9. TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC TEXTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel and causes pain, numbness and tingling, in the part of the hand that receives sensation from the median nerve. Pain may extend up the arm leading to discomfort extending to the shoulder and forearm. The mechanism of injury is compression; there are a variety of contributing factors. Some of the individual predisposing factors include: diabetes, obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, and a narrow-diameter carpal tunnel. CTS may also result from an injury that causes internal scarring or mis-aligned wrist bones. Occupational causes involve use of the hand and arm, such as heavy manual work, work with vibrating tools, and highly repetitive tasks even if they involve low force motions.

La sindrome del tunnel carpale è una neuropatia dovuta all'irritazione o alla compressione del nervo mediano nel suo passaggio attraverso il canale carpale. La sindrome è dovuta più frequentemente all'infiammazione cronica della borsa tendinea dei flessori (tenosinovite), che comprime il nervo mediano. Può manifestarsi in corso di gravidanza, nei soggetti affetti da ipotiroidismo e nei soggetti affetti da artrite reumatoide. Sono più frequenti nei soggetti che utilizzano le mani per lavori di precisione e tipicamente ripetitivi.

These are both source texts and they have very similar content. TASK: look for examples of a VP in one text and a NP in the other, and vice versa.

Technical and scientific writing:

• is informative and objective rather than expressive or creative

• is formal and impersonal

• involves predictable, conventionalised structures

• contains precise terminology and avoids lexical ambiguity

• rarely features metaphors or idioms

• contains subject-specific terminology possibly unknown to non-specialists

• makes conventional use of theme and rheme

• is marked by lexical density (more content words than function words)

• features noun strings (nouns premodified by other nouns)

• has a lot of intertextuality

• makes frequent use of passive constructions in English

• involves passive and impersonal forms in Italian

Reports of scientific experiments and medical trials are divided into:

Section Contents

INTRODUCTION What suggested the need for research or trials in the field.

AIMS or OBJECTIVES The current situation with reference to other researchers’ findings (intertextuality). What the authors hoped to demonstrate or describe.

MATERIALS AND METHODS How the work was carried out (using the passive) and problems encountered during experimentation.

DISCUSSION AND RESULTS The results obtained (often presented in graphs, figures and tables) and commentary upon them. Attributions and hypotheses.

CONCLUSION A summary of what was achieved, including unsatisfactory aspects. Plans for further research.

THEME for known or given information;RHEME for new information.

Later-model computers are provided with the capability of handling numerous input devices directly. These multitask computers treat the incoming data in much the same way as the earlier computers did. Incoming data is received from the various input devices and is lined up.(Johnson 1988:81, cited by Taylor p.124)

The rheme of the first sentence is adapted to become the theme of the second sentence. Then the rheme of the second sentence becomes the theme of the third.

Noun Phrases and Copular or Linking Verbs

NP with premodification Copular verb NP with premodification

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder

Low carbon impact energy technologies

seem preferable to conventional fossil fuel power generation

The Clinton Health Access Initiative is not a conventional for-profit business

Halliday’s example (1988:164 cited by Taylor p. 125)

Non-technical EnglishGlass cracks more quickly the harder you press it

glass cracks more quickly the harder you press it NP VP AdvP AdvP NP VP NP

Technical EnglishGlass crack growth rate is associated with applied stress magnitude

Glass crack growth rate is associated with applied stress magnitude NP VP NP

Lexical density

The gaseous products of volcanic activity include water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and various sulphur compounds. The most prominent constituent is water vapour.(Yates 188:111) cited by Taylor p. 124)

In non-technical language function words often outnumber content words.

WORD ORDER

This vast and technologically challenging project, coordinated by CERN (the European laboratory for particle physics), which will take the major responsibilty for constructing the accelerator itself, is already well under way.

Questo progetto, di eccezionale livello technolgico, è già in fase avanzata di realizzazioine ed è coordinato dal CERN, il Laboratorio europeo per la fisica delle particelle(Llewellyn Smith 2000: 71,63)

n.b. What is the difference between major and mayor?

This text was written directly in English by three Italian engineers. It was then corrected by a native speaker of English.

Abstract. Dynamic simulation software allows us to describe a building-plant system over time and is very useful for estimating energy consumption in architectural projects. However, its use by professionals in the construction industry is currently rather limited because it is difficult to use. In fact many dynamic simulation software programs are not widely used because of their complicated Graphical User Interface (GUI). The software ODESSE (Optimal Design for Smart Energy), developed by ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) in Italian and English, has the great advantage of a simple and intuitive GUI. On the other hand, compared to other programs it is not yet entirely satisfactory from the technical and mathematical points of view. This article presents an analysis of ODESSE and some proposals for its improvement, in particular with regard to heat exchange algorithms between thermal zones of a building and to the program language. In order to achieve these objectives, a new simulation engine written in C++ has been created that is able to evaluate heat exchanges between zones, even when they are connected temporarily or permanently by doors or openings of some type. The tests performed demonstrate the stability of the multi-zone model developed, but the numerical method of resolution initially used needs to be changed.

Dynamic simulation software allows us to describe a building-plant system over time and is very useful for estimating energy consumption in architectural projects. However, its use by professionals in the construction industry is currently rather limited because it is difficult to use. In fact many dynamic simulation software programs are not widely used because of their complicated Graphical User Interface (GUI). The software ODESSE (Optimal Design for Smart Energy), developed by ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) in Italian and English, has the great advantage of a simple and intuitive GUI. On the other hand, compared to other programs it is not yet entirely satisfactory from the technical and mathematical points of view. This article presents an analysis of ODESSE and some proposals for its improvement, in particular with regard to heat exchange algorithms between thermal zones of a building and to the program language. In order to achieve these objectives, a new simulation engine written in C++ has been created that is able to evaluate heat exchanges between zones, even when they are connected temporarily or permanently by doors or openings of some type. The tests performed demonstrate the stability of the multi-zone model developed, but the numerical method of resolution initially used needs to be changed.

FALSE FRIENDS 9

What’s the difference between a cave and a quarry?Note that the word grotto exists in English. It is for a cave that has some particularly beautiful features, like Neptune’s Grotto near Alghero.

Accurate is not quite the same as accurato.English accurate means precise: e.g. an accurate measurementUnlike Italian accurato, it not does not refer to a job done diligently, with great care: un lavoro accurato = a thorough job, a job done properly.

English clamorous is more limited in application than Italian clamoroso.It refers to sound only and is translated as rumoroso or tumultuoso. Una sconfitta clamorosa = a crushing defeatUn successo clamoroso = an outstanding/enormous successUno scandalo clamoroso = a terrible/an awful scandal

THE DIARY OF A BRAVE TRANSLATOR VERILY IN LEG – PART 9

I’m worried about the public sanity in this country. After all the cuts of the last years hospital doctors have to work always more, and if they are stressed they risk to make mistakes. Frankly, I wouldn’t like to be recovered because now there is the problem of the “superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotics. It was better in the good old days when recipes were free (no “ticket”) and the hospitals had enough staff. My friend Claudia, who is a cardiologist, told me, “Twenty years ago we had a team that was enough big to be able to work well. Now we are four cats with the same number of patients.”

Health = salute/sanità; healthy = sanoSanity = salute mentale; sane = sano psichicamente

Ricoverare = hospitalize, admit to hospitalRecover = riprendersi

Recipe = ricetta (in cucina)Prescription = ricetta (in farmacia)