试论科技英语的特点

时间:2022-09-29 09:31:41

试论科技英语的特点

摘 要 在科技日新月异发展的今天,科技英语有着其重要作用和意义。科技英语在词汇,语法和结构方面体现出客观、准确、缜密的特点。了解并研究这些的特点有助于我们更好地掌握科学知识。

关键词 科技英语特点 客观 缜密

中图分类号:H315.9 文献标识码:A DOI:10.16400/ki.kjdks.2016.06.021

Abstract Today, with the rapid development of science and technology, scientific English has its important role and significance. Scientific English in terms of vocabulary, grammar and structure reflects the objective, accurate and meticulous characteristics. Understanding and studying these characteristics will help us to better master the scientific knowledge.

Key words characteristics of scientific English; objectivity; meticulosity

在新时代下,随着科学技术的快速发展,各类科技出版物和文章如雨后春笋般涌现,特别是英语原版科技书籍,文献和论文。人们渴望了解最新的科学前沿的资讯,探秘自然的奥妙,汲取科学的营养,但晦涩难懂的语言成为人们科技阅读当中的绊脚石。那么科技英语究竟有何特点?作者做一下归纳和总结。

(1)科技英语语言客观、凝练、准确。逻辑性和缜密性强。科技英语语言少有花哨,摸棱两可,含糊不清的词语及表达。选词到位,表达精准。绝不掺杂个人情感和主观臆断的用词和表述方式。更倾向于“用事实说话”。用数据服人,真可谓摆事实,讲道理。高度的语言概括能力,案例的逐条呈现及逻辑环环相扣是科技英语的鲜明特色。例如:

A University of Pennsylvania-led team uses a new method to determine that rounded pebbles on Mars traveled roughly 30 miles down an ancient riverbed, providing additional evidence for the idea that Mars once had an extensive river system, conditions that could support life.

( Date: October 13,2015 Source: University of Pennsylvania)

(2)在修辞上,名词型结构广泛应用于科技英语,以强调客观事实。例如:Again, nanoparticle treatments can work for diseases beyond just cancer, including bacteria and viruses.(当然,纳米粒子治疗并不句限于癌症,对细菌和病毒同样有效《英语世界》2013年第3期) 。又如:The successful trials and planned induction in the Indian Air Force(IAF),of this potent weapon system will significantly enhance IAF’s long range precision strike capability from stand-off ranges.(在空基“布拉莫斯”导弹成功试射并按计划装备印度空军后,这个强大的武器系统将显著提升印度空军的远程精确打击能力《英语世界》2014年第7期)。

(3)谓语动词被动语态的大量和频繁使用是科技英语的又一特点。这充分体现了科技英语客观地,不加修饰地,原生态般呈现事实原貌。避免叙事当中出现主观因素的成分。而且,多使用第三人称的写作策略。例如:The “black box” is made up of two separate pieces of equipment: the flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder (CVR). (黑匣子由两个单独的设备构成:飞行数据记录器和驾驶舱语音记录器《英语世界》2015年第2期) 。又如:Currently, civilian drone use in the U.S. is only sanctioned in a handful of incidents.(在美国, 目前民用无人机仅在为数不多的情况下使用《英语世界》2015年第1期)。

(4)分词短语、分词独立结构和动词不定式可使科技英语文章结构更紧凑,更简练,更短小精悍。避免繁琐冗长的句式。例如:Human reproductive cloning is just simply wrong ethically from a medical standpoint and a scientific standpoint, even ignoring any religious issues associated with it. (从医学和科学的角度来看,克隆人在伦理道德上就是错误的, 即使不去理会与其相关的宗教问题)。又如:Later in life, it should be remembered,he struggled mightily to produce a unified field theory, combining gravity with other forces of nature.(爱因斯坦在晚年竭尽全力想提出统一场论, 把万有引力和自然界中的其他力相结合)。再如:Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species---man--- acquired significant power to alter the nature of this world. (只是在本世纪为代表的一瞬间,一个物种――人――才取得了改变其所处世界的性质的举足轻重的力量。Rachel Carson:《Silent Spring》)。

(5)复合词与缩略词在科技英语中也被高频使用。在互联网和计算机方面。如: anti-virus software(反病毒软件);cyberspace (网络空间);e-commerce(电子商务);BBS(Bulletin Board System)(电子公告板);UBC(Uniform Building Code)(统一建筑法规);Human genetic map(人类基因图);NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(美国国家航空航天局)等;又如:Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed in the United States in the late 19710s.(艾滋病在二十世纪七十年代末在美国被发现);HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. This virus spreads through contact with infected blood, infected sexual partners, or within the womb of an infected pregnant mother. (HIV 是一种人类免役缺陷的病毒。这种病毒的传播途径有血液传播、传播以及母婴传播)。

(6)科技英语经常使用“It…that”结构。例如:It is expected that the discovery of possible life-forms from the planet Mars will revive public interest in space exploration.(火星上可能存在着生命的发现有望重新唤起公众对于外层空间探索的兴趣); It turns out that a scientist can see the future by watching four-year-olds interact with a marshmallow.(研究表明,科学家能通过观察四岁儿童对一粒果汁软糖的反应看到他们的未来)。

科技英语不同于普通英语。它常常介绍一种发明或某种科技的最新进程,它用有自己独特的词汇、语法句式和习惯表达。了解并掌握这些特点对于科技文章的阅读,知识的获取甚至翻译都有着积极重要的意义。

参考文献

[1] 韩其顺,王学铭.英汉科技翻译教程[M].上海外语教育出版社,1990.6.

[2] 张忠俊.科技英语的特点及其翻译[J].成都大学学报(社会科学版),2007(1).

上一篇:高校学院办公室主任的工作职能和素质修养 下一篇:“1+x”课程:让学生过上一种情智交融的物理学...