定语从句译法
定语从句是历次试题翻译部分必涉及到的。而且，还经常出现多重定语从句，一层修饰一层。
例如：
Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter we
must be sure that the scale which we are comparing our subjects
provides a "valid" of "fair" comparison.
【结构分析】句中with which we are comparing our subjects 是定语从句，修饰限定the
scale。可译为："在对我们的对象进行比较时，我们所使用的…"
【参考译文】既然对智力的评估是比较而言的事，那么我们必须确保，在对我们的对象进行比较时，我们所使用的尺度能提供"有效的"或"公平的"比较。
It applies equally to traditional historians who view history as
only the external and internal criticism of sources, and to social
science historians who equate their activity with specific
techniques.
【结构分析】从机构上看，这是一个主句带两个由who引导的定语从句。尽管结构复杂、信息量大，但还是条理清晰的，因为句子结构环环相扣：前面who从句限定social
science historians。这个句子可以改写成：It applies equally to traditional
historians and to social science historians. Traditional historians
(or the former) view history as only the external and internal
criticism of sources. Social science historians (or the latter)
equate their activity with specific techniques.
这样表达的意思完全一样，但表达方式却很平淡、罗索。而从汉语的表达习惯来说，句子的修饰成分过多或过长往往会造成喧宾夺主、语言含混。如本句可照字面直译。
【参考直译】它同样适用将历史仅仅看作是对历史材料来源的内部的和外部的批评的传统历史学家，和把历史研究活动等同于具体研究方法的社会科学历史学家。
这样的译文较忠实于原文，但读者看起来却很费劲。我们可以按汉语的习惯表达调整为：
【参考译文】它同样适用于传统历史学家和社会科学历史学，传统历史学家（或前者）将历史仅仅看作是对历史材料来源的内部的和外部的批评；社会科学家历史学（或后者）把历史研究活动等同于具体的研究方法。
Probably there is not one here who has not in the course of the day
had occasion to
set in motion a complex train of reasoning, of the very same kind,
though differing in
degree, as that which a scientific man goes through in tracing the
causes of natural
phenomena.
【结构分析】本句结构较复杂。句中who has… had occasion to set in motion a complex
train of reasoning 限定前面的one；而 in the course of the day （一整天）是插入语，set
in motion a complex train of reasoning 有是倒装的，顺过来应该是set a complex
train of reasoning in motion; 后面of the very same kind
是后置定语，修饰reasoning;而the…same 又与后面的as that 从句中的as连接，其中，that是替代词，指代前面的a
complex train of reasoning （思考活动）；which
引导的定语从句修饰限定前面的替代词that；句中的though differing in degree是插入语，其中degree
是指"（思想活动）复杂程度"。
【参考译文】大概这里不会有人一整天都没有机会进行一连串复杂的思考活动，这些思考活动与科学家在探索自然现象原因时所经历的思考活动，尽管复杂程度不同，但在类型上是完全一样的。
"In short", a leader of the new school contends, "the scientific
revolution, as we call
it, was largely the improvement and invention and use of a series of
instruments that
expanded the reach of science in innumerable directions."
【结构分析】that引导的定语从句限定前面的三个名词：improvement, invention 和use。特别要注意，of a
series of instruments 是后置定语，不仅仅限定use,还要管到improvement和invention。As we
call it 是插入语。
【参考译文】新学派的一位领袖人物坚持说："简言之，我们所称之的科学革命，主要是指一系列器具的改进，发明和使用，这些改进、发明和使用使科学发展的范围无所不及。
In office, figures, lists and information are compiled which tell
the managers or heads of the business what is happening in their
shops or factories.
【结构分析】which指代前面的先行词figures, lists and
information。可以将这个定语从句改译成结果状语从句，译为"以便……."。
【参考译文】在办公室里，工作人员将各种数据、表格和信息加以汇编，以便让经理或主管人员了解他们的商店或工厂目前正在发生的情况。
It was not until sixty years ago that a method of extracting
aluminum ore was found
which could lead to a cheap large-scale process.
【结构分析】这是一个强调句型，其中，which引导的是定语从句，which指代前面的a method of extracting
aluminum ore was found 这件事。也可以把这个定语从句译为结果状语从句。
【参考译文】直到六十年前人们才找到并采铝矿的方法，从而使低成本、大规模冶炼金属铝成为可能。
译路通武汉汉口翻译公司整理
2012.5.28