定語從句的翻譯方法主要有以下四種：
前置法：把定語從句的內(nèi)容翻譯成"……的"，放在被修飾詞的前面。
后置法：把定語從句的翻譯放在被修飾詞之后，定語從句的后置翻譯分為三類：由which引導(dǎo)定語從句時(shí)一般翻譯為"這";另一些引導(dǎo)詞則在翻譯時(shí)重復(fù)先行詞，即被修飾詞;還有一些引導(dǎo)詞在翻譯時(shí)可以省略不譯。
融合法：將定語從句與主句融合為一個(gè)簡單句的方法。這種用法往往用在"there be"結(jié)構(gòu)帶有定語從句的句型中。
狀譯法：如果主句和定語從句之間有明顯邏輯關(guān)系，則翻譯為狀語。
【真題例句1】
Behaviorists suggest that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development.
【解析】
可以拆分為：Behaviorists suggest//that the child//who is raised//in an environment//where there are many stimuli//which develop his or her capacity//for appropriate responses//will experience greater intellectual development.
本句的主干即是Behaviorists suggest that...;that引導(dǎo)suggest的賓語從句，動(dòng)詞是will experience;who引導(dǎo)修飾child的定語從句，動(dòng)詞為is raised;where引導(dǎo)修飾environment的定語從句，動(dòng)詞為are;which引導(dǎo)修飾stimuli的定語從句，動(dòng)詞為develop。who引導(dǎo)的定語從句的翻譯運(yùn)用了"狀譯法"，翻譯為"如果……那么……";where引導(dǎo)的定語從句因比較短小而采取了前置法，放到了先行詞environment的前面，翻譯為"……的";which引導(dǎo)的定語從句翻譯為轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系。
【參考譯文】
行為主義者的看法是，如果一個(gè)兒童在有許多刺激物的環(huán)境里成長，而這些刺激物能夠發(fā)展其做出適當(dāng)反應(yīng)的能力，那么，這個(gè)兒童將會(huì)有更高的智力發(fā)展。
【真題例句2】
The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought,which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be.
【解析】
可以拆分為：The Greeks assumed//that the structure of language had some connection//with the process of thought,//which took root//in Europe//long before people realized//how diverse languages could be.
本句的主干即是：The Greeks assumed。That引導(dǎo)assumed的賓語從句，動(dòng)詞為had;which引導(dǎo)定語從句修飾前面的整個(gè)賓語從句，即希臘人的觀點(diǎn)，句中動(dòng)詞是took;在此定語從句中，long before引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語從句，動(dòng)詞是realized;其中how引導(dǎo)realized的賓語從句，從句動(dòng)詞為could be。which引導(dǎo)的定語從句在翻譯時(shí)重復(fù)先行詞，即前面整句，譯為"這一觀點(diǎn)"。
【參考譯文】
希臘人認(rèn)為，語言結(jié)構(gòu)與思維過程之間存在著某種聯(lián)系。這一觀點(diǎn)在人們尚未認(rèn)識(shí)到語言的千差萬別以前就早已在歐洲扎下了根。
