Week 6 7-2010.10.15 (1).pptVIP

The Translation of Passive Voice Lecture 6 7 1. 被动语态的使用(Use of Passive Voice) 被动语态的大量使用是科技英语句法上的一大特征。在科技文章中，大概有三分之一到一半以上的动词是被动语态。被动语态的使用在下面这段例文中可见一斑。 As oil is found deep in the ground, its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the underground rock structure must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil, a “drilling rig” is assembled. The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called “a derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by the drilled. As the hole is being drilled, as steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. If oil is struck, a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and the oil is allowed to escape through a series of values. 石油埋藏于底层深处。因此，仅研究底层表面，无法确定有无石油，必须勘察地下的岩层结构。如果确定了某一区域的岩层藏着石油，就在此安装钻机。它的主要部分是机架，用以撑架一节一节的钢管，让其下到孔井。一边钻井，一边下钢管，以防周围土层塌陷。一旦出油，就紧固管盖，让油从各个阀门喷出。 在上例中14处谓语动词只有1处是主动结构。在一小段文字中，被动结构的使用尚且如此，在一篇文章中就可想而知了。为什么在科技英语中经常出现被动语态呢？ 使用被动语态的第一个原因是：被动语态的意义更清楚。因为科技作者在进行研究和论证时，往往着眼于演绎论证的结果，而将动作的执行者放在次要的位置。这样就需要将事物，过程和结果处于句子的中心地位，而被动结构正要满足了他们的这一需要。 试比较下面的句子： A：The gas is carefully heated. B: He heats the gas carefully. 使用被动语态的第二个原因是：句子主语引出最重要的信息。因为主语是句子中非常重要的部分，把重要的信息放在句首当主语，可以引起读者的注意。 A: A long metal bar is fixed in a resort stand by one end. The other end is heated in a flame until it becomes red. The bar and the stand are then moved away from the heat. The temperature of the hot end of the bar is found to fall rapidly. 一根长金属杆的一端被固定在铁架上，另一端在火焰中加热到发红，然后从热源移走金属杆和铁架，发现金属杆受热端的温度迅速下降。 B: The experiment fixed a long metal in a resort stand by one end. He heats the other end in a flame until it becomes red. He then moves the bar and the stand away from the heat. He finds that the temperature of the hot end of the bar falls rapidly. 试验者将一根长金属杆的一端固定在铁架上，用火焰加热另一端，直到它发红。然后从热源移走金属杆和铁架。他发现，金属杆受热端的温度迅速下降。 Notes：A中的主语包含了很多信息，更能突出试验的几个步骤。 使用被动语态的