連接詞、短語、從句或句子的詞叫連詞。連詞是虛詞,不能獨立擔任句子成分。英語的連詞從形式上可分為簡單連詞(如and, but, for, before)、關聯(lián)連詞(如both...and, not only...but also)、分詞連詞(如 provided, supposing 等)和短語連詞(如 as though, as soon as, in order that, so that)。從連詞本身的含義和功用來看,又可分為并列連詞和從屬連詞兩類。連詞一般包括并列連詞和從屬連詞,譯法主要有三種:
一、直譯
所謂直譯,就是把連詞的字面意思直接翻譯出來。如:
* Leading and trailing edge ribs that are extensively damaged must be replaced.
損傷面積過大的前緣肋和后緣肋,必須更換。
* The wire must not be in contact with the air or it will become oxidized and burn out.
金屬絲不應與空氣相接觸,否則會被氧化并燒毀。
* While polyacetylene can be persuaded to conduct current as well as many metals do,this material is unfortunately no good for practical use.
雖然聚乙炔可以被認為能夠像許多金屬一樣導電,遺憾的是這種材料無法實際使用。
二、轉(zhuǎn)譯
同樣,為了符合漢語的表達習慣,井能準確表達原文的含義,漢譯時英語的連詞也可進行轉(zhuǎn)譯。并列連詞有時可以轉(zhuǎn)譯成從屬連詞,而有時從屬連詞也可以轉(zhuǎn)譯成并列連詞,或從屬連詞改變原有的功能轉(zhuǎn)譯成其他意義的從屬連詞。如: