科技英語文體特征

1、科技英語文體特征The English of Science and Technology (EST) The English of Science and Technology (EST) is actually a big variety. It includes the English of chemistry, the English of physics, the English of mathematics, the English of biology, the English of medicine, etc.Of all the scientific fields, we u

2、sually subdivide them into two main varieties: the English of specialized science and technology (ESST)(ESST)and the English of common science and technology (ECST)(ECST)EST is used in scientific works, academic thesis, research papers, experimental reports, the description or explanation of natural

3、 phenomena. In one word it is a variety of English, dealing with the theories and applications of science and technology.But, generally speaking, the English of all scientific fields have something in common and on which we base our studies.The common elements in various EST articles, papers and the

4、sis can be analyzed in terms of their similarities in linguistic features. This kind of writing is usually formal in style and serious in tone .It does not take artistic beauty of language as its goal, instead, it tries to achieve clarity in logic and accuracy in meaning. It ties to avoid subjective

5、 opinions or evaluations, ambiguous word or expressions.1. It tends to employ words with the development of science and technology. 2. The sentences are usually long and complete and subordinate appositive(subordinate appositive(同位語同位語從句從句) ) and parenthetical clausesparenthetical clauses（插入語從句插入語從句

6、） are often used.3. Logical connectorsLogical connectors, such as hence, in summary, as a result, appear in EST more frequently than in other types of writing.First, let us compare the following two paragraphs about “man ”: What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in facultie

7、s（天賦）! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action, how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a God! The beauty of the word! The paragon(典范) of animals.William Shakespeare: HamletMan is metazoan Man is metazoan metzun （后生動物, 多細胞動物）, , triploblastic triploblastic triplblstik （三胚層的） ,

8、vertebratevertebrate v:tibrit （脊椎動物） pentadactylpentadactyl pentdktil（ adj.有五指的）, mammalianmammalian mmeiljn （哺乳動物）, eutherianeutherian ju:irin （真哺乳亞綱的(動物), primateprimate praimit （靈長目動物）. The main outline of . The main outline of each of his principal system of organs may be each of his principal s

9、ystem of organs may be traced back, like those of other mammals, to traced back, like those of other mammals, to the fishes.the fishes. From a textbook of biologyOf the two passages, the first one is a piece of literary work, and the second, EST. By comparison, we can see the sharp differences betwe

10、en the styles of these two passages although they are dealing with the same subject matter-human being.These two passages can be analyzed These two passages can be analyzed according to the following aspects: according to the following aspects: 1 1、Graphological Features Graphological Features 語相特征語

11、相特征 2 2、Lexical Features Lexical Features 詞匯特征詞匯特征3 3、SyntacticSyntactic Grammatical FeaturesGrammatical Features 句法句法 語法特征語法特征 4 4、 Semantic FeaturesSemantic Features語篇特征語篇特征 GraphologicallyGraphologically, in the first passage the typical feature is the frequent use of exclamation marks (which sho

12、w feelings); while in the second passage, the frequent use of commas (which offer information).Lexically,Lexically, in the first passage, we can see the frequent use of favorable adjectives favorable adjectives and nouns, such as, noble, infinite, express, admirable, angel, God, beauty, paragon.Whil

13、e in the second one , we find technical technical terms terms of biology predominate the whole text, such as metazoan, triploblastic, choral, vertebrate, pentadactyl, mammalian, eutheran, primate, etc. Syntactically,Syntactically, in the first passage, we can find the frequent use of exclamatory sen

14、tences（感嘆句） as well as two short sentence fragments（片語） in order to express feelings; While in the second passage, both sentences are complete declarative sentences(陳述句) with the purpose of giving information. SemanticallySemantically, in the first passage, figurative language is used in order to sh

15、ow a strong feeling, especially the use of the metaphor (piece of work), hyperbole and metaphor (the beauty of the world; the paragon of animals), and similes (like an angel; like a God).As a result, man is greatly praised.While in the second passage, all the words are used in their conceptual meani

16、ngsconceptual meanings. The tone is factual, and impersonal. As a result, the information of how man came into being is clearly revealed.1 1、Graphological Features Graphological Features 語相特征語相特征 2 2、Lexical Features Lexical Features 詞匯特征詞匯特征3 3、SyntacticSyntactic Grammatical FeaturesGrammatical Fea

17、tures 句法句法 語法特征語法特征 4 4、 Semantic FeaturesSemantic Features語篇特征語篇特征Generally speaking, EST makes full use of graphological devices. First, scientists tend to use visual aids more than other people, such as pictures, tables, charts, formulae, etc. in order to explain matters clearly.語相特征：包括標點，圖表，大小寫，

18、段落的劃分，空格等。As far as punctuationpunctuation（標點） is concerned, the most frequently used marks are the full full stopstop（句號）（句號）, the comma, the comma（逗號）（逗號）, and the parenthesesparentheses（括號）（括號）. This is due to the nature of EST writing.As the basic function of EST is to inform, therefore objectiv

19、e statements are the most preferred sentence type, thus the full stopfull stop. And the sentences are usually long; therefore, commascommas are used to set off some elements of the sentence from what proceeds, and what follows. ParenthesesParentheses are used to enclose supplementary details. EST vo

20、cabulary usually consists of the following kinds of words: 1) common words （with specific meaning）2) highly technical words;3) semi-technical words; 4) nominalization5) noun compounds英語科技文體中的普通詞或稱非技術詞是屬于語言共核部分的詞,通用于各類文體,包括代詞、連詞、數(shù)詞、動詞,以及無技術意義的形容詞、副詞、名詞等。在專用語中,非技術詞既有結構上的關聯(lián)作用,又有語義上的補充作用?！纠洹縏he princip

21、leprinciple of the electron microscope is as follows; Electrons from a hot cathode are accelerated by a positive potential on an anode（陽極） and are focused so as to form a beam of high-speed electrons which fall upon a which fall upon a sample sample to be to be observedobserved. Electrons emerging f

22、romfrom t this sample are focused by anotheranother electron lens and, may form a magnified image on a fluorescent screen.譯文電子顯微鏡的原理原理如下:從熱陰極發(fā)射的電子受到陽極上正電位的加舉作用,并聚集形成一束高速電子,落到要觀察的樣品上。從這個樣品上出來的電子又有另一個電子透鏡聚焦并可在螢光屏上形成一個極大的物像。從上面英文斜體詞可知,這些非技術詞或是連詞造句、連句成段的功能詞,或是具有普通意義的常用詞,即使在正式程度很高的語篇中,非技術詞對其構成也是極為重要的。在專用

23、語文體中,非技術詞的主要特點是除了本身的結構意義或概念意義外,詞義色彩中性,即既沒有貶褒色彩,也沒有感倩色彩。這與文學語體截然不同,如以escape一詞為例:【例句】The high-ceilinged rooms, the little balconies, alcoves, nooks and angles all suggests sanctuary, escape, creature comfort.譯文天花板高高的房間,小巧的樓廳,凹進的斗室,僻靜的角落,這一切都使人聯(lián)想到靜謐的圣殿，遁世避俗的處所和舒適的享受。escape原意為“逃遁” 含義較抽象,此處聯(lián)系上下文,譯作逃遁之事物與

24、處所,這就使人聯(lián)想到遠離塵世喧囂和煩惱的意境。這種聯(lián)想正是文學創(chuàng)作和欣賞所必不可少的條仵。而同樣一個詞(盡管詞性不),用在科技英語中決不可能引起如此的聯(lián)想?！纠洹縏he first bubbles to escape from the liquid are a mixture of air and hydrogen.譯文最初從液體中溢出的氣體是空氣和氫的混合物。這里,escape只表示一種狀態(tài)，別無其他附加意義。又如beam一例:【例句】He beamed welcome at the distinguished visitors and complimented them on their

25、 looks. 譯文他滿面春風地向貴客們表示歡迎,恭維他們氣色好。beam原意為“發(fā)光”“發(fā)熱”“發(fā)射”,此處喻義為臉上露出高興、微笑等神情,譯為“滿面春風滿面春風” 形象地傳達了beam的含義。beam在這里帶有濃重的感倩色彩,但在下列科技英語例句中,卻只有單一的“發(fā)射” 之意了。A robot might carry its power, for example, storage batteries, and has its instructions beamed by short-wave short-range electromagnetic waves（短波短程電磁波）.譯文機器人可

26、以攜帶電源,例如蓄電池,并用短波短程電磁波發(fā)射信號。Highly technical words Highly technical words are often used for a particular scientific discipline, usually formed from elements provided by Greek or Latin, such as the words （like metazoen, triploblastic, chodal, vertebrate, pentadactyl etc. ）used in the example of the In

27、troduction of this chapter. Many of the highly technical words remain foreign to outsiders, even to educated native speakers.Semi-technical words Semi-technical words refer to words that have the same or slightly different meaning in several scientific or technical disciplines, but have meaning diff

28、erent from their non-technical use, such as energy, force, mass, energy, force, mass, matter, power, movement, solutionmatter, power, movement, solution, etc.半技術詞半技術詞(semi-technical words)是科技文體中應用最廣的詞,科學思想和技術內容的展開主要依靠半技術詞來實現(xiàn)。半技術詞亦稱次技術詞(sub -technical words)。半技術詞大部分來自英語詞匯的共核部分,具有一定的技術含義,且各科通用。（contex

29、t independent words which occur with high frequency across disciplines.）半技術詞的主要文體特征為:1. 1. 詞頻高：詞頻高：任何高級復雜的科學技術,往往可通過基本規(guī)律或基礎技術概念加以闡述。一般專著的主題或跟主題詞密切相關的詞多用技術詞,而表示基本規(guī)律或基礎技術的詞則多用半技術詞。 正是通過這些半技術詞表示的基本技術概念,加上普通詞的輔助與銜接,使之上下貫通,專門技術思想才得以體現(xiàn)。因此,半技術詞的詞頻比技術詞要高得多,但又低于普通詞。2 2、跨學科、跨學科半技術詞的詞義隨專業(yè)、學科的不同而有變化。例如:power在日常

30、用語中有“能力、動力、權力、國家、政權”等詞義,在科技文獻中則有“功率、電源、電力、信率、乘方、率、價”等詞義。current:在水力學方面譯作“水流”,而在電學中譯為“電流”。cable:可以是電纜”,也可以是“光纜”。parallel:在數(shù)學上,為“平行”而在電學上為“并聯(lián)”。level:在電氣通信中為“電平”,而在光通信中為“光平”。3、多義性：許多半技術詞搭配靈活,即使在同一專業(yè)內,因詞的聯(lián)立關系不同,詞義也有差別。有一篇譯文僅6000字的文章,facility這個詞,就用了近20次,譯者須得體地處理同詞異義的現(xiàn)象:【例1】. In order to perform an effect

31、ive auditor（檢驗）, the auditor(s) must be familiar with all aspects of a facilityfacility operation. 【譯文】為了進行有效的檢驗,檢驗人員必須熟悉設設備備的操作?！纠?】Regulaion regarding the handling of hazardous wastes have become more stringent and complex. FacilitiesFacilities can no longer ignore their wastes.譯文處理有害廢物的規(guī)程變得更嚴格、更復

32、雜。工廠不能再忽視所產(chǎn)生的廢物?！纠?】Regulations require that any reactive and ignitable waste be stored at least 500 meters from the facilityfacilitys property line. 譯文條例要求,凡是會發(fā)生反應和可燃的廢物,應存放于離廠家廠家財產(chǎn)至少500米的地方?！纠?】The site ideally should have sufficient land to provide a buffer zone between the facilityfacility and t

33、he public surrounding it. 譯文理想的處理現(xiàn)場應該有足夠的土地,以便在設設施施及其周圍環(huán)境之間有一緩沖區(qū)。以上四例中將facility分別譯為“設備、工廠、廠家、設施”如將譯詞任意替換是不得體的。半技術詞沒有嚴格的體系性半技術詞沒有嚴格的體系性, ,其詞義取決于其詞義取決于 專業(yè)內專業(yè)內容和詞的聯(lián)立關系。容和詞的聯(lián)立關系。有的半技術詞由于用法不同，還可以有不同的詞性,如上述power一詞,除用作名詞外,也可用作動詞,并可由過去分詞轉化為形容詞。4、語義負荷低半技術詞雖有多義性,但比起普通詞來,它們的詞義負荷要低得多。如work一詞,作為普通詞,一般辭典對它的釋義都寫得較

34、長，甚至多達數(shù)頁。它的詞性靈活,搭配很多,詞的意義很大程度上取決于上下文。例如，work 作為普通詞,還有許多固定的配搭,產(chǎn)生出無數(shù)的詞義,而如作為半技術詞,其詞義負荷就小得多。與其他半技術詞一樣, 在科技英語中增添了新義, 詞義帶上不同的專業(yè)色彩,詞的用法與搭配獲得相對穩(wěn)定,例如:【例句】Pushing or pulling, however, does not necessarily mean doing work.work.譯文l然而,推或拉未必意味著作功功。(物理學)【例句】The worksworks of these watches are home-produced and we

35、ar well. 譯文這些表的機件是國產(chǎn)的,耐磨的。(機械)【例句】Temperature required for annealing is a function of two factors, (1) the nature of the material, and (2) the amount of workwork that has been done prior to annealing.譯文回火所需溫度隨兩個因素而變:(1)材料特性;(2)退火前的加工加工量。（機械，冶金）NominalizationNominalization refers to the grammatical p

36、rocess of forming nouns from other parts of speech, usually verbs or adjectives. Nominalization is more formal than its counterpart, therefore more frequently occur in EST. 名詞化指名詞性轉化,如起名詞作用的非謂語動詞和與動詞同根或同形的名詞;也包括一些形容詞來源的名詞。這些詞可起到名詞的作用,也可表達謂語動詞或形容詞所表達的內容,常伴有修飾成分或附加成分,構成短語。這種短語稱為名詞化結構。名詞化結構的組合方式多,意義容量大

37、,適宜于表達精細復雜的思想,使文章具有莊重感和嚴肅感。名詞化的詞主要是指表示動作或狀態(tài)的抽象名詞,或起名詞作用的非謂語動詞:它們一般由動詞派生,但也包括由形容詞加后綴-ability, -ity, -ness等構成的名詞,例如possible possibility, available-availability, clean-cleaness.例句：a) The dependencedependence (to depend) of the rate of evaporation (to evaporate) of a liquid on temperature is enormous. b

38、) The additionaddition (to add) and removal (to remove) of heat may change the state of moving objects by radio waves.名詞化的功能：名詞化的功能：1、句法簡單2、表述客觀3、突出重點名詞化的語義特征：名詞化的語義特征：1、抽象性2、包容性名詞化的語義轉化：名詞化的語義轉化：名詞化的詞(不定式除外)還經(jīng)常可轉化為具體名詞,轉化的方式是加冠詞,復數(shù)加詞尾(e)s。轉化的結果是:(1)變抽象意義為具體詞義;(2)功能改變,可以用普通名詞特有的修飾語來修飾,也可作名詞定語。如一些名詞化

39、的詞加冠詞后,即取得具體意義:Institution (建立) an institution (機構)construction (建筑)a construction(建筑物)mixture (混合)a mixture(混合物)selection (選擇)a selection(選集)building (建筑)a building (建筑物)drawing (繪圖)a drawing (圖)agreement (同意)agreements(契約)connection (連接) connections (結合處)development (發(fā)展)developments (發(fā)展成果) Instruc

40、tion (指示) Instructions(說明書)translation (翻譯) translations (譯作)use (使用)uses (用途)finding (尋找) findings (調查結果)surrounding (環(huán)繞)surroundings (環(huán)境)beginning (開始)beginnings (早期階段)reading (讀)readings (讀數(shù))(1) more declarative sentences (1) more declarative sentences 多陳述句多陳述句As far as sentence type is concerned

41、, there are more declarative sentences, since the primary purpose of EST is to supply information, and to achieve clarity, conciseness and accuracy.（2 2） more long sentences. more long sentences. 多長句多長句As far as sentence length is concerned, there are more long sentences. Sentences of more than 30 w

42、ords are by no means rare in EST writings, and they often contain several clauses and non-finite verb phrases as pre- and post- modifiers and these clauses and phrases are usually interwoven with each other, thus forming very long sentences.（3 3）frequent use of “it” introduced frequent use of “it” i

43、ntroduced sentencessentences. . it it引導的無人稱句引導的無人稱句 Another typical syntactic feature is the frequent use of “it” introduced sentences which add a sense of impersonality and formality. For example: a) It is possible to make concrete of any required strength within reasonable limits.b) It is necessar

44、y to use a more reliable method of inspection in the form of a suitable test.（4 4）The frequent use of prepositional phrases and The frequent use of prepositional phrases and participle phrases are also common in EST writings. participle phrases are also common in EST writings. 介詞短語和分詞結構的普遍使用介詞短語和分詞結

45、構的普遍使用All these make the sentence structure more logical. For example: a) The action of air on an airplane in flight at low altitude is greater than that at high altitude. b) Travelling at the speed of light, it takes two million years to reach the next galaxy 星系.（5 5）frequent use of frequent use of

46、 passive voicepassive voice.被動語態(tài)被動語態(tài) 的的廣泛使用廣泛使用The most conspicuous grammatical feature of EST is the frequent use of passive voicepassive voice. About one-third of the verbs in EST writings are in the passive voice. This indicates that scientists and engineers use the passive voice much more freque

47、ntly than most other writers. The reasons are: a) Scientists are more interested in the action or facts rather than the doers; b) Passive sentences are usually shorter and more concise than active ones; c) Passive sentences appear more objective in tone.(6)6)一般現(xiàn)在時一般現(xiàn)在時simple present tense. simple pr

48、esent tense. Another typical grammatical feature of EST is the frequent use of simple present tensesimple present tense. Since the simple present tense is often used to show a general truth, or to indicate a state, or regular actions or process, it is most commonly used in EST writingsApart from the simple present tense, the simple past, the simple future, the presen