第十一讲(I) 汉英翻译中的分与合

　　汉语句子的分译与合译是较为复杂的问题，也是翻译中常见的问题。通常情况下，长句要分译，短句要合译。但是分译还是合译还要具体取决于各个成分之间意义上的关联，以及该句与上下文之间含义的连贯，同时还要符合英语的表达习惯。

一、句子的分译（断句） 所谓分译，就是把原文的一句话译成两句或多句。汉语的一个复句有时需要断作几句来翻译，才能使意思清晰，结构利落，合乎英语的表达习惯。另外，现代英语句子的结构也趋向简短。因此，翻译汉语长句时也常常采用断句手法。

一般说来，以下情况都可以采用断句法： 1) 汉语句子太长，内容较复杂 这种句子如果同样翻译成一个长句，在结构上有困难，语意也不清楚；断句则便于清晰表达原意，又符合英语的表达习惯。

* 全句包含了三层含义。译文断为三句，每句讲一层意思，读来清晰、利索。 1.历来只有真正老实的劳动者，才懂得劳动生产财富的道理，才能排除一切想入非非的发财思想，而脚踏实地用自己的辛勤劳动，为社会也为自己创造财富和积累财富。 　　——邓拓《燕山夜话》 Throughout the ages only honest laboring people see the truth that wealth is created through labor. Only they can free their minds of any fantastic ideas of getting rich. And only they create and accumulate　 wealth for both society and themselves through hard practical work. * 全句包含了三层含义。译文断为三句，每句讲一层意思，读来清晰、利索。

那是一种力争上游的树，笔直的干，笔直的枝，通常是丈把长，像是加以人工似的，一丈以内，决无旁枝；它所有的丫枝呢，一律向上，而且紧紧靠拢，像是加以人工似的，成为一束，决无横斜逸出；它的宽大的叶子也是片片向上，几乎也没有斜生的，更不用说倒垂了；它的皮，光滑而有银色的晕圈，微微泛出淡青色。 　——陶铸《白杨礼赞》

It is an aspiring tree with a straight trunk and straight branches It is an aspiring tree with a straight trunk and straight branches. The trunk is usually about a few feet high, as if man-made, with no lateral boughs for ten feet, and all its forked branches thrust upwards close together, as if man-made too, forming a cluster with none straying sideways or at an angle. All the broad leaves too rise upwards with hardly one slanting, let alone drooping down. The bark is a glossy　 silver halo tinged with light green. ——tr. Gladys Yang

2) 汉语的总分复句 汉语的总分复句都包括总说和分述两个部分。有的是先总说，后分述；有的先分述，后总说。翻译时通常的做法是，先总说后分述的句子，可在句子的开头部分断句，即将最前面的总说或概述部分单独翻译成一句；先分述后总说的句子，可在句子的结尾部分断句，即将最后的总说或判断部分断开，单独翻译成一局。比如，在以下几例中，先总说后分述：

3. 这王冕天性聪明，年纪不到二十，就把那天文、地理、经史上的大学问，无一不贯通。 Wang Mian had genius. While still in his teens, he mastered the whole field of astronomy, geography, the classics and history. 4. 但他性情不同，既不求官，又不交纳朋友，终日闭户读书。 He was, however, eccentric. He did not look for an official post, and did not even have any friends. All day he studied behind closed doors.

* 原文在最后作个总结。译文将此分句断开，另作一句，从结构上看，则更为醒目。 而在以下几例中则是先分述后总说: 我们的企业很少注意经济效果，广泛存在着劳动无定员、生产无定额、质量无检查、成本无核算的现象，在人力、物力、财力上造成很多浪费。 Our enterprises in general pay little attention to economic result, since usually the number of workers needed for a job is not fixed, production quota is not fixed, the quality of products is not checked and cost accounting is not earnestly practiced. All this has incurred a big waste of manpower, material resources and money. * 原文在最后作个总结。译文将此分句断开，另作一句，从结构上看，则更为醒目。

这些国家的共产党和进步党，正在促使它们的政府和我们做生意，以建立外交关系，这是善意的，这就是援助。 The communist Parties and progressive groups in these countries are urging their governments to establish trade and even diplomatic relations with us. This is goodwill, this is help.

不晓得季节和结婚有什么关系，但是从初冬到春天结婚的人数比其他季节多了很多，也许这就是所谓的结婚季节吧。 Don’t know what relation exists between the season and marriage, but the number of marriages is much greater from early winter to spring than in other seasons. Maybe this is the season of marriage people usually call.

3) 汉语的转折复句 句中的语气发生了变化，或改换了主句，或意思有了转折，翻译时也常常断句。比如： 8. 我在学堂里坐着，心里也闷，不如给他家放牛，倒快活些。 I feel sitting in school boring anyway. I’d rather look after our neighbor's buffaloes.

9. 1972年蒋介石叛变革命，血腥屠杀工农，中国革命还有没有希望，究竟向何出去，问题严重地摆到了中国共产党和中国人民面前。 Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution in 1927 and drenched the workers and peasants in a bloodbath. Was there ay hope for the Chinese revolution? An whither should it go? These were serious questions facing the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. * 原文句子在中间更换了主语，同时句中的分句又有陈述语气转换成疑问语气，层次较多，转折明显。翻译时断作几句，意思更清楚。

她朝窗外望去，突然发现有只小船停泊在河边，船里有位船夫睡得正香。 Looking through the window, she suddenly spotted a boat moored the bank. In it there was a boatman fast asleep. 11. 为了我们的事业，我已将生死置之度外，如有不幸，就把我埋在阴山顶上。 For the sake of our cause, I’ve never worried about life or death. If the worst happens, please bury me on top of the Daqing Mountains.

汉语长句的结尾部分是“反问”或“感叹”分句时，翻译时也一般断开 12. 应当承认，每个民族都有她的长处，不然她为什么能存在？为什么能发展？ It must be admitted that every nation has her strong points. If not, how can she survive? How can she progress?

13. 年岁不好，柴米又贵；这几件破衣服和破家具，当的当了，卖的卖了；只靠着我替人家做些针线寻来的钱，如何供得你读书？ Times are hard, and fuel and rice are expensive. Our old clothes and our few sticks of furniture have been pawned or sold. We have nothing to live on but what I make by sewing. How can I pay for your schooling?

5) 为了表达原文的语气而采用分译 它不象汉白玉那样的细腻，可以凿下刻字雕花，也不像大青石那样的光滑，可以供来洗纱捶布；它静静地卧在那里，院边的槐荫没有庇覆它，花儿也不在它身边生长。 It was not like a fine piece of white marble on which words or flowers could be carved, nor like a smooth big bluish stone people used to wash their clothes on. The stone just　lay there in silence, enjoying no shading form the pagoda trees by the yard, no flowers growing around it.

15. 我们主张对我国神圣领土台湾实行和平统一，有关的政策，也是众所周知和不会改变的，并且正在深入全中华民族的心坎。 We want peaceful reunification with Taiwan which is part of our sacred territory. Our policy in this regard is also known to all and will not change the desire for peaceful reunification of the motherland is taking hold in the hearts of entire Chinese nation.

6) 从意义完整处断开 16.你走了，不能送你，我做首诗送给你吧！ You are going away. Sorry I can’t see you off. Let me send you a poem instead. 17.被观众鼓了几下掌就飘飘然，就忘乎所以，就选成了歌星，就做飞机，就灌唱片，这简直是胡闹！是对灵魂的腐蚀! Once one gets some applause, one’s head will swell. And one will be treated like a star, given free plane trips and invited to have one’s voice recorded everywhere. It’s ridiculous! It is nothing but the corruption of the mind!

Ex 1:翻译以下句子： 有许多时候，群众在客观上虽然有了某种改革的需要，但在他们的主观上还没有这种觉悟，群众还没有这种决心，还不愿意实行改革，我们就要耐心等待；直到经过我们的工作，群众的多数有了觉悟， 有了决心，自愿实行改革，才去实现实行这种改革，否则就会脱离群众。

It often happens that objectively the masses need a certain change, but subjectively they are not ye conscious of the need, not yet willing or determined to make the change. In such cases, we should wait patiently. We should not make the change until, through our work, most of the masses have become conscious of the need and are willing and determined to carry it out. Otherwise we shall isolate ourselves from the masses.

二、汉语句子的合译 尽管英语的句子日趋简洁， 但从句套从句，短语含短语也频频出现，较汉语而言长句多，所以在翻译中，就要把汉语的两个句子甚至是多个句子合译成为英语的一句。

1) 在关联词处合译 挤到沙滩边，撕啵！——队伍解散，喷着愤怒的白泡。然而后一排又赶着扑上来。 They crowded forward to break against the beach. Then their troop scattered, spraying angry white foam, while the file behind caught up and charged in its turn.

2. 从前有个俊俏的年轻人，名叫王小，人人都喜欢他，可他总是闷闷不乐。因为他有一个说话尖刻，唠叨不休的继母。 Once there lived a handsome young man named Wang Xiao who, though a favorite with everyone, was unhappy because he had a sharp-tongued, nagging step mother.

2) 按内容连贯合译 第二天，我又接到了一个电报。这个电报有34个字，报告的是那个同样的消息，不过比以前一个电报说得更详细：我的哥哥死了，而且是自己用刀割断喉管死的。 The following day I received another telegram consisting of 34 ciphers, giving more details: my brother had committed suicide by cutting his own throat.

他的眼睛疲倦地闭着，但是有时又忽然地睁开看看岸上的路，看看水面。没有什么动静。他含糊地哼了声，又静下去了。 His eyes were closed wearily, but once in a while he would open them suddenly and stare at the path along the shore, or look at the water. When he saw that nothing was stirring, he would mutter something to himself and again doze off.

To me my aquarium is like my own little kingdom where I am king. 3) 从主语变换处合译，改译为主从结构 对我来说，我的水族箱就像我自己的一个小王国。我就是里面的国王。 To me my aquarium is like my own little kingdom where I am king. 我觉得山顶的几簇白房屋就仿佛是中古时代的堡垒；那里面的主人应该是全身裹着铁片的骑士和轻盈娥娜的美人。 The white buildings in the peak seemed to me kike medieval forts whose occupants should all be knights in amour or slim alluring beauties.

Ex 2: 1、即使是天空澄碧明亮，这个村子仍然是阴森可怖。这是因为所有的房子是用灰色的砖砌成的。 2、圆月正挂在他对面的天空。银光直照到他的头上。月光就像凉水，把他的头洗得好清爽。

1. Even under a blue sky, the village still looked forbidding, as all the houses were built of grey bricks. 2. The full moon hung directly in front of him. Its silvery beams, like cool water, bathed his head refreshingly.

Ex 3: 得病以前，我受父母宠爱，在家中横行霸道，一旦隔离，拘禁在花园山坡上一幢小房子里，我顿觉打入冷宫，十分郁郁不得志起来。 一个春天的傍晚，园中百花怒放，父母在园中设宴，一时宾客云集，笑语四溢。我在山坡的小屋里，悄悄掀起窗帘，窥见园中大千世界，一片繁华，自己的哥姐，堂表弟兄，也穿插其间，个个喜气洋洋。一霎时，一阵被人摈弃，为世所遗的悲愤兜上心头，禁不住痛哭起来。　(2003年专业八级考试汉译英：选自白先勇《蓦然回首》 )

Before I fell ill, my parents doted on me a lot Before I fell ill, my parents doted on me a lot. I could have my way at home. Once I was isolated and confined in a chamber on the hillside of the garden, I suddenly felt I was neglected and became very depressed. One spring evening, my parents held a Banquet in the garden, where all sorts of flowers were in full bloom. In no time, a crowd of their guests collected and laughter was heard all over there. I, without being noticed, lifted the curtain in my small room, only to spy the bustle of a kaleidoscopic world down in the garden, and my elder sisters, brothers and my cousins, each full of the joys of spring, were shuttling among the guests. Quickly enough, I was thrown into a fist of sorrowful anger at being forgotten and discarded by the rest and could not help crying my heart out.

Ex 4: 中国民族自古以来从不把人看作高于一切，在哲学文艺方面的表现都反映出人在自然界中与万物占着一个比例较为恰当的地位，而非绝对统治万物的主宰。因此我们的苦闷，基本上比西方人为少为小；因为苦闷的强弱原是随欲望与野心的大小而转移的。农业社会的人比工业社会的人享受差得多，因此欲望也小得多。况中国古代素来以不滞于物，不为物役为最主要的人生哲学。并非我们没有守财奴，但比起莫里哀与巴尔扎克笔下的守财奴与野心家来，就小巫见大巫了。中国民族多数是性情中正和平、淡泊、朴实，比西方人容易满足。 (2006年专业八级考试汉译英：来自傅雷《傅雷家书》 )

暮色中，河湾落满云霞，与天际的颜色混合在一起，分不清哪是流云哪是水湾。 Ex 5: 暮色中，河湾落满云霞，与天际的颜色混合在一起，分不清哪是流云哪是水湾。 也就在这一幅绚丽的图画旁边，河湾之畔，一群羊正在低头觅食，它们几乎没有一个顾得上抬起头来，看一眼这美丽的黄昏。也许它们要抓紧时间，在即将回家的最后一刻再次咀嚼。这是黄昏滩上的一幕。牧羊人不见了，他不知在何处歇息。只有这些美生灵自在自在地享受着这个黄昏。这儿水草肥美，让它们长得肥滚滚的，像些胖娃娃。如果走近了，会发现它们那可爱的神情、洁白的牙、那丰富而单纯的表情。如果稍稍长久一点端详这张张面庞，还会生出无限的怜悯。(2006年专业八级考试汉译英:张炜《美生灵》（《读者》2006年13期） )

Beside this picture with profusions of colors, a group of sheep are lowing their heads, eating by the river bank. Hardly none of them would spare some time to raise their eyes to have a glance at the beautiful dusk. They are, perhaps, taking use of every minute to enjoy their last chew before being driven home. This is a picture of the Yellow River bank, in which the shepherd disappears, and no one knows where he is resting himself. Only the sheep, however, as free creatures, are joyfully appreciating the dusk. The exuberant water plants have nurtured the sheep, making them grow as fat as balls. When approaching near, you would find their lily-white teeth and a variety of innocent facial impressions.