N_1 of N_2

介词短语(特别是 of 短语)作后置定语时,定语与其中心词之间的关系是极为复杂的。

名词 + of + 名词这一结构能够表示多种多样的关系。美国著名翻译理论家奈达归纳出 12 种关系。

1. the will of God→God wills

2. the creation of the world $\rightarrow$ (God) creates the world

3. the God of peace→God causes/produces peace

4. the Holy Spirit of promise→(God) promised the Holy Spirit

5. the word of truth→the word is true

6. the riches of his grace→he shows grace richly/abundantly

7. Jesus of Nazareth→Jesus came from Nazareth

8. the lake of Galilee→the lake is in Galilee

9. the land of Judea→the land is Judea

10. servant of all→he serves all(people)

11. the book of Moses→Moses wrote the book

12. baptism of repentance→(people) repent and are baptized

R. 夸克等人则归纳出 10 种关系。

1. a typewriter of my father's (my father has a typewriter)

2. the courage of the man (the man has courage)

3. the envy of the world (the world envies...)

4. the trial of the conspirators(... tries the conspirators)

5. the virtue of thrift(thrift is a virtue)

6. a flock of sheep(sheep make up the flock)

7. a glass of water (the glass contains water)

8. seven of my friends(... amounting to seven)

9. people of the Middle Ages (people who lived in the Middle Ages)

10. the house of my dreams (the house which I see in my dreams)