英汉两种语言在定语的用法上差别较大，翻译起来也有诸多困难。英语中，定语从句有时很长，如果单纯按照汉语习惯，把所有的定语从句的内容都放到被修饰语前翻成汉语的“……的”结构，就会使译文晦涩难懂，给读者的阅读带来一定的麻烦。怎样才能把各种不同的定语从句翻译成恰当的符合汉语表达习惯的译文呢？针对不同类型的定语从句，应采用不同的翻译方法。
试比较以下两组句子。
例1 Chaplin lived the last year of his life in Switzerland，where he was buried in 1977.
A.卓别林晚年定居于他1977年逝世后安葬在那里的瑞士。
B.卓别林晚年定居瑞士，1977年逝世后安葬在那里。
例2 He insisted on building another house which he had no use for.
A.他坚持再建一座他不用的房子。
B.他虽自己不用，但仍坚持再建一座房子。
例1中的译文B“卓别林晚年定居瑞士，1977年逝世后安葬在那里”更好。尽管译文A中的定语“他1977年逝世后安葬在那里的”“忠实”地体现了原文定语的形式，但读起来却十分别扭，因为整个定语部分显得冗长啰嗦，而且不符合汉语的表达习惯。可见，英语中的定语从句译成汉语时也并非一定要用前置定语的形式“……的”来翻译，因为翻译过程中的“忠实”并非指单纯满足其形式上的一致，我们同时还要考虑其他因素，如汉语习惯、句子的平衡等等。
例2中的译文B比译文A更能准确地反映英语原句的含义。尽管形式上译文A更像一个定语，但它读起来却很别扭，原因是译文A没有很好地把逻辑上的这层让步关系表达清楚。看了译文A后，读者不禁要问“他为什么要去建一座他不用的房子呢？”因此译文A会让人感觉不知所云，莫名其妙。而译文B的翻译虽然没有把它翻成定语的形式，却用状语的形式把原文中的定语从句中想要表达的这层逻辑关系表达了出来，从而能更好地帮助读者去理解原文。
从上面两例可见，汉语在表达定语的概念时可以通过各种不同的方式去实现。因此，在翻译含有定语从句的英语句子时，一定要在正确理解原文的基础上，使用符合汉语习惯的句式来表达。下面着重介绍英语限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句的翻译方法。
（一）限制性定语从句
限制性定语从句对所修饰的先行词（被修饰的名词）起限制作用，在意义上与先行词密切不可分。如被省去，主句的意思就含糊不清，甚至变得毫无意义。关系词和先行词之间一般不用逗号分隔。对英语限制性定语从句的翻译一般采用以下几种方法。
1.用“……的”结构译成定语
将英语的定语从句翻译成汉语的定语词组，即英语原文中的定语在译文中仍作定语，只是用词组来替代英语原文中的从句，可译成“……的”句式。
例1 I was the only person in my office who was invited.
我是办公室里唯一被邀请的人。
例2 I’ll never forget the day when I joined the League.
我永远忘不了入团的那一天。
例3 A person who is a Jack of all trades has many skills.
一个被称为“万金油”的人是一个掌握了许多技能的人。
例4 I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided.
我只有一盏指路明灯。
例5 It’s no different from the person whose ultimate goal is to become a doctor.
这和把医生作为最终目标的人没什么两样。
例6 Show interest in the company and the position you are applying for.
对公司和你所申请的职位要表现出兴趣。
例7 Instead，focus on the ones that are preventable─the ones you can do something about.
相反，要关注那些可以避免的原因，即那些你可以有所作为的原因。
例8 Why do we have so many words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings？
为什么我们有这么多发音相同但拼写不同、意义也不同的词？
例9 The early lessons I learned about overcoming obstacles also gave me the confidence to chart my own course.
我早年学到的克服重重障碍的经验教训也给了我规划自己人生旅程的信心。
例10 Do we really want to live in a world where no one grows old and few children are born because the planet can hold only so many people？
我们真的愿意生活在一个没有人会衰老且由于地球只能容纳这么多人因而没有多少孩子出生的世界上吗？
翻译这类从句，常常要将关系词省去，在句末加“的”字，放在被修饰词之前。当然，也可视其情况不用“的”字，如例4。这种用“……的”结构的译法用得较为普遍，尤其适用于翻译简短的定语从句。
2.译成并列分句
一般采用分译法，即将主句和从句分开翻译的方法，把英语原文中的定语从句和主句一起译成两个并列分句。其中又有两种方法：一种在译文中省略英语的先行词，另一种在译文中重复英语的先行词。
1）译文中省略英语的先行词
例1 She is a movie star who is going into business now.
她是个影星，目前在经商。
例2 The lungs are subject to several diseases which are treatable by surgery.
肺易受几种疾病的侵袭，但均可经手术治疗。
例3 A little way on she saw a great door which，for some reason，attracted her attention.
又走了一些路，她看见一扇大门，不知怎的，这引起了她的注意。
例4 As a result，a hum of gossip was set going which moved about the house in that secret manner common to gossip.
结果就造成一阵闲话，暗中在公寓里流传，而闲话一般都是如此的。
例5 He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant.
他是一个与众不同的经理，有几个服务员一直跟随着他从一家餐馆跳槽到另一家餐馆。
2）译文中重复英语的先行词
例1 He’s written a book whose name I’ve completely forgotten.
他写了本书，但书名我完全忘了。
例2 At dinner I found myself placed between Mrs.Bradly，and a shy girl who seemed even younger than the other.
席间，我发现自己坐在布拉得雷太太和一位腼腆的女孩子中间；她看上去比另一位还要年轻。
例3 A writer—in fact every one of us in life—needs that loving－mother force from which all creation flows.
一个作家——实际上生活中的每个人——都需要慈母的力量，它是创造一切的源泉。
例4 Man possesses an expressive faculty that goes far beyond gestures，that allows and even compels him to express his thoughts，feelings，dreams and intuitions.
人类具有远远超过于手势的表达官能，这种官能不仅使人能够而且也迫使他要把思想、感情、幻梦、直觉表达出来。
这些先行词的重复，有时用代词如例2、例3，有时用限定词如例4。汉译时，需重复先行词的地方，就要重复。否则会影响意思的连贯和清晰。
3.译成状语从句
英语中有些定语从句兼有状语的功能，在意义上与主句是状语关系。因此，可以把英语原文中的定语从句译成状语从句，表示条件（例1、例2）、结果（例3）、时间（例4）、让步（例5）、原因（例6）等关系。
例1 I think it will grow even on non－irrigated land where there is a forest belt.
我想即使在没有灌溉的土地上，只要有一条森林带，它还是会生长的。
例2 She also said I was fun，bright and could do anything I put my mind to.
她还说我很风趣，很聪明，只要用心什么事情都能做成。
例3 A serious earthquake took place in Los Angeles last week that caused heavy losses of property.
上周洛杉矶发生了强烈地震，造成了严重的财产损失。
例4 The coming of the time at which all the shares of a listed company should be circulated on the stock market indicates that the Chinese stock market enters an era of healthy development.
当上市公司的所有股票都必须在股票市场上流通时，中国股票市场就进入了一个健康发展的时期。
例5 He insisted on buying another car which he had no use for.
他坚持再买一辆汽车，尽管他并无此需要。
例6 There was something original，independent and heroic about the plan that pleased all of them.
这一方案富于创造性，独出心裁，很有魄力，所以使我们都很喜欢。
4.与主句合译成一个句子
采用合译法将英语原文中的主语和定语从句融合在一起译成一个句子。由于限制性定语从句与主句关系密切，所以这种译法比较适用于限制性定语从句的翻译。
例1 There are many people who want to see the film.
许多人想要看这部电影。
例2 There is a man downstairs who wants to see you.
楼下有人要见你。
例3 There was another man who seemed to have answers，and that was Robert.
另外一个人似乎胸有成竹，那就是罗伯特。
例4 I need someone who can teach me how to ride a bike.
我需要一个人来教我骑自行车。
例5 It was a small shop which had come down to him from his grandfather.
这家小店是他的祖父传给他的。
例6 What were the hopes and dreams that had made of them the incredibly stubborn warriors？
是什么希望、什么理想使他们成为极为顽强的战士呢？
英语中的There be结构汉译时往往就是用这种方法处理的。合译法要求改变句子的结构形式。翻译时将原主句的词或词组用作句子的主语，再将定语从句用作谓语。
5.将英语中的定语从句译成汉语中的复合宾语
当英语主句的谓语动词是表示“感观”或“心理活动”等意义时，修饰宾语的定语从句多译为汉语中的复合宾语。
例1 I also found on the ground near the tracks of the camels groups of ants which were pulling grains of corn.
我在地上还看见骆驼的脚印边有一群一群的蚂蚁在拖玉米粒。
例2 He did not find any one in the house who particularly cared to know.
他认为家里没有哪个人特别想知道。
（二）非限制性定语从句
非限制性定语从句同其先行词之间的联系是松散的。它不是先行词的必不可少的组成部分，而仅对先行词作些描写或补充说明。非限制性定语从句前常有逗号将它与主语分开。非限制性定语从句也主要是采用前面已说过的分译和合译的方法。非限制性定语从句常被译为并列分句、独立句和状语从句，偶尔还可译为定语词组等。
1.译成并列分句
1）译文中省略英语的先行词
例1 Carrie reached home in high spirits，which she could scarcely conceal.
嘉莉兴高采烈地回到家，她那股高兴劲想掩饰也掩饰不住。
例2 With the pay that he received and saved，he went on with his studies at university，where he received a doctor’s degree in 1905.
用挣来的工资和积存的钱，他继续去读大学，并于1905年获得博士学位。
例3 Yesterday I saw a very funny film，which was recommended by Jack.
昨天我看了一部很搞笑的电影，是杰克推荐的。
例4 “Wait a minute，”said the boss and he opened the load and took out a ham，which he started to bone and string up.
“等一会儿，”老板说道，说罢便打开包，拿出一只火腿，开始剔骨头，并用绳子扎住挂起来。
2）译文中重复英语的先行词
例1 I told the humorous story to Mary，who told it to Jack.
我把这个幽默的故事告诉了玛丽，玛丽又告诉了杰克。
例2 I was quite surprised to receive a long handwritten response from him，in which he thanked me for taking the time to write and encouraged me to follow my dreams.
我意外地收到他一封很长的亲笔回信，他在信中感谢我抽时间给他写信，还鼓励我去追求自己的梦想。
例3 We will put off the outing until next week，when we won’t be so busy.
我们把郊游推迟到下星期，那时我们就不会这么忙了。
例4 We will fly to Beijing，where we plan to stay for five days.
我们将乘飞机去北京，在那儿我们计划逗留5天。
例5 Daylight comes from the sun，which is a mass of hot，glowing gas.
日光来自太阳，太阳是一团炽热、发光的气体。
例6 Dr.Yunus approached a bank manager，who thought it too funny an idea even to talk about.
尤纳斯博士找到一位银行经理，但这位经理却认为他的想法过于荒唐，根本不屑于一谈。
3）把关系代词which译成汉语人称代词或指示代词
例1 We have seen many chemical changes，from which physical changes are quite different.
我们见过许多化学变化，它们与物理变化截然不同。
例2 He missed the last bus，which annoyed him very much.
他未赶上末班车，这使他很恼火。
例3 The meeting has been can celled，which is exactly what we want.
会议已经取消了，这正是我们所希望的。
2.用合译法译成连动式
英语中主句和从句的动词不同时，可以把两个动词连起来翻译，这样句子前后的意思就显得更连贯。
例1 He took a bottle of wine out of his pocket，which he began to drink slowly.
他从口袋里掏出一瓶酒慢慢地喝了起来。
例2 They will send their son to Britain，where he will receive better education.
他们要把儿子送到英国去接受更好的教育。
3.译成状语从句
可以把非限制性定语从句译成状语从句，表示条件（例1）、结果（例2）、原因（例3）、目的（例4）等。
例1 Men became desperate for work，any work，which will help them to keep alive their families.
人们极其迫切地要求工作，不管什么工作，只要它能维持一家人的生活就行。
例2 Copper，which is used so widely for carrying electricity，offers very little resistance.
铜的电阻很小，因此被广泛用于输电。
例3 Chaplin，whose mother was ill for many years，had to dance in streets to earn money.
由于母亲病了好多年，卓别林不得不到街头表演去挣钱。
例4 But the Southern States wanted to set up a country of their own，where they would be free to keep black slaves.
但是南方各州却想建立他们自己的国家，以便在那里他们可以随心所欲地继续把黑人当作奴隶。
4.用“……的”结构译成定语
例1 As I came in，Michael，who owned the taxi that used to stand at the corner of our street，waved to me from a table.
我进去时，那个开出租汽车的迈克坐在一张桌子那里向我招手，他的车子经常就停在我们街角上。
例2 He liked his sister，who was warm and pleasant，but he did not like his brother，who was aloof and arrogant.
他喜欢热情可爱的妹妹，而不喜欢冷漠高傲的哥哥。
例3 The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s mouth，which was wide，thin and hard－set.
演讲者那又阔又薄又紧绷绷的嘴巴帮助他加强了语气。
非限制性定语从句主要被译成并列分句、独立句和状语从句这几种形式，这与它仅是对先行词提供一些补充说明的作用有关。
从以上举例可以看出，在翻译英语定语从句时可用“分译法”和“合译法”，形式有定语词组，并列分句、状语从句、复合宾语等。这些形式是英译汉的主要框架结构，但在具体翻译实践中，应视其不同情况，选用不同的形式并作灵活变通处理。
翻译实践
I.完成下列译文，注意斜体部分的译法。
1.Pete Richard and a girl whose name he had yet to hear，walked out into the beginning of the great day that brings hope into the world for us.
皮特·理查德和一个_____________________________姑娘走进了新的一天，________________________________。
2.The first thing some babysitters do is check the medicine cabinet.
_______________________________第一件事就是检查药品柜。
3.Even for someone who just wants to be a stay at home mom，calculations are needed to keep a household.
即使对某个_______________________________人来说，持家也需要进行计算。
4.Smart cards，which can carry as much as 80 times more in formation on them than conventional cards with a magnetic stripe，are already widely used in European countries where centralized banks can roll out new services on a nationwide basis.
智能卡________________________________，已经在欧洲各国广泛使用，因而使欧洲各国的中央银行得以在全国范围推出新的服务项目。
5.A cat，whose eyes can take in more rays of light than our eyes，can see clearly in the night.
_______________________________，所以猫在黑夜里能看得很清楚。
6.Pursuing higher learning，beginning a career，and making history in my family are things I hope to gain from my college education.
追求更深远的知识，开始职业生涯，在我家中创造历史，这些就是______________________________东西。
7.President Kennedy wanted people who raised questions，who criticized，on whose judgment he could rely，who presented an intelligent point of view，regardless of their rank or viewpoint.
肯尼迪总统需要__________________________________，而不问他们的级别或观点。
8.The parties reached an agreement by an offer made on one side which is accepted on the other.
双方根据一方提出________________________________报价达成了协议。
9.Thirdly，tariffs and other artificial obstacles，which occur in foreign trade，are largely absent in domestic trade.
第三，_______________________________关税和其他人为障碍在国内贸易中大部分都不存在。
10.Once upon a time，out in the green，silent woods near a rushing river that foamed and sparkled as it hurried along，there lived a poor woodcutter.
从前，在远离城市的一座寂静的绿色树林里，在一条水流湍急、_______________________________河边，住着一位贫穷的樵夫。
II.将下列句子译成汉语，注意定语从句的译法。
1.I have two reports which I must write today.
2.Ms.King，whose legs were badly hurt，was quickly taken to hospital.
3.An old gardener who was dying sent for his two sons to come to his bedside，as he wished to speak to them.
4.The Spanish soldiers，who conquered Mexico in the early 1500s，took tomato plants to Spain.
5.There is no bad habit that may not be cured by a strong willpower.
6.Victory comes only to those who work long and hard，who are willing to pay the price in blood，sweat，and tears.
III.将下列段落译成汉语，注意定语从句的译法。
Fortunately,there have always been a few dedicated attorneys（律师）who resist the power traps and who have worked for a progressive society.Today，in San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere，you can find ads for“New Age Attorneys”dedicated to resolving conflicts rather than promoting them.There is even a new law school in San Francisco designed to produce a new breed of public service attorneys.
Light Reading
下面是一则英汉对照小幽默。轻松之余，别忘了体会其中翻译技巧的运用。
Who Will Be Fired？
One day an employee of a big firm showed his boss an article in which another employee made veiled attack on the boss.He suggested that the writer should be fired.The boss was very angry，“Why do you think he was attacking me？If you think all these bad things refer to me，then you are fired！”
谁会被解雇？
一天，某大公司的一位雇员把另一雇员写的一篇指桑骂槐地攻击老板的文章拿给老板看，并建议老板解雇该文作者。老板很生气地说：“为什么你认为他是在攻击我？如果你认为这些恶语都是指我，那么你被解雇了！”
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