第七讲被动语态的译法

第七讲　被动语态的译法 （Translation of Passive Voice）

被动语态在英语中，特别是科技英语中运用得非常广泛，而汉语的被动句则用得较少。因此，英语中的被动句常常不一定译为汉语的被动句。现将常用的处理方法分述如下：

一、译成汉语的主动句

（一）英语被动语态中的主语译为汉语的宾语，by短语中的动作发出者译成汉语的主语。

⒈ You will be shown our workshop by the old worker. 这位老工人将领你们参观我们的车间。

⒉ The workshops will be mechanized by us. 我们将使这些车间机械化.

（二）原文中没有by 短语时，常译为汉语的无主句。

⒈ A force is needed to stop a moving body.

要使运动着的物体停下来，需要用力。

⒉ It may therefore be said that the ability to design is both an art and science.

因此，可以说，设计既是一种艺术又是一门科学。

⒊ Simple ways of instructing computers have been invented.

已经发明了简单的给计算机下达指令的方法。

（三）原文中的状语译成汉语的主语。

⒈ A large number of advances have also been made in other fields.

其他领域也取得了许多进展。

⒉ Many online workstations, and magnetic tape drives are commonly found in large systems. （注：large systems = large computer systems）

大型机系统通常具有许多联机工作站和磁带驱动器。

⒊ A unique IP address is required for each host and network component that communicates　　by using TCP/IP.

每个主机和用传输控制协议/互联网协议来通信的网络部件必须有惟一的互联网协议地址。

（四）增加“人们”、“有人”、“我们”等词。

⒈ It has been foundthat this machine is similar to the other one in design.

人们已经发现,这台机器与那台机器在设计上是相似的。

⒉ If one or more electrons are moved, the atom is said to be positively charged.

如果原子失去了一个或更多的电子，我们说这个原子带正电荷。

（五）通过增添“把”、“将”、“使”、“受到”等词,译成汉语的主动句。

（注：此类句子将英语中的主语译为汉语的宾语，通过在宾语前加“把” 、“将” 、“对”等词，可以把宾语提到动词之前，译成汉语的无主句）

⒈ The plastics are heated until they are soft enough to be shaped.

将塑料加热到软得可以造型。

⒉ Cutting tools should be inspected carefully prior to use.

使用前，对刀具应作仔细的检查。

⒊ The data retained on sequential access storage media are periodically accessed and updated by the sequential processing techniques.

通过采用顺序处理技术，对存储在顺序存取存储媒介上的数据进行定期的访问和更新。

二、译成汉语的自动句，原文中的主语仍译作主语

⒈ Plastics have been applied to mechanical engineering.

塑料已应用于机械工程。

⒉ These devices were mainly developed to do word processing and record processing.

这些设备主要用作文字处理和记录处理。

⒊ The second-generation computers were given auxiliary storage.

第二代计算机具有辅助存储器。

⒋ Metals may be cast into various shapes.

金属可铸成各种形状。

三、译成汉语的被动句,常用“被”、“由”、“给”、“让”、“受”、“是…的”等词引出动词或动作发出者

⒈ Steam, oil and water power have been used by man for doing work.

蒸汽、石油和水力已被人们用来做功。

⒉ The magnetic field is produced by an electric current.

磁场由电流产生。

⒊ Only a small part of the sun’s energy reaching the earth is used by us.

射到地球的太阳能只有一小部分为(或译为“被”)我们所利用。

⒋ When ice is changed into water by heating, it does not expand.

冰受热而变成水时,并不膨胀。

⒌ Radium was discovered in 1898.

镭是1898年发现的。

Exercises:

Translate the following sentences into Chinese, paying attention to the translation of passive voice:

1．The complicated problem will be solved by them.

2．Heat and light are given off by the chemical reaction.

3．These computers would be very large and bulky if vacuum tubes were used.

4．Iron and steel are used in every industry.

5．Buoyancy is found to be equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the object submerged in it.

6．Solar energy will be used on a large scale.

7．The metal, iron in particular, is known to be an important material in engineering.

8．When we are speaking of power, time is taken into account.

9．If a 10-kilogram box is lifted one metre, the work done is 10 kilogram-metres.

10．The energy is converted into heat.

11．In this process, thermal energy is transferred from the hotter object to the cooler object.

12．Scientific truths are found by experiment.

13．The biggest stage is thrown away only minutes after the rocket takes off.

14．However, not all corrosion is caused by oxidation.

15．The electronic devices are used in radios and television sets.

16．The electronic devices can be turned on and off millions of times in a second.

17．The output of the flip-flop can be used to control other circuits.

18．A flip-flop can be used a switch, or as a place to hold one of the two numbers 0 or 1.

19．Most of the tubes in a computer are used in much simple ways than those in a television set .

20．For each different job, it must be given the right program.

21．Once it is written, the whole program is fed into the computer.