主语从句的翻译理解技巧

【昨日回顾】

This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.

这种困境将是确定无疑的，因为能源的匮乏使农业无法以高能消费的美国耕作方式继续下去了，而这种方式可以使美国能够以少量的农民投入就能获得高产。

Never give up any opportunity to make progress!

We, never met, always love in mind!

【今日长难句】

It seems almost certain that by 2001 the United States will no longer be a great food exporting nation and that, if necessity forces exports, it will be at the price of belt-tightening at home.

【重难点词汇】

exporting nation 出口国

necessity n. 需要；必然性

force vt.强加；强迫

at the price of …以……为代价

belt-tightening adj. 节省开支的

【参考译文】

It seems almost certain that by 2001 the United States will no longer be a great food exporting nation and that，if necessity forces exports，it will be at the price of belt-tightening at home.

译文1：

几乎可以肯定的是，到2001年美国将再也不是一个食品输出国；如果必须出口的话，那么其代价就是美国国内人民压缩国内的食品供应。

译文2：

到2001年美国将再也不是一个食品输出国；如果必须出口的话，那么其代价就是美国国内人民压缩国内的食品供应。这两点几乎是可以肯定的。

【分子分析】

1. 句子主干：it seems almost certain that …and that …; 其中it充当形式主语，that …and that…  为并列两个主语从句，充当正真的主语。

2. that主语从句1主干为：the United States will no longer be a food exporting nation

3. that主语从句2主干为：it will be at the price of belt-tightening.

4.修饰成分：by 2001 为时间状语修饰that主语从句1；if necessity forces exports, 为主语从句2的条件状语从句；at home 译为：国内；修饰 belt-tightening。

【主语从句翻译技巧】

It seems almost certain that.. and that … 该句中it充当形式主语，两个that从句充当真正主语。

由于从句内容较长，可将主语从句单独处理成两个句子。至于主句翻译时，即可以在句子开头部分，见译文1，也可以在结尾，见译文2.

【明日预告】

In fact，as food items will end to decline in quality and decrease in variety，there is very likely to be increasing use of flavoring additives. Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the point where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all，people will have to accept more “unnatural food”.