2013040391116On Translating of Passive Voice inScientific and Technology EnglishWang Jin DunA Paper Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsfor the Degree of B. A.Supervised byChen Zhi WeiCollege of Foreign Languages and LiteratureBeiJing LiGong UniversityMay, 2017重声明本人呈交的学位论文，是在导师的指导下，独立进行研究工作所取得的成果，所有数据、图片资料真实可靠。

尽我所知，除文中已经注明引用的容外，本学位论文的研究成果不包含他人享有著作权的容。

对本论文所涉及的研究工作做出贡献的其他个人和集体，均已在文中以明确的方式标明。

本学位论文的知识产权归属于培养单位。

本人签名：日期：摘要论文首先简短地介绍了一下科技英语翻译的特点，说明了被动语态在科技英语翻译中的重要地位，鉴于汉语和英语中的被动语态句子意义有很大的差别，本文讨论了被动语态自身有什么样的语言特点以及如何正确使用被动语态。

值得注意的是，译者在翻译之前应该弄清楚句子的结构，译者应该有自己的认知基础,而不是盲目翻译,应符合他们的认知。

而且翻译技巧也很重要，英语被动语态翻译成中文的技巧可以帮助英语学习者更好地理解英语文章的流畅性和表达。

其次讲述了被动语态在科技英语中的使用和它在科技英语中所起的作用以及为什么被广泛使用。

本文最后重点探讨了在翻译科技英语中被动语态应遵循的原则和方法。

只有通过这些翻译技巧将英语被动句翻译成汉语主动语态,才能使科技英语的翻译更加平滑并且符合汉语的表达。

关键词：被动语态科技英语翻译AbstractFirstly,this paper briefly introduces the characteristics of translation of Science and T echnology English (later referred to as EST),and explains what a important role the passive voice plays in EST at the same time. Secondly, the passive voice in Chinese and English has great differences in the value of sentence meaning，the paper discusses how we should use passive voicecorrectly and what kind of linguistic features does passive voice have. It is significant that translator should understand what the deep structure is in English before translating the passive voice in EST, and translator should have their own cognitive grounds rather than blindly translate, which should be in accordance with their cognition. What’s more, translation skills are also very important. The skills of translating English Passive voice into Chinese can help English learners better understand the fluency and expression of English articles.Thirdly it analyzes the use of passive voice in EST, its significant effects in EST and why it is widely applied in science and technology English. Finally, this paper focuses on the translation principles and skills that should be followed in the translation of passive voice in EST. Only by using these translation techniques to translate passive sentences in English into active voice in Chinese,can Chinese translations be smoother and conformer to Chinese expressions.Key Words: passive voice，scientific English，translationCONTENTSI. Introduction (1)II. The Application of Passive Voice in EST. (2)2.1 Brief introduction to technology English (3)2.2 The role of passive voice in scientific English (4)III. The Translation of the Passive Voice in EST (4)3.1 Principles of translation (4)3.2 Translation Skills of Passive Voice in Scientific English (7)IV. Conclusion (8)Works Cited (10)I. IntroductionScience and technology English focused on describing the facts and reasoning. "Objectively true and accurate expression" is the soul of scientific articles. Scientists and technical workers are more likely to use the passive voice, and not to mention a specific person. As J.Perlmutter said, "science writer writing text undid personal feelings, leaving himself in the position of the background, which is very traditional, excluding personal pronouns, and stressed that works." English for science and technology is an important technology in the English style. English exposition and argumentation based on science and technology, is the basic characteristics of English for science and technology such as the extensive use of technology jargon, the single semantic and rigorous. English words, In addition to the large number of professional terms, English for science and technology also uses some classic sentences. According to statistics, about a third of Science and T echnology English text use the passive voice .First, the introduction of passive voice1.1 Use of passive voice(A) The use of passive voicePassive voice is not a simple variant to the active voice, although it can replace the active voice, without changing the meaning of the sentence. Use the active voice or passive voice depending on the object that we want to emphasize. In an active sentence, the doer is the focus. But in the passive sentence, mover becomes the focus.Therefore, the passive voice is a grammar tools that transform the object of transitive verb into the subject , in order to emphasize the object. Passive voice is highlighted by the mover.1.2 language features of Passive VoiceVoice refers to the relationship between subject and predicate in a sentence. Only transitive verbs can be used in passive voice.Passive Voice consists of the "be" verb and the past participle of the transitive verb. The following sentences can show the relationship and the common sentence pattern between the active and passive voice and the general passive voice, the progress passive voice and the complete passive voice .The butter is kept here. (general passive voice)Your can is being repaired by a machine. (progress passive voice)II.The Application of Passive Voice in EST.As mentioned above, passive voice is widely used in scientific English. This is not only because the passive sentence is more objective, but also because of the syntactic features of science and technology English.The passive voice is a basic part in grammar, and easy to learn. The useof a large number of passive voice in science and technology English，is not in pursuit of artistic beauty of the language, but in pursuit of objective and concise the narrative, rigorous structure, the translator should enhance the reader impressed the thing and get rid of unnecessary things. According from Leeds John Swales the Statistics University , at least 1/3 predicates in science and technology English is dynamic. This is because the scientific articles focus on narrative reasoning, emphasizing the objective and accurate. The involvement of the first person, will cause a subjective impression. So try to use the third person narration, and the passive voice. For example:when we say, attention must be paid to the working temperature of the machine. (working temperature of the machine), and you will pay attention to the working temperature of the machine. (you must pay attention to the working temperature of the machine). In addition, the main information of technology will be placed in front, as the subject.In order to understand better the role of passive voice in scientific English, we should be familiar with the use, function and characteristics of science and technology English first.2.1 Brief Introduction to Technology English2.1.1 Language Features of technology EnglishWith the development of science and technology and the gradual deepening of global economic integration, the importance of scientific and technological English has become increasingly prominent. Unlike ordinary English, science and technology thinking is not emotional, but objective. It makes it easier for the reader to understand the original text without the need for too much imagination. Because of the nature of science and technology and scientific style of translation standards, the passive voice is widely used in scientific text translation. The passive voice in English for science and technology was used in high frequency, therefore, the passive voice translation is a vital part.Technology English is an English that the wordis not limited, but has its own unique style, its own characteristics. The following is the language features of science and technology:2.1.2 Lexical Features of Scientific EnglishA lot of professional terms. The meaning of those professional terms is relatively specific, so it is easy to understand in translation practice.Nominalization trend. Nominalization can help reduce the use of clauses so that the article can be clearer, more intuitive, and objective.2.1.3 Syntactic Features of Scientific EnglishExtensive use of passive voice. The purpose of technology English is to describe things, phenomena or processes. Its concern is the thing itself, it does not need to pay attention to the actor. The use of passive voice will make the reader concerned about the object, so that they can focus on their analysis and research, which in the technical English is very necessary.Use complex long sentences. It is necessary to express closely related concepts in scientific English, and at the same time, science and technology emphasizes rigorous reasoning and accurate description, which will inevitably use complex long sentences.Use conditional sentences and ellipses. Quotations and assumptions are often used in scientific English, resulting in extensive use of conditional sentences. In order to make the language more concise, usually use the omitted sentence.2.1.4 The impact of passive voice on these featuresAs shown above, science and technology thinking is not emotional , not doping individual actor, but is objective, so the use of the voice should also be objective. Passive voice is often used to express objective facts. In the expression,the third person can be avoided, which will ensure the objectivity of the sentence.Therefore, the use of passive language in scientific English can ensure that its expression is objective. On the other hand, it also makes the language features of science and technology more obvious.2.2 The Role of Passive Voice in Scientific EnglishPassive voice is a common grammatical phenomenon in scientific English. Foreign linguist Quirk Randolph has pointed out that at least one third of verbs in physical, chemical and engineering books use passive voice. Passive voice can be better than the active voice to describe the object, that is, the object on the sentence is the most important seat to attract more attention. At the same time, the passive voice does not have subjectivity active voice. In general, passive voice is more important in setting themes, linking text, and highlighting and comparing information.By comparing with the active voice, we will find that the use of passive voice not only emphasizes the subject, but also can make the article more coherent, cohesive more closely. It should be noted that in the passive sentence, the main information will be placed in the forefront of the sentence. The focus will be on the subject's position to highlight its importance.III.The Translation of the Passive Voice in EST3.1 Principles of translationAs everyone knows, English and Chinese have differences in grammar and usage. The use of the passive voice in the two languages are not the same. So, to translate the passive voice in English into Chinese, we should master the skills, to avoid stiff and unnatural words , lost or distorted the original English meaning . And in the translation of the English passive sentences we can not use the so-called word to word translation or stick to the original sentence, in the translation of passive voice in EST, but be flexible in use of various translation skills.The translation must be based on Chinese grammar and habits,be translated into active sentences ,or be translated into the passive sentence in Chinese, The translator must unitize the form and content of the original version , and make sure that content and form comply with the original Chinese way of expression. What’s more, content should be objectiveand accurate. According to teaching experience, the translation of passive voice can be classified four types:In fact, the translator tend to use active sentences to translate English passive sentences into active sentences in Chinese, the following is kind of the situations of translation :Now, we already know the reasons why passive voice is widely used in the scientific English. For those countries which are not English-speaking , good translation is very important in order to understand the meaning of English in science and technology. So what is a good translation? Alexander Fraser T yler, a well-known British translator, has ever proposed three major translation principles: the translation should be complete the original style of writing; translation style and writing should be the same as the original; translation should be easy for readers to understand the original. These three principles are important criteria for good translation.T echnology English has its own unique characteristics. Good technical English translation should achieve its unique functional characteristics. Thus, the translation of passive voice in scientific English must follow this goal. What principles should be followed in the translation of passive language in science and technology? The following two principles are of the utmost importance to professional English for science and technology.English imperative sentences often omit a subject. However, Chinese doesn’t have a subject in many cases. It’s an important difference between Chinese and English.English passive sentences with modal verbs can be translated into no subject the Chinese sentence. In fact, this statement is not accurate enough, the author thinks that only the English expression is specific place specific things or express specific views, attitudes, requirements and so on, at the same time, the implicit semantics of the doer is or is the subject of life, in this way the translation.3.1.1. Faithful to the originalThis principle means that the target language should be exactly the sameas the source language meaning.As we know, technology English is a functional variant in modern English. It is used to disseminate knowledge of natural sciences and social sciences. Its main function is to convey meaning. Translation, the most important thing is to clearly, accuratly translate the original meaning.3.1.2. Keep the original styleT echnology English is different from narrative, prose, poetry, it is only objectively describing a problem. It aims to convey objective facts to the reader. On the other hand, in terms of words, science and technology often choose to use accurate words, so as to avoid ambiguous or word polysemy situation. It is clear and has a clear structure. Therefore, when translating, the translator should make the target language consistent with the style of the source language.3.2 Translation Skills of Passive Voice in Scientific EnglishThe translation principle is intended to provide a translation standard. Good translation methods should follow the following principles:3.2.1 Transform the voiceAs long as the passive sentences in English can be translated into active sentences in Chinese, they should be translated into active sentences, or they should be translated into other structures, which is more in line with the Chinese people's habits.(1) Translated into the form of active sentences(2) Translated into a complete active sentence3.2.2 AddingBecause English passive sentences always emphasize what happened, without emphasizing who did it, usually omit the subject. Quirk has pointed out that about four kind of the English passive sentences do not indicate the actor, but the Chinese is the opposite. So if necessary, subject should be added. Use this method in the supplementary subject can be the original meaning of the full, fluent expression.（1）Add pronouns or nouns "they", "you", "we" and "someone" as the subject.（2）The passive sentences of those who have no action, and words like "this article", "this book" and "this procedure" may be supplemented when necessary.IV. ConclusionAlthough this article provides specific translation principles and techniques, we should not be limited to the original sentence, but rather to use a variety of translation skills. We also need to be able to solve problems through new methods, such as through the Internet and some translation software.The purpose of translation is to better convey the meaning and thought of the original text. So the translation of passive sentences in science and technology English , we should grasp two things: (1) to accurately understand and grasp the meaning in original sentence ; (2)accurately express the original the meaning of the sentence in Chinese . If you do these two points well, then no matter how complex, we can translate is into real, standard Chinese. sentence is,In short, the translation of passive sentences in scientific English is a process of practice and accumulation.Works Cited[1] Neal Peter.A T extbook.of Trstation [M]. London: Prentice Hall International (K) Ltd, 1988.67-75.[2] QuiHc Randolph.A Com prehensive Grmmar of the English Language [M], London: Longm an G roup L im ited, 1985.129-130.[3] Wolfram W iiss. Science of Trstation: Problem s and M Methods [M] .Shanghai: ShanghaiForeign Language Education Press, 2001.22-25. [4] Chen,Meilian.[美莲]. 谈科技英语中被动语态的翻译技巧[J].行政学院学报.2006, (6): 45-47.[5] Feng,Qinghua.[庆华].实用翻译教程[M].：外语教育, 2002.90.[6] Han，Qin.[琴].科技英语的特点与翻译[J].：中国科技翻译, 2007, (8): 33-40.[7] Han，Yali, Han，Zhongli.[娅莉，忠利].科技英语中的被动语态技巧[J].现代教育科学杂志, 2009, (1) 29-30.[8] Huang，Zhengling.[黄正玲].科技词汇词汇特征[J].广播电视大学, 2009, (1): 35.[9] Peng，Yuehua.[月华].现代科技新词语的特点与翻译[J].中国科技翻译, 2005, (2) .。