On E-C Translation Strategies from the
Distinctions in Impersonal and Personal Subjects
Abstract: Whether a translator is aware of the fact that emphasis on impersonal and personal subjects in English and Chine characterizes the two languages basically decides the quality of translation. Hence, a scientific analysis of the distinctions between impersonal and personal subjects is crucial. This paper mainly deals with the historical reasons for the distinctions, the comparison of impersonal and personal subjects, and English to Chine translation strategies, for the sake of a better inspection of the different modes of thinking and recognition, and a better guidance to practical translation.
Key words:impersonal; personal; subject; translation
Contents
Abstract (English)..............................................................................................................(I)
苹果手机的英文1 Introduction (1)
2 Literature Review (1)
3 Historical Reasons for Emphasis on Impersonal Subject in English and on Personal Subject in Chine (2)
4 Comparison of Distinctions Between Impersonal and Personal Subjects (5)
5 Translation Strategies for Translating English into Chine (7)
5.1 Five Major Categories of Impersonal Subjects (7)
5.1.1 Sentences with Abstract or Inanimate Subjects (7)
5.1.2 Sentences with Impersonal Pronoun It (8)锡纸烧烤
5.1.3 Sentences with Passive Voice (9)
5.1.4 Sentences with There Be (9)
5.1.5 Sentences with Posssive Ca (9)
5.2 E-C Translation Strategies (10)
5.2.1 Changing Object into Subject (10)
5.2.1.1 Subject + Predicate + Object + Object Complement (10)
5.2.1.2 Subject + Predicate + Preposition + Prepositional Object (11)
越南排糖5.2.1.3 Subject + Predicate + Object (12)
5.2.1.4 Subject + Link Verb + Predicative + Prepositional Object (12)
5.2.2 Translating Sentences with Pronoun It Acting as Subject (12)
5.2.2.1 Preparatory It (12)家乡的英文
5.2.2.2 Unspecified It (13)
5.2.2.3 Emphatic It (13)
5.2.3 Translating Sentences with Passive Voice (13)
5.2.4 Translating Sentence Structure There Be (14)
5.2.5 Posssive Ca + Noun/Gerund (14)
关于精神的名言6 Conclusion (15)
References (15)
Abstract (Chine) (17)
1 Introduction
Translation is a major vehicle for cross-cultural communication. Speaking of translation, impersonal and personal subjects are not suppod to be overlooked. Impersonal subject is frequently ud in English, which prents objects or ideas objectively. On the contrary, Chine tend to describe human beings and their actions or statements from their own perspectives when they want to show something, which is called personal expression. A better understanding of impersonal and personal subjects is of considerable significance in translation and transcultural communication.
It is no coincidence that impersonal subject is ud in English and that personal subject is ud in Chine. Language, especially the features of linguistic construction, is influenced and determined by mode of thinking.
苇茎汤方歌
Still, mode of thinking bridges culture and language. On one hand, mode of thinking is cloly relate
d to culture, which is epitome of cultural and psychological features and restricts the generation of culture and psychology in turn. Different modes of thinking primarily cau different cultures. On the other hand, mode of thinking is intimately linked with language, which is the inmost mechanism of linguistic generation and development and accelerates the formation and development of thinking mode.
Therefore, it is accepted that, for the purpo of studying a language, studying the implicit culture that distinguishes the language comes first. To be preci, it equals to studying the thinking mode, which influences and restricts the formation, development and structural style of a given language, and implicit culture such as values, enjoys priority.
语气2 Literature Review
In the West, a great many scholars and professors have studied and are studying the relationship between thinking mode and linguistic construction. Wilhelm von Humboldt is one of them. He put forward that language is a kind of world view. Language is created from mankind’s experiences. And they confined themlves in their own language with the experiences. A linguistic fence is erected all around the nation. Only when the natives of the nation surmount the crib can they divorce themlve
s from the restriction of the barrier [1]. Sapir and Whorf carried on and developed Humboldt’s theory, and then brought forward the well-known Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. Basically, they suggested that language is not just an expression and indication of thought, but also a mode which forms thought [2].
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创意作文
Wilhelm Wundt, a German psychologist, believed that the mental features of a certain nation can be a revelation of its vocabulary and grammar. In other words, thinking influences and determines the application of a language to a large extent, and different modes of thinking lead to the differences in linguistic construction [3], the same with Nida’s view that “Each language has its own genius” [4].
Domestically, Sun Xianan (2000) pointed out that a distinct ethnic brand is ironed on a nation’s history and habitats, with social evolution, geographical environment, natural conditions, economic life, and mental mechanism included, and that the brand, deeply engraved in language systems, turned into a typical characteristic of the national language [5]. Qian Mu, a master on studies of ancient Chine culture, considered that Chine culture centers on humanity and on life, which is teemed with cultural awareness and humanistic spirit. Chine culture, by its nature, is subordinate t
o humanistic culture [6]. Wang Li stresd that subject is required in each ntence in grammars of Western languages. And it is an exception without a subject, which is called ellipsis. Converly, it is a usual ca that subject is omitted as long as the agent or doer is definitely obvious in Chine grammar [7]. Without using personal subject, impersonal subject is often ud in English to prent something or an idea objectively, as Dr. Lian Shuneng stresd [8].
3 Historical Reasons for Emphasis on Impersonal Subject in English and on Personal Subject in Chine
The thinking mode of a certain nation gradually formed under the constant influence of geography, philosophical background and cultural traditions. The natural geographical conditions of ancient Western countries and ancient China played an important role in the origin of the differences between Chine and Western thinking modes.
As a typical agricultural society, China witness its development in a clod continental environment surrounded by unattainable mountains in the west and by insurmountable ocean in the east, with Chine culture emanating from the vast country areas of the Yellow River basin and rooting in the countryside. The Chine people live in the fertile land in central Cathay in a lf-conta
ined way, enjoying the preference of nature. People there believe in the favorable opportunity, geographical location and social condition. It is the relaxed and harmonious atmosphere that shapes a significant concept in ancient Chine philosophy, namely, oneness between man and nature. Viewing the world
from this perspective, Chine people deem animism that nothing in the world is lifeless and inanimate and that all the combination of colors, lights and patterns is continuously circulating life form which communicates with human beings. Thus, objects are learned as a whole and the world is regarded as a virtually inparable organism and everything and all phenomena are interpreted from this viewpoint that yin and yang are the two opposing principles in nature, for instance, heaven and earth, sun and moon in the cosmos, male and female in the world. The production, change and development of everything accord with the effect of yin and yang.
Ideologically, the maintenance of national peace and the pursuit of harmonious community are cardinal points from Confucianism to Taoism. Meanwhile, the development of traditional culture that integrity is advocated while individualism is ignored, and that duties and responsibilities are thought to be esntial while individual rights are considered to be trivial.
Philosophically, oneness between man and nature is the fundamental spirit in traditional Chine philosophy dominated by Confucianism and Daoism, the gist of which is that the entire univer, including heaven, earth and mankind, is integrated and cannot be divided [9].
The five elements (mental, wood, water, fire, earth) of Chine philosophy are distinct from the four elements (earth, water, fire, wind) in Greek and Indian cultures. The former one concentrates on its practical functions in daily life. That is why mental is included [10]. Thus, no matter it is Confucianism or Daoism, oneness between man and nature is the intellectual foundations of China. Yin and yang, the five elements and the Eight Diagrams, doctrine of mean, and oneness between man and nature all reflect the Chine notion that mankind and nature are believed to be integrated and the interrelationship of human beings and the relationship of human and nature are en as an organic integrity which is dynamically balanced. Moreover, an integrated world view implies an emphasis on instinctive recognition. In every respect, the thinking mode of Chine is characterized by comprehensiveness, integrity, subjectivity, intuitiveness, dialectic, ambiguity, and it is spiritual, introverted, intuitive and subjective.
Compared to the clod continental environment in China, Western culture can be classified as prosperousness-only and powerfulness-only extroverted business culture and
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