as well as

大家知道，在 not only A but also B 这个结构里，语意侧重点在 B 项。但在 A as well as B 这个结构里，语意侧重点则常常在 A 项，因此 as well as 的词义在许多情况下并不简单地等同于 and，而是相当于 in addition to, not only，也就是说，作者往往把 A 看作是读者所未知的新信息，有意识地在语意上加以强调。因此，英译汉时要设法把作为句子语意重点的 A 项给强调出来，一般可以译作“不仅 B，而且 A”或“既 B 又 A”“A 和 B 一样也……”“除 B 之外，还 A”。请看下面的例句及其译法：

1. Notice that a force has direction as well as magnitude. (=... has not only magnitude but also direction.) 要注意, 力不但有大小, 而且有方向。

2. Electric energy can be changed into light energy as well as into sound energy. 电能既可以变为声能, 又可以变为光能。

3. It must be remembered that there are advantages as well as disadvantages of friction. 必须记住，摩擦力有消极作用，也有积极作用。

4. To them, I suppose I did look like a fool, but your life is shaped by the opportunities you turn down as well as by those you seize. (B. Clinton, My Life) 在他们看来, 我想我肯定像个傻瓜, 但是一个人的生活不仅仅是由你抓住的机会造成的, 而且还是由你放弃的机会造成的。(《我的生活》)

我们的上述理解和翻译是符合 R. Quirk 等人的论述的：“当用 like 和 as well as 代替 and 来连接短语时，其结果通常使它们后面的短语降格，表示该短语已处于“已知信息”的地位。” (CGEL, § 19.60)

但是,应当指出,在现代英语里,A as well as B 这个结构并不是在任何情况下都是用来在语意上突出 A 的,有时候用来表示 A 和 B 同等重要。在这种情况下,as well as 相当于 and 或 and also.例如:

1. Electronic computers can add and subtract as well as multiply and divide.

电子计算机能够加减,也能乘除。

2. In recent years scientific and technological developments have changed human life on our planet, as well as our views both of ourselves as individuals in society and of the universe as a whole. (PSSC, Physics) 近几年来,科学技术上的新成就,改变了人类在地球上的生活,也改变了我们对于社会中的个人以及整个宇宙的看法。

3. I learned more about the prevalence and impact of breast cancer, as well as obstacles to its prevention and treatment. (Hillary, Living History) 对乳癌的普遍性和影响以及预防和治疗上的障碍，我有了更多的了解。

4. Premier Zhu Rongji hosted a lunch for the delegation in which we discussed the economic and social challenges facing China, as well as the remaining issues we still had to resolve in order to bring China into the World Trade Organization. (B. Clinton, My Life) 朱镕基总理为代表团设午宴，我们一起讨论了中国面临的经济和社会挑战，以及那些为了让中国加入世界贸易组织而仍需解决的问题。（《我的生活》）

由此可见，A as well as B 这个结构究竟是在语意上强调 A，还是表示 A 和 B 同等重要，这是需要对句意和上下文进行具体分析之后，才能确定的。正是根据这样的分析，我们认为，你所提问的句子中的 A as well as B 是强调 A 的，亦即强调“could handle a teacup”（懂社交应酬）。因为联邦调查局的特务会使用自动步枪是不言而喻的，但是要求他们懂社交应酬却是一种出人意料之外的新奇的想法。

[试译]胡佛需要既会使用自动步枪又懂社交礼仪的人。

应该承认, as well as 确实可以用作比较结构, 意思是“跟……一样好”, 例如:

1. He speaks English as well as his teacher.

他说英语跟他的老师一样好。

2. The newly built turbine works as well as that one.

这台新制造的涡轮机的工作情况跟那一台一样好。

但是,在你提问的句子中 as well as 并不是这样的比较结构,而是一个连词,其意义和用法是跟前面谈到的 as well as 相同的(在这里是强调 to see 的)。

[试译]电视是另一种重要的通讯设备,它不仅能使我们听到表演者的声音,而且还能使我们看到表演者的表演。

由于 as well as 具有多种语法功能和语义,所以这个句子可以有好几种分析方法。

A. 把 as...as 看作是关联从属连词, 把 as Jack 从句看作是省略了 likes(I like Joe as well as Jack likes Joe.)。这时全句的意思是: 我跟杰克一样地喜欢乔。

B. 把 as...as 看作是关联从属连词, 而把 as 从句看作是省略了主语 I 和谓语动词 like, 即 I like Joe as well as I like Jack. 此时全句的意思是: 我喜欢乔, 同样喜欢杰克。

C. 把 as well as 看作是(准)并列连词, 即连接两个宾语 Joe 和 Jack。此时全句的意思是: 我不仅喜欢杰克, 也喜欢乔(有时亦可译作: 我喜欢杰克和乔)。(见 as well as $^{1}$ )

用并列连词来解释上句中的 as well as 确实有困难。现代语言学家是用介词来解释 as well as 的上述用法的。其意义相当于 besides, in addition to。类例：

1. As well as printing the books, he publishes them. He publishes the books, as well as printing them. (CGEL) 除了印刷这些书之外，他还把它们出版发行了。

2. As well as visiting Niagara Falls, we spent a day in Toronto. 除了参观尼亚加拉大瀑布之外，我们还在多伦多度过了一天。

3. He spent all his money, as well as wasting his time. (CEU) 他不仅浪费了时间，还花光了他所有的钱。

你可能混淆了两个概念:并列连词与准并列连词(quasi-coordinators)。and 是并列连词,而 as well as, along with, as much as, together with 是准并列连词。当用准并列连词来连接主语时,谓语动词的数决定于充当主语的第一个名词的数。如果名词是单数,谓语动词照例要用单数:

1. Helen, as well as her brother, has gone abroad. 海伦和她弟弟都出国了。

2. The teacher, along with a committee of bright students, has compiled a reading list. 老师和一群聪明的学生组成的委员会编了一个阅读目录。

3. The First Lady, along with White House guests and other dignitaries, sits in a special area of the balcony …(Hillary, Living History) 第一夫人与白宫贵宾及其他名流坐在楼上的包厢里……(希拉里，《亲历历史》)

as well as,如同 and, or 一样,起并列连词的作用。它所连接的成分要互相对等,即名词与名词相并列,动词与动词相并列,分词与分词相并列。上面句中的 he advised... as well as helping 违背这一原则,故应将 helping 改为 helped.(参见 parallelism structural)

上面的译文把原文的语意轻重关系给弄颠倒了。在原文中 as well as 的前项为语义重点，而在上面的中译文中却把 as well as 的后项变为语义重点了。因此，上面的中译文似应改为：

约翰能讲法语还能讲汉语。

冲突到处蔓延，蔓延到了城市，也蔓延到了农村。

这不仅是个经济问题,而且还是个政治问题。

原译文把语义轻重关系弄颠倒了。

[试译]这个国家的免费医疗不仅包括普通疾病，也包括精神疾病。