On Translation Of The Attributive Clause In The E-C Translation

This report aims at discussing the treatment of attributive clauses in E-C translation. The report suggests three basic approaches to E-C translation of attributive clauses:(1) If the attributive clause is used to modify the antecedent, it can be translated into a corresponding modifier in Chinese. In some instances, we can directly put it before the antecedent; and in others we have to use this method indirectly—that is, we translate the attributive clause into a structure independent of the main clause, in which we repeat the antecedent and place the attributive clause before the antecedent.(2) If the attributive clause is used to add more details to the main clause, we can find out the relation between the main clause and the attributive clause and then make it follow the main clause. Sometimes a pronoun can be used to substitute the antecedent in the translation and thus the original complex sentence with an attributive clause can be transformed into a compound sentence in Chinese. Sometimes if the attributive clause is used logically to signify cause, consequence, purpose or condition, the attributive clause in the original English can be translated into an adverbial clause based on the implied logical relation between the attributive and the main clause.(3) The third type refers to those that cannot be covered by the former two types. Then we have to be flexible. The principles of translation of this type are:(1) translating the attributive clause according to the context;(2) striving to be as brief and coherent as possible.