1. Introduction
English-Chinese translation is a process which requires a detailed analysis of the original sentences in such aspects as meaning, structure and logic, and which, as a result, needs a long time of practice to perfect. However, translation is made more difficult and complex by frequent appearance of long sentences in the two languages. In this essay, we discuss how we can develop skills in long sentence translation. What is a long sentence? A long sentence is one with several attributives, subordinate and adverbial clauses, which are interdependent on and linked to each other. Long sentences are characterized by frequent use of attributive and adverbial clauses, compound structure, parenthesis and dangling structure. Besides, what makes long sentences difficult to translate is the fact that Chinese and Englishmen have different thinking habit, which naturally leads to their differences in ways of expression and sentence structure. Thus, the emphasis of this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English and Chinese sentences. Reasons why this essay is on a comparison between the structures of English are also discussed, and the types of articles where long sentences frequently appear are shown to the readers. The priority of this essay is given to the steps, which should be taken, and the methods to be used in long sentence translation and vice versa.
2.1.1 “Sentences with attributive clauses
One common type of long sentence is one with attributive clauses. What is an attributive clause? An attributive clause is one used after a noun to modify the noun. Attributive clauses, although sharing the similarity of being modifiers, are different according to their relationship with the main clause, and can be divided into several types.