词组堆迭句及其在翻译中的应用
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时间：2010年9月07日 15:58
摘要]本文针对汉语中的词组堆迭句，通过英汉对比的途径，分析它的特点、修辞效果及其所体现的汉语语言特征，并结合具体实践，探讨它在英汉翻译中的应用。
[关键词]词组堆迭句 英汉对比 英汉翻译
Ⅰ.Introduction
Translation bridges two languagesand contrastive studies are involved inevitably in this performance.It can be said that translation is a process of comparison between the source language and the target language，followed by an elaborate reconstruction of word orders and meanings while trying to maintain the equivalent effects on readers.It's of great importance and necessity to translate in accordance with the characteristics of the receptor language.
Here emphasis will be placed on phrase-sentence relationship.Chinese is a non-inflected language and phrases are constructed into sentences through an orderly arrangement of meaning and logic，while English is a synthetic-analytic language and phrases must go through certain change of forms and abide by certain syntactic rules.In short，the phrase-sentence relation in Chinese is that of realization，instead of composition in English language.This thesis focuses on one type of Chinese sentences——paratactic phrause multipler and intends to explore its beauty and application in English-Chinese translation.
Ⅱ.Paratactic Phrause Multipler
1.Definition
Phrause is a clause containing one and only one phrase.In Chinese a phrase can function as a sentence simply by adding certain intonation.Here phrases refer mainly to four-word ones，including the typical subject-predicate structure clauses.
Example 1：There are white clouds in the sky and the sun is shining.白云朵朵，阳光灿烂。
Paratactic phrause multipler is a multiple sentence constructed by the placing of phrauses one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives.
Example 2：A few of the pictures are worth mentioning both for their technical excellence and interesting content.有些照片技术高超，内容有趣，值得一提。
2.Classification
According to the semantic functions of rhemes，paratactic phrause multiplers can be classified into three different patterns—theme—comment，theme-description and theme-explanation，which give respectively a comment to，a description of，and an explanation to its own theme.Example 2 is the theme-comment structure while the following two examples are respectively theme-description type and theme-explanation type. 论文发表 教育论文发表
Example 3：My aunt was a lady of large frame，strong mind，and great resolution； she was what might be termed a very manly woman.My uncle was a thin，puny little man，very meek and acquiescent，and no match for my aunt.我姨体格健壮，意志坚强，做事果断，是那种被誉为有男子汉气概的女人。我姨父身体单薄，弱不禁风，逆来顺受，跟我姨一点也不般配。
Example 4：Action is equal to reaction，but it acts in a contrary direction.作用与反作用力大小相等，方向相反。
Ⅲ.Application in Translation
Rhetorically it enjoys certain advantages—concise，diffusive，fluent and musical.In translating its concise fluency and musical rhythm can polish the version and proper employment might bring good effects.And its adoption is associated with various translating skills——coherence，grammatical unit shifting，structure change and the like.Here are provided a diversity of situations where it might play a part，and at the same time presents an analysis of its rhetoric effects.
1.Long and Impersonal Subject
Example 5：Its gleaming sand and backdrop of pine woods and distant hills give it a pleasant and restful atmosphere.这儿沙滩闪烁，松林掩映，远山连绵，自有一种心旷神怡的气氛。The underlined part is the long and impersonal subject.Here beauty of the translation is clearly on paper with vivid and faithful expressions.The version has preserved a joyful rhetorical appeal though the sentence structures are by no means kept.The original simple sentence is converted into a paratactic phrause multipler and the three nominal phrases used as subject are changed into subject-predicate phrauses，producing a dynamic impact.This transformation caters for the dynamic as well as diffusive tendency in the Chinese language without weakening the original effects.
2.Predicate
In English verbs，nouns and adjectives can all form part of predicate and sometimes they can be translated into paratactic phrause multipler.
Example 6：All is far-fetched，dear-bought，artificial，oriental in subject and allusion； all is mechanical，conventional，vapid，formal，pedantic in style and execution.从题材到典故，一切都牵强附会，华美离奇，匠气十足，得不偿失；从文风到手法，也都机械呆板，陈陈相因，索然寡味，拘泥形式，装腔作势。
Example 7：Mother jawed and cried.母亲唠唠叨叨，哭哭啼啼。
Example 8：They are elegant of dress，free with money，vague as to their antecedents.他们衣着漂亮，花钱大方，来历不明。
3.Prepositional Phrase
Example 9：It was a day compounded from silences of bee and flower and ocean and land.蜜蜂无言，春花不语，海波声咽，大地音沉，这日子是如此安静。Here information has to be broken into pieces to create four-word phrauses：“silences” is interpreted into four words，sharing the same meaning——“无言”“不语”“声咽”“音沉”.
4.Separate Construction 论文发表 核心论文发表
Shift of grammatical units and adjustment of orders are also often involved in the transference of separate construction into paratactic phrause multipler.
Example 10：I think often of my father——young，unknown，eager.我时常想父亲，他朝气蓬勃，默默无闻，满腔热忱。In the example，explanatory words are translated into paratactic phrause multiplers to describe the qualities of the references.
5.Attributive Clause
Example 11：but sometimes in summer there are days when the restlessness of the tides and the fearful cold of the sea water and the incessant wind which blows across the afternoon and into the evening make me wish for the placidity of a lake in the woods.但夏天里总有那么几天，潮汐汹涌澎湃，海水阴森冷酷，海风日夜不休，这令我多么思慕林中湖水的平静。
6.Multiple Sentences
Grammatically，equality lies between the original multiple sentence and the intended version，though changes may also take place，for instance，logic order，connective devices etc.
Example 12：There were cottages sprinkled around the shores，and it was in farming country although the shores of the lake were quite heavily wooded.湖滨四周是农垦乡村，别墅星缀，林木从生。The original clauses are condensed into phrauses due to their highly generality.Accordingly conciseness and simplicity are more outstanding.Another point is that adjustment of word/clause orders is essential to meet the need of fluent phrauses.
From the previous examples it can be found that phrauses in the translation are not born naturally y of the original messages.Some procedures must be taken to create them，including：a) Reorganization of word orders； b) Separation of oneness of information into components； c) Transformation of such structures as more than one nouns (nominal phrases)，or adjectives (adjective phrases) etc.，which are joined together by colon，“and” or some other connectives.Due to historical factors and unique linguistic characters，Chinese has plenty of four-word structures and they are much more favored by Chinese people.Accordingly it may be better if translation can follow this style of the target language.
Ⅳ.Variation in Translation
On the other hand，overuse of paratactic phrause multiplers might result in a sense of monotony.Modern rhetoric prefers an alternate usage of them with longer sentences.Compare：
Example 13：On one of those sober and rather melancholy days in the latter part of autumn，when the shadows of morning and evening almost mingle together，and throw a gloom over the decline of the year，I passed several hours in rambling about Westminster Abbey. 发表论文 学报论文发表
Version A：在晚秋黯淡而悲哀的一天，当曙光和夜色几乎混而为一，将这年终酝酿成一片凄凉的时分，我在那威治明士院里徘徊，消磨了几个小时的光阴。
Version B：时方晚秋，气象肃穆，略带忧郁，早晨的阴影和黄昏的阴影，几乎连接在一起，不可分别，岁云将暮，终日黄昏，我就在这么一天，到西敏寺去散步了几个小时。
Version A adopts long sentences，but it seems wordy，oracular and tedious； while in Version B phrauses and longer sentences merge into a vivid and colorful picture.
Furthermore，stylistic specialty of the original message is of primary consideration in the application of paratactic phrause multipler.More or less phrauses displays a classical flavor，which，if not properly used，may turn antiquated and unsuitable.
Example 14：
(1) A school of minnows swam by，each minnows with its small individual shadows，doubling the attendance，so clear and sharp in the sunlight.
(2) 潭中鱼可百许头，皆若空游无所依，日光下澈，影布石上……
These two sentences share the same subject and point of view as well as descriptive words，producing nearly equivalent effects.However，if sentence (1) is translated as sentence (2)，it shall not be acceptable even because the former is modern prose while the latter is ancient Chinese prose.
Generally in modern prose it will be better to avoid long passage of paratactic phrause multipler.Yet sometimes it can be adopted to produce unique rhetoric effects.
Ⅴ.Conclusion
Paratactic phrause multipler is a typical Chinese structure.It reflects the characters of Chinese sentences——diffusive，paratactic，flexible and more or less dynamic.It has found application in various situations，which may contribute to the goodness of translation.
[关键词]词组堆迭句 英汉对比 英汉翻译
Ⅰ.Introduction
Translation bridges two languagesand contrastive studies are involved inevitably in this performance.It can be said that translation is a process of comparison between the source language and the target language，followed by an elaborate reconstruction of word orders and meanings while trying to maintain the equivalent effects on readers.It's of great importance and necessity to translate in accordance with the characteristics of the receptor language.
Here emphasis will be placed on phrase-sentence relationship.Chinese is a non-inflected language and phrases are constructed into sentences through an orderly arrangement of meaning and logic，while English is a synthetic-analytic language and phrases must go through certain change of forms and abide by certain syntactic rules.In short，the phrase-sentence relation in Chinese is that of realization，instead of composition in English language.This thesis focuses on one type of Chinese sentences——paratactic phrause multipler and intends to explore its beauty and application in English-Chinese translation.
Ⅱ.Paratactic Phrause Multipler
1.Definition
Phrause is a clause containing one and only one phrase.In Chinese a phrase can function as a sentence simply by adding certain intonation.Here phrases refer mainly to four-word ones，including the typical subject-predicate structure clauses.
Example 1：There are white clouds in the sky and the sun is shining.白云朵朵，阳光灿烂。
Paratactic phrause multipler is a multiple sentence constructed by the placing of phrauses one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives.
Example 2：A few of the pictures are worth mentioning both for their technical excellence and interesting content.有些照片技术高超，内容有趣，值得一提。
2.Classification
According to the semantic functions of rhemes，paratactic phrause multiplers can be classified into three different patterns—theme—comment，theme-description and theme-explanation，which give respectively a comment to，a description of，and an explanation to its own theme.Example 2 is the theme-comment structure while the following two examples are respectively theme-description type and theme-explanation type. 论文发表 教育论文发表
Example 3：My aunt was a lady of large frame，strong mind，and great resolution； she was what might be termed a very manly woman.My uncle was a thin，puny little man，very meek and acquiescent，and no match for my aunt.我姨体格健壮，意志坚强，做事果断，是那种被誉为有男子汉气概的女人。我姨父身体单薄，弱不禁风，逆来顺受，跟我姨一点也不般配。
Example 4：Action is equal to reaction，but it acts in a contrary direction.作用与反作用力大小相等，方向相反。
Ⅲ.Application in Translation
Rhetorically it enjoys certain advantages—concise，diffusive，fluent and musical.In translating its concise fluency and musical rhythm can polish the version and proper employment might bring good effects.And its adoption is associated with various translating skills——coherence，grammatical unit shifting，structure change and the like.Here are provided a diversity of situations where it might play a part，and at the same time presents an analysis of its rhetoric effects.
1.Long and Impersonal Subject
Example 5：Its gleaming sand and backdrop of pine woods and distant hills give it a pleasant and restful atmosphere.这儿沙滩闪烁，松林掩映，远山连绵，自有一种心旷神怡的气氛。The underlined part is the long and impersonal subject.Here beauty of the translation is clearly on paper with vivid and faithful expressions.The version has preserved a joyful rhetorical appeal though the sentence structures are by no means kept.The original simple sentence is converted into a paratactic phrause multipler and the three nominal phrases used as subject are changed into subject-predicate phrauses，producing a dynamic impact.This transformation caters for the dynamic as well as diffusive tendency in the Chinese language without weakening the original effects.
2.Predicate
In English verbs，nouns and adjectives can all form part of predicate and sometimes they can be translated into paratactic phrause multipler.
Example 6：All is far-fetched，dear-bought，artificial，oriental in subject and allusion； all is mechanical，conventional，vapid，formal，pedantic in style and execution.从题材到典故，一切都牵强附会，华美离奇，匠气十足，得不偿失；从文风到手法，也都机械呆板，陈陈相因，索然寡味，拘泥形式，装腔作势。
Example 7：Mother jawed and cried.母亲唠唠叨叨，哭哭啼啼。
Example 8：They are elegant of dress，free with money，vague as to their antecedents.他们衣着漂亮，花钱大方，来历不明。
3.Prepositional Phrase
Example 9：It was a day compounded from silences of bee and flower and ocean and land.蜜蜂无言，春花不语，海波声咽，大地音沉，这日子是如此安静。Here information has to be broken into pieces to create four-word phrauses：“silences” is interpreted into four words，sharing the same meaning——“无言”“不语”“声咽”“音沉”.
4.Separate Construction 论文发表 核心论文发表
Shift of grammatical units and adjustment of orders are also often involved in the transference of separate construction into paratactic phrause multipler.
Example 10：I think often of my father——young，unknown，eager.我时常想父亲，他朝气蓬勃，默默无闻，满腔热忱。In the example，explanatory words are translated into paratactic phrause multiplers to describe the qualities of the references.
5.Attributive Clause
Example 11：but sometimes in summer there are days when the restlessness of the tides and the fearful cold of the sea water and the incessant wind which blows across the afternoon and into the evening make me wish for the placidity of a lake in the woods.但夏天里总有那么几天，潮汐汹涌澎湃，海水阴森冷酷，海风日夜不休，这令我多么思慕林中湖水的平静。
6.Multiple Sentences
Grammatically，equality lies between the original multiple sentence and the intended version，though changes may also take place，for instance，logic order，connective devices etc.
Example 12：There were cottages sprinkled around the shores，and it was in farming country although the shores of the lake were quite heavily wooded.湖滨四周是农垦乡村，别墅星缀，林木从生。The original clauses are condensed into phrauses due to their highly generality.Accordingly conciseness and simplicity are more outstanding.Another point is that adjustment of word/clause orders is essential to meet the need of fluent phrauses.
From the previous examples it can be found that phrauses in the translation are not born naturally y of the original messages.Some procedures must be taken to create them，including：a) Reorganization of word orders； b) Separation of oneness of information into components； c) Transformation of such structures as more than one nouns (nominal phrases)，or adjectives (adjective phrases) etc.，which are joined together by colon，“and” or some other connectives.Due to historical factors and unique linguistic characters，Chinese has plenty of four-word structures and they are much more favored by Chinese people.Accordingly it may be better if translation can follow this style of the target language.
Ⅳ.Variation in Translation
On the other hand，overuse of paratactic phrause multiplers might result in a sense of monotony.Modern rhetoric prefers an alternate usage of them with longer sentences.Compare：
Example 13：On one of those sober and rather melancholy days in the latter part of autumn，when the shadows of morning and evening almost mingle together，and throw a gloom over the decline of the year，I passed several hours in rambling about Westminster Abbey. 发表论文 学报论文发表
Version A：在晚秋黯淡而悲哀的一天，当曙光和夜色几乎混而为一，将这年终酝酿成一片凄凉的时分，我在那威治明士院里徘徊，消磨了几个小时的光阴。
Version B：时方晚秋，气象肃穆，略带忧郁，早晨的阴影和黄昏的阴影，几乎连接在一起，不可分别，岁云将暮，终日黄昏，我就在这么一天，到西敏寺去散步了几个小时。
Version A adopts long sentences，but it seems wordy，oracular and tedious； while in Version B phrauses and longer sentences merge into a vivid and colorful picture.
Furthermore，stylistic specialty of the original message is of primary consideration in the application of paratactic phrause multipler.More or less phrauses displays a classical flavor，which，if not properly used，may turn antiquated and unsuitable.
Example 14：
(1) A school of minnows swam by，each minnows with its small individual shadows，doubling the attendance，so clear and sharp in the sunlight.
(2) 潭中鱼可百许头，皆若空游无所依，日光下澈，影布石上……
These two sentences share the same subject and point of view as well as descriptive words，producing nearly equivalent effects.However，if sentence (1) is translated as sentence (2)，it shall not be acceptable even because the former is modern prose while the latter is ancient Chinese prose.
Generally in modern prose it will be better to avoid long passage of paratactic phrause multipler.Yet sometimes it can be adopted to produce unique rhetoric effects.
Ⅴ.Conclusion
Paratactic phrause multipler is a typical Chinese structure.It reflects the characters of Chinese sentences——diffusive，paratactic，flexible and more or less dynamic.It has found application in various situations，which may contribute to the goodness of translation.
