Contents
Abstract and Key words (1)
1.Introduction (2)
2. Categories of Prepositions (2)
2.1. English prepositions classified according to their structures (2)
2.2. Prepositions classified according to their meanings (3)
3. Functions and Meanings of Prepositions (3)
3.1. Indicating simple positions (3)
3.2. Indicating opposite positions (4)
4. The Importance of Prepositions (5)
4.1 (5)
4.2 (5)
4.3 (5)
4.4 (5)
4.5 (6)
5. Methods of Translating Prepositions (7)
5.1. L iteral translation (7)
5.2. Conversion (7)
5.3. Omission (8)
5.4. Inverse translation (8)
6. Methods of Translating Prepositional Phrases (8)
6.1. Distinguishing grammatical functions (9)
6.2. Choosing proper translation methods (9)
7. Conclusion (10)
Acknowledgements (11)
Bibliography (12)
Abstract：In recent years, many researches have been done and published in translation and there have been some new concepts and methods developed from the researches on the translation of prepositions in English for science and technology (EST). This paper mainly discusses the methods of translating prepositions in EST, namely literal translation、conversion、omission and inverse translation. It begins with a relatively systematical analysis which is used to introduce the preposition and the prepositional phrase and their function and meanings. A large number of examples are offered to illustrate different methods. Finally a conclusion is given to indicate the main points.
Key words：Preposition; prepositional phrase; translation method; English for science and technology (EST).
The Translation of Prepositions in English for Science and Technology (EST)
科技英语中的介词翻译
1. Introduction
For years, many studies have been done on the issue of the translation of prepositions and prepositional phrases and some effective theoretical analyses have been used in translation. From the past literature, it is found that this field of study has become more and more important and many people, not only linguists, but also language teachers and learners have been involved in the study. Bases on many of the above researches, this paper entitled “The Translation of Prepositions in English for Science and Technology”focuses on the methods of translating prepositions and prepositional phrases, namely, literal translation, conversion, omissions and inverse translation. In order to master the methods, it is indispensable for us to know what a preposition is and what is its function, etc. By and large “A preposition is a word that shows the relation generally between a noun (or noun equivalent) and some other words in the sentence. It may show the relation of a noun to a noun\of a noun to an adjective\of a noun to a verb.”(Xu Liwu, 1980) Secondly, the complexity of the functions and meanings of prepositions requires us to translate them very carefully according to contexts. Specifically, our discussion begins from the categories of prepositions.
2. Categories of Prepositions
English prepositions can be categorized according to their structures. In addition to simple prepositions (single prepositions), there are also compound prepositions (two-word prepositions) and prepositional phrases. In Chinese, prepositions are usually one-syllable words, except a few two-syllable or multi-syllable prepositions. So they are usually not categorized according to structure. But in whether English or Chinese, they can be categorized according to their meanings by using more or less the same classification method.
2.1. English prepositions classified according to their structures
1). simple prepositions, namely single prepositions: on、in、at、for、with、
after, etc.
2). compound prepositions formed by two prepositions: into、onto、inside、
as for、as to、out of , etc.
3). double prepositions formed by two prepositions but not as fixed as
compound prepositions: from under、from behind、from among、until after,
etc.
4). participle prepositions formed by participles: concerning、regarding、
considering、including, etc.
5). phrasal prepositions formed by phrases, usually classified into four kinds.
a. v+ prep : act on…、make for…、call for…、conform with…etc.
b. adj + prep : due to…、afraid of…、full of…、familiar with…et
c.
c. adv + prep : apart from…、along with…. etc.
d.prep + n + prep : in comparison with…、in accordance with…etc.
(Mao Zhengkan, 1987)
2.2. Prepositions classified according to their meanings
1). indicating a location (including a trend): about、above、across、after、along、
among、around、at、before、behind、below、beneath、beside、between、
beyond、by、from、in、into、near、off、on、over、through、throughout、
to、towards、under、up、with、within、without, etc.
2). indicating time: about、after、around、as、at、before、behind、between、
by、during、from、in、into、on、over、past、since、through、throughout、
till、until、to、within, etc.
3). indicating obviation: besides、but、except, etc.
4). indicating comparison: as、like、over, etc.
5). indicating disagreement or approval: against、for、with, etc.
6). indicating reason or purpose: for、with、from, etc.
7). indicating a result: to、with, etc.
8). indicating means: by、with, etc.
9). indicating belongingness: of 、with, etc.
10). indicating a condition: on、without、considering, etc.
11). indicating concession: despite、in spite of , etc.
12). expressing the meaning of “about”: about、concerning、regarding、with
conversion翻译方法的定义regard to、as for、as to, etc.
13). expressing the meaning of “to”: to、for、at, etc.
14). expressing the meaning of “according to”: on、according to, etc.
15). expressing other meanings: without, etc. (Bo Bin, 2002)
3. Functions and Meanings of Prepositions
From the angle of translation, the basic purpose of the study of the prepositions is to understand the meanings of prepositions in various contexts, so as to make the translation of prepositions accurate. But the meanings of prepositions are so abundant that we can not know all of them and even the essential part of them clearly overnight. Therefore, here only take prepositions indicating direction for example.
3.1. Indicating simple positions (Randolph.Quirk, 1974)
1). She went to the station.
2). She is on the floor.
3). The machine is out of the room.
3.2.Indicating opposite positions
1). direction
The factory stands in (on, to) the south of our school. (Xing Xiuxiang, 1985)
2). more specific positions
a. before or back
(1). She is sitting before (behind) us.
(2). There is an old pine tree in front of the house.
b. above or below
(1). T heir laboratory is right over ours.
(2). T heir laboratory is above ours.
(3).The river below the bridge is thirty meters deep.
(4).The river under the bridge is thirty meters deep.
c. straight-line motion direction
(1). I met her as I was going up the hill.
(2). W e walked down the stairs.
(3). T he ship sails up (down) the stream.
(4). T he road runs along (across) the railway.

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