医学英语论文.doc

本科毕业论文题 目：医学英语的特点及翻译技巧院 系：外国语言学系专 业：英语（医学科技）学 号：06260210学生姓名：李海静导师姓名：雍文明2005年 5 月on the characteristics of medical english vocabulary and translation skills a thesispresented to xinxiang medical universityby li haijingin impartial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree ofbachelor of arts in english may 2010thesis supervisor: yong wenming摘要在国际学术交流日益广泛当前，医学英语学习与医学文献翻译愈显重要。要想了解和学习国外的先进医学技术，了解医学界的最新动态，掌握最新的医学成果以开阔视野、提高学习和科研能力，就必须广泛阅读和大量翻译这些科技文献。本文通过对医学英语词汇的特点、翻译中的些许技巧作以分析，从而探讨提高医学英语学习与医学文献翻译效率的途径。医学英语作为一种科技文体，其遣词造句、语法结构等有着自身的特点和规律，语言为的表达也具有较强的专业性，因而医学英语的翻译难度较大普通英语大得多，译者不仅需要拥有扎实的英语基础知识，还要具备相关的医学背景知识，才能是翻译更好达到“信、达、雅”的标准。对医学翻译者来说，医学专业词会是其中阻碍之一。随着医学科技的不断发展，新名词、新术语层出不穷，据统计，关于医学的新词，平均每年出现1500个之多。因此掌握一些外国人医学词汇的方法尤为重要。在医学英语术语中，用几个词组合起来构成一个新词是屡见不鲜，因此，翻译专业词汇，必须首先了解原词的含义，然后再根据所在的语境选择或创造汉语的专业词汇。本文探讨了医学英语词汇的构词、来源、用词的选择等方面的特点，和如何利用这些特点对医学英语进行有效翻译。关键词：医学英语；词汇；翻译abstractwith the international academic exchanges increasingly and extensively, people attach more and more importance to learning of medical english and translation of medical literature. in order to know and learn foreign advance medical techniques and know the down-to-date development of medicine, it is necessary to read and translate a lot of medical literature. this thesis probes into the way to improve the efficiency of the learning of medical english and the translation of medical literature, through analyzing the characteristics of medical english vocabulary and some skills for translation. medical english possesses its own features: specialty, large vocabulary, complicated structure. translators not only require well english base knowledge, but also need to have the related medical knowledge. as for the translators of medical english, the medical vocabulary is one of the most difficulties. with medicine developing, new words emerge in endlessly. according to the statistics, every year, more than 1500 medical words are invented averagely. so, it is rather important to require the way for foreigners to create new words. and first, we should know the meanings of words, and select or create corresponding chinese terminologies. this thesis discusses the characteristics of medical english vocabulary, according to its word-building, source, selecting words and so on, and how to make the best use of these characteristics to translate medical english efficiently.key words: medical english; vocabulary; translationacknowledgements my deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to professor yong wenming, my supervisor, for his constant encouragement and guidance. he has walked me through all the stages of the writing of this thesis. without his consistent and illuminating instruction, this thesis could not have reached its present form.。second, i would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to professor yuan lingjie, who led me into the world of translation. i am also greatly indebted to the professors and teachers at the department of english: professor wang lanying, professor zhanag ruijun, who have instructed and helped me a lot in the past two years. last my thanks would go to my beloved family for their loving considerations and great confidence in me all through these years. i also owe my sincere gratitude to my friends and my fellow classmates who gave me their help and time in listening to me and helping me work out my problems during the difficult course of the thesis.contents摘要iiiabstractivacknowledgements5chapter one introduction11.1motivation of this thesis11.2objectives and significance of this study11.3layout of the thesis1chapter two review of the thesis2chapter three the characteristics of the medical english vocabulary33.1 the evolution of the meaning33.1.1 the source of medical english vocabulary33.1.2 borrowed from an ordinary english vocabulary43.1.3 medical english modifier53.1.4 title terms63.2 word-building73.2.1 conversion73.2.2 derivation83.2.3 compound93.2.4 abbreviation103.3 standardized written language11chapter four the translation skills124.1 the translation of words meanings124.1.1 the transformation of meaning124.1.2 the extending method124.2 word class conversion134.3 the amplification method134.3.1 amplification of the absent words144.3.2 amplification for explaining the meaning144.3.3 amplification for judging154.3.4 amplification for the grammar154.3.5 amplification for the chinese modifier154.3.6 amplification for the passive voice154.4 the omitting method164.4.1 omitting the conjunctions164.1.2 omitting the verbs164.1.3 omitting the pronouns174.1.4 omitting the prepositions17chapter five conclusion18bibliography19chapter one introduction1.1 motivation of this thesis nowadays, people are more and more aware of the importance and necessity of the english learning. learning english well, especially medical english is the absolutely essential tool to introduce chinese medicine to the world through the international communication. however, many people think, it is difficult to learn medical english and it is a waste of time, at last, we will not learning it well. whats worse, lack of vocabulary keeps us from learning english better. so, this thesis mainly studies the characteristics of medical english vocabulary to help us learn medical english.1.2 objectives and significance of this studyword is the smallest unit of a language with form, sound and meaning, it is an essential part about translation. medical english possesses these features: large vocabulary, complicated structures and unique style. so, this thesis mainly studies the characteristics of medical english vocabulary, analyses the regulation of the form of medical english vocabulary, then, we can require some ways to understand and translate the medical english efficiently. 1.3 layout of the thesis chapter one mainly talk about the motivation and significance of the study; chapter two summaries the theory before and the theory in this thesis; chapter three mainly discusses the characteristics of the medical english vocabulary, including the revolution of the words meaning and the form of words; chapter three introduces the rules of translation; chapter four some ways to translate medical english vocabulary; these two chapters are the central issues of this thesis and chapter five is end.chapter two review of the thesis with the western medicine and the chinese medicine communicating more and more frequently, scholars pay more attention to learning the medical english. as we know, it is difficult to learn the medical english. the penman also consults many people on the method and skills to learning it. although they studied many things in many aspects: source of medical vocabulary, word-building, meaning translating and skills for translating, and they summarized many experience to share with us, i found their ideas and theories are not integrated and are fragmentary, they only talk about the characteristics of the medical english in a certain aspect. i think it is not very good for us to learning. therefore, i unite these ideas together, and throw off something disadvantageous or we have known, and increase new aspects about learning the medical english, such as the omitting method to translation of nouns verbs pronouns and so on. then you can gain something helpful and give me better advice to advance this thesis.chapter three the characteristics of the medical english vocabulary3.1 the evolution of the meaning general speaking, medical vocabulary can be divided into three kinds: a. the given medical words from common english words, for example, “colon”, in the common english, it is “:”, but in the medical english, it means “a segment of the large intestine”; b. the terminologies, composed of medical morphemes. the number of this kind is very large and the word is very long. it is very different to master medical english knowledge without knowing the regulation of word-building; c. the absolutely medical terminologies, composing of nonmedical morphemes, such as feces, nausea, vomiting and so on. knowing medical words types features and its correct translation plays an important role in understanding medical english literature. this thesis tries to analyze the forms and features of medical english vocabulary, and to discuss the rules of translation theoretically.3.1.1 the source of medical english vocabularymedical english has been influented by many kinds of languages during its long-term development, mostly its words originates: a. anglo-saxon (the old english): the names of the bodys different parts in medical english mainly come from this, for example, hand, foot, arm, eye, ear, chin, heart, bone and so on. these words are still used by people frequently today; b. greek: greek words have formed most of the medical english compounds, such as: hymenectomy, hemeno- (greek) + -ectomy (greek); craninal: cranio (greek) + -al;c. latin: for example, mammal, pectorals, dextrocebral: dextro- (latin) + -cerebral (latin) and so on. since 1895, latin has been recognized as the international medical language and is widely used in the world, the formal names of prescriptions and medicines should be written in latin.such as: ih hypodermic 皮下注射im musculature 肌肉组织iv mainline 静脉注射;d. french: it does not affect medical english as greatly as greek or latin, such as, massage;e. italian: such as, influenza, malaria, pellagra;f. spanish: mosquito, quinine;according to statistics, more than 75 percent of medical terminology originates greek and latin, these words is the derivatives from greek and latin. derivative is composed with a word or a root added to other morphemes which cannot exist by itself, but with the fixed meaning. it shows the oneness and veracity of meaning, the components of a word displaying its meaning, subsection being prone to memory word, roots and affixes making medical english potential to form lots of words.(liu ye, ni chunbin, 2003, (3): 48)just through the derivatives, the medical english can have a large number of words to express the delicate and complicated medical english with the plentiful knowledge, and it can produce new words to meet the need of today and future, constantly. for example, “hemo”, according to the statistics, there are 231 medical words starting with “hemo” (new english chinese dictionary) , such as: hemodystrophy (血液营养不良，dys, latin, prefix, means abnormity, lack; troph, greek root, means nutrition); hemolysis (lysis, greek root, means dissolving).3.1.2 borrowed from an ordinary english vocabulary the common people can talk about things related to medicine with hisown vocabulary, such as skin (dermis), balance (equilibrium),host(宿主), reservoir(贮主). generally speaking, the terminology turns out in formal discourse. some common english words are used as the medical words, their meanings usually have been changed.polysemy also exists in the medical english words, for example, open-heart surgery should be translated as “心脏直视术”, not “开心术”; secondary in medical terminology is translated “继发的”, not “第二的”; complication is used as “并发症”, primary nursing is “责任制护理”. so, translating the medical english not only follows the basic regulation of the laguage learing,but also consider its own features. one of the importance is to translate the special vocabulary, themedical meaning of common words and some special expression and the medical terminologies.another example, synonymy. for example, “疾病”,can translated as “disease, illness, sickness, affection, ailment”; “dentist”, and “odontologist” both mean “牙医”. so, translating the medical english, the translators need to study and distinguish these synonyms in different context, inappropriate wording can cause the meaning of the translated text not be clear and not express the meaning of the original text precisely. however, the most important standard for measuring whether the word correct or not is that the meaning whether confirms to the way of the medical expression or not (liu dangquan, 2003, 13 (1) ). for instant, “general”, matching different words, has different translated meanings: general hospital(综合医院); general practitioner(全科医生); general peritonitis(弥慢性腹膜炎); general anesthesia(全身麻醉)3.1.3 medical english modifier there are a lot of metaphors, more exactly to speak, modifier in the medical vocabulary. the medical experts discide diseases and symptoms with many modified words to depict the named things figures features and functions and so on (lang yong, 1989, (3):26). such as elephant leg(腿，象皮病), butterfly fracture(蝴蝶状骨折), bow leg(弓腿), lock finger(锁指), spade hand(铲形手), drumstick(杵状指), and so on. tytler, the english translation theorist, in his essentials on the principles of translatioin, said, “ a good translation can trandfer the advantage of the originate text into another language completely, tomake the readers of the tanslastedd text underdstand clearly and feel strongly, just as the people of th originate text”. the so-called feeling is the reflection in his brain, after the receptor receives the information, including cognitiing and comprehending the in formation and concept, and the change of thought influented by the idea in the information. when traslating metaphors in the medical english ,this “feeling theory”indicate its guideline significnce highly. because of peoples common intuitionstic experience, different people with different languages can feeling approximately similar when apperceiving the image of things. for example, gooseflesh(skin papillas holds up because of cold or shock),according to chinese habit, it is “鸡皮”, not “鹅皮”.3.1.4 title termsin the medical english, the anatomised structures, the clinical inseption, diseases and operation and so on,all are named with the names of people or places, then become title terms, such as, kawasakis disease:川崎病, occurs most frequently in japan where the disease was first discovered.most of the title terms is named with peoples names, generally speaking, formed of two parts, the first part is peoples names, the last usually is syndrome(综合征), disease(疾病), test(试验), reagent(试剂), methord(法), reaction(反应), operation(手术), instruct(指示剂), treament(疗法). this kind oof terms are named with the names of the dicoverers or the creators who advanced new theotys, new ways, anatomised structures and symptom mainly to express the feeling of commemration. e. g. eschrichia: 埃希大肠杆菌 (theodor escherich, german doctor );mallory-weiss tear: 马魏(食管黏膜)撕裂 (g. kenneth mllory, american pathologist; soma weiss, american doctor);world parkinsons day is celebrated annually on 11th april scince 1997, the birthday of sir james parkinson, to promote the need for acessible specialist services, and to promote parkinsons awareness.another situation, for undeveloped science at that time, some terms are impossible to be explained clearly, then named with things familiar to people, e. g. pickwickian syndome: 克维克综合症(a little actor, short, fat, sleepy, red face in dickens the posthumous papers of the pickwick club). certainly, this terms related to people and places, have the special meanings for doctors, but as for others, their meanigs are difficult to master.3.2 word-building usually, the medical vocabulary is longer than common word, and more than half is combined words. sometimes if we know a word ,we will understand a lot of new words. the chiefly word-building in the medical english is conversion, derivation, composionand abbrevation.3.2.1 conversionsome words in english, not changed the forms, they still can transform a word class into another. the transformed mening of a word always is highly related to before. the translation between nouns and verbs is mainly conversion in the medical english.a. verbnoun: e. g. to discharge pus (流脓), nasal discharge (流鼻涕); e. g. he coughs badly. he has a bad cough. ( 他咳得很厉害。)b. nounverb: e. g. three-edged needle (三棱针), to needle a blister;e. g. the doctor advised the patient to take an x-ray examination she should be x-rayed.c. adjectiveverb: e. g. a better condition to better the condition of the hospital e. g. we must keep the ward clean. we clean the ward every day.3.2.2 derivationhere, we first require four elements of the medical vocabulary. first, word root, also called word base or word stem. it is the core of a word, and it cantains the basic meaning of this word. as we has known, the root of the medical vocabulary almost originate greek or latin, standing for a part of the body. all the medical vocabulary have one or more roots, such as gastr (stomach), nephr (kidney), cardi (heart) and so on.e. g. in tne word “gastroentritis”, gastr and enter both are roots.second, prefix: also called word beginning, it has a certain meaning itself, and can change a words meaning, but usually cannot change the word class.e. g. multi- many/much multipolar endo- intra/within endocarditis oligo- few/little oliguria 少尿 hypo- low hypotension hyper- high hypertensionthe prefixs in the medical vocabulary always denote these meanings: “number”, “time”, “deriction”, “station”, or “deny” and so on. but some medical words dont have the prefix, the root can play a role of the word beginning.third, suffix: also called word ending. added to the end of a word, usually, it only changes the word class, dont change the meaning of the word root, such as worker, works,worked. the medical vocabulary also follows this way. but, as everyone knows, suffix may change the meaning of a word, diff