Chinese-English Chemical Translation

General Rules & Skills

化学类文章中译英基本要求

文章主要标题性内容的译法：

基本书写要求：

1.         尽量使用简单的陈述句或祈使句，避免使用任何复杂的从句。

   2.         如果中文句子很长，尽量将其分为短句，但应注意各个短句之间的逻辑关系。

哪些内容需要翻译？

1.         从文章标题开始，到“参考资料”结束，所有信息都必须一字不漏地翻译出来，包括作者、地址、编号、图片、注释等。

2.         有些文章正文之外的内容怎么办？比如第一页左下角常常会有“作者简介”或“收文日期”等信息，这类信息可以提到译文最后部分（在“参考资料”）来翻译。“注释”之类也可以这样处理。

3.         关于原文中已经翻译成英文的 Abstract：几乎每篇发表过的化学文章，其“摘要”部分实际都已翻译成了英文。是否可以直接使用这个英文的 Abstract 呢？这个要视情况而定。有些译文很漂亮，当然可以直接用。但是大部分时候，译者并不是专业的翻译人员，其语言流畅度很有问题。在这种情况下，就应重新翻译“摘要”，而仅仅借鉴其原译文中的某些术语了。

 

关于术语表：

每篇化学文章在开始翻译之前，都应建立一个有针对性的术语表，这样一是可以保证整篇文章术语的统一性，另外一方面也可以提高正式翻译时的速度，避免因反复查找术语而打乱翻译思路。

英文化学文章的遣词造句：

摘要部分的书写风格：

以堆砌简单陈述句为主，比如：

A method for …is designed and a formula of … is optimized;

A test of …. is carried out thus to study/determine the relationship between….

The analysis data confirms that….

一下是一个完整段落的实例：

Abstract: Double Metal Cyanide Complexes catalysts based on Zn₃ [Co(CN)₆]₂ were prepared, its characteristics in catalysis of Cyclohexene Oxide / Carbon Dioxide copolymerization were investigated, and the influence of the types of the complexing agent and zinc halide on the catalytic performance and the product composition were also studied. The results showed that these catalysts can catalyze copolymerization reaction effectively. The catalytic efficiency could reach over 6000 g/g when the catalyst content was at 1.8×10^-4, and the products were confirmed to be nearly-alternative copolymers by FT – IR and ¹H NMR. The effects of complexing agent and zinc halide (ZnX₂, X = F, Cl, Br, I) on catalytic performance were studied. The catalytic efficiency was influenced by the types of complexing agent and zinc halide employed in preparation of catalysts. However, the composition of copolymers was only influenced by the types of the zinc halide. Among those complexing agents and zinc halides investigated, tert-butyl alcohol and ZnCl₂ were preferred choices respectively. The kinetic study indicated that the initial reaction rate of copolymerization exhibited first order against the catalysts’ concentration, and the average activation energy of copolymerization was 41.6 kl/mol.

前言部分的书写方法：

这部分语言比较复杂，要求有较高英文写作水平，造句方式没有定势。

原材料描述部分的书写方法：

罗列原材料时，不使用完整句子，全部是没有谓语的短语，比如：

中文：环氧丙烷：分析纯，上海试剂 1 厂

译文：PO (Propylene Oxide): analytically pure, manufactured by Shanghai No.1Reagent Plant;

整段实例：

Raw Materials & Reagents: PO (Propylene Oxide): analytically pure, manufactured by Shanghai No.1Reagent Plant; DMC (Double Metal Cyanide) Catalyst: laboratory-made; Initial reagent: PL-400 and PL-1000 of Polyether-polyol, manufactured by Plant No.3 of Shanghai Gaoqiao Petroleum Industry Company, Industrial products; Chelate: PL-400 and PL-1000 of Polyether-polyol, manufactured by Plant No.3 of Shanghai Gaoqiao Petroleum Industry Company, Industrial products; TBA, Industrial product.

制备过程的描述方法：

以直接陈述为主，如：Put…into…, stir the mixture for …hours, then add …g water into the products.

整段实例：

Gradually pour 20ml of K₃Co (CN)₆-H₂O-TBA mixture for a continuous 30-120 min into 10ml of ZnCl₂-H₂O-TBA mixture which is being stirred quickly, to keep the reaction going for 30-120 min, and maintain the temperature at around 50℃. The white sediment of such process shall be separated by means of filtering or centrifuging before been rinsed with TBA-H₂O solution. White blocks of Co-Zn DMC catalyst may be obtained after the rinsed sediment is processed in a vacuum dyer at around 50℃ for 5-10 h.

部分典型句型：

原文：将 2 克 A 物质加入 30 ml B 溶液

译文：Put 2g A into 30 ml solution B

原文：加入 2 克 A 物质

译文：Add in 2g A

原文：在压力为 100 帕斯卡，温度为 230 ℃ 条件下，连续搅拌 A 物质 3 个小时

译文：With the air pressure under 100 Pa and the temperature at 230℃, stir A for 3 hours.

原文：即可得到 40 克纯度为 30%、不饱和度为 80 的 D 物质

译文：40 g D (purity at 30%, unsaturation degree at 80) is then obtained.

原文：产品的曲挠性能使用 Scott 型曲挠疲劳试验机按 GB/T 13934-1992 测定

译文：The bending property of the product is determined on the bending fatigue test machine (model: Scott) according to the Standard GB/T 13934-1992.

原文：用XXX程序对试验结果进行回归分析，得到如图 3 所示的 A 物质与 B 物质的关系曲线。

译文：Regression analysis is carried out on the test results by using the XXX program, and the curve for the relation between A & B is drawn out as shown in Figure 3.

原文：A 物质与 B 物质之间的关系见下图。

译文：For the relation between A and B, see the following diagram.

长句的处理方式：

一个很长的中文句子，我们必须把它处理成多个逻辑结构清晰的短句子，然后再进行翻译，比如：

原句：

从各种卤化锌制备的催化剂的组成来看，催化剂中各种组分含量的差异不大，但催化效率却差异很大，催化效率与组分的含量没有明显的相关性，因此催化效率应主要决定于能能形成的实际有效的催化活性中心的数量及种类，而对于同种卤化锌制备的催化剂中各组分含量与催化效率的关系尚待研究。

修改后：

从各种卤化锌制备的催化剂的组成来看，催化剂中各种组分含量的差异不大，但催化效率却差异很大。

这就是说，催化效率与组分的含量没有明显的相关性。

因此，催化效率应主要决定于能能形成的实际有效的催化活性中心的数量及种类。

对于同种卤化锌制备的催化剂中各组分含量与催化效率的关系，尚待进一步研究。