Language Tips语言技巧

Language Tips语言技巧

科技英语(English for science and technology)是英语语言的一个分支,多用被动语态,如:Early fires on the earth were certainly caused by nature not by man.(地球上早期的火肯定是由大自然而不是人类引燃的);The circuit is broken by the insulating material.(电路被绝缘材料隔绝了);Energy is transferred from one form into another.(能量由一种形式转换成了另一种形式)。被动语态有利于事理的叙述和解说,强调客观性、科学性和规律性。对于任何一种语言,第一、第二人称使用过多易形成主观判断的印象,因此在科技英语中应多用被动语态,避免使用第一、第二人称。

另外,科技英语中被动语态经常用“it”做形式主语。例如:It is well known that the field of science may be divided into two major areas:natural science and social science.(众所周知,科学的范畴可以分为两个主要领域:自然科学和社会科学。)It is believed that this material can withstand strong stress and high temperature.(有人认为这种材料可以承受强大压力和高温。)

科技英语常用句型有:It is well known that(众所周知),It is asserted that(有人主张),It is believed that(有人认为),It is generally considered that(大家认为),It is said that(据说)。