英汉翻译动静态比较以背影为例

Stativeness and Dynamicity between Chinese and English

A case study of zhang Peizhi's English version of Figure.

Generally speaking,a stative language,like English,in order to stress concepts or states ,must rely heavily on nouns and nominal expressions,Such as nouns, prepositions, adjectives, etc.whereas a dynamic language ,like Chinese,which emphasizes motions or actions,would find more expressions in verbs and verbal patterns.This paper will make a comparative study of the static and dynamic characteristics in English-Chinese translation of the original figure and zhang Peizhi's English version of Figure.

1. Nominalization is one of the features of English static language

English, especially written language, is highly static and has its own unique preferences in the choice of parts of speech. Nouns are most frequently used in written language. If you us e a verb in a Chinese sentence, use a noun in English

1.1 When I met father in Xuzhou, the sight of the disorderly mess in his courtyard and the thought of grandma started tears trickling down my cheeks.

到徐州见着父亲，看见满院狼藉的东西，又想起祖母，不禁簌簌地流下眼泪。

1.2 I spent the first day in Nanjing strolling about with some friends at their invitation, and was ferrying across the Yangtse River to Pukou the next morning and thence taking a train Tor Beijing on the afternoon of the same day.

到南京时，有朋友约去游逛，勾留了一日；第二日上午便须渡江到浦口，下午上车北去。In example 1.1 ,“看见” was translated into ” the sight of”,“想到” was translated into ”the thought of” ，“看见” and “想到” were translated into ”sight” and “thought”as nouns in English.But in Chinese ,”sight” and “thought” were verbs in sentence 1.1.In example 1.2,”游逛”is translated into ”at their invitation”.”游逛”was a verb in Chinese,”invitation” is a noun in English.These examples explains the nominalization of English as a static language well. Nouns are used more often than verbs in English sentences.As a dynamic language, Chinese usually uses verbs.

2.The frequent use of adjectives is one of the characteristics of English as a static language 2.1 He told me to be watchful on the way and be careful not to catch cold at night.

他嘱我路上小心，夜里要警醒些，不要受凉

2.2 After the funeral was over, father was to go to Nanjing to look for a job and I was to return to Beijing to study, so we started out together.

丧事完毕，父亲要到南京谋事，我也要回北京念书，我们便同行。

In example 2.1,”小心” was translated into “be watchful ”.”不要受凉”means”避免受凉” in Chinese. “不要” was translated into “ be careful not”.In example 2.2,”完毕”was translated into “was over”.”watchful”,”careful” and “over” are adjectives in English.They are used separately instead “小心”,”不要”and “完毕” .In Chinese.It is common to replace Chinese verbs with adjectives in English. This is also one of the characteristics of English as a static language .

3.The frequent use of adverbs is one of the characteristics of English as a static language

3.1I quickly wiped them away lest he or others should catch me crying.

我赶紧拭干了泪。怕他看见，也怕别人看见。

3.2When I met father in Xuzhou,the sight of the disorderly mess in his courtyard and the thought of grandma started tears trickling down my cheeks.

到徐州见着父亲，看见满院狼藉的东西，又想起祖母，不禁簌簌地流下眼泪。