科技翻译技巧.doc

如前所述，本章将介绍科技英语翻译中常用的五种技巧：转译法、省译法、增译法、还原法及倒置法。 转泽法主要有词类转译和句子成分转译两种。一、词类的转译 如前所述，英语的一个词类能充当的句子成分较少，充当不同成分时常需改变词类；而汉语的一个词类能充当的句子较多，充当不同句子成分时无需改变词类。因此英汉翻译时，原语中的某种词类不一定还要，也往往不可能译成汉语中的同一词类，而应根据译语的习惯和需要，转译成另一种词类。这就是所谓词类的转译。 （一）英语名词的转译 1转译为汉语的动词 (1)具有动作意义的名词(也称“行为名词”，英语叫做Action Nouns)的转译 英语中有一些具有动作意义的名词，这些名词汉译时往往要转译为汉语的动词，才会使译文通顺，合符汉语的习惯。如： 1 Television is the transmission and reception, of images moving objects by radio waves. 电视通过无线电发送和接收活动物体的图像。 2. Integrated circuits are fairly recent development. 集成电路只是近年才发展起来的。 3. The transfer of information from one part of the computer to another depends on the electric current being conducted over wires. 信息从计算机的一部分传送到另一个部分，靠的是电线中传导的电流。 4. The transformation could be from any convenient input voltage to any convenient output voltage. 可将任一所需转换的输入电压整换成任一所希望的输出电压。 5. The operation of an electric machine needs some knowledge of its performance. 操作电机需要懂得电机的一些性能。 6. Discussions of the application of the second method of Liapunov to the stability analysis of linear timeinvariant systems are given later. 随后，讨论李亚普诺夫第二方法在线性时不变系统稳定性分析中的应用。 7. The tests indicate that a countercurrent flow of gases and solids is necessary in the reactor. 诚验表明，使气体和固体在反应器内逆向流动是必要的。 8. Laser has the applicability to many fields of science and the adaptability to practical uses. 激光可应用于许多科学领域，也适合各种实际用途。 9. A one-celled animal or plant cannot, of course, survive the destruction, of its one cell.单细胞的动物或植物，在仅有的一个细胞被破坏后当然就不能生存。 The air is made up of mixture of gases 空气是由若干种气体混合而成的。 与具有动作意义的名词转译成动词相类似的，便是动名词的转译。动名词实际上就是一个具有动作意义的名词。因汉语中根本就没有动名词，因此这类词可与“具有动作意义的名词”一样处理，即在汉译时转译成动词。如： Reversing the direction of the current reverses the direction of its lines of force. 倒转电流的方向也就倒转了它的磁力线方向。 No other changes occur upon mixing the two compounds, 把这两种物质混合起来没有发生其他变化。 This kind of the pipes can be used for carrying air, gas, water, etc 这种管予可用来输送空气、煤气和水等。 (2)某些由动词作词根+er（或or）构成的名词，当它并不是真正表示个人的职业，而具有较强的动作意义时，可将其转译成汉语的动词。如： Professor Wang was the instructor of our experiment. 王教授指导我们做实验。 He was a good calculator, so we considered the answer correct. 他算得很好，因此，我们认为这个答案是正确的。 He was our good supporter. 他很支持我们的方案。 (3)某些中心词(Head Word)是名词的习语化动词词组，其中心词可转译为动词。如： Anyone who has a look at an old radio set will remember the large, heavy vacuum tube and other components. 凡是看过老式收音机的人，一定会记得那些硕大而笨重的真空管和其他元件。 He had a good knowledge of chemistry. 他精通化学。 类似的动词词组还有make use of，have a try，take care of等等。 (4)某些中心词是名词的介词短语，其中心词可转译为动词。如： A body is negatively charged when it has electrons in excess of its normal number. 当物体所带电子超过正常数时，该物体便带负电。 Most experiments at very low temperature are made with the help of liquid helium 大多数低温试验都要借助于液态氦。 With the use of the increased temperature and pressure, the oil is cracked into lighter or heavier fractions. 利用升温升压，可将石油裂化成轻馏分或重馏分。 2转译为汉语的形容词 在英语中，有些表达事物性质的名词是由形容词派生而来的，其本身就具有形容词的性质。汉译这类词时，可转译为汉语的形容词。如： Single crystals of high perfection are an absolute necessity for the fabrication of integrated circuits. 对制造集成电路来说，高纯度的单晶是绝对必要的。 He found some difficulties to design a power plant without an electronic computer. 他感到没有电子计算机，要设计一座电厂是困难的。 The electrical conductivity has great importance in selecting electrical materials. 在选择电气材料时，电导率是很重要的。 This experiment is an absolute necessity in determining the best processing route 对确立最佳工艺流程而言，这次实验是绝对必要的。 I am a stranger to the operation of this kind of machine. 我对这类电机的操作是陌生的。 The combination, of mechanical properties of this alloy can be well achieved by heat treatment. 通过热处理，这种合金能获得综合性机械性能。 The photo mask must possess dimensional stability. 光掩模的尺寸必须是稳定的。 It was the perfection of a valve which made the aqualung possible and put man back into the sea with all the freedom of a fish, 是阀的完善使研制水中呼吸器成其为可能，并将人类重新带回海里，使其像鱼一样自由。 The lower stretches of rivers show considerable variety. 河流下游的情况是大不相同的。 （二）英语形容词的转泽 1转译为汉语的动词 当形容词作表语、主语、补足语或其他成分时，可转译为汉语的动词。如： This system makes these chemicals soluble in water and thus easier to transport for eventual excretion through the kidneys and lower intestines. 该系统使这些化学剂溶于水，便于经由肾脏从肠尾排出。 If low-cost power becomes available from unclear plants, the electricity crisis would be solved. 如果能从核电站获得低成本的电力，电力紧张问题就会解决。 We are al1 familiar with the fact that nothing in nature will either start or stop moving of itself. 我们却熟悉这样一个事实：自然界中没有任何物体会自行开始运动或自行停止运动。 The design calculations will serve as an illustrative application of the theory of semiconductor devices. 这些设计计算可用来证明半导体器件理论的实际应用。 When the switch is off，the electric circuit is open. 拉下开关，电路断开。 Each new oscillator added to the coupled system will contribute an additional natural frequency. 在耦合系统中，每增加一个新振子，就增加一个自然频率。 Such clumps form the kind of clots responsible for heart attacks and strokes. 这样的凝结会产生凝块，引起心脏病发作。 They were certain that the fluorescent effect was not due to cathodes rays. 他们确信，荧光效应不是起因于阴极射线。 Also present in solids are numbers of free electrons. 固体中也存在着大量自由电子。 It is evident that there is something wrong with the television set. 显然是电视机出了毛病。 2转译为汉语的名词 当形容词作表语、主语、补足语或其他成分时，也可转译为名词。如： Experiment indicates that the new chip is about l.5 times as integrative as that of the old ones. 试验表明新型芯片的集成度是原来型号的1.5倍。 The electrolytic process for producing hydrogen is not so efficient as the thermochemical process. 用电解法生产氢的效率不像热化学法那样高。 In fission processes the fission fragments are very radioactive. 在裂变过程中，裂变碎块的放射性很强。 Computers are more flexible, and can do a greater variety of jobs. 计算机的灵活性较大，因此，能做更多不同的工作。 The reduction of the tap-to-tap time leads to lower radiation loss per heat. 两次相邻出钢时间间隔的缩短，可导致每炉钢辐射热损失的降低。 IPC is more reliable than common computer. 工控机的可靠性比普通计算机高。 The cutting tool must be strong, tough, hard, and wear resistant. 刀具须有足够的强度、硬度、韧性和耐磨性。 Mercury is appreciably volatile even at room temperature. 即使在室温下，水银的挥发性也很强。 Glass is much more soluble than quartz. 玻璃的可溶性比石英大得多。 Both the compounds are acids. The former is strong, the latter weak 这两种化合物都是酸。前者是强酸，后者是弱酸。 3转译为汉语的副词 (1)当形容词所修饰的名词转译为动词时，该形容词便转译为副词。如： With slight repairs, the old type of motor can be used. 只要稍加修理，这台旧电机便可重新使用。 A steady increase of load on a part will cause it to deform gradually. 不断地增加零件的负荷会使零件逐渐变形。 Let us have a good look at the machine. 让我们仔细看看这台机器。 FACTS are fairly recent development. 柔性交流输电系统只是堑近发展起来的。 Below 4,water is in continuous expansion instead of continuous contraction. 水在4以下是在不断地膨胀，而不是不断地收缩。 The modern world is experiencing rapid development of information technique. 当今世界的信息技术正在迅速地发展。 The application of electronic computers makes for a tremendous rise in labor productivity. 电子计算机的应用大大地提高了劳动生产率。 The wide application of electronic computer in scientific work, in designing and in economic calculations will free man from the labor of complicated computations. 在科研、设计和经济等方面，广泛地应用计算机可使人们从繁重的计算工作中解放出来。(2)形容词转译成副词的其他情况 Most hardening steps employ some form of shaft furnace. 淬火工艺大多使用某种形式的竖炉。 The average proportion of molybdenum in igneous rock is about 1.510 -3% 钼在火成岩中所占的比例平均为1.510 -3%左右。 It is prudent to make sure that there are no short circuits. 要小心地地查明确无短路情况。 The same principles of low internal resistance also apply to million-meters 低内阻原理也同样地适用于毫安表。（三）英语动词的转译1英语动词的分类 英语动词分为两类： (1)状态动词(State Verb) 状态动词不表真正的动作，只表某种状态。 (2)行为动词(Action Verb) 英语中只有行为动词才表真正的动作。 2动词的转译 无论是状态动词还是行为动词，在一定情况下均可转译为汉语的名词。如： The instrument is characterized by its compactness and portability. 这种仪器的特点是结构紧凑和携带方便。 An electric current varies directly as the electromotive force and inversely as the resistance. 电流的变化与电势成正比，与电阻成反比。 Coating thicknesses range from one-tenth mm t0 2 mm. 涂层厚度的范围为0.1-2毫米。 An electron or an atom behavesin some ways as though it were a group of waves. 电子或原子的运动方式，多少有点像一组波。 Neutrons act differently from protons. 中子的作用不同于质子。 A voltmeter connected across A to B would read 10 volts. AB两点之间的伏特计的读数应为10伏。 The scale is marked to show the strength of the current in amps. 度盘上的刻度表示电流强度的安培数。 Gases differ from solids in that the former have greater compressibility than the latter. 气体和固体的区别在于气体的可压缩性比固体的大。 This kind of satellites are designed to burn up in the earths atmosphere after completing their missions. 这种卫星按其设计，将在完成使命后于大气层中烧毁。 Circuit -breakers are very large, but they work in exactly the same way as a small electric-light switch. 断路器很大，但其工作方式却与小的电灯开关完全相同。 Mercury weighs about thirteen times as much as water. 水银的比重约为水的13倍。 The earth on which we live is shaped like a ball. 我们居住的地球，其形状像个球。 Tests showed that the cooling air must flow at a rate of at least 170 m3h 试验表明，冷却空气的流体速度至少须为170米3小时。 （四）英语中副词的转泽 1.转译成汉语的形容词 当英语中的动词转译成汉语的名词时，修饰动词的副词一般便转译为形容词。如： Members of the group are not so closely related to each other as are the elements in the halogen family. 这一族中各元素之间的相互关系不像卤族元素那样密切。 This communication system is chiefly characterized by its simplicity of operation and the ease with which it can be maintained. 这种通信的主要特点是操作简便，易于维护。 The universal lathe is most widely used and plays an important part in industry. 万能车床得到了广泛的应用，因而在工业上起着重要作用。 Such robots controlled by large electronic computer impressed us deeply 这种由大型计算机控制的机器人给我们留下深刻的印象。 He routinely radioed another agent on the ground.他与另一个地勤人员进行了例行的无线电联络。 修饰形容词的副词，有时可转译成汉语的形容词。如： The electrode is uniformly thin. 极板薄而均匀。 His basic studies on the retina arc considered the foundation for practically every advance in the neurophysiology of vision. 人们认为，他对视网膜的基础性研究，是视神经生理学的每项实际进展的基础。 It is a matter of common observation that gases arc perfectly elastic 大家都知道，气体的弹性很好。 This apparently simple function of the transformer makes it as vital to modern industry as the gear train. 变压器的这种显而易见的基本功能使其与齿轮装置一样，对现代工业至关重要。 Nitric acid is an extremely reactive agent. 硝酸是一种强烈的反应剂。 The wash water from the gas washer was heavily laden with solid particles. 从涤气器出来的洗涤水夹带有大量的固体微粒。 副词转译为形容词还有不少其他情况，如： Today gold is mined from quartz rocks deep below the earths surface 现在的黄金是从深埋在地下的石英岩里开采出来的。 原句中today这个副词并不是修饰gold，而是作整个句子的状语，此处我们将其转译成修饰gold的定语。又如： Concrete structures generally do not require much maintenance, internally or externally，if adequate provision is made for good expansion joints and firm foundations. 如果有良好的伸缩缝和坚实的基础，混凝土结构一般不需要大量的室内外维修。 2转译为汉语的名词 某些由名词派生的副词，可转译为汉语的名词。如： Let us plot the electronic energy level vertically and assumed atomic spacing horizontally, is shown in Fig 4. 如图4所示，设垂直方鱼（纵坐标）为电子能级，水平方向（横坐标）为假想的原子间距。 Sodium is very active chemically. 钠的化学反应性很强。 The air conditioning unit is shown schematically on Page.2. 第二页上所示的为空调装置的简图。 Gold is an important metal but it is not essentially changed by mans treatment of it 虽然黄金是一种重要的金属，但人类的加工并不能改变其性质。 Such details must be dimensionally correct. 这类零件的尺寸必须准确。 3转译成汉语的动词 (1)英语中的某些副词，如：on，off，up，m，out，over，behind，forward，away，在与系动词be构成合成谓语，或作宾语补足语，或作状语，可转译为汉语的动词。如： Today chemical experiment is over. 今天的化学试验结束了。 We are up against on of the great mystery of the universe the riddle of electricity. 我们行动起来解决宇宙的巨大秘密之一：电之迷。 You may feel its electric charge flow through your body and away into the earth你会感到电流从你的身体中流过，然后离开而进入地下。 (2)英语中某些副词本身的动作意味就很强，这类副词常可转译为汉语的动词。如： Before long his thoughts were centered on the use of electric motor as driving power，instead of steam-engine. 不久他就产生了用电动机代替蒸汽机的想法。 （五）英语中介词的转译 英语中有不少介词，如：about，、of，forby，in，past，with，over, into, around, across, toward, through, throughout等，都具有较强的动词意味，汉译时也可转译成汉语的动词。如： The chlorine from salt is used for bleaching paper and textiles. 用食盐制取的氯可用来漂白纸张和纺织品。 There are many substances through which electric currents will not pass at all. 有许多物质，电流是根本不能通过的。 The term laser stands for amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. “激光”这个术语指的是利用辐射的受激发射来放大光波。 The volume of a gas becomes smaller when the pressure upon it is increased 当作用在气体上的压力增大时，气体的体积就缩小。 This electric meter is of high sensibility. 这块电表具有很高的灵敏度。 This alloy of copper, with antimony and tin, is very easy to work. 在铜中掺入了锑和锡形成的这种合金很容易加工。 Electrons revolve about the nucleus at tremendous speeds. 电子以极高的速度绕核旋转。 Cell receptor research is in its infancy. 细胞受体的研究仍处于初级阶段。二、句子成分的转译 前面我们讲了在英汉翻译中各种词类的转译问题。由于各类词都具有自身的语法功能，它们在造句时各行其职。因此，在进行词类转译时，其语法功能往往也就随之而改变了。因此，其充当句子中的成分也就随之而改变了。例如，动词转译为名词后，谓语就可能变为主语；名词转译为形容词后，主语就可能变成了定语；副词转译为名词后，状语就可能成了主语，等等。所以，可以这样说，在前面所讲的词类转换中，不少总是伴随着句子成分的转译。因此，与此相关的句子成分的转译，在此没有讨论的必要。 但在某些场合，词类的转换并不引起句子成分的改变。例如，作主语的动名词短语改译为动宾短语时，仍可作主语；用作表语的形容词改译为动词后。在汉语中仍起谓语的作用，等等。可见，词类转译与句子成分的转译之间有其联系，但并不是一回事。前者是从词类的角度进行的转译，后者纯粹是从句子中语法地位的角度进行的转译。 此处，我们所说的句子成分的转译，是句子成分直接意义上的转译。也就是说，在汉译时，要使句子通顺、言语流畅，且符合汉语的规范和习惯，有时光靠词类转换还难以做到。这时，若将句中的某些语法成分加以转换翻译（此时其词类并不一定改变，只是其语法功能改变），则可达到很好的效果。 句子成分转译的情况有多种多样，方式可谓异彩纷呈。可以这样说，几乎所有的句子成分都可以转译。 （一）主语的转译 1转译为汉语的宾语(1)如前所述，在英语特别是科技英语中，被动语态使用较为广泛，而汉语则运用得较少。因此，汉译时多改译为主动语态。这时，英语句中的主语便转译为汉语的宾语了。如： Much progress has been made in electrical engineering in less than a century 不到一个世纪，电气工程就取得了很大进展。 The molecules are held together by attractive forces. 引力把分子聚集在一起。 The mechanical energy can be changed back into electrical energy means of a generator. 利用发电机可以把机械能重新转变成电能。 It is also necessary that the half life and the beta energy be determined for each isotope. 还需测定每种同位素的半衰期和贝他能。 ： Test results of pure tungsten have been also included for comparison 为了便于比较其中包括了纯钨的实验结果。 Heat and light can be given off by the chemical change. 这种化学反应能放出光和热。 Considerable use has been made of these data. 这些资料得到了充分的利用。 (2)在there be的句型中，主语有时转译为宾语。如： There are many different aspects of communication. First there is the matter of distance. 通信涉及到许多方面（的问题），首先是距离问题。 There are a great number of modern machine-building plants in China. 中国有许多现代化的机器制造厂。 There are three main laws of mechanics，or three laws of Newton. 力学有三大定律，即牛顿三定律。 (3)汉译时将英语句中的主语转译为汉语的宾语还有其他一些情况，如： Serious corrosion occurs in salt water. 在盐水中发生严重的腐蚀现象。 Only a small amount of excess metal remains after the roughing cut 粗切削之后只留下少量多余金属。 In an absorption system, the refrigerant is usually ammonia. 吸收系统通常用氨作冷却剂。 Intensive scientific research work is now going on in all over the country 目前全国上下正在大力开展科学研究。 2转译为汉语的谓语 当主语是动作性名词，如：care，need，attention，thought，improvement，overview，attempt，emphasis等等，而谓语动词为系动词或被动形式时，主语便可转译为汉语的谓语。 (1)当译文较短时，可译为警示性无主句。如：Care should be taken to protect the instrument from dust and dump.应当注意保护仪器，避免灰尘和潮湿。 Attention is necessary to prevent the electronic instrument from damaging. 必须注意，以防电子仪器损坏。 (2)当译文较长时，可视情况添加适当的主语。如： Attempts were made to develop a new electrical power source. 人们曾试图研制一种新电源。 An overview of some recent results in the controller design of multivariable linear time-invariant systems is made. 本文概括了近来在多变量线性时不变系统控制器设计中所取得的一些成果。 There were many attempts to use “Hertzian waves” to carry massages in a similar way 那时许多人都力图用一种类似的方法让“赫兹波”传播信息。 (3)主语转译为谓语的还有其他一些情况。如： The prevention of certain types of cancer is distinctly within the realm of possibility. 某些癌症显然可以预防。 The lightness and cheapness of the substance recommended if for architectural decoration. 这种材料既质轻，又便宜，建筑上常用它作装饰材料。 Were there no frictions, transmission of motion would be impossible 没有摩擦就不能传递运动。 3转译为汉语的定语 为了符合汉语的习惯，或为使译文通顺流利，英语主语在汉译时往往要改泽成定语，如： Evidently semiconductors have a lesser conducting capacity than metals. 显然，半导体的导电性比金属差。 试比较：显然半导体具有比金属更差的导电性能。 These electric machines are well-designed structure. 这些电机的结构设计得很好。 试比较：这些电机是很好的设计的结构。（在汉语中是病句） The chapter concludes with a brief description of a robust controller design method using parameter optimization methods. 通过简要介绍使用参数最优化方法的鲁棒控制器设计方法而得出本章的结论。 Electronic circuits work a thousand times more rapidly than nerve cells in the human brain. 电子电路的运行速度比人脑中的神经细胞要快一千倍。 Ultraviolet rays contain a larger amount of energy than visible light does. 紫外线的能量比可见光大。 The discovery of nuclear energy is a story of a sequence of scientific discoveries interspersed with theoretical jumps. 发现核能的史话涉及一连串的科学发现，频频出现理论上的飞跃。 4. 转译为汉语的状语 (1)用时间作主语的某些英语句在汉译时，其主语应转译为时间状语。如： The recent decades has used digital computer techniques to improve the performance of more complex processes. 近几十年来，已运用数字计算机技术来提高更为复杂过程的运行性能。 The 19th century saw experiments to make concrete stronger by reinforcing it with iron bars. 人们在19世纪做了一些用钢筋来加强水泥的试验。 20th century has seen the great development of electronic computer industry with the opening up and reforming of our country. 随着我国的改革开放，在21世纪我国的电子计算机工业得到了巨大发展。 (2)由某些表“原因”、“目的”或“结果”等的名词作主语时，汉译时该主语可转译为相应的原因、目的或结果状语。如： The result of his revolutionary design is that the engine is much smaller, works more smoothly, and has fewer moving parts. 由于他在设计上的革新，发动机变得小多了，工作更平稳了，活动部件也少了。 The final fate of these two remarkable locomotives does not seem to