曹琳
摘 要:醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)中經(jīng)常可以見到被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的句子。在翻譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)可譯成漢語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句,分別用原文中的主語(yǔ)做主語(yǔ)或賓語(yǔ);也可譯成帶表語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句或譯成漢語(yǔ)的被動(dòng)句;此外,我們也常用主動(dòng)句表示被動(dòng)意義。
關(guān)鍵詞:醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ);被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài);翻譯方法;被動(dòng)句
隨著國(guó)際學(xué)術(shù)交流的日益廣泛,醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)已經(jīng)受到越來越多的重視。了解醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)在詞匯、語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu)上的特點(diǎn),掌握一些醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)的翻譯技巧非常必要。醫(yī)學(xué)本身科目繁多,且分科極細(xì),各分科的詞匯專業(yè)性極強(qiáng),對(duì)醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)的翻譯相應(yīng)要求很高。翻譯好一篇醫(yī)學(xué)文章,首先應(yīng)了解醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言的特點(diǎn)。醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)既有公共英語(yǔ)的詞匯及語(yǔ)法現(xiàn)象,也有其獨(dú)特的表達(dá)及用法,這就要求譯者具備扎實(shí)的語(yǔ)言基礎(chǔ)和醫(yī)學(xué)專業(yè)基礎(chǔ)知識(shí)。譯者在熟練掌握公共英語(yǔ)的詞匯及語(yǔ)法現(xiàn)象的基礎(chǔ)上,應(yīng)盡可能多地了解并掌握醫(yī)學(xué)術(shù)語(yǔ)。醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)中,我們經(jīng)??梢砸姷奖粍?dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的句子。被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的運(yùn)用可以增強(qiáng)論文的客觀性,避免作者的主觀性。例如:
Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) is one of mans oldest and most widely used drugs. It has been consumed in various ways as long as medical history has been recorded and is currently used throughout the world by hundreds of millions of people. A fairly consistent picture of short-term effects on users is presented in many publications.
譯文:大麻是使用最廣泛、時(shí)間最長(zhǎng)的一種毒品。自有醫(yī)學(xué)史以來,就有使用大麻的記載,并經(jīng)全世界數(shù)以萬計(jì)的人使用。許多出版物均報(bào)道大麻對(duì)毒品使用者常出現(xiàn)短期效應(yīng)。
許多學(xué)生和醫(yī)院的朋友反映這類句子翻譯成漢語(yǔ)時(shí)存在困難。經(jīng)過筆者多年的細(xì)心研究,發(fā)現(xiàn)醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的翻譯可歸納為以下幾點(diǎn):
一、譯成漢語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句
醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu)的句子,譯成漢語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句,可以有下列幾種情況。
1.原文中的主語(yǔ)仍做主語(yǔ)
If it is duodenal ulcer, the pain will be relieved by eating.
如果是十二指腸潰瘍的話,進(jìn)食后疼痛就會(huì)消失。
Urine is formed in the kidneys.
尿在腎中形成。
2.原文中的主語(yǔ)在譯文中做賓語(yǔ)
The patient remained conscious while he was being operated on.
在給病人做手術(shù)時(shí),其一切都是清醒的。
The patient was asked to have an X-ray taken.
(醫(yī)生)要病人照X光。
3.譯成帶表語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句
There is bacitracin, which was discovered by two scientists at Columbia Universitys College of physicians and surgeons.
桿菌肽是哥倫比亞大學(xué)醫(yī)學(xué)院的兩位科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)的。
Mould, which was found accidentally by Dr. Alexander Fleming, could kill some germs.
霉菌能殺死某些細(xì)菌,它是亞歷山大·弗萊明偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)的。
二、譯成漢語(yǔ)的被動(dòng)句
漢語(yǔ)也有用被動(dòng)形式來表達(dá)的情況,這一類句子都是著重強(qiáng)調(diào)被動(dòng)的動(dòng)作,有時(shí)說出了動(dòng)作的發(fā)出者,有時(shí)不說。
1.“被”“給”
Acidity of the mouth is looked upon as an important cause of tooth decay.
口腔中的酸度被看作是齲齒的一個(gè)重要原因。
When this kind of antibiotic is used, it should be given in large doses.
在使用這種抗菌素時(shí),應(yīng)給予大劑量。
The system of blood, blood vessels, and the heart is termed the circulatory system.
血液系統(tǒng),血管以及心臟被稱為循環(huán)系統(tǒng)。
2.“(遭)受……”
The kidneys are protected by the ribs and their cartilages.
腎臟受到肋骨及其它軟骨的保護(hù)。
Organ transplants are limited by rejection problems.
器官移植受到排異問題的限制。
3.“為(被)……所……”
Helpful bacteria are made use of by man.
有益的細(xì)菌為人類所利用。
His theory on anatomy and surgery has been proved by the medical world.
他的解剖學(xué)、外科學(xué)的理論已被醫(yī)學(xué)界所證實(shí)。
The new methods have been adopted by the other hospitals.
這些新療法已被其它醫(yī)院所采用。
三、有人稱句,無人稱句的翻譯
有一類以“it”為形式主語(yǔ)的句子,在譯文中需改成主動(dòng)形式,有時(shí)不加主語(yǔ),稱為無人稱句;有時(shí)則加上不確定的主語(yǔ),如“人們”“大家”“我們”等,稱為有人稱句。
1.無人稱句
It should be said that the situation is basically sound.
應(yīng)該說,情況基本上是健康的。
It has been proved that the bodys response to a stimulus is controlled by the brain and the spinal cord.
已證明,人體對(duì)刺激的反應(yīng)受大腦和脊髓的控制。
2.有人稱句
It is known that a sponge or a bed bath is usually given to a patient confined to bed.
大家知道,海綿擦浴通常用于臥床病人。
It was declared that the new medicine was effective to cancer.
人們宣稱這種藥對(duì)治療癌癥有效。
四、被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)譯成含有“把”,“使”,“由”的漢語(yǔ)句子
The blood of poisons is cleaned by the artificial kidney.
人工腎把血液中的有毒物質(zhì)清除掉。
His pain has been completely relieved by acupuncture.
針灸使他的疼痛完全消失。
The human skeleton is made up of 206 bones.
人的骨骼由206塊骨頭組成。
五、帶有情態(tài)動(dòng)詞的被動(dòng)結(jié)構(gòu),多譯成漢語(yǔ)的主動(dòng)句
A skin test must be made before injection.
注射前必須先做皮試。
The medical instruments must be handled with great care.
這些醫(yī)療器械的操作要非常小心。
六、主動(dòng)句表示被動(dòng)意義
1.在及物動(dòng)詞need,want,require等詞之后用動(dòng)名詞的主動(dòng)形式表示被動(dòng)意義
The case requires consulting with the other doctors.
此病例需要與其他醫(yī)生會(huì)診。
The instruments want sterilizing.
這些器械要消毒了。
2.某些形容詞之后,用動(dòng)詞不定式的主動(dòng)形式表示被動(dòng)意義
Germs are too small to see without a microscope.
細(xì)菌太小,不用顯微鏡就看不見。
3.在形容詞worth之后用動(dòng)名詞的主動(dòng)形式表示被動(dòng)意義
According to the age of the patient, the operation is worth performing.
從病人的年齡上看,手術(shù)值得一做。
4.有些介詞短語(yǔ)表示被動(dòng)意義
He has been kept under observation for a period of time.
他被留下觀察一段時(shí)間。
Some patients are having an intravenous drip; some are under medical examination.
有些病人在做靜脈滴注,有的在接受治療檢查。
5.get+過去分詞,表示被動(dòng)意義
He got wounded in the battle.
他在戰(zhàn)斗中受傷。
眾所周知,任何醫(yī)學(xué)文獻(xiàn)決不是簡(jiǎn)單的單詞與短句的堆積,更不是生搬硬套,而是按一定的規(guī)律與習(xí)慣組織起來的文章。因此,掌握必要的專業(yè)詞匯是前提。在掌握一定英文詞匯的基礎(chǔ)上,熟悉醫(yī)學(xué)文獻(xiàn)的表述方式和基本內(nèi)容,盡可能采用專業(yè)術(shù)語(yǔ)表達(dá)意思,這樣才能做好醫(yī)學(xué)文章的英語(yǔ)翻譯。
參考文獻(xiàn):
[1]張道真.實(shí)用英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法[M].北京:外語(yǔ)教學(xué)與研究出版社,2002.
[2]蔡郁,汪媛.醫(yī)學(xué)英語(yǔ)綜合教程[M].南京:南京大學(xué)出版社,2010.