In English And Chinese Complex Sentence Comparative Analysis And Translation,

Translation involves two languages---the source language and target language, therefore a good command of them is one of the prerequisites for qualified translation. Translation is not a static decoding and recoding process. It is not confined to the domain of linguistic transference, but involves a process of thought pattern transference as well. Different thought patterns give rise to the differences in sentences of the two languages. Therefore, a better and clear understanding of the differences in thought patterns and their reflections in syntax is of great necessity, which can broaden and enrich the cognitive structure of the reader and help improve the quality of translation. The object of study in this thesis is the English and Chinese complicated sentences.This thesis consists of five chapters as follows, excluding conclusion:The first chapter, introduction, is further split up into three parts: 1) the interrelation and interdependence among culture, thought and language. Different cultural backgrounds contribute to differences in thought patterns. As to the relationship between thought and language, there are three influential hypotheses---thought determining language, language determining thought, and language and thought interrelating. Meanwhile, this thesis provides the different thought patterns between English and Chinese, which include: linear vs. circular, objective vs. subjective, abstract vs. concrete and analytic vs. syntactic. 2) The definitions and characteristics of English and Chinese complicated sentences; the parataxis of Chinese run-on sentences and the subordination of English complicated sentence. 3) The necessity of a contrastive analysis of English and Chinese complicated sentences---to broaden and enrich the cognitive structure of the reader and set stage for ideal translation.The subsequent three chapters concentrate on the reflections of different thought patterns in language. The differences conducive to the birth of English and Chinese complicated sentences are categorized under these three types: structural differences, word order differences and organizational differences. Meanwhile, the thesis exemplifies such differences and provides relevant translation strategies in each chapter regarding a central issue. Chapter two focuses on the structural differences which mainly center around the linearity and hierarchy of English and Chinese complicated sentences. An English complicated sentence, with its main clause and subordinate clauses entangling, is shaped hierarchically like a tree in structure. With the image of a tree, the components of an English complicated sentence are thus figuratively compared to the trunk and branches respectively. In contrast, Chinese complicated sentences are linear in structure, having more flexibility when arranging clauses. Such a structural difference can be traced back to three aspects: English noun-preponderant vs. Chinese verb-preponderant, English sentence-pattern vs. Chinese sentence-mode, English right-branching vs. Chinese left-branching.Chapter three focuses on word order difference. The word order of the Chinese complicated sentences is natural, while that of its English counterpart is salient. The salient word order in English complicated sentences finds expression in four aspects: spatial sequence of"triangle"; temporal sequence of"editing"; logical sequence of preferring"effect to precede cause"; informational sequence characterized by markedness. However, the natural order of Chinese sentences is reflected by their spatial sequence of"inverted triangle; temporal sequence of"iconicity"; logical sequence of preferring"cause to precede effect"; and the informational sequence of unmarkedness.Chapter four concentrates on organizational differences, mainly referring to the hypotaxis-prominence of English complicated sentences versus the parataxis-prominence of the Chinese complicated sentences. This difference is mainly demonstrated by the subject, predicate and relational(s关系词). As to the first aspect, subjects are indispensable in English complicated sentences and are usually inanimate. Besides, two special introductory words"It"and"There"are widely used as subjects, which directly sheds light on the objective thought pattern of the Westerners. In Chinese, however, complicated sentences with no subject are not rare, and animate subjects are preferred due to the subjective thought patterns of the Chinese people. As to the second aspect, the contributing factor is that, an English complicated sentence conforms to the"Subject-Predicate Agreement"principle, realized by the various inflected forms of verbs and the great variety of tenses. However, in the Chinese complicated sentences, the verb-serial construction is preferred and there is no the rigid"Subject-Predicate Agreement"principle. Relationals, as cohesive devices to realize coherence within a sentence or beyond, include reference, substitution, ellipsis and conjunctions. They are frequently used in English complicated sentences; in addition, there are rich infected forms of words like gender and number of nouns or pronouns, aspect and tense of verbs, which can also exemplify the hypotaxis of English complicated sentences. In Chinese, however, there are no infected forms of words, and relationals are seldom used or even totally omitted as well.Chapter five offers an integrated approach to translation between English and Chinese complicated sentences, following a from-theory-to-practice path. It starts from Eugene Nida's Back Transformation Theory, combines"analysis","transfer","restructuring"with translation strategies and techniques, giving the reader a whole picture about how a complicated sentence is translated from English into Chinese or vice versa. With the illuminating case studies, the translation strategies should be justifiably more operational.Undoubtedly, this thesis is far from thorough and exhaustive and may have left much to be desired. As far as the author is able to judge, there is still much room for deepening and widening in its theoretical framework. Such a goal, though unattainable for the author's current level, is to be realized in the future academic career.