A Brief Contrastive Analysis between English and Chinese

李瓊芳

【Abstract】Through a contrastive analyses of the English novel A Tale of Two Cities and its two Chinese versions， this paper observes some differences between English and Chinese and generalizes some of their characteristics， in the hope to help language learners aware the importance of the differences and to provide a good way to learn a second language， that is， to learn on the basis of comparison.Two types of differences are discussed in this paper.One is impersonal vs.personal and the other is stative vs.dynamic.The differences between English and Chinese languages become vivid by drawing examples from the novel and its two different Chinese versions.Each type of difference is analyzed in detail and in a systematic manner.

【Key words】contrastive analyses； impersonal； personal； stative dynamic

1.Introduction

The novel A Tale of Two Cities analyzed in this paper was written by Charles Dickens and published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press and Oxford University Press.One of the two Chinese versions from which I take reference was translated by Luo Jinan and was published by Shanghai Translation Press in 1983.The other was translated by Shi Yongli and Zhao Wenjuan and was published by Peoples Literature Press in 1997.The name of the novel were translated as雙城記in both of the versions.Through the comparison between the English original book and the two Chinese books and between the two Chinese books， the differences between English and Chinese languages can easily be seen.This paper mainly focuses on three aspects of differences： impersonal vs.personal， stative vs.dynamic and different word orders.

2.Impersonal vs.personal

In English， impersonal expressions are frequently used， especially in a written form.Such expressions sound more objective， indirect and well-knit.However， Chinese people emphasize active thinking and tend to use personal expressions.This difference may be well shown in the subjects of English and Chinese sentences.

2.1Abstract nouns or inanimate things as subjects.Abstract nouns of inanimate things are often used as subjects in English sentences and animate verbs are used as their predicates.This leads to some rhetoric or humorous effect.While， in Chinese we seldom use such subjects except for some special purposes.We prefer to use specific persons or things as subjects.

Ex.1 His haggard eyes turned to Defarge， as if he would have transferred the question to him： but as no help came from that quarter， they turned back on the questioner when they had sought the ground.（p.49）

Luo： 他凹陷的眼睛轉(zhuǎn)向伐石，好像要把這問題交托給他似的：但是從那方面得不到反應(yīng)，它們才轉(zhuǎn)向問話人，在探望了地面之后。（p.43-44）

Shi and Zhao： 他那雙深陷的眼睛轉(zhuǎn)向德法日，好像這該由他來回答，既然他不幫忙，那雙眼睛往地板上看來看去之后，又轉(zhuǎn)向發(fā)問人。（p.41）

“Help”， the abstract noun， is used as the subject and it fits the whole sentence structure very well.But， if we use “幫助” as the Chinese subject and the sentence will be * “但是沒有幫助從那里來”.It sounds awkward.Some changes have been made in both of the two translations.Luo uses zero-subject sentence and Shi and Zhao figure out the exact doer of the act “help” and use “他” as the subject， because such sentence structures are in accordance with Chinese language.

Ex.2 But， a remarkable improvement came upon him as to this.（p.101）

Luo： 但是，關(guān)于這種缺點他已經(jīng)有了顯著的改善。（p.90）

Shi and Zhao： 不過，這一點他已經(jīng)有了明顯的改進。（85）

“improvement” is an abstract noun and the person is used as the object.The use of animate verb as its predicate makes the act more lively and vivid.However， * “顯著的變化在他身上發(fā)生了” is acceptable but all the wisdom in the English sentence will be lost.For this sentence， the two Chinese versions do not follow the original structure but abide by our Chinese habits and use “他” as the subject.

2.2“It” as formal subject or substitution.The impersonal pronoun “it” is used as a subject in English at high frequency.It can play the role as to “represent a whole group of words which it would not be convenient to put it in the place required by the ordinary rules of word-order without causing ambiguity or obscurity”， unspecified pronoun or emphatic word.While， in Chinese there is hardly any usage of formal subject or substituting subject.We either use a specific person or thing as a subject or zero-subject sentence.

Ex.3 At last， it began to get about， among such as were interested in the matter， that although Sydney Carton would never be a lion， he was an amazingly good jackal， and that he rendered suit and service to Stryver in that humble capacity.（p.101）

Luo： 總之，在關(guān)心這種事情的人們之間開始流傳：雖然西得尼·卡爾登并不是一匹獅子，卻是一匹很好的胡狼，它低首下心地幫著史曲勒孚。（p.91）

Shi and Zhao： 對這件事情感興趣的人當(dāng)中，終于傳開了，說盡管西得尼·卡頓決不會成為獅子，確是一只極好的豺狗，而且也以那樣卑下的地位為斯特賴弗辦案效力。（p.86）

In the English sentence， the real subject is the two that-clauses which are very long.The balance is of great importance for English sentences.Thus， “it” is used as the formal subject.This subject does not have any semantic sense.Both of the two Chinese versions are zero-subject sentences， since the Chinese language is paratactic and the sentence structure is quite flexible.

Ex.4 Other sound than the owls voice there was none， save the falling of a fountain into its stone basin； for， it was one of those dark nights that hold their breath by the hour together， and then heave a long low sigh， and hold their breath again.（p.141）

Luo： 除了貓頭鷹的聲音而外只有噴泉落日圓石盆的聲音；因為，有些黑夜時屏息靜氣一時之后低聲長嘆，然后又忍氣吞聲的，今夜就是這樣的一夜。（p.125）

Shi and Zhao： 除了貓頭鷹的叫聲，水泉落進石盆里的濺水聲，毫無聲息；因為，有些黑夜，到這時就一起屏住呼吸，然后長嘆一聲，又屏住呼吸，那就是這樣一個夜。（p.120）

“it” is the fixed subject of the emphasize sentence which is widely used in English.“one of those night” is emphasized.There is no such sentence structure in Chinese but we do use some words to indicate emphasis， just as the translations， both of which use “就是” and“這樣”.They free themselves from the restriction of the original text and use our Chinese way to express emphasis.The former translation uses a time adverbial “今夜”to be the subject and the latter uses a dexis pronoun“那”.

Therefore， we can see that English and Chinese describe things from different perspectives.The former always is always from “the other” perspective and the latter emphasizes the doer and pays more attention to people.

3.Stative vs.dynamic

“Nouns can be characterized naturally as ‘stative in that they refer to entities that are regarded as stable， whether these are concrete or abstract and verbs can be characterized as ‘dynamic： they are fitted to indicate action， activity and temporary or changing conditions.In this sense， English is stative and Chinese is dynamic， because there is a tendency of preponderance of nouns over verbs in English while continuous using of verb widely exist in Chinese.”

3.1Nominalization.Ex.5 Miss Manette had taken some refreshment on the road， and required none then， and was extremely anxious to see the gentleman from Tellsons immediately， if it suited his pleasure and convenience.（p.22）

Luo： 梅尼特小姐已經(jīng)在路上吃過點心，現(xiàn)在什么也不要，只是急于立刻要見臺爾生銀行的紳士，倘若他喜歡和方便的話。（p.20）

Shi and Zhao： 馬內(nèi)特小姐已經(jīng)在路上吃過一點東西，這時什么也沒有要，就迫不及待馬上要見特爾森銀行那位紳士，如果他愿意，也方便的話。（p.18）

“Pleasure” and “convenience” are abstract words but indicate actions.The use of nouns sounds less direct and more polite.But， it is natural for Chinese to use verbs to indicate actions.So， neither of the two Chinese versions blindly follows the gender of the words of the original sentence but make some changes so as to cater for Chinese customs.

Ex.6 With a long breath， he answered “Yes”.（85）

Luo： 長長地喘了一口氣，他說“是”。（p.85）

Shi and Zhao： 他長出一口氣，答道，“好吧”。（p.80）

The nominal form is used to replace its verb “breathe”， because in the main clause there is already a predicate verb.But in Chinese there is no such consideration.Verbs can be used one after another， such as the Chinese versions.They use verbs.The former chooses “喘” and the latter uses “出”.

3.2The weakening of verbs.There are many verbs of feeble phenomenality in English， for example， to be， have， become， grow， feel and so on.Such a debilitated style is fairly commonly in English.It seems that English people try to avoid using verbs directly.While Chinese people like to use verbs.

Ex.7 The air among the houses was of so strong a piscatory flavor that one might have supposed sick fish went up to be dipped in it， as sick people went down to be dipped in the sea.（p.21）

Luo： 房屋里的空氣中有這樣強烈的一種魚腥氣，可以使人先向?qū)Р◆~跳起來透一透氣，好比病人跑下海去洗澡那樣。（p.19）

Shi and Zhao： 房屋之間的空氣彌漫著一股強烈的從事漁業(yè)的氣味，人們很可能認為病魚也上岸來洗了空氣浴，就像病人下海洗海水浴一樣。（p.17）

The English uses feeble verb “was” to indicate the present state， which adds stative qualities to the sentence.Although talking about a stative state， Chinese likes to use verbs.Of the two verbs used in the Chinese versions “有” and “彌漫”，the latter emphasizes action more.The first version is less satisfactory than the second.

Ex.8 As the concentrating expression returned to his forehead， he seemed to become conscious that it was in hers too.（p.52）

Luo： 當(dāng)那全神貫注的表征又回到他的前額上的時候，他似乎意識到她前額上也有這種表征。（46）

Shi and Zhao： 他的前額又出現(xiàn)專注的神情，他似乎意識到她的前額也有這種神情。（p.52）

The English sentence dilutes action and uses a feeble verb and a corresponding adjective.Chinese is direct and the verb is used without any hesitance.So， both of the Chinese sentence use the verb form of “conscious” and express the meaning plainly.This is of Chinese.

3.3Using prepositions to indicate action.Due to the common using of nouns， prepositions play a very important role in English.Very often， they are semantically equal to verbs and indicate action.In Chinese there is not such usage.

Ex.9 “Burst me， if she aint at it again！” （p.62）

Luo： “砍掉我的頭，要是她又不在干那個！”（p.58）

Shi and Zhao： “她要不是又在搗鬼，我就該死！”（p.54）

Ex.10 “What are you up to， Aggerawayter？” （p.63）

Luo： “你一直在干什么，討厭的東西？”（p.58）

Shi and Zhao： “你在干什么，惹人生氣的東西？”（p.54）

The first English sentence uses the preposition “at” and the second uses a preposition phrase “up to” rather than “doing” and the action is hidden.But， in Chinese verbs do not need to be substituted， because they are often the best choice.So， in the Chinese versions， verbs are supplemented.

From all the examples we can see that English tends to weaken the expression of action and avoid using verbs bluntly and that a large amount of sentences do not lack verbs.Verbs are very active in Chinese.So， English is more stative and Chinese is more dynamic.

4.Conclusion

Through the above contrastive analyses， we can have a better understanding of the differences between English and Chinese languages.Although only two aspects of difference are discussed， we can generalize some characteristics of both languages： English tends to be stative and likes to use impersonal expression， while Chinese is dynamic and prefers to use personal expressions.To be further， English is more objective and indirect； Chinese is more subjective and stresses mans active capability.Therefore， it is necessary for our second language learners to know clearly such different characteristics so as to make our study more effective and to avoid some ridiculous mistakes.There does exist positive transfer between two languages， but the impact of negative transfer should never be neglected.With some knowledge of these differences， we can avoid some negative transfer intentionally.Therefore， it is an effective way to learn a second language on the basis of contrastive analyses.

References：

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