Филологические науки/6. Актуальные проблемы перевода.

Старший преподаватель Бахтияр И.

Алматы Менеджмент Университет, Казахстан

Modeling of Passive Voice Translation in technical texts (Oil and Gas Sphere)

A technical text is not a term defined in a theory. It is a notion in everyday use, which is generally understood to contain little or nonfigurative language. It is a meaning of an introduction or a summary setting out the content, focused on its topic, which is an orderly and logical presentation of ideas with domain-specific terminologies according to the Huo Fuli’s theory [1, p26]. So in the process of the translation from Chinese into English it is very important to study the peculiarities of the informative and the technical texts in both languages because it plays a decisive role to give the information of the techniques and especially makes the translation from source language into the target language much more equivalent.

Technical translation has long been regarded as the ugly duckling of translation, especially in academic circles. Not particularly exciting or attractive and definitely lacking in the glamour and cachet of other types translation, technical translation is often relegated to the bottom division of translation activity and regarded as little more than an exercise in specialized terminology and subject knowledge. Indeed, these factors, particularly subject knowledge, have in some quarters led to technical translation being feared and loathed, like a modern-day barbarian of the linguistic world.

That technical translation has traditionally been regarded as the poor cousin of “real” translation in the literature is clear. This vocational and industrial type of translation has been largely neglected in the literature on translation theory. The work that has been done in this area has largely been restricted to terminological issues or technical issues (e.g. translation memories or machine translation, etc.) or needs to be updated to reflect the modem realities of technical translation [2, p.12]. However, technical translation is a much more promising an avenue of theoretical investigation than many suspect. Indeed, it’s inevitable roots in commercial translation and technical communication have served to make this an even more rich and complex area than previously believed.

The wide use of passive voice is considered to be one of the outstanding features of the English language, especially in its scientific works.

And the following is a typical example:

As oil is found deep in the ground its presence cannot be determined by a study of the surface. Consequently, a geological survey of the underground rock structure must be carried out. If it is thought that the rocks in a certain area contain oil, a “drilling rig” is assembled.

The most obvious part of a drilling rig is called “a derrick”. It is used to lift sections of pipe, which are lowered into the hole made by the drill. As the hole is being drilled, a steel pipe is pushed down to prevent the sides from falling in. If oil is struck a cover is firmly fixed to the top of the pipe and the oil is allowed to escape through a series of valves.

Chinese Version: 由于石油深埋地下，靠研究地面，不能确定石油的有无。因此对地下岩层结构必须进行地质探测。如果认为某地区的岩层含石油，则在该处安装“钻机”。钻机中最显眼的部件叫“井架”。井架用来吊升分节油管，把油管放入钻头打出的孔中。当孔钻成时，放入钢管防止孔壁坍塌。

如发现石油，则在油管顶部加盖，使石油通过一系列阀门流出。

In this short section of 14 predicate verbs, the passive accounts for 13. Generally speaking, English passive voice is preferable in the following cases:

1. When the active subject is unknown or cannot be readily stated, e.g.

Rome was not built in a day.

2. When the actor (or doer of the action) is known but need not be mentioned, e.g.

Visitors are requested not to touch the exhibits.

3. When the actor is emphasized for some special purpose, e.g.

The three machines can be controlled by a single operator.

4. When the passive structure is used as a stylistic device to avoid the incoherence of structure shifting, e.g.

John was a lawyer’s son and was destined to the bar.

The passive voice is used when focusing on the person or thing affected by an action in EST. It is often used in EST where the object of the action is more important than those who perform the action. For Example:

We have produced over 20 million tone oil in the past two years.

Changes to:

Over 20 million tone oil has been produced in the past two years.

(Although these two sentences have the same meaning, they differ in word order and thus should be used in different context. The second one that emphasizes the “action” but not the “actor, is better for EST.)

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is neither a do-er nor be-er, but is acted upon by some other agent or by something unnamed. If the agent (the performer of the action) is important, use "by" For Example:

The impermeable layer prevents the further migration of petroleum.

Changes to:

Further migration of petroleum is prevented by the impermeable layer.

The passive voice is especially helpful (and even regarded as mandatory) in EST such as scientific or technical writing or lab reports, where the actor is not really important but the process or principle being described is of ultimate importance. Science and technology documents put emphasize on recounting and reasoning. The readers pay their attention on the ideas and contents in the texts. In order to achieve objectivity, the passive voice is widely used in EST. In accordance with the different language situation, the passive sentence can be translated flexibly into the active form or just be kept in passive form. In Chinese, the passive voice usually is expressed by “把” and “被”. The passive voice in Chinese is less commonly wider used in comparison with the English on account of the flexible syntax of the Chinese language. Therefore, when dealing with English-Chinese translation, we should avoid sticking to the original pattern, and try to convert the passive voice into various “active” patterns.

2.3.1 The Passive Structure Remaining Unchanged

In this conversion, there are two circumstances:

First, in order to emphasize the original passive meaning, the original passive sentence will keep its passive voice in Chinese version. We should add some words which carry passive meaning, such as “被” “受” “得到” “以” “加以” “予以” “为…所…” and so on. E.g.:

The discovery is highly appreciated in the circle of Petroleum Exploration. 这一发现在油气勘探业得到很高的评价。

This phenomenon is known as “water coning” and is induced by high rates of production. 这种现象就是通常所说的“水锥”， 它是由于采油速度过高引起的。

The finished products must be carefully inspected before delivery. 成品在出厂前必须予以仔细检查。

Second, the subject together with the predicate is translated into the subject of the translated text. E.g.

Attention must be paid to environmental protection in developing oil industry.

发展石油工业必须注意保护环境。

Литература:

1. Huo Fuli Reading and translation practice of English Scientific-technical texts. Beijing: New Time Press, 2004. – 168p

2. Pinchuck I. Scientific and Technical Translation. London: Andre Deutsch, 1955. – 223p

3. Yan Junren Techniques of English Technical Translation. Beijing: Industrial Press, 2000. – 297p