Translation of Scientific and Technical Literature
Definition
EST
English for science and technology
广义上来说，泛指一切论及或谈及科学或技术的书面语和口头语。具体包括： （一）科技著述、科技论文（报告）、实验报告（方案）等；
（二）各类科技情报及其他文字资料；
（三）科技实用手册，包括仪器、仪表、机械和工具等的结构描述和操作规程的叙述； （四）科技问题的会议、会谈及交谈用语；
（五）科技影片或录像等有声资料的解说词等。
Categories of EST
1. Technical words
使用范围局限于某些专业
例如chlorophyll叶绿素、photosynthesis 光合作用 局限于植物学
Motivator 操纵机构、操纵装置“、motor armature电动机电枢局限于机械学 专业词汇的翻译
2. Semi-scientific words
半专业词汇是由普通词汇转化而来的
在不同的学科中具有不同的专业词义
Eg. Pencil; dress; carrier; operation
Pencil 通用英语中的词义
光学词义 “光线锥”，“光束” 热学词义 colour pencil “笔型温度计” 机械专业中 mental pencil “焊条” 气象学 pencil rocket (高空观测用的)“小型火箭”
Dress
医学 “包扎”, “敷药”
农业 “培植(植物),整治(土地)”
冶矿 “选矿”
Carrier
医学 “带菌者” Carriers of AIDS virus
机械 “托架”
海军 “航空母舰”
化学 “载体”
Operation
数学 “运算”
计算机科学 “执行，操作”
医学 “手术”
军事 “作战”
商业 “(资金的)运用; 交易; 投机买卖”
3. Phraseology of science
使用较正式的单词和习语
Eg. Commence; propagate; conducive; absorb
用法复杂多样，且拼法生僻难记
Trees propagate themselves by seeds.
Sound is propagated by vibrations.
这类词的翻译
三类科技词汇的使用频率
广泛运用构词法，形成丰富多彩的专业词汇
Compounding
Blending
Affixation
Acronym
Compounding
传统的重要构词法
两个或两个以上旧词合成一个新词
合写式与分写式
Waterpower，hairline，heartman， hot press， waterproof
水力，游丝（细测量线），换心人，热压，防水的
Pulse-scaler 脉冲定标器 movable-pionter indicator 动针式仪表
这种构词法在科技英语中常用的两个原因
Saucer-man; situation-room
一旦合成，意义固定
短小简炼
Blending
混成法，拼缀法
取两个词中在拼写上或读音上比较合适的部分，其余部分除去
Brunch
telex
Teleprinter+ exchange 电传
biorhythm
Biological+ rhythm生理节奏
Programatic
Program +automatic
Airveyor
Air+conveyor 气压运送器
Landsat
Land+satellite 陆地卫星
Affixation
词利用词的前缀，后缀作为词素构成新词
英语词缀构词能力极强
Semi-
Semiconductor
半导体
Semicircle
Semidiameter 半径
Semisynthetic
半合成的
缀法
Micro-
Microcomputer 微机
Microcopy 缩微
Microphone
Micrometer 测微计
Anti-
Antibody
抗体
antiparticle
反粒子
还须注意的是，一种缩略形式，可能是好几个不同词或词组的共同的缩略形，翻译时必
须依据上下文加以分析。
如APC，它可以是American Power Conference （美国动力会议） 的缩写
也可是adjustable pressure conveyor （调压输送机） 的缩写，
还可以代表automatic phase control （自动相位调整）或是automatic program control （自
动程序控制）。
而AC在不同的语境中，则可有多达28个不同的意义，如：① absorption coefficient （吸
收系数）, ② adapter cable （适配电缆）, ③ adjustment calibration （调整──校准）, ④ air condenser （空气冷凝器，空气电容器）, ⑤ air conditioner（空调器）, ⑥ analog computer（模拟计算机）
科技英语词法特点
最显著的特点是nominalization
大量使用名词化结构
使行文简洁，表达客观，内容确切，强调存在的事实
A. Archimedes first discovered the principle that water is displaced by solid bodies. B. Archimedes first discovered the principle of displacement of water by solid bodies. A. The earth rotates on its own axis, which causes the change from day to night .
B. The rotation of the earth on its own axis causes the change from day to night .
复合句转化成简单句
To discover electromagnetic wave
The discovery of electromagnetic wave 电磁波的发现
To standardize the product
The standardization of the product 产品的标准化
To generate electricity by friction
The generation of electricity by friction 摩擦生电
广泛采用名词连用形式
名词中心词前有许多不变形态的名词，充当其前置形容词修饰语。
Oil pump 油泵
Pressure difference 压强差
Water pump valve 水泵阀
100 watt light 100瓦灯泡
Power transmission relay system 送电中续系统
采用以名词为中心构成的词组，表达动词概念
Make use of
Pay attention to Obtain support from Keep watch over 密切关注 Make a claim to 要求，主张
Have a look at
Give no evidence of 不足以说明
EST 的句法特点
1）广泛使用被动语态
The samples were all examined when they were unloaded. In some cases the packaging was
inadequate, while in some cases the samples were not packed at all. In every cases where the packaging was faulty, the samples were spoiled, and in no case were they properly labelled. This is probably a case of inefficiency on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the matter should be brought to their attention.
主要使用在以下情况
（1）强调动作对象或结果，避免个人感觉和判断
可以让作者要强调的主题出现在句首
As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. 一边钻井，一边下钢管，以防周围土层塌陷。
（2）避免提到人时
科技作品要求尽量客观
被动语态正好可以避开人的主观因素
Attention must be paid to the working temperature of the electric machine.
You must pay attention to the working temperature of the electric machine.
The information about each characteristic was carried to the next station.
Bearings must be lubricated.
（3) 使句子更简练
被动结构在很多情况下可使句子更为紧凑和简短
When the radiant energy of the sun falls on the earth, it is changed into heat energy , and the
earth is warmed.
太阳辐射到达地球后就转化为热能，从而使大地暖和起来。
（4）出于行文需要
有时由于全句或上下文的安排,用被动态比较便于表达
At the power plant the output voltage is stepped up by a transformer, which may raise it as
high as 220 ,000 volts or more.
电厂输出电压,由变压器升压，可以升高到220 ,000 伏以上。
动作执行者transformer 后面有定语从句,用被动态使主句，从句分明，从句中的it 也较
易处理。
句法特点2）长句使用较多
科技英语着重事实和逻辑的推导，因而往往需要采取一气呵成的方式，力求达到完整而
充分的说明，这就得求助于复杂的和扩张的结构，使句子变得很长。在这类长句中，往往采用许多长句和短语，特别是非限定性短语。
This chapter shall attempt to look at some aspects of controller synthesis for the multivariable
servomechanism problem when the plant to be controlled is subject to uncertainty—in this
case, a controller is to be found so that satisfactory regulation occurs in spite of the fact that the parameters of the plant may be allowed to vary (by arbitrary large amounts), subject only to the condition that the resultant perturbed system remains stable.
句法特点3）广泛使用非谓语动词
大量使用非谓语动词，即不定式，分词，动名词及独立主格结构来代替从句或分句 Radiating from the earth, heat causes air currents to rise.
热量由地球辐射出来时，使得气流上升。
Vibrating objects produce sound waves, each vibration producing one sound wave. 振动着的物体产生声波，每一次振动产生一个声波。
Numerical control machines （数控机床）are most useful when quantities of products to be
produced are low or mediocre; the tape containing the information required to produce the part can be stored, reused or modified when required.
中小批量生产时，数控机床是极为有用的。其记录着零件生产的有关资料的磁带，可
储存起来以供下次使用，必要时还可修改。
EST的修辞特点
主要表现在时态的运用、修辞兵役法的选择和逻辑语法词的使用三个方面
时态运用有限
EST所运用的时态大都限于一般现在时，一般过去时，现在完成时和一般将来时这几
种，其他时态运用很少
The simple present tense
You will probably use the simple present tense in most of your scientific writings. This is
because scientific textbooks often contain information about scientific knowledge with no specific time reference. The simple present tense is used for making generalizations. It is the most commonly used tense in EST.
Carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen.
It is a universal truth. It is true at any place on the earth, at any time (the past, the present or
the future) and even at any point in outer space. Therefore, this universal statement is expressed in the simple present tense.
The usage of the present simple
it is used for regular actions and regular process
用来陈述有规律性的动作和有规律的过程
He studies physics six hours a week.
It is used for general statement用于一般陈述
Action and reaction are opposite and equal.
作用力与反作用力大小相等、力向相反。
The earth rotates itself and around the sun.
地球在自转的同时绕太阳公转。
It is used for factual statements and observations用于陈述事实和真实的观察结果 Put a straw in a glass of drinking water. Suck through the straw. The water goes up into your
mouth.
把一根麦秆吸管插入一杯饮用水中，通过吸管吮吸，水就会进入口中。
The moon rotates rather slowly and so one day on the moon is as long as two weeks on the
earth.
月球自转得很慢，因此，月球上一天有地球上两个礼拜那么长。
On average, women live longer than men.
平均说来，妇女活得比男人长。
it can be used in descriptions of experiments
Pucker up your lips and blow fast, and the air that passes over your hand feels cold. 缩拢双唇快速吹气时，你会感到吹过手面的空气是凉的。
The temperature rises until it reaches 100℃, but after that it remains constant.
水的温度一直升高到100度，此后却保持不变。
The simple past tense and the present perfect tense
The simple past tense and the present perfect tense are used in scientific statements to refer to the past. These past tenses are used frequently in histories of science and technology, some kinds of scientific and technical reports and scientific journalism (that is, news about science and technology).
the use of the simple past
it is normally used to describe actions which happened in the past and are now finished. 通常用来描述发生在过去而现在已经完成了的动作
Nobel cut his finger on a broken glass jar and had the answer to his problem of how to pack
his explosive.
诺贝尔被一口破玻璃缸割破了手指，因而想出了包装炸药的方法。
Notice that the simple past is often used in conjunction with a time-phrase that refers to the
complete past.
Eg. Solid layers of ice moulded the lakes and hills of Europe and North America millions of
years ago.
it is usually used in writing technical reports通常用来撰写科技报告
Here are the “notes” of a simple technical reports.
13/4/70 Royal and Brown collected samples of cement type 143 from World oil/purpose –
analysis of failure to solidify.
14/4/70 R and B analyzed the composition of the cement/no useful results. They heated the
cement to 200℃/nothing significant.
1970年4月13日罗伊尔和布朗从世界石油公司搜集到143号水泥的样品／目的—分析
不能凝固的原因。
1970年4月14日两人分析了该水泥的组成成分／未获得任何有用的结果。他们把水泥
加热到200度，未发现任何重要的线索。
it is usually used to describe experiments用来描述实验
By dawn, Nobel, still in his night clothes, had made a new explosive. He put together the
nitroglycerin with the collodion. Now the explosive was waterproof and could be handled more safely.
到黎明时分，诺贝尔制成了一种新炸药，当时他还穿着睡衣。他把硝化甘油与火胶加在
一起。这样制成的炸药既防潮又可更安全地贮运了。
it is also used in making statements about the history of science and technology
也用来陈述科技发展史
eg. The discovery of explosives came late in man’s history, long after the ship, the wheel and
even atomic theory. Explosives were fist written about only 600 years ago. Some explosives, shot from wooden tubes, were reported in Chinese history during the thirteen century.
在人类历史上，火药的发明是比较晚的，比船舶、自行车乃至原子理论的发明都要晚得
多，仅仅在大约600多年之前，才有最初记载。而从木管中发射炸药，在13世纪中国历史上已有记载。
The use of the present perfect
The present perfect is used in certain historical and news statement. 现在完成时用于某些历
史陈述和“新闻”报道中。
activities carried out a little while before now or just before now.
现在之前一会儿或刚才的活动
This new generator has recently been produced.
这台新发电机最近才生产出来。
That factory has just produced this new generator.
那家工厂刚刚才生产出这台新发电机。
Therefore, in this case, the present perfect tense is usually used with such adverbs as just,
recently and lately.
activities carried out at some unstated or unspecified time before now
Scientists of the University of California in Berkeley have made the first photograph showing
electricity in liquid form.
位于贝克来的加利福尼亚大学的科学家们拍摄了第一张显示液态电的照片。 Man has landed on the moon.
人已在月球上登陆。
As the above examples suggest, the present perfect is used to describe facts. It is used when it
seems more important to state the fact that something has been done, rather than when it was done.
activities starting some time in the past, continuing until now, and possibly
continuing for sometime in the future 从过去某一时刻开始继续到现在，还可
能继续到未来一段时间的活动
Scientists have studied the universe for many centuries.
科学家们研究宇宙已经持续了许多个世纪。
Medicine has made great progress in the last twenty years.
最近20年来医学有了长足的进步。
Production of this new chemicals has not been started yet.
这类新型化工产品尚未开始生产。
This has been known for forty years.
人们已经知道这个40年了。
Features of EST
1. Syntactic features
1. Wide use of passive voice
Objective
The samples were all examined when they were unloaded. In some cases the packaging was
inadequate, while in some cases the samples were not packed at all. In every cases where the packaging was faulty, the samples were spoiled, and in no case were they properly labelled. This is probably a case of inefficiency on the part of the manufacturer, in which case the matter should be brought to their attention.
Used in the following cases
（1）强调动作对象或结果，避免个人感觉和判断
可以让作者要强调的主题出现在句首 As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling
in.
一边钻井，一边下钢管，以防周围土层塌陷。
（2）避免提到人时
科技作品要求尽量客观
被动语态正好可以避开人的主观因素
Attention must be paid to the working temperature of the electric machine.
You must pay attention to the working temperature of the electric machine.
The information about each characteristic was carried to the next station.
Bearings must be lubricated.
（3) 使句子更简练
被动结构在很多情况下可使句子更为紧凑和简短
When the radiant energy of the sun falls on the earth, it is changed into heat energy , and the
earth is warmed.
太阳辐射到达地球后就转化为热能，从而使大地暖和起来。
（4）出于行文需要
有时由于全句或上下文的安排,用被动态比较便于表达
At the power plant the output voltage is stepped up by a transformer, which may raise it as
high as 220 ,000 volts or more.
电厂输出电压,由变压器升压，可以升高到220 ,000 伏以上。
动作执行者transformer 后面有定语从句,用被动态使主句，从句分明，从句中的it 也较
易处理。
Syntactic feature 2
Use of long sentences
科技英语着重事实和逻辑的推导，因而往往需要采取一气呵成的方式，力求达到完
整而充分的说明
这就得求助于复杂的和扩张的结构，使句子变得很长。 在这类长句中，往往采用许多长句和短语，特别是非限定性短语。
This chapter shall attempt to look at some aspects of controller synthesis for the multivariable
servomechanism problem when the plant to be controlled is subject to uncertainty—in this case, a controller is to be found so that satisfactory regulation occurs in spite of the fact that the parameters of the plant may be allowed to vary (by arbitrary large amounts), subject only to the condition that the resultant perturbed system remains stable.
This chapter shall attempt to look at some aspects of controller synthesis for the multivariable
servomechanism problem when the plant to be controlled is subject to uncertainty—in this case, a controller is to be found so that satisfactory regulation occurs in spite of the fact that the parameters of the plant may be allowed to vary (by arbitrary large amounts), subject only to the condition that the resultant perturbed system remains stable.
Syntactic feature 3
Use of Non-Finite Verbs
participles, which function as adjectives; gerunds, which function as nouns; infinitives, which have noun-like, adjective-like, and adverb-like functions.
Can help to achieve conciseness
(1)use of the gerund can reduce time clauses or contract time statement
A. when the subjects of the main clause and the time clause are the same, e.g.
After it is boiled, water readily gives off water vapour.
The time clause is very often shortened or contracted to After being boiled, water readily gives off water vapour.
B. When the subjects of the main clause and the time clause are different.
When we remove the impurities, the water can be passed back to the boiler.
On removing the impurities, the water can be passed back to the boiler.
Take, for example, the case of a boy sitting in a swing. When he returns to the lowest point,
his energy has all become kinetic energy.
Take, for example, the case of a boy sitting in a swing. On returning to the lowest point, his
energy has all become kinetic energy.
When returned to the lowest point, his energy has all become kinetic energy.
C. the gerund (preposition + -ing) can be used to show the correct sequence of two instructions
Switch off the main supply. Remove the fuses. Before removing the fuses，switch off the main supply. After switching off the main supply, remove the fuses. The gerund can also be used to replace an “if-clause” e.g. If machines are tested by this method, there will be some loss of power. The testing of machines by this method entails some loss of power. 采用这种方法来测试机器必然引起一些功率损耗。
(2) The use of participle
the past participle
Can contract attributive In Britain electrical energy which is generated in power stations is fed to the National
Grid.
In Britain electrical energy generated in power stations is fed to the National Grid. 在英国，电站发出的电力都被输入国家电网中。
Supplies of rubber which was obtained from the rubber trees were not sufficient for the needs of industry. Supplies of rubber obtained from the rubber trees were not sufficient for the needs of
industry.
过去从橡胶树上获得的橡胶供应量不能充分满足工业的需求。
the present participle
using an –ing clause to link a “cause” and an “effect” e.g.
cause: The piston travels up the cylinder.活塞沿汽缸向上推。 活塞压缩混合气体 effect: The piston compresses the mixture. 活塞压缩混合气体。
The piston travels up the cylinder, compressing the mixture.
因活塞沿汽缸向上推，从而压缩混合气体。
2. Rhetorical feature
1. Tense
Three tenses are widely used in EST
Simple present tense
The simple past tense
The present perfect tense
You will probably use the simple present tense in most of your scientific writings.
This is because scientific textbooks often contain information about scientific knowledge with
no specific time reference.
The simple present tense is used for making generalizations. It is the most commonly used
tense in EST.
Carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen.
It is a universal truth. It is true at any place on the earth, at any time (the past, the present or
the future) and even at any point in outer space. Therefore, this universal statement is expressed in the simple present tense.
The usage of the present simple
(1).For regular process and actions
Action and reaction are opposite and equal. The earth rotates itself and around the sun. 作用力与反作用力大小相等、力向相反。 地球在自转的同时绕太阳公转。
(2) for factual statements and observations
Put a straw in a glass of drinking water. Suck through the straw. The water goes up into your
mouth.
把一根麦秆吸管插入一杯饮用水中，通过吸管吮吸，水就会进入口中。
The moon rotates rather slowly and so one day on the moon is as long as two weeks on the
earth.
月球自转得很慢，因此，月球上一天有地球上两个礼拜那么长。
On average, women live longer than men.
平均说来，妇女活得比男人长。
(3) used in descriptions of experiments
Pucker up your lips and blow fast, and the air that passes over your hand feels cold. 缩拢双唇快速吹气时，你会感到吹过手面的空气是凉的。
The temperature rises until it reaches 100℃, but after that it remains constant.
水的温度一直升高到100度，此后却保持不变。
Simple past tense and the present perfect tense
used in scientific statements to refer to the past.
in histories of science and technology, some kinds of scientific and technical reports and scientific journalism. (1)to describe actions which happened in the past and are now finished. Nobel cut his finger on a broken glass jar and had the answer to his problem of how to The use of the simple past
pack his explosive.
诺贝尔被破玻璃缸割破了手指，因而想出了包装炸药的方法。
Notice that the simple past is often used in conjunction with a time-phrase that refers to
the complete past.
Eg. Solid layers of ice moulded the lakes and hills of Europe and North America millions
of years ago.
(2) it is usually used in writing technical reports
Here are the “notes” of a simple technical reports.
13/4/70 Royal and Brown collected samples of cement type 143 from World oil/purpose –
analysis of failure to solidify.
14/4/70 R and B analyzed the composition of the cement/no useful results. They heated the
cement to 200℃/nothing significant.
1970年4月13日罗伊尔和布朗从世界石油公司搜集到143号水泥的样品／目的—分析
不能凝固的原因。
1970年4月14日两人分析了该水泥的组成成分／未获得任何有用的结果。他们把水泥
加热到200度，未发现任何重要的线索。
(3)it is usually used to describe experiments用来描述实验
By dawn, Nobel, still in his night clothes, had made a new explosive. He put together the
nitroglycerin with the collodion. Now the explosive was waterproof and could be handled more safely.
到黎明时分，诺贝尔制成了一种新炸药，当时他还穿着睡衣。他把硝化甘油与火胶加在
一起。这样制成的炸药既防潮又可更安全地贮运了。
(4)making statements about the history of science and technology
eg. The discovery of explosives came late in man’s history, long after the ship, the wheel and
even atomic theory. Explosives were fist written about only 600 years ago. Some explosives, shot from wooden tubes, were reported in Chinese history during the thirteen century.
在人类历史上，火药的发明是比较晚的，比船舶、自行车乃至原子理论的发明都要晚得
多，仅仅在大约600多年之前，才有最初记载。而从木管中发射炸药，在13世纪中国历史上已有记载。
The use of present perfect
used in certain historical and news statement. Activities carried out a little while before now or just before now This new generator has recently been produced. 这台新发电机最近才生产出来。 That factory has just produced this new generator. 那家工厂刚刚才生产出这台新发电机。 Therefore, in this case, the present perfect tense is usually used with such adverbs as just,
recently and lately.
activities carried out at some unstated or unspecified time before now
Scientists of the University of California in Berkeley have made the first photograph showing
electricity in liquid form.
位于贝克来的加利福尼亚大学的科学家们拍摄了第一张显示液态电的照片。 Man has landed on the moon.
人已在月球上登陆。
As the above examples suggest, the present perfect is used to describe facts. It is used when it
seems more important to state the fact that something has been done, rather than when it was done.
activities starting some time in the past, continuing until now, and possibly continuing for
sometime in the future
Scientists have studied the universe for many centuries. 科学家们研究宇宙已经持续了许多个世纪。
Medicine has made great progress in the last twenty years. 最近20年来医学有了长足的进步。
Production of this new chemicals has not been started yet. 这类新型化工产品尚未开始生产
2. Rhetorical devices
Hyperbole Simile Metaphor Metonymy Personification Contrast Seldom used in EST
3. Use of logical grammatical operators
Reasons
Because of, due to, owing to, as, as a result of, caused by Transition But, however, nevertheless, yet, otherwise Hypothesis Suppose, supposing, assuming