Scientific English

江博明Bor-ming JAHNBor-ming JAHN

About your teacherAbout your teacher江博明江博明

BSc - NTU Geology in 1963; MSc - Brown U (1967); Ph.D. - U of Minnesota (1972)BSc - NTU Geology in 1963; MSc - Brown U (1967); Ph.D. - U of Minnesota (1972)

Left Taiwan for graduate studies in the U.S. in 1965Left Taiwan for graduate studies in the U.S. in 1965

Post-doctoral research - NASA-Johnson Space Center & Lunar Science Institute, Houston (≈ 4 years; Post-doctoral research - NASA-Johnson Space Center & Lunar Science Institute, Houston (≈ 4 years; 1972-1976)1972-1976)

Associate (1976-1980) & full professor (1980-2003) at Université de Rennes 1 (France) for 27 yearsAssociate (1976-1980) & full professor (1980-2003) at Université de Rennes 1 (France) for 27 years

Returned to Taiwan from France in 2003 Returned to Taiwan from France in 2003 (curious?)(curious?)

NTU Chair professorNTU Chair professor (Jan. 2003 – Jan. 2006) (Jan. 2003 – Jan. 2006)

NTU-AS Joint-appointment professorNTU-AS Joint-appointment professor (Aug. 2004 – Aug. 2010) (Aug. 2004 – Aug. 2010)

Director and Distinguished Research Fellow Director and Distinguished Research Fellow (( 特聘研究員特聘研究員 ), IES-Academia Sinica), IES-Academia Sinica (Aug. 2004 – Sep. (Aug. 2004 – Sep. 2010)2010)

Distinguished Chair Professor Distinguished Chair Professor (( 特聘講座教授特聘講座教授 )), NTU-Geosciences (Oct. 2010 – present), NTU-Geosciences (Oct. 2010 – present)

Honors – academician (AS), fellow (GSA, MSA, GS, EGA), honorary professor (Beijing, Nanjng, Xi’an, …)Honors – academician (AS), fellow (GSA, MSA, GS, EGA), honorary professor (Beijing, Nanjng, Xi’an, …)

Published ≈ 220 articles (99.5% in English) – high citation number (> 9000), high h-index (50, ISI stat.); Published ≈ 220 articles (99.5% in English) – high citation number (> 9000), high h-index (50, ISI stat.); Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief of Journal of Asian Earth Sciences; enough experience to teach “scientific writing” classof Journal of Asian Earth Sciences; enough experience to teach “scientific writing” class

Research interest – geochemistry, petrogenesis, tectonics, continental evolution.Research interest – geochemistry, petrogenesis, tectonics, continental evolution.

St. Petersburg, 28 May 2009; The Hermitage behind

Q: Is he an English teacher?Q: Is he an English teacher?A: No, he is not; he is a geochemist.A: No, he is not; he is a geochemist.

Course description

This course is mainly designed to help students in scientific writing. It includes a brief review of English grammar, analysis of common errors in pronunciation and scientific writing, presentation of essential ingredients for effective scientific paper writing, exercise in two-way translation on current issues in science, particularly in earth sciences, practice in writing a curriculum vitae, etc. Based on a topic approach students will improve their skill of English expression in scientific reading and writing, as well as in oral communication.

Course schedule & evaluationCourse schedule & evaluation

Every Tuesday – 14:30 – 16:20 & 16:30 – 18:20 Every Tuesday – 14:30 – 16:20 & 16:30 – 18:20

(session of 2x2 hours per week, for 8 weeks)(session of 2x2 hours per week, for 8 weeks)

Evaluation of course work:Evaluation of course work:

Class attendance and participationClass attendance and participation: 20%: 20%

Written assignments (2-3 times): Written assignments (2-3 times): 20%20%

Quiz (2-3 times): 20%Quiz (2-3 times): 20%

Mid-term exam: 20%Mid-term exam: 20%

Final exam: 20%Final exam: 20%

Suggested references Suggested references Youngs, Robert L. & Youngs, Robert L. & 王秀華王秀華 ,, 2005, Scientific Writing in English for Chinese Authors, 2005, Scientific Writing in English for Chinese Authors,

308 pp. (ISBN 9571138800). Available at Eslite (308 pp. (ISBN 9571138800). Available at Eslite ( 诚品诚品 ).).

Langosch, Sydney L., 1999, Writing American Style, Barron’s, 200 pp. (available at Langosch, Sydney L., 1999, Writing American Style, Barron’s, 200 pp. (available at

Costco, NT$ 305)Costco, NT$ 305)

Kirkman, John, Good style writing for science and technology. E & FN Spon, London, Kirkman, John, Good style writing for science and technology. E & FN Spon, London,

221 pp. (ISBN 0419171908)221 pp. (ISBN 0419171908)

Yang Jen Tsi, An outline of scientific writing. World Scientific, Singapore, New Yang Jen Tsi, An outline of scientific writing. World Scientific, Singapore, New

Jersey, London, Hong Kong, 160 pp. (ISBN 9810224664, pbk)Jersey, London, Hong Kong, 160 pp. (ISBN 9810224664, pbk)

CNN Listening, Live ABC, BBC WorldCNN Listening, Live ABC, BBC World

科技英语科技英语 - - 论文报告写作。主编：唐国全，何小玲。论文报告写作。主编：唐国全，何小玲。 20042004。北京航空航天出版社。定价：。北京航空航天出版社。定价：18 18 元。元。

Whatever you can findWhatever you can find

Week 1: IntroductionWeek 1: Introduction• What is scientific writing?

Scientific writing includes a broad array of academic

writing with unique requirements and formalities, and is

directed to a unique readership. This type of writing

includes:

– description of research – interpretation of results– conclusions

and it uses a clear and understandable language

It is surely axiomatic that the aim of scientific or technical

writing is to transmit information accurately, quickly and

economically from one person to another. But why do so

many scientists and engineers make their writing so heavily

unreadable?

Obviously, their subject matter is sometimes complex and

conceptually difficult; but frequently the « unreadability »

stems from use of a style that makes the reader’s task much

heavier than it need be.

« Style » matters - direct, effective and readable.

• Purposes of the course:

To improve your skill of English expression

– in scientific reading and writing – in oral communication

Analysis of common Chinese problems in Analysis of common Chinese problems in English expressionEnglish expression– pronunciationpronunciation– grammatical errorgrammatical error– syntax errorsyntax error

Test: alphabet pronunciation

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y zc ≠ 希，西 , but = s ex. center, sense, century, season, cell, sell, mouse. miceg ≠ 居，句 , but = j; ex. giuliani (Italian), jeologi (Turkish); Gerard, Jerry(“ ü ” or “ 玉” does not exist in English)z ≠ j how do you pronounce “measure” or “measurement”? “pleasure”? “absence”?i = y = j Ian = Yan = Yann = John = Johan漢語拼音中：希 = xi ≠shi, 奇 = qi ≠chi,

• English pronunciation = no easy rules

the alphabet: c (xi), g (jü), j, l, r

– ow : we bow before the king; you wear a bow-tie; a

bowl of rice; bowling; cow, a queen dowager, how,

low, now, know-how.

– ou : loud, have a bout with someone, cough-couch,

double, doubt, mouse.

– au : author, caught, caution, daughter, fault, gauge,

laugh, taught, drought, draught (= draft beer).

– o : move, woman, women, hot, top, ton, tone, gone,

tomb, tome, bomb

– h : hand, hear, hint, horn, hurt, hungry-angry, (muet): hour

– talk-walk, work-walk; word-world; pseudo, psychology-psychiatry

– idea, determine, olivine; folk-fork

– indicted war criminals;

– receive, reception, receipt

– short debts make long friends; deeply indebted to you for...

– iron, iron oxide; ion, cation, anion

– g : never “jü” like in “jü-ma-pao”.

• «Chinese» problems in English oral expression:

– Difficult sounds

Ex: thickening (sickening), measure (not major), measurement

– Placement of accent (sometimes, but not so often as the

French)

Ex: interpret - interpretation, contribute - contribution, image -

imagine, attribute (v in second, n in first) - attribution, even -

event, …

– Frequent cut-off of vowel or consonant (very

severe problem in Taiwan and China)

Vowel cut-off

icetop (isotope), ecgite (eclogite), omfcite (omphacite),

aptite (appetite, apatite, uptight)

Consonant cut-off (Cantonese style)

not at all, good luck, outside, inside-out, call-in, etc.

– Confusion of « l » and « r »Confusion of « l » and « r » (terrible for the Chinese (terrible for the Chinese

and even worse for the Japanese)and even worse for the Japanese)

Ex: Clinton, clay minerals, plate tectonics, flattening, Ex: Clinton, clay minerals, plate tectonics, flattening,

flight-fright, apply-application, flesh-fresh, please, player-flight-fright, apply-application, flesh-fresh, please, player-

prayer, close-cross, class-classic-classicalprayer, close-cross, class-classic-classical

(Japanese: I rike to show, I rike to eat lice, …)(Japanese: I rike to show, I rike to eat lice, …)

classicclassic = (adj.) = (adj.) of the highest class, esp in art or literature; serving as a standard or model of its kind; definitive. (noun) an author, artist, or work of art of the highest excellence; a creation or work considered as definitive. 傑作傑作 ,, 第一流的第一流的 ,, 最優秀最優秀的的 ,, 古典的 古典的 classicalclassical = (adj.) = (adj.) of, or relating to, the ancient Greeks and Romans or their civilization; designating, following, or influenced by the art or culture of ancient Greece or Rome classical architecture. Synonyms: traditional, established, ⇒conventional, long-established, 古典的古典的 ,, 正統派的正統派的 ,, 古典主義的 古典主義的

The sounds and allophones of Taiwan English(Karen Steffen Chung, 2003)

In class we often refer to "Taiwan English”. Although there are variations in the way each person who is educated in Taiwan speaks English, there is a fairly consistent pattern of pronunciation to be discerned. This is certainly due first of all to the particular pronunciation style of one's English teachers, starting in junior high school, or now starting in elementary school; many students also learn English at a commercial "cram school" (buxiban). This pronunciation style is reinforced by one's peers and other English speakers from Taiwan who one comes in contact with.

     In theory, General American is now the standard for English education in Taiwan, but Taiwan English sounds very 'un-American' in many ways.

Taiwan EnglishTaiwan English

Taiwan English - 2Taiwan English - 2 Some foreign accents of English, especially European ones such as French or Swedish, are often considered "charming", "quaint" or "cute". The first basic requirement of a "charming" foreign accent, however, is that it be clear and easily intelligible to other speakers of English, native and otherwise. Once intelligibility suffers too much, there is little charm to be found in a foreign accent; one only will feel tired when trying to understand it. Incorrect grammar and imprecise vocabulary choices worsen the situation. Ultimately, other people may prefer to avoid talking with speakers with too strong a foreign accent rather than work hard to understand them.

In order to avoid making other people work too hard to understand you when you speak, it is certainly desirable to learn to speak as clearly and accurately as possible. This does not mean giving up your Chinese identity; you cannot do this so easily anyway!

Taiwan English - 3Taiwan English - 3Excuse me, is this seat taken? No, it’s not. Thank you. Nice weather isn’t it? Yes, it’s nice and warm.

It’s been cold for so many days. This is my first time to jog this month. Do you like jogging?

Well, not really. You should try it. Jogging is my life. Look at my jogging shoes. They are made in England.

And I bought them in Hong Kong. They are really good. Oh, if you want to learn how to jog,

You need a good pair of shoes like mine. While I look at those men, they are really slow. They are walking,

not jogging. Who are you talking about? The man with long hair.

His head look funny. Oh, that’s my brother. Oh, I am sorry. I mean the person next to him.

The one in the stupid green sweater and black pants. Well, the man you are talking about is a P.E. teacher.

And by the way, he is also my husband.

Taiwan English - 4Taiwan English - 4Consonants

I like to do

Consonants (cont.)Consonants (cont.)

Epenthesis = the insertion of a sound or letter into a word

VowelsVowels

雙重母音 ,雙母音字 /au/ Ex., downtown

Stress and timingStress and timing

• Reading assignment for week 1:

Why Earth Sciences

Earth Science: Make it HappenNot so long ago, we had the first view of our planet from

space. We were startled to see how beautiful and how fragile

our home appeared, “a pale blue dot” said Carl Sagan, very

different from the other planets in our solar system. Our

home — blue with water, white with clouds, green with life —

is a planet unique in our solar system and probably rare in

the universe.

EntertainmentFunny English Notices Around The World!

In a Tokyo Hotel

• Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please.

• If you are not a person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby

• The lift is being fixed for the next day.

• During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator

• To move the cabin, push button for wishing

floor. If the cabin should enter more

persons, each one should press a number

of wishing floor. Driving is then going

alphabetically by national order.

In a Paris hotel elevator

• Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a hotel in Athens• Visitors are expected to complain at the

office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel• The flattening of underwear with pleasure is

the job of the chambermaid.

In a Japanese hotel• You are invited to take advantage of the

chambermaid.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a

Russian Orthodox monastery

• You are welcome to visit the cemetery where

famous Russian and Soviet composers,

artists, and writers are buried daily except

Thursday.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant

• Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel

• Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet

soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of

a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef

rashers beaten up in the country people's

fashion.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop• Ladies may have a fit upstairs.

*(get surprise, angry)

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's• Drop your trousers here for best results.

Outside a Paris dress shop• Dresses for street walking.

Au revoirAu revoir