Skills in translating technical English

English technical articles are written in a rather formal manner; long sentences are common, and there are many restrictive clauses. Therefore, it is necessary to have a solid grasp of grammar. The most important thing is to identify the subject, verb, and object within a long sentence, to determine its main components and understand the core message it conveys. Only then can one formulate an accurate translation of the entire sentence or paragraph, taking into account both grammar rules and the context. During the translation process, it is best to read through the entire document first, understand its main idea, and then translate it by drawing on one’s own professional knowledge, which will make the process smoother.

Skills in Translating Technical English (II) Since English and Chinese have their own linguistic characteristics and ways of expression, that is, different parts of speech, word order, and sentence structures are used to convey the same meaning, certain transformations are necessary when translating from English to Chinese in order to ensure clarity of meaning and smoothness of the text. The following provides some introductions to the translation adjustments in terms of parts of speech, word order, and sentence components when translating from English to Chinese. I. Translation of parts of speech (1) Translation into Chinese verbs: In Chinese, verbs are often used to express actions and deeds, whereas in English nouns, participles, adjectives, adverbs, etc., can be used for this purpose. Therefore, in Chinese translation, English parts of speech are often translated into Chinese verbs. For example: (1) The ever-increasing use of pressure vessels has given special emphasis to analytical and experimental methods for determining their operating stresses. The growing prevalence of pressure vessels has led to a greater focus on using theoretical calculations and experimental analysis methods to determine the working stresses of these vessels. (2) With such software readily available, there seems little need for analysts to develop their own programs. Since this software is highly useful, program analysts do not seem to need to create new programs on their own. (3) These two types of analyses are commonly used to express the composition of solid fuels. These two analytical methods are frequently employed to determine the composition of solid fuels. (4) Let’s take a closer look at what happens in the lamp filaments, the connecting wires, and the coils of the instruments. Let’s examine more closely what problems exist in the filaments, wiring, and coils of these instruments. (5) This is useful in evaluating the primary membrane stress and the secondary bending stress in vessels. It helps to calculate the primary membrane stress and secondary bending stress of containers. (6) All modern engineers must be familiar with computers. Modern engineers need to be proficient in the use of computers. (7) This book is a study of the decision-making processes. It explores methods of decision-making. (8) To design is to formulate a plan for the satisfaction of a human need. Design means coming up with a plan to meet certain human needs. (II) Translation into Chinese nouns: Some English verbs, adjectives, or adjective-form participles can be translated into Chinese nouns. (1) This book is intended to serve as an introduction to pressure vessel design for students, and as a design basis for practicing engineers. Its purpose is to provide students with an overview of the basics of pressure vessel design, while also offering engineers in practical work with fundamental design knowledge. (2) A material balance is based on the law of conservation of matter. Material balance is founded on the law of conservation of matter. (3) Therefore, the longitudinal stresses in a thin sphere subjected to internal pressure can be found to be equal to the longitudinal stress in a cylinder. Thus, the longitudinal stress in a thin-walled spherical shell under internal pressure is equal to that in a compressed cylinder. (III) Translating into Chinese adjectives: Certain nouns, as well as adverbs that modify verbs or adjectives, can be translated into Chinese adjectives. (1) We are interested in the overall design process. We are interested in this comprehensive design approach. (2) Some of the strips in the drum controller are electrically interconnected. Some of the sensing elements in the drum controller are connected to each other electrically. (3) The example above illustrates how the equation can be used to design or analyze a component. The example shown demonstrates how this equation can be applied to the design and analysis of components. (4) The authors have mainly aimed at simplicity of presentation. Their primary goal was to simplify the way in which the information is presented. (5) The ability to transfer information quickly and inexpensively is due to entirely new uses of communications. Fast and inexpensive information transmission is a result of the complete renewal of communication devices. (6) It makes no difference what form of chemical combination the carbon may have at the entering or leaving conditions. It doesn’t matter in what form the carbide exists when entering or leaving the system. (IV) Translating into Chinese adverbs: Some adjectives or participles that modify nouns can be translated into Chinese adverbs. (1) Successful mass production depends on close inspection and strict control of the quality of manufactured products. Achieving successful large-scale production relies on rigorous testing and control of product quality. (2) For the intelligent evaluation of test results, it is important for engineers to have a general understanding of the common testing methods. Having an overall understanding of these common testing methods is crucial for engineers to evaluate test results wisely. (3) A very brief description of the behavior of materials is provided in Chap. 2. We briefly describe the properties of these materials in Chapter 2. (4) To fully appreciate the significance of tests on construction materials, some knowledge of both materials and structural mechanics is required. Only by possessing knowledge in both these areas can one fully understand the importance of testing structural materials. II. Translation of sentence components The translation of sentence components refers to the process of changing the function of words or phrases in a sentence when translating from English to Chinese, by replacing one component of a sentence with another (for example, turning the subject into an object, or the adverbial phrase into the subject), so as to conform to the expression habits of Chinese while preserving the original meaning as well as its coherence and logic. (1) Translating into Chinese: Subject 1. Adverbials translated into subject. A. In the “There be” sentence structure, adverbials are often translated into the subject, with prepositions being omitted and the subject not being translated into an object. (1) There has been a striking growth in public information banks. Public information databases have seen significant development. (2) There is only one unit for each physical quantity. Each physical quantity has only one unit of measurement. B. Adverbial comparatives can sometimes be translated as part of the subject. (1) An extreme value of the shear stress may not be the same as the maximum value. The extreme value of shear stress is not necessarily equal to its maximum value. (2) The welds must be as strong as the other members of the structure. Welds must have the same strength as the other components in the structure. C. Besides the above two cases, there are also some sentence adverbs that can be translated into the subject. (1) A series of practical illustrations will show that…. These examples will all demonstrate it. . . (2) Through friendly cooperation, all the obstacles are swept away. Friendly cooperation eliminates all these obstacles. 2. It is scheduled to be translated as a there be structure with a subject but no adverbial, yet accompanied by the preposition of. For example: (1) There are three main classes of stainless steels designated according to their metallurgical structure. Stainless steels can be divided into three major categories based on their microstructural characteristics. (2) If the height changes, compensation must be achieved by changing either the pressure or the velocity. When the height changes, there must be a corresponding change in pressure or velocity. 3. Translate the predicate into the subject. (1) The most important characteristic of stainless steels is their corrosion resistance. Corrosion resistance is one of the most important characteristics of stainless steel. (2) Of all the casting materials, gray cast iron is the most widely used. Among all casting materials, gray cast iron is the one that is used the most frequently. (3) The most widely used industrial welding method is arc welding. Arc welding is the most common welding method in industry. 4. Translating the object into the subject: The object of some transitive verbs (such as have, offer, etc.) can be translated into the subject, while the subject in the sentence is translated into an attributive with the verb being omitted. (1) Ferritic chromium steels have a chromium content ranging from 12 to 27 percent. The chromium content in ferrochromium steel is between 12 and 27%. (2) Very-high-carbon steels have good quench-hardenability. High-carbon steel exhibits excellent hardenability upon quenching.

Hold a lecture, find some classic examples, don’t give the answers, and let everyone participate

When translating from Chinese to English, one sometimes finds in dictionaries that many words can convey this meaning. But after all, English is their native language; it depends on how they are accustomed to expressing things, and I find that quite difficult.

Thank you. Translation is indeed a challenging task, especially when it comes to specialized fields, and there are also some newly coined words

Skills in Translating Technical English (III) — Translation Methods (Continued) (II) Translating into Chinese Verbs 1. Translating Predicatives into Verbs Certain adjectives and prepositional phrases that function as predicatives can be translated into verbs. (1) Both of these methods are suitable for detecting cracks. These two methods can be used to detect cracks. (2) The equation is applicable to the general case. This equation is suitable for general situations. (3) This simulation program is available for use at universities. Such simulation programs are suitable for use in universities. 2. Translate the subject as the predicate. (1) Account must be taken of friction occurring within the pump. The friction that occurs inside the pump must be taken into consideration. (2) Proper valve selection is essential for a well-designed piping system. To design a sound piping system, it is necessary to choose the right valves. (3) Particular attention must be given to the several types of seating materials. Special attention should be paid to these various types of seat materials. (III) Translating into Chinese attributives 1. Translating the subject into an attributive: When the object of certain transitive verbs or certain adverbs is translated as the subject, the original subject can become an attributive. (1) The alloy sheet is usually 5/64~1/8 in. thick. The thickness of alloy steel sheets is generally 5/64~1/8 inch. (2) The greater the number of finished parts required, the more sophisticated the methods become and the lower the production cost per part. The higher the demand for finished products, the more advanced the processing methods, and the lower the cost of producing each unit. (3) The greater the stress required to produce a given strain, the stiffer the material is said to be. The higher the stress needed to achieve a certain strain, the greater the stiffness of the material as well. 2. Adverbials are translated as attributives. (1) Today, welding is the most commonly used method of fabrication of pressure vessels. It is the most widely used method in the manufacture of pressure vessels these days. (2) At elevated temperatures (above 800°F), significant changes occur in the mechanical properties of steels. When at high temperatures (above 800°F), the mechanical properties of steel change markedly. (3) Thus, even for very small values of stress, there will be infinite stress at the crack tip. Therefore, even when a very small stress is applied, the stress at the crack tip will be infinite. III. Change in sentence order. Sentence order refers to the arrangement of various words or components within a sentence; when translating from English to Chinese, it is sometimes necessary to change this order. (1) When there are several adverbials in an English sentence, their order is generally the opposite of that in Chinese. For example: English: Verb + adverbial of manner + place + time; Chinese: Adverbial of time + place + manner + verb. (1) We shall examine these steps in the design process in detail. We should conduct a thorough examination of these design steps. (2) He is working carefully in the laboratory now. He is working diligently in the lab right now. (II) In English, inverted word order can sometimes be translated into a natural order. (1) In an actual pump, not only are all the sources of fluid friction active, but mechanical friction also occurs in bearings, seals, and stuffing boxes. In actual pumps, there is not only fluid frictional resistance, but also mechanical frictional resistance within the bearings and stuffing boxes. (2) It was not until 1904 that Guillet in France produced low-carbon chromium alloys. Low-carbon chromium alloys were first manufactured by Guillet in France in 1904. (3) The following are the steps that would be used in a computer routine to calculate the involute profile. The computer program used to calculate the involute tooth shape is as follows. (III) Postpositive attributives can be translated as prepositive in the process of translating from English to Chinese. 1. Words that function as attributives in a postpositive position can be moved to a prepositive position in the Chinese translation. (1) To acquire drawing skills, pencil sketching should be used to illustrate every possible idea. To develop drawing abilities, various feasible options can be represented through pencil sketches. (2) Now let’s compare it with the truss below. Let’s compare it with the truss shown below now. (3) In response to the applied load, the beam deforms into the shape shown. Due to the applied load, the beam takes on the shape indicated. 2. When participles, infinitive phrases, prepositional phrases, and adjective phrases are used as postpositive attributives, they are usually placed at the beginning in the translation from English to Chinese. (1) Writing skills can be developed by writing letters, reports, and articles. One’s writing ability can be improved by writing letters, reports, and articles. (2) The purpose of this section is to note the importance of presentation as the final step in the design process. This section aims to emphasize the significance of providing written descriptions as the final step in the design process. (3) Solution annealing of 300 series stainless steels involves raising the metal temperature above 1850°F. Solution heat treatment for 300 series stainless steels requires heating to above 1850°F.

Skills in Translating Technical English (IV) Omitting, adding, or repeating words are common techniques in English-Chinese translation. When using these techniques, the original meaning should not be altered; rather, the translation should become smoother and clearer, so as to truly achieve correspondence between the meaning of the original text and that of the translation. I. Omission of words: Some parts of speech in English are essential in a sentence, but they are redundant when translated into Chinese and should be omitted. 1. Certain articles, conjunctions, prepositions, pronouns, quotation marks, etc. can be omitted in translation. (1) It is assumed that the load is uniformly distributed between the welds. It is assumed that the load is equal across the two welds. (2) This method is simpler and more direct than the previous one. It is easier and more straightforward than the earlier approach. (3) The ductility of a metal is usually much lower when it is hot than when it is cold. The toughness of metal in its hot state is generally much lower than that in its cold state. (4) It is of course true that the working stresses should be below the elastic limit of the material. The working stresses of a material should be lower than its elastic limit. (5) When designing a gearset, one cannot consider torque alone. It is not sufficient to take torque into account when designing a gear set. (6) Energy manifests itself in many different forms. Energy has many various forms. 2. Certain verbs and words that do not need to be translated into Chinese for logical or descriptive purposes can be omitted. (1) Visible light covers a wavelength range of about 0.38 to 0.78 m. The wavelength range of visible light is approximately 0.38~0.78m. (2) Virtual work is very important to structural analysis. The principle of virtual work is crucial in structural analysis. (3) The grain size of metals has a significant impact on their mechanical properties. The grain size greatly affects the mechanical properties of the metal structure. II. Additional Translation of Words: The purpose of adding words in translation is also to make the translation smoother and more accurate. 1. In English sentences, some words can be omitted without affecting the meaning, but in translation into Chinese, they sometimes need to be added back. (1) The creep strength of stabilized stainless steels is superior to that of unstabilized steels. Stainless steels that have been stabilized possess a higher creep strength than those that have not been stabilized. (2) The design procedures for austenitic stainless steels will be the same as those for carbon-steel vessels, modified by the technical properties of austenitic stainless steels. The design methods for austenitic stainless steel vessels are essentially the same as those for carbon steel vessels; it is only necessary to replace the technical characteristics of the latter with those of the former. (3) If heated, water can be changed into vapor. Water can be transformed into water vapor when heated. 2. In English, the plural form can be used to express quantity, but when translating into Chinese, words that indicate a plural concept such as \"many\", \"a batch\", \"some\", etc., need to be added. (1) If the elementary principles are clearly understood, the applications will be easy to grasp. If these basic principles can be fully understood, it will not be difficult to master their applications. (2) Occasionally, it is convenient to divide a matrix into parts called submatrices. Sometimes, for convenience’s sake, a matrix can be broken down into several submatrices. (3) The new products will soon be put into use. These new products are about to be put into operation. 3. When translating from English to Chinese, appropriate words need to be added to ensure the coherence and fluency of the translation. (1) Internal forces at joints occur only as pairs of equal and opposite forces. The internal forces at a node always appear in pairs, with equal magnitudes but opposite directions. (2) Forces can be classified as internal and external. Forces can be divided into internal forces and external forces. (3) All austenitic stainless steels resist hydrogen damage. All austenitic stainless steels possess resistance to hydrogen corrosion. 4. Certain abstract nouns or nouns with a verbal meaning require an appropriate noun to be added after them to make the meaning clearer. (1) Minimizing corrosion is a key consideration for the designer. A crucial issue that designers need to address is how to reduce corrosion to the lowest level possible. (2) The diffusion of atomic hydrogen through steels depends on a number of factors such as temperature, time, and composition of the material. The extent of hydrogen atom diffusion in steel is determined by factors such as temperature, time, and material composition. (3) Hydrogen embrittlement can become significant in martensitic steels. Martensitic steels are prone to hydrogen embrittlement. III. Word repetition: Both English and Chinese feature word repetition. In English, prepositions are often repeated, followed by pronouns, auxiliary verbs, etc., while in Chinese, verbs and nouns are commonly repeated. In technical English and Chinese, the repetition of words is generally done to strengthen the emphasis or to make the meaning of the sentence clearer. For example: (1) A transversely stressed fillet weld can sustain higher loads than one stressed longitudinally. A fillet weld under transverse stress can handle greater loads than one under longitudinal stress. (2) Basically, there are two directions of applied loads on the fillet welds: parallel to the weld length and transverse to the weld length. The external loads acting on fillet welds are essentially applied in two directions: one parallel to the weld and the other perpendicular to it. (3) Trusses may be classified as simple, compound, or complex. Trusses can be divided into simple trusses, composite trusses, and complex trusses. (4) Aluminum alloys can be divided into two classes: heat-treatable and non-heat treatable alloys. Aluminum alloys are classified into two categories: heat-treatable aluminum alloys and non-heat-treatable aluminum alloys.

What’s next! Hehe, are there any rules for translating from Chinese to English? I’ve been doing quite a lot of Chinese-to-English translation work lately, hehe! ! I’m not quite clear about the requirements and rules involved

Everyone, please give it your support – spend two hours looking at it and share your thoughts or opinions. It took me several nights to type out so many words; I certainly didn’t write this for my own eyes only :L. Often people post questions like, “How can I learn English?” \"How do I learn a professional foreign language?\" \"Wait, there’s an opportunity here – don’t miss it. This is something I learned in college, and looking back at it now, there’s still a lot that can be improved. Once I’ve finished writing the last piece, after everyone has read it, I’ll post another piece in professional English for translation practice.*\"

I just got a job translating materials, and now I need to learn some translation grammar. Your information is very helpful; thank you so much to the original poster. Looking forward to your sequel. Try to include as many such examples as possible; it makes learning easier.

I’m a newcomer, working hard to level up. Please give me your support :)

Thank you so much to the original poster; it’s very useful. Thank you for your hard work~~~

Reply first, then continue learning*; great article!