定語從句后置的條件：結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜，信息量大。從某種程度上來說，簡(jiǎn)單或復(fù)雜是因人而異的。這里有一個(gè)量化原則：通常，定語從句的長(zhǎng)度為5個(gè)單詞以上或者超過整個(gè)句子的1/3，可以視為結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜。這樣的定語從句，翻譯的時(shí)候往往后置。后置之后怎么辦呢？可以重復(fù)先行詞或者用一個(gè)字“這”。我們看一下考研英語真題例句。
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. (2004-65)
which 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這個(gè)定語從句結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜，信息量大，應(yīng)該后置。which指代的是a sort of linguistic determinism“某種語言決定論”。后置之后可以重復(fù)先行詞“該語言決定論或該理論”。補(bǔ)充一下，in its strongest form為插入語“最極端的形式”；that..., and that...為并列結(jié)構(gòu)，兩個(gè)并列的賓語從句，都是states的內(nèi)容；imprison“禁錮”；far-reaching“影響深遠(yuǎn)的”；produce far-reaching consequences表示“產(chǎn)生深遠(yuǎn)影響”。整句話的譯文就是：沃爾夫逐漸相信某種語言決定論，該理論最極端的形式聲稱，語言禁錮了思想，語言的語法結(jié)構(gòu)可以對(duì)一個(gè)社會(huì)的文化產(chǎn)生深遠(yuǎn)影響。
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 languages could be. (2004-61)
which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be為非限定性定語從句，which指代that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought，即“這種觀點(diǎn)”。Greeks“希臘人”。整句話的譯文就是：希臘人認(rèn)為，語言結(jié)構(gòu)和思維過程有某種聯(lián)系，這種觀點(diǎn)早在人們意識(shí)到語言的多樣性之前就已經(jīng)在歐洲扎根。
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. (2004-65)
which 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這個(gè)定語從句結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜，信息量大，應(yīng)該后置。which指代的是a sort of linguistic determinism“某種語言決定論”。后置之后可以重復(fù)先行詞“該語言決定論或該理論”。補(bǔ)充一下，in its strongest form為插入語“最極端的形式”；that..., and that...為并列結(jié)構(gòu)，兩個(gè)并列的賓語從句，都是states的內(nèi)容；imprison“禁錮”；far-reaching“影響深遠(yuǎn)的”；produce far-reaching consequences表示“產(chǎn)生深遠(yuǎn)影響”。整句話的譯文就是：沃爾夫逐漸相信某種語言決定論，該理論最極端的形式聲稱，語言禁錮了思想，語言的語法結(jié)構(gòu)可以對(duì)一個(gè)社會(huì)的文化產(chǎn)生深遠(yuǎn)影響。
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 languages could be. (2004-61)
which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be為非限定性定語從句，which指代that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought，即“這種觀點(diǎn)”。Greeks“希臘人”。整句話的譯文就是：希臘人認(rèn)為，語言結(jié)構(gòu)和思維過程有某種聯(lián)系，這種觀點(diǎn)早在人們意識(shí)到語言的多樣性之前就已經(jīng)在歐洲扎根。