A Contrastive Analysis of Transitivity in the English and Chinese Versions of Pride and Prejudice

Yan+Wen

【Abstract】According to Hallidays Systemic-Functional Linguistics， ideational function is one of the meta-function of language. This function is realized by the transitivity system. The study tries to analyze the differences in the transitivity system between the original English work and its Chinese version of Pride and Prejudice. It also researches the reasons which cause those differences. Plus， by analysing the transitivity modes of the source language and the target language， this thesis aims to find out that how these modes exert effect on the expressions of the article and its meaning. Also， the thesis can offer a new reference to the discourse translation.

【Key words】Systemic-Functional Linguistics； Transitivity System； Contrastive Analysis

1. Background

Functional linguistics proposed that language has three meta-functions. They are ideational function， interpersonal function and textual function， and the ideational function mainly contains experiential meta-function and logical meta-function as sub-categories. Transitivity or the choice of process type mainly realizes the experiential meta-function which associates with participant roles. Transitivity analysis can reveal that how to make language choices to express the theme.

2. A Brief Introduction of Pride and Prejudice

Mrs. Bennett hopes her daughters can marry a rich husband respectively， but one of her daughter Elizabeth always breaches her mothers will.

One day， a bachelor called Darcy becomes their new neighbor. After a short time， Darcy loves Elizabeth. Darcys social status makes him a little pride， but he is a sincere and reliable man. At the beginning， Elizabeth has a little prejudice against Darcy， but gradually she knows him indeed. They fall in love with each other， and live a happy life.

3. Analysis on Transitivity

3.1 Transitivity Analysis of the Two Sections

This thesis takes a section of Chapter 58 as the analyzing material.

In English， according to the statistical information， the percentages of the material and mental process are the most. Its 28.13%. Then it is the verbal process， the percentage is 18.75%. And the percentage of relational process and behavioural process are 15.63% and 9.38% respectively.

In Chinese， the percentage of the mental process is 34.38%. The percentage of the verbal and behavioural process is 21.88%. And the percentage of material process is 12.5%. In addition， the relational process is 9.38%.

3.2 Differences and Their Reasons

①In the section， there is one conversion phenomenon. In English there are more passive clauses， also the English actor is the Chinese goal and the English goal is the Chinese actor.

②Chinese transitivity system emphasizes that the subject is always human. but the English transitivity system is different.

③Last but not least， English always uses “stative” words， such as nouns and adjectives. But in Chinese， always dynamic words. Because of this point， the transitivity system often changes in the translation between English and Chinese.

Grammar is the first reason which causes those differences. Generally， Chinese is the parataxis language but English is the hypotaxis language. That is to say， sometimes in Chinese， the conjunctions can be omitted. However， the conjunctions are necessary in English.

Whats more， the culture is another reason. Different people have different values， and their social and personal needs are different too. So the ways to express themes are different. So does the transitivity.

The third reason is the personal factor of the translator. In a way， the translator is the bond between English and Chinese. Their ability can influence the choice of transitivity process.

4. Conclusion

This thesis finds out the differences in transitivity system between the two languages and the reasons.

Whats more， the theory of functional equivalence which is proposed by Nida is reflected by the reserving and converting of transitivity processes in a translated version. So further translations can notice not only the functional equivalence， but also the reserving and converting of transitivity processes.

References：

[1]Halliday，M.A.K.An Introduction to Functional Grammar（2nd.ed）[M].London：Edward Arnold Limited.1994.

[2]Hopper，P.Transitivity in Grammar and Discourse[J].Language，1980，56：251-259.

作者簡介：閆聞（1992-），女，漢族，天津人，碩士，研究方向：口譯。