第二章 译文句子主语的选择
汉译英的一个关键步骤是考虑译文的整个句子怎么摆放，如何构建译文句子的总体框架，主要是确定那什么作为英语主语。传统语法认为汉英句子总体框架相同，都属于主—动—宾类型。按照这个理论，当我们进行汉译英时，译文和原文在句子结构上，尤其是在主语、谓语、宾语等重要成分的位置处理上，应当能做到大致相同。但也有许多情况下，这种对应的结果却使译文成为中式英语。
现在，越来越多的人接受了一种新的语言类型分类，把英语看成注重主语的语言（subject-prominent language）,汉语则为注重主题的语言（topic-prominent language）,具体地说，汉语经常采用主题—术题（topic-comment）的句式，主语的句法功能弱，有时还不容易识别，但这并不影响我们对句子意思的理解；英语主语的句法功能强，几乎都采用主语—谓语的句式，主语是整个句子最关键的成分。 就英语而言，主语一旦选定， 句子的总体框架大致就确立了。
例如：
1. 这件事你不用操心。
翻译时不能照搬汉语结构，可译为：
You don’t need to worry about this.
若要突出汉语的主题—这件事，翻译时，句型可调整为：
This is not something you need to worry about.
也可以把“不用”换个表达法----没有必要，可译为：
It is unnecessary for you to worry about this.
There is no need for you to worry about this.
一般说来，无论汉语原句是什么结构， 假如直接把原文主题或主语取作译文的主语后，译文显得生硬，句子结构不平衡，或者与上下文在语气上不连贯，那么就要设法把原文的其它部分---它也许是名词、形容词、副词或动词---取作译文的主语。在这个过程中，必须考虑到汉英语言的各种差异， 如：英语里以事物做主语的句子更常见，用名词结构表示动作也比汉语更普遍，依此规律来选择译文的主语，译文能更地道，更符合英语的习惯表达。
第一节 原文的形容词性成分取为译文主语
1. 我的头疼得要命。
--my head aches badly.
--my head is killing me.
--I have a terrible headache.
--I have a splitting headache.
--I have a migraine.
2. 中国的人均农业土地面积比不上世界其它许多国家。
--China’s per capita agricultural land can’t compare with that of many other countries in the world.
--in its amount of agricultural land per capita, China compares unfavorable with many other countries.
--China compares unfavorably with many other countries in terms of per capita agricultural land.
3. 懒惰的人不会成功。
--a lazy person will never succeed.
--laziness makes it impossible for one to succeed.
--laziness makes success impossible.
第二节 原文的名词性成分取为译文主语
在原文中起名词作用的任何词语都有可能被选择为译文的主语。多数情况下，它们在原文中充当主语或宾语。
1. 一个星期前我遇上了一件最不可思议的事情。
--I had the most incredible experience a week ago.
--I had the most inconceivable encounter a week ago.
--the most unbelievable thing happened to me a week ago.
2. 一个企业的前途怎样，在很大程度上要看它的经营管理人员， 尤其是市场管理人员的素质。
主题-术题句式，可取“前途”作为主语； 或取“素质”作为主语
--the future success of an enterprise depends heavily upon its managing executives, especially those with marketing responsibilities.
--the quality of the management, especially of the marketing executives, largely determines the future of an enterprise.
--the quality of managing executives, especially those with marketing responsibilities, goes a long way in determining the future of a corporation.
第三节 原文的副词性成分取为译文主语
需抓住该副词性成分的主要或关键内容，把它用英语的名词或名词词组表达出来。
1. 因为天气太糟，我们未能成行。
--because of poor weather, we didn’t go.
--bad weather prevented us from going.
--bad weather caused us to cancel /postpone our trip.
2. 通过进一步研究，科学家们推测存在着一种迄今尚未为人所知的粒子。
--after further investigation, scientists conjectured the existence of a hitherto unknown particle.
--further investigation led the scientists to speculate about the existence of a previously unknown particle.
--further research by scientists pointed to the possible existence of a previously unknown particle.
3. 只有在显微镜下才能看见红血球。
--only under the microscope can we see red cells.
--red cells can be seen only under the microscope.
--a microscope is needed (for us) to see red cells.
第四节 原文的动词性成分取为译文主语
与汉语相比，英语更经常用名词结构来描写动作，所以把动词转化成名词时汉译英的惯用手法。
1. 他的行为似乎无法解释。
--his behavior seems (to be) unexplainable.
--his behavior, it seems, can’t be explained.
--his behavior seems to defy explanation.
--there does not seem to be any explanation for his behavior.
--it seems that his behavior can’t explained.
2. 航空公司在最后一刻取消了航班，旅行团被迫改变行程。
--as the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, the travel group had no choice but to change it itinerary.
--the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, so the travel group had no choice but to change its itinerary.
--the airline canceled the flight at the last minute, which compelled the travel
group to change its itinerary.
--the last-minute cancellation of the flight by the airline compelled the travel group to change its itinerary.
3. 没有生活目标就意味着无法利用生活所提供的各种各样的选择。
--not having an aim in life means not being able to benefit from the variety of choices life has to offer.
--the lack of an aim in life makes it impossible for one to benefit from the variety of choices life has to offer.
--without an aim in life, one will be unable to benefit from the various choices life has to offer.
--one who has no aim in life is unable to benefit from the various choices life has to offer.
If a person has no aim in life, he or she will be unable to benefit from the various choices life has to offer.
第五节 添加主语
两种情况
一、 原文可视为无主句， 译时把原文隐含的主语作为译文主语
二、 原文有主语，但译文的主语在字面上并不对应于原文中任何词语，而是根据整个句子的含义酌情添加的，如：
你不该大叫大嚷
There is no occasion to scream and yell.
1. 缘木求鱼，虽不得鱼，无后灾。
--if you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you don’t get any fish, you will suffer no subsequent calamity.
--by climbing a tree in search of fish, one will not come to harm even though one can’t get any fish.
2. 广告既可能吸引也可能排斥顾客。
--advertising can either attract or repel customers.
--customers may be attracted or repelled by advertising.
--the power of advertising is such that it can repel as well as attract customers.
3. 这件事不像看上去那么简单。
--the incident is not as simple as it appears.
--there is more to the incident than meets the eye.
4. 不怕一万，就怕万一。
--though it is unlikely that anything unpleasant will happen, you’take precautions.
--you can never be too careful.
--it is always wise to play safe.
练习
一、 选原文额形容词成分作为译文主语
1. 成功者与失败者的区别就在于成功者坚持不懈，失败者半途而废。
2. 他的最后一手是把对手干掉。
3. 在我国传统社会，商人和手工艺人的社会地位历来不如读书人和农民。
二、 选择原文名词成分作为译文主语
1. 我没有注意到这个错误。
d better
2. 不少人的收入很低，只够勉强维持生活。
3. 他只要听到几句恭维话就会忘乎所以。
三、 选择原文副词成分作为译文主语
1. 在该国十个主要城市里，通货膨胀的势头越来越猛。
2. 呼伦贝尔草原上常可看见河带湖、湖连河的美景。
3. 每到元宵节晚上，这条街总是张灯结彩，热闹非凡。
四、 选择原文动词成分作为译文主语
1. 人们传说她要结婚。
2. 我们只要仔细探询一下，就会发现这一宏伟规划漏洞百出。
3. 一想到考试临近，我就感到非常紧张。
五、 添加主语
1. 不能不佩服他多年来埋头苦干的精神。
2. 他的讲话不过是老调重弹。
3. 知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。
