Abstract:The English title of a medical paper conveys the connotation and information of the whole article in a highly concise manner. Translators should analyze the structures and features of the source text carefully, and produce an accurate translation while preserving the features of the original titles. Otherwise, mistranslations may occur. Based on an analysis of some mistranslation examples, this paper emphasizes the accuracy and logic of scientific and technological translation.
Keyword:medical paper; English title translation; accuracy;
引 言
Hutchinson 和Waters[1]在English For Specific Purposes一書中首次系統提出ESP(特殊用途英語)的概念,并將其分為EAP(學術用途英語)和EOP(職業用途英語)。在其繪制的英語教學樹狀圖(The Tree Of ELT)中,又將ESP分為科技英語(EST)、商務經濟英語(EBE)和社科英語(ESS),然后將醫學英語歸于EST,即科技英語的范疇。
例1 Perinatal outcomes and central nervous system abnormalities following intrauterine fetal transfusion: 17 years′ experience in a tertiary center (Transfusion,2020,Volume 60,Issue 9)
原譯:胎兒宮內輸血與妊娠結局及中樞神經系統畸形情況——一家三級醫學中心17年來的病例觀察[3]
改譯:宮內胎兒輸血后的圍產期結局和中樞神經系統異常:一家三級醫學中心17年的經驗總結
分析: 翻譯的第一步是分析原文的結構,吃透原文的意思,這樣才能譯得準確。原文中,Perinatal outcomes and central nervous system abnormalities為兩個并列的名詞性短語,following intrauterine fetal transfusion為現在分詞短語作定語,而原譯卻將他們譯為并列的名詞關系,沒有突出原文中的重點,即“圍產期結局和中樞神經系統異常”,而且,還有誤譯,比如,將原文中的Perinatal outcomes(圍產期結局),譯為“妊娠結局”。實際上,“妊娠結局”應譯為“Pregnancy outcome”。另外,原句中intrauterine fetal transfusion應譯為“宮內胎兒輸血”,而不應是“胎兒宮內輸血”,否則,意思就完全搞反了。
例2 Pathogen reduction of double-dose platelet concentrates from pools of eight buffy coats: Product quality, safety, and economic aspects (Transfusion,2020,Volume 60,Issue 9)
分析:原譯可以說完全沒有分析句子結構,對句中的結構主次不分,偏正顛倒,完全譯錯了。原文中的中心詞是Pathogen reduction, 意思是“病原體減少”,或“降低病原體”,而...of double-dose platelet concentrates from pools of eight buffy coats這部分應為定語,而原譯的中心詞卻是“影響”,譯文的結構成了“病原體滅活對……的影響”,而不是原文中的“對……中的病原體的減少”,方向完全搞錯了。而且,原文中的Pathogen reduction譯為“病原體滅活”,不是很準確。“病原體滅活”的正確譯文應為 “Pathogen inactivation”,而reduction的意思是“減少、縮減、弱化”等;inactivation的意思是“使不活動;消除……的活性;使無效”等。為使本句語義清晰,又避免拖沓啰嗦,筆者將此句譯成了疑問句,雖與原結構不同,但突出了“Pathogen reduction”的中心地位,原文的意義和內涵都得以保存。
例3 Use of von Willebrand Factor Concentrate in Inherited von Willebrand Disease: How Often Is It Useful to Add Factor VIII? (Transfusion Medicine Reviews,2020,Volume 34,Issue 2)
例5 Novel intervention with acupuncture for anorexia and cachexia in patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers: a feasibility study
譯文:胃腸道腫瘤患者厭食癥與惡病質的針灸干預新途徑:可行性研究[4]
分析:此句的中心詞為Novel intervention, 后面的with acupuncture, for anorexia and cachexia, in patients, with gastrointestinal tract cancers均可看成是定語,分別修飾前面的名詞,這樣分析,句子結構清晰,意思也就明確了,譯者將Novel intervention譯為“干預新途徑”,實際上是將新干預的內涵顯性化了, 既簡潔又明了。
例6 Five-year Outcome in COPD Patients after Their First Episode of Acute Exacerbation Treated with Non-invasive Ventilation
譯文:COPD患者在應用非創傷性通氣治療第一次急性加重期后的5年預后[5]
分析:此句中的中心詞為Five-year Outcome, 后面的in COPD Patients, after Their First Episode, of Acute Exacerbation以及Treated with Non-invasive Ventilation均為定語,分別修飾前面的名詞,由后向前分析,此句的意思就顯而易見了,譯文仍將Five-year Outcome譯為中心詞“5年預后”,結構清晰,語義明了。
參考文獻
[1] Tom Hutchinson T,Waters A. English For Specific Purposes. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press, 1987:17