科技英语词汇特点

第一节（略） 第二节 Technical and Semi-Technical Words 科技、半科技专业术语

2.1 Technical words 科技专业术语

An ordinary reader or listener may find it difficult to understand the writing or speech composed purely in scientific language. Words used in technical language present the first obstacle to those who have little or no specific knowledge in the related field.

The special vocabulary of EST includes technical and semi-technical terms.

2.1.1 Highly Specialized in Meaning 意义高度专业化

With rapid development of science and technology, new terms are needed to define new phenomena and to explain new things and processes. Often suitable terms have to be invented. Scientists have been extending the vocabularies of their subjects for centuries and each subject has its own store of terms with precise and narrow meanings. For example, stratosphere (同温层), quartz oscillator (石英晶体振荡器), seismology (地震学), polysomic (多倍体的), circumradius (外接圆半径), polystyrene (聚苯乙烯), leukocyte (白细胞), sequoia (红杉), etc. You may find many such kind of words in this book.

2.1.2 The Use of Prefixes and Suffixes 前缀后缀的使用

Many technical terms are made up from Latin or Greek roots with prefixes (前缀) and suffixes (后缀). For example, the word polytetrafluoroethylene (聚四氟乙烯) is made up of five parts: poly- (前缀: 多，复，聚),tetra- (四), fluoro- (氟), ethyl (乙基，乙烷基), and –ene (后缀：烯属烃，苯属烃).

Another example, geoastrophysics (地球天体物理学): geo-(地球), astro- (星，天体，宇宙), physics (物理学). Therefore, knowing the meaning of prefixes and suffixes can help you understand the meaning of the words.

The following are some of the commonly used prefixes and suffixes in EST.

1) Prefixes 前缀

aero-: 空气，大气；气体；飞机；航空

aerobiology (空气生物学，高空生物学); aeronautics (航空学，飞行学); aeromechanics (航空力学)

astro-: 星，天体；宇宙

astrodynamics (天体动力学); astrogeology (天体地质学); astronomy (天文学)

anti-: 反，抗，阻；治，止；防止，中和

antibody (抗体); anticancer(抗癌的); anticorrosive [防(腐)蚀(的)]

auto-: 自动的，自动调整的；自己，本身

autocontrol (自动控制); autoignition (自燃); auto-switch (自动开关)

bio-: 生命；生物；生物学的

biochemistry (生物化学); bioelectricity [生物(电流)]; biosphere (生物圈)

cyber-: 计算机的；互联网的

cyberaddict (网迷); cyberattack (黑客攻击); cyberspace (网络空间)

de-: 离开；去除，减少

deforestation (滥伐森林); desalter (脱盐设备); desensitizer (脱敏药)

di-: 二，二倍，二重；双，联

dioxide (二氧化物); diode (二极管); diproton (双质子)

electro-: 电的；导电的；电解；电子(的)

electroanalysis [电(解)分析]; electrobiology (生物电学); eletromagnetism (电磁，电磁学)

geo-: 地球；土地

geodynamics (地球动力学); geochemistry (地球化学); geoscience (地球科学，地学)

hydro-: 水；氢化的

hydrobiology (水生生物学); hydrocarbon (碳氢化合物); hydrology (水文学)

infra-: 在下(部)；亚，低，外

infra-acoustic [亚(次)声的]; infrared [红外线(的)]; infrahuman (低于人类的动物，类人动物).

in-: 非，无

inactive (非活动性的); inorganic (无机的); instability (不稳定性)

macro- 大， 宏观的

micro-: 小，微；扩大，放大

microcomputer (微型计算机); microorganism (微生物); microscope (显微镜)

mono-: 单，一

monochromator (单色仪); monotreme (单孔目动物); monoxide (一氧化物)

multi-: 多

multiprocessing (多重处理); multipropellant (多元推进剂); multivitamin [多种维生素(的)]

photo-: 光；光电；照相(术)

photoconductor (光电导体，光敏电阻); photochemistry (光化学); photosynthesis (光合作用)

radio-: 放射，辐射；无线电；射线

radiobiology (放射生物学); radiodetection (无线电探测); radioelement (放射性元素)

semi-: 半；部分的，不完全的 （hemi-）

semiconductor (半导体); semifluid (半流质的); semisphere [半球(形)]

sub-: 在...底下；从属；次要；分(支)；近(于)

subcircuit [(分) 支电路]; subcompound (亚化合物); subsonic (亚音速的)

super-: 超，超级

super altitude (超高空), superfluid [超流体(的)], supersonic (超音速)

tele-: 远距离；电信

telecontrol (遥控); telemechanics (遥控机械学，遥控力学); telemetry (远距离测量技术)

thermo-: 热

thermodynamics (热力学); thermo meter (温度计，寒暑表); thermosphere (热大气层) thermos

trans-: 转移；超越

transgene (转基因); translunar (月球外侧的，月球轨道外的); transplant (移植，移栽)

ultra-: 超，过；极端

ultrasonic [超声(音速)的]; ultraviolet (紫外线); ultravirus [超显微(滤过性)病毒]

2) Suffixes 后缀

-fold: ...倍，...重，...次，...方

fivefold (五倍的，五倍地); manifold (多样的，多方面的)

-free : 不...，无... duty-free

ice-free (不冻的); nuclear-free zone (无核区); oil-free (不含油的); static-free (不受静电干扰的)

-gram: 图

spectrogram (光谱图); bathygram [水(海)深图]; electrogram (电记录图)

-cide: 杀灭剂；杀 suicide homicide

insecticide [杀虫(药)剂]; weedicide (除草剂)

-meter: 剂，仪，表

seismometer (地震仪); speedometer (速度计，里程计); multimeter (万用表)

-ology: ...学，...论

cosmology (宇宙学); psychology (心理学); seismology (地震学)

-proof : 不透...的，防...的，抗...的，耐...的

airproof (不透气的); fireproof (耐火的，不燃的); water-proof (防水的)；heatproof [抗(隔、耐)热的]; shockproof (防震的，防电击的) bulletproof

-scope : 用于观察的仪器，镜

microscope (显微镜) telescope (望远镜); spectroscope (分光镜); radioscope (放射镜)

-tight: 不透的

airtight (密封的，不透气的); watertight (不透水的，防水的)

-therapy 治疗方法

thermotherapy 温热疗法 hydrotherapy 水疗法

2.2 Semi-Technical Words 半科技专业术语

There are many words whose use is not confined to scientific and technological contexts, but they form an essential part of EST. They include some words formed from Greek or Latin roots like energy (from Greek) and efficiency (from Latin). However, most of them have been taken from everyday language and given a precise definition for scientific use. In other words, scientists take over these common words and convert them into technical terms by using them in a special way. As a result, the meanings of these words in their technical use are likely to differ from their non-technical meanings, and they may have different precise meanings in different technical fields.

Thus the word ―reaction‖ might in everyday context refer to one's reaction to hearing of an accident that happened to a family member, while in chemistry it might be used to refer to the reaction of ammonia with carbon dioxide to form another kind of substance; in nuclear physics it might refer to a nuclear chain

reaction and in civil engineering it might refer to the reaction of a beam against the weight of a load placed on the beam.

There are plenty of semi-technical words in EST, and the following are a few examples:

• family

一般意义：家，家庭；家属，亲属

【动植物】科

e.g. animals of the cat family (猫科动物)

【化学】【数学】【天文】【地质】族

e.g. the halogen family (卤族); family of functions (函数族)

【语言】语族，语系

e.g. the Indo-European family of languages (印欧语系)

• focus

一般意义：中心，重点

【物理】焦点；焦距；聚光点

e.g. real focus (实焦点); virtual focus (虚焦点); focus coil axis (聚焦线圈轴)

【数学】焦点，中数

【地质】震源，震中

【医学】病灶；疫源点

• force

一般意义：力，力量；力气，精力

【物理】力；力的强度

e.g. force arm (力臂); air force [(空)气动力]; electromotive force (电动势); component of force (分力)

【气象】风力等级

e.g. a 12(th) force typhoon 12 级台风

【计算机】强行置码

• function

一般意义： 功能， 作用；起作用

【数学】函数

e.g. Pure functions are easy for programmers to understand. 对程序员而言纯粹的函数很容易理解。

• mass

一般意义：群众；团，块，堆，片，群

【物理】物质；质量

e.g. the law of conservation of mass (质量守恒定律); mass energy (质能)

【采矿】体

e.g. tabular mass (板状体，层状体); molten mass (熔融体); ore mass (矿体)

• matter

一般意义：事情；问题；事态，情况

【物理】物质

e.g. the motion of matter (物质运动); solid matter (固体); liquid matter (液体)

【医学】物质；脓

e.g. gray matter [灰(白)质]

• power

一般意义：能力；力量；权利；强国

【物理】动力；电力；功率

e.g. horse power (马力); power source (电源); power network (电力网); rated power (额定功率)

【化学】能；能力

e.g. chemical power (化学能); catalytic power (催化能力)

【光学】倍率，放大率；(透镜的)焦强

e.g. 1000-power microscope (千倍显微镜); telescope of high power (高倍望远镜)

【机械】力，动力

e.g. brake power (制动力); power shaft [动力(传动)轴]; power gas (动力气体)

【数学】乘方，幂；指数

e.g. the fourth power of x (x的4次幂)

• work

一般意义：工作；劳动；职业

【物理】功；作功

e.g. available work (可用功); mechanical work (机械功)

【电子】负载

【机械、冶金】工件；机件

e.g. work holder (工件夹具); work lead (工件引线)

【化学】(发酵产生的)泡沫

Exercises

I. Match the prefixes in Column A with the words or word roots in Column B. Then translate the terms into Chinese.

Column A Column B

1. auto- A. conductor

2. bio- B. wave

3. thermo- C. virus

4. geo- D. pilot

5. micro- E. period

6. radio- F. clock

7. photo- G. thermal

8. super- H. operator

9. tele- I. nuclear

10. ultra- J. therapy

II. The following phrases all contain words made up with prefixes and suffixes. Guess the meanings of these words and translate the phrases into Chinese.

1. a doctor engaged in the research of aeromedicine

2. measures to prevent cybercrime

3. a new type of defroster

4. a toy powered by photocells

5. a car equipped with an autoalarm

6. soundproof material

7. a widely applied pesticide

8. an experiment with radiocarbon

9. the development of telecommunication

10. a multi-purpose machine tool

III. Fill in the blank in each sentence with an appropriate prefix or suffix.

1. _______ organic chemistry is the scientific study of chemical substances which do not contain carbon.

2. The core of a nuclear reactor is highly _________ active.

3. _________ therapy is a method of treating people with particular diseases or injuries by making them exercise in water.

4. This kind of drink is recommended to the patient by the doctor because it is caffeine-________.

5. The pilots are guided by an _______ red optical system that shows images clearly even at night.

6. The railway system that has a single rail, or the train that travels along it is technically called __________ rail.

7. _________ dynamics is the science which studies the movement of gases and the way solid bodies, such as aircraft, move through them.

8. According to this report, in the last 50 years there has been a 33-_______ increase in the amount of pesticide used in farming.

9. Opposite to the _______ centric model of the solar system, Copernicus suggested a model in which the sun was central.

10. This kind of material is often used for making tents because it is weather _______; in other words it does not allow wind or rain to go through.

11. The companies are pouring millions of dollars into _______ technology research, especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds.

12. Some types of _________ biotic are used to promote growth in farm animals.

IV. Translate the following terms into Chinese.

1. power station 2. fossil fuel 3. sun spot 4. space probe

5. ball bearing 6. worm gear 7. space shuttle 8. tree ring

9. centrifugal governor 10. cardiac performance

VI. Translate the following sentences into Chinese. Pay attention to the use of semi-technical words.

1. It is obvious that resistance is responsible for heating and lighting effects of many common household appliances.

2. Unless the gas is confined in a rigid container, it will expand, as may be illustrated with a heated balloon.

3. A chemical change is one in which the structure of particles is changed and a new substance is formed.

4. This rapid development of electrical devices and the resulting industry took place during the 19th century, when the nature of electricity was not completely understood.

5. Due care must be taken to ensure that the pulse signal itself shall show no irregularities and no interruptions.

6. It may be safely said that many other materials besides amber could be charged by rubbing.

第三节 Compound Words and Proper Nouns in EST 科技英语中的复合词与专有名词

3.1. Compound Words 复合词

A considerable number of words in EST are compound words (or compounds), which may be written either as a single word (e.g. spaceship), as hyphenated words (e.g. white-hot), or as separate words (e.g. radar chart). The compounds are often used as nouns or adjectives.

3.1.1 Compound Nouns 复合名词

Compound nouns are often composed of the combination of "noun + noun", "adjective + noun", "preposition + noun", etc.

e.g. afterburner [喷气发动机的加力燃烧室，(内燃机的)排气后燃气], airscrew (空气螺旋桨), bloodstream (血流), blueprint (蓝图), camshaft (凸轮轴), database / databank (数据库，资料库), fiberglass

(玻璃纤维), flameout [熄火；(喷气发动机的)停车], gearbox (齿轮箱), greenhouse (温室), rainfall [降水(雨), (降)雨量], shortwave (短波), wavelength (波长), water table (地下水位).

3.1.2 Compound Adjectives 复合形容词

Compound adjectives are frequently based on the composition of "noun + noun", "adjective + noun",

"noun + adjective", "adjective + adjective", "adverb + verb", "noun + verb".

e.g. desk-top (台式的), diesel-powered (用柴油驱动的), electrically-charged (带电荷的), fire-resistant (耐火的，耐高温的), general-purpose (通用的), heavy-type (重型的), long-range (远程的，长期的), high-speed (高速的), flightworthy (具备飞行条件的，适于飞行的), solid-state (固态的), white-hot (白热的).

3.2 The Use of Compound Words in EST Expressions 复合词在科技英语中的使用

Compound words are often adopted by specialists to meet the need for brevity and precision.

For example, they may use "high-speed data communication" instead of "the communication of data at high speed," "advanced gas turbine generator" instead of "a generator of advanced design driven by gas turbines." The following are more examples:

• An electrically-charged emitter end

cf. an emitter end that is charged electrically

• advanced interconnection circuit technology

cf. advanced technology that is used to produce the circuit that connects the components

• highly sophisticated computer-aided-design techniques

cf. techniques which are highly sophisticated because they use computers to aid the designing

• wildlife-related recreation

cf. recreation activities related to wildlife

• $700 million-per-year industry

cf. the industry that turns out products that are worth $700 million every year

• broad-leaved deciduous trees

cf. the deciduous trees with broad leaves

• energy-rich compound

cf. the compound that is rich in energy

• temperate-zone plants

cf. the plants that grow in the temperate zones

• human-created combustion

cf. combustion that is created by human beings

3.3 Proper Nouns 专有名词

Some technical words originate from proper nouns, such as the names of scientists and inventors or the trade marks of products. Some of these words have entered people's life, and are no longer regarded as proper nouns. For example:

ampere [安(培)(源于法国物理和数学家Andre Marie Ampere之姓)]

Bunsen burner [本生灯(源自德国化学家Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen之姓)]

Doppler effect [多普勒效应(源自奥地利物理学家Johann Christian Doppler之姓)]

faraday [法拉第(电量单位)(源自英国化学与物理学家Michael Faraday之姓)]

mackintosh [防水胶布；雨衣(源自苏格兰发明家Charles Rennie Mackintosh之姓)]

Morse code [莫尔斯电码(源自美国发明家Samuel F. B. Morse之姓)]

newton [牛顿(力的单位)(源自英国数学与物理学家Isaac Newton之姓)]

nylon [尼龙(源自商标名)]

orlon [奥纶(源自商标名)]

pasteurize [用巴氏法对…消毒(源于法国化学与生物学家Louis Pasteur之姓)]

volt [伏特(电压单位)(源自意大利物理学家Alessandro Volta之姓)]

watt [瓦特(功率单位)(源自苏格兰发明家James Watt之姓)]

Xerox [静电复印机；静电复印术(源自商标名)]

Zener diode [齐纳二极管，稳压二极管(源自美国物理学家Karl E. Zener之姓)]

Exercises

I. Match the items in Column A with those in Column B to form single words or hyphenated compounds and translate them into Chinese.

Column A Column B

1. heat- A. walk

2. band B. rock

3. stream C. work

4. bed D. state

5. power- E. width

6. space F. retarded

7. water- G. hungry

8. liquid- H. resistant

9. fire- I. cooled

10. net J. lined

II. Use compound expressions to replace the underlined part of the sentences. 2. The radio valves which contained a gas at very low pressure were replaced later by which were much smaller and had a longer life than gas valves. 5. After the collapse of the Roman Empire there was little progress in communications until the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the invention of and the realization of the potentialities in the use of iron.

6. Without the earth would be covered with sterile mineral particles far different from the rich, living soil ecosystems on which we depend for most of our food.

7. When plant cover and surface litter are removed from the land by agriculture or grazing, wind lifts loose soil to another. which carry on the reaction must be controlled.

9. The cause local people to cut down the forests that stabilize mountain soils.

III. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words based on the explanations provided.

1. _____: a tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer often used for making stockings. It is named after the trademark of the product.

2. _____: the SI (International System) unit of electromotive force named after an Italian scientist, which is the difference of potential that would carry one ampere of current against one ohm resistance.

3. _____: a process of partial sterilization, especially one involving heat treatment, thus making the product safe for consumption and improving its keeping quality. It is named after a French scientist.

4. _____: an alphabet or code in which letters are represented by combinations of long and short light or sound signals named after an American inventor.

5. _____: a small adjustable gas burner used in laboratories as a source of heat named after a German scientist.

6. _____: a kind of cloth waterproofed with rubber and originally patented by a Scottish inventor.

7. _____: an increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as the source and observer move towards (or away from) each other. It is named after an Austrian scientist.

8. _____: a kind of machine for copying by xerography named after the trade mark of the product.

9. _____: the SI unit of force named after an English scientist, which is equal to the force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one meter per second.

10. _____: a unit of electric current which is equal to a flow of one coulomb per second named after a French scientist.

第四节 Plural Forms and Abbreviations in EST 科技英语中的复数形式与缩略语

4.1 The Plural Forms复数形式

There are many words in EST of Latin or Greek origin. They often end in -a, -on, -um, -us, etc. The plural forms of these words are different from the regular forms. For example, the plural form of bacterium is bacteria, and the plural form of bacillus is bacilli.

Many, especially those in general use, now only have a regular form (e.g. electron— electrons). Some have alternative plural forms (e.g. spectrum—spectra / spectrums), which are both acceptable. But the Latin or Greek form is more formal.

More examples are provided in the following list.

There is uncertainty with some words as to whether they are singular or plural (e.g. data). For example: This data is correct. These data are correct. Both sentences are acceptable.

4.2 Abbreviations in EST缩略语

缩略法是现代英语构词的主要手段之一，近年来缩略词数量在不断增加。缩略词趋向于任意构词，例如某一篇论文的作者就可以仅在该文中使用的术语组成缩略词，给阅读带来一定的困难。

Abbreviations are widely used in EST for the purpose of achieving conciseness and brevity. Abbreviations in EST are mainly formed in the following ways.

4.2.1 Initials 字母缩略词

Initials are the combination of the first letters of the technical terms or organizations. For example:

CAD = computer-aided design (计算机辅助设计)

CPU = central processing unit [(计算机)中央处理器]

CRO = cathode-ray oscillograph (阴极射线示波器)

IBM = International Business Machines (Corporation) [(美国)国际商用机器公司]

RAR = radio acoustic ranging (无线电声测距)

SRT = system reaction time (系统反应时间)

Some initials are formed on the basis of the first letters of a word's prefix, suffix and combining forms. For example:

DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid (脱氧核糖核酸)

EEG = electroencephalograph (脑电流示波器)

ET = extraterrestrial (外星人，外星生物)

PVC = polyvinylchloride (聚氯乙烯)

Some initials may represent more than one term, and the meanings of such initials depend on the specific fields in which the initials are used.

For example:

IC = integrated circuit [【电子】集成电路] / instruction code [【计算机】指令代码] / interior communications [【通讯】内部通信联络] / ionization chamber [【物理】电离室]

4.2.2 Acronyms 首字母拼音词

An acronym is an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in a technical term and pronounced as a word. Some of them have been used so widely that they have become part of the language and are no longer spelled with the capital letters.

For example:

AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome [艾滋病(获得性免疫缺损综合症)]

alnico = alloy of aluminum, nickel and cobalt (铝镍钴合金)

comsat = communication + satellite (通信卫星)

Dovap = Doppler velocity and position (多普勒测速和定位系统)

NASA = National Aeronautic and Space Administration [(美国)国家航空航天局]

laser = light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (激光，激光器)

Intelsat = International Telecommunication Satellite (Consortium) [国际通信卫星(组织)]

maglev = magnetically levitated train (磁悬浮列车)

Maser = microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation [微波激射(器)]

nukes = nuclear weapons (核武器)

radar = radio detecting and ranging [雷达(无线电探测及测距技术)]

radwaste = radioactive waste (放射性废物)

skylab = sky laboratory (天空实验室)

sonar = sound navigation ranging [声纳(声波导航及测距技术)]

UNIVAC = universal automatic computer (通用自动计算机)

4.2.3 Blends 截短词

Sometimes parts of the words in a technical term are blended to form a new word. For example:

smog = smoke + fog (烟雾)

ecosys = ecology + system (生态系统)

modem = modulator + demodulator (调制解调器)

transistor = transfer + resistor (晶体管)

Exercises

I. Fill in the blanks with the words listed below, all of which have Latin or Greek origin. Choose the appropriate words and pay attention to the singular and plural forms of the words.

alga bacillus bacterium criterion fungus formula

larva nephridium nucleus octahedron oleum omentum

phenomenon radius stratus medium spectrum stratum

1. It is reported that ______ in drinking water spread the illness.

2. The colors of the visible ______—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet — can be seen in a rain bow.

3. This circle has a ______ of 30 cm.

4. _____ usually grow on other plants or on decaying matter.

5. DNA is stored in the _____ of a cell.

6. We have changed the _____ of the washing powder in order to improve its quality.

7. Gravity is a natural _____.

8. _____ are very simple, usually small plants, such as seaweed, that grow in or near water and do not have ordinary leaves or roots.

9. The _____ of butterflies and moths are called caterpillars.

10. An aquifer is a water-bearing rock _____ such as sandstone or chalk.

II. Match the abbreviations in Column A with their Chinese equivalents in Column B and write the complete terms in English.

Column A Column B

1. CD-ROM A. 核糖核酸

2. ENT B. 图像显示终端

3. RNA C. 微波着陆系统

4. UFO D. 人工智能

5. MLS E. 紫外线

6. VDT F. 光盘只读存储器

7. PC G. 计算机辅助制造

8. UV H. 不明飞行物

9. CAM I. 个人计算机

10. AI J. 耳鼻喉(科)

III. Translate the following sentences into Chinese. Pay attention to the use of the abbreviations.

1. The above theorems and laws hold true for DC as well as for AC circuits.

2. In the United States the customary voltage for household use has become 110-120 V since it was discovered

that higher voltages could cause fatal accidents.

3. The Model 4500 Panel printer, as the machine is called, can make one-inch-thick, color LCD screens up to 18

inches diagonal in size.

4. This generator can produce steam at a rate of 200,000 lb/hour.

5. The structure of the ionosphere is variable and this means that the frequency limits for HF radio

communications fluctuates.

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