Classification and Analysis of long and complex sentences in EST.
a) Sentence with a number of subordinate clause of different levles.
eg: Perhaps the factor that makes a positive outcome most likely is the clear recognition by the Japanese government and business community that there is an emergent need for innovation, and a wide agreement that the national interest required that major effort be concentrated in this area.
b) the sentence with a series of past-modifiers, like a chain
The cat is chasing the mouse that is eating the cake that is on the table that is blue.
eg: Each cylinder is encased in a water jacket, which forms part of circuit through which water is pumped continuously, and closed by means of air drawn in from the outside atomosphere by large rotary fans, worked by auxiliary motors.
c) the sentence whose main structure is interpreted by a number of subordinate elements.
eg: The thickness of pavement material required to lower the stress from that applied by the wheel to the upper surface of the pavement to that allowance at the under surface depends upon the spreading ability of the pavement material.
d) the sentence with inverted word order as well as complicated structure.
eg: Closely linked with the increased use of computer is the increased use of machines, instead of man power to do the job which can be most easily done by machines.
2. 科技英语中长句和复合句的运用
1. Why long and complex sentences are frequently used in EST.
a) In EST, there are many complicated ideas which are connected with each other.
b) There are many complicated process.
c) To make the expression objective.
2.. Advantages of long and complex sentences:
1) express complicated ideas with different levels of senses which can’t be expressed by simple sentences.
2) give a sharp contrast between two or more things, which can’t be done effectively by simple sentences.
3) make the expression compact in structure and coherent in sense.
4) give prominence to the central idea by subordinating less important parts.
5) give a whole idea, give the reader a sense of completeness.
eg: A machine element should be made of material that has properties suitable for the conditions of service.
At the same time, the loads and stresses should be accurately determined.
The former is as important as the later.
---- It is as important that +(1) ,as it is for the +(2)loads...
6) In describing industrial production and scientific research, long and complicated sentence can give the reader a sense of continuity.
(1) The information as well as the decisions arising from it is processed.
(2) Then it moves on to the next stage.
(3) On the next stage again the specific circumstances of the operation is digested.
(4) And the best decisions are made.
(5) Then the information is processed and passes forward once more.
---- The information as well as the decision arising from it is processed and moves on to the next stage where again the specific circumstances of the operation is digested and the best decisions suggested, and then the information is processed and passes forward once more.
3. 科技英语中长句和复杂句翻译的基本方法技巧
英译汉长句翻译的关键在于两点:一是对原文的准确理解,二是恰如其分的表达。理解阶段可分为3个步骤:1.扼要拟出全句的主要轮廓;2.辨清该句的主从结构,并根据上下文领会全句的要旨;3.找出句与句之间的从属关系,理清每句原文的意思。表达可分为2个步骤进行:1.试将每个划开的单句逐一翻译;2.将译出的句子进行调整、组合,对译文作加工润色。
最常见的长句处理方法是化整为零,分散解决。此外,还有拆译法、插入标点法、重组法等。对于译者来说,最重要的问题是怎样把握好译文的要点,安排好译文的框架结构,形成准确、通顺的译文。除了准确理解原文之外,译文的成功与否很大程度上取决于译者的母语的驾驭能力以及对翻译技巧的灵活运用。
1. 切分法
切分法为翻译英语长句的最常见的方法,将英语长句按意群切分为若干小句再逐句翻译。
1) Human beings have distinguished themselves from other animals, and in
doing so ensured their survival, by the ability to observe and understand
their environment and then either to adapt to that environment or to
control and adapt it to their own needs.
人类把自己和其他动物区别开来。与此同时,人类还具有观察和了解周围环境的能力。他们要么适应环境,要么控制环境,或根据自身的需要改造环境。人类就这样一代代地生存下来。
2) Plastics is made from water which is a natural resource inexhaustible
and available everywhere, coal which can be mined through automatic and
mechanical processes at less cost and lime which can be obtained from the
calcination of limestone widely present in nature.
塑料是由水、煤和石灰制成的。水是取之不尽的到处可以获得的天然资源;煤是用自动化和机械化的方法开采的,成本较低;石灰是由煅烧自然界中广泛存在的石灰石得来的。
3) Steel is usually made where the iron ore is smelted, so that the modern
steelworks forms a complete unity, taking in raw materials and producing
all types of cast iron and steel, both for sending to other works for
further treatment, and as finished products such as joists and other
consumers.
通常炼铁的地方也炼钢。因此,现代炼钢厂是一个配套的整体,运进原料,生产各种类型的铸铁与钢材;有的送往其他工厂进一步加工处理,有的就地制成成品,如工字钢及其他一些成材。
2. 拆译法
这种方法是指将原文中的某一部分(如单词、短语或从句)提取出来单独处理,或放在译文句首,或放在译文句末,它既不同于倒置法,又有别于切分法,可用于保持原文的语气。
1) The number of the young people in theUnited Stateswho cannot read is
incredible-about one in four.
大约有四分之一的美国青年人没有阅读能力,这简直令人难以置信!(将单词拆分出来翻译)
2) The foreign visitors watched in a fascinated manner the tournament held
inBeijing, which exhibited a superb performance in smash service, twist
service, steady service, high drop and killing and ended in a draw.
外宾观看了在北京举行的这场锦标赛。这场比赛在发扣球、旋转球、保险球、吊球和扣杀方面技术都十分精湛,最后打成平局。他们看得简直入迷了。(将单短语分出来翻译)
3) The very important oil industry, which has done much to rejuvenate the
economy of the South since the end of World War II, made considerable
headway especially in the five states ofArkansas,Louisiana,Mississippi,
Oklahoma and Texas.
第二次世界大战以后石油工业对振兴南部经济起了很大的作用。这个十分重要的工业部门特别是在以下五个州中取得了很大的进展:阿肯色、路易斯安那、密西西比、俄克拉荷马和得克萨斯。(将从句拆分出来翻译)
3. 插入标点法
这种方法是指插入原文中所没有的标点符号,如破折号、括号、冒号等。用这种方法可保持原文的连贯性。
1) The snow falls on every wood and field, and no crevice is forgotten; by
the river and pond, on the hill and in the valley.
雪,在四处飘落着。雪花撒在树上,撒在田野里,撒在河边、湖畔、山上、谷底 ── 没有一条岩缝墙隙里不飘满雪花。(插入破折号)
2) The second aspect is the application by all members of society from the
government official to the ordinary citizen, of the special methods of
thought and action that scientists use in their work.
第二个方面是全体社会成员(从政府官员到普通公民)都使用科学家们在他们工作中所采用的那种特殊的思考方法和行为方法。(插入括号)
3) If you go to visit Nobel‘s old residence, the house in which the great
chemist remained a bachelor throughout his life, you will catch sight of a
shelf laden with experimental records.
如果你参观诺贝尔的故居 ── 在那座房子里,这位伟大的化学家过了一辈子的独身生活 ── 你将会看到一个堆满实验记录的书架。(插入双破折号)
4) As far as sight could reach, I feasted my eyes on a vastness of
infinite charm, which presents itself in a profusion of color, in verdant
luxuriance, in dulcet warbling, in pervading perfume, in rippling
undulation, in cataract sprays, in hilly waves, in field crisscross and
verily in vitality and variety.
纵目眺望,我饱览了一片无限娇艳的风光:万紫千红,郁郁葱葱。鸟语悦耳,花香袭人,涟漪荡漾,瀑布飞流,层峦起伏,阡陌纵横,真是生机勃勃,气象万千。(插入冒号)
4. 句子重组法
重组法也叫做综合法,在准确地领会、把握了原文的基础上,打破原文的结构,用译者自己的话恰如其分地表达出原文的信息、含义和精神风貌。这是长句翻译中最难掌握的翻译方法,是对译者的外语和母语驾驭能力的一种严峻的挑战。
1) In practice, the selected interval thickness is usually a compromise
between the need for a thin interval to maximize the resolution and a
thick interval to minimize the error.
为保证最大分辨率必须选用薄层,为使误差最小却须选用厚层,实际上通常选择介于两者之间的最佳厚度。
2) Dr. Smith resumed the activities of anti-cancer experiment begun in
1945 and financed by the Federal government as soon as he snapped from his
original disappointment at repeated failures, which had resulted in its
forced suspension.
史密斯医生于1945年开始着手由联邦政府资助的抗癌实验。他由于屡遭失败而感到沮丧,被迫终止了实验工作。现在他又重新振作起来,恢复了抗癌实验活动。
3) But without Adolf Hitler, who was possessed of a demoniac personality,
a granite will, uncanny instincts, a cold ruthlessness, a remarkable
intellect, a soaring imagination and-until toward the end, when drunk with
power and success, he overreached himself-an amazing capacity to size up
people and situations, there almost certainly would never have been a
Third Reich.
然而,如果没有阿道夫·希特勒,那就几乎可以肯定不会有第三帝国。因为阿道夫·希特勒有着恶魔般的性格、花岗石般的意志、不可思议的本能、无情的冷酷,杰出的智力、深远的想象力以及对人和时局惊人的判断力。这种判断力最后由于权力和胜利冲昏了头脑而自不量力,终于弄巧成拙。