名词性从句的翻译
名词性从句的翻译
Substantive Clause Translation
包括主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句及同位语从句四类。重点讲解同位语从句的翻译。尤其是避免“即”、“：”、“——”之类的译法。
主语从句及翻译
（一）以what, who, whether, that, where, why, how, when等代词引导的主语从句翻译时一般可按照原文顺序翻译。例如：
Why metals can conduct electricity is an interesting problem.
金属为什么能导电是一个有趣的问题。
That energy can be neither created nor destroyed is a very important law in physical science.
能量既不能创造也不能消灭是物理学的一条很重要的定律。
Whether an organism is a plant or an animal sometimes taxes the brains of a biologist. 一种生物是植物还是动物，有时使生物学家很伤脑筋。
When it was first invented is not known.
它最初是什么时候发明的，现在还不知道。
Where the water has gone can easily be answered.
水到哪里去了，这很容易回答。
（二）形式主语it +谓语+ that (whether)引导的从句，汉译时一般先译从句再译主句。例如：
It is a matter of common experience that bodies are lighter in water than they are in air. 众所周知，物体在水中比在空气中轻。
It is no longer a question whether man can fly to the moon.
人能否飞上月球，现在已不再是什么问题了。
It is certain that we shall produce this kind of engine.
毫无疑问，我们将生产这种发动机。
表语从句及翻译
表语从句位于主句的连系动词之后，引导表语从句的从属连词和引导主语从句的从属连词相同。汉译时，顺序不变。例如：
The question is how the people can find an effective way to store the sun’s heat.
问题在于人们怎样才能找到一种有效的方式来储藏太阳热。
This is what the equation means.
这就是此方程式的含义。
That’s why the plants absorb water from the soil.
这就是植物从土壤中吸收水分的原因。
宾语从句及翻译
宾语从句既可以是动词的宾语，也可以是某些形容词或介词的宾语。宾语从句也可以出现在由it作形式宾语的句子中，汉译时，顺序一般不变。例如：
Scientists have long predicated that computers would one day help speed up the arduous task of translating texts.
科学家们早已预言，总有一天计算机将帮助我们加快艰巨的文字翻译工作。
We all know that cigarette smoking is hazardous to health and that alcohol abuse can kill.
我们都知道吸烟对健康有害，我们也知道酗酒会危害人的生命。
Nutritional experiments have made it evident that vitamins are indispensable for one’s health and growth.
营养实验证明，维生素对人们的健康和生长是不可缺少的。
同位语从句及翻译
英语中的同位语从句是用来说明它前面的某个名词的从句，它与其所修饰的名词在地位上是同等的。同位语从句常用that, whether 或if引导，它们在从句中不充当任何句子成分。汉译时可灵活处理，根据具体情况可采用合译、分译或转换等多种方法。例如：
The suggestion that we should develop the natural resources in this region has been discussed.
关于我们应该开发本地区自然资源的建议已经被讨论过了。
There is no possibility that human beings will ever be controlled by robots.
人类不可能受机器人控制。
There is general acknowledgment that characteristics of an individual are a result of an interaction of genetics and environment.
众所周知，某一个体的特性是遗传和环境相互作用的结果。
There is no doubt that animal viruses can jump into humans.
毫无疑问，动物病毒能进入人体。
So far there is no proof that UFOs or spaceships from other planets do exist.
究竟有没有不明飞行物或来自其他行星的宇宙飞船，迄今为止尚无法证实。
经常与同位语从句连用的单词或短语包括：idea, fact, news, rumor, hope, belief, thought, doubt, proposition, suggestion, advice, agreement, message, probability, certainty, likelihood, evidence, on condition, on the supposition, on the ground(s), on the understanding, with the exception, in spite of the fact等。