由具体到抽象
汉语
由外向内 由大到小 由远到近 由宏观到微观 由整体到个别 由抽象到具体
Examples & Drills 8.6a
Compare the sentence structures of the original and the translation, and describe the differences between English and Chinese:
1. The tragedies of the Aswan High Dam are but one example of the consequences of human attempts to “improve” on nature before understanding the ecological implications of these acts.（微观与宏观）
人类还没有理解自己的行动在生态上将意味着什么，就贸然去“改造”自然，其后果是不堪设想的。阿斯旺高坝的悲剧仅仅是其中的一个例子而已。
2. Overgrazing in the Near East and North Africa has resulted in the formation of the present deserts along the once fertile Mediterranean shores.（时间先后）
在近东和北非，地中海沿岸曾经是沃野千里，由于放牧过度，如今已成了一片沙漠。
3. The statement that oil originated in the sea is confirmed by a glance at a map showing the chief oilfields of the world. (G. C. Thornley)
石油是在海里形成的，这种说法，只要看一下世界主要油田分布图，就可以得到证实。 4. All these devices, small as they may be to the eye when hundreds of circuits can be packed on to one square inch, are still much larger than they need be to do the jobs they have to do.
数百条线路装在一平方英寸的面积上，这样的装置虽然看上去很小，然而与它们必需做的工作相比，其面积仍然比所要求的面积大得多。
5. Everybody was quite amazed that a man connected with these political people would be so frank about the man who had just been elected. (Kissinger) （原因与结果）（重尾）
一个同这些政界人物有来往的人，对刚当选的总统竟敢如此直言不讳，实在令人惊讶。 6. So that when the day of departure came, between her two customs of laughing and crying, Miss Sedley was greatly puzzled how to act. (Vanity Fair) （原因与结果） 赛特笠小姐既爱哭又爱笑，到了动身那天，真不知怎么办才好。
7. Grand as Jim’s watch was, he sometimes looked at it with shame on account of the old leather strap that he used instead of a chain. (O. Henry: The Gifts)
那只表虽然华贵，可是因为没有表链，只用了一根旧皮带，吉姆有时候只是羞愧地看它一眼。（原因与结果）
8. He was able to outsmart the political analysts by suddenly unveiling a major adviser who was not a Nixon regular, and, for the first time in his political career, he was able to attract a widely respected intellectual to his service. (Kissinger)
他能出奇制胜，突然任命一个与尼克松素无瓜葛的人出任重要顾问，这一招是政治分析家
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所意料不到的。 他能把一个佼佼盛名的知识分子罗致到自己手下，这在他的政治生涯中还是头一遭。
From the examples given above, one can see that the inversion of sentence structure often goes hand in hand with the division of a sentence (拆译), which will be discussed in the chapter “Division”.
Examples & Drills 8.6b Guided Translation
Translate the following, rearranging the sentence structure wherever necessary:
1. We had been dismayed at home while reading of the natural calamities that followed one after another for three years after we left China in 1959. (Hewlett and Nowell Johnson: To China at Ninety) （时间先后）
自从我们在1959年离开中国以后，中国连续三年遭到自然灾害。当我们在国内读到这方面的消息时，心情颇为焦虑。
2. Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? (Patrick Henry: Speech in the Virginia Convention of Delegates)
对于自己的救世活动密切相关的事情视而不见、充耳不闻的人，难道我们心甘情愿与之为伍吗？（原因与结果）
3. It must be a great satisfaction to all ranks and races engaged in our common effort that the Japanese have been challenged and beaten in jungle warfare in Burma, and that their boastfulness should have received a salutary exposure.
在缅甸丛林战中，日军受到挑战并被击败；他们的自吹自擂，这回可得到了有益的揭露——这对于从事于我们共同事业的各阶层人士、各民族人民来说，必然是一件大快人心的事。 4. To make a selection of great battles of the Second World War, the most enormous universal conflagration of all times, and to present them in a single book was obviously a formidable task. 第二次世界大战是有史以来规模最大的一场全球性冲突，要从中选取一些重大的战役，并用一册书就把它们反映出来，显然是一项十分艰巨的任务。（原因与结果）
5. The manned space program was already under way when President Kennedy captured the national imagination in 1961 by setting the goal of a moon landing by the end of the decade. (The Memoirs of Richard Nixon)
6. The two leaders found it beneficial to have this opportunity, after so many years without contact, to present candidly to one another their views on a variety of issues. (The Sino-U.S. Joint Communiqué, Feb. 28, 1972)
7. No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. (Patrick Henry: Speech in the Virginia Convention of Delegates)
8. The graver and more important the matter, the more damage to the United Nations is a resolution which remains a dead letter. (from the United Nations documents)
9. From the Middle East have radiated the sparks of the world civilizations which have been blessings to humanity.
5. 1961年，肯尼迪总统把登月定为六十年代末期的目标，引起了全国人民的想象，而那时载人空间计划已着手进行了。
6. 这么多年没有接触，两位领导人现在有此机会就各种问题坦率地互相介绍彼此的观点，对此，双方认为是有益的。
7. 刚才几位可尊敬的先生向议院发言了。对诸位先生的爱国精神及才干，我个人比其他任何
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人都更为钦佩。
8. 一项形同虚设的决议（一纸空文的决议案），涉及的问题越严重、越重要，对联合国的危害就越大。
9. 至今仍造福于人类的世界文明，正是从中东放射出它的光芒来的。
a) For a month or two every summer vacation, I went to my hometown, Shandong, to live with my parents.
b) At eight o’clock on the morning of July 4, the train started back to Shanghai.
I went to live with my parents for a month or two every summer vacation in my hometown, Shandong.
行为的主体（主语）——行为的各种标志（状语）——主体的行为（谓语）——行为的客体（宾语）。可见行为的标志如时间状语、地点状语、方式状语是处于主语和谓语之间的。或处于行动的主体主语之前，形成头重脚轻的语言习惯。
而英语民族思维模式的线性序列则为：行为的主体（主语）——主体的行为（谓语）——行为的客体（宾语）——行为的各种标志。也就是说，时间状语、地点状语、方式状语等一般都处于句尾，显示头轻脚重的语言习惯。
根据( Flynn，1984)的伸展原则(Principle Branching Direction)，汉语是向左伸展的语言(left-branching)，即状语成分，包括状语分句都是放在主句前表达；定语成分包括定语从句都是放在所修饰的中心词前面，可以按：其数量无限地(?)向前（左）伸展的。而英语是向右伸展的语言( right-branching)，主句在前，各种状语、定语、补语成分可以向后（右）无限伸展的。从另一个角度分析，汉语是自然语序，它按照动作发生的先后顺序和逻辑的因果关系排列。先有因后有果、先有条件后有结果、先有假设后有可能。因此，在主从句中，从句都是在前面的，主句都在后面，显示明显的偏前正后的倾向，也就是汉语中的典型的偏正结构：
(3)为了保护好得之不易的学校，他抛开家人，独自住进学校看守。黄绍全《师魂》 (2) (3)
也就是说，只要有可能，汉语句子可以向前无限制扩展 4) 一个人被车压死了。 昨晚一个人被车压死了。
昨晚南京路上一个人被车压死了。
昨晚南京路上一个30多岁男人被车压死了。
昨晚南京路上一个骑着自行车的30多岁男人被车压死了。
昨晚南京路上一个骑着自行车上街买东西的30多岁男人被车压死了。
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汉语作为一种主要通过词序安排和助动词来组织句子的语言，缺乏必要的手段，如英语中的形式主语等，使过分笨重的头移一点到句尾。这也可解释汉语中的倒装句比较少。
而英语却不同，它是一种形态性的语言，它可以通过非谓语形式、丰富的关系代词、连词、代词等来造成英语中的倒装句、分隔句、被动句、先行词it句、there存在句等，从而有效地把较长的主语、宾语等置后，实现英语组句中的一条基本原则：末端重量(end-weight)。即把句子中最笨重的部分或语法结构最复杂的成分放在句尾。形成头小尾大的正三角。
另一方面，金积令（1998/1）通过对汉语的系统考察，“证明在汉语句法结构中存在一种重量趋前的强趋势（前端重量）”，也就是说在汉语中允许出现短结尾。
The announcement of the President of the United States declaring a state of emergency for suspected enemy missile approaching comes unexpectedly over the radio in the midst of it (the party) .
In the midst of it the party comes unexpectedly over the radio the announcement of the President of
the United States declaring a state of emergency for suspected enemy missile approaching. Rod Serling The Shelter
Those who receive marvelous news after a long silence are happy indeed. Happy indeed are those who receive marvelous news after a long silence .
（昔日在全国显赫一时、辽宁引为自豪的丹东手表、金笔、营口幸福牌钢琴、友谊牌洗衣机、沈阳的机床等）如今都坠入市场萎缩的困境。 刘欣欣 《金牌不是名牌》
a) He has proved the forecasts made by the country’s leading economic experts wrong. b) He has proved wrong the forecasts made by the country’s leading economic experts .
（从1900年八国联军占领北京，中华民族蒙受巨大屈辱，国家濒临灭亡边缘，到2000年中国在
社会主义基础上进入小康，大踏步走向繁荣富强）是中国发生翻天覆地变化的一百年。 江泽民 《十五大政治报告》
a) Whether they will send any delegation to attend the conference which is to be held next month in Hawaii is not yet known.
b) It is not yet known whether they will send any delegation to attend the conference which is to be held next month in Hawaii .
英汉语言上这种差别要求我们在英语写作中注意运用英语中的各种手段，避免汉语当中头重脚轻的句式。下面我们来看看如何修改学生写作中一些实例。 (13)普通人在家里使用电子计算机的时代已来到。
a) The time when ordinary people can use electronic computers at home has come. b) The time has come when ordinary people can use electronic computers at home,
(14)面对挑战、迎接挑战的时候到来了。
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a) The time for us to face and accept the challenge has come now. b) The time has now come for us to face and accept the challenge.
(15)我们中国人在世界上被人看不起的日子已一去不复返了。
a) The days when we Chinese people had been looked down upon in the world are gone forever. b) Gone forever are the days when we Chinese people had been looked down upon in the world.
(16)政府应对所有的经济问题要负责是大多数人的看法。
a) The belief that the government should be responsible for all the economic trouble is commonly held. b) The belief is commonly held that the government should be responsible for all the economic trouble.
(22)大城市行路难、乘车难已成为突出的社会问题。
a) The difficulty for people to get to their destinations on foot or by bus in big cities has become a general complaint.
b) The problem has become a source of complaint of getting the destinations either on foot or by bus for people in big cities.
(23)现在大学生找工作越来越难是人们共同的看法。
a) That college graduates are more and more difficult to find a good job is people’s common belief.
b) It is commonly believed that it becomes increasingly difficult for college graduate to find a rewarding job.
例l，温总理、中央及有关部委领导同志、在华外籍专家出席了宴会。
Present at the banquet were Premier Wen, leading figures of the central government and the relevant ministries and commissions, and foreign experts working in China. 评析：在汉语中，“出席了宴会”较短，可置于句末，但在英语新闻报道中，常把短结构Present at the banquet/ meeting移到句首，然后在句末可给出一长列出席人员的名单。
例2．什么时候突出地提出和解决这个问题，在什么基础上提出和解决这个问题，要研究。（《邓选》）
译文 1: When and on what basis we raise and settle this issue requires deliberation,（《北京周报》） 译文 2: We should study when to raise this question and how to settle it．（外文出版社） 评析：在原汉语中，以“要研究”这短短的三个字来收尾，完全符合汉语习惯。《北京周报》译文照搬这一结构，以requires deliberation 结尾，略显太短。外文出版社译文将We should study移到句首，让when引导的长结构压轴，更合英语行文习惯。
例4．创造出具有东方智慧、中国特色和北京特征的奥，运会形象与景观，展示中国悠久的历史、灿烂的文化和北京2008年奥运会的巨大魅力，体现绿色奥运、科技奥运、人文奥运的理念，为奥林匹克运动留下独特遗产，这是国际奥委会和国际社会对我们的共同期待。（《笔译实务》）
It is the IOC and international community’s expectation that we create an Olympic image that reflects oriental wisdom and characteristics of both Beijing and China, as well as China’s long history, splendid culture and the fascination of the Beijing Games. The image is also expected to be a manifestation of the concepts of Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People’s Olympics-thus leaving a unique legacy
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