1、E-C Translation,第二讲 英汉语言对比,一位前台小姐和老外的对话,前台小姐:“Hello.” 老外:“Hi.” 前台小姐:“You have what thing?” 老外:“Can you speak english?” 前台小姐:“If I not speak english, I am speaking what?” 老外:“Can anybody else speak English?” 前台小姐:“You yourself look. All people are playing, no people have time, you can wait, you not w
2、ait, you go!”,老外:“Good heavens. Anybody here can speak English?” 前台小姐:“Shout what shout, quiet a little, you on earth have what thing?” 老外:“I want to speak to your head.” 前台小姐:“Head not zai. You tomorrow come!” 启示:中英文表达方式不同。要在了解各自语言特点的基础上,才能更好地做到“中英俱佳”。,“我相信,对于中国学生最有用的帮助是让他认识英语和汉语的差别,在每一个具体问题词形、词义、语
3、法范畴、句子结构上,都尽可能用汉语的情况来跟英语作比较,让他通过这种比较得到更深刻的领会。” 吕叔湘中国人学英语,二、英汉思维对比,三、英汉语言的词汇对比,四、英汉语言中的句法对比,英汉语言对比,一、英汉语言起源与本质对比,一、英汉语言本质对比,1、谱系 ( language family) 汉语 - 汉臧语系Sino-Tibetan 英语 - 印欧语系 Indo-European,2、 类型 (type) 语言的本质 汉语 - 分析型(analytical) 英语 - 综合型(synthetic);由综合型向分析型发展分析语的特征是不用形态变化而用词序及虚词来表达语法关系。 综合语的特征是运
4、用形态变化来表达语法关系.,3. 文字系统 (writing system),象形文字与拼音文字的差异 汉字:象形,指事,会意,形声,转注,假借(直观形象) 英语造词:词缀法(affixation),转化法(conversion),复合词法(composition),拼缀法(blending),逆成法(backform),缩略法(shortening).,4.语音系统的差异,英语:语调语言(intonation language)升调,降调,重音 汉语:声调语言(tone language),汉语语音的其他特点 音节匀称,成双成对(单音节与单音节搭配,双音节与双音节搭配)例:此处禁止停车辆此处
5、禁止停车/此处禁止停放车辆 双声,叠韵,叠音等修辞例:徘徊,新鲜,饥肠辘辘,杨柳依依 四字成语的广泛应用,利用发音特点形成的语言游戏难以进行英汉互译。,例: 寻寻觅觅,冷冷清清,凄凄惨惨戚戚。 声声慢李清照 So dim, so dark, So dense, so dull, So damp, so dank, So dead! translated by 林语堂,二、英汉思维对比,1.Linear(直线型) vs Spiral (螺旋型)英语是典型的“直线型”思维,而汉语则是典型的“螺旋型”思维。因此,英语里习惯于直切主题,不拐弯抹角。而汉语则不同,中国人常常要在点题之前作充分准备,最后才
6、把重点讲出来。英语里很喜欢使用现有理论作演绎推理,而汉语里更喜欢归纳式讨论,即先罗列现象或先摆出具体的事实再作抽象总结。,Of StudiesFrancis Bacon 培根(1561-1626)Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition
7、of business. 读书足以怡情,足以傅彩,足以长才。其怡情也,最见于独处幽居之时;其博彩也,最见于高谈阔论之中;其长才也,最见于处世判事之际。 (王佐良译),关 雎 关关雎鸠,在河之洲。窈窕淑女,君子好逑。 参差荇菜,左右流之。窈窕淑女,寤寐求之。 求之不得,寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉。辗转反侧。 参差荇菜,左右采之。窈窕淑女,琴瑟友之。 参差荇菜,左右毛之。窈窕淑女。钟鼓乐之。,2.Concreteness(具象) VS. abstractness(抽象),英语中抽象的内容多,汉语中具体的内容多。 西方人受西方哲学思想体系的影响, 较注重抽象思维,他们擅长使用抽象的概念来表达具体的事物,抽象
8、表达方式在英语中相当普遍。 相对而言, 中国人在说明问题时爱用形象与比喻法,即使涉及到逻辑推理问题也偏爱形象思维。,Western:重理性和逻辑 具有“是玫瑰花也给拆散”的抽象思辨能力。 e.g. There is no difference but difference of degree between different degrees of difference and no difference. 英语语言特征:功能性。,China:重直觉和意象 强调以直觉顿悟式的综合思维方式去亲近世界。枯藤老树昏鸦, 小桥流水人家, 古道西风瘦马, 夕阳西下, 断肠人在天涯汉语语言特征:形象性,直
9、观性。喜用具体比喻抽象,量词丰富。,1. 英语常用大量含义概括的词来表达复杂的理性概念 work with meticulous care(精雕细刻) accept sth. uncritically(生吞活剥) be full of fears and misgivings(前怕狼后怕虎) 画饼充饥(feed on illusions) 归根到底(in the final analysis) 冷言冷语(sarcastic comments) 弱不禁风(be in delicate health),2.英语中一些较抽象的概念在汉语中常常用一些习惯性的具体词来转述:area(面积)大小;leng
10、th(长度)长短; depth(深度)深浅;width(宽度)宽窄; weight(重量)轻重 Time mutes all feelings.时间的流逝会使各种感情变得淡漠。 Wisdom prepares for the worst; but folly leaves the worst for the day it comes. 聪明人防患于未然,愚蠢者临渴掘井。,3.本体型思维 vs 客体型思维,中国文化以人文为中心,以人为本位,最富人文意识,最重人文精神,中国文化本质上是一种人本文化。这种人本文化的长期积淀,形成了汉民族本体型的思维方式,即以人为中心来观察、分析、推理和研究事物。西方
11、文化则以物本为主体,以自然为本位,比较偏重于对自然客体的观察和研究。这种思维方式的差异反映在语言上,当涉及行为主体时汉语习惯于用表示人或生物的词(animate)做主语,而英语则常用非生物名词(inanimate)做主语。 -国学大师 钱穆,“主观”和“客观”的风格差异在说服性文章上体现得更为明显。英美人遵循的主要原则是:Let the facts and logic speak for themselves.(让事实和逻辑为自己说话。) 他们靠客观的态度、令人信服的事实和严谨的推理来征服读者。中国学生在写这类文章时,容易受汉语思维的影响,措词和语气更富有战斗性,常用 “all of us h
12、ave no choice but.”, “we must”, “you should”, “it is absolutely wrong to .”之类的句子,这在英美人看来是作者的主观态度,有点强加于人却不能真正说服人。,1.The thick carpet killed the sound of my footsteps.我走在厚厚的地毯上,一点脚步声也没有。 2. An idea suddenly struck/occurred to/dawned on/ me. 我突然想到一个主意。3. His passion carried him astray. 他因感情冲动而误入歧途。4.Hi
13、s illness kept him in hospital four weeks .他因病在医院住了四个星期。 5.Dawn met him well along the way. 在东方欲晓的时候,他早已走了一大段路了。,三、英汉语言中的词汇对比,甲:这一点小意思,请务必收下。 乙:你这人真是有意思,怎么也来这一套? 甲:唉,只是意思意思。 乙:啊,真是不好意思。分析:上面对话中的“意思”,在上下文中的意思都不一样,必须深入分析原文的语境并加以灵活翻译:A: This is a little gift as a token of my appreciation. Please do tak
14、e it. B: Oh, arent you a bit too polite? You shouldnt do that. A: Well, it just conveys my gratitude. B: Ah, thank you then, though I really dont deserve it.,从词性讲: 两种语言都有实词和虚词之分,都有名、动、形、副、数、感叹词。英语以名词词组见长,汉语以动词见长。 英语有冠词无量词,汉语有量词无冠词。,英汉词汇在词义上的对应关系 一、完全对应 (主要是一些专有名词,术语,客观事物) 天空sky; 眼睛eye;湖泊lake;婴儿baby;
15、 综合国力overall national strength;民族尊严national dignity 二、包含关系 (汉语词语的意义包含在英语词语中或者英语的意义包含在汉语词语中) 1)英语的意义包含在汉语词语中: 穿(衣服):wear/put on 借:borrow; lend; 主人:master/owner/host; 地毯:carpet/rug; 货:goods; merchandise(泛指货物;)products; cargo; shipment;,2)汉语词语的意义包含在英语词语中例:英语中的audience 包括了汉语的:“听众”、“观众”、 “读者”; 英语的marry包含
16、了汉语 的: “娶,嫁”; 英语的cousin包含了汉语的: “堂兄”“堂弟、“堂姐”“堂妹”“表兄”“表弟”“表姐”“表妹”; 英语中的thick / thin可以表示 “厚薄”、“粗细”、“稠稀”、“浓密/稀疏”,三、语义空缺 由于社会文化的差异,汉语中有些词语的词义在英语中没有表达这种词义的词语,反之亦然。,例:“粽子” Zongzidumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves; “窝窝头”Wowotousteamed bread of corn 乌纱帽 an official post 东施效颦 (do
17、ngshi imates xish?) pudding 布丁 sundae 圣代/新地 Achilles heel (阿克琉斯的脚踝?),四、交叉对应 汉英词语之间有部分语义相同,其他语义不同的现象:Works 1) 著作;2)工厂 工厂:1)works; 2) plant Plant: 1) 工厂;2)植物 植物:1)plant; 2) vegetable Vegetable: 1) 植物;2)蔬菜英汉词语之间的交叉对应主要是由搭配、上下文和语境决定的。 大多数英汉词语在语义上呈交叉对应关系,Polysemy (英语中有许多词一词多义,其所表示的各个意义,分别与汉语中几个不同的词或词组对应。
18、),1. 毒性较轻的麻醉剂;软性麻醉毒品 2. 非百分之百可靠的,不充分的情报 3. 纸币 4. 软饮料 5. 文火 6. 软水(不含矿物盐类而易溶解肥皂的水);,1. a soft drug 2. soft intelligence 3. soft money 4. soft drink 5. soft fire 6. soft water,四、英汉语言中的句法对比,形合与意合(Hypotactic vs Paratactic),As it is too late for you to go home now, you had better stay overnight at this pl
19、ace. (as表明主从句的因果关系)现在回家太晚,你最好在这儿住一晚。(因果关系靠内在逻辑关系来理解) 天长地久有时尽,此恨绵绵无绝期。(白居易)(注重整体表达效果,转折关系没有明示)The eternal universe sometimes comes to an end, but my unceasing complaint knows no limit. (增加连词but,明确转折关系),英语的形合实现方式,1 关系词和连接词,如who, whose, which ,what, when, why, how, and, or, but, yet ,so, however, until
20、, 例: When I try to understand what it is that prevents so many Americans from being as happy as one might expect, it seems to me that there are two causes, of which one goes much deeper than the other. 为什么如此众多的美国人不能如想象中那样幸福呢?我认为原因有二, 而两者之间又有深浅之分。,2 介词, with, to, in, of, about, between, through, insi
21、de, onto, upon, within, according to, along with, apart from, because of. 据G. Curme 统计,英语各类介词共约286个。,例:The many colors of a rainbow range from red on the outside to violet on the inside.,彩虹有多种颜色,外圈红,内圈紫。,汉语的“意合”实现方式汉语重意合而不重形合,词语之间的关系常在不言之中,语法意义和逻辑联系常隐含在字里行间。汉语的意合往往采取以下手段: 1.词序调整 例: 人不犯我,我不犯人。 We wil
22、l not attack unless we are attacked. 说是说了,没有结果。 Ive made proposals, but they proved futile.,2.反复、排比、对偶、对照等 例: 他不来,我不去。 If he wont come here, Ill not go there. 聪明一世,糊涂一时。 Smart as a rule, but this time a fool. 3.紧缩句 例: 有饭大家吃。 Let everybody shares the food if there is any. 不到黄河不死心。 Until all is over,
23、ambition never dies.,4.四字格 例: 不进则退He who does not advance falls backward./ Move forward, or youll fall behind. 物极必反 Once a certain limit is reached, a change in the opposite direction is inevitable. 酒令智昏: When wine is in, wit is out.,Complex vs. Simple(繁复与简短),“Subordination(从属结构), the placing of cer
24、tain elements in modifying roles, is a fundamental principle of writing.”-Crews,据统计,对英语而言,专业作者写的句子平均长度为20个词,受过教育的人写的句子平均长度为25个词。而汉语以中短句居多,最佳长度为7至12字。,两种语言不同的造句方式,英语造句主要使用“楼房建筑法”(architecture style),句子一般有完整的结构,许多有关的成分通过各种表示关系和连接的手段组成关系词结集(conjunctive nexus),直接或间接的粘附在这个句子结构的里外,前后、左右或中间,整个句子成了庞大复杂的“建筑物
25、”。,汉语主要采用“流水记事法”(chronicle style),常用分句或流水句来逐层叙述思维的各个过程(streamline the thoughts)。,根据上述英汉特点,英译汉是常常要破句重组,化繁为简。,例: In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colors.,门口放着一堆雨伞,少说也有十二把,五颜六色,大小不一。,Can you answer a question which I want to ask and which is puzzling me?,我有一个问题弄不懂,想请教你,你能回答
26、吗?,汉语的分句或流水句译成英语时,常常要化简为繁,组合成复合句或长句。,例: 因为距离远,又缺乏交通工具,农村社会是与外界隔绝的。这种隔绝状态,由于通讯工具不足,就变得更加严重了。,The isolation of the rural world because of distance and the lack of transport facilities is compounded by the paucity of the information media.,原来悟空手疾眼快,正在那混乱之时,他拔下一根毫毛,叫声“变!”就变做他的本相。(吴承恩西游记),As Sun Wukong w
27、as deft of hand and quick of eye, he plucked one of the hairs from his body in the midst of the fray and shouted “Change!” It changed into his own double.,Impersonal vs Personal (物称与人称),回顾:语言的差异一般源于思维模式的差异:本体型思维与客体型思维,英语较注重“什么事发生在什么人身上”;汉语注重“什么人怎么了”。,例: My good fortune has sent you to me, and we wil
28、l never part. (H.Andersen: The little Mermaid) 我很幸运,能够得到你,让我们永不分离吧。,Passive vs Active (被动 vs 主动),被动语态在英语里是一种常见的语法现象。英语常用被动句主要有一下几方面的原因:,1 不需要、不可能或不便指明施事者,The murderer was caught yesterday, and it is said that he will be hanged.,Some things have been said here tonight that ought not to have been spok
29、en.,今晚有人在此讲了些不该讲的话。,2 句法要求:为了使句子平衡,保持末端中心(end focus)和末端重量(end weight),以符合主语简短、谓语复杂的表达习惯。,I was astounded that he was prepared to give me a job.,他准备给我一份工作,这使我大吃一惊。,而汉语被动的使用受到限制。古代汉语主要用“为” 字或”为所“结构。如论语”不为酒困“,杜甫”茅屋为秋风所破“。现代汉语主要用”被字式“,如”被捕“,”被杀“,”被压迫“等,辅以 “让”、“给”、“挨”、“受”、“遭”等词。 英语的被动句在译成汉语时常以变换主语,省略主语或采
30、用通称或泛称(如“人”、“有人”、“人们”、“大家”、“某人”等方式译为主动句。,John actually loved Mary and was loved in return.,约翰真的爱玛丽,而玛丽也爱约翰。,Language is shaped by, and shapes, human thought.,人的思想形成了语言,而语言又形成了人的思想。,Exercises,1. Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life:longing for love, the search for k
31、nowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. (直线型vs.螺旋型思维)2. It has long been maintained that it was only during his Harvard graduate years that Eliot developed his interest in primitive cultures.(主体vs.客体)3.In recent years local newspapers have been sprinkled(散布,喷洒) with passionate le
32、tters advising various suggestions on the urban construction of Beijing.(主体vs. 客体),4. It had been a fine, golden autumn, a lovely farewell to those who would lose their youth, and some of them their lives, before the leaves turned again in a peace time fall.(形合vs.意合)5.跑得了和尚,跑不了庙。(形合vs意合)6.冬天来了,春天还会远
33、吗?(形合vs意合)7.The boy, who was crying as if his heart would break, said, when I spoke to him, that he was very hungry because he had had no food for two days.(简单句vs.繁复句),9.The kaleidoscope(万花筒) of shifting interests of the nations during the negotiation made it impossible to sort out (分辨)the “winners”
34、 and “losers”.(简单vs.繁复)10. Accomplishment is often deceptive because we dont see the pain and perseverance that produced it. So we may credit the achiever with brains, brawn(体力) or lucky break(运气好), and let ourselves off the hook (开脱,免责)because we fall short(缺乏,不达标) in all three.(简单vs.复合),Reference
35、versions,1. Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life:longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. (直线型vs.螺旋型思维)Version 1:三种简单而无比强烈的情感支配着我的生活,它们是对爱的渴望、对知识的寻求和对人类苦难的深切同情。 Version2: 渴望爱、寻求知识和对人类苦难的深切同情,这是支配我的生活的三种简单而无比强烈的情感
36、。,2. It has long been maintained that it was only during his Harvard graduate years that Eliot developed his interest in primitive cultures.(主体vs.客体) 人们长期以来坚持认为,艾略特对原始文化的兴趣是他在哈佛读研究生的岁月里培养起来的。 3. In recent years local newspapers have been sprinkled(散布,喷洒) with passionate letters advising various sugg
37、estions on the urban construction of Beijing.(主体vs. 客体) 近年来热情的读者纷纷致函各地方报纸,对北京的城市建设提出了种种建议。,4. It had been a fine, golden autumn, a lovely farewell to those who would lose their youth, and some of them their lives, before the leaves turned again in a peace time fall.(形合vs.意合) 那是个天气晴朗、金黄可爱的秋天,对于那些在和平时
38、期的秋天树叶再度转黄之前将要失去青春、有的要失去生命的人们是一个动人的送别。 那是个天气晴朗、金黄可爱的秋天,动人的秋色为那些青年们送别。待到战后和平时期,黄叶纷飞的秋天再度来临时,当日的青年已经失去了青春,有的失去了生命。,5.跑得了和尚,跑不了庙。(形合vs意合) Even if the monk can run away, his temple cannot run with him. 6.冬天来了,春天还会远吗?(形合vs意合) If winter comes , can spring be far behind? 7.The boy, who was crying as if his
39、 heart would break, said, when I spoke to him, that he was very hungry because he had had no food for two days.(简单句vs.繁复句) 男孩哭得心都快碎了,当我问他时,他说饿极了,有两天没吃东西了。,9.The kaleidoscope(万花筒) of shifting interests of the nations during the negotiation made it impossible to sort out (分辨)the “winners” and “losers”
40、.(简单vs.复合) 谈判期间,各国的利益变化不定,好像万花筒似的,这就使人难以分辨出究竟谁是“胜者”,谁是“输家”。,10. Accomplishment is often deceptive because we dont see the pain and perseverance that produced it. So we may credit the achiever with brains, brawn or lucky break, and let ourselves off the hook because we fall short in all three.(简单vs.复合) 成就常常有误导作用,因为它会使我们看不到成功背后的艰难困苦和坚韧不拔的精神。于是我们常会把别人的成就归功于人家脑子灵,身体壮或者运气好,而以我们不具备这三个条件为自己开脱。,Thanks!,