文章來源:italki
文章作者:Jack Davidson
Academic writing can be one of the hardest things to perfect in English. This advanced skill requires perfect grammar, pin-point vocabulary usage and a deep understanding of the subject you are writing about. What it also requires is a very specific register (level of formality) which can be difficult to get right for non-native English speakers (and quite a few native speakers as well!).
論文寫作可能是英語精進的最難關之一。要掌握這項高級寫作技能,需要有完美的英語的語法,精準的詞匯和對主題深刻的理解。另外,論文寫作還是一種專門的文體(正式和專業性),這一點對于英語非母語的作者來說可能比較難拿捏(甚至對英語母語的作者也一樣很難!)。
One way you can improve and transform your academic English writing is by learning some useful collocations which will make you sound self-assured, knowledgeable and bring just the right level of formality to your dissertation or thesis.
想要提升學術英語寫作,其中一個方法就是學習一些有用的固定搭配,這樣一來文章就會顯得更自信、更專業,論文的專業度和正式性恰到好處。
This guide will give you 50 of the most useful academic collocations as well as definitions and some examples taken from genuine academic papers.
下文我們會列舉50個最有用的論文寫作固定搭配,附有定義和例子,全都取材于真實的學術論文。
Study tip: Practice writing out your own sentences using each of the collocations listed here. Does the structure make sense grammatically? Do you understand the concept? Check your sentence against the example sentence for each collocation.
學習要點:將下列固定搭配用到你寫的文章中去。想一想語法上對不對?內容上說不說得通?把自己寫的句子和下面的例子比較下,看看用得對不對。
Accurate assessment -? correct and precise evaluation of something or someone
準確評價:對某事或某人進行正確而精準的評估
- E.g.?“Accurate assessment of head motion can be a useful tool in clinical studies”.
例子:對頭部運動的準確評價可以作為臨床研究的有用手段。
Address the issue - consider or deal with the matter at hand
解決問題:考慮或者解決棘手的問題
- E.g.?“To help address this issue, we have extended our previous study and examined in detail the…”.
例子:為了幫助解決問題,我們對之前的研究作了拓展,繼續探究細節方面……
Adversely affect - change in a negative way
產生不利影響:作出不良改變
- E.g.?“A literature search was performed to determine whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) adversely affect the healing of stress fractures”.
例子:經過文獻檢索,我們發現抗炎藥(NSAIDs)是否對應力性骨折產生不良影響。
Become apparent - to be suddenly clear or obvious
顯性化:突然變得清晰或者明顯
- E.g.?“They become apparent, however, when a new molecular species is introduced into the atmosphere...”.
例子:當一種新的分子種類進入大氣層,分子們就成顯性。
Brief overview - a non-detailed look at the subject as a whole
概述:對事物進行籠統的描述。
- E.g.?“This paper offers a brief but broad overview of the field of individual of language learning”.
例如:這篇論文對某一種獨立的語言學習進行了概述。
Broad range - of extensive scope
廣泛:涉及大面積領域
- E.g.?“The colour produced from this reaction is stable and increases in a proportional fashion over a broad range of increasing protein concentrations”.
例如:反應所產生的顏色很穩定,成比例地且大量增加了蛋白質的濃度。
Causal link - one thing being responsible for another
因果聯系:兩件事有因果聯系
- E.g.?“A causal link between high need for achievement and small business ownership is not found”.
例如:我們并沒有找到成功的高需求和小企業的擁有權之間的因果關系。
Characteristic feature - a feature which distinguishes or defines something or someone
本質特征:能夠體現或者定義某個人或某件事情的特征
- E.g.?“The characteristic feature of the book is the effort to explain the mathematical origins of the most widely used statistical formulas in terms that persons with comparatively little mathematical training can easily follow”.
例子:此書的本質特征旨在闡述最廣泛應用的統計公式的數學起源,即便讀者相對來說沒有太多數學背景,也可以讀懂此書。
Deeply rooted - firmly implanted or established
根深蒂固:深深地扎根或建立
-? E.g.?“This book describes efforts to develop an approach to teaching and teacher education that is deeply rooted in the study of practice”.
例子:此書力求開發一種教學和教師教育手段,此方法源于實踐深處。
Detailed analysis - an in-depth study
細部分析:詳細而深刻的研究
- E.g.?“The major difference between my book and others at this level is its coverage of the detailed analysis of experiments”.
例子:在這個層面上,我的書和其他人的區別就在于對于實驗的細部分析。
Essential component - a vital part of something
重要組成部分:某事物的重要部分
- E.g.?“We show here that these proteins are an essential component of the cell surface receptor”.
例子:我們這里顯示,這些蛋白質是細胞表面受體的重要組成部分。
Establish a relationship - to prove or show a link between two things
建立聯系:證明二者之間有關系。
- E.g.?“Our aim was to establish the relationship between aortic stiffness and stroke death in hypertensive patients”.
例子:我們的目標是證明主動脈硬化和中風死亡在高血壓患者中存在聯系。
Existing research - previous academic work on the same subject
現有研究:對同一問題先前做的研究。
- E.g.?“This working paper reviews the existing research evidence about the additional costs or deprivation that disabled people face”.
例子:這篇研究審議了關于殘疾人面臨的額外開支和貧困狀況的現有研究。
First impression - initial thought on a subject, prior to any detailed analysis
最初觀點:在任何細節分析之前,對一個主題的最先的看法。
- E.g.?“Our first impression was strengthened by the fact that we were aware a condition existed in Povoa de Varzim”.
例子:我們發現曾經出現在波瓦珍的病情,這印證了我們的最初觀點。
Frequently cited - often quoted or referred to in reference to something
頻頻引用:多次被引用
- E.g.?“It should be recognized that other systems are frequently cited, particularly in engineering literature”.
例子:我們應該認識到,其他的系統經常被引用,尤其在工程學得文獻中。
Fundamental principle - principle from which other principles can be derived
基本原理:最最基礎的原理,其他原理從其中得來。
- E.g.?“The authors argue for the restoration of beneficence to its place as the fundamental principle of medical ethics”.
例子:作者論證指出,醫學倫理的基本原理在于對善心的重建歸位。
General consensus - the majority opinion on a topic
普遍認同:對此話題的普遍意見
- E.g.?“There is a general consensus that forward exchange rates have little, if any power as forecasts of future spot exchange rates”.
例如:大家普遍認同,遠期匯率對預測未來現匯匯率幾乎沒有影響。
Gain insight - achieve a more profound understanding
獲得真知灼見:得到更深刻的理解
- E.g.?“Through this comparison we hope to gain insight into the way they perform specific tasks”.
例如:通過此次對比,我們希望對他們進行這次實驗有更深刻的認識。
Hierarchical structure - a system where elements are subordinate to other elements
階層結構:在系統中一個要素與另一個要素呈現下屬關系。
- E.g.?“After reviewing their theoretical approach, the authors present four kinds of hierarchical structure in music”.
例如:在探討理論手段后,作者提出了在音樂中有4種階層結構。
Highly controversial - tending to provoke fierce disagreement
高度爭議:可能會產生強烈的不認同
- E.g.?“A highly controversial issue in financial economies is whether stocks overreact”.
例如:在金融經濟中有一個具有高度爭議的話題,就是股票是否反應過激。
Immediately apparent - obvious and clear at that moment
立即顯現:當即變得明顯、清晰
- E.g.?“The reasons for this are not immediately apparent and deserve further investigation”.
例如:對此的理由沒有立刻顯現出來,需要進一步調查
Increase the likelihood - to make more likely or plausible
幾率增加:變得更可能
-? E.g.?“Numerous high school students engage in behaviours that increase their likelihood of death from these four causes”.
例子:無數的高中學生都會做這些事情,從這四件事中他們死亡的幾率會增加。
Key element - a main or fundamental component
重要元素:重要的基礎的組成部分
- E.g.?“Provisional restorations represent a key element in the realization of extensive esthetic rehabilitations”.
例子:暫時修復代表了大規模審美的修復的重要元素。
Largely confined - focussed in a particular area
主要限于:專注于某一領域
- E.g.?“The metabolic syndrome is largely confined to overweight and obese adults”.
例如:代謝綜合征主要限于肥胖和超重的成人之中。
Literal interpretation - a non-metaphorical or figurative reading
字面解釋:沒有隱喻或比喻含義的解釋
- E.g.?“In Experiment 2, targets were phrases that could be given either an idiomatic or a literal interpretation”.
例如:在實驗2中,實驗對象是詞組,這些詞組可以看作為習語,也可以只做字面含義解釋。
Major challenge - a large or fundamental problem
主要困難:很大和根本的問題
- E.g.?“Keeping up with the population increase is a major challenge for urban areas”.
例如:城市地區的主要問題在于很難跟上人口的增長。
Markedly different - noticeably distinct
顯著不同:明顯的不同
- E.g.?“The spectrum of pyridine coordinately bonded to the surface is markedly different from that of the pyridinium ion”.
例如:吡啶的光譜與表面的協調度和吡啶離子有顯著不同。
Negative connotation - suggesting something bad or wrong
負面暗示:暗指不好的意思
- E.g.?“The label placebo was avoided because of its negative connotation”.
例子:“安慰劑”這個標牌并未被使用因為它有不好的含義。
Newly emerging - novel or original concept first being introduced
新產生的:新的或者原創的概念
- E.g.?“This is a book about a newly emerging area of research in instructional technology”.
例子:這本書是關于在教育科技研究這個新興領域的。
Offer insight - present a deep or original analysis
提出深刻的原創的分析
- E.g.?“This study reveals what those practices are and may offer insight for how they fit into future workplaces”.
例子:這份研究指出這個方法到底是什么并且對在未來這些方法應用到工作領域作深刻的分析。
Organisational structure - the way groups are arranged
組織結構:組織是如何安排的
- E.g.?“This paper models the inner workings of relationship lending, the implications for bank organisational structure, and the effects of shocks to the economic environment on the availability of relationship credit to small businesses”.
例子:這篇論文以如下幾方面為模板:關系型貸款的內部運作,銀行組織結構的含義,經濟環境的影響沖擊對于小型企業貸款關系的可得性的影響。
Particular emphasis - stressing one aspect of something
特別強調:強調事物的某一方面
- E.g.?“The first chapter, a review of some of the principal social surveys carried out in the last half-century or so, with particular emphasis on British experience, has been entirely rewritten”.
例子:第一章審議了在上半個世紀流行的主要社會調查,特別強調了英國的經驗,但這一章已經重新改寫過了。
Perceived importance - the opinion that something is particularly important or relevant
感到某一觀點特別重要和相關
- E.g.?“We examined whether employees' perceived importance of the training program would be one variable that mediates the relationship between training assignment and training motivation”.
例如:我們研究過員工是否感覺培訓項目的重要性,這是協調培訓作用和培訓動機的變量。
Pioneering work - work which explores previously uncharted territory
創舉:史無前例,探索從未有人的領域
- E.g.?“Hans-Paul Schwefel has responded to rapidly growing interest in Evolutionary Computation, a field that originated, in part, with his pioneering work in the early 1970s”.
例如:Has-Paul Schwefel回應了對進化計算這一熱點領域,該領域有一部分是在二十世紀70年代發源的。
Positive feature - something good
積極特征:好的方面
- E.g.?“The great chemical diversity is a positive feature in that it indicates the likelihood that a variety of approaches can be made to prevention”.
例如:偉大化學方面的多樣性是一大積極特征,顯示了各種防治手段可以人為的可能性。
Qualitatively different - differences relating to quality as opposed to quantity
質的不同:質量上的不同而非數量上的不同
- E.g.?“Current methods for generating qualitatively different plans are either based on simple randomisation of planning decisions”.
例如:目前我們產生質的不同的計劃是基于簡單的計劃決定的隨機性
Quantitative study - a study which focuses on aspects of quantity
定量研究:一項專注于數量的研究
- E.g.?“Qualitative and quantitative studies were performed on pulmonary blood vessels in lung tissue obtained by biopsy, pneumonectomy, or autopsy”.
- 例如:通過活體組織切片、肺切除手術和尸檢,定量和定性研究都對于肺部組織的肺血管進行。
Raise a question - necessitates an obvious enquiry
提出質疑:提出一個明顯而必要的疑問
- E.g.?“At the same time, it also raises the question of whether a single reform can meet the very different objectives of different supporters”.
例如:同時,這也對我們提出了質疑,是否單個的改革可以針對不同的支持者的對象。
Rapid expansion - to grow larger at a fast rate
快速擴張:大規模快速增長
- E.g.?“It has been suggested that the rapid expansion could be the result of human activities causing habitat disturbances or stresses such as pollution”.
例如:有人提出,快速的擴張可能是由人類活動導致的,從而引起了居住的不適、壓力譬如污染。
Reach a consensus - develop a general agreement
達成共識
- E.g.?“A consensus conference was organized to evaluate the data and reach a consensus on optimal treatment protocols”.
例如:組織召開了一次共識會議,會上評估了數據,對最佳治療方案達成共識。
Reciprocal relationship - benefiting both parties equally
互惠關系:雙方受益
- E.g.?“The aim of the present study is to examine the reciprocal relationship between parental attachment and adolescent internalising and externalising problem behaviour”.
例如:當前研究的目的是為了探究親子依戀和成人內化和外化問題行為的互惠關系。
Seem plausible - appear possible or likely
似乎有道理:貌似可行
- E.g.?“Again, even though the results seem plausible, they are hard to interpret in the absence of a theory”.
例如:即便結果似乎有道理,沒有理論就很難解釋。
Specific examples - focussed examples
特例
- E.g.?“The specific examples used are shown to have a substantial biasing effect on diagnostic accuracy”.
例如:我們使用的特例顯示我們對診斷的精確性有顯著的偏差。
Theoretical approach - focussing on theories rather than practical application
理論研究方法:專注于理論而非實踐
- E.g.?“A new theoretical approach to language has emerged in the past 10–15 years that allows linguistic observations about form–meaning pairings, known as 'constructions', to be stated directly”.
例如:在過去10-15年間產生了新的研究語言的方法,這種方法允許對語言的形式(含義配對)進行觀察研究,稱作“結構主義”,如果直接表述的話。
Typical example - an example which is common or expected in its outcome
典型例子:一個普遍而且大致能預料到的例子。
- E.g.?“A typical example would be the design of a trial to evaluate the benefits of specialist stroke units”.
一個典型例子就是我們進行一次試驗,評估專家的卒中單元。
Underlying assumption - a belief which dictates other beliefs
根本的假設:其他意見基于該假設
- E.g.?“Much of ecological theory is based on the underlying assumption of equilibrium population dynamics”.
例子:大部分的生態學理論是基于根本的人口動態平衡的假設
Universally accepted - an assumption which is not commonly disputed
公認:某假設是普遍不存在爭議的
- E.g.?“The idea of a biological root to human nature was almost universally accepted at the turn of the century”.
例子:人的本質是有生物的根性的,這個觀點在世紀之交時已經普遍公認
Vary considerably - to be widely different in form or features
變化較大:在形式和特點上很不同
- E.g.?“The results of these procedures vary considerably among patients”.
例子:各個病人在這個手術上的結果大相徑庭
Vast majority - an overwhelming amount
大多數:絕大多數
- E.g.?“The vast majority of cases occur in developing countries, mainly because of lack of screening”.
例子:絕大多數的案例發生在發展中國家,原因在于那里沒有篩選機制。
Well-documented - evidence from numerous or reliable sources
證據充分的:證據從多個可靠的來源那里得來
- E.g.?“Although CNS depression and analgesia are well documented effects of the cannabinoids, the mechanisms responsible for these and other cannabinoid-induced effects are so far known”.
例子:盡管中樞神經抑郁和痛覺消失都可以由大麻產生,這一點證據充分,但其中的機制和其他大麻的效力目前我們不得而知。