stylistics scientific English 8 科技英语文体特征.ppt

English of Science and Technology I. Basic requirements Objectivity Clarity and accuracy Formality in style II. Lexical Features 1. Specific use of highly-technical words 2. Wide use of semi-technical words e.g. transmission operation 3. Unique use of non-technical words and expressionse.g. determine (find out) construct (build) convert (change) tension (tighten) ignite (set fire to) extract (draw out) 4. Prefixation and suffixation anti- micro- macro- hyper- / hypo- -logy -ics Compare the following two passages: What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how express and admirable! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a God! The beauty of the word! The paragon of animals! Man is vertebrate(脊椎动物), pentadactyl(有五指/趾的), mammalian, primate(灵长目动物)… The main outline of each of his principal system of organs may be traced back, like those of other mammals, to the fishes. II. Grammatical Features 1. Preference for impersonal sentence patterns (passive structure and anticipatory “it”) e.g. 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 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. 2. Wide use of non-finite structure and prepositional phrases e.g. Vibrating objects produce sound waves, each vibration producing one sound wave. e.g. Numerical control machines are most useful when quantities of products to be produced are low or medium; the tape containing the information required to produce the parts can be stored