浅谈英语长句的汉语翻译[Abstract The aim of this essay is to tell us how to translate English long sentences into Chinesecorrectly and precisely.It contains the comparison between English and Chinese long sentences,and defines English long sentence.The common types of English long sentences are classified inthe essay,and it also explains why and where long English sentences are used respectively.In thethird part of the essay,we proposes the steps and methods in translating long English sentence.Inconclusion part,we points out the key to become a good translator is to read and practice as muchas possible,and also mentions the similar ways in translating Chinese long sentences to English.[Key Words]long sentences;understanding;expressing;translating【摘要】本论文主要是向大家介绍如何准确到位的将英语长句翻译为中文。作者比较了中英文句子结构和表达的不同特点，同时对英语长句作了定义，对常见的几种英文长句作了说明，并且分别介绍了英语长句发生的原因和背景。在论文第三部分作者提出了翻译英语长句的步骤与方法。在结论部分，作者指出成为一个好的译者关键是多读多练，同时也提出了将中文长句翻译成英文相似的方法。【关键词】长句：理解：表达：翻译1.IntroductionEnglish-Chinese translation is a process which requires a detailed analysis of the originalsentences in such aspects as meaning,structure and logic,and which,as a result,needs a long timeof practice to perfect.However,translation is made more difficult and complex by frequentappearance of long sentences in the two languages.In this essay,we discuss how we can developskills in long sentence translation.What is a long sentence?A long sentence is one with severalattributives,subordinate and adverbial clauses,which are interdependent on and linked to eachother.Long sentences are characterized by frequent use of attributive and adverbial clauses,compound structure,parenthesis and dangling structure.Besides,what makes long sentencesdifficult to translate is the fact that Chinese and Englishmen have different thinking habit,whichnaturally leads to their differences in ways of expression and sentence structure.Thus,theemphasis of this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English and Chinese sentences.Reasons why this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English are also discussed,and the types of articles where long sentences frequently appear are shown to the readers.Thepriority of this essay is given to the steps,which should be taken,and the methods to be used inlong sentence translation and vice versa.2.Comparison between English and Chinese sentences2.1Common types of long sentences in EnglishGenerally,there are various types of long sentences,which are different in structures.2.1.1 "Sentences with attributive clauses[1]P565--583One common type of long sentence is one with attributive clauses.What is an attributive clause?An attributive clause is one used after a noun to modify the noun.Attributive clauses,althoughsharing the similarity of being modifiers,are different according to their relationship with themain clause,and can be divided into several types.(i).Attributive clause suggesting cause or effectAn important type of attributive clause is the ones that suggest cause or effect.In translating along sentence with this type of attributive clause,the relationship of the attributive clause with themain clause-whether it is the cause or effect of the main clause-should be determined first.Then,based on its function,a proper conjunctive word should be chosen in order to show the reader therelationship of the two clauses."The reason for determining the relationship first is that English is a language which uses a largenumber of different structures to show the relationship between clauses,while in Chinesesentences,words are employed show the readers the relationship between clauses."[2]P120Touse an example to clarify the process,(1)The improvement in his health resulted from the physical exercises he did every morning.In this sentence,the attributive clause is "he did every morning".After reading the sentence,wecan find out that the fact that"he did exercises everyday"is the reason for "his improvement inhealth",thus,in English Chinese translation we should choose the Chinese equivalence of"because"to be used before the attributive clause to suggest the relationship between theattributive and the main clause,This English sentence can be translate in Chinese,因为他每天早晨都锻炼，所以身体好了很多。(ii).Attributive clause suggesting timeAttributive clause sometimes is used to show the main clause.In translating this type of attributiveclauses,an analysis of the relationship between the main and attributive clauses is necessary so asto choose a proper Chinese equivalence of the word“when”,“after”or"before”(2)At seven,he went up to look at John,who was sleeping at that time.In this sentence,the attributive clause"who was sleeping at that time"can be regarded as the timewhen the action in the main clause took place.As a result,we should translate the attributiveclause as a time adverbial clause,and the Chinese equivalence of the word "when"should be putbefore the attributive clause to suggest the time.(iii).Attributive clause suggesting transition turnAttributive clause can also be used to suggest transition turn.In this case,the Chinese equivalenceof the word "but"should be put before the attributive clauses.Consider the following sentence,(3)He didn't want to see his wife,who,unexpectedly,came back after two days.After reading this sentence,it is easy for us to find out that the attributive clause "who,unexpectedly,came back after two days"should be regarded as a turning point of the main clause,so it is equal to this sentence in meaning"He didn't want to see his wife,but she came back aftertwo days."Thus,in translating this sentence,we should put the Chinese equivalence of the word“but'before the attributive clause'”.2.1.2 Adverbial clause"The use of adverbial clauses can also result in long English sentences.Adverbial clauses arethose used to suggest time,place or reason of the main clauses.Adverbial clauses can be put eitherbefore or after the main clauses,and the specific relationship between the main clause and theadverbial clause can be easily identified because the relationship is clearly suggested by thedifferent word used before the adverbial clause."[3]P563 For instance,an adverbial clausebeginning with the word"when"naturally suggests time,and one with the word "because"impliescause.Compared with attributive clause,adverbial clause is generally easier to translate.Intranslating the English sentence into Chinese,the adverbial clauses are mostly put ahead of themain clauses in Chinese.We can look at the following sentences,(4)"Please turn off the light when you leave the room."[4]P140In translating this sentence,we should put the adverbial clause when you leave the room beforethe main clause according to the common way of expression in Chinese2.1.3 Compound sentence"Compound sentences are often long sentences because a compound sentence usually includestwo clauses.What,however,makes compound sentences different from other long sentences isthat the two clauses in each compound sentence play an equally important role in the sentence.Compound sentences usually suggest a sequence of actions that take place one after another,andthe words mostly commonly used to connect the two clauses in a compound sentence are "and"and“but.”[5]P483(5)She worked hard,but she failed in the final exam.After reading this sentence,the meaning is quite apparent to us because the structure of compoundsentences is the same as that of most Chinese sentences.Naturally,in translating compoundsentences,we just need to translate it without changing the structure of the original sentence.2.1.4 ParenthesisParenthesis is another attribution to large quantities of long sentences in English."In an Englishsentence,the parenthesis can be a word,a phrase,or a sentence,and before translating thesentence we should first find out the relationship of the parenthesis with the main sentence and itsfunction in an effort that the translated version complies with the Chinese way ofexpression."[6]P612-616(6)He gets up early every morning,whether it is summer or winter,to do exercises.Similarly,in translating this sentence,put the parenthesis"whether it is summer or winter"at thebeginning,followed by the main sentence "He gets up early every morning to do exercises."2.2Differences in English and Chinese sentence structuresDifferent peoples have different ways of thinking,so their languages,which are used to expresspeople's thoughts,are also different."In English,results are usually given ahead of the causes,while in Chinese,causes appear beforetheir effects.This is because Chinese people put emphasis on the natural order of the verbsaccording to the time the actions take place.For example,(T)Tragedies can be written in literature since there is tragedy in life.生话中既有悲剧，文学作品就可以写悲剧。[7P199And look at this example,(8)He began to read a book after having supper.After reading this sentence,we can identify that the action having supper takes place before theaction read a book,but in the sentence,the latter is put before the former.So in translating English