Chapter-12-Scientific-Literature-Translation-工业工程专.ppt

Chapter 12 Scientific Literature Translation The architecture of scientific literature advocates preciseness,accurate concepts,strong logic,concise style of writing,outstanding emphases,neat and less changeable sentence type.Prefix statements are used frequently,that is,the main information is put forward as far as it could.And main information is transferred through the subject.In a word,the architecture features of scientific literature are:clear,accurate,concise,and tight.Architecture Features of Scientific LiteratureGrammar Features of Scientific Literature Scientific literature is a carrier of science and technology.It is used to present the nature of science and technology objectively.It requires rigor logic and it should specify the viewpoints of authors objectively.Thus the present tense,indicative mood,modal verbs such as Can and May,the passive voice,post modifiers are used often in scientific literature.The use of present tense in scientific literature Scientific literature uses more present tense and the indicative mood of the verb to show general narration with timeliness,namely narrate the fact or the truth.Objectively to state definition,theorem,equation,formula and chart,etc.For example:（1）The rotation of the earth on its own axis causes the change from day to night.地球绕轴自转，引起昼夜的变化。（2）AIDS is spread by direct infection of the bloodstream with body fluids that contain the AIDS virus.艾 滋 病 传 播 是 由 血 液 和 带 有 艾 滋 病 病 毒 的 体 液 直 接 感染引起的。The use of modal verb（3）Force is a vector which has both magnitude and direction.力是一种向量，它既有大小又有方向。（4）Hooke law states that the strain developed is directly proportional to the stress producing it.胡克定律表明，应变与引起应变的应力成正比。In Scientific literature,the using frequency of modal verbs“can”and“may”is a little higher compared with others.This is because these two modal verbs can be used for expressing objective possibility,while others stress more on subjectivity.The use of passive voice Scientific literature inclines to use the passive voice.The statistics shows,the passive voice of predicate in scientific literatures amounts to 1/3 at least.This is because scientific literature put more emphasis on stating the fact,method,performance and characteristic objectively.Compared with active voice,passive voice expresses more objectively,which helps to concentrate the readers attention on narrating objects,reality or the course.（1）Atoms can be thought of as miniature solar systems,with a nucleus at the center and electrons orbiting at specific distances from it.原 子 可 以 被 看 成 是 一 个 微 型 的 太 阳 系，原 子 核 在其中心，而电子以一定的距离绕核做圆周运动。（2）Attention must be paid to the working temperature of the machine.应当注意机器的工作温度。In addition,if the first person and the second person are used too much,it will cause the impression that the material is assumed subjectively.So try ones best to use the third person to narrate,adopt the passive voice.（1）Electrical energy can be stored in two plates separated by an insulating medium.Such a device is called a capacitor,or a condenser,and its ability to store electrical energy is termed capacitance.It is measured in farads.电 能 能 被 储 存 在 由 一 绝 缘 介 质 隔 开 的 两 块 金 属 板 内。这样 的 装 置 被 称 为 电 容 器，其 储 存 电 能 的 能 力 被 称 为 电 容，电容的测量单位是法拉。（2）We can store electrical energy in two metal plates separated by an insulating medium.We call such a device a capacitor,or a condenser,and its ability to store electrical energy capacitance.It is measured in farads.我 们 能 把 电 能 储 存 在 由 一 绝 缘 介 质 隔 开 的 两 块 金 属 板 内。我 们 把 这 样 装 置 称 为 电 容 器，把 其 储 存 电 能 的 能 力 称 为电容，我们以法拉为电容的测量单位。The use of post modifiers It is one of the characteristics of scientific literature to use a lot of post modifiers,too.The common modifiers are prepositional phrase,adjective or adjective phrase,adverbial word,individual participle and attributive clause,etc.Prepositional phrase The forces due to friction are called frictional forces.由于摩擦而产生的力称之为摩擦力。Adjective or adjective phraseAntarctica is a continent very difficult to reach.南极洲是一块很难到达的大陆。Since 1930 dozens of objects smaller than atoms have been discovered 1930年以来，发现了几十种比原子还小的物质。Semiconductors have properties different from those of conductors and insulators 半导体具有不同于导体和绝缘体的特性。Adverbial word The air outside pressed the side in.外面的空气将桶壁压得凹进去了。The force upward equals the force downward so that the balloon stays 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。Translation Techniques of Scientific Literature It was not until sixty years ago that a method of extracting aluminum ore was found which could lead to a cheap largescale process.直 到60年 前 人 们 才 找 到 开 采 铝 矿 的 方 法,从 而 使低成本、大规模冶炼金属铝成为可能。Liquids,which contain no free electrons,are poor conductors of heat.各种液体,由于不含有自由电子,是热的不良导体。Subordinate clause and diction In scientific literature,three kinds of subordinate clauses are used frequently.They are nominal,attributive and adverbial subordinate clause.The adverbial subordinate clause can be subdivided to an adverbial of time,place,cause,comparison,proportion,condition,concession,purpose,result etc.Before the translation,it is important and necessary to distinguish which is the main clause and which is the subordinate clause.For the predicative,objective subordinate clauses or nominal subordinate clauses guiding by such pronouns as what,who whether,that,where,why,how,when.They can be translated in the original order.（1）That like charges repel but opposite charges attract is one of the fundamental laws of electricity.同 性 电 荷 相 斥、异 性 电 荷 相 吸 是 电 学 的 基 本 定 律之一。（2）The great advantage of electronic computers is that they do many operations in an incredibly short time.电 子 计 算 机 最 大 的 优 点 是，它 们 能 在 短 到 令 人 难以置信的时间内进行大量运算。（3）Wilmut maintains that cloning animals has tremendous potential for helping people.威 尔 姆 坚 持 认 为 克 隆 动 物 在 为 人 类 造 福 方 面 有 着巨大的潜力。Amplification and Omission Because of the difference between English and expression way of Chinese,English original texts and Chinese translations are not oneone relations definitely.Some words are indispensable in English,but it is surplus to translate out word by word.On the other hand,when translating a lot of English sentences into Chinese,it is necessary to add some words which are absent in English original text.These kinds of amplification and omission translation methods are indispensable ways to express the original text accurately and fluently.It should be noted,amplification method doesnt mean to create something out of nothing again,omission method doesnt mean to delete willfully.Whether it is appropriate of using amplification and omission translation methods,it depends on the skilled degree of the translator for the original language and translation language.That is to say,it depends on the depth in understanding to English original text and accuracy in using Chinese expression.（1）You have seen how water expands when it is heated and contracts when it is cooled.你已经看到水受热时怎样膨胀，冷却时又怎样收缩。（2）Now human being have not yet progressed as to be able to make an element by combining protons,neutrons and electrons.目 前，人 类 还 没 有 进 展 到 能 把 质 子、中 子、电 子 三 者 化合成一个元素的地步。（3）A square has four equal sides.正方形四边相等。（4）Technology is the application of scientific method and knowledge to industry to satisfy our material needs and wants.技 术 就 是 在 工 业 上 应 用 科 学 方 法 和 科 学 知 识 以 满 足 我 们物质上的需求。Negation methods Both English and Chinese can express the same concept from front or the reverse side.In practical EnglishChinese translation course,in order to deal with the expression difficulty and to make the translation more clearly and coherently,sometimes we can translate the original text from the opposite expressed side.Negation method is an important translation method.It is used very widely in practical translation course.（1）One body never exerts a force upon another without the second reacting against the first.一 个 物 体 对 另 一 个 物 体 施 加 作 用 力 必 然 会 受 到 这 另 外 一个物体的反作用力。（2）Metal do not melt until heated to a definite temperature.金属加热到一定温度才会熔化。（3）Before too many years have passed,corner gasoline stations may be replaced by ammonia or methanol stations or batteryrecharging terminals.不 用 多 少 年，街 头 的 加 油 站 就 可 能 被 氨 或 甲 醇 供 应 站、或者是蓄电池充电站所代替。（4）The average speed of all molecules remains the same so long as the temperature is constant.只要温度不变，全部分子的平均速度也就不变。1、When the content and narrating level of long English sentence are unanimous basically with Chinese.It can be translated into Chinese according to the order of English original text.For example:（1）However,fiber systems can carry so many more telephone conversations at the same time than wire pairs,and can carry them so much farther without amplification or regeneration,that when there are many telephone calls to be carried between points such as switching offices fibers systems are economically attractive.然 而，光 导 纤 维 系 统 在 同 一 时 间 内 传 送 的 电 话 比 普 通导 线 传 送 的 多，它 无 需 放 大 或 者 再 生 就 能 将 之 传 送 到更 远 的 地 方，因 此，当 各 地 之 间（例 如 中 继 局 之 间）要 进 行 大 量 的 通 话 时，光 导 纤 维 系 统 就 会 在 经 济 上 显得更具有吸引力。（2）In the nottoodistant future,computers will probably give on every aspect of farming which crops to plant,when and where to plant them,how much and what types of fertilizer to use,and when and where to market the crops.在 不 远 的 将 来，计 算 机 也 许 将 为 农 业 提 供 方 方 面面 的 帮 助，如 种 植 那 些 作 物，在 什 么 时 候，在 哪些 地 方 栽 种，用 哪 种 肥 料，用 量 多 少，以 及 在 什么时候和什么地方销售农产品等。2、The expression order of English long sentences is different from that of Chinese,even totally opposite.So it must be translated from the back of the original text.For example:（1）Aluminum remained unknown until the nineteenth century,because nowhere in nature is it found free,owing to its always being combined with other elements,most commonly with oxygen,for which it has a strong affinity.铝 总 是 跟 其 他 元 素 结 合 在 一 起,最 普 遍 的 是 跟 氧结 合;因 为 铝 跟 氧 有 很 强 的 亲 和 力,由 于 这 个 原 因,在 自 然 界 找 不 到 游 离 状 态 的 铝。所 以,铝 直 到19世纪才被人发现。3、Sometimes,if the relation between subject or the main clause and the modifier is very close in English,according to the habit of using more short sentences in Chinese,the subordinate clauses or phrases of sentence can be turned into the sentences while translating.That is to say,to narrate separately in order to make language purpose consistent.Sometimes some words should be added properly.（1）Lathe sizes range from very little with the length of the bed in several inches to very large ones turning a work many feet in length.车 床 尺 寸 有 大 有 小，小 的 床 身 只 有 几 英 寸 长，大的可以切削几英尺长的工件。（2）Manufacturing process may be classified as unit production with small quantities and mass production with large numbers of identical parts being produced.制 造 过 程 可 以 分 为 单 件 生 产 和 批 量 生 产。单 件 生产 就 是 生 产 少 量 的 零 件，批 量 生 产 是 指 生 产 大 量相同的零件。（3）Never has a machine been so efficient and accurate as the electronic computer.从 来 不 曾 有 过 象 电 子 计 算 机 那 样 效 率 高 而 又 准 确的机器。（4）No sooner has the current started running in one direction than back it comes again.电流刚开始朝一个方向流动就立即返回。Notes 1.The architecture of scientific literature advocates preciseness,accurate concepts,strong logic,concise style of writing,outstanding emphases,neat and less changeable sentence type.句 意：科 技 文 献 的 结 构 应 体 现 严 谨、概 念 准 确、逻 辑 性 强、文 风 简 练、重 点 突 出，句 式 少 有 变 化等特点。ExercisesTranslate the following sentences into ChineseTranslate the following sentences into Chinese:1.One material can be distinguished from another by their physical properties:color,density,specific heat,coefficient of thermal expansion,thermal and electrical conductivity,strength and hardness.2.Many plastics become soft on heating but harden again when cooled,while others can be heated strongly without apparently changing.3.It has to be pointed out that one and the same word may have different meanings in different branches of science and technology.4 But the profligate burning of petroleum products seems a great waste of those useful petrochemicals that could otherwise be turned into lubricant synthetic,and many other useful products.5 We learn that sodium or any of its compounds produces a spectrum having a bright yellow double line by noticing that there is no such line in the spectrum of light when sodium is not present,but that if the smallest quantity of sodium be thrown into the flame or other sources of light,the bright yellow line instantly appears.6 Manufacturing process may be classified as unit production with small quantities being made and mass production with large numbers of identical parts being produced.