第八章英汉句子互译中的词序 8.1 英汉句子词序的差异 8.1.1 在时间上，英语句子的词序主要是根据语境的需要安排，而汉语通常按事情发生或出现的先后顺序排列。 例1，老栓正在专心走路，忽然吃了一惊，远远地看见一条丁字街，明明白白横着。他便退了一步，寻找一家关着门的铺子，蹩进檐下，靠门立住了。

例2，Calmly Mother looked around before she turned back fearlessly, closing the door behind her and dashed to the window. 8.1.2 在事理上，英语的词序比较灵活，通常开门见山，直奔主题，然后再作解释。表因果关系时，一般先讲结果再说明原因；表假设时，先说结果再说条件；而汉语的词序比较固定，通常按照先因后果、先假设后可能、先条件后结果的顺序来排列。

例3，我想要是真发生了什么事，他们应该通知我们的。 例4，The moon is a moon still, whether it shines or not. 例5，抓住了主要矛盾，一切问题就可以迎刃而解。 例6，这些斗争和探索，每一次都在一定的历史条件下推动了中国的进步，但又一次又一次地失败了。

当然，汉语句子语序的排列也有例外，当把原因、条件等看成是补充说明情况时， 可以放在句子的后半部分，需要使用表示各种关系的关联词语。 例7，不，我昨天没有来，因为我的朋友病了。 8.1.3 在对某事发表评论时，英语通常先评论或表态，然后再说明有关情况。汉语则相反，先叙述（事实或描写），后表态（判断或结论）。

例7，I believe strongly that it is the interests of my countrymen that Britain should remain an active and energetic member of the European Community. 例8，It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. 8.2.调整次序的方法。 8.2.1 按照时间顺序调整 英汉词序不同，逆译；词序相似或相同，则顺译

8.2.1.1 顺译 (一) 多个表示连贯动作的动词并列时，英汉语往往按照动作发生的先后顺序来安排词序。因此，英汉互译时采用顺译法。 例9，I closed my eyes and said a prayer of thanks before putting the car in gear and returning to the highway. 例10，Taking the train, the two friends arrived in Berlin in late October 1922, and went directly to the address of Chou En-lai.

例11，（如今，台儿沟的姑娘们刚把晚饭端上来就慌了神，她们心不在焉地胡乱吃了几口，扔下碗就开始梳妆打扮。）她们洗净了蒙受了一天的黄土、风尘，露出粗糙、红润的脸色，把头发梳得乌亮，然后就比赛着穿出最好的衣服。 （二）英语中表示时间的状语从句多位于句子的后半部分，但有时为了强调也可将其提到居首，并用逗号与主句隔开，这时，可采用顺译法翻译。同样，汉语中有些按照时间先后安排的语序的复合句译成英语时也可采用顺译法。 Sat.12 34

例13，传说秦始皇来到泰山封禅的时候，遇上了暴风雨，他就躲在一棵根大的松树下避雨。 例12，When Tom stood face to face with his persecutor, and heard his threats, and thought in his very soul that his hour was coming, his heart swelled bravely in him, ad he thought he could bear torture and fire, bear anything… 例13，传说秦始皇来到泰山封禅的时候，遇上了暴风雨，他就躲在一棵根大的松树下避雨。 Tuesday 34

（三）英语中有些介词短语、副词短语、分词短语或“介词+动名词”结构置于句首表示时间，翻译时采用顺译 例14，A few minutes later, Zoe sat sipping coffee and watching the girl eagerly attacking a large omelet, stacks of buttered bread and a cup of milk. 例15，With what seemed my last hope frustrated, I slipped into a deep lethargy. Thursday 34 Wesday12

8.2.1.2 逆译 （一）英语通过使用各种表示时间的连词、关系代词或介词将动作或事件的先后次序打乱，翻译时，按时间顺序重新组织译文语序。 例16，There are many wonderful stories to tell about the places I visited and the people I met. 例17，Mama Torres, a lean, dry woman with ancient eyes, had ruled the farm for ten years, ever since her husband tripped over a stone in the field one day and fell full length on a rattle snake.

(二) 英语中表示手段的“by+动名词”短语常常置于表示结果的谓语动词之后，译成汉语时要将其移至原谓语动词之前。 例18，(While he was awaiting trial and certain hanging, Sheppard broke out of Newgate Prison.) He accomplished this by getting rid of the irons with which his wrists and ankles were shackled, cutting through a double grille of oak and iron bars, descending twenty-five feet by a knotted sheet and blanket, and climbing a twenty-two-foot wall.

8.2.2 按照逻辑顺序进行调整 汉语语序主要靠逻辑思维而定，多按逻辑顺序有因到果、由假设到推论、由事实到结论、由条件到结果进行排列；特别是在不用关联词的时候，句中的句法关系更需要通过语序方可辨认得出。但有时汉语也会通过使用各种关联词语按照相反的顺序来组织句子。英汉语在按照逻辑思维组句时有同有异，因此翻译这类句子时也可相应地采用顺译法和逆译法。

例18 When I called home, I would exaggerate the accomplishments of other people in show business, because I knew my mother would have liked to see me in a steadier line of work. 例19 知己知彼，百战不殆。 8.2.3 根据信息中心进行调整 一般而言，句子通常由已知信息和新信息构成，新信息是指信息发出者想要信息接受者了解的信息，因而构成句子的信息重心。英汉都有表示信息重心的特殊手段，如英语中常用“It is/was…that…”, “not …but…”等强调句型，汉语也常用“…的是…”, “…之所以…是因为…” 之类的句型强调说话者所要表达的重要信息，为突出句中的信息重心，翻译时通常要改变原句语序，把原句中的某个成分提前或置后。

例20，Defiantly they have spoken, but submissively they will accept the terms. 例21，The two neighboring countries, China and India, with the largest populations in the world, are bound by thousands of years of civilization and achievement. 例22，80 年前，在中国各族人民反帝反封建的壮阔斗争中，在世界无产阶级革命的澎湃运动中，中国共产党成立了。

8.2.4 根据搭配的需要进行调整 英译汉时原句各成分之间的搭配贴切自然，但已成汉语后，若保留原句语序，按原句原封不动的译出，则可能搭配不当，需要调整译句中相关成分在句中的位置，符合汉语的表达习惯。 例23，That was a principle that Apple tragically failed to understand when it backed off from licensing its graphic computer interface, assuring that its market share would be savaged by Microsoft’s more open Window operating system.

例24，中国必将实现现代化，这使西方某些人越来越不安。 例25，George Osborne looked at the two young women with a touched curiosity. 例26， I buried my head under the miserable sheet and rug, and cried like a child. Modernisation increasing anxiety