②In a dispute between two states with which one is friendly, try not to get involved. 在兩國發(fā)生爭端時，如與該兩國皆友好，則應(yīng)避免卷入。（表條件）。
③Copper, which is used so widely for carrying electricity, offers very little resistance. 銅電阻很小，因此被廣泛用于輸電。（表結(jié)果）
（四）譯成定語詞組
As I came in, Gus Meyer, who owned the taxicad that used to stand at the corner of our street, waved to me from a table. 我進去時，那個開出租汽車古司。買耶坐在一張桌子那里向我招手，他車子經(jīng)常就停在我們街角上。非限制性定語從句主要是譯成并列分句、獨立句和狀語從句這幾種形式，這與它作用——僅是對先行項提供一些補充說明——有關(guān)。難怪《新編英語語法》（修定本）指出：在意義上，非限制性定語從句相當于一個并列分句，可以完全脫離主句而獨立出現(xiàn)。
綜上舉例可以看出，定語從句可用“分述法”和“溶合法”進行翻譯，形式有定語詞組，并列分句、狀語從句、復(fù)合賓語等。這些形式是英譯漢主要“框架結(jié)構(gòu)”，并非全部“標準答案”。在具體和翻譯實踐中，我們應(yīng)該視其不同情況，選用不同形式或作靈活變通處理。
一、限制性定語從句
限制性定語從句對所修飾先行項起限制作用，在意義上與先行項密切不可分。如被省去，主句意思就含糊不清，甚至變得毫無意義。關(guān)系詞和先行項之間一般不用逗號分隔。
（一）定語詞組
①I have but one lamp by which my feed are guided. 我只有一盞指路明燈。
②It was so with the vast railroad yards with the crowded array of vessels she saw in the river. 火車站廣大場地，河里鱗次梯比船只，她也同樣不能理解。
③Before following her in her round of seeking, let us look at the sphare in which her future was to lie. 我們暫且把她找尋工作事擱下來不談，先看一看她前途所寄托這個世界。
④……and the thread which bound her so lightly to girlhood and home were irretrievably broken ……而那些把她和少女時代以及故鄉(xiāng)輕輕系住柔絲，不得不就此斷絕了。
（二）并列從句
1）省略英語先行項
①The lungs are subjecd to several diseases which are treatable by surgery. 肺易受幾種疾病侵襲，但均可經(jīng)手術(shù)治療。
②A little way on she saw a great door which, for some reason, attracted her attention. 又走了一些路，她看見一個大門，不知怎，引起了她注意。
③As a result, a hum of gossip was set going which moved about the house in that secret manner common to gossip. 結(jié)果就造成一陣閑話，暗中在公寓里流傳，閑話一般都是如此。
④A will had been made which divide the small tax –eaten property equally among the remaining four, so that it was really of no interest to any of them. 遺囑已立好，把這片快要給稅吃光薄產(chǎn)平分給四個孩子，但誰都對此不感興趣。
上述定語從句例句比（一）里定語從句例句長些，因此，就不宜譯成定語詞組成形式。否則，譯句就會顯得太長且不符合漢語表達習(xí)慣。如④就不宜譯成“把這片快要給稅吃光薄產(chǎn)平分給四個孩子中遺囑早已立好，誰都對此不感興趣?！边@類從句不是長、難復(fù)雜定語從句，一般就按原文順序位置譯。上面譯句第二分句，有承前省略了主語，如③④，有借用第一分句不定語作邏輯主語，如①②
2）重復(fù)英語先行項
①At dimmer I found myself placed between Mrs. Bradly, and a shy drab girl who seemed even younger than the other. 席間，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己坐在布拉得雷太太和一靦腆乏味女孩子中間；她看上去比其余人都年輕。
②A writer——in fact every one of us in life——needs that loving-mother force from which all creation flows…… 一個作家——實際上生活中每個人——都需要慈母力量，它是創(chuàng)造一切源泉。
③Man possesses an expressive faculty that goes far beyond gestures, that allows and even compels him to express his thoughts, feedings, dreams, and inituitions. 人類具有遠遠超過于手勢表達官能，這種官能不僅使人能夠，而且使他要把思想、感情、幻夢、直覺表達出來。
這些先行項重復(fù)，有時用是代詞如①②，有時用是限定詞如③。漢譯時，需重復(fù)先行項地方，就要重復(fù)。否則會影響意思連貫和清楚。我們一般采用分述法將帶定語從句英語復(fù)合句譯成并列分詞。分述法就將主句和從句分開翻譯方法。此方法除了將定語從句譯為并列分句外，還譯為狀語從句。
（三）狀語從句
讓我們來看看下例該怎么譯：
He insisted on building another house which he had no use for.
上例能譯成“他堅持再建一座他不用房子”或“他堅持再建一座房，這房他不用”嗎？顯然不能，因為這樣譯文令讀者莫名其妙。這兩種譯文是套用定語詞組和并列分句形式而譯，然而錯了。
正確譯文是：他雖自己不用，但仍堅持再建一座房。此句之所以這樣譯，是因為它含有狀語從句意思。英語定語從句——尤其是非限制性定語從句——有時兼有狀語從句職能，可以表示時間、條件、原因、讓步、目、結(jié)果等等關(guān)系。
茲再舉幾例說明限制性定語從句所表示狀語意思：
①I think it will grow even on non-irrlgated land where there is a forest belt. 我想即使在沒有灌溉土地上，只要有一條樹林帶，苜蓿還是會生長。（表條件）
②In a personed sense, I think of my eldest daughter, whose birthday is today. 就個人來講，我想到我大女兒，因為今天是她生日。（表原因）
（四）獨立句
①He paid that peculiar deferente to women which every member of the sex appreciates. 他對女性殷勤令每個女人所賞識。
②What were the hopes and dreams that had made of them the incredibly stubborn warriors？是什么希望，什么目標，什么理想使他們成為頑強到令人難以置信戰(zhàn)士呢？
翻譯英語There be 句型和帶定語從句復(fù)合句時，常用溶合法。溶合法就是把原主句主語同定語從句溶合在一起而譯成獨立句方法。溶合法要求改變句子構(gòu)造形式。具體作法是，將原主句詞或詞組用作獨立句主語，再將定語從句用作謂語，這樣便譯成獨立句，如①將He paid that peculiar deference to women 壓縮譯為“他對女性殷勤”而定語從句“which every member of the sex appreciates”譯為謂語“令每個女人所常識”。
（五）復(fù)合賓語
①I also found on the ground near the tracks of the lamed groups of ants which were rulling grains of corn. 我還看見駱駝腳印邊有許多螞蟻在拖玉米粒。
②He did not find any one in the house who particularly cared to see. 他認為家里沒有人特別想知道。
當主句謂語動詞是表示“感觀”或“心理活動”等意義時，修飾賓語定語從句多譯為復(fù)合賓語。
二、非限制性定語從句
非限制性定語從句同其先行項之間聯(lián)系是松散。它不是先行項必不可少組成部分，而僅是對先行項作些描寫或補充說明。非限制性定語從句前常有逗號將它與主語分開。非限制性定語從句也主要是采用前面已說過分譯法和溶合法來譯。它常駐被譯為并列分句、獨立和狀語從句，偶爾還可譯為定語詞組等。
（一）譯成并列分句
1、譯成并列分句，省略先行項
①Wait a minute, said the boss, and he opened the load and took out a ham, which he started to bone and string up. “等一會兒！”老板說道，說罷便打開火腿包，拿出一只，開始剔骨頭，并用繩子縛起來。（省主語）
②Carrie reached home in high good spirits，which she could scarely conceal. 嘉莉興高采烈地回到家，想掩飾也掩飾不住。（省主語）
2、譯成并列分句，重復(fù)英語先行項
①……from his vest dangled a real gold watch chain, from which was suspended the secret insignia of the Order of Elks……背心上蕩著一根精致金表鏈，鏈上系著“共進會”徽章。
②He came within the meaning of a still newer term, which had sprung into general use among Americans in 1880…… 他其實適合于一個更新名詞，那個名詞1880年在美國人中突然流行起來……
（二）譯成獨立句
①It has long been my wish to encounter one of the oldest civilizations in earth. I have come amidst you from Egypt, On the banks of the Nile, which also has a most ancient civilization. 我一直向往著要同世界最古老文明會晤。尼羅河畔埃及也有著最古老文明，我正是從那里來到你們中間。
②You've given Feldstyn, who dislikes me any how, the chance he was waiting for. 費爾德丁反正討厭我，你給他機會正是他求之不得。
（三）譯成狀語從句
①These actions, which have aroused universal and unreserved disapproval, must nevertheless give us a pause. 這些行動，雖已激起普遍而毫不掩飾反對，卻也使我們舉棋不定。（表讓步）
②In a dispute between two states with which one is friendly, try not to get involved. 在兩國發(fā)生爭端時，如與該兩國皆友好，則應(yīng)避免卷入。（表條件）。
③Copper, which is used so widely for carrying electricity, offers very little resistance. 銅電阻很小，因此被廣泛用于輸電。（表結(jié)果）
（四）譯成定語詞組
As I came in, Gus Meyer, who owned the taxicad that used to stand at the corner of our street, waved to me from a table. 我進去時，那個開出租汽車古司。買耶坐在一張桌子那里向我招手，他車子經(jīng)常就停在我們街角上。非限制性定語從句主要是譯成并列分句、獨立句和狀語從句這幾種形式，這與它作用——僅是對先行項提供一些補充說明——有關(guān)。難怪《新編英語語法》（修定本）指出：在意義上，非限制性定語從句相當于一個并列分句，可以完全脫離主句而獨立出現(xiàn)。
綜上舉例可以看出，定語從句可用“分述法”和“溶合法”進行翻譯，形式有定語詞組，并列分句、狀語從句、復(fù)合賓語等。這些形式是英譯漢主要“框架結(jié)構(gòu)”，并非全部“標準答案”。在具體和翻譯實踐中，我們應(yīng)該視其不同情況，選用不同形式或作靈活變通處理。