科技英語(yǔ)的特點(diǎn)-

1、科技英語(yǔ)的特點(diǎn)(1什么是科技英語(yǔ)文體?比較下面兩個(gè)英語(yǔ)句子:a.The factory turns out 100,000 cars every year.b.The annual output Of the factory is 100,000 cars.這兩句話的意思是一樣的,但是用詞和語(yǔ)法上有一些不一樣。第一個(gè)句子用了日?？谡Z(yǔ)中常用的動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)(phrasal verb作謂語(yǔ),用的詞匯是初中生都認(rèn)識(shí)的。第二個(gè)句子用了系詞,構(gòu)成對(duì)事實(shí)的客觀表達(dá)。句子里用的詞匯有兩個(gè)(annual和output都是日常口語(yǔ)中少用的文語(yǔ)詞。如果把這兩個(gè)句子譯成漢語(yǔ),應(yīng)該分別翻譯成:a.這家工廠每年生產(chǎn)十萬(wàn)輛汽車

2、。b.該工廠的汽車年產(chǎn)量為十萬(wàn)。上述兩個(gè)a句和b句之間的不同表明了a句和b句屬于不同的文體。什么是文體呢?文體就是一部分具有共同職業(yè)或興趣的人為了實(shí)現(xiàn)一定的交際目的而使用的語(yǔ)言變體。科技文體就是自然科學(xué)家和社會(huì)技術(shù)人員從事專業(yè)活動(dòng)時(shí)使用的一種文體。大家所見(jiàn)到的科學(xué)著作、學(xué)術(shù)論文、實(shí)驗(yàn)報(bào)告、產(chǎn)品說(shuō)明書(shū)等都屬于科技文體?？萍嘉捏w不以語(yǔ)言的藝術(shù)美為追求目標(biāo),而是講求邏輯的條理清楚和敘述的準(zhǔn)確嚴(yán)密。因此它有自己的語(yǔ)言、詞匯和語(yǔ)法特點(diǎn)。當(dāng)然,科技文體也不是“鐵板一塊”。粗略來(lái)說(shuō),可以分成正式科技文體和科普文體,兩種都有書(shū)面和口語(yǔ)形式。以下將向大家介紹書(shū)面的正式英語(yǔ)科技文體(俗稱科技英語(yǔ)的詞匯和語(yǔ)法特點(diǎn)。

3、第一講英語(yǔ)科技文體的詞匯特點(diǎn)一、大量使用專業(yè)術(shù)語(yǔ)?？萍嘉恼乱蟾拍钋宄?避免含糊不清和一詞多義,因此使用較多的科技詞匯。科技詞匯來(lái)源分三類:A.第一類科技詞來(lái)自英語(yǔ)中的普通詞,但賦予了它們新的詞義。例如:Work is the transfer of energy expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which its point of application moves in the direction of the force.在這句話中,work、energy、product、force都是從普通詞匯中

4、借來(lái)的物理學(xué)術(shù)語(yǔ)。work的意思不是工作,而是功;energy的意思不是活力,而是能;product的意思不是產(chǎn)品,而是乘積;force的意思不是力量,而是力。B.第二類科技詞是從希臘或拉丁語(yǔ)中吸收的。例如:therm 熱(希臘語(yǔ) thesis 論文(希臘語(yǔ)parameter 參數(shù)(拉丁語(yǔ) radius 半徑(拉丁語(yǔ)這些希臘語(yǔ)和拉丁語(yǔ)來(lái)源的詞的復(fù)數(shù)形式有些仍按原來(lái)的形式,如thesis的復(fù)數(shù)是theses, stratus的復(fù)數(shù)是strati。但是不少詞由于在英語(yǔ)里用得久了,除了保留原來(lái)的復(fù)數(shù)形式,有的也有符合英語(yǔ)習(xí)慣的復(fù)數(shù)形式。例如formula(公式,拉丁語(yǔ)可以是formulae,也可以是

5、formulas; stratum(層,拉丁語(yǔ)可以是strata,也可以是stratums。特別有意思的是datum(數(shù)據(jù),拉丁語(yǔ),它的復(fù)數(shù)形式是data,但是由于這個(gè)字常用復(fù)數(shù),所以有些外國(guó)人甚至誤把它當(dāng)成單數(shù),又造出了一個(gè)所謂的復(fù)數(shù)形式datas。C.第三類是新造的詞。每當(dāng)出現(xiàn)新的科學(xué)技術(shù)現(xiàn)象時(shí),人們都要通過(guò)詞匯把它表示出來(lái)。這就需要構(gòu)造新的詞匯。構(gòu)成新詞主要有以下幾種方法:a.轉(zhuǎn)化:通過(guò)詞類轉(zhuǎn)化構(gòu)成新詞。英語(yǔ)中名詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞可以轉(zhuǎn)化成動(dòng)詞,而動(dòng)詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞可以轉(zhuǎn)化成名詞。但是最活躍的是名詞、轉(zhuǎn)化成動(dòng)詞和動(dòng)詞轉(zhuǎn)化成名詞。例如,名詞island(島嶼轉(zhuǎn)化成動(dòng)詞island

6、(隔離,動(dòng)詞coordinate(協(xié)調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)化成名詞coordinate(坐標(biāo)。b.合成:由兩個(gè)獨(dú)立的詞合成為一個(gè)詞。例如:air+craftaircraft 飛機(jī)metal+workmetalwork 金屬制品power+plantpowerplant 發(fā)電站有的合成詞的兩個(gè)成分之間要有連字符。例如:cast-iron 鑄鐵conveyer-belt 傳送帶machine-made 機(jī)制的英語(yǔ)中有很多專業(yè)術(shù)語(yǔ)有兩個(gè)或更多的詞組成,叫做復(fù)合術(shù)語(yǔ)。它們的構(gòu)成成分雖然看起來(lái)是獨(dú)立的,但實(shí)際上合起來(lái)構(gòu)成一個(gè)完整的概念,因此應(yīng)該把它們看成是一個(gè)術(shù)語(yǔ)。例如:liquid crystal 液晶water ja

7、cket 水套computer language 計(jì)算機(jī)語(yǔ)言machine building 機(jī)器制造linear measure 長(zhǎng)度單位c.派生:這種方法也叫綴合。派生詞是由詞根加上前綴或后綴構(gòu)成的。加前綴構(gòu)成新詞只改變?cè)~義,不改變?cè)~類。例如:decontrol(取消控制v.de+control(control是動(dòng)詞ultrasonic(超聲的a.ultra+sonic(sonic是形容詞subsystem(分系統(tǒng)n.sub+system(system是名詞有些加前綴的派生詞在前綴和詞根之間有連字符。例如:hydro-electric(水力的non-metal(非金屬英語(yǔ)的前綴是有固定意義

8、的,記住其中一些常用前綴對(duì)于記憶生詞和猜測(cè)詞義很有幫助。這里只舉些表示否定的前綴。anti.表示“反對(duì)”antibody 抗體counter- 表示“反對(duì),相反”counterbalance 平衡contra- 表示“反對(duì),相反”contradiction 矛盾de.表示“減少,降低,否定”.decrease 減少devalue .貶值decompose 分解dis一表示“否定,除去”discharge 放電disassemble 拆卸in-,il-(在字母l前,im-(在字母m、b、p前,表示“不”inaccurate 不準(zhǔn)確的imbalance 不平衡的impure 不純的mis- 表示“

9、錯(cuò)誤”mislead 誤導(dǎo)non- 表示“不,非”non-ferrous 有色金屬的un- 表示“不,未,喪失”unaccountable 說(shuō)明不了的unknown 未知的unbar 清除障礙加后綴構(gòu)成新詞可能改變也可能不改變?cè)~義,但一定改變?cè)~類。例如:electricity n.electric+ity(electric是形容詞liquidize(液化v.liquid+ize(1iquid是名詞conductor n.conduct+or(conduct是動(dòng)詞invention n.invent+ion(invent是動(dòng)詞有些派生詞加后綴后,語(yǔ)音或拼寫(xiě)可能發(fā)生變化。例如:simplicity

10、(單純-simple+icity maintenance(維修-maintain+ancepropeller(推進(jìn)器-propel+1+er英語(yǔ)后綴的作用和前綴有所不同,它們主要用來(lái)詞類。從一個(gè)詞的后綴可以判別它的詞類,這是它的語(yǔ)法意義。它們的詞匯意義往往并不明顯。下面舉一些常見(jiàn)的形容詞后綴。-able,-ible,-uble 表示“可”avoidable 可以避免的audible 聽(tīng)得見(jiàn)的soluble 可溶的-a1 表示“(性質(zhì)的”fundamental 基本的-ant,-ent 表示“(性質(zhì)的”abundant 富饒的apparent 顯然的-ed 表示“有的”cultured 有文化的

11、ful 表示“充滿的,有傾向的”useful 有用的-ic,-ical 表示“的”basic 基本的economical 經(jīng)濟(jì)的-less 表示“沒(méi)有”useless 無(wú)用的-ous 表示“有的,多的”numerous 眾多的d.縮略:把詞省略或簡(jiǎn)化,然后組合成新詞?，F(xiàn)在的趨勢(shì)是縮略詞的數(shù)目不斷增大,使用面不斷擴(kuò)大。例如:laboratory縮略成lab(實(shí)驗(yàn)室unidentified flying object縮合成UFO(不明飛行物radio detection and ranging縮減并拼讀成radar(雷達(dá)transistor和receiver各取一部分,組合成transceiver

12、(收發(fā)機(jī)二、英語(yǔ)科技文體中有很多詞匯并不是專業(yè)術(shù)語(yǔ),但在日?？谡Z(yǔ)中很少用,它們多只見(jiàn)于書(shū)面語(yǔ)中,叫做文語(yǔ)詞。俗話稱它們?yōu)椤按笤~”。掌握這類詞對(duì)閱讀科技文章或?qū)懣萍颊撐氖种匾?。這類詞用得很廣,不僅出現(xiàn)在科技文體的各個(gè)專業(yè)中,也出現(xiàn)在政治、經(jīng)濟(jì)、法律、語(yǔ)言等社會(huì)科學(xué)的文體中。本書(shū)的半科技詞匯學(xué)習(xí)部分就列舉了部分常用的文語(yǔ)詞。Semi-Scientific Word Study:1.Negligbie,Considerable,SubstantialA negligible mount of something表明很小的數(shù)量概念,小到甚至于可以忽略不計(jì)。而a considerable,an app

13、reciable,a substantial,a material amount of something則表明數(shù)量相當(dāng)大。An appreciable amount is large enough to be worth appreciable or noticing.A considerable amount is large enough to be worth considering or noticing.A substantial amount is large enough to be noticed,like a substance.A material amount is l

14、arge enough to be noticed,like a material.2.Melt,Molten,SmeltAt a certain temperature,metals melt.They become molten.The molten iron passes out of the furnace into moulds.We smelt iron ore by heat,and change the ore into its metal state.When the ore is smelted,it becomes pig iron.3.PropertyHere are

15、some of the properties which metals may have:The metal is fluid.It has fluidity.plastic plasticityelastic elasticityductile ductility .malleable malleability4.Bring about,Produce,Cause,Give rise toThe high temperature may bring about cracks in the furnace walls.These experiments will produce new met

16、hods of construction.A drop in pressure can give rise to cylinder condensation.cause a 1ot of unemployment.5.Critical<decisive and therefore important or serious.The critical temperature Of steel:above Or below this temperature the molecular structure changes.The critical pressure:the pressure at

17、 which a gas can be liquefied.6.ConduciveRegular maintenance is better performance Of the machine.Good 1abor relations are conducive to improved production.Turbulence in the cylinder is (helpful to more efficient burning of the gases.IV.Practical Usage 0f S0me Patterns:1.Maximum and Minimum(1The max

18、imum temperatureThe upper temperature limit 35(2The minimum temperature m this country 0The lower temperature limit is about 17l/2(3The average temperatureThe mean temperature(4The temperature in this country ranges from 35to 0.varies(5The maximum pressure in the boiler is 500lb/m2.(6The maximum fue

19、l consumption of the engine is 30 m.p.g.(miles per gallon.2.Contents(1The gas contains about 5l/2%of carbon monoxide.(2The alloy 5%nickel and 5%iron.(3The carbon monoxide content was about 5%.(4The moisture content of the cylinder increased.(5The class consists of 24 students.(6The atmosphere compri

20、ses a number of gases.(7The machine is composed of several different parts.(8The gas in me atmosphere includes oxygen and nitrogen.第二講動(dòng)詞的時(shí)態(tài)和語(yǔ)態(tài)特點(diǎn)第一講曾經(jīng)提到,英語(yǔ)科技文章中動(dòng)詞常用的時(shí)態(tài)種類較少和經(jīng)常使用被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)。現(xiàn)在分別介紹如下:一、時(shí)態(tài)英語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞有十六個(gè)時(shí)態(tài),其中最常用的有五個(gè)。它們是一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)、現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行時(shí)、一般過(guò)去時(shí)、一般將來(lái)時(shí)和現(xiàn)在完成時(shí),在科技文章中一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)、一般將來(lái)時(shí)和現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)要比另外兩種更常用些,此外,他們的用法也不如普通英語(yǔ)那樣豐富

21、多樣。1.一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)是科技文章中最常見(jiàn)的時(shí)態(tài),主要有三種用法。a.一般敘述過(guò)程A scientist observes carefully,applies logical thought to his observations and tries t0 find relationships in data,etc.b.敘述客觀事實(shí)或科學(xué)定理Sound travels through the air in waves.A complete rotation Of the Earth in relation to the pole star takes four minutes shor

22、t of twenty-four hours.Work is equal to the product Of force and the distance through which the force moves.c.通?；蛄?xí)慣發(fā)生的行為Alternating current is usually supplied to people's houses at 50 cycles per second.2.一般將來(lái)時(shí)表示將來(lái)發(fā)生的行為或情況。In time.many things now unknown will become known.3.現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)表示到現(xiàn)在為止發(fā)生的行

23、為或者已經(jīng)發(fā)生但對(duì)現(xiàn)在有影響的行為。During the past few years.several countries have pooled their resources in order to carry out certain types of scientific investigation moil efficiently.Cast iron is moil brittle than iron which has been heated but not melted,but it is easier to shape, as it can be poured into moul

24、ds.二、被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài) 被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)在科技文章中用得十分頻繁，這主要有兩個(gè)原因：第一個(gè)原因是科技文章重在描 寫(xiě)行為或狀態(tài)本身，所以由誰(shuí)或由什么行為或狀態(tài)的主體就顯得不那么重要。行為或狀態(tài)的主 體或者沒(méi)有必要指出，或者根本指不出來(lái)。雖然我們?cè)诳萍嘉恼轮锌吹綆в衎y短語(yǔ)的句子，但 數(shù)量不多，大家在被動(dòng)句中見(jiàn)到的by短語(yǔ)常常不是被動(dòng)行為的主體，而是行為的方式或工具。 All the insulating substances were damaged by sea water The raw materials with which engineers work seldom are found in us

25、eful forms The phenomenon was recognized many years ago and put to use in various applications although it was then poorly understood 下面兩個(gè)句子中的短語(yǔ)表示工具或行為方式。 The spectrum of the substance could be determined by testing its effectiveness against various types Of bacteria Most of the drugs in current use

26、 were discovered by accident or trial and error 被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)使用頻繁的第二個(gè)原因是便于向后擴(kuò)展句子，而不至于把句子弄得頭重腳輕。例 如： In the digital computer the numbers to be manipulated are represented by sequences of digitswhich ale first recorded in suitable code，then convened into positive and negative electrical impulses， and stored m

27、electrical or magnetic registers 在上面這個(gè)句子里，sequences of digits是被動(dòng)行為的主體，which連接的定語(yǔ)從句做它的定 語(yǔ)。如果把這個(gè)被動(dòng)句變成主動(dòng)句，把sequences of digits改成句子的主語(yǔ)，which連接的定語(yǔ)從 句緊跟其后，整個(gè)句子就會(huì)顯得非常笨拙和不平衡，違反了英美人的造句原則。 IIISemi-Scientific W0rd Study： 1Contact(=touch aThe two moving surfaces ale i11 contact with each other as little as poss

28、ible bThe piston does not come in contact with the cylinder cover cThe water which is in close contact with the steam will evaporate first 2House，Accommodate aThe university houses most of its student in hostels accommodates bAn aluminum bush houses the bearing cThe air cannotaccommodate hold any mo

29、re steam without a rise in temperature 3ResistWithstand ahigh-speed aircraft need metals which canresist very high temperature. withstand bCurved rails offer resistance to the movement of the train cSilicones are resistant to moisture and heat 4Advantage aThe advantage Of rolling bearing is that the

30、y cause less friction has bThis type of bearingoffers several advantages over me sliding bearing possesses IVPractical Usage of Some Patterns： 1The use of will，can and may 下面是這三個(gè)字的最重要的一些用法 (1Futurity(will 在科技英語(yǔ)的書(shū)面語(yǔ)和口頭語(yǔ)中一般不用be going to這個(gè)形式來(lái)表示將來(lái)。 aProduction of the new machine will commence next year

31、bThe new aircraft will fly for the first time on Monday (2Capability(Will，Can，capable，Are able t0性能，才能 will fly can fly aThese planes be capable of fly at 800 miles per hour are able to fly (3What always happens(will 第三講 名詞化和動(dòng)詞非限定形式 一、名詞化 名詞化是英語(yǔ)科技文體中一個(gè)非常常見(jiàn)的現(xiàn)象。 所謂名詞化就是把動(dòng)詞變成有動(dòng)作含義的名詞。 如果是動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)或者是句子，則把這個(gè)

32、動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)或句子變成名詞短語(yǔ)。例如： air moves可以轉(zhuǎn)換成the motion of air(air是motion的行為主體 to apply force可以轉(zhuǎn)換成the application of force(force是application的賓語(yǔ) analytical chemists develop the equipment可以轉(zhuǎn)換成the development 0f the equipment by aria1yrical chemists(by analytical chemists是the development的行為主體 to translate Chinese i

33、nto English可以轉(zhuǎn)換成the translation of Chinese into English f into English原為translate的狀語(yǔ)，在名詞短語(yǔ)中它變成translation的定語(yǔ) 名詞化把大量原來(lái)的動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)或句子變成了名詞短語(yǔ)，原來(lái)的動(dòng)作被轉(zhuǎn)化成了事物。這樣做的 結(jié)果可以使句子變得比較簡(jiǎn)練。但是變成名詞短語(yǔ)以后，一個(gè)句子可以容納較多的名詞短語(yǔ)， 表示更為復(fù)雜的思想，因此又有可能造出更復(fù)雜的句子。所以說(shuō)，名詞化既是句子的簡(jiǎn)化手段， 又是句子的復(fù)雜化手段。 Engineering is required to conceive，design and achie

34、ve the conversion of the energy of turbulent mountain stream into the powerful torque of an electric motor a hundred miles away The ancients regarded natural processes as manifestations of power by irresponsible gods；today we think of them as manifestations of energy acting on or through matter The

35、General-Secretary has prepared a five-year survey program which is designed to contribute to the development of natural resources by indicating economic and technologically advanced approaches to the exploration and assessment of these resources 二、動(dòng)詞非限定形式 動(dòng)詞非限定形式包括動(dòng)詞不定式、分詞和動(dòng)名詞。他們?cè)诳萍嘉捏w中使用都很頻繁，一個(gè)句子 使用

36、了動(dòng)詞非限定形式，結(jié)構(gòu)就會(huì)變得比較復(fù)雜。 1動(dòng)詞不定式 動(dòng)詞不定式在句中可以作主語(yǔ)、表語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)、定語(yǔ)和狀語(yǔ)。它們多以短語(yǔ)的形式出現(xiàn)，即以動(dòng) 詞不定式為中心，再加上它的狀語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)，有時(shí)還有它的行為主體。例如： (1Although it is difficult(for scientists to know(where to begin(to deal with such a large subject，the first step is perhaps to consider the main economic difficulties a11 underdeveloped or emerging region has to face (2The refusal to be disturbed or disorganized by unexpected or apparently adverse occurrences，but，on the contrary，肋拋stimulated緲them，has iIl fact been a marke