科技英语文体
一、名词前置句
英语句子一般是语语短谓语长，但科技英语相反。如：
1.Car D is the most expensive.
2.The most expensive car is D.
3.The car with highest price is D.
句1为口语，句2为前置句，句3句词在最前边，称为名词前置句。这种句子与科技英语爱用被动语态、虚拟词是同一个道理，即都是弱化动词，强化名词。再如：
原文：讨论了发展中国家不断增长的人口对食物和纤维制品的需求。
译文：The demands for food and fiber for ever increasing population in developing countries are discussed.
原文：证明了用洗涤法从工厂烟道中除去氧化硫是可行的。
译文：The feasibility of a scrubbing process for the removal of sulfur oxides from factory flue gases is shown.
二、一般英语用主动，科技英语用被动
一般英语强调用主动语态，科技英语则强调用被动语态，实际上被动语态约占三分之一。科技英语之所以用被动句是因为：
1）过多的提人无必要，还容易含混不清。
一般英语：You can rectify this fault if you insert a wedge...
科技英语：Rectification of this fault is achieved by insertion of a wedge...
2)主语中可带更多的内容。
一般英语：The contents of the tank are discharged by a pump.
科技英语：Discharge of the contents of the tank is effected/performed/obtained by a pump.
By 引出使动者或方法，with引出工具（通常指可拿在手里的）。
3）被动句更简洁。
原文：The loading of the automatic lathe is carried out obtained.
译文：自动车床是用人工上料的。
原文：In some boilers, temperature of over 1650℃ may be obtained.
译文：有些锅炉的温度可能超过摄氏1650度。
三、动词/动名词与动作名词
动词可以变成动作名词以缩短句子结构。
动词：If we compare Type A with Type B, we will find that the former is more advantageous to our purpose.
动作名词：A comparison of Type A with Type B shows that the former has more advantages for our purpose.
动词：Considerable lateral pressure is exerted by the concrete while it is being compacted.
动作名词：Considerable lateral pressure is exerted by the concrete during compaction.
动名词的动词意义多，所以可以跟宾语。动作名词的名词意义多，所以前边可以有冠词，后边不能跟宾语，要加上of 后再跟宾语。
动名词：Filament is heated by applying a voltage.
动作名词：Filament is heated by the application of a voltage.
动名词：If the machines are tested by this method, there will be some loss of power.
动作名词：The testing of machines by this method entails some loss of power.
摘自《汉译英基础教程》马秉义
xiaoxiao123 发布在 每日记事
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发布时间: 11:11AM May 11, 2007
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