Abstract: One of the features of modern English is the wide u of abstract nouns in all kinds of writing. Abstract nouns are characterized by simplicity in form but generalization and vagueness in meaning. In E-C translation, English abstract nouns should be flexibly dealt with, otherwi there would occur improper Chine if they were translated word for word. This paper gives a relatively systematic analysis of English abstract nouns and discussions on origin, formation, classification and translation respectively. Finally, some suggestions are offered on the basis of the discussions and the analysis.
Key Words: abstract noun, origin, formation, classification, E-C translation.
English Abstract Nouns and Their Translation
英语抽象词及其翻译
1. Introduction
Nowadays, abstract nouns are frequently found in modern English. But it is not always easy to catch them and let alone to translate them. So, for English majors, it is under the necessity of making a rearch on them. To begin with, we need to mak e clear what abstract nouns are. “Ab stract” means “existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or practical existence”. (A .S.Hornby, 2000)
The abstract nouns refer to an abstract quality or state, e.g., goodness or freedom. The mode of thinking, the feature of thinking and the style of thinking are language philosophical mechanism. Therefore, not only should we wipe off the barrier of languages but also we should constitute a new way of thinking in language rearch and translation.
2. Origin of English Abstract Nouns
As a matter of fact, every nation has its abstract or concrete thinking. Due to the historical reasons and cultural differences, various nations have their own unique concerns and lections. It is known to us that English people emphasize abstract thinking while the Chine focus on concrete thinking. But what’s the real cau of this common phenomenon? The Chine tend to think and obrve things from specific perspectives. It is not habitual for them to do rearch and work out the relationship among different things, that is, to build abstract regulations. They pay much attention to concrete things so as to complement the abstract meanings with vivid words and express their emotions. Y et English people prai highly on deep thinking.（刘宓庆, 1996）In the process of analyzing the objective world, they take classification as their basic method and get through the surface to understand the deeper meaning. Finally, the pure abstract thinking personality has been formed. (甲小龙,1996，12)The Chine strive perveringly for perceptive cognition to convey profo
und and reasonable thought and to show connotation through skillful perception of analogy. This can be found in the vivid image by the features of pictograph, associative compounds, and pictophonetic characters. As Rudolf Flesh said, “so naturally, instead of using words like institutionalizing or anti-progressivism, as our thinkers do, they (the Chine) formed the habits of expressing ideas by metaphors, similes and allegories, in short, by every known device for making a thing plain by comparing it with something el”.（R.Flesh, 1949）The western people lay stress on thinking which leads to the losing of the vividness in word formation and finally their words become the conceptual signs. The minimal meaning unit of the word is morphemes, which are also a linguistic abstraction and a concept. It is obvious that the u of abstract nouns in English is more frequent than that in Chine. We can find the action abstract nouns, which contain the behavior meaning and action meaning. For example,
a) I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain.
b) He had surfaced with less visibility in the policy decision.
Abstract nouns can also be found to express people, object or phenomenon. Le t’s look the example,
< Wisdom prepares for the worst, but folly leaves the worst for the day it comes.
Abstract nouns are also ud to convey the complicated reasoning concept.
< The abnce of intelligence is an indication of satisfactory development
From the above examples, we can find that more abstract nouns are ud in English than in Chine. So the proper u of abstract nouns will make translation more idiomatic.
3. Formation of Abstract Nouns
There are mainly two ways to form abstract nouns. One is to form a noun from a verb or an adjective. The other is to form a noun from a verbal phra or a prepositional phra.
3.1Abstract Nouns Compod by Adding Suffixes
Abstract nouns can be formed by adding suffixes, as:-ness, -tion, -ity, -ure, -ence, -ment, -ship and so on behind verbs or adjectives. The words such as approval, management and popularity are all formed this way.
1) V erb+-ment, -al, -sion, -tion and -age
V+ment: argument, development, ttlement.
V+al: arrival, approval, betrayal.
V+sion or tion: conclusion, diversion, expression, confusion.
V+age: flowage, leakage, passage, shortage, stoppage.
V+y: mastery, discovery, unity, entreaty, envy.
2) Adjective +-ness, -dom, -hood, -ity, or –ty.
Adj+ness: darkness, loneliness, effectiveness, hardness, goodness, illness.
Adj+dom: wisdom, freedom, officialdom.
Adj+hood: falhood, likelihood, livelihood.
Adj+ity or -ty: safety, ability, necessity, loyalty, acidity, activity, density.
3) Adj or V erb+-th or -t, -ry, -cy, -ance(ancy) or –ency(ence)
Adj or V +th or t: death, thought, growth, strength, truth,width.
Adj or V +ry: bravery, distillery, finery, watery, inquiry, discovery.
Adj or V +cy: accuracy, advocacy, intimacy, bankruptcy, crecy.
Adj or V +-ance(ancy) or –ence(ency): tolerance, abnce, appearance, consistence, decency, reliance, continence, disturbance, reference, allowance, assistance.
3.2Derivative Abstract Nouns
Derivative abstract nouns are tho words derived from verbal phras or prepositionsl phras. The function of the two kinds of nouns is to give an abstract description that is similar to that of other abstract nouns. Also such derivative nouns contain meanings of abstraction or exaggeration. So they are called abstract nouns.
a) His business takes a turn for the better. (improvement of something that already exists
or that has gone before)
b) Although it was well on in the evening, we decided to try our luck at fishing again. (try
to do or get something, hoping to succeed)
4. Classification of Abstract Nouns
Similarly, there are countable abstract nouns and uncountable ones. But in modern English, most of abstract nouns are uncountable ones, with some countable, and some both countable and uncountable.
4.1 Countable Abstract Nouns
Countable abstract nouns not only have plural forms but also can be ud with indefinite articles.
a) It’s quite a task to figure out ten problems in an hour.
b) There are a lot of heavy tasks for the young people to take upon themlves.
a) Mr.Collinton had a narrow victory in the reform.
b) We have to consolidate our victories in the reforms.
a) Would you spare me a few minutes? I want to have a talk with you.
b) The students enjoyed his talks on American culture
Sometimes countable abstract nouns can be ud as uncountable ones, but with their meanings changed.
a) He’s all talk. (It means that he only talks but never takes action.)
b) I took him to talk for his carelessness. (It means that I blamed him for his carelessness.)
4.2Uncountable Abstract Nouns
There are so many uncountable abstract nouns that here are only a few can be discusd.
a) We’re sure of his honesty.
b) She ud to take some work home to do when she was a worker.
c) His happiness defies utterance.
d) She has made great progress in her studies.
e) The Long March was of great historical significance.
4.3 Meanings of Abstract Nouns
Some abstract nouns can be ud either as countable nouns or uncountable ones, but with meanings changed. Here are some examples.
a) He’s a professor of ten years’ experience. (knowledge or skill gained from doing something)
b) Her tour by spaceship was quite an experience. (event or activity affecting one in some way)
a) I’m always grateful to her kindness in helping me to tide over the difficulties. (good intention)
b) They have done him a few personal kindness. (good deeds)
a) Friendship first, competition cond. (clo relationship)
b) His friendships never last very long. (behaviors that embody good relationship)
a) Nowadays pasngers have to be arched for curity reasons. (Safety)
b) Recently people like to trade in government curities. (bonds)
Generally speaking, abstract nouns derived from countable single nouns usually have changed meanings. For example,
a) There are three rooms in his flat. (shelters)
b) There’s much room for discussion. (leeway)
a) It is known that he is a fool. (stupid person)
b) She was fool enough to believe him. (stupid person)
a) They will live forever in our hearts. (minds)
b) No matter what difficulties may come our way, we must never lo heart. (confidence)
Broadly speaking, abstract nouns derived from verbs or adjectives usually keep their basic meanings. The examples are shown below.
a) He held a position of importance when he was alive.
b) It is important to have a good mastery of foreign language.
a) Though he is only five, he is able to swim.
b) We have confidence in their ability to resolve the problems.
