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Unit 8 the Passive Voice
The
wide
use
of
the
passive
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:
in
a
short
section with 14 predicate verbs, the
passive accounts for 13.
Original
English:
As oil
is found
deep in the ground its presence cannot
be determined
by a study
of the surface. Consequently, a
geological survey of underground rock structure
must be carried
out. If
it
is thought t
hat 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 t
o 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，靠研究地表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，把油管放入由钻头打出的孔中
。当孔钻
成时，
放入钢管防止孔壁坍塌。
如发现石油，
则在油管顶部紧固地加盖，让石油通过一系
列阀
门流出。
More instances of the
passive voice may be found from Practical
Translation Training. As we may
see
from it, the passive voice occurs 11times in a
passage of 360 words.
?
The standardized educational or
psychological tests that
are widely
used
to
…
< br>标准化的教育
或心理测试
广泛用以??
< br>。
?
…
that can
be
measured
will reasonable precision.
能
测量出
合理的精确度。
?
All
…
are
base
d upon some knowledge of relevant
past performance.
都
基于
一些有关过去
表现的了解。
?
How well the
predictions
will be validated
b
y later performance.
这些预测在多
大程度上为
后来的表现
所证实
。
?
The
skill and wisdom with which it
is
interpreted.
用
以解释
这些信息的技能和才智。
?
In
general,
the
tests
work most
effectively
when
the
qualities
to
be measured
can
be more
precisely defined
and least
effectively when what is to
be measured
or predicted
canno
t be
well defined.
一般来说，当
< br>所要测定
的特征能很
精确地界定时
，测试最为有效；而当
所
要测定或预测的
东西不能
明确地界定时
，测试的效果则最差。
?
Properly
used,
they provide
…
如果测试
使用恰当，
它们可以提供。
。
。
。
。
。
?
…
students whose high
potential
has not been previously
recognized
以前没有被公认
的很
有潜力的学生。
As we
know from its grammar, English passive voice is
used to indicate an unknown subject, for
the purpose of emphasis, or for the
sake of stylistic device, as shown in the
following cases:
﹝
1
﹞
When the active subject is unknown
or cannot be readily stated, for example:
?
We
are kept
strong and well by
clean air.
洁净的空气使我们身体健康。
﹝
2
﹞
When
the actor (doer of the action) is known but need
not be mentioned , for example:
?
Visitors
are requested
no to touch the
exhibits.
观众请勿触摸展品。
﹝
3
﹞
When the
actor is emphasized for some special purpose, for
example:
?
The
three machines
can be controlled
by a single operator.
这三台机器可以由一个人单独
操纵。
﹝
4
﹞
Whe
n the passive structure is used as a stylistic
device to avoid the incoherence of structure
shifting, for example:
1
?
John was a
lawyer
’
s son and
was destined
to the
bar.
约翰是律师的儿子，注定要当律师。
Compared
with
English,
Chinese
has
less
passive
structures.
Therefore,
in
English-Chinese
translation, we should try to convert
the passive into various
“
ac
tive
”
patterns instead of
sticking
to the English patterns.
Ⅰ
. The Passive
Voice in English-Chinese Translation
The following are usual
methods of translating English sentences in the
passive voice.
1. Converting the
Passive Voice into the Active
﹝
1
﹞
Keeping the Original Subject Unchanged
?
The whole
country was armed in a few days.
几天之内全国就武装起来了。
?
The sense of
inferiority that he acquired in his youth has
never been totally eradicated.
他在
青少年时期留下的自卑感还远远没有完全消除。
?
Every moment of
every day, energy is being transformed from one
form into another.
每时每
刻，能量都在由
一种形式变为另一种形式。
﹝
2
﹞
Changing Original Object into
Subject
?
By the
end of the war 800 people had been saved by the or
ganization.
到大战结束时，
这个组
织拯救了
800
人。
?
A new way of
displaying time has been given by electronics.
电子技术提供了一种新的显示
时间的方法。
?
Communications
satellites are used for international live
transmission throughout the
word.
全世界都将通信卫星用于国际间的实况转播。
﹝
3
﹞
Chang
ing the Passive into the Predicative Verb
“
是
”
?
The picture was
painted by Professor
Smith.
这幅画是史密斯教授画的。
?
The house was
built of wood in
1985.
这座房子是
1985
年用木头修建的。
?
The volume is
not measured in square millimeters. It is measured
in cubic millimeters.
体积
不是以平方
毫米计量的，而是以立方毫米计量的。
﹝
4
﹞
Adding a Proper Subject
to Make the Chinese Version Smooth
?
To
explore
the
moon
’
s
surface,
rockets
were
launched again
and
again.
为了探测月球的
表
面，人们一次又一次地发射火箭。
?
Salt is known
to have a very strong corroding effect on metals.<
/p>
大家知道，盐对金属有很强
的腐蚀作用。
?
It is well
known that smoking is harmful to the health.
众所周知，吸烟有害健康。
2
．
Converting the
Passive Voice into a Subjectless Sentence
Omission
of
the
subject
is
one
of
the
typical
features
of
Chinese
syntax.
Therefore,
in
the
practice
of
English-Chinese
translation,
we
may
translate
the
passive
voice
into
a
Chinese
subjectless sentence.
?
The unpleasant
noise must be immediately put to an
end.
。必须立即终止这种讨厌的噪声。
?
Attention has
been paid to the new measures to prevent
corrosion.
已经注意到采取防腐新
措施
?
Best surface
finish is provided by machining method, especially
by grinding.
用机械加工方
法，特别是磨削，可
以获得最佳表面光洁度。
3. Keeping the
Passive Structure Unchanged
Sometimes,
we
may
keep
the
passive
voice
unchanged,
especially
when
it
comes
to
something unpleasant. And
the following are some typical patterns.
2
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