【昨日回顾】Being interested in the relationship of language and thought, Whorf developed the idea that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society.译文1:Whorf对语言与思维的关系很感兴趣,他(逐渐)形成了这样一种观念:在一个社会里,语言的结构决定了习惯思维的结构。 (逐渐一词的含义是根据develop一词的本意翻译而来。)译文2:Whorf对语言与思维的关系很感兴趣,他形成了一种观念,即:在一个社会里,语言的结构决定了习惯思维的结构。【今日长难句】Whorf came to believe in a sort of linguistic determinism which, in its strongest form, states that language imprisons the mind, and that the grammatical patterns in a language can produce far-reaching consequences for the culture of a society.【句子分析】1. 这是一个带宾语从句,定语从句的复合句,其框架结构分析如下:主句主干为“主+谓+宾语”:Whorf /came to believe in/ a sort of linguistic determinism Whorf逐渐相信某种语言决定论. (其中come to 表示逐渐的含义,考虫考研英语系统班的写作课上多次使用类似表达:很多人已经开始意识到 = people in mounting numbers come to realize ….)2. 定语从句:(定语从句中同时嵌套了两个并列的宾语从句)which, …states that, …and that..这一论点宣称,……而且宣称……并列宾语从句1:language imprisons the mind in 语言将思想禁锢其中并列宾语从句2:the grammatical patterns in a language can produce far-reaching consequences for the culture of a society 语言的语法模式可以对某一社会文化产生深远的影响。3. 插入成分:in its strongest form以自己最强烈的形式【翻译技巧】此句较难。一是结构复杂,句中有句,一环套一环;二是一些词语不宜直译,如:come to believe 开始相信;都需要按汉语表达习惯在措辞上进行调整,才能翻译出正确的意思。【词的理解】1)a sort of 某种 典型的错译是“一系列”。某些类似汉语量词的表达需要考生给予足够重视。2) linguistic determinism语言决定论 linguistic意思是“语言的,语言学的”,determinism的后缀表示“…论,…主义”,但许多人没能掌握这一构词知识。 3) in its strongest form其极端说法是;在其最强烈的形式下 很多人没能根据本句的语境理解,而是照字面意思译为“它的最强烈的形式;它的最有力的形式”,这都不符合要求。 4) imprison the mind禁锢思维 考生出错是由于没找到表达imprison的恰当汉语,译为“关闭思维;囚禁头脑”。imprison把……关在监狱中,囚禁; 5) far-reaching 深远的; 伸得很远的; 这是个合成词,许多人没掌握,只能根据字面猜测:“远不可及的”,“远远到达的”等等, 这些都不正确。【完整的译文】Whorf came to believe in a sort of linguistic determinism which, in its strongest form, states that language imprisons the mind, and that the grammatical patterns in a language can produce far-reaching consequences for the culture of a society.Whorf逐渐接受/相信了某种语言决定论的观点;这种观点的极端说法是:语言禁锢了思想,语言的语法模式可以对某种社会文化产生深远的影响。【明日预告】Native American languages are indeed different,so much so in fact that Navajo could be used by the US military as a code during World WarⅡ to send secret messages.