【例句】A few years ago, in one of the most fascinating and disturbing experiments in behavioral psychology, Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life for their willingness to obey instructions given by a “leader” in a situation in which the subjects might feel a personal distaste for the actions they were called upon to perform.
Step1:找主干
翻譯的前提是讀懂句子,第一步就是分析語法結構,找準句子主干。哪怕結構再復雜的句子,都有且只有一個主干,認準謂語動詞,主干就很好找。這句話的主干就是:Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life.
在此句中,A few years ago, in one of the most fascinating and disturbing experiments in behavioral psychology為狀語,修飾主干;for their willingness to obey instructions given by a “leader” in a situation也是狀語,修飾主干;in which the subjects might feel a personal distaste for the actions為狀語中的定語從句,修飾”situation”;(that)they were called upon to perform是定語從句中的定語從句,修飾”actions”。
先翻第一個狀語,它不影響主干表達:A few years ago, in one of the most fascinating and disturbing experiments in behavioral psychology譯為“幾年前,在一次行為心理學中最吸引人但又最讓人不安的實驗中”。
再譯主干部分:Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life,譯為“來自耶魯大學的Stanley Milgram測試了來自各行各業的40個實驗對象”。
按順序往下譯,第二個狀語部分:for their willingness to obey instructions given by a “leader” in a situation,其中為了表達更順暢,可以把“ their willingness”名詞轉換為動詞,譯為“測試出在某一個情形中,他們愿意遵守由一個領導者發出的指令。”
最后譯定語從句:in which the subjects might feel a personal distaste for the actions they were called upon to perform,譯為“在這一情形中,實驗對象可能會對被要求實施的行為產生個人的厭惡感”。