•     核心提示： 2004年考研英语英译汉试题原文:The relation of language and mind has interested philosophers for many centuries。

2004年考研英语英译汉试题原文:
　
The relation of language and mind has interested philosophers for many centuries. (61) 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 language could be.
Only recently did linguists begin the serious study of languages that were very different from their own. Two anthropologist-linguists, Franz Boas and Edward Sapir, were pioneers in describing many native languages of North and South America during the first half of the twentieth century. (62) We are obliged to them because some of these languages have since vanished, as the peoples who spoke them died out or became assimilated and lost their native languages. Other linguists in the earlier part of this century, however, who were less eager to deal with bizarre(古怪的) data from "exotic（外来的）" language, were not always so grateful. (63) The newly described languages were often so strikingly different from the well studied languages of Europe and Southeast Asia that some scholars even accused Boas and Sapir of fabricating their data. 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 War II to send secret messages.
Sapir's pupil, Benjamin Lee Whorf, continued the study of American Indian languages. (64) 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. He reasoned that because it is easier to formulate certain concepts and not others in a given language, the speakers of that language think along one track and not along another. (65) 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. Later, this idea became to be known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis（假说）, but this term is somewhat inappropriate. Although both Sapir and Whorf emphasized the diversity of languages, Sapir himself never explicitly supported the notion of linguistic determinism.

此文讨论的是为什么哲学家长期以来对语言与思维的关系很感兴趣。开篇即指出，早在古希腊，人们就认识到语言与思维有关联，而将语言研究用于不同的语言上，则是近代的事。文中以20世纪上半叶的两个著名人类学家、语言学家Franz Boas 和Edward Sapir为例，指出们对人类语言研究方出的贡献。文中的另一重要人物是Sapir 的学生Benjamin Lee Whorf，他通过分析部落语言的兴衰证明了语言与文化的不可分割性，提出了Sapir-Whorf假说。下面我们对5个划线句的翻译分给出具体的分析解答过程。

(61) 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 language could be.
解析
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：
主句的主、谓结构：The Greeks assumed that 希腊人假定
宾语从句：the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought语言结构与思想的过程之间有某种联系
定语从句：which took root in Europe（这种想法）扎根于欧洲
时间状语从句：long before people realized how diverse language could be早在人们意识到语言会有多么的不同之前
翻译方法技巧
此句可以采用层层剥茧的方法，先抓住整个句子的结构，然后再考虑具体的措词问题。在理清了上述结构之后，还需注意下面几个词语的处理：
assumed 假定；认为；以为
the process of thought思想的过程；思维过程
took root生根；扎根
long before 早在…之前；不要与before long（不久，不久以后）相混淆
how diverse 多么的不同；多么的千差万别
could be 可能会是（can 过去式）
经过草拟、调整和修改，此句可译作：
希腊人认为，语言结构与思维的过程之间存在着某种联系。这种想法，早在人们意识到语言会有多么千差万别之前在欧洲就已经根深蒂固了。

(62) We are obliged to them because some of these languages have since vanished, as the peoples who spoke them died out or became assimilated and lost their native languages.
解析
这是一个带原因状语从句、定语从句的复合句，其框架结构分析如下：
主句的主、谓、宾结构：We are obliged to them 我们感激他们
原因状语从句：because some of these languages have since vanished因为自此这些语言中的一部分消失了
定语从句：as the peoples who spoke them die d out or became assimilated and lost their native languages 因为讲们的人灭亡了或同化了，并且丧失了自己的语言
翻译方法技巧
此句的结构并不难掌握，主要是准表达其中的下面几个措辞：
be obliged to感激某人
have since vanished从那以后就消失了，不复存在了；此处的since 表示 “从此以后”之意；
die out 灭绝，完全的灭亡（cease living completely; become extinct）；不宜译作 “死亡，消失”。
经过草拟、修改，此句最终可定为：
我们之所以感激他们，是因为从此以后，这些语言中的一部分消失了，因为讲这些语言的人要么灭绝了，要么被同化了，因而丧失了自己的语言。

(63) The newly described languages were often so strikingly different from the well studied languages of Europe and Southeast Asia that some scholars even accused Boas and Sapir of fabricating their data.　
解析
这是一个带有结果状语从句的系表结构，主句系表结构的框架为：
The …languages were so different from.. that …各种语言是如此的不同，以至于……
结果状语：some scholars even accused Boas and Sapir of fabricating their data.一些学者甚至指责Boas 和Sapir编造了他们的资料
定语：The newly described languages 这些新近被描述的语言
介词from 的宾语：the well studied languages of Europe and Southeast Asia 经过充分研究的欧洲和东南亚的语言
翻译方法技巧
翻译此句的关键在于掌握结构原文的so ... that …（如此…以至于）结构；措词表达上，应当注意accused sb. of sth. (指责／谴责某人作了某事)，fabricating（捏造, 伪造, 虚构），以The newly described（这些新近被描述的），strikingly different（显著的不同），the well studied languages（经过充分研究的各种语言）的准确译法。
经过结构调整、理顺关系，我们可将此句译作：
这些新近被描述的各种语言与经过充分研究的欧洲和东南亚的语言是如此的显著的不同，以至于一些学者甚至指责Boas 和Sapir编造了他们的资料。

(64) 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.
解析
这是一个由现在分词短语引起的带同位语从句的复合句。
主句的主、谓、宾结构为：Whorf developed the idea Whorf 逐渐形成了这种见解
同位语从句：（the idea）that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society 在一个社会里，语言的结构决定习惯思想的结构
现在分词短语：Being interested in the relationship of language and thought（他）对语言与思维的关系感兴趣
翻译方法技巧
此句的结构较为简单，主要是汉语表达要恰当；being interested in …应译作一个句子，即 “Whorf对语思维的关系很感兴趣”，develop与idea搭配，不宜面译作 “发展”，而是“形成观点”，否则不合汉语的表达习惯；habitual thought 应译作 “习惯(性)思维”，而不宜译作 “思考、思想”。同位语结构可考虑用冒号提示性方法来处理。
经过以上分析思索，此句可最终定为：
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。

(65) 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.　　
解析
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：
主句的主、谓结构：Whorf came to believe in a sort of linguistic determinism Whorf逐渐相信某种语言决定论
定语从句：（带两个并列宾语从句）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。
插入成分：in its strongest form以自己最强烈的形式
翻译方法技巧
此句是5个试题中最难的一句。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；in its strongest form在其最强烈的形式下；imprison把……关在监狱中，囚禁；far-reaching伸得很远的；都需要按汉语表达习惯在措辞上进行调整，才能翻译出确的意思。
经过结构调整、文字斟酌，我们可将此句译作：
Whorf逐渐接受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。

附：英译汉参考答案
61.希腊人认为，语言结构与思维过程之间存在着某种联系。这一观点在人们尚未认识到语言的千差万别之前早就已在欧洲扎下了根。
62.我们之所以感激他们（两位先驱），是因为在此之后，这些（土著）语言中有一些已经不复存在了，或是因为说这些语言的部族或是消亡了，或是被同化而丧失了自己的本族语言。
63.这些新被描述的语言与已得到充分研究的欧洲和东南亚地区的语言往往差别显著，以至于有些学者甚至指责Boas和Sapir编造了材料。
64.Whorf对语言与思维的关系很感兴趣，逐渐形成了这样的观点：在一个社会中，语言的结构决定习惯思维的结构。
65.Whorf进而相信某种类似语言决定论的观点，其极端说法是：语言禁锢思维，语言的语法结构能对一个社会的文化产生深远的影响。