根据英语语法,定语从句分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句两种。限制性定语从句对先行词起修饰和限制作用,而非限制性定语从句则主要是对先行词进行解释和说明,它与先行词之间的关系不像限制性定语从句那样密切。然而,在英语中有这样一种语言现象,即有些定语从句具有状语功能。因此,汉译时需要注意,请看下面各译例:

　　1. She is a woman loved and respected by people, who is always ready to help others.

　　她是一个受人爱戴和尊重的人,因为她总是乐于助人。

　　上句含有明显的因果关系."who is always ready to help others"表示原因,"She is a woman loved and respected by people"是结果.定语从句相当于because引导的原因状语从句。

　　2. In the middle of Hyde Park there is the Serpentine, where people swim, or take boats out on the river. The Serpentine was the idea of Queen

　　Caroline, the wife of George II, who wanted some water in the Park.

　　"who wanted some water in the Park"很明显是表示原因,所以,Queen Caroline才主张开凿蜿蜒河。因此,这个句子应译为:

　　海德公园中间有条蜿蜒河,人们常在那里游泳、划船.开凿蜿蜒河是乔治二世的妻子卡罗琳王后的主意,因为她喜欢公园里有水。

　　现就这一特殊语言现象加以归类分析:

　　一、具有时间状语功能

　　1. In 1906, however, Pierre, who was crossing a road, was run over and killed.

　　"who was crossing a road"等于"when he was crossing a road".因此,应译为:

　　然而, 1906年,皮埃尔在横穿马路时被车子轧死了。

　　2. We went on discussing the problem, which lasted deep into the night.

　　"which lasted deep into the night"等于"until it lasted deep into the night".所以,应译为:

　　我们继续讨论这个问题,直到深夜。

　　二、具有原因状语功能

　　1. The ambassador was giving a dinner for a few people whom he wished especially to talk to or to from.

　　很显然,"whom he wished especially to talk to or to from"等于"because he wished especially to talk to or to from".所以,应译为:

　　大使只宴请了几个人,因为他特地想和这些人谈谈,听听他们的意见。

　　2. A cat, whose eyes can take in many more rays of light than our eyes, can see clearly in the night.

　　"whose eyes can take in many more rays of light than our eyes"是"A cat can see clearly in the night"的原因。所以,这个句子汉译时应译为:

　　猫在夜里比人看得更清楚,因为它的眼睛能比人的眼睛吸收更多的光线。

　　三、具有条件状语功能

　　1. He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.

　　"that would eat the fruit"等于"if he would eat the fruit".因此,应译为:

　　(谚)想吃果子,就得爬树.

　　2. The following principles must be careful for foreign students who wish to increase their reading skill.

　　"who wish to increase their reading skill"等于"if they wish to increase their reading skill".所以,应译为:

　　如果外国学生想提高自己的阅读能力,下列各项原则可能对其有所帮助。

　　四、具有结果状语功能

　　1. The patient was badly wounded, who died soon.

　　上句可改为:The patient was wounded so badly that he died soon.

　　句中who 引导的非限制性定语从句相当于so...that引导的结果状语从句。因此,应译为:

　　那个病人伤得非常重,很快就死了。

　　2. She lifted a stone, which dropped onto her own foot.

　　上句可改为:She lifted a stone, only to drop it onto her own foot.

　　句中which 引导的非限制性定语从句相当于only to +不定式构成的结果状语.所以应译为:

　　她搬起石头,结果砸了自己的脚。

　　五、具有目的状语功能

　　1. Chinese delegations have been sent to European countries, who will negociate trade agreements with the respective governments.

　　"who will negociate trade agreements with the respective governments"等于"so that they will negociate trade agreements with the respective governments".因此,可译为:

　　中国已派出代表团前往欧洲各国,以便与各国政府就贸易协定问题进行谈判。

　　2. He bought a new flat for his parents in Shanghai, where they could spend their late life happily.

　　"where they could spend their late life happily"等于"in order that they could spend their late life happily".因此应译为:

　　他在上海给父母买了一套新公寓,以便让他们愉快地度过晚年。

　　六、具有让步状语功能

　　1. He persisted in having a bicycle which he had no use for.

　　"which he had no use for"等于"even though he had no use for"所以应译为:

　　尽管他用不着自行车,他还是坚持要一辆。

　　2. Mrs Smith who had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years, still doesn't know him very much.

　　"who had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years"等于"even though she had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years".所以,应译为:

　　尽管史密斯夫人结婚近20年,但她仍不了解她的丈夫。

　　综上所述,限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句不仅具有定语的功能,在不同环境中也可起状语的作用.这就要求我们在翻译时特别注意.只有弄清楚句子所表达的真正含义,才能翻译得准确无误。

　　(文/朱云水　英语辅导报大学教师版04~05学年第3、4期;版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)