分割结构是一种修辞方法,在英语句子中,尤其是在书面语中,经常见到。分割结构就是指把英语句子中原来是一个整体的句子成分分割开,一部分留在句子的原来地方,另一部分离得远远的原来地方。
如:The best books are treasuries1 of good words,the golden thoughts,which,remembered and cherished,become our constant companions and comforters. 不难看出which become our constant companions and comforters原本是一个整体,被用作状语的过去分词remembered and cherished分割开。容易见到的分割结构形式有同位语或同位语从句与先行词的分割,定语或and定语从句与先行词的分割,主语与谓语的分割,谓语与宾语的分割。用分割结构的目的是使语句结构平衡,防止头重脚轻,或者为了使表达的主题思想愈加突出显眼,读起来更通顺流畅。分割结构的存在说明了英语在结构形式和表达办法上的生动性和灵活性,但也导致了句子结构的错综复杂。对于分割结构,只有从结构上和语意上弄清它才能防止理解上的错误,英文翻译中文时要把原来是一个整体部分的意义译出。
如:An unusual present was given to him for his birthday,a book on ethics2.生日的时候他得到了一件不一般的礼物一本关于伦理道德的书。(present 和a book被分隔)
再如:After Galileo's work the feeling grew that there were universal laws governing the motion of bodies and that these laws might apply to motion in the heavens as well as on earth.在伽利略著作之后,如此的认识加大了,即觉得存在着支配物体运动的常见规律,这类规律不只支配着地球上的也支配着天体上的物体的运动。(the feeling和 that从句被分隔)
除此之外,还有定语(或定语从句)与其中心词被分隔,某些词汇与其所需要的介词被分隔,动词与其宾语被分隔,介词与其宾语被分隔等。总之,英语的分隔应遵循尾重原则(应当把长而复杂的成分放在句末,从而使结构平衡匀称,以防止主语部分太长,谓语部分太短)和句尾信息焦点原则(把新信息,即语义重点放在句子末尾)。阅读时应该注意把原来是一个整体的各部分找出来。
1. Such a viewpoint,particularly prominent in the developing countries,is reinforced by the widely-held belief that it is not the peaceful application of nuclear energy that is endangering the survival of mankind.
第一层:Such a viewpoint,主 particularly prominent in the developing 定 countries,is 系 reinforced 表 by the widely-held belief 状 that it is not the peaceful application of nuclear energy that is end- 同位语从句 angering the survival of mankind.
第二层:(同位语从句)that 引 it 形主 is not 系 the peaceful application 强调主语 of nuclear energy 定 that 引 is endangering 谓 the survival 宾 of mankind. 定
要素 本句主干为Such a viewpoint is reinforced by the widely-held belief;形容词短语particularly prominent in the developing countries,作为插入语修饰viewpoint,将主语和谓语分隔开来;介词短语by the widely-held belief是被动语态reinforced的行为主体;that it ismankind是belief的同位语从句,这里还含有一个强调句式,即it is not the peaceful applicationthat is endangering。
译文 这种在进步中国家看上去尤为突出的看法被一种广泛持有些信念所加大,即并不是和平借助核能正风险着人类的存活。
2. No girl should marry a man whose last name has the same initial as hers,for,as the rhyme goes,Change the name but not the letter,marry for worse instead of better.
第一层:No girl 主 should marry 谓 a man 宾 whose last name has the same initial as hers,定语从句 for,as the rhyme goes,Change 状语从句 the name but not the letter,marry for worse instead of better.
第二层:(定语从句)whose 引 last name 主 has 谓 the same initial 宾 as hers 定
(状语从句)for,引 as the rhyme goes,状 Change 谓 the name 宾 but 连 not the letter,宾 marry 谓 for worse instead of better.状
要素 这是个主从复合句。for是连接词,引导状语从句。as the rhyme goes是插入语,插在for和它引导的从句之间,导致for和它引导的从句的离别,翻译时,可译成一个主谓结构。
译文 女孩不该嫁给与我们的姓的首字母相同的人,由于正如一首童谣所说:改姓不改首字母,结婚以后势必受其苦。
3. Nor,if regularity3 and conformity4 to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect,is management to be blamed for discriminating5 against the odd balls among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who work well with the team.
要素 否定词nor放在句首时,主谓倒装。is放到了主语management前。同时,if引导的条件状语从句置于nor与句子的其他成分之间,导致了句子的割裂状况。条件状语从句中as desirable as the writing可视为同级比较结构。句中who引导的定语从句修饰先行词thinkers,可使用合译的办法翻译。be blamed for为固定短语,意为因而受指责。in favor of 在句中做状语。
译文 倘若像学术论文反映的那样,科学家们期望看到与某种标准模式符合的规律性和一致性。那样,假如管理者们歧视研究者中的怪杰,而喜欢擅长合作的较常规思维的人,这也是无可指责的。