浅析英语抽象名词的汉译处理

1、A Brief Analysis on the Translation of English Abstract Nouns浅析英语抽象名词的汉译处理ByLiu XiujuanSupervised byLecturer Deng WentaoMay 20th, 2008College of Foreign Languages and CulturesChengdu University of TechnologyA Brief Analysis on the Translation of English Abstract Nouns Student: Liu Xiujuan Class: 2Su

2、pervisor: Lecturer Deng WentaoAbstract English and Chinese, which fall into separate language families, are widely different in terms of semantics and usage mode. It is noted that English is a language remarkable for its “preponderance of nouns”; while Chinese is characterized by frequent use of ver

3、bs and adjectives to highlight action and description. This difference between the two languages has always posed difficulties for the translation since one is liable to produce a translated text that reads awkward or even unintelligible unless one is adequately equipped with practical experience an

4、d theoretical guidance. Translation, to a large extent, can be defined as a reproduction of the original text in another language. Therefore，for translation of English abstract noun into Chinese, the widely-admitted criterion Dynamic equivalence proposed by Nida , can be assumed as an aim strived fo

5、r. The present thesis consists of five parts: the Introduction presents an overview of the differences between English and Chinese; Chapter One is chiefly concerned with the derivations of English abstract nouns; Chapter Two concerns the principles of translation and accordingly offers strategies fo

6、r the translation of English abstract noun into Chinese; Chapter Three discusses the differences between English and Chinese, serving as theoretical support for the preceding chapters; The conclusion is a summing-up of the whole paper.Key words: abstract noun; equivalence; translation skills 浅析英语抽象名

7、词的汉译处理 学生： 班号：2指导教师： 讲师摘要英语和汉语分属不同语系，两种语言差异涉及面很广。从词法层面上看，表现为英语的名词表现力特别强，呈现出名词占优势的特点，抽象名词的使用已成现代英语的一大趋势；而汉语则缺乏词汇形态变化，动词、形容词使用频繁，强调具体概念的形象表达。本文的探析基于这样一个事实, 即英语中存在大量抽象名词,而且使用极为灵活, 使用抽象名词已成一种趋势；相对而言,汉语则措辞具体,多用动词，形容词。正因英汉两种语言的显著差别，我们在翻译这类抽象名词时常常会出现思维阻隔。而翻译从本质上来说是把一种语言信息转变成另一种语言信息的活动，从此种意义上来说，奈达的“动态对等”原则可

8、作为翻译的理论指导和目标。为准确地传达英文抽象名词所包含的信息,同时兼顾表达符合汉语习惯, 在具体翻译实践中,掌握一些翻译策略和技巧是非常必要的。本文分为五部分：引言导出英汉种语言存在显著差别；第一章介绍了英语中抽象名词的构成特点及翻译的一般原则；第二章结合名译实例，讨论了常用的翻译技巧，其中包括转译法、增词（成句）法、借用修辞法等；第三章着重分析英汉语言在词法和句式上的区别，为上述翻译技巧提供理论支持；结语部分提出,在翻译英语抽象名词时,需进行从抽象到具体的转化,使译文更加符合汉语的表达习惯。关键词：抽象名词；对等性；翻译技巧； ContentsAbstracti摘要iiIntroducti

9、on11. Derivations of English Abstract Nouns11.1 Derivation from Verb21.2 Derivation from Adjective22. Translation Principles and Skills32.1 Translation Principles32.2 Translation Skills42.2.1 Conversion42.2.1.1 Noun into Verb42.2.1.2 Noun into Adjective5a.A/an +Abstract Noun Structure5b.Of + Abstrac

10、t Noun Structure6c.Suffixed Abstract Noun62.2.1.3 Noun into Adverb62.2.2 Addition72.2.2.1 Adding Concrete Noun.72.2.2.2 Adding Verb.82.2.3 Rhetoric Device83. Comparison between English and Chinese93.1 Semantic Difference93.2 Dissimilarity in Sentence Structure10Conclusion11Acknowledgements.11Endnote

11、s13References14A Brief Analysis on the Translation of English Abstract Nouns浅析英语抽象名词的汉译处理Introduction It has long been noticed that English and Chinese differ a lot from each other in various aspects. Predominance of nouns in English is particularly one of the most distinctive features from Chinese,

12、 which, is a language noted for the inclination of using reified words, like verbs and adjectives. This difference can be further stated as a fact that English tend to use abstract nouns for concrete entities, while, Chinese, on the other hand, has a preference to material words. Due to this contras

13、t, it is likely to put one into trouble if a mere mechanical or word-for- word method is applied to the E-C translation of English abstract nouns. With this problem, the solution can be turned to certain translation techniques which mostly are obtained from a comprehensive comparison between English

14、 and Chinese, and also of course, the study of translation principles. Translation of English abstract nouns into Chinese is an old topic. There is no doubt about the fact that many domestic and foreign translators have been working on it from different angles and have made great contributions. The

15、author, far from being knowledgeable to open a new perspective in this respect, is trying to make a tentative probe into the translation skills regarding E-C translation of abstract nouns and hope to contribute a little to this field. 1. Derivations of English Abstract NounsUpon the comparative stud

16、y of English and Chinese by predecessors, it can be verified that English is extraordinarily productive in creating nouns, especially abstract nouns; A fact which requires special attention is that English is rich in devices for forming abstract nouns, among which adding suffixes like ness、 -tion、-s

17、hip、 -hood、-dom、-th、-al and-ment are the most common. According to the bases from which abstract nouns are derived, they can be classified into two categories: Derivation from verb and Derivation from adjective.1.1 Derivation from Verb Nouns obtained through verbal nominalization are associated in m

18、eaning to these bases in a series of ways:1. -AGE, assemblage, blockage, breakage, stoppage, storage, wastage, etc.2. -AL, bestowal, betrayal, burial, committal, dismissal, portrayal, renewal, withdrawal, etc.3. -ANCE, acceptance, attendance, performance, dominance, observance, tolerance, etc.4. -AT

19、ION (-TION, -ION), action, production, protection, reaction, realization, reduction, etc. 5. -ENCE, adherence, coherence, insistence, occurrence, persistence, transference, etc.6. -MENT, discouragement, employment, retirement, etc.These derivations represent the process or state of the corresponding

20、 verbs.1.2 Derivation from AdjectiveCases are as follows:1. -ABILITY (-IBILITY, -BILITY), ability, applicability, contemptibility, desirability, etc.2. -NESS, attractiveness, rudeness, sadness, sickness, ugliness, weakness, youthfulness, etc.3. -ISM, cynicism, extremism, internationalism, modernism,

21、 nationalism, etc.4. -ITY, absurdity, brutality, creativity, curiosity, diversity, simplicity, superiority, etcThose abstract nouns，which are derived from adjectives by adding suffixes are closely related to them in meaning and usually represent a kind of quality or a certain idea.As listed above, m

22、any abstract nouns are formed by the addition of nominal marking derivative affixes to words. Langacker, the world famous cognitive linguist, points out that the nature of nominalization is the reification of an event and thereby “suspending sequential scanning, delimiting a region of conceptual spa

23、ce, and construct a process temporally as an object or a thing”.1Derived from corresponding verbs or adjectives, the abstract nouns in English are very capable of expressing ideas in a simple and concise way. This marks the difference between English and Chinese and also partly is an explanation for

24、 the tendency of nominalization in modern English.2. Translation Principles and SkillsThis chapter is to introduce the principles of translation and focus much on the concept “equivalence” proposed by Nida. It is then to analyze many good examples from excellent translation materials so as to find c

25、ertain rules of translation in this topic. 2.1 Translation PrinciplesThe communication between people speaking different languages must depend on translation, without which the communication cannot be carried through effectively. The translation principle is by far an old topic, on which many theori

26、sts proposed different viewpoints. According to Fu Lei, spirit is more important than form. He said, Our emphasis must be put on the closeness of spirit rather than of form. This principle is applicable to the E-C translation of English abstract nouns for the existence of differences between the two

27、 languages. Also Nidas definition to translation was that Translation is to reappear the information of the original in the version from semantics to style with the most appropriate and natural equivalent language.2 All these proposals focus attention on the expressiveness of SL in the TL which is a

28、chieved by adoption of translation skills or strategies.Again, translation is a language activity in which the content of one language reappears in another language. This is the process in which the content of one language is changed into that of another while the message is well-kept. The famous Am

29、erican translation theorist Eugene A.Nida holds that “Translation consists in the reproduction in the receptor language of the message of the source language in such a way that the receptors in the receptor language may be able to understand adequately how the original receptor of the source languag

30、e understood the original message”2. He insists that anything expressed in one language can nevertheless be expressed in another language; People with different languages from different cultures can surely communicate with each other，by seeking equivalence，reorganizing the form and the semantic stru

31、cture of the original message，in proper ways，of course. Translation thus can be considered not only a science with its own laws and methods but also a reproduction and re-creation. It should be noted that since translation involves different languages, cultures and different ways of thinking; to tra

32、nslate means to convey the message in the source language into the target language, so it must be as equivalent as possible. However, what we call “equivalence” is but an abstract concept and an ideal aim, absolute equivalence is almost impossible in practical translation. Thus, the task of translat

33、ors, in a most general sense, is to reproduce the original contents by proper use of translation methods and skills, so as to achieve equivalent effect among the target readers.2.2 Translation SkillsThe following is to analyze many good examples from excellent translation materials so as to find cer

34、tain rules of translation in this topic. Conversion is a method very useful in translation to get the result of preciseness and smoothness. In translating the English abstract nouns, conversion of parts of speech can make the translation more natural and smooth since it takes into account the gramma

35、tical rules and habitual expression modes of Chinese. Cases in which conversion should occur are as follows:2.2.1 Conversion2.2.1.1 Noun into VerbAn English noun possessing the property of a verb or derived from a verb is often transformed into a verb when translated into Chinese. Lets take a senten

36、ce for example,E.g. The use of bacteriological weapons is a clear violation of the international law.使用细菌武器显然违反国际法。The Chinese version is quite natural. The words use” and violation in the original sentence are both nouns, but they are converted into verbs in the translation. If word-for-word transl

37、ation method is applied, the version of 细菌武器的使用是一种国际法的明显违反is bound to be awkward and obscure in meaning.It is evident that the first version sounds natural due to effective use of the technique of conversion from English nouns into Chinese verbs.2.2.1.2 Noun into AdjectiveAs stated above，nouns conta

38、in a much wider meaning and are more frequently used in English than in Chinese. It is no surprise that some abstract nouns are closely related to their corresponding adjectives in meaning. If we，in our translated text，keep their word forms according to what they really are in the original text，we a

39、re bound to get into trouble. In order to make our translation read more natural and conformable to the expression habits of the Chinese language，we can but make necessary adaptations in the light of specific conditions，that is，transform the above-mentioned nouns into adjectives from which they are

40、directly derived.a. A/an +Abstract Noun StructureThose abstract nouns, receded by an indefinite article are transformed into adjectives in our translation for a more appropriate and natural effect. E.g. It is often a great sorrow to me. 所以我时常觉得很难过。b. Of + Abstract Noun StructureThere is in English a

41、n “of + abstract noun ”construction，serving as the predicative of the original sentence, with the abstract noun indicating characteristics or qualities of things and being closely related to their same-rooted adjectives, often transformed into the corresponding Chinese “be + adjective” construction

42、with the abstract noun in the original sentence transformed into a Chinese adjective.E.g. But it is of small importance. 不过这也无关紧要。c. Suffixed Abstract Noun Some abstract nouns，which are derived from adjectives by adding suffixes and closely related to them in meaning，are more often than not transfor

43、med into adjectives，which on the whole makes the translation be in better keeping with the expression habits of the Chinese language and read more natural and fluent.E.g. There is such an expression of goodness in his countenance! Such an openness and gentleness in his manner. 他的面貌那么善良，他的风格那么文雅。E.g.

44、 We are deeply convinced of the correctness of this Policy and firmly determined to pursue it. 我们深信这一政策是正确的，并有坚定的信心继续奉行这一政策。2.2.1.3 Noun into AdverbE.g.:I have the honor to inform you that your request is granted 我荣幸地通知您，您的请求已得到批准。E.g.: The new mayor earned some appreciation by the courtesy of comin

45、g to visit the city poor. 新市长有礼貌地前来访问城市贫民，获得了他们的一些好感。This conversion is adopted to make the version conform to the idiomatic Chinese expression. Though the conversion of English nouns into Chinese adverbs is far from being a universal Phenomenon in translation，nor is there any great necessity for do

46、ing that. Some excellent translations，however，demonstrate to us that the transformation of English nouns into Chinese adverbs sometimes makes a more natural and smooth translation.2.2.2 Addition Addition is another commonly used method in translating. The so-called addition means to add some appropr

47、iate words or phrases in order to conform to the modes of expression of the target language. The precondition of addition is to keep the original meaning and at the same time make the version more precise and smoother. As Yan Fu argued that “if the idea of the original is profound and cannot be easi

48、ly understood, we must make the necessary alterations or amplifications”.4 This method is of particular importance in the translation of English abstract nouns which are inevitably complicated and ambiguous in meaning. There are two ways of adopting the strategy of addition.2.2.2.1 Adding Concrete N

49、oun.The principle concerned is to add concrete words to make the abstract nouns more concrete and reified when translated into Chinese version. E.g. He takes the misfortune to heart too much他对所遭遇的一些不幸事件看得太重了。E.g. All the wit and learning in this field are to be present at the symposium.这一领域的全部学者们将出席

50、这次科学讨论会。2.2.2.2 Adding Verb.The illustrative example is as follows,E.g. All peace loving people demand the prohibition of atomic weapons.所有热爱和平的人们都要求禁止使用原子武器。In the last example, by adding the words使用 after 禁止,this Chinese version is more clear in meaning and in a better conformity to the customary

51、modes of Chinese expression.According to the Chinese habit of expression, the original meanings of some English abstract words should be represented in the extension of its corresponding Chinese words which are more specific. Other commonly used words like solution, flexibility can be amplified resp

52、ectively as 解决方法、灵活性. This technique is also applicable to many more abstract nouns. 2.2.3 Rhetoric DeviceThe strategy is to combine the abstract noun with other components into a four-character set phrase which produces rhetoric effect for the Chinese version. E.g. Memory of that historic and happy

53、 occasion still lingered.人们对那次历史性的盛会仍记忆犹新。In this translation, it should be noticed that alternations are made both to the sentence pattern and phrasing. The original sentence features the S+V structure with “memory” as subject. while the Chinese expression, as discussed in preceding chapter, is per

54、sonal-subjected and topic-oriented, the subject is substituted with “人们”(people). With the adjustment to the sentence pattern and phrase as well, the Chinese version ended with the four-character set phrase “记忆犹新” sounds beautiful and pleasant. Similar effect is shown in many more other examples,The

55、 most notable is the further willingness of people to speak their minds.人们更愿意畅所欲言,这是最值得注意的. She wondered whether her outspokenness might be a liability to her friend.她怀疑自己那么心直口快，会否使她朋友背上心理包袱。These examples again suggest the strategies needed in dealing with translating abstract nouns, regardless of

56、the absolute corresponding in form but paying respect to the effect of “Equivalence”. It is not difficult to reach the comprehension that abstract nouns play such a crucial role in the English languages and for the aim of better Chinese version, translation skills is an important and salient aspect

57、in the translation practice. At the same time, a close comparison between Chinese and English will certainly enhance ones awareness of these translation strategies.3. Comparison between English and ChineseIn seeking the equivalence, it would be possible that it is hard to find the equivalent expression in the target language and this is just the case in the E-C translation of English abstract nouns. That is why translators sho