在翻译定语从句时，有时如用一般的翻译方法，被译成的汉语可能会读起来不自然，不顺畅，不合汉语习惯，但如用溶合法翻译，有时问题便会迎刃而解。如There is someone downstairs who wants to see you.这个英语句子如果译成“楼下有想见你的人。”让人感觉有点不伦不类，与汉语的习惯表达法有差距，但如把该句中的主语someone和定语从句who wants to see you 溶合起来翻译，将句子译成“楼下有人想见你。”汉语句子即有妙笔生花之感，读起来流畅自然，完全符合汉语的表达习惯。溶合法翻译的优势在此也可见一斑了。

　　翻译定语从句用溶合法是指把定语从句的先行词和定语从句溶合在一起翻译，先行词和定语从句中的谓语在汉语句子中被译成主谓关系。不是每一种定语从句都可以用溶合法翻译。可用溶合法翻译的定语从句主要有以下几种情况中所含的定语从句：

　　一、当以there be 引起的句子中含定语从句时

　　以there be 引起的句子中含定语从句，在翻译这种定语从句时一般要用溶合法。例如：

　　Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the pass on foot. 尽管新建了隧道，有些旅行者还是企图步行穿过山口。

　　There are a lot of people who can operate the machine. 有许多人能操作这种机器。

　　There was another man who seemed to have answers, and that was Robert McNamara.另一个人似乎胸有成竹，那就是麦克纳马拉。

　　There has never been a man around me who wrote so many articles.我周围从来没有人写过这么多文章。

　　There are some books here which tell about computer science.这里有些书是讲计算机科学的。

　　There is something that keeps worrying me.有些事一直使我担心。

　　there be 的扩展形式也应该用溶合法翻译。例如：

　　There seems to be someone who wants to go with you.好像有人想跟你去。

　　There happened to be a student who was able to work out the math problem. 碰巧有一个学生能解出这道数学难题。

　　二、以to have作谓语的句子中含定语从句时

　　当定语从句出现在含to have(意思是“有”)作谓语的句子中时，这种定语从句在翻译时可将其与先行词溶合在一起翻译。例如：

　　I have two people who can help me.我有两个人能帮助我。

　　We shall have a lot of people who will visit our college.许多人将来参观我们学校。

　　I will have many things that should be done next week.下个星期我有许多事情要做。

　　They have had many people who have helped them in doing the work.已有许多人帮助他们做这个工作。

　　三、当主句的主语为非限制性定语从句的先行词时

　　当主句的主语为非限制性定语从句的先行词，并且关系代词作定语从句主语时，被非限制性定语从句说明或解释的先行词可以与非限制性定语从句溶合在一起翻译。例如：

　　John Smith, who teaches American literature in an American university, has been invited to be a visiting professor in our college. 约翰·史密斯在美国一所大学教美国文学，他已被聘为我们学院的客座教授。

　　Hangzhou, which is famous for its West Lake, has become a city for tourists throughout the world. 杭州以西湖闻名，它已经成为一个世界旅游城市。

　　Abraham Lincoln, who led the American people in overthrowing the Negro slave system, is considered one of the greatest American presidents. 亚伯拉罕·林肯领导美国人民推翻了黑奴制度，他被看作是美国最伟大的总统之一。

　　Her father, who had been on a visit to American, came back to Shanghai the day before yesterday. 她父亲出访美国，前天回到了上海。

　　四、 当定语从句较长时

　　有时定语从句较长，按定语从句的一般翻译方法译成汉语又不大符合汉语习惯，这时可以考虑用溶合法翻译。例如：

　　Two men who recently spent five days on a coral island wished they had stayed there longer. 最近，有两个人在珊瑚岛上度过了五天，他们希望在那里能多住几天。

　　But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows, and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble. 但是，老年人已饱尝了人生的悲欢，取得了他们能取得的成绩，怕死就显得有点颓丧和不够光彩。

　　In another chest, which contained the belongings of a ship's officer there was an unfinished letter.另一只箱子里装着一名海军军官的物品，其中有一封未写完的信。

　　Mrs. Richards realized that it must be the man from Electricity Board who had come to read the meter.理查兹太太意识到来人是电力公司抄电表的。

　　五、 当含定语从句复合句中的主句可被压缩成汉语词组作主语时

　　在有些情况下，含定语从句复合句中的主句可被压缩成汉语词组作主语，在翻译时可将该主语与定语从句溶合起来翻译。例如：

　　This is a young girl, who is a teacher.这个年轻姑娘是一个老师。

　　This is a paper mill that was built ten years ago.这家造纸厂是十年前建的。

　　Was that someone who helped to post your letter? 有人帮你寄信了吗？

　　That was the place which was famous for its silk.那个地方以前盛产丝绸。

　　These were the meetings that engineered his “resignation” on ground of “advancing age and deteriorating health”. 这些会议促使他“辞职”，理由是他的“年龄越来越大，而且健康状况恶化”。

　　He was greeted by an unpleasant smell which convinced him of what I was saying.一股刺鼻的气味才使他相信我说的话。

　　We are a nation that must realize the four modernizations. 我们国家必须实现四个现代化。

　　六、当定语从句为约定俗成式定语从句时

　　所谓约定俗成式定语从句是指一种it...that...的句式，这种含约定俗成式定语从句的复合句的意思实际上相当于一个让步状语从句。如It is a wise mother that knows her own daughter.(再聪慧的母亲也不见得了解自己的女儿。) 原句相当于一个状语从句No matter how wise a mother is, she may not know her own daughter.翻译此类定语从句应该用溶合法，即将主句和从句溶合在一起翻译。例如：

　　It is a good machine that can work without power.再好的机器也要有动力才能开动。

　　It is a long lane that has no turning.再长的巷子也会有转弯的。

　　It is a skillful workman that never blunders.再熟练的工人有时也会有疏忽。

　　It is a poor heart that never rejoices. 最不幸的人也会有生活的乐趣。

　　约定俗成式定语从句是一种特殊的定语从句，一般用于谚语中。如果不是谚语，就很可能是强调句，不是约定俗成式定语从句。例如：

　　It is a nice day that is neither hot nor cold.不冷不热的天是好天。

　　这个句子不是谚语，所以不是约定俗成式定语从句，翻译时应该按一般的定语从句翻译。

　　综上所述，在有些情况下用溶合法翻译定语从句确实是一种较好的方法，如能在翻译定语从句时适当加以运用，一定会大大提高翻译质量。

　　Exercises: Translate the following sentences containing attributive clauses into Chinese by using the technique of blending:

　　1. Nowadays there are many people who are learning English.

　　2. There have been a lot of people who have been abroad for further studies.

　　3. This is the chemical plant that was set up many years ago.

　　4. His mother, who teaches in a primary school, is a model teacher.

　　5. We used a plane of which almost every part carried some indication of national identity.

　　6. Many people in industry and services, who have practical experience of noise, regard an investigation of this question as a waste of time.

　　7. The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was found in the 11th century, lies about a mile away from here.

　　8. It is a bold mouse that nestles in the cat's ear.

　　9. There turned to be no one who wanted to join the club in the class.

　　10. Some people who were against such conclusions made by the chairman at the meeting were persecuted later on.

　　Key for reference:

　　1. 现今，许多人在学英语。

　　2. 已经有许多人去国外深造了。

　　3. 这家化工厂是许多年前建造的。

　　4. 她的母亲在一所小学教书，是一个先进教师。

　　5. 我们驾驶的飞机几乎每一个部件都有国籍的某些标志。

　　6. 在工业和部队中的许多人对噪音有实践经验，他们认为调查这种问题是浪费时间。

　　7. 著名的圣伯纳修道院建于十一世纪，离这里大约有一英里路。

　　8. 再勇敢的老鼠也不敢偎依猫的身旁。

　　9. 结果班级里没有人想参加俱乐部。

　　10. 有些人反对主席在会上做出的这种结论，这些人后来受到了迫害。

　　(文/王益民；英语辅导报 大学二年级版 04～05学年第23、24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。)