Analysis on the Selection of Subject in Chinese-English Translation(1).doc

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1、（2017 届）毕业论文（设计）题 目：论在汉译英中主语的选择 以张培基英译 中国现代散文选为例 姓名： 敖雪彤 专业： 英语 班级：英语N131 学 号： 201345639113 指导教师： 钟潇 导师职称： 讲师 嘉兴学院南湖学院教学事务管理中心2017年2月24日 IAnalysis on the Selection of Subject in Chinese-English Translation -Take the Example of Selected Modern Chinese Essays by Zhan PeijiA Thesis Submitted in Partial

2、 Fulfillment of the Requirement for the B.A. Degree in English Language and LiteratureByAo XuetongSupervisor: Zhong Xiao Academic Title: LecturerNanhu College, Jiaxing University,Zhejiang Province, P.R.C.Feb. 24,2017II摘要 翻译是两种语言间相互转换的语言活动。在汉译英中，我们面临的任务之一是选择合适的词做主语。然而，由于英汉语言间存在较大差异，我们在汉译英过程中选择主语并不容易。

3、汉英主语在形式和构句方面存在差异，而且汉语注重话题而英语注重主语。本文从对这些差异的分析入手，通过对张培基英译中国现代散文选的学习以及本人自身的实践和总结，在汉译英主语选择方面提出了一些方法和建议。一、保留原文主语作译文主语，二、选择原文的其他句子成分作译文主语，三、在译文中增补主语，四、减少改变主语。进而得出结论。在汉译英选择主语时，我们应该现在英美人的思维方式上考虑，结合英语的语言习惯，充分理解原文，运用一些技巧选择合适的主语。关键词：汉译英;主语的选择;英汉主语的差异;张培基;英译中国现代散文选Abstract Translation is a language activity of

4、transforming between two languages. In the process of Chinese-English translation, choosing the suitable words as subjects is one of the tasks people facing with. However, its not easy for people to choose subjects in Chinese-English translation because of the differences between Chinese and English

5、. The subjects of Chinese and English have differences in forms and sentence structure. Furthermore, Chinese is topic-prominent language and English is subject-prominent language. This thesis begins with these differences, puts up some methods and advises about how to choose a suitable subjects thro

6、ugh learning Selected Modern Chinese Essays by Zhang Peiji and the author own practices and conclusion. First, keeping the subjects of the original sentences. Second, choosing other constituents of the original sentences. Third, replenishing new subjects for the translation. Fourth, reducing of chan

7、ging the subjects. And then, the writer shows the conclusion that it should be considered the mode of thinking in western countries, combining with the English language habits, fully understanding the origin text, and use some skills to choose the appropriate subjects. Key words: Chinese-English Tra

8、nslation；the choice of subjects；the differences of subjects in English and Chinese；Zhang Peiji；Selected Modern Chinese EssaysIContents AbstractII1Literature Review11.1 Existing Researches on this Topic11.2 Purposes and importance of the study12. Differences between Chinese and English Subjects22.1 I

9、n Forms22.2 Topic-prominent Language vs. Subject-prominent Language22.3 In Sentence Structure33. Methods of Choosing the Subjects in Chinese-English Translation33.1 Keep the Subjects of the Original Sentences33.2 Choose other constituents of the Original Sentences43.2.1 Choose the Objects to be the

10、Subjects53.2.2 Choose the Adverbials to be the Subjects53.2.3 Choose the Attributives to be the Subjects63.2.4 Choose the Predicates to be the Subjects63.3 Replenish New Subjects for the Translation73.3.1 Replenish the Suppressed Subjects of the Original73.3.2 Replenish the Impersonal Pronoun “It”83

11、.4 Reduce of Changing the Subjects84. Conclusion9Bibliography11Acknowledgements12II1Literature Review1.1 Existing Researches on this Topic Many scholars discussed the translation of Chinese and English sentences from the perspective of differences between Chinese and English subjects. According to t

12、he existing research, there are many different forms of expression between Chinese and English, which can be divided into topic-prominent language and subject-prominent language, covert subject and overt subject, parataxis and hypotaxis in sentence structure, personal subject and impersonal subject.

13、 These studies focus on the analysis of subjective differences between Chinese and English languages, but the discussion of subjects in Chinese-English translation is relatively less detailed. In the book Chinese-English Translation Studies and Practice written by Ji Dequan (2005: 105), who puts for

14、ward five principles of determining the subjects in Chinese-English translation: (1) It must conform to the English expression and the background. (2) It must conform to the English way of thinking . (3) It must be the information that should be emphasized in the sentence. (4) It must follow the log

15、ical order of the sentence. (5) It should meet the context of the request . In addition, Liu Miqing (1992: 37:46) has concluded in his book Contrast and Translation of English and Chinese three specific methods of selecting the subjects in the procession of translating Chinese into English, which ar

16、e equivalence, shift, and supplement. These studies provide translators with some theories, principles, and strategies to choose the subject of Chinese to English translation.1.2 Purposes and importance of the Study The main purposes and importance of my paper can be summarized as the following two

17、aspects. First of all, as a famous translator and translation theorist, Zhang Peiji made a great contribution to the translation of Chinese papers. The qualities and standards of the articles which he translated are very high. His Selected Modem Chinese Essays was widely accepted by readers and scho

18、lars to help spread the Chinese culture, so his translation of the paper worthy of translators unremitting study, they learned a lot, so as to improve translators ability to translate; the other aspect is that there is no denying the important role of the subject in shaping and constructing sentence

19、s in both Chinese and English. They also have a significant impact on the cohesion of sentences, but because of the differences between English and Chinese subjects, translators choose an appropriate subject from Chinese into English as a challenge, so it seems that it should be investigated and mad

20、e detailed use of some useful translation techniques and strategies to help translators determine the subject of Chinese to English translation. Zhang Peijis Chinese prose translation has set a good example in choosing the appropriate subject, so the author chose to analyze own translation works tog

21、ether with him and explore the method of choosing the subject.2. Differences between Chinese and English Subjects Chinese and English belong to two different language families, therefore Chinese finds its root in the Sino-Tibetan Language Family, while English belongs to Indo-European Language Famil

22、y. Differences exist between the two languages, one of which is the difference between their subjects, so as bring difficulties to us in English learning and Chinese and English translation. This chapter will generally discuss the differences between Chinese and English subjects mainly in the follow

23、ing three facts.2.1 In Forms Chinese subjects are diverse and highly compatible. Wei Zhicheng (2003) points out that all kinds of words, phrases and clauses can be used as Chinese subject. Liu Miqing (1992) argues that, due to the diversity of Chinese characteristics, the Chinese language features,

24、almost any form of expression can be directly used as the subject of Chinese, or in other words, topics, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, quantifiers or any other words, phrases or terms, we consider them to be topics rather than subjects. “TmS (time subject), PlS (place subject), DaS (subject matt

25、er), MrS (modifier subject) Chinese subject” (Liu Meiqing, 1992: 39). Unlike Chinese subjects, English subjects are less incompatible and form singular, because they must be nominal. Thus, noun and subject pronouns can be used as subject of English, and as for other non-nominal words, phrases or cla

26、uses, if you want to use them as subjects of English, you must change their form and make them nouns.2.2 Topic-prominent Language vs. Subject-prominent Language According to Li and Thompson (1976) theory, different languages can be divided into four categories, namely the subject-prominent language,

27、 the topic-prominent language, both the subject-prominent and the topic-prominent language, neither the subject-prominent nor the topic-prominent language. And they show that Chinese belongs to the topic-prominent language which is the informational units of topic and comment that are basic to the s

28、tructure of sentences, while English is the subject-prominent language which is the grammatical units of the subject and predicate that are basic to the structure of sentences. English focuses more on the relationship between the subject and the actor and the action, and the performance of the behav

29、ior can be found in the close grammatical relationship between the English subject and the predicate. This is not the same as Chinese. Zhao Yuanren (1979) said that only about 50% of the relationship between the Chinese subject and the predicate reflects the relationship between the actor and the be

30、havior, so it is best to be the Chinese subject and predicate as the topic and comment. This also explains why Chinese subjects are more diverse than English subjects.2.3 In Sentence Structure From the above discussion, you can conclude that that English emphasizes the subject. They are indispensabl

31、e in constructing sentences. In most cases, the subject is the starting point, the center and the must in English sentences. Often using the formal subject it can also be a good explanation of the English subject is indispensable. They have a decisive grammatical function and have a comprehensive an

32、d close relationship with the whole sentence. In English, the subject decides the number of predicates, so it should be consistent with the subject when the sentence is constructed. “The main body and the predicate form the seven main English sentences, namely SV, SVC, SVO, SVA, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA.” (

33、Quirk, R., Greenbaum, G. Leech & J. Svartvik, 1985: 721). These forms of sentences also reveal the importance of English subjects. Chinese sentences are more flexible and do not have to follow strict sentences as English. As for the Chinese subject, they are not indispensable in the sentence structu

34、re and are not related to the form of the predicate. No subject sentences are common to meet in Chinese, and in many cases the subject can be omitted.3. Methods of Choosing the Subjects in Chinese-English Translation3.1 Keep the Subjects of the Original Sentences From the analysis and discussion in

35、section two, translators understand that the subject of English sentences is mainly nouns, subjective pronouns or nominal words. If the original Chinese has a clear subject, and the subject is composed of nouns or subjective pronouns, and in line with the English primitive order, which is the themat

36、ic progression pattern. And then the translation of the original subject can be used as the subject of English translation. This is the easiest and most reliable means of choosing a subject in Chinese to English translation.(1)这激流永远动荡着，并不曾有一个时候停止过，而且它也不能够停止；没有什么东西可以阻止它。在它的途中，它也曾发射出种种的水花，这里面有爱，有恨，有欢乐

37、，也有痛苦。这一切造成了一股奔腾的激流，具着排山之势，向着唯一的海流去。(巴金 激流总序）a.This torrent is always surging ahead; it has never stopped for a single moment and will never stop. Nothing whatever can hold it up. While on its way, it sometimes throws clouds ofsprayinto the air embodying love and hate, and happiness and sorrow. All

38、that makes up thetumultuoustorrent rushing with terrific force towards the only sea. (“a” is Zhang Peijis translation texts, the following are same)b.The torrent is always turbulent, it never stop and it can not stop; there is nothing to stop it. On its way, it has also launched a variety of water w

39、hich including love, hate, joy and pain. All these caused a tumultuous surging towards the only ocean with terrific force. (“b” is author translation texts, the following are same) The first example shows that when the Chinese subject is a noun, translators can keep the original subject. In the orig

40、inal Chinese, 激流 is the starting point of information, and when the following original text mentions it again, and it is replaced with the pronoun 它 , all of which are explicit nouns and nominative pronouns. In the procession which translates Chinese into English, these subjects are in turn correspo

41、nding to the original subject, respectively, translated into “torrent” and “it”, thus retaining the original subject. So, the author and Zhang Peiji choose the same subjects “torrent” and “it” in their translation.3.2 Choose other constituents of the Original SentencesBecause of the great difference

42、 between Chinese and English ways of thinking and the great differences between Chinese language and English language, translators can not determine and retain the subject of the original texts when they do the translation from Chinese to English each time. In many cases, in order to ensure that the

43、 translation with clear logic, fluent language,authentic expression, sometimes they need to select and determine the new subject, rather than casual to use the subject in the original texts. Choosing the other elements of the original sentence as the subject of the translated text is a good way wort

44、h learning and trying. 3.2.1 Choose the objects to be the subjects(2) 是有人偷了他们罢：那是谁？又藏在何处呢？是他们自己逃走了罢：现在又到了那里呢？（朱自清 匆匆）a. Perhaps they have been stolen by someone.But who could do it be and where could he hide them? Perhaps they have just run away by themselves. But where could they be at the present

45、moment?b.Perhaps someone steals them. But who is he and where does he hide? Perhaps they escape by themselves. But where could they be at this moment in time? In the second example, the main concern is 有人偷了他们罢 and here 他们 means my days. Zhang Peijis translation chooses 他们 as the subject and uses pas

46、sive voice to support the construction of sentences. The author thinks his translation is better. First of all, the original text of the essay is talking about the transience of time, the theme of the sentence is time or my days rather than “someone”, so Zhang Peijis translation is more closely rela

47、ted to the theme and use it as a subject to think more. Secondly, the use of passive voice is more in line with the English expression of the habit. Lian Shuneng (2010) pointed out that the passive voice in English is a common grammatical phenomenon, the use of passive statements has almost become a expression habit. In addition to the easily definable nouns acting as the objects in the Chinese sentence, other forms of objects in the Chinese sentence are worthy of our attention, because translators can choose any other nouns in these components as our English