Replacements of sentence types

 

The usual types of replacements are the substitution of a simple sentence by a complex one and vice versa; of the principal clause by a subordinate one and vice versa; the replacement of subordination by coordination and vice versa; the replacement of asyndeton by polysyndeton and vice versa. These kinds of replacements are often caused by the existence of various complexes and structures in the English language, e.g.

 

I saw him cross the street and buy a newspaper.

Я видел, как перешел улицу и купил газету.

 

A simple sentence is replaced by a complex one.

 

Marsel Daussault, the airplane manufacturer who is said to be the richest man in France had defrauded the government of $ 300 million in taxes.

Марсель Дассо, владелец авиастроительной компании, который, как говорят, является самым богатым человеком во Франции, обокрал правительство, не выплатив 300 миллионов долларов налогов.

 

Simple sentences containing infinitive complexes are usually translated by complex sentences.

A simple sentence with an absolute participle or a nominative absolute construction is usually rendered by a subordinate or coordinate complex sentence.

 

Withthe fog rolling away and the sun shining out of a sky of icy blue the trevellers started on the leg of their climb. (Trevanian)

Когда туман поднялся и солнце засияло на холодном голубом небе, альпинисты начали последний этап своего восхождения.

It should also be noted that the type of the subordinate clause may be changed on the strength of usage.

 

She glanced at Brendon, where he sat on a chair across her. (W.Deeping).

Она посмотрела на Брендона, который сидел на стуле против нее.

 

The adverb “where” probably does not function here as an adverb of place but rather as a word qualifying the sitter.

Apart from replacing a simple sentence by a subordinated or coordinated complex sentence it can also be replaced by two, or more simple sentences. It is especially practiced in the translation of the so-called “leads”. A lead is the first sentence of news-in-brief which contains the main point of the information. It usually coincides with the first paragraph and is usually divided into two or more sentences in translation.

Thousands of Algerians tonight fled from the “dead city” of Orleanswille after a twelve-second earthquake had ripped through central Algeria, killing an estimated 1,100 people.

1. Тысячи жителей бежали сегодня ночью из «мертвого города» Орлеанвиля, спасаясь от землетрясения, длившегося двенадцать секунд.

2. Землетрясение произошло в центральных районах Алжира.

3. По предварительным данным погибло 1.100 человек.

 

On the other hand a complex sentence may by replaced by a simple one.

 

It was at the 5^th Congress that the Great Russian writer Maxim Gorky met Lenin for the first time.

Великий русский писатель Максим Горький впервые встретился с Лениным на 5 съезде партии.

He could not say anything unless he was prompted. (Taylor Caldwell).

Без подсказки он не мог и слова сказать.