A Contrastive Study On Macrostructures Of Chinese And English Self-made Prefaces Of Linguistics Works

Nowadays the studies on discourse emerge in large number. However, most of the studies focus on the microlevel analysis. The empirical study of the macrostructures of a discourse has been comparatively neglected. Therefore the theory of macrostructures is not applied adequately.This paper, based on the theory of macrostructures proposed by Van Dijk, makes a tentative contrastive study on macrostructures of Chinese and English self-made prefaces of linguistics works. The first purpose is to apply this theory into practice. And second, to get a better understanding of the differences of the prefaces of two languages. Finally, to explore the cultural factors influencing the differences.Macrostructure of discourse is a pool of hierarchical macropropositions. By applying the macrorules, the submacropropositions are derived, so do the macrostructures of a discourse.Fourteen Chinese and fourteen English self-made prefaces of linguistics works are selected respectively according to the criteria of contrastive study.First, the superstructures of each language are generalized according to the occurrence percentage of macropropositions in the corpus. Then the contrastive analysis of the obligatory macropropositions is carried out. Finally, the paper focuses on the organizational pattern of the self-made preface discourse of each language by studying the relations of macropropositions.Through the contrastive analysis, there exist similarities and differences. And the differences draw much attention. First, the macropropositions employed in the superstructure are different. Second, in the Chinese self-made prefaces of linguistics works, the authors tend to specify macroproposition of background introduction of the work and express their self-abasement. By contrast, in the English self-made prefaces of linguistics works, the authors are inclined to illustrate one submacroproposition—the writing aims and point out the positive evaluation of the work. Third, as far as the organizational pattern is concerned, the Chinese self-made preface discourses of linguistics works have a greater tendency for coordination than the English self-made preface discourses of linguistics works.It is the different cultures that cause the differences of the prefaces of the languages. The factors of politeness strategy, values and thought pattern are explored to interpret the differences of Chinese and English self-made prefaces of linguistics works.