英语阅读基本功之难句过关大全－分割结构
分割结构是一种修辞手段,在英语句子中,特别是在书面语中,比较常见。分割结构就是指把英语句子中原来属于一个整体的句子成分分割开,一部分留在句子的原来位置,另一部分远离原来位置。
如：The best books are treasuries 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。常见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。使用分割结构的目的是使语句结构平衡,避免头重脚轻,或者为了使表达的主题思想更加突出醒目,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方法上的生动性和灵活性,但也造成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避免理解上的错误,英译汉时要把原来属于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 ethics.过生日的时候他得到了一件不寻常的礼物--一本关于伦理道德的书。
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,这样的认识加强了,即认为存在着支配物体运动的普遍规律,这些规律不仅支配着地球上的也支配着天体上的物体的运动。
此外,还有定语(或定语从句)与其中心词被分隔,某些词语与其所要求的介词被分隔,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,以避免主语部分太长,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)。阅读时要注意把原来属于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： 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
要点 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 is...mankind 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 application...that is endangering... 。
译文 这种在发展中国家显得尤为突出的观点被一种广泛持有的信念所加强,即并非和平利用核能正危害着人类的生存。
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： whose 引 last name 主 has 谓 the same initial 宾 as hers 定
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
要点 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,造成for和它引导的从句的分离,翻译时,可译成一个主谓结构。
译文 姑娘不该嫁给与自己的姓的首字母相同的人,因为正如一首童谣所说：改姓不改首字母,婚后必将受其苦。
3. Nor, if regularity and conformity 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 discriminating against the odd balls among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who work well with the team.
要点 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,造成了句子的割裂状态。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,可采用合译的方法翻译。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 假如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。那么,如果管理者们歧视研究者中的 怪杰 ,而喜欢善于合作的较常规思维的人,这也是无可指责的。
4. I have discovered, as perhaps Kelsey will after her much-publicized resignation from the editorship of She after a build-up of stress, that abandoning the doctrine of juggling your life , and making the alternative move into downshifting brings with it far greater rewards than financial success and social status.
要点 本句中as perhaps Kelsey will...引导的方式状语从句放到了主句的.谓语动词discovered与that引导的宾语从句之间,从而造成动宾之间的分割。as引导的从句中省略了谓语动词discover,是为了避免重复。宾语从句中主语为 abandoning...and making... 并列的动名词短语;谓语为 bring sth with sth 结构,只是因宾语过长,而把with短语提前了。