Translation Techniques of Negation between English and Chinese 商业英语毕业论文.doc

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1、Translation Techniques of Negation between English and ChineseContentsAbstract .1Introduction .2. Illustration about the forms of negation between English and Chinese.1.1 Sentential negation in English can be achieved in 3 ways in general: Predicate negation、 no-predicate negation and unmarked negat

2、ion.1.2 In transfer negation in EnglishChinese translation, the negated part of English should be transferred.1.2.1Negate subject in English, but negate predicate in Chinese1.2.2Negate object in English, but negate predicate in Chinese.1.2.3Negate the predicate of subjects in English, but negate the

3、 predicate of clause sentences in Chinese.1.3. In English, in order to achieve partial negation, one way is to put the general negate not before universal words. This kind of negation does not negate the meaning of the whole sentence, just certain part of it.Illustration about the techniques of Engl

4、ish-Chinese negation2.1 Affirmative in English, but negation in Chinese2.2 Negative in English, but affirmative in Chinese.2.3 Some English word either affirmative or negative equivalents in Chinese2.4 Double negation for emphasis2.5 Roundabout affirmative2.6 Some English words and phrases must be t

5、ranslated into affirmative Chinese since they are widely accepted through common practice.The techniques of negation in Chinese-English Translation3.1Negation according to English usage3.2Negation for emphasis or rhetorical effect3.3Negation to convey exactly the original meaning. ConclusionsReferen

6、cesTranslation Techniques of Negation between English and ChineseAbstractNegation is one of the most common phenomena in language. With different cultural background and social system, English is quite different from Chinese, ranging from vocabulary、grammar、sentence structure to the style of the art

7、icle. There is a variety of negation in both languages, which causes a big problem in understanding and translation for our students .As some linguists have pointed out, every language has its peculiarities in negation .And there is indeed a great, though often negated, difference between English Ch

8、inese in negation .This paper will first discuss the difference of how the negation is expressed in both the languages are made. The paper, secondly, will then introduce the techniques of negation in EnglishChinese translation. Thirdly, the papers will probe into the techniques of negation in Chines

9、eEnglish translation.Key words: Negation translation: The forms of Negation; Techniques of negation Introduction： What is negation? “Negation is a linguistic universal” for cognitive and pragmatic reasons .Every language must have the possibilities of asserting that the state of affairs expressed by

10、 sentence is not ture”.1As we all know, both Chinese and English have the similar thinking ways of expressing negative meanings. Therefore, some negative sentences can be translated directly ,however ,due to the vocabulary、grammatical and even the language logical differences between Chinese and Eng

11、lish. What is affirmative in form in one language may often mean something negative in other. The category of negation is complicated and the translation of it is not easy job. This paper, with its focus on negation translation, will here present a brief review of studies on negation translation bef

12、ore talk about the topic of the essay. Zhou Fangzhou points out that in both English and Chinese, a thing or a thought can either be expressed in a negative way or an affirmative way, so in translation, phrases or sentences in the original can be rendered either negatively or affirmatively in the ta

13、rget text. He calls the technique negation, which is useful to the translation of some words or phrases with negative implication. 2 The paper will manage to study how different negation can be translated between English Chinese based on the classifications of negation form the perspective of senten

14、ce structure. The arrangement of the paper falls into 4 parts. The paper will first analyze the negation in both languages from the view of form. Secondly, the paper will adopt 6 basic techniques to elaborate English negation by using examples. Thirdly, the paper will have a deep analysis of the con

15、version the negative and the affirmative in ChineseEnglish based on 3 considerations or techniques. In the last part of the thesis, based on the study of the previous chapter, a general conclusion of the thesis will be drawn. Illustration about the forms of negation between English and Chinese.1.1Se

16、ntential negation in English can be achieved in 3 ways in general: predicate negation, no-predicate negation and unmarked negation. Predicate negation means predicate mix with full negative words and phrases: such as never、either、nobody、nowhere 、nothing、etc. also some phrases :not at all、not in the

17、least、by no means、in no way、none the less、none other than, etc .All of them say or mean noornotat all. In other word, when these words are used, the sentence will be changed from affirmative to negative and the meaning will become opposite.e.g. (a) He can not have finished the work.他不可能已经完成了那项工作。e.g

18、. (b) They did not find what they had lost.他们没找到丢的东西。We have found out that negation can not only be achieved through predicate negation, but also through non-predicate, which frequently takes place in literary workse.g. (a) Without much time for life-or lovee.g. (b) 很少有时间享受生活或谈情说爱。The best hearts a

19、re always the bravest.无私者无畏 The similar correspondent unmarked which are used to accomplish sentential negation between English and Chinese include: absence(缺乏),against(反对)neglect(忽视)and so on .e.g. (a) Painting is the most common way to protect metals from corrosion.涂漆是使金属免受腐蚀的最通用的办法。e.g. (b) If th

20、ey think that clinches the argument against deregulation of economy, they miss a crucial point.如果他们认为那样做就能证明发对撤销经济调节之说言之有理，那么他们就没有抓住问题的要害。 1.2 In transfer negation in EnglishChinese translation, the negated part of English should be transferred. The position of negate is totally different from betwe

21、en English and Chinese.1.2.1Negate subject in English, but negate predicate in Chinesee.g. (a) Matter must move, or no work is done. 物质必须运动，否则就没有做功。e.g. (b)Without the sun, nothing could live. 如果没有太阳，什么也不能存在。 e.g. (c) Not a fly nor a mosquito was found around here. 这里周围，无论是苍蝇还是蚊子，一只也找不到。 1.2.2Negate

22、 objects in English , but negate predicate in Chinese.e.g. (a) Two months had passed, but her burnt arm showed no sign of healing. 两个月过去了，但是她烧伤的手臂仍然不见复原的迹象。e.g. (b) we know nothing about the matter. 我们全然不知道这件事。Negation in English can exists in the object, while in the translation for the Chinese the

23、 negation should be transferred to the predicate, Taking into account the way of Chinese expression, e.g. (b) the original sentence, nothing is translated as the negation of the predicate know In addition, the adverb 全然 translation makes the Chinese meaning original.1.2.3Negate the predicate of subj

24、ects in English, but negate the predicate of clause sentences in Chinese.e.g. (a) I do not believe that they will oppose your proposal. 我相信他们是不会反对你的建议的。在原句中否定词not 被用来否定 think 而汉语中 不会 用来否定 反对 e.g. (a) I do not think that they will arrive on time. 我们认为他不可能按时到达。 e.g. (b) she does not feel that she can

25、stand her husbands insult any longer.她觉得她再也不能忍受她丈夫的侮辱。This negative shift above is limited, The sentences should be guided by “that ”(or omit that“ the”) object clause, and the predicate of the main clause must be “think,”“ believe” and peoples views and feelings related to the verb.1.3. In English,

26、 in order to achieve partial negation, one way is to put the general negate not before universal words. This kind of negation does not negate the meaning of the whole sentence, just certain part of it. Examples 7 and8 illustrate this:e.g. (a) All the students are not diligent并不是所有的学生都聪明e.g. (b) Both

27、 of them can not swim.他们二人并非都会游泳 .Illustration about the techniques of English-Chinese negation In this section, efforts will be devoted to translation examples of negation from English-Chinese. In most cases, these negative expressions can be translated literally, but in some circumstances, they sh

28、ould be readjusted to according to different text. 2.1 Affirmative in English, but negation in Chinese Sometimes there is no negative word in an English sentence, but the sentence really has a negative meaning. In this case, the sentence often is translated into a negative Chinese one. Such cases ar

29、e found in a wide range of scope: words of different parts of speech、various phrase、or sentence structures.e.g. (a) The officals, speaking on condition of anonymity, say that the talk ended with agreement to move on the bilateral negotiations.一些不愿透露姓名的官员们说，会谈结束时双方同意继续举行双边谈判，但对谈判地点尚未取得一致的意见。e.g. (b)

30、But for her the race of the world would have trampled him underfoot, a squashed boneless snail.要不是有她，他早就被你争我夺得社会踩在脚下变成一摊稀烂的蜗牛泥。e.g. (c) This would be the last place the colonialists would, for in it lay riches and natural resources.这是殖民者最不愿意离开的地方，因为这里蕴藏着财富和自然资源。2.2 Negative in English, but affirmati

31、ve in Chinese.This case is just opposite to the previous one. When an English negative sentence in form act usually expresses the affirmative meanings, it is usually translated into an affirmative Chinese sentence. if the sentence is directly translated into a similar negative Chinese, it would not

32、go with the way in Chinese language.e.g. (a) They are soft、good-natured、and easy-going. They never deny their children any wish, and cheerfully run to buy anything their children ask for.他们性情温和，心地善良，宽容随和。他们往往迁就孩子，总是满心欢喜地跑去买孩子们要求的任何东西。e.g. (b) suddenly he descried a dim yellow light moving noiselessl

33、y towards him from the far end of a long lane.突然，他看见有一盏昏黄的灯正从巷道德深处静静地向他移过来。2.3 Some English word either affirmative or negative equivalents in ChineseSome affirmative translations sounds more in the Chinese way and much easier to be accepted comparing with the negative one. In this case, we usually

34、translate he English negative into a Chinese affirmative. Sometimes, the liberal translation is much better than a literal translation. As far as the target language readers are concerned, some English affirmations could be translated into the Chinese negations.e.g. (a) He realized that he was in tr

35、ouble.他意识到遇到麻烦了。/ 他感觉自己的处境不妙。e.g. (b) The works of art were left intact, the money gone艺术品还在，钱却不翼而飞了。/艺术品原封不动，钱却不翼而飞2.4 Double negation for emphasis Double negation means the negation of negation. If there are two negative words in one sentence, and the meanings of them are counteracting each other,

36、 that means double negation ,It is similar to“无不称道”“座无虚席”“未尝不可”“不无裨益”“非公莫入”in Chinese. In this way, the meaning sometimes actually turns out to be affirmative. Double negative in English as in Chinese is used for emphasis. In this case, we may either drop both the negative words or keep to the origi

37、nal depending on which version is idiomatic in Chinese.e.g. (a) There is no rule that has no exception.任何规则都无不例外。e.g. (b ) Hardly a month goes by without word of another survey revealing new depths of scientific illiteracy among the U.S citizens.美国公民科学知识匮乏的现象日益严重，这种调查报告几乎月月都用。e.g. (c)Not a day passe

38、d without their meeting.他们无日不见面。e.g. (d) No one can succeed without perspiration.不流汗水,便不能成功。2.5 Roundabout affirmativeThis is an indirect way of expressing a strong affirmative, and when translated into Chinese, the emotion of the original should be properly kept.e.g. (a) He cant see you quickly eno

39、ugh.他切望立即见到你。e.g. (b) You cannot be too careful in the exam.考试时你要特别细心.2.6 Some English words and phrases must be translated into affirmative Chinese since they are widely accepted through common practice. They are:1) far from free from prevent.from protect.from2) but for but that anything but cannot

40、 but3) other than rather than more than.can4) instead of in place of short of in the absence ofe.g. (a) He wishes to live a life free from care.他愿意过无忧无虑的生活。e.g. (b) But t hat you aided me, I should have failed.如果你不帮助,我就会失败。e.g. (c) I borrowed some books other than novels.我没借小说书而是借了一些其它的书3. The techn

41、iques of negation in Chinese-English Translation3.1Negation according to English usagee.g. (a) 俗话说：“男儿有泪不轻弹，皆因未到伤心处”As the saying goes, men only weep when deeply hurte.g. (b) 白茫茫的大地，除了呼呼地北风外，没有一点声响。Except for the howl of the North wind, all was still in the snow-mantled ground3.2Negation for emphasi

42、s or rhetorical effecte.g. (a) 这个惨痛的历史教训，我们全党同志一定要永远记住，引以为鉴。No comrade in the party must ever forget this bitter lesson and we must all take warning from it.e.g. (b) 党的十六大充分表明，我们党兴旺发达，后继有人。The 16th Party Congress fully demonstrates that our party is flouring and has no lack of successors.3.3Negation

43、 to convey exactly the original meaninge.g. (a) 正如没经过大事的人一样，他经不起成功，也经不起失败。Like those of little experience, he was easily elated by success and deflated by failuree.g. (b) 我找老王说句话，马上就回来。“Just to have a word with Wang,” I wont be long!4. ConclusionThe paper has made contrasts of how negation notions a

44、re expressed between English and Chinese in the perspectives of form and meaning. Based on theses studies, the paper explored how to translate negation between English and Chinese. Negation, which is the object of our translation, is regarded as a notion. From the analysis of the above-mentioned dif

45、ferent kinds of affirmative and negation, we can say that there is indeed an important, though often neglected difference between Chinese and English in negation-negation in way of thinking and in mode of speaking.Now we notice clearly that native speakers of English have their own way of thinking i

46、n the negative of expressing negative implication, quite different from ours and we are sure t hat t he handling negation, one of the translation techniques will certainly help us to represent t he original thought adequately in translation.References 1 Asher and Simpson. International Encyclopedia

47、of Linguistics Vol. 3 M. London: Oxford University Press, 1992:27692卓方竹.英语否定结构的表达与翻译M.福建：福建人民出版社,1991:200.3谭卫国.新编英汉互译教程.上海：上海市梅陇130号，2005：193-2014田传茂.汉英翻译技巧策略。上海：上海市中三路3663号，20075宫力A Practical course of English-Chinese and Chinese-English Translation. 北京:北京市清华大学学研大厦A座，2007：77-85英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs

48、are the daughters of daily experience.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A beggar can never be bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A f