Usage of Verbs in E-C Translation

In English for science and technology, nouns (or noun phrases) derived from verbs and prepositional phrases with the meaning of verbs are quite common. They make contribution to the objectivity of the text as they lay emphasis on the receiver of the action, the object.

Nouns derived from verbs (nominalization) expresses passive meaning without passive form. It can be seen as a variation of passive structure.
e.g.

(1) Operation on standard computers – be operated on standard computers

(2) Automatic registration of new ID address on FIDS Server after connection to DDS – new ID address being automatically registered on FIDS Server after being connected to DDS

Prepositional phrases with the meaning of verbs make contribution of the conciseness and objectivity of the text.
e.g.

(3) Flight overview displays with additional information – Flight overview displays offering additional information

(4) And schedule automatic e-mail reports for full, detailed accounts of printing usage – And schedule automatic e-mail reports to obtain full, detailed accounts of printing usage

However, in Chinese, verbs are more often used to express the same meaning. If the form of nominalization or prepositional phrases in English-Chinese translation has not been changed, the translated words or sentences will be quite awkward.
e.g.

(1) Operation on standard computers – 标准电脑操作

(5) Ensure detailed breakdown of MFP usage – 确保详细的 MFP 使用分类

(3) Flight overview displays with additional information – 更多附加信息的航班概述显示

(4) And schedule automatic e-mail reports for full, detailed accounts of printing usage – 并为完整、详细的打印使用账目编制自动电子邮件报告
In English-Chinese translation, nouns (or noun phrases) derived from verbs and prepositional phrases with the meaning of verbs can be transformed into verbs so that the translated version could be more fluent and accurate.

1. Translation of nouns (or noun phrases) derived from verbs
Nouns (or noun phrases) derived from verbs can be translated into verbs:

(1) Operation on standard computers – 标准电脑操作
– 在标准计算机上运行

(2) Automatic registration of new ID address on FIDS Server after connection to DDS

– 在连接 至 DDS 后，自动在 FIDS 服务器上注册新的 ID。

(5) Ensure detailed breakdown of MFP usage – 确保详细的 MFP 使用分类

– 确保对 MFP 用量进行详细分解

2. Translation of prepositional phrases with the meaning of verbs

Prepositional phrases with the meaning of verbs can also be translated into verbs:

(3) Flight overview displays with additional information

– 附加信息的航班概述显示

– 提供其他信息的航班概述显示

(4) And schedule automatic e-mail reports for full, detailed accounts of printing usage

– 并为完整、详细的打印使用账目编制自动电子邮件报告

– 并制订自动电子邮件报告日程，获取完整、详细的打印量账目

(6) Vendor independence by Design – 设计的供应商独立性

– 根据设计划分的供应商独立性

(7) DHCP Support for DJACO – DJACO 的 DHCP 支持

– 用于 DJACO 的 DHCP 支持

Read Also: How to improve readability of your translation (C-E Translation)

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