TranslatingSkill — Translating long sentences (I): splitting

When translating from Chinese to English, one often encounters long, complex sentences that can be challenging to render smoothly in English. The technique of splitting long sentences is a valuable tool in a translator's toolkit to enhance the readability and naturalness of the translated text.

Understanding the Original Text: Begin by gaining a deep understanding of the structure and meaning of the Chinese sentence. Identify the main ideas and how they are connected through various clauses.

Identifying Main and Subordinate Clauses: Distinguish between the main clause, which carries the core message, and subordinate clauses, which provide additional information or context. Determine the logical relationships that bind these clauses together.

Reasonable Division: Decide where to split the sentence based on these relationships and the semantic flow. Break down the long sentence into two or more shorter sentences that can stand independently while maintaining the original meaning.

Adjusting Word Order: After splitting, rearrange the sentence components to fit English syntax. English typically follows a subject-verb-object order, which may differ from the structure in the original Chinese text.

Maintaining Fluency: Ensure that the translated sentences read naturally in English. The goal is to produce a text that is not only accurate in meaning but also pleasing to the ear of an English speaker.

For example,

随着对可再生能源的不断研究和开发，太阳能和风能等清洁能源的使用比例在全球能源消费中正在逐渐增加。

This sentence discusses the ongoing research and development of renewable energy sources and the increasing proportion of clean energy like solar and wind power in global energy consumption.

• The main clause is "太阳能和风能等清洁能源的使用比例在全球能源消费中正在逐渐增加" (The proportion of clean energy such as solar and wind     power in global energy consumption is gradually increasing).

• The subordinate clause is "随着对可再生能源的不断研究和开发" (With the continuous research and development of renewable energy sources).

In this case, the sentence can be divided into two parts based on the logical flow. In English, we often place the dependent clause at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Reference translation: With continuous research and development of renewable energy sources, the proportion of clean energy such as solar and wind power in global energy consumption is gradually increasing.

Translating Skill —Translating long sentences (II): combining

When translating from languages like Chinese to English, where the original text may consist of several short, related sentences, the skill of combining these into a single, more complex sentence in English can be incredibly valuable. This technique not only maintains the coherence of the original ideas but also enhances the fluency and sophistication of the translation.

Understanding the Original Text: Begin with a comprehensive understanding of the individual sentences in the source text. Identify the main themes and how they interrelate.

Identifying Relationships: Look for connections between the sentences, such as shared subjects, parallel structures, or logical sequences that suggest they can be merged into a more integrated whole.

Combining Sentences: Use conjunctions, relative clauses, or participial phrases to weave the separate sentences together. This creates a unified sentence that encapsulates all the nuances of the original text.

Maintaining Cohesion: Ensure that the resulting sentence is cohesive, with a smooth transition between ideas. The sentence should read as a single, flowing thought rather than a disjointed series of statements.

Adjusting for Style and Readability: Tailor the combined sentence to suit the stylistic and readability norms of English. This may involve rephrasing, adjusting the order of information, or even breaking the sentence into two if it becomes overly complex.

For example,

1. 水力发电是一种利用水能的发电方式。

2. 它是一种可再生能源。

3. 水力发电对环境的影响相对较小。

These sentences, while short and simple, are related and can be combined into a more complex sentence in English. The main subject here is "水力发电" (hydroelectric power), which is the focus of all three sentences. Look for ways to integrate the additional information provided by the second and third sentences into the first one. Use conjunctions like "and" or "but" to connect ideas, and relative clauses to add more detail. Make sure the combined sentence is easy to read and understand in English.

The first sentence is the base, describing what hydroelectric power is. The second sentence is transformed into a relative clause, "which is a method of generating electricity by harnessing the energy of water and is a renewable energy source," providing additional details about hydroelectric power. The third sentence is also integrated aspart of the relative clause, indicating the environmental benefits of hydroelectric power. The result is a single, comprehensive sentence that conveys all the information from the original sentences in a clear and concise manner.

Reference translation: Hydroelectric power, which is a method of generating electricity by harnessing the energy of water and is a renewable energy source, has arelatively minimal impact on the environment.

Task1. Please translate the following sentences into English by the above skills.

1. 随着全球对气候变化的关注增加，许多国家正在大力发展太阳能和风能等可再生能源。

2. 核能作为一种高效的能源，虽然具有潜在的安全隐患，但在严格控制和管理下可以安全使用。

3. 煤炭是化石燃料。煤炭是不可再生的。

4. 水力发电是一种清洁能源。它对环境的影响较小。

5. 电动汽车减少了对石油的依赖。电动汽车有助于减少空气污染

Task2. Please translate the following paragraph into English by above skills.

随着全球能源需求的不断增长，开发新能源变得日益重要。新能源包括太阳能、风能、地热能和生物质能等，它们都是清洁的、可持续的能源。太阳能通过光伏电池板或太阳能热发电系统转换为电能。风能利用风力发电机将风的动能转化为电能，而地热能则通过地热发电站利用地球内部的热量。生物质能是通过燃烧或发酵有机物质来产生能量，这种能源具有减少温室气体排放的潜力。