由于不同的文化背景的差异，语言表述上也存在明显差异，英汉句子结构的差异和表达习惯的不同反映了东西方两个民族思维方式和文化心理结构的不同。因此,在翻译过程中,必须按照译入语民族思维方式的特点,调整语句结构,以符合译入语的表达习惯来表达。
一、调整句子重心
东方民族从众归一的思维方式往往将句子的次要语义部分放在句首,而将语义重心放在句子的末尾,这也就是现代汉语中的偏 正复句,一般语序是偏句在前,正句在后,偏句相当于英语的修饰性句子的语义重心放在句子的开头,所以汉译英词,通常将汉语偏前后正的常位语序调整为 主前从后的语序,如:
(1) 早在古代,我们就有渴死不饮盗泉之水,饿死不受嗟来之食的志士勇夫。
Early in ancient China , there were noble - mindedpeople who would die of their thirsty rather than drink wa2ter from stealth - spring , who would die of hanger ratherthan eat food handed out in contempt .
(2) 有忠于职守,廉洁自律,为人称颂的好官,也有贪赃枉法,胡作非为的贪官,还有大事不理,小事纠缠的糊涂官,当然也少不了吃喝玩乐的逍遥官、风流官。
Some are widely praised good officials for their self- discipline and devotion to their official duties. Someare ill - behaved officials breaking the law for bribes ,some are muddle headed officials lingering over trifles in2stead of important issues of course , there are also amorousofficials indulging in pleasure - seeking , addicting to sen2sual pleasure.
(3) 为了恪守良心,保全人格,为了民族气节,国家尊严,居然炒了老板的鱿鱼,砸了自己的饭碗,得到社会各界普遍称颂。
All of them are common people who have been wide2ly praised by people of all walks of life for their unusualdeeds they went so far as to say good - bye to theirbosses , therefore lost their jobs for sake of conscience ,personality and national integrity and dignity.
以上各句在汉译英时都根据英语的句子结构对表达语义重心的部分进行了调整,前移了句子重心,这样译文更符合英文的表达习惯。
二、调整句子结构
东西方民族各有各的思维形式,西方民族的思维形式是重在分析,这种思维形式使西方人惯于由一列多的思维,句子结构以主语和谓语为核心,统摄 各种短语和从句,由主列次、递相迭加、结构复杂,但形散而意合,形成了树杈形的句式结构,而东方民族思维形式是重在综合,这种思维形式使中国人注重整 体和和谐,强调从多而一的思维形式,句子结构以动词为中心,以时间顺序为语序链,形成流水型的句式结构。我国学者吕叔湘先生曾对汉语句子结构作过 分析,他指出:汉语里持多流水句,一个子句接一个子句,很多地方可断可连,汉语的这种流水句式,用节节短句逐点交待,把问题层层展开,这使得在表达相同 内容上,汉语句子在数量上往往多于英汉句子,因此翻译时,汉语的几个短句往往可以译成一个由英语关联词及各种短语联接在一起的一个英语长句。如:
(1) 近读华君武一幅题为谨防的漫画,画面上两个人骑着装满良心的三轮车,车上插着收购良心、方式价格面议的广告牌。
A couple of days ago , I came across a piece of Huas caricature with a title be cautiouson which two menare riding a tricycle with a fall load of consciousand aboard which says Purchase conscience , for particulars ,negotiate face to face.
(2) 眼下,咱只盼着有关部门对工薪族们作一个详细的调查,对我们的收入心里有个数,别出来个咱累死也够不着的房价。
Now , I am expecting the departments concerned tosurvey on us the salaried, so as to gain a clear under2standing of our income and abandon such a high price wecant afford even if we toil to death.
(3) 当今一些经济大案,立案查处,成绩卓然,群众拍手称快。
Nowadays , the public is clapping their hands in ap2plause for the great achievement we have made in placingcases on file for investigation and prosecution concerningsome serious economic cases.
(4) 珠海不向洋老板下跪的青年孙天帅,上海为? 1995-2004 Tsinghua Tongfang Optical Disc Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
不买假货而自动失业的刘女士,天津拒绝不良软件集体辞职的四青年,最近成了新闻人物。
Mr. , Shuntianshuai , the young farmer working inZhuhai who refused to knee down to his iss Liu in Shang2hai who quitted her job for refusing to sell fake goods , thefour young men in Tianjin who resigned together for un2willing to program sinister softwares , all became news2maker.
从以上几个汉译英句子来看,多个汉语短句在一起被译成了一个由英语关联词及各种短语联接在一起的一个英语长句。从以上几个汉译英句子来看,汉语 句子以动词为关键词,以时间顺序为语序链;而英语句子则以主要动词为谓语,以分词、介词、不定式、动名词或介词等短语(或从句) ,表示汉语中相应动词的语义和动作的先后顺序,因此,在汉英翻译时,句子结构调整是必要的。