# 第四册 Lesson 15 Secrecy in industry 工业中的秘密

## 一、课文原文

Two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific research in industry. One is the general atmosphere of secrecy in which it is carried out, the other the lack of freedom of the individual research worker. In so far as any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out from effective contact with their fellow scientists either in other countries or in universities, or even, often enough, in other departments of the same firm. The degree of secrecy naturally varies considerably. Some of the bigger firms are engaged in researches which are of such general and fundamental nature that it is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret. Yet a great many processes depending on such research are sought for with complete secrecy until the stage at which patents can be taken out. Even more processes are never patented at all but kept as secret processes. This applies particularly to chemical industries, where chance discoveries play a much larger part than they do in physical and mechanical industries. Sometimes the secrecy goes to such an extent that the whole nature of the research cannot be mentioned. Many firms, for instance, have great difficulty in obtaining technical or scientific books from libraries because they are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book, for fear the agents of other firms should be able to trace the kind of research they are likely to be undertaking.

—J.D. BERNAL *The Social Function of Science*

## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| weigh | /weɪ/ | v. | 有分量，影响 | weigh heavily against 对...有重大不利影响 |
| effectiveness | /ɪˈfektɪvnəs/ | n. | 效率，有效性 | effectiveness of research 研究效率 |
| atmosphere | /ˈætməsfɪə/ | n. | 气氛，氛围 | atmosphere of secrecy 秘密氛围 |
| in so far as | /ɪn səʊ fɑːr æz/ | phr. | 到...程度，就...而言 | in so far as any inquiry is secret 就研究是秘密的而言 |
| inquiry | /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ | n. | 调查，研究 | = enquiry（英式拼法） |
| fellow | /ˈfeləʊ/ | adj. | 同事的，同类的 | fellow scientists 同行科学家 |
| fundamental | /ˌfʌndəˈmentl/ | adj. | 基本的，根本的 | fundamental nature 基本性质 |
| positive | /ˈpɒzətɪv/ | adj. | 明确的，确实的 | a positive advantage 确实的好处 |
| patent | /ˈpeɪtnt/ | v./n. | 取得专利；专利 | patents can be taken out 可取得专利 |
| such and such | /sʌtʃ ən sʌtʃ/ | phr. | 某某，这样那样的 | such and such a book 某某书 |
| for fear that | /fɔː fɪə ðæt/ | phr. | 唯恐，生怕 | for fear (that) sb. should do 唯恐某人会... |
| trace | /treɪs/ | v. | 追踪，追溯 | trace the kind of research 追踪研究类型 |
| undertaking | /ˌʌndəˈteɪkɪŋ/ | n. | 从事，承担 | likely to be undertaking 可能正在从事 |

## 三、语法知识点

### 1. in so far as 就...而言

> **In so far as** any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out...

- = to the extent that, inasmuch as
- 引导程度状语从句

### 2. such...that... 如此...以至于...

> ...researches which are of **such** general and fundamental nature **that** it is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret.

| 结构 | 说明 |
|------|------|
| such + 名词 + that | 如此的...以至于 |
| so + 形容词/副词 + that | 同义结构 |
| such...that 比 so...that 更正式 |

### 3. for fear that 唯恐

> ...**for fear** the agents of other firms **should** be able to trace...

- for fear (that) + should + 动词原形
- = lest，表示担忧的目的状语从句

### 4. 省略的并列结构

> One is the general atmosphere of secrecy..., **the other the lack of freedom** of the individual research worker.

- the other 后省略了 is
- = the other is the lack of freedom...

## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. weigh heavily against 对...有重大不利

> Two factors **weigh heavily against** the effectiveness of scientific research in industry.

- = have a serious negative effect on
- 仿写：High costs weigh heavily against the project.

### 2. engaged in 从事于

> ...it naturally limits all those **engaged in** carrying it out from effective contact...

- = involved in, occupied with
- engaged in doing sth. 从事做某事

### 3. take out a patent 取得专利

> ...until the stage at which patents can be **taken out**.

- take out = obtain, secure
- take out a patent/book/insurance

### 4. such and such 某某

> ...as having taken out **such and such** a book...

- = so-and-so, a certain
- 用于不具体指明的场合

## 五、课文翻译

有两个因素严重妨碍了工业中科学研究的效率。一是进行研究时的普遍保密氛围，二是缺乏个体研究工作者的自由。就任何研究是秘密的而言，它自然限制了所有从事该研究的人与同行科学家进行有效接触——无论是在其他国家还是在大学里，甚至往往在同一公司的其他部门。保密的程度自然各不相同。一些大公司从事的研究具有如此一般和基本的性质，以至于不保密对它们反而确实有利。然而，许多依赖此类研究的工艺却在完全保密的状态下进行，直到可以取得专利的阶段。更多的工艺根本不申请专利，而是作为秘密工艺保存。这在化学工业中尤为突出，因为在化学工业中，偶然发现所起的作用比在物理和机械工业中大得多。有时保密到了这种程度，连研究的整个性质都不能提及。例如，许多公司很难从图书馆借到技术或科学书籍，因为它们不愿意让自己的名字被登记为借了某某书，生怕其他公司的密探能追踪到他们可能正在从事的研究类型。

## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. 写作手法：因果分析+举例论证

- 开篇点明两个因素（总论）
- 分析保密如何妨碍研究（因果链）
- 用具体例子（借书困难）说明保密的极端程度
- 层层递进，从一般到极端

### 2. 文化背景

- **J.D.贝尔纳（J.D. Bernal）**：英国物理学家、科学社会学的先驱
- **专利制度（patent system）**：公开发明换取法律保护，但也有些公司选择不申请专利而保留为商业秘密（trade secret）
- **化学工业的偶然发现**：许多重要化学品（如青霉素、特氟龙）是偶然发现的

### 3. 修辞分析

- **递进**：other countries → universities → other departments of the same firm——接触限制层层缩小
- **反讽**：a positive advantage not to keep them secret——不保密反而是优势
- **极端化**：such and such a book——连借书都怕暴露

## 七、课后练习要点

1. **理解题**：Why is secrecy particularly important in the chemical industries?（偶然发现占比大，需要保密防竞争）
2. **语法题**：in so far as 与 so far as 的用法区别
3. **词汇题**：区分 patent/secret process/trade secret 的法律含义
4. **翻译练习**：such...that 与 so...that 的翻译策略

## 八、本课小结

本课分析**工业中保密对科学研究的妨碍**，核心论点：保密氛围和缺乏自由是两大障碍，化学工业中保密尤为严重。语法重点包括in so far as程度状语从句、such...that结果状语从句、for fear that目的状语从句、省略并列结构。写作手法上运用因果分析和递进举例，逻辑严密。