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科技英語中的被動語態(tài)
科技英語中的被動語態(tài) 摘要: 科技人員在用英語說明情況或討論問題時, 習(xí)慣于多用能夠體現(xiàn)客觀性的無人稱被動句。因此在科技文獻(xiàn)中頻繁出現(xiàn)被動語態(tài)。本文先用將被動語態(tài)與主動語態(tài)進(jìn)行對比的方法介紹有關(guān)被動語態(tài)的基礎(chǔ)知識。然后參考和引用一些論述科技問題的例句來具體說明被動語態(tài)在科技英語中的應(yīng)用情況。
關(guān)鍵詞: 被動語態(tài); 無人稱句; 科技英語
Abstract: Scientists prefer to use impersonal passive sentences when they talk or write about their work. After a brief introduction of the fundamentals of passive voice, its application in scientific English will be discussed in this thesis.
Key Words: Passive voice; impersonal sentence; scientific English
在科技文章中, 多數(shù)句子是無人稱被動句,因為科技著作者想要客觀地對待事物, 而不強(qiáng)調(diào)行為的主體, 所以通常不用“I”、“you” 或“the operator”等作為句子開頭。[1](P64)
一、被動語態(tài)
語態(tài)表示句中主語和謂語動詞之間的關(guān)系。若主語是動作的執(zhí)行者, 動詞用主動語態(tài), 當(dāng)主語是動作的承受者, 動詞要用被動語態(tài)。只有及物動詞才有被動語態(tài)。[2](P178)例如:
His father planted this tree.( 主動語態(tài))
This tree was planted by his father.( 被動語態(tài))
A pump supplies compressed air. ( 主動語態(tài))
Compressed air is supplied by a pump. (被動語態(tài))
被動語態(tài)由動詞be 和及物動詞的過去分詞構(gòu)成。被動語態(tài)與主動語態(tài)的對應(yīng)關(guān)系、被動語態(tài)一般時、進(jìn)行時和完成時的常用句型, 可用以下各組例句概略說明:
They will find it out.
It will be found out.
We keep the butter here.[3](P263)
The butter is kept here.
Did she open that letter?
Was that letter opened by her?
A mechanic is repairing your car.
Your can is being repaired by a mechanic.
They were painting that house.
That house was being painted by them.
They have already found him.
He has already been found.
They had opened this road to traffic.
This road had been opened to traffic.
構(gòu)成被動語態(tài)的動詞be, 在口語中有時可用get代替, 例如:
You' ll get sacked if you often leave early.
Look out, you may get hurt.
The eggs got broken when I slipped.
Mr. Li got married last week.
二、使用被動語態(tài)的主要場合[3](P266)
(1) 表述人認(rèn)為不必提及動作的執(zhí)行者, 例如:
Your leg will be X- rayed.
Are the streets swept everyday?
Considerable progress has already been made.
( 2) 表述人不知道或不能肯定動作的執(zhí)行者, 例如:
Is your bike stolen?
You will be met at the airport.
They' ve been told that he is no longer here.
He is supposed to be living in Shanghai.
This sort of ad is seen everywhere.
( 3) 為了緩和語氣, 回避責(zé)任, 故意不說明動作的執(zhí)行者, 例如:
Someone has opened this letter.
We are going to reduce overtime rates.
可以修改成為:
This letter has been opened.
Overtime rates will be reduced.
顯然, 與前兩句相比, 后兩句的語氣比較緩和。
( 4) 表述人對事件本身比對事件的動因更為重視, 例如:
Three men were killed in the accident.
A modern hospital is being built near here.
The spy has already been caught.
( 5) 為了使表述更為通順流暢
試比較下面的兩個句子:
When he arrived home a policeman arrested him.
When he arrived home he was arrested by a
policeman.
前一句中間變換了主語, 后一句則無此缺點。又如:
When she was ill neighbors looked after her child.
When she was ill her child was looked after by
neighbors.[3](P266)
在這里, 由于類似原因, 也是后一句更為通順。
三、科技英語中的被動語態(tài)
下面給出的是關(guān)于造船技術(shù)、核反應(yīng)堆、橋梁工程和石油化工的四組無人稱被動句。句子的參考譯文附在每組例句的后面。由這些例句不難看出無人稱被動句在科技英語中的應(yīng)用情況, 了解專業(yè)人員用英語論述科技問題時的言談方式和行文特點,以及被動語態(tài)在科技英語中出現(xiàn)的頻繁程度。
Computers can also be used to automate shipbuilding.
That has already been done in many ways.[4](P83)
Not long ago steel plates were still marked out by hand.
This method was replaced by optical following.
Therefore steel plates are cut automatically by gas burners.
Nowadays the cutting machine is controlled by information stored on computer tape.
This is called numerical control.
計算機(jī)還可用于使造船業(yè)實現(xiàn)自動化。
這 科技英語中的被動語態(tài)在許多方面已經(jīng)實現(xiàn)了。
不久前鋼板還要用手工畫出大樣。
后來光學(xué)跟蹤代替了這一方法。
因而鋼板能用氣割槍自動切割出來。
現(xiàn)在則是用計算機(jī)磁帶中儲存的信息控制切割機(jī)。
這就叫作數(shù)字控制方法。
The chain reaction must be carefully controlled.[4](P49)
This is done by absorbing excess neutrons in boron control rods.
The heat is transferred by circulating carbon dioxide gas.
The hot gas is used to produce steam.
The whole assembly is called a nuclear reactor.
對鏈?zhǔn)椒磻?yīng)必須謹(jǐn)慎控制。
這要用硼控制棒吸收多余的中子來完成。
熱量由循環(huán)流動的二氧化碳?xì)鈧魉汀?br> 高溫氣體則用于產(chǎn)生水蒸氣。
整個組合體稱為核反應(yīng)堆。
Suspension bridges are used for very long spans.[4](P67)
The deck is made of steel or reinforced concrete.
It is joined to the cables by steel suspenders.
The cables are usually made of many thousands of fine steel wires.
懸橋用于很長的跨度。
橋面結(jié)構(gòu)用鋼材或鋼筋混凝土建造。
它由鋼制吊桿與鋼纜連接。
鋼纜通常由數(shù)千根細(xì)鋼絲構(gòu)成。
The crude oil is heated and passed into a distillation column.[4](57)
The lighter hydrocarbons are vaporized and separated near the top of the column.
The heavier hydrocarbons remain liquid and are drained off at the base of the column.
In another catalytic cracking unit some heavy fractions are converted into lighter fractions.
原油被加熱后送進(jìn)分餾塔。
較輕的碳?xì)浠衔锲⒃谒敻浇蛛x出來。
較重的碳?xì)浠衔飫t保持液態(tài)并由塔的底部排出。
在另一催化裂化塔中, 一些重的分餾物又被轉(zhuǎn)化
成為較輕的分餾物。
四、被動不定式
被動不定式(passive infinitive)由to be 和及物動詞的過去分詞構(gòu)成, 在日常和科技英語中都很常見。熟悉包含被動不定式的句型, 對于閱讀和理解科技英語很有幫助。從中亦可了解專業(yè)人員論述科技問題時, 習(xí)慣使用的表達(dá)方式。
下面是包含被動不定式的幾組例句, 參考譯文附在每組例句的后面。
( 1) 表示必要性或某種需要, 例如:
There are several factors to be considered.[4](P130)
That factory has to be built by a river.
All the instruments need to be sterilized.
It is essential for the pressure and temperature in the manned space-cabin to be automatically regulated.
有幾個因素需要考慮。
那座工廠必須建在河邊。
所有的器械都必須經(jīng)過消毒。
載人太空艙內(nèi)的氣壓和溫度必須能夠自動調(diào)節(jié)。
( 2) 表示意圖或計劃, 例如:
His book about gene is to be published soon.
The work is not intended to be finished today.
Are these components waiting to be tested?
This engine is designed to be maintained at lowcost.
他寫的關(guān)于基因的書即將出版。
并沒計劃要在今天完成這項工作。
這些零件是在等著被檢測嗎?
這一發(fā)動機(jī)的設(shè)計旨在降低保養(yǎng)維修費用。
( 3) 表示傾向或可能性, 例如:
Sandy river banks tend to be scoured by unsteady water flow.
Old houses in the valley are liable to be damaged by floods.
More electric power is likely to be needed in the summer.
沙質(zhì)河岸易受到不穩(wěn)定水流的沖刷。
河谷中的老房子容易被洪水沖毀。
在夏季可能需要更多的電能。
( 4) 表示原因或功能, 例如:
The heat causes the reaction to be accelerated.
Microscopes enable small objects to be observed.
That project will allow the surplus water to be utilized.
It is the automatic safety valve that permits the highpressure gas in the vessel to be released in time.
熱使反應(yīng)加速。
顯微鏡使細(xì)小物體能被觀察到。
那個工程將使多余的水量得到利用。
正是自動安全閥門讓容器中的高壓氣體能夠及
時排放。
參考文獻(xiàn):
[1] A. J. 赫伯特. 科技英語的結(jié)構(gòu)[M]. 北京: 冶金工業(yè)出版社, 1980.
[2] 薄冰. 薄冰實用英語語法詳解[M]. 太原: 山西教育出版社, 2004.
[3] A. J.Themson, A.V.Martinet.A Practical English Grammar [M].London: Oxford University Press, 1986.
[4] Bob Kesten. Scientifically Speaking [M]. London: English by Radio and Television BBC, 1971.
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