A Contrastive Study of Chinese and English (II)
1 Topic-prominent vs. Subjectprominent 2 Hypotactic vs. Paratactic 3 Left-branching vs. Right-branching 4 Top-heavy vs. End-weight
Contrast Between English and Chinese
Chinese
Topic-Comment Sentence Structure 话题-评论结构 结构) (话题-评论结构)
English
Subject-Predicate Sentence Structure 主语-谓语结构) (主语-谓语结构)
TopicSubjectTopic-prominent Subject-prominent Language Language 主语突出型语言 话题突出型语言
In an English sentence, prominence is usually given to the subject. There are five basic sentence patterns in English: SV, SVC, SVO, SVO1O2, SVOC, all with SV as its essentials. We can venture to say that an English sentence is built on the subjectpredict-pivot, with the subject and predicate in agreement. On the other hand, a Chinese sentence often lays emphasis on the thought or notion, so it is based on the thought pivot.
汉语:主题显著的语言 (topic-prominent 汉语: language), 采用主题-述题
(topic-comment)的 句式\"话语 说明结构\"汉语句子建立 在意念主轴 (thought-pivot)上. 英语:主语显著的语言 (subject-prominent 英语: language), 几乎都采用主语-谓语(subjectpredicate) 的句式\"主语 谓语结构\"英语句子建立在形式(或主谓)主轴(formpivot)上.
赵元任先生在《汉语口语语法》(1986) 一书中指出:\"在汉语里把主语,谓语当 作话题和说明来看待,比较合适.\". 汉语句子的\"话题\"与\"说明\"是从句子 顺序上说的.\"话题\"是说话人想要说明 的对象,总是放在句子开头处.如果语言 环境或上下文能暗示话题,也可能省略不 提.\"说明\"部分位于话题之后,对话题 进行说明,解释或质疑.
现代英语的五种基本句型:SVP,SV, 现代英语的五种基本句型: , , SVOO,SVO,SVOC都可以分为三部 , , 都可以分为三部 以动词为中心,前面为施动者, 分.以动词为中心,前面为施动者, 后面为受动者,没有动词就不能成为 后面为受动者, 句子,缺了主语,宾语就是语法错误. 句子,缺了主语,宾语就是语法错误. 他的基础是逻辑思维. 他的基础是逻辑思维.
汉语造句不大有词类的概念,只要符合阴 汉语造句不大有词类的概念, 阳对立模式就行了. 阳对立模式就行了. 汉语句子只有两个部分.话题和说明.他 汉语句子只有两个部分.话题和说明. 的基础是阴阳辩证. 的基础是阴阳辩证. 《诗经》是中国最早的文学精华,记录的 诗经》是中国最早的文学精华, 是西周至春秋五百年间的文学创作. 是西周至春秋五百年间的文学创作.所记 诗篇大多四字一顿,八字一句, 诗篇大多四字一顿,八字一句,前面四字 为话题,后面四个字是说明. 为话题,后面四个字是说明.
\"何以解忧,惟有杜康.\"何以解忧, 何以解忧 惟有杜康.\"白发三千丈,缘愁似个长.\"白发三千丈,缘
愁似个长. 满则虑嗛,平则虑险,安则虑危. 满则虑嗛 平则虑险,安则虑危. 荀子) (荀子)
The strange walls of the castle served as a good defense against the attackers. 原译:那城堡的坚固城墙充当了抵御进攻者的 原译: 良好防御物. 良好防御物. 改译:那座城堡的城墙很坚固,在敌人的进攻 改译:那座城堡的城墙很坚固, 中起到了良好的防御作用. 中起到了良好的防御作用. 评论:SVO三分结构,直译,显得不通顺.改 评论: 三分结构, 三分结构 直译,显得不通顺. 译为阴阳结构, 译为阴阳结构,原主语的偏正结构变为描写句 名词+形容词),后句续评论.通顺, ),后句续评论 (名词+形容词),后句续评论.通顺,符合 汉语表达习惯. 汉语表达习惯.
That dirty house is an offense to everyone who lives in the street. 那座肮脏的老房子使住在那条街上的 人都很讨厌它. 人都很讨厌它. 那座老房子很脏,住在那条街上的人 那座老房子很脏, 都很讨厌它. 都很讨厌它.
Her effort gained her a reputation. 她的努力为他赢得了声誉. 她的努力为他赢得了声誉. 她很努力,名声很好. 她很努力,名声很好.
His skill qualify him for the job. 他的技艺使他有资格担任这一工 作. 他有技术,能担任这一工作. 他有技术,能担任这一工作.
You are lucky enough to have a united family. 你真幸运,能有一个和睦的家庭. 你真幸运,能有一个和睦的家庭. 你家庭和睦,真有福气. 你家庭和睦,真有福气.
Chinese-English 我从乡下跑到京城里,一转眼已经六年 我从乡下跑到京城里, 鲁迅 一件小事》 鲁迅《 了. 鲁迅《一件小事》 Six years have slipped by since I came from
the country to the capital.
杨宪益, 杨宪益,戴乃迭 杨宪益 鲁迅《一件小事》 鲁迅《一件小事》 鲁迅
这事到了现在,还是时时记起. 这事到了现在,还是时时记起. Even now, this remains fresh in my memory. 杨宪益 杨宪益, 杨宪益,戴乃迭
汉语句子的特点: 汉语句子的特点: 话题说明,叙述分层,可断可续, 话题说明,叙述分层,可断可续, 意尽为界; 意尽为界; 英语句子的特点: 英语句子的特点: 主谓搭架,枝叶上挂,叠床架屋, 主谓搭架,枝叶上挂,叠床架屋, 都有语法. 都有语法.
冷死我了. 弄得不好,就会前功尽弃. 不经一事,不长一智. 在历史上由于长江不断改道,在武汉地区形成了 众多的湖泊. 婚姻的事,年轻人都自己做主了. 这种鸭,觅食力强,能适应当地湖荡水网的饲养 条件,而且生长速度快,产卵能力好,肉白,细 嫩,味美,是优良的卵肉兼用鸭. My duty forbis me to fly from danger. 他开车时心不在焉,几乎闯祸.
Contrast Between English and Chinese Chinese
Meaning-focused with emphasis on implicit coherence (隐性连贯) Paratactic
English
Form-focused with emphasis on explicit cohesion (显性联接) Hypotactic
语义型语言
(以意统形)
形态型语言
(以形驭意)
①我常见许多青年的朋友,②聪明用 我常见许多青年的朋友, 成绩优异, 功,③成绩优异,④而语文程度不足 以达意, 甚至写一封信亦难得通顺, 以达意,⑤甚至写一封信亦难得通顺, 问其故则曰其兴趣不在语文方面. ⑥问其故则曰其兴趣不在语文方面.
——(梁实秋《学问与趣味》) 梁实秋《学问与趣味》 梁实秋
Translation 1:
①I have come across a great many young friends, ②bright and diligent, ③do exceedingly well in studies, ④but they are rather weak in Chinese, ⑤even can't write a smooth Chinese letter. ⑥When asked why, they'll say they are not interested in Chinese. You are going to find out the mistakes of this paragraph and try to better the translation.
I have come across a great many bright and diligent young friends who have done exceedingly well in their studies, but are rather weak in Chinese. They cannot even write a letter in correct Chinese. When I asked them why, they said they were not interested in the Chinese language. —— (张培基 张培基) 张培基
It is a curious fact, of which I can think of no satisfactory explanation, that
enthusiasm for country life and love of natural scenery are strongest and most widely diffused precisely in those European countries which have the worst climate and where the search for the picturesque involves the greatest discomfort.
AIdous Huxley: The Country
It is a curious fact, of which I can think of no satisfactory explanation, that enthusiasm for country life and love of natural scenery are strongest and most widely diffused precisely in those European countries which have the worst climate and where the search for the picturesque involves the greatest discomfort. AIdous Huxley: The Country
As E. A. Nida points out in his\"Translating Meaning\Chinese are concerned, the most important difference linguistically is the contrast between hypotaxis and parataxis.
Hypotaxis: The dependent or subordinate construction or relationship of clauses arranged with connectives; E.g. I shall despair if you don't come .(The American Heritage Dictionary, p.649 ) Parataxis: The arranging of clauses one after the other without connectives showing the relation between them; e.g. The rain fell; the river flooded; the houses were washed away. (The world Book Dictionary, p. 1513)
汉语句子 (parataxis) 语义型或意合型 依仗 汉语句子: 意义,即内在的逻辑关系组织语言的手段. 意义,即内在的逻辑关系组织语言的手段. 以意统形\"\"以意统形\"英语句子
(hypotaxis) 语法型或形合型 依 英语句子: ) 仗形式(包括词的形态变化,词汇的衔接等) 仗形式(包括词的形态变化,词汇的衔接等) 将语言符号由\"个体的词)
将语言符号由\"散\"(个体的词)到\"集\"词组乃至语篇) (词组乃至语篇)的语言组织手段 ——王力《中国语法理论》 王力《 王力 中国语法理论》
He succeeded in finishing his task, in spite of difficulties. With the big Bull Market gone and prosperity going American were soon to find themselves living in the altered world. It was understood that atoms were the smallest elements. It is known that atoms can be further divided into nuclear and electrons and protons, etc. 土地的价格与原来相比,已涨了两三倍.
Contrast Between English and Chinese Chinese
Chinese: left-extending, heavy-headed like a lion
English
English: right-extending heavy-tailed like a peacock
狮子型语言
孔雀型语言
Chinese: left-extending, heavy-headed like a lion
树 一棵树 一棵大树 一棵枝繁叶茂的大树 校园里一棵枝繁叶茂的大树 江汉大学文理学院校园里一棵枝繁叶茂的大树 三角湖畔江汉大学文理学院校园里一棵枝繁叶茂的大树 ……
汉语: 汉语:逆线性延伸 首开放性 (open-beginning) 尾封闭性 (close-ending)
He is reading. He is reading a book. He is reading a book written by Mark Twain. He is reading a book written by Mark Twain in the reading-room. He is reading a book written by Mark Twain in the reading-room on the second floor of our library. He is reading a book written by Mark Twain in the reading-room on the second floor of our library which has just opened.
英语: 英语:顺线性延伸 首封闭性 (close-beginning) 尾开放性 (open-ending)
汉语:\"板块型\"或\"竹节型\"汉语句子往往 汉语:
是句子较短,结构紧凑,好似\"万倾碧波层层推进\"\"左分支\"结构 (left-branching)\"后重心\":重要 信息放在后面.\"狮子头\"(头大尾小)
英语 多枝共干型\"或\"葡萄串型\"英语句子如 英语:
\"老树参天, 枝杈横生\句子长, 插入成分多, 形成 复杂嵌套结构.\"右分支\"结构 (right-branching )\"前重心\":主要信息放在主句中,放在句首.前 重后轻.\"孔雀尾\":头小尾大
由于汉语的\"意合\"特点,有些汉语句子的内部 由于汉语的\"意合\"特点, 成分常常一一罗列,呈现并排式结构, 成分常常一一罗列,呈现并排式结构,外形上没 主从之分,层面之间
没有明显的逻辑标记. 主从之分,层面之间没有明显的逻辑标记.有人 形象地把这种句子称为\"板块\"式结构, 形象地把这种句子称为\"板块\"式结构,也有人 称为\"竹节\"式结构. 称为\"竹节\"式结构. 英语句子的\"主谓结构\"为句子主干,其它成分 英语句子的\"主谓结构\"为句子主干, 则通过各种连带附加关系附着在这条主干上, 则通过各种连带附加关系附着在这条主干上,犹 如树枝与树干的关系. 如树枝与树干的关系.人们把英语句子的这种结 构称作\"多枝共干\"构称作\"多枝共干\"型.
中国人的思维模式基本上是首先考虑事 物的环境和外围因素, 物的环境和外围因素,然后考虑具体事 物或中心事件. 物或中心事件.西方人的思维模式正相 首先考虑中心事物, 反,首先考虑中心事物,然后才加上外 围因素. 围因素.
中西思维方式的差异,表现到句子结构上, 中西思维方式的差异,表现到句子结构上,就是汉语中的状 语总放在谓语或句子主体前边,形成\"左分支\"结构, 语总放在谓语或句子主体前边,形成\"左分支\"结构,整体 上显得头大尾小,有人将其比作\"狮子头\"形状. 上显得头大尾小,有人将其比作\"狮子头\"形状.
村东头的王大妈来了,受坏人欺骗的村民们也来 村东头的王大妈来了, 了. There came Aunt Wang who dwelt at the eastern end of the village, and also came the villagers who had been deceived by the scoundrel.
英语句式正相反.英语的定语成分除单词外, 英语句式正相反.英语的定语成分除单词外,多数都置于 中心词之后.多数英语状语的正常位置也是置于主干成分 中心词之后. 之后,由此形成了英语的右分支结构,句子多为前短后长, 之后,由此形成了英语的右分支结构,句子多为前短后长, 有人将其形容为\"孔雀尾\"有人将其形容为\"孔雀尾\".
去年他为了完成一个项目在实验室用计算机努力 地干了十个月. 地干了十个月. He worked hard with a computer in the lab for ten months in order to complete a project last year.
There are various kinds of waves invisible to the naked eye in the aerospace. There is no royal road to science, and only those who do not dread the fatiguing climb of the steep path have a chance of gaining its luminous summits. 家家房顶上都装了供沐浴用的太阳能热水 器. 太阳风使地球磁场的形状发生变化,将它 向外牵扯,扯出一条长尾.
Contrast Between English and Chinese
Chinese
Order of linguistic elements: relatively fixed like bamboomaking (制竹) 制竹) (语序相对固定) 语序相对固定)
English
Order of linguistic elements: relatively flexible like blockbuilding (积木) 积木) (语序相对灵活) 语序相对灵活)
Chinese: bamboo-like sentence structure (竹式结构)
从前这里有一个渔村,村里住 着十户人家,这十户人家全 靠打鱼,种地 为生,生活艰 苦,但很安宁. 开始家人是不让父亲抽烟的, 得了绝症后,想开了,抽吧, 拣好的买,想抽就抽.
The chunks of a sentence seem to be connected and yet separated, like sections of a bamboo linked by the joints and yet relatively independent and self-contained.
English: tree-like sentence structure (树式结构)
As a nation of gifted people who comprise about one-fourth of the total population of the earth, China plays in world affairs a role that can only grow more important in the years ahead. -- Jimmy Carter
Trunk line: S + V + (O) Branches and sub-branches : Adverbials and attributes
Contrast Betwee
n English and Chinese
Chinese
bamboo-like sentence structure (竹式结构) 竹式结构) with different sections linked and yet separated
English
tree-like sentence structure 树式结构) (树式结构)with different parts connected like branches and sub-branches to the trunk line
Rhythmic speech or writing is like waves of the sea, moving onward with
alternating rise and fall, connected yet separated, like but different, suggestive of some law, too complex for analysis or statement, controlling the relations between wave and wave, waves and sea, phrase and phrase, phrases and speech. H. W. Fowler (1858 – 1933)
Chinese Order of Linguistic Elements 汉语语序(1) 汉语语序( )
Relatively fixed (相对固定) 相对固定) Order of time (时间先后顺序) 时间先后顺序)
Words: 古今,先后,早晚,始终,老少,生死 Idioms: 冬去春来,一呼百应,风平浪静 Phrases: 进城卖菜,离家出走,去教室看书 Sentences: 我们在美国读书的时候,结识了一位 木匠.有一天,木匠开车接我们去他家,路上所 谈,尽是木匠的事,深得其乐……
Chinese Order of Linguistic Elements 汉语语序( ) 汉语语序(2)
Order of space (空间大小顺序) 空间大小顺序)
Words: 大小,宽窄,粗细,长短,厚薄,胖瘦 Idioms: 大同小异,长话短说,厚古薄今 Addresses: 中国上海康桥路1500号 Sentences: 一到上海,我们首先想到浦东这片改 革,开放的热土.于是我们驾车来到陆家嘴金融 开发区,那节次鳞比,神态各异的摩天大楼令人 眼花缭乱.我们决定先登上东方明珠广播电视 塔……
Chinese Order of Linguistic Elements 汉语语序( ) 汉语语序(3)
Order of importance (重轻顺序) 重轻顺序)
Words: 天地,日月,国家,君臣,优劣,强弱 Idioms: 国破家亡,天久地长,优胜劣汰,恃强凌 弱,一人得道,鸡犬升天 Phrases: 红色的圆木桌,圆形的红木桌,木制的 红圆桌 Sentences: 我用这把刀切肉. 这把刀我用来切肉. 切肉我用这把刀.
Chinese Order of Linguistic Elements 汉语语序( ) 汉语语序(4)
Order of logic English Order of Linguistic Elements 英语语序 Relatively flexible order (语序相对灵活) 语序相对灵活) resulting from the use of inflections and connectives Phrases: the Russian people, a pretty and clever girl the people of Russia, a girl pretty and clever the people living in Russia, a girl who is pretty and clever the people who live in Russia English Order of Linguistic Elements 英语语序 Relatively flexible order (语序相对灵活) 语序相对灵活) resulting from the use of flections and connectives Sentences: 志同道合,友谊才会持久. Friendship will last only if it is based on a common goal. Only if friendship is based on a common goal, it will last. 天下雨,运动会延期了. The sports meet was postponed because of rain. Because of rain, the sports meet was postponed. Please compare: We saw many signs of occupation while strolling along a street past a major concentration of the huts not far away from the Central Avenue. 我们看到很多住人的迹象, 当漫步街头走过一个很大 的棚户集中地,离中央大 道不远. 我们漫步街头,在中央大 道附近发现了一个很大的 棚户区,有很多迹象表明 茅棚里还住了人. Pay attention to Chinese order of time and space. 5 Top-heavy vs. End-weight 前重心与后重心 In an English sentence, the shorter elements usually go before longer ones in arrangement order, thus the weight of the sentence is put at the end, and the whole sentence looks like a pyramid. That also explain why there are so many inverted sentences in English. The arrangement of a Chinese sentence seems quite the opposite, where the important elements are often said at the beginning of a sentence. So it looks like an inverted pyramid or triangle. I am much abroad in my guess. 我大错特错. (英语的许多形容词表现力很强, 可以携带丰富的信息,表达复杂的 内容.) 英语句子和汉语句子的重心一般都落在结果, 英语句子和汉语句子的重心一般都落在结果, 结论,假设或事实上; 结论,假设或事实上; 但是重心的位置不同: 但是重心的位置不同:英语句子一般时前重 汉语句子一般是后重心. 心;汉语句子一般是后重心. 原因和结果 生活中既有悲剧,文学作品就可以写悲 生活中既有悲剧, 剧. Tragedies can be written in literature since there is tragedy in life. 结论和分析 揭穿这种老八股,老教条的丑态给人民看,号 揭穿这种老八股,老教条的丑态给人民看, 召人民起来反对老八股,老教条, 召人民起来反对老八股,老教条,这就是五四 运动时期的一个极大的功绩. 运动时期的一个极大的功绩. A tremendous achievement of the May 4th Movement was its public exposure of the ugliness of old stereotype and the old dogma and its call to the people to rise against them. 假设和前提 小国人民敢于起来斗争,敢于拿起武器,掌握自己 小国人民敢于起来斗争,敢于拿起武器, 国家的命运,就一定能够战胜大国的侵略. 国家的命运,就一定能够战胜大国的侵略. The people of a small country can certainly defeat aggression by a big country, if only they dare to rise in struggle, dare to take up arms and grasp in their own hands the destiny of their own country. 因篇幅问题不能全部显示，请点此查看更多更全内容