作者：汪亮　上海新东方学校资深翻译、口译教学专家、口译教研组成员。南京师范大学英语语言文学硕士，主讲中高级口译等。

定语就位置而言，有前置、后置和插入。定语从句有限定性和非限定性定语从句两种。就性质和功能而言，可以译成条件、原因、结果、目的、让步和转折等状语从句；就译文的形式来讲，可以译成并列句、独立句和复合句等。

限定性定语从句

限定性定语从句对其所修饰的先行词起限制性作用，与先行词关系非常密切。翻译这类句子可以采用以下方法：

1． 前置

把较短的定语从句译成带“的”的前置定语，从而把复合句译成简单句。反之亦然。例如：

  He who doesn’t want to be a general isn’t a good soldier.
  不想当将军的士兵不是好士兵。

  Gui Lin is a place where there are gorgeous mountains and rivers.
  桂林是个有山有水的地方。

  Harmonious interpersonal relationship is the primary reason why I enjoy working here.
  同事之间关系融洽是我喜欢在这工作的主要原因。

2．后置

把结构复杂且较长的定语从句后置，译成并列分句。翻译时可以用两种方法来处理：

A． 重复先行词。例如：

　 China and Japan reached agreement on the issue of agriculture which was a major barrier for their bilateral relation since 1996.
  中日两国最终就农业问题达成了协议，而农业问题自一九九六年起就是两国关系发展的主要障碍。

  Although he is a greenhand, he has enterprise and creativity which are decisive in winning success in the field.
  他虽然经验不足，但很有进取心和创造力，而这正是在这一领域获得成功的关键。

  He has great determination and courage which I need badly as a manager.
  他为人果敢，而我作为经理，缺得正是这一点。

  I met an old man last year who was once regarded as the best master of Chinese painting.
  我去年遇到一位老人，这位老人曾经被认为是中国顶尖的国画大师。

B． 省略先行词。例如：

It is she who wrote the letter that announced the break out of the war.
  是她写了这封信说战争爆发了。

  I gave him a gift which I didn’t see at all.
  我送了他一份礼物，他竟然看都没看。

  They worked out a new method by which efficiency has now been dramatically improved.
  他们制订出一种新方案，采用之后工作效率大大提高。

3． 融合法

A． 定语从句的主句里有“there be”、“to be”等动词时，可以把原句中的主语和定语从句融合在一起，译成简单句。例如：

  There are some students in the class who dislike studying.
  在班上总有一些学生不爱学习。

  This is the very knife which he used to murder the victim.
  他就是用这把刀谋杀了受害人。

  This was the period when Newton began the research which resulted in the creation of his famous Theory of Gravity.
  就在这期间，牛顿开始一一项研究。经过这项研究，他创立了著名的重力理论。

B． 定语从句的动词在整个复合句中分量较重，可将其主句压缩成词组译作主语，而把定语从句的动词译作其谓语。例如：

  “The best way to play basketball well is to take it easy and enjoy it,”said an American basketball player.
  一位美国的篮球运动员曾说过：“要想打好篮球，最好的办法就是享受篮球。”

  He had great success in football which made him an idol in the eyes of every football player.
  他在足球领域取得的成就使他成为每一个足球运动员的偶像。

非限制性定语从句

非限定性定语从句对先行词不起限制作用，只对其加以描写，叙述或解释。翻译这类从句有以下方法：

1． 译成带“的”的前置定语

一些较短且具有描述性的非限定性从句，可以译成带“的”的前置定语。例如：

John,who has grey hair,is believed to be one of the most attractive figure.
满头银发的约翰被认为是最有吸引力的人物之一。

  You, whose predecessors scored initial success in medical research, have acquired a greater accomplishment in this respect.
   你们的先辈在天文学研究方面取得了初步的成功，而你们现在则在这一方面获得了更大的成就。

2． 译成带有状语性质和功能的定语从句

A．表原因

  The manager was giving a dinner for a few people whom he wished especially to talk to or to hear from.
   经理只宴请了几个人，因为他特别想和这些人谈谈，听听他们的意见。

  No one in the company likes their boss,who is stingy and bad-tempered.
  公司里没人喜欢他们的老板，因为他脾气暴燥人又小气。

  B． 表结果
  The two countries established formal diplomatic relation, which paved the way for the further communication.
  两国正式建立了外交关系，从而为双方进一步的交流铺平了道路。

  They quarelled with each other everyday, which led to their divorce.
他们夫妻二人天天吵架，最终导致离婚。

C． 表让步

He insisted on buying another car, which he actually didn’t need..
  他坚持要再买一辆车，尽管他并不需要。

My father,who thought it might not work,supported me.
尽管父亲认为这个办法可能不会起作用，但还是支持我。

D． 表目的

This company,which wants to get their new product sold well in the market,is trying hard to perfect its packing and workmanship.
为了使新产品在市场热销，这个公司正在全力改进工艺和外包装。

E． 表转折

She is quite considerate and kind,which her younger sister never is.
  她非常善良，体贴，而她妹妹却从不这样。

  To succeed in this area,one needs profound knowledge and experience,which few has.
  要想在这一领域取得成功，需要渊博的知识及丰富的经验，而很少有人能具备这两点。　　

　
F． 表条件或假设

  A new product which has beautiful packing,good quality and advertising may very likely be a hit in market
  一种新产品，只要包装精美，质量过硬，宣传得力，就能在市场中热销。

  Any one who works hard and never gives up will succeed.
  任何人，只要努力工作永不放弃，就能够成功。

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