Unit5StaticvsDynamic.ppt

Unit 5 A Contrastive Study Between English and Chinese,Static vs. Dynamic Abstract vs. Concrete Complex vs. Simplex Impersonal vs. PersonaI,1. Static vs. Dynamic (静态与动态),Broadly speaking, nouns can be characterized as “static” in that they refer to entities (本质) that are regarded as stable. At the opposite pole, verbs can be equally characterized as “dynamic”: they are fitted (by their capacity to show tense and aspect) to indicate action, activity and temporary or changing conditions (Quirk l973: 48). Adjectives and prepositions often go hand in hand with nouns while adverbs are frequently used with verbs.,English is featured by its predominance of nouns over verbs (名词优势于动词). Londons growth is rapid. London is growing rapidly. Johns arrival was premature. John came too soon. Hence nominalization (名词化) is a common occurrence in English. English makes more use of nouns, adjectives, and prepositions, and is therefore more static.,Conversely, Chinese often employs verbs, adverbs, verbal phrases, repetition and reduplication of verbs, and is therefore more dynamic. Compare English sentences with the Chinese versions: (1) The doctors extremely quick arrival and uncommonly careful examination of the patient brought about his very speedy recovery. 医生迅速到达，非常仔细地检查了病人，(因此) 病人很快就康复了。,(2) He had a firm conviction that situation will improve. 他坚信情况会好转。 (3) There must be less empty talk and more hard work. 一定要少说空话，多做工作。 (4) A successful ban of the use of nuclear weapons must be preceded by the destruction of nuclear weapons. 要成功地禁止使用核武器，必须首先销毁核武器。 (5) Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe. 火箭已经用来探索宇宙。,(6) The abuse of basic human rights in their own country in violation of the agreement reached at Helsinki earned them the condemnation of freedom-loving people everywhere. 他们违反了赫尔辛基协议，在国内侵犯基本人权，因此受到了各地热爱自由的人们的谴责。 As a result of the above difference, the conversion of the English nominal style (名词化表达法) into the Chinese verbal style (动词化表达法), e. g. English nouns converted into Chinese verbs, adjectives into adverbs, prepositions into verbs, etc., is often employed in translation:,(1) He is a good eater and a good sleeper. 他能吃能睡。 (2) I used to be a bit of a fancier myself. 过去我常常有点喜欢胡思乱想。 (3) He must be a very bad learner; or else he must be going to a very bad teacher. 他一定很不善于学习，不然就是他的老师很不会教。,(4) The computer is a far more careful and industrious inspector than human beings. 计算机比人检查得更细心、更勤快。 (5) He has someone behind him. 有人给他撑腰。 (6) Fords first pledge was, “Mr. President, you have my support and my loyalty”. 福特一开始就保证说：“总统先生，我支持您，并效忠您”。,2. Abstract vs. Concrete (抽象与具体),In English, nominalization often results in abstraction. An excessive reliance on the noun at the expense of the verb will, in the end, detach the mind of the writer from the realities of here and now, from when and how and in what mood the thing was done, and insensibly induce a habit of abstraction, generalization and vagueness (Cowers 1987: 791). This method of abstract diction is found in the frequent use of abstract nouns.,By contrast, Chinese prefers to use concrete or specific words and employs a “down-to-earth style”, expressing abstract ideas often by metaphors, similes, allegories, or other devices for making a thing plain. Compare English sentences with the Chinese versions:,(1) He waited for her arrival with a frenzied agitation. 他等着她来，急得像热锅上的蚂蚁。 (2) I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain. 雨无情地下个不停，我感到惊异。 (3) No country should claim infallibility. 任何国家都不应自称一贯正确。 (4) High blood pressure is a contraindication for this drug. 高血压患者忌服此药。,(5) He had surfaced with less visibility in the policy decisions. 在决策过程中，他已经不那么抛头露面了。 (6) These problems defy easy classification. 这些问题难以归类。 (7) She wondered whether her outspokenness might be a liability to Franklin. 自己那么心直口快，是否会成为弗兰克林的包袱，她为此感到纳闷儿。,3. Complex vs. Simplex,Subordination (从属结构), the placing of certain elements in modifying roles, is a fundamental feature of English. With plenty of subordinate clauses (从属句) and phrases, English has comparatively longer and more complicated sentences than Chinese, which, on the other hand, is marked by its coordination (并列结构), loose or minor sentences (松散句), contracted sentences (紧缩句), elliptical sentences, run-on sentences (流水句), and composite sentences (并列形式的复句).,English sentence-building is characterized by an “architecture style” (楼房建筑法) with extensive use of longer or subordinate structures, while Chinese, a “chronicle style” (流水记事法) with frequent use of shorter or composite structures. In a word, English sentences are often complex while Chinese sentences are often simplex.,比喻之一：雄孔雀、雄狮 英语民族习惯于把最着重强调的事物放在句首先说出来，开门见山，一语破的，然后再把各种标志一条条补述，一步步交代，慢条斯理，从容不迫，形成一条头短尾长的线性链。像头小尾大的雄孔雀。而汉语则相反，其线性序列的展开好比“画龙点睛”，先把外围的环境与衬托一一交代周到，最后点出话语的信息中心，水到渠成，给人以豁然开朗之感，形成雄师型头大尾小的句式。 这是英汉两民族认识客观显示的思维习惯，也是英汉两种语言反映客观现实的不同表达方式。,比喻之二：葡萄竹竿 有些语言学家形象地将英语句子称为“葡萄型”结构，葡萄主干很短，其上附结着丰硕的果实。而汉语句子则较短，一个短句接一个短句地往下叙述，逐步展开，信息内容像竹竿一样一节一节地通下去，很少有叠床架屋的结构，因而常被称为“竹竿型”结构。 比喻之三：多枝共干 英语句子中还有两个或几个动词共受一个状语的修饰，共有一个主语或宾语，或者两个或几个状语共同修饰一个动词，两个或几个主语或宾语共有一个动词，以及其他类型等等。我们把这种语言现象比作几根树枝长在同一根树干上，称之为“多枝共干”式的结构。,(1) In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colours. A. 门口放着至少十二把五颜六色、大小不一的雨伞。 B. 门口放着一堆雨伞，少说也有十二把，五颜六色，大小不一。 (2) There are many wonderful stories to tell about the places I visited and the people I met. A. 关于我所访问的一些地方和遇见的一些人有许多奇妙的故事可以讲。 B. 我访问了一些地方，也遇到了一些人。要谈起来，奇妙的事儿可多着呢。,(3) Can you answer a question which I want to ask and which is puzzling me? A. 你能回答一个使我弄不懂而又想问你的问题吗? B. 我有一个问题弄不懂，想请教你，你能回答吗? (4) 老栓正在专心走路，忽然吃了一惊，远远地看见一条丁字街，明明白白横着。他便退了几步，寻找一家关着门的铺子，蹩进檐下，靠门立住了。 (鲁迅：药） Absorbed in his walking, Old Shuan was startled when he saw the cross road lying distinctly ahead of him. He walked back a few steps to stand under the eaves of a shop in front of its closed door.,(5) It was a day as fresh as grass growing up and clouds going over and butterflies coming down can make it. It was a day compounded from silences of bee and flower and ocean and land, which were not silences at all, but motions, stirs, flutters, risings, fallings, each in its own time and matchless rhythm. (EBradbury：The Vacation) 绿草萋萋，白云冉冉，彩蝶翩翩，这日子是如此清新可爱；蜜蜂无言，春花不语，海波声歇，大地静谧，这日子是如此万籁俱寂。然而并非安静，因为万物各以其适宜的时刻，特有的节奏，或动，或摇，或振，或起，或伏。,4. Impersonal vs.PersonaI (物称与人称),Formal written English often goes with an impersonal style, in which the writer does not refer directly to himself or his readers, but avoids the pronouns I, we, and you, thus the writer and the reader are out of the picture, hiding themselves behind impersonal language. Some of the common features of impersonal language are passives, sentences beginning with introductory it, and abstract nouns as subject. (Leech，l974：25),Chinese, by contrast, prefers to use personal style, which is featured by much more actives or actives in form but passives in sense, personal (animate) subjects, or subjectless and subject-omitted sentences when the subject is self-evident, unknown or implied in the context. Compare English with Chinese: As a result of the above difference, the conversion of English impersonal subjects into Chinese personal subjects and English passives into Chinese actives is sometimes employed in translation：,(1)a. I saw the whole accident with my own eyes. b. 1949 saw the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. (2)a. We visited him at his residence. b. A series of misfortune visited the family. 这个家庭祸不单行。 (3)a. If you take this medicine, you will feel better. b. This medicine will make you feel better. 吃了这药，你会感觉好些。 (4) The thick carpet killed the sound of my foot steps. A. 厚厚的地毯吞没了我的脚步声。 B. 我走在厚厚的地毯上，一点脚步声也没有。,(5) Rome witnessed many great historic events. A. 罗马城见证了许多伟大的历史性事件。 B. 在罗马城发生了许多伟大的历史性事件。 (6) The appearance of distant sail raised his hope of rescue. A. 远方的帆影又唤起他获救的希望。 B. 看见远方的帆影，获救的希望油然升起。 (7) A wave of cigar smoke accompanied Ogilvie in 一缕雪茄烟雾伴随着奥格尔维进入房间。 奥格尔维走进房间，带来了一缕雪茄烟雾。,Translation Workshop,(1) His new book hits off the American temperament with amazing insight. (2) Anger bereft him of words. (3) His bonhomie often brought him many friends. (4) A strange peace came over her when she was alone. (5) Alarm began to take entire possession of him. (6) His absence of mind during the driving nearly caused an accident. (7) His triumph was complete. (8) It was a difficult time for them. (9) It was necessary for us to have some exercise every day. (10) It appears that you are right.,