On the Essential Qualities for Translators of English for Science and echnology

張敏

【Abstract】With the rapid development of science and technology，the need for the exchange in this field is becoming more and more frequent and urgent. We need to explore more in the field of English for Science and Technology （EST for short） translation and the training of translators.

【Key Words】English for Science and Technology； characteristics； training of translators

The famous scientist Qian Sanqiang pointed out years ago that the translation of English for Science and Technology had become a specialized new field of modern English in the world. It has been estimated that technical translation accounts for 90% of the worlds total translation output each year （Kingscott 2002：247）. However， EST translators currently do not necessarily receive the training. Professional translators with high qualities are still in short supply and the situation calls for new requirements for translators of EST.

1.Chapter One The Stylistic Features of EST and its Translation

EST arises from a new academic style， and it is a branch of academic English in English for Special Purposes（referred to as ESP）which has evolved its own laws and features in the long-term development process. These features are illustrated as follows.

1.1 The lexical features

EST mainly owns 4 stylistic features， which are specialization， more Greek and Latin morpheme， more abbreviations and compound words.

1.2 The syntactical features

First of all， passive voice and more complex sentences are very prevalent in EST. Moreover， EST uses impersonality and long sentences for accurate description of things. Rhetorical devices like exaggeration， personification and so on are rarely used so as to prevent readers from feeling distorted.

1.3 The EST translation

EST translation is often regarded as a professional， practical type of translation， what makes the translation of EST different from others is the uniqueness in the processing of words. The translation of literary works calls for the unification of form and art， while the translation of EST pursues the unification of form and logic.

2.Chapter Two The Requirements for Translators of EST

2.1 A wide and professional scope of scientific knowledge

It is said that in order to be a good translator， you need to be an expert in a highly specialized field. Translation is a purposeful activity involving a variety of background knowledge， so a wide and professional scope of scientific knowledge is of great importance in EST translation practice.endprint

2.2 A good mastery of the translation skills

EST translation involves a detailed knowledge of the source and target cultures， language conventions and style， translators are supposed to have a good mastery of the translation skills. Furthermore， translators ought to get to know some translation principles.

2.3 The ability to convert the scientific language

Translators need to deal with texts which are identical to those produced by technical writers working in the target language （Fishbach 1998：2）. Consequently， translators ought to focus on the style of EST so as to convert the scientific language successfully.

3.Chapter Three The Training of Translators of EST

It's a must to provide training in EST translation to ensure that translators acquire some qualities. A translator must be well equipped in two aspects.

On the one hand， he must be armed with adequate academic and technical knowledge， which is the guarantee for his efficient work. We should also strengthen the training of teachers and reform the curriculum of English in colleges and universities. On the other hand， we are supposed to improve the comprehensive abilities of translators of EST. They ought to increase the reading quantity and enrich their knowledge. It is also essential to keep pace with the times， in order to meet the demand of society. Translators had better read various journals， accumulate relevant knowledge of terminology over time and summarize translation skills in EST translation.

4.Conclusion

During the process of translation， we are supposed to grasp and apply what we have learned into practice flexibly and ponder over the rules and endeavor to be efficient and productive in EST translation. This has implications for the training of translators. Translation must reach out to other disciplines and novel thinking.

Bibliography：

[1]Byrne，Jody. Technical Translation[M].Springer-Verlag New York Inc.2006.

[2]楊春華，陳剛，于海俠.科技英語的特點[J].中國西部科技. 2011（11）.

[3]楊會軍.科技翻譯人員綜合素質的培養與提高[J].上海翻譯.2006（02）.endprint