科技英语特点

1、lecture 2科技英语的特点(-)几种文体的比较任何作品均有特立的文体，原文的文体不同，阅读理解和翻译方法也随z而界。试观察 下列儿个片断的原文及其译文nit appears that youve got the offer of a very good job/"a wonderful job."mare you going to take it ?h"i don't think so."“why not?1"i don't want to.u”听说冇个很好的工作要你去干。”挺好的工作”。”打算干吗？ ”“不。”为什么不干

2、？ ”不想干”。摘自刀锋(the razofs edge )这是小说中的一段対说，属于口语文体。其特点是：用词口rh,句法结构简单，短句与省略 句多，口然朴素，生活气息浓厚。在译文中进一步休现汉语口语的特点，省去主语“你“、“ 我”；将英语的一个句子i don-t think so.干脆译成一个字“不”，显得简洁有力。she was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner. her eyes were large and patient, and

3、in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.那妇人生着一副绵软多肉的体格，一张坦率开诚的而容，一种天真羞怯的神气。一双人落落 的柔顺眼睛，里边隐藏着无穷的心事，只有那些对于凄惶无告的穷苦人而m作过同情观察的 人才看得出來。摘自(珍妮姑娘)(jennie gerhardt),傅东华译上面五十一个词的片断，就运用了十个

4、形容词, 占五分zo "and in then dwelt such a shadow of distress"是非常优美生动的文学语言，译文 保持了一风格。montreal-clark johns accomplished a spectacular debut for his nhl career tonight, the first score launching a four -point first period out burst,to lead the johnson city high hats to a 6:4 victory over the montr

5、eal teals and their eighth consecutive game without a loss.蒙特利尔电在全国手球联赛中克拉克约翰斯今晚初试锋芒，引起轰动。上半场领先四分， 首开记录。克拉克发挥中坚作用，约翰逊市高帽队终以6:4击败蒙特利尔市小鸭队，创造了 连胜八场未负一场的战绩。这是属于应用文的新闻文体，其特点是简明扼要，短小精悍，结构紧凑，笔锋犀利。上述这 则电讯只有一个句子，却把一场球赛描绘得淋漓尽致，富于吸引力。the range of a voltmeter may be extended by means of a series resistor calle

6、d a multiplier as shown in fig.2.the fullscale reading of the meter alone may be 15volts.with the multiplier 250volts may be required to move the pointer to full-scale, 135 volts across the multiplier and 15volts across the meter.从上述的一段科技文章，不难看出其文体与修辞手段与前面列举的文艺小说，新闻报道等迥 然不同。科技文体崇尚严谨周密，概念准确，逻辑性强，行文简练

7、，重点突出，句式严整， 少有变化，常用询置性陈述，即在句中将主要信息尽量询置，通过主语传递主要信息。科技文章文体的特点是：清晰、准确、精练、严密。那末,科技文章的语言结构特色在翻译 过程中如何处理，这是进行英汉科技翻译时需要探讨的问题。现分述如下：一、大量使用名词化结构当代英语语法(a grammar of conlemporary)在论述科技英语时提出，大量使用名词化 结构(nominalization)是科技英语的特点z。因为科技文体要求行文简洁、表达客观、 内容确切、信息量大、强调存在的事实。而非某一行为。archimeds first discovered the principle

8、of displacement of water by solid bodies.阿基米德最先发展固体排水的原理。句中of displacement of water by solid bodies系名词化结构，一方而简化了同位语从句，另一 方强调displacement这一事实。the rotation of the earth on its own axis causes the change from day to night.地球绕轴口转，引起昼夜的变化。名词化结构the rotation of the earth on its own axis使复合句简化成简单-句，而且使表达的概

9、念更加确切严密。if you use firebricks round the walls of the boiler, the heat loss. can be considerably reduced. 炉壁采用耐火砖可大大降低热耗。科技英语所表述的是客观规律，因之要尽量避免使用第一、二人称；此外，要使主要的信息 置于句首。television is the transmission and reception of images of moving objects by radio waves.电视通过无线电波发射和接受活动物体的图象。名词化结构 the transmission an

10、d reception of images of moving objects by radio waves 强调客 观事实，而“谓语动词则着重其发射和接受的能力。二、广泛使用被动语句根据英国利兹大学john swales的统计，科技英语中的谓语至少三分z是被动态。这是因 为科技文章侧重叙事推理，强调客观准确。笫一、二人称使用过多，会造成主观臆断的印象。 因此尽量使用笫三人称叙述，采用被动语态，例如：attention must be paid to the working temperature of the machine.应当注意机器的工作温度。而很少说：you must pay att

11、ention to the working temperature of the machine必须注意机器的工作温度。此夕卜，如前所述，科技文章将主要信息前置，放在主语部份。这也是广泛使用被动态的主要原因。试观察并比较下列 两段短文的主语。we can store electrical energy in two metal plates separated by an insulating medium. we callsuch a device a capacitor, or a condenser, and its ability to store electrical energy

12、capacitance .it is measured in farads.电能町储存在rti绝缘介质隔开的两块金属极板内。这样的装置称z为电容器，其储存电能 的能力称为电容。电容的测量单位是法拉。这一段短文中各句的主语分别为：electrical energysuch a deviceits ability to store electrical energyit (capacitance)它们都包禽了较多的信息，并且处于句首的位置，非常醉目。四个主语完全不同，避免了单 调重复，前后连贯，自然流畅。足见被动结构可收简洁客观之效。三、非限定动词。如前所述，科技文章要求行文简练，结构紧凑，为此，

13、往往使用分词短语代替定语从句或状 语从句；使用分词独立结构代替状语从句或并列分句；使用不定式短语代替各种从句；介词 十动名词短语代替定语从句或状语从句。这样可缩短句子，乂比较醒口。试比较下列各组句 子。a direct current is a current flowing always in the same direction.直流电是一种总是沿同一方向流动的电流。radiating from the earth, heat causes air cuitents to rise.热量rti地球辐射!11来时，使得气流上升。a body can more uniformly and in

14、 a straight line,there being no cause to change that motion.如果没有改变物体运动的原因，那么物体将作匀速直线运动。vibrating objects produce sound waves ,each vibration producing one sound wave振动着的物体产生声波，每一次振动产生一个声波。in communications, the problem of electronics is how to convey information from one place to another.在通讯系统中，电子学要

15、解决的问题是如何把信息从一个地方传递到另一个地方。materials to be used for structural purposes are chosen so as to behave elastically in the environmental conditions.结构材料的选择应使其在外界条件屮保持其弹性。there are different ways ofchanging energy from one foim into another.将能量从一种形式转变成另一种形式有各种不同的方法。in making the radio waves correspond to ea

16、ch sound in turn ,messages are carried from a broadcasting station to a receiving set.使无线电波依次对每一个声音作出相应变化时，信息就由广播电台传递到接收机。ui后置定语人量使用后置定语也是科技文章的特点之一。常见的结构不以下五种:1、介词短语the forces due to friction are called frictional forces.rti于摩擦而产牛的力称z为摩擦力。a call for paper is now being issued .征集论文的通知现正陆续发出。2、形容词及形容词

17、短语。in this factory the only fuel available is coal.该厂唯一可用的燃料是煤。in radiation .thermal energy is transformed into radiant energy ,similar in nature to light. 热能在辐射时，转换成性质与光相似的辐射能。3、副词the air outside pressed the side in .外而的空气将桶壁压得凹进去了。the force upward equals the force downward so that the balloon stay

18、s at the level.向上的力与向下的力相等，所以气球就保持在这一高度。4、单个分词，但仍保持校强的动词意义。the results obtained must be cheeked .获得的结果必须加以校核the heat produced is equal to the electrical energy wasted.产生的热量等于浪费了的电能。5、定语从句during construction, problems often arise which require design changes.在施工过程中，常会出现需要改变设计的问题。the molecules exert f

19、orces upon each other, which depend upon the distance between them. 分子相互间都存在着力的作用，该力的大小取决于它们之间的距离。very wonderful changes in matter take place before our eyes every day to which we pay little attentio n.（定语从旬to which we pay little attention修饰的是changes,这是一种分隔定语从句。） 我们几乎没有注意的很奇异的物质变化每天都在眼前发牛。to make an

20、 atomic bomb we have to use uranium 235,in which all the atoms are available for fission.制造原子弹，我们必须用铀235,因为轴的所有原子都会裂变。五、常用句型科技文章中经常使用若干特定的句型，从而形成科技文体区别于其他文体的标志。例如 itthat结构句型；被动态结构句型；结构句型，分词短语结构句型，省略句结构句型等。 举例如下：it is evident that a well lubricated bearing turns more easily than a dry one . 显然，润滑好的轴承

21、，比不润滑的轴承容易转动。it seems that these two branches of science are mutually dependent and interacting 看来这两个科学分支是相互依存，相互作用的。it has been proved that induced voltage causes a current to flow in opposition to the force producing it.已经证明，感应电压使电流的方向与产生电流的磁场力方向相反。it was not until the 19th century that heat was c

22、onsidered as a form of energy. 直到十九出纪人们才认识到热是能量的一种形式。computers may be classified as analog and digital.计算机可分为模拟计算机和数字计算机两种。the switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened three times 新型品体管的开关时间缩短了三分之二。（或缩短为三分之一。）this steel alloy is believed to be the best available here 人们认为这种合金钢是这里能提供的最好

23、的合金钢。electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed as light.电磁波传送的速度和光速相同。microcomputers are very small in size ,as is shown in fig.5.如图5所示，微型计算机体积很小。in water sound travels nearly five times as fast as in air 声音在水屮的传播速度儿乎是在空气屮传播速度的五倍。compared with hydrogen, oxygen is nearly 16 times as heavy .氧与氢比较

24、，重量大约是它的十六倍。the resistance being veiy high ,the current in the circuit was low.由于电阻很人，电路中通过的电流就小。ice keeps the same temperature while melting .冰在溶化时，其温度保持不变。an object, once in motion ,will keep on moving because of its inertia.物体一旦运动，就会因惯性而持续运动。all substances ,whether gaseous jiquid or solid ,are ma

25、de of atoms . 一切物质，不论是气态、液态，还是固态，都由原子组成。六、长句长句结构复杂，明白其意思并进行正确翻译的关键是看清楚其句了的主干部分，即弄清上语 谓语，先去其枝叶，最厉再加上去掉的枝叶，就能很轻松地完成翻译任务，当这种工作做多 了，慢慢就能做到熟能生巧、举一反三。为了表述一个复杂概念，使z逻辑严密，结构紧凑，科技文章中往往出现许多长句。冇的长 句多达七八个词，以下即是一例。the efforts that have been made to explain optical phenomena by means of the hypothesis of a medium having the same physical character as an elastic solid body led, in the first instance, to the understanding of a concrete example of a medium which can transmit transverse vibrations ,and at a later stage to the defin