67.怎樣用綜合法來翻譯長句？
有些英語長句順譯或逆譯都不合適，分譯也有困難，單純的使用一種譯法不能譯出地道的漢語時，就應(yīng)該仔細推敲，或按時間先后，或按邏輯先后，或按邏輯順序，有順有逆地進行綜合處理。例如：
經(jīng)典例題477 The phenomenon describes the way in which light physically scatters when it passes through particles in the earth‘s atmosphere that are1/10in diameter of the color of the light.
分析：該句可以分解為四個部分：The phenomenon describes the way/in which light physically scatters/when it passes through particles in the earth‘s atmosphere/that are1/10in diameter of the color of the light.其中，第一、二和三四部分之間是修飾與被修飾的關(guān)系?？傮w考慮之后，我們可以使用綜合法來處理這個句子，即合譯第一、二和第三部分，第四部分用分譯法，這樣譯出來的句子就非常符合漢語的表達習慣。
參考譯文這種現(xiàn)象說明了光線通過地球大氣微粒時的物理散射方式。大氣微粒的直徑為有色光直徑的十分之一。
經(jīng)典例題478 When Hetty read Arthur‘s letter she gave way to despair.Then，by one of those conclusive，motionless actions by which the wretched leap from temporary sorrow to life_long misery，she determined to marry Adam.
分析：該句可以分解為五個部分：When Hetty read Arthur‘s letter/she gave way to despair/by one of those conclusive，motionless actions/by which the wretched leap from temporary sorrow to life_long misery/she determined to marry Adam.首先，第四部分是修飾第三部分的，對第四部分采用分譯法，然后再適當?shù)馗鶕?jù)漢語的表達習慣調(diào)整語序，增減詞語，對句子進行綜合處理。
參考譯文海蒂讀過阿瑟的信后陷入絕望之中。后來，她采取了一個不幸者常常采用的那種快刀斬亂麻的行動：嫁給了亞當，從而陷入了終身的痛苦，為的不過是跳出那一時的悲傷。
語序調(diào)整是保證句子通順的關(guān)鍵所在。由于長句的翻譯大多需要將原句拆分成多個較短的句子，并且要通過多個短句表達出原來長句的修飾關(guān)系和意思，漢語句子的邏輯關(guān)系在很大程度上依靠各語法單位在句中的順序得以表現(xiàn)。所以語序的調(diào)整是長句翻譯中極其重要的一個環(huán)節(jié)，直接關(guān)系到意思是否完整，句子是否通順。語序調(diào)整是各類詞語翻譯方法和各種特殊句型翻譯的綜合運用。
歷年真題分析
經(jīng)典例題479 This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high_energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.（1991年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是This will be particularly true since…。since引導(dǎo)原因狀語從句。此從句中又套嵌一個由關(guān)系代詞that引導(dǎo)的定語從句，修飾the high_energy American fashion.this指代前句中提到的這種困境。energy pinch譯為能源的匱乏；in…fashion譯為用…方法、方式。
參考譯文這種困境將是確定無疑的，因為能源的匱乏將使農(nóng)業(yè)很難以高能量消耗這種美國耕種方式繼續(xù)下去，而這種耕種方式使投入少數(shù)農(nóng)民就可獲得高產(chǎn)成為可能。
經(jīng)典例題480 Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter，we must be sure that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides avalidorfaircomparison.（1992年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是since…，we must be sure that…。since引導(dǎo)原因狀語從句。主句中又有that引導(dǎo)的原因狀語從句。此賓語從句中又套嵌一個由介詞with+which引導(dǎo)的定語從句修飾先行詞the scale.scale在此處意為尺度、衡量標準。
參考譯文既然對智力的評估是比較而言的，那么我們必須確保，在對我們的對象進行比較時，我們所用的尺度能提供有效的或公平的比較。
經(jīng)典例題481 In general，the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can be well defined.（1995年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是the tests work most effectively when…and least effectively when…。and連接兩個并列分句，每個并列分句中皆有一個when引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句分別說明work most effectively和and（work）least effectively.第二個時間狀語從句中還有一個主語從句what…predicted.the tests是主句的主語，work為動詞做謂語，不能譯作這些測試工作，應(yīng)譯成起作用或奏效。most effectively不譯成（測試）效率高，least effectively不應(yīng)譯作無效，失去效果，應(yīng)譯為效果差；qualities在此處是可數(shù)名詞，不譯為質(zhì)量，而譯為特征。defined不能直譯為被定義為，而應(yīng)譯為主動態(tài)界定。
參考譯文一般地說，當所需要測定的特征能很精確地界定時，測試為有效；而當所測定或預(yù)測的東西不能明確地界定時，測試的效果則差。
經(jīng)典例題482 For example，they do not compensate for gross social inequality，and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.（1995年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是they do not compensate…，and thus do not tell how…。and連接兩個并列分句，第二個并列分句中由how引導(dǎo)的賓語從句是一個帶有虛擬條件句的主從復(fù)合句，其中had he grown up…（=If he had grown up…）是省略了連詞if的非真實條件句，譯成漢語時，通常譯在主句之前。主句主語的they，在此代指上文提到的tests，應(yīng)譯為測試、這些測試（驗）、這些測試手段；compensate for譯為補償，彌補；gross在此句中不能譯為總的或整個的，而應(yīng)譯為明顯的，顯著的；able應(yīng)譯為有能力的或能干的，在句中作might have been的表語。underprivileged在此不能譯為沒有特權(quán)的，而譯為沒有地位的或物質(zhì)條件差的。
參考譯文例如，測試并不能彌補明顯的社會不公；因此，它們不能說明一個物質(zhì)條件差的年輕人，如果在較好的環(huán)境中成長的話，會有多大才干。
經(jīng)典例題483 It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the consideration humans extend to other humans，or with no consideration at all.（1997年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that…。冒號后的復(fù)合句是對冒號前部分作進一步說明。復(fù)合句中that引導(dǎo)賓語從句，從句中有either…or…引導(dǎo)的兩個并列的介詞結(jié)構(gòu)作狀語，修飾動詞be treated，其中第一個with介詞結(jié)構(gòu)中還有一個省略了關(guān)系代詞that或which的定語從句humans extend to other humans，修飾the consideration.it代指上文的觀點，即如果對人權(quán)沒有達成一致看法，而談?wù)搫游锏臋?quán)力是徒勞的，譯為這種說法或這種觀點。介詞短語at the outset譯為從一開始。動詞invites應(yīng)轉(zhuǎn)譯為使、讓或促使。動賓結(jié)構(gòu)extend consideration to應(yīng)意為給予關(guān)懷或關(guān)心，consideration不應(yīng)譯為考慮。
參考譯文這種說法從一開始就將討論引向極端，它使人們認為應(yīng)該這樣對待動物：要么像對人類自身一樣關(guān)懷體諒，要么完全冷漠無情。
經(jīng)典例題484 But even more important，it was the farthest that scientists had been able to look into the past，for what they were seeing were the patterns and structures that existed15billion years ago.（1998年）
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是it was the farthest that…。但It was…that…在本句中不是強調(diào)句型，因此將句子譯為更重要的是，正是這種遠的距離使得科學家們能夠研究過去，因為…是錯誤的。it為一個有具體指代意義的實義詞，it應(yīng)是指上句中所提到的150億年前形成的巨大云團（a strip of enormous cosmic clouds some15billion light_years from earth）；that引導(dǎo)的應(yīng)是一個定語從句，修飾先行詞the farthest.for引導(dǎo)的是原因狀語從句，從句中還有that引導(dǎo)的定語從句，修飾the patterns and structure.
參考譯文但更重要的是，這是科學家們所能觀測到的遙遠的過去的景象，因為他們看到的是150億年前宇宙云的形狀和結(jié)構(gòu)。
熟能生巧
經(jīng)典例題485 Thus it happened that when the new factories that were springing up required labor，tens of thousands of homeless and hungry agri cultural workers，with their wives and children，were forced into the cities in search of work，and any work，under any condition，that would keep them alive.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是it happened that…。it做形式主語，that引導(dǎo)的從句做真正的主語。主語從句中，又有一個由when引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句，主句為tens of thousands of homeless and hungry agricultural workers…were forced…，時間狀語從句中從句主語the new factories又帶有一個定語從句that were springing up；that would keep them alive做work的定語從句。spring up意為發(fā)生，出現(xiàn)，建立。
參考譯文于是就出現(xiàn)了這樣的情況：正當新辦的工廠紛紛建立，需要勞動力的時候，成上萬無家可歸、饑腸轆轆的從事農(nóng)業(yè)的勞動者攜家?guī)Э?，被迫溜入城市；他們要找活干，不管什么活兒，不講什么條件，只要不使他們餓死就行。
經(jīng)典例題486 As a result of two or three centuries of scientific investigation we have come to believe that Nature is understandable in the sense that when we ask her questions by way of appropriate observations and experiments，she will answer truly and reward us with discoveries that endure.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是…we have come to believe that…。that引導(dǎo)的從句做believe的賓語從句；此從句中有一個that從句作the sense的同位語從句；同位語從句中又套嵌一個由when引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句；此時間狀語從句又套嵌一個定語從句that endure，修飾其先行詞discoveries.by way of意為經(jīng)由，通過…方法；reward sb.with意為以…報答，酬勞；endure此處應(yīng)譯為持久，持續(xù)，不要譯為忍受，容忍。
參考譯文由于兩三個世紀以來科學研究的結(jié)果，我們逐漸相信，如果運用合適的觀察和實驗方法向大自然探究問題，她會真心實意地給我們答復(fù)，并且以永垂不朽的發(fā)現(xiàn)來報答我們。從這個意義上來說，大自然是可以認識的。
經(jīng)典例題487 These new observational capabilities would result in simply a mass of details were it not for the fact that theoretical understanding has reached the stage at which it is becoming possible to indicate the kind of measurements required for reliable weather forecasting.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是These new observational capabilities would result in simply a mass of details…。后面緊跟省略了if引導(dǎo)的虛擬條件句were it not for the fact that…，即if it were not for the fact that…；that從句作the fact的同位語從句。此從句中又套嵌一個定語從句，修飾其先行詞the stage；required for reliable weather forecasting為過去分詞短語修飾the kind of measurements.simply譯為只不過，僅僅，不應(yīng)譯為簡單地。
參考譯文理論上的認識已達到了這樣的階段———現(xiàn)在已能指出需要哪種測量方式才能可靠地預(yù)報天氣，如果做不到這一點，那么上述這些新的觀察能力只不過提供了一大堆細節(jié)而已。
經(jīng)典例題488 The story of the discovery of what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes，namely that a solid body when immersed in a liquid loses a portion of its weight of the liquid it displaces，has many different versions，of which the following is one.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是The story…h(huán)as many different versions…。what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes為名詞性從句做介詞of的賓語。namely that a solid body…作the principle of Archimedes的同位語；when immersed in a liquid是省略了主語的過去分詞短語，句子補充完整為when the solid body is immersed in a liquid，修飾其主句a solid body loses a portion of its weight of the liquid…；it displaces是省略了關(guān)系代詞that的定語從句修飾the liquid，it代指前面提到的the solid body；同時，of which the following is one又構(gòu)成先行詞versions的定語從句。displace意為排（水）；version不譯為版本，此處指根據(jù)個人觀點的（對事件等的）說，看法；句尾的one代指a version.
參考譯文當固體浸沒到液體中時，固體會失去它所排出的液體的那部分重量，這就是現(xiàn)在通常所謂的阿基米德原理。有關(guān)這一發(fā)現(xiàn)的故事有很多說法，下面的故事就是其中之一。
經(jīng)典例題489 We assumed that there were forces of attraction between molecules which varied rapidly with the distance so that the attraction between molecules that were more than a few ten_millionths of a millimeter apart was very small but became considerable when the molecules approached more closely.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是We assumed that there were forces of attraction…。that引導(dǎo)賓語從句。此賓語從句中套嵌一個由which引導(dǎo)的定語從句修飾先行詞forces of attraction；so that the attraction between molecules…是so that結(jié)構(gòu)引導(dǎo)的結(jié)果狀語從句；在此狀語從句中，除主干結(jié)構(gòu)the attraction…was very small but became considerable…，又有that were more than a few ten_ millionths of a millimeter apart做定語從句修飾先行詞molecules和when the molecules approached more closely做狀語從句，修飾…but became considerable.considerable譯為相當大（或多的）。
參考譯文我們曾經(jīng)假定，分子之間存在著引力，這種引力隨著分子之間距離的不同而有顯著的變化，因而，在間距為千萬分之幾毫米的分子之間的引力是很小的，但是分子靠得很近時，這種引力會變得相當大。
經(jīng)典例題490This need is enshrined in the concept of sustainable development，which means that we must，for the benefit of coming generations，leave enough environmental space so that these generations will be able to address their needs and fulfill their aspirations.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是This need is enshrined in the concept of sustainable development…。其后緊跟著一個which引導(dǎo)的定語從句，修飾先行詞sustainable development.此定語從句的謂語動詞means又套嵌一個that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句，即we must…leave enough environmental space.此賓語從句中又有so that結(jié)構(gòu)做此從句的目的狀語。be enshrined in意為被深深地珍藏（或銘記）在…，此處轉(zhuǎn)譯為主動態(tài)納入到。sustainable development譯為可持續(xù)發(fā)展。
參考譯文這一需要能納入到可持續(xù)發(fā)展的概念之中。所謂可持續(xù)發(fā)展是指：為了子孫后代的利益，我們必須保留足夠的生存環(huán)境空間，以滿足他們的需要，施展抱負。
經(jīng)典例題491 Painting lacks only the means to represent movement in time and space，which is the special property of sculpture and architecture，since a painting is designed to be seen from one point at one time，whereas sculpture and architecture are created to be seen from various points of view，thus supplying movements in space and time.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是Painting lacks only the means…，since…。since引導(dǎo)的原因狀語從句修飾主句；關(guān)系代詞which引導(dǎo)的定語從句修飾the means to represent movement in time and space；property在此處應(yīng)譯為性質(zhì)，特性，不譯為財產(chǎn)，資產(chǎn)。
參考譯文繪畫僅僅缺少的是表現(xiàn)空間與時間變化的手法，而這正是雕塑與建筑的特性。一幅畫在繪制時就只要求在某一時刻，從空間的一點來欣賞，而雕塑和建筑的創(chuàng)造要求從各個角度來欣賞，這樣就表現(xiàn)出了空間，時間的變化。
經(jīng)典例題492 Once intimidated by arguments that their children would feel more at home in bilingual classes，and that they might lose their heritage in regular classes，these women have since given voice，loudly and persuasively，to what they know from experience that unless they are fluent in the language of their adopted country，their children will never attend college or land any but the most menial of jobs.
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：句子的框架是these women have…given voice…to what they know from experience that…。that從句做what they know的同位語從句；此從句中又套嵌一個unless引導(dǎo)的條件狀語從句；Once intimidated by arguments是過去分詞做狀語修飾these women，其施動者arguments又有兩個that引導(dǎo)的同位語從句修飾限定它。intimidated by arguments意為被論點搞得驚慌害怕；feel at home不能直譯為感到在家，而譯為感到自在；give voice to意為表達，表露；land jobs譯為找到工作。
參考譯文有人說，孩子們在雙語課堂里會感到更加自由自在，而在正規(guī)班級會喪失其傳統(tǒng)文化。這幾位母親曾被這一論點搞得惶恐不安，現(xiàn)在發(fā)表了響亮，有說服力的意見。從她們自身的經(jīng)驗中，他們深知：如果孩子們不熟練掌握他們所移居國家的語言，除了那些簡單的體力活兒外，根本談不到上大學，也談不到找到理想的工作。