Russian-English Translator’s Dictionary: A Guide to Scientific and Technical Usage

When a translator of scientific and technical literature from Russian into English seeks the counterpart of some specialized term he turns to a dictionary or an original source in English. But terms are not the whole problem. They must be couched in the language of the particular branch of science or technology. A translation should be free of unidiomatic or amateurish passages. The right word in the right place is the translators’ motto . The present dictionary is an attempt to supply word combinations and expressions that may be of help in achieving this aim. It is not a dictionary of terms or idioms, but a collection of typical examples from scientific and technical sources. The words that make up the combinations are usually common to a number of branches of science and technology. The remaining words of illustrative context are not so important since they are only meant as fillers to link the combination elements together. The user’s attention should be focussed on the words in bold type. The system of arrangement is strictly alphabetical (hyphenated combinations are considered as one word), but there are many cross-references to assist the user. These are given merely for general guidance and the translator should not confine himself to the item referred to, but should examine carefully the entry in question and several adjacent entries. Synonymous words or expressions are given in brackets.