科技英語翻譯技巧和策略探究A Study about the Translation Strategies on The Translation of English for Science and Technology

1、科技英語翻譯技巧和策略探究a study about the translation strategies on the translation of english for science and technology摘 要 隨著國際學(xué)術(shù)交流的日益廣泛，科技英語已經(jīng)受到普遍的重視，但是在當(dāng)前科技英語翻譯中還存在很多的不足之處，導(dǎo)致科技英語翻譯的譯文質(zhì)量不盡人意，究其原因，主要是缺乏對科技英語翻譯差異的認識，缺乏恰當(dāng)?shù)姆g策略，因此掌握一些科技英語的翻譯策略是非常必要的。 本文對科技英語翻譯中的翻譯標準，翻譯技巧等注意事項提出一些看法，同時列出了土壤生物學(xué)、信息技術(shù)和植物學(xué)中的三個翻譯實例，通

2、過對這三個翻譯實例的具體數(shù)據(jù)統(tǒng)計和數(shù)據(jù)分析，詳細分析了科技英語翻譯中的使用專業(yè)術(shù)語，使用名詞化結(jié)構(gòu)，使用長句這三個最主要的特點以及一些應(yīng)用方法。希望能通過這一小方面的研究就科技英語翻譯進行一定程度上的探討和研究。abstractwith the expansion of international academic exchange，english for science and technology has become highly valued and welcomed, but at current the translation of english for science stil

3、l leaves much to be desired. so that its found to be unsatisfactory. why? the lack of understanding and strategies to the translation of english for science and technology is the main reason. so its necessary to have some skills on the translation of english for science and technology.the article wi

4、ll bring some ideas on translation standard and skills instructions and so on, and by giving three translation examples, in agrobiology, information technology and botany, to have statistical analysis of their data in detailed. we analyzed also in very great detail on terminology, using many nominal

5、ization and sentences, the main three features on the translation of english for science and technology, and we also analyzed some translation methods. we hope that the article will carry out a certain degree of discussion and research on english for the translation of science and technology。 table

6、of contentspages1. introduction .1.1 research background1.2 research objective.1.3 project design.11122. rationale.2.1 the standard of est2.2 the features of the est. 2.2.1 using terminology2.2.2 using nominalization2.2.3 using sentences. .3333443. data description.3.1 the example of agrobiology. 3.

7、2 the example of information technology 3.3 the example of botany. . 3.4 translation content table.556784. data analysis.4.1 on terminology. .4.2 using many nominalization.4.3 sentences. 4.4 translate methods10101113135. results and suggestions. 5.1 results. . 5.2 suggestions on the application meth

8、ods of est1717176. conclusion.19bibliography20appendix.211. introduction1.1 research backgroundaccording to the dictionary of modern chinese, the translation is “put the meaning from the source language into the other language”. but the translation is not an unaided creationary subject itself, it is

9、 creationary and scientific. its an artistic form of language communication and re-creation of est. with increased international academic exchanges, est has become highly valued and welcomed. so grasping of the better skills in the est has become more and more necessary. est acts as an important eng

10、lish style, comparing with the other styles, it shows different features, such as, more terminology, more nominalization, more professional, longer sentences, etc. all of the features are decided by the est content. so the translation of est is different from the others.1.2 research objective during

11、 the translating of est, if we want to digest all the text, we must know something more about it, and become fluent in the same expression of things in the chinese and english. nothing but to depend on the proficiency to the two language, we can communicate the information between both sides, but wh

12、en we want to use language flexibility, especially, when we want to choose the words accurately, the scarcity to the corresponding knowledge will be a huge limit. if we want to resolve this problem, we must active in knowing well the corresponding knowledge of this science field. i.e. when we transl

13、ate the word “軋機牌坊”, it is not good enough to translate the literal sense only, furthermore sometimes the using of the words are not standard. the literal sense of “軋機牌坊” is “mill housing”, but base on the truth of the device, it must be translated as “window”. the engineers have accustomed to using

14、 this word. so if you know the manufacturing and devices, it would improve your ability to understand the meaning of language and the quality of translation will also be greatly improved. in the est study of this article, we show three features: on terminology, using many nominalization and sentence

15、s. and we will have an exposition by detailed data analysis.1.3 project designthe data to be analyzed consist of three est texts which represent three research fields of est respectively, i.e. agrobiology, information technology, and botany. all of them were originally written in chinese and transla

16、ted into english, thus good comparability can be found among these texts. furthermore, since the texts cover three major fields of the science and technology text, it is likely to get an overview on the textual features of this kind of text as well as a general guideline of translation skill and str

17、ategy.2. rationale2.1 the standard of estabout the standard of est translation in china, when we mentioned the standard of translation , people always thought of the idea -“信,達,雅” (faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance), from the enlightening thinker at the end of qing dynasty, fu yan. now most

18、translators accept widely the following standard: the translated content must be original and flowing in normal condition. but for the characteristic and purpose of the translation of english science and technology documents, its standard has some difference from the literature translation. its stan

19、dard must be standard, professional, specialized. these points are the most difference to the normal literature translation. in the following 2.2 chapter we will show more detailed content about these characteristics.2.2 the characteristics of the est according to the standard of est in the 2.1 chap

20、ter, we will show the three features of the est.2.2.1 using terminologyin the est, we use much professional terminology. terminology means “the vocabulary of technical terms used in a particular field, subject, science, or art; nomenclature”. its the explanation of american traditional dictionary. a

21、ccording to the above explanation terminology is one and only in some special field. in fact much terminology did not exist itself before the article which the terminology represent come forth. and because the est is scientific, researchful and developmental, in any period there are many new invente

22、d or discovered articles. so there is much terminology in est and we must attach importance to them. the compounds are the first format in terminology. we often create some new compounds to express some new possibilities by various kinds of combining form. such as radiophotography (無線電傳真)，anti-armor

23、ed fighting vehicle missile(反裝甲車導(dǎo)彈) etc. this kind of terminology is easy-understand if we are well-known to the parts of compounds. but another one is more difficult to understand, such as internet(互聯(lián)網(wǎng)), a completely new article. if the translators have no specialized knowledge in the information t

24、echnology, they cant express the accurate meaning. in brief, the translation of terminology is extremely difficult in est, the most important reasons are that the translators have no specialized knowledge. so the translators must enlarge the extension of the knowledge, study the special knowledge an

25、d understand correctly the meaning of the text, in order to express the right meaning by fitted terminology. 2.2.2 using nominalizationwhen a grammar of contemporary deals with est, it offered that using nominalization is the feature of est. because the est requests the capsule description, the anti

26、septic expression, the exact content and the enough information, it must emphasize the existent facts, but not some action. for example, archimeds first discovered the principle of displacement of water by solid bodies.2.2.3 using sentences est is based on the external expression, so its type of wri

27、ting is formal, the point of view must be clear, and the language organization must be preciseness, has not flashback or narration interposed. for example, it is evident that a well lubricated bearing turns more easily than a dry one 。3. data description we have some examples in agrobiology, informa

28、tion technology and botany in the following. and we can understand the translation of est more profound through these data. 3.1 the example of agrobiology st 1: 發(fā)育“發(fā)育”一詞包含三個過程?！?】首先，通過分裂產(chǎn)生新細胞，這在高等植物中盡管不專有但通常是發(fā)生在稱為分生組織的區(qū)域內(nèi)?！?】其次，是細胞生長或增大階段?！?】最后，細胞分化進入成熟和特化狀態(tài)?！?】這三個發(fā)育階段無論是從空間上還是時間上都是不可分開的，從一開始就了解這點是非

29、常重要的?！?】分裂可以發(fā)生在正在增長的細胞中，在某種情況下，甚至發(fā)生在一般被認為是成熟和完全分化的細胞中。【6】通常認為分化是細胞達到了某種最后的或穩(wěn)定的狀態(tài)，具有特定的生理功能（如維管系統(tǒng)中的輸導(dǎo)作用或葉肉中的光合作用）?！?】tt 1：development:the term development encompasses three types of process . 1 first , new cells are produced by division , in the high plant , this occurs most commonly , although not e

30、xclusively , in regions called meristems . 2 next, there is a phase of growth or cell enlargement. 3 finally, the cells differentiate into their mature and specialized states. 4 it is important to grasp from the outset that these three phases of development are not necessarily separated either in sp

31、ace or in time. 5 divisions may occur in cells which are actively enlarging, and in certain circumstances even in cells which would ordinarily be considered as nature and differentiated fully. 6 differentiation is usually regarded as the attainment of some final state or stability by a cell, coupled

32、 to a specific function (such as transport in the vascular system or photosynthesis in the mesophyll ) . 73.2 the example of information technology st 2 :存儲器存儲器是能夠存儲一位或多位信息的媒體或裝置?！?】在二進制系統(tǒng)中，一位以兩種可能狀態(tài)之一進行存儲，分別代表1或0。【2】觸發(fā)器就是一位存儲器的例子，配合有合適的傳送裝置和讀寫電路的磁帶是大存儲器的另一個極端的例子，存儲能力在十億位以上?！?】計算機的存儲器也可以分成兩部分?！?】所有計

33、算機都有的部分是主存儲器。【5】第二部分稱為文件存儲器和輔助存儲器，在需要的時候，常用以存儲大量的信息?！?】主存儲器是由半導(dǎo)體器件組成的，其運行速度比文件存儲器快得多。【7】一般來說，以零點幾微秒的時間即可對主存儲器存或取一個字或一組數(shù)據(jù)。【8】我們只討論半導(dǎo)體型主存儲器。【9】半導(dǎo)體型存儲器分為兩大類：只讀存儲器(rom)和讀寫存儲器(rwm)?！?0】tt 2: memorya memory is a medium or device capable of storing one or more bits of information. 1 in binary systems, a bi

34、t is stored as one of two possible states, representing either a 1 or a 0. 2 a flip-flop is an example of a 1-bit memory, and a magnetic tape, along with the appropriate transport mechanism and read/write circuitry, represents the other extreme of a large memory with an over-billion-bit capacity. 3

35、computer memory can be divided into two sections. 4 the section common to all computers is the main memory. 5 a second section, called the file or secondary memory, is often present to store large amounts of information if needed. 6 the main memory is composed of semiconductor devices and operates a

36、t much higher speeds than does the file memory. 7 typically a word or set of data can be stored or retrieved in a fraction of a microsecond from the main memory. 8 we shall limit our discussion to semiconductor main memory. 9 there are tow broad classifications within semiconductor memories, the rea

37、d-only memory (rom) and the read-write memory (rwm). 103.3 the example of botany st 3 :葉性器官在形態(tài)學(xué)上和解剖學(xué)上，葉是變化最大的植物器官?！?】長在植物上的所有類型的葉的集合術(shù)語為葉性器官?！?】種子植物門的不同葉性器官在外部形態(tài)、內(nèi)部結(jié)構(gòu)和功能上都是非常不同的?！?】由于這種變化性，葉性器官分為下列幾種類型：營養(yǎng)葉、低出葉、高出葉、子葉和其他類型?！?】營養(yǎng)葉是重要的光合器官?！?】低出葉是生在芽合地下莖上的鱗片，而且他們的功能是保護和貯存預(yù)備物質(zhì)?！?】首先，位于側(cè)枝最下方的葉叫先出葉，在單子葉植物中

38、通常只有一片先出葉，而在雙子葉植物中有兩片。【7】高出葉是指與化相伴而生的各種類型的苞片,很明顯它們是起保護作用的?！?】有時高出葉是有色的，因此它們的功能與花瓣相似?！?】子葉是植物最早出現(xiàn)的葉子?！?0】花器官也被當(dāng)作子葉看待?！?1】tt 3 :phyllome morphologically and anatomically the leaf is the most variable plant organ. 1 the collective term for all the types of leaves appearing on plants is the phyllome. 2

39、the different phyllomes of the spermatophyta are extremely variable both in external and in internal structure and in function. 3 because of this variability the following types of phyllomes have been classified: foliage leaces, catapylls , hypsophylls, cotyledons , and others . 4 the foliage leaves

40、 are the principal photosynthetic organs. 5 the cataphylls are the scales that appear on buds and on underground stems and their function is protection or the storage of reserve materials. 6 the first, lowermost leaves of a side branch are termed prophylls; in monocotyledons only one prophyll is usu

41、ally present and in dicotyledons, two. 7 the hypsophylls are the various types of bracts that accompany the flowers and their function is, apparently, protection. 8 sometimes the hypsophylls are coloured and then their function is similar to that of petals. 9 the cotyledons are the first leaves of t

42、he plant. 10 the floral organs are also considered as leaves. 113.4 translation content tablethe technical terms of the st have been spotted out and listed in the forms below with their translation. (see form1 to form 3, the numbers in the square brackets represent the location of the words / phrase

43、s in the original texts.)form1:series numberst1tt11發(fā)育【1】development22分生組織【2】meristem23成熟狀態(tài)【4】mature state44特化狀態(tài)【4】specialized state45完全分化【6】differentiated fully66生理功能【7】function77維管系統(tǒng)【7】vascular system78輸導(dǎo)作用【7】transport79葉肉【7】mesophyll 710光合作用【7】photosynthesis 7form2:series numberst2tt21存儲器【1】memory

44、12一位信息【1】one bit of information13多位信息【1】more bit of information14觸發(fā)器【3】flip-flop35傳送裝置【3】the transport mechanism36讀寫電路【3】the read/write circuitry37主存儲器【5】the main memory58文件存儲器【6】the file memory69輔助存儲器【6】the secondary memory610半導(dǎo)體器件【7】semiconductor device711半導(dǎo)體型主存儲器【9】the semiconductor main memory91

45、2只讀存儲器【10】the read-only memory(rom)1013讀寫存儲器【10】the read-write memory(rwm)10form3:series numberst3tt31形態(tài)學(xué)【1】morphologically12解剖學(xué)【1】anatomically13植物器官【1】plant organ14葉性器官【2】phyllome25種子植物門【3】spermatophyte36營養(yǎng)葉【4】foliage leaf47低出葉【4】cataphyll48高出葉【4】hypsophyll49子葉【4】cotyledon410光合器官【5】photosynthetic o

46、rgan511芽【6】bud612地下莖【6】underground stem613側(cè)枝【7】side branch714先出葉【7】prophyll715單子葉植物【7】monocotyledon716雙子葉植物【7】dicotyledon717苞片【8】bract818子葉【10】cotyledon1019花器官【11】floral organ114. data analysisthe purpose of this study is to explore the features of est texts as a particular text type and to seek for

47、 a corresponding translation strategy which can serve as a guideline for translation practice. therefore, the focus is not on the translation skills in detail but on general rules that can be used as principles in handling the translation of this type of text. on the other hand, since at present est

48、 is regarded as a very professional text type, its texts accept widely the standard: the translated content must be original and flowing. but for the characteristic and purpose of the translation of english science and technology documents, its standard has some difference from the literature transl

49、ation. its standard must be standard, professional, specialized. so the data analysis in this project will cover the following aspects: 1. on terminology, i.e. the translation of technical terms of est; 2. many nominalization; 3. sentences.4.1 on terminologyin the data description we have this resul

50、t that incarnates the ests characteristic. its main purpose is to describe accurately the scientific discovery, scientific facts, test report and the others, so it must be formal, accurate, narrow, polished and clear. most of the technical terms are longer noun or combination, the spoken words or ph

51、rases are seldom used in est. form 4:st1tt1on terminology22meristem77vascular system77mesophyll77photosynthesisform 5:st2tt2on terminology33flip-flopform 6:st3tt3on terminology11morphologically11anatomically22phyllome33spermatophyte44cataphyll44hypsophyll44cotyledon77prophyll88bract1010cotyledonthe

52、terminology cant be understood by normal readers. in fact the above terminologies in the forms are very strange to normal readers, so how to translate them to easy-understand words is very important and necessary. and we can analysis meristem (分生組織), mesophyll (葉肉), anatomically (解剖學(xué)), cotyledon (子葉

53、) etc. these terminology marks: using many long forms, including some affixation from latin, greek and french. this kind of words has limited semantic features, and clear meaning. and its quite up to the mark of est. such as vascular system (維管系統(tǒng))， photosynthesis (光合作用)，monocotyledon (單子葉植物)，dicotyl

54、edon (雙子葉植物) etc.。4.2 using many nominalizationusing nominalization is the feature of est. because the est requests the capsule description, the antiseptic expression, the exact content and the enough information, it must emphasize the existent facts, but not some action. (see from form 7 to form 9). form 7: text 1st1tt1using many nominalization11development22meristem36different