Abstract: Becau English and Chine belong to different families of languages, they have obvious differences in the expression ways. Generally speaking, English ntence is long and Chine ntence is short. Massively using the long ver structure is one of characteristics of technical English articles. Therefore, it is a big headache for us to translate science and technology English long ver. This article introduces the basic principles that the translation of technical English long ver should follow and discuss the translation methods of technical English long ver through analyzing some illustrative ntences.
Key words: EST; compound ntence; translation; characteristics; basic principles; methods;
On Translation of Compound English Sentence for Science and Technology
科技英语复合词的翻译
1. Introduction
English for science and technology is the tool language that people engaged in scientific technical activities u. It is ud in the natural science, social science work 、disrtation 、test report 、document and in patent and product instruction booklets .“The characteristics of English for science an
d technology include long ntences complex structure, thorough rigorous and the strong logic” [Zhang Xueyun, 1997]. Therefore, one of specific problems in science and technology tra nslation practice is the translation of compound English ntence. How to translate the EST long ver very well? This paper introduces some characteristics of EST ntences and discuss the translation ways of long English ntences for science and technology.
2. The characteristics of EST long ntence
We may discover that it is so common to make mistakes in the English for science and technology translation. We can illustrate the reasons from the following aspects:
2.1 Complex structure
The long ver generally contains many subordinate claus or phras. “It has many decorative compositions who position is not fixed” [Bai Aixian, 2005]. The flexible word order and complex grammar structure help to narrate concretely.
2.2 Clear level and coherent tone
The long vers we meet with are difficult to translate and are nearly all compound ntences. It has
many lines and levels and it makes ntences link up with the aid of the grammatical relations and the logical connectors.
For example: “Tho functions that describe how a computer software reacts to mechanical design, called application functions, are more often important to the engineer in engineering applications such as analysis, calculation, and simulation in connection with mechanical design becau he wishes to know how they will work in u to which he wants to apply them.”[Yu Jianping, 2000]
Analysis: The entire ntence has six predicate verbs: they are describe, reacts to, are, wishes to know, will work, and wants to apply. Its principal claus respectively are: that (reprents functions), computer software, functions, he (reprents the engineer), they (reprents functions), and he. The principal clau is compod by the subject (functions) + link verb (are) + the predicative (important). The subject is modified by the attributive clau that, including the object subordinate clau how, the conjunction becau leading to the reason adverbial clau. It
decorates the principal clau, also includes the objective subordinate clau introduced by how. In the subordinate clau, the object is also decorated by attributive clau to which.
From the illustrative ntences above, we may e one of the reasons that the long ver is difficult t
o translate is there are many compound ingredients or c laus, and another is the modifier is too long. Therefore, in order to manifest the characteristics of the EST translation in translating, we must follow some basic principles.
3. The basic principles, which the translation of compound ntence for EST should follow
3.1Distinguish the levels, stress the main points
Since the long ver of EST articles often express veral levels of meaning, we need read through the text, understand and analyze the text before we start to translate it. “The comprehension the original text is the foundation of the EST translation”[Zhou Zecheng]. We should tell the main clau and the subordinate claus clearly; discover the central content of the ntences and the meaning through the analysis of the ntence structure. Then we can carry on the translation through analyzing the logical relations among each other.
3.2The coherent tone, the strict logic
“The structure of long English ver is complex, it makes ntence link up around with the aid of the grammar relations and the logical connectors, echo each other. It can enable the complex concept e
xpress precily according to the logical order.” [Han Qishun, Wang Xueming, 1990]. If we handle improperly, it can lo the logic of the original text; even violate the author’s original intention. Therefore striving to be logical in translation is very important.
The translation is one kind of recreating activity, original text structures are respectively different, and the translation method is also different. After grasping the principles, which the translation of long ver for EST should follow, let us discuss the translation methods of long ver.
4. The translation methods of compound English ntence for science and technology
4.1 Changing the long ntence into short phras
“If you want to translate the long ver better, first you should clarify the grammar relations、time order and logical order of each part in the ntence, then translate the long ver into short phras according to Chine custom.” [Pan erjian, 2005]
Example 1: “The prent’s packing density ' of 2.5 million bits of information per square inch can be incread in the future.” [Pan erjian, 2005]
(Literal translation)现在的每平方英寸2500000数位的信息“存储密度”可能在将来增加.
(Change translation ): 现在信息“存储密度”已达每平方英寸2500000数位，将来还可能增加. (Noun phra translating for subject and predicates structure) Example 2: “The margin between the temperature at which it begins to glow sufficiently and that at which it melts is very narrow.” [Pan erjian, 2005] (Literal translation) 铂开始发出足够的光亮的温度和它熔化的温度之间的差额很小.
(Compression translation) 铂的发光温度和熔点相差无几.
From illustrative ntences, although the translation is faithful to the original text, it is not smooth. Therefore we should pay attention to avoiding applying or copying mechanically in the translation processing, we should translate accurately and smoothly.
4.2 W ord-order equivalence
“Some English for science and technology long ver s narrate a succession of movements, or the arrangement according to time order or logical order, which is similar with Chine expression way. When to translate, we may do according to the original text order.” [Chen guiqin,2005]
Example 1: “The performance of the navigation system was compared with two existing algorithms, and the experimental results showed that the propod architecture provides an efficient and flexible solution for higher level control problems.”[Wu Xuemin, Jin Jinghong, 1997]
Analysis: This is a complex compound ntence. The ntence “ two existing algorithms” is a clau. The subject “the performance”has a post-positioned attribute guided by of. The predicate is in the passive voice, but in front of object algorithms,there are two attributes. Another clau is the part which is behind the and, it is a compound ntence. T his clau’s object is a noun subordinate clau. In this object subordinate clau, after its object solution has a phra which is guided by for, it is ud as provides’s adverbial, and expresd "provides object”. Look over the entire ntence, the structure and significance are approximately the same with Chine, it should be translated into Chine according to the original ntence order.
Translation: 这个导航系统的性能与现存的两种算法进行了比较，实验结果表明，这个体系结构为解决较高级的控制问题提供了一种有效的柔性解.
Example 2: “But it is realized that supplies of some of them are limited, and it is even possible to give a reasonable estimate of their "expectation of life", the time it will take to exhaust al l known sources and rerves of the material.” [Chen guiqin, 2005]
Analysis: The main structure of the ntence is the pattern of“It is ". The word It is the formal subject, that guides the subject subordinate clau and in the structure of “it is even possible t
<”, the infinitive structure is ud as the subject. “” is appositive of "expectation of life", to further explain its meaning, but the ntence behind the time is an attributive clau.
Translation : 可是现在人们意识到，其中有些矿物的蕴藏量是有限的，人们甚
至还可以比较合理地估计出这些矿物“渴望存在多少年”，也就是说，经过若干年后，这些矿源的全部已知储量将消耗殆尽.
It can be en that English and Chine word order is consistent on the main structure, namely subject - predicate – object for the technical English long ver, we may u the word-order equivalence.
4.3 Inversion
“The result or conquence is often put before the reasons or caus in English. But in Chine, we usually translate reasons first then result and gradually come to the conclusion. Handling this kind of ntence, we had better translate the back part of entire ntence, then the former part to translate it in a rever order.” [Han qishun, Wang xueming, 1990]
Example 1:“①The development of a new drill is now offering exciting new capabilities for future spac
e exploration②becau it is a ultrasonic device③which completely different from conventional rotary drills can core even the hardest rocks as granite and basalt④even though no more significant weight is put on the drilling bit.”[Bai Aixian, 2005]
Analysis: In this long ver,①is the main clau .②is the adverbial clau of reason that is to decorate the main clau.③is an attributive clau, which is ud to dec orate “a ultrasonic device” in the former adverbial clau.④is the adverbial clau of concessions. In this long ver, according to Chine translation method, handling this ntence with inverted direction is good, namely, to carry on the translation according to the order o f④③②①.
Translation: 有一种钻无需在钻头上加更多的力就能钻取像花岗岩和玄武岩这样最硬的岩石.这种钻和传统的旋转式钻完全不同，它是一种超声波装置，它的开发正为未来宇宙太空的探索任务提供出令人兴奋的新潜能.
Example 2: “The construction of such a satellite is now believed to be quite realizable, its realization being supported with all the achievements of contemporary science, which have brought into being not only materials capable of withstanding vere stress involved and high temperatures developed, but new technological process as well.”[Han qishun, Wang xueming,1990]
Analysis: The original text constitutes three parts: main clau, the participle independent construction ud as reason adverbial and the attributive clau that decorates the independent construction. According to Chine word order, we put the adverbial clau at the beginning of the ntence, attribute pretage. Therefore we may start from “”, then translate “”,finally translate“ Realizable”.
Translation: 现代科学的一切成就不仅提供了能够承受高温高压的材料，而且也提供了新的工艺过程.依靠现代科学的这些成就，我们相信安全可以制造出这样的人造卫星.
Obviously, there are big differences between English and Chine in the condary ingredient order of ntence. In English, attribute can be put either ahead of the key word or after the key word, adverbs mostly are post positioned, but in Chine, it is opposite. When we meet this kind of ntence, we should u the inversion.
4.4 Division
