Unit 5 A Contrastive Study Between English and ChineseStatic vs. Dynamic Abstract vs. Concrete Complex vs. Simplex Impersonal vs. PersonaI1. Static vs. Dynamic (静态与动态) Broadly speaking, nouns can be characterized as “static” in that they refer to entities (本质) that are regarded as stable. At the opposite pole, verbs can be equally characterized as “dynamic”: they are fitted (by their capacity to show tense and aspect) to indicate action, activity and temporary or changing conditions (Quirk l973: 48). Adjectives and prepositions often go hand in hand with nouns while adverbs are frequently used with verbs. English is featured by its predominance of nouns over verbs (名 词优势于动词). Londons growth is rapid. London is growing rapidly. Johns arrival was premature. John came too soon. Hence nominalization (名词化) is a common occurrence in English. English makes more use of nouns, adjectives, and prepositions, and is therefore more static. Conversely, Chinese often employs verbs, adverbs, verbal phrases, repetition and reduplication of verbs, and is therefore more dynamic. Compare English sentences with the Chinese versions: (1) The doctors extremely quick arrival and uncommonly careful examination of the patient brought about his very speedy recovery. 医生迅速到达，非常仔细地检查了病人，( 因此) 病人很快就康复了。(2) He had a firm conviction that situation will improve. 他坚信情况会好转。 (3) There must be less empty talk and more hard work. 一定要少说空话，多做工作。 (4) A successful ban of the use of nuclear weapons must be preceded by the destruction of nuclear weapons. 要成功地禁止使用核武器，必须首先销毁核武器 。 (5) Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe. 火箭已经用来探索宇宙。(6) The abuse of basic human rights in their own country in violation of the agreement reached at Helsinki earned them the condemnation of freedom-loving people everywhere. 他们违反了赫尔辛基协议，在国内侵犯基本人权 ，因此受到了各地热爱自由的人们的谴责。 As a result of the above difference, the conversion of the English nominal style (名 词化表达法) into the Chinese verbal style (动 词化表达法), e. g. English nouns converted into Chinese verbs, adjectives into adverbs, prepositions into verbs, etc., is often employed in translation:(1) He is a good eater and a good sleeper. 他能吃能睡。 (2) I used to be a bit of a fancier myself. 过去我常常有点喜欢胡思乱想。 (3) He must be a very bad learner; or else he must be going to a very bad teacher. 他一定很不善于学习，不然就是他的 老师很不会教。(4) The computer is a far more careful and industrious inspector than human beings. 计算机比人检查得更细心、更勤快 。 (5) He has someone behind him. 有人给他撑腰。 (6) Fords first pledge was, “Mr. President, you have my support and my loyalty”. 福特一开始就保证说：“总统先生， 我支持您，并效忠您”。2. Abstract vs. Concrete (抽象与具体) In English, nominalization often results in abstraction. An excessive reliance on the noun at the expense of the verb will, in the end, detach the mind of the writer from the realities of here and now, from when and how and in what mood the thing was done, and insensibly induce a habit of abstraction, generalization and vagueness (Cowers 1987: 791). This method of abstract diction is found in the frequent use of abstract nouns. By contrast, Chinese prefers to use concrete or specific words and employs a “down- to-earth style”, expressing abstract ideas often by metaphors, similes, allegories, or other devices for making a thing plain. Compare English sentences with the Chinese versions:(1) He waited for her arrival with a frenzied agitation. 他等着她来，急得像热锅上的蚂蚁。 (2) I marveled at the relentless determination of the rain. 雨无情地下个不停，我感到惊异。 (3) No country should claim infallibility. 任何国家都不应自称一贯正确。(4) High blood pressure is a contraindication for this drug. 高血压患者忌服此药。(5) He had surfaced with less visibility in the policy decisions. 在决策过程中，他已经不那么抛头露面了 。 (6) These problems defy easy classification. 这些问题难以归类。 (7) She wondered whether her outspokenness might be a liability to Franklin. 自己那么心直口快，是否会成为弗兰 克林的包袱，她为此感到纳闷儿。 3. Complex vs. Simplex Subordination (从属结构), the placing of certain elements in modifying roles, is a fundamental feature of English. With plenty of subordinate clauses (从属句) and phrases, English has comparatively longer and more complicated sentences than Chinese, which, on the other hand, is marked by its coordination (并列结构), loose or minor sentences (松散句), contracted sentences (紧缩句), elliptical sentences, run- on sentences (流水句), and composite sentences (并列形式的复句). English sentence-building is characterized by an “architecture style” (楼房建筑法) with extensive use of longer or subordinate structures, while Chinese, a “chronicle style” (流水记事法) with frequent use of shorter or composite structures. In a word, English sentences are often complex while Chinese sentences are often simplex. 比喻之一：雄孔雀、雄狮 英语民族习惯于把最着重强调的事物放在句首先 说出来，开门见山，一语破的，然后再把各种标 志一条条补述，一步步交代，慢条斯理，从容不 迫，形成一条头短尾长的线性链。像头小尾大的 雄孔雀。而汉语则相反，其线性序列的展开好比“ 画龙点睛”，先把外围的环境与衬托一一交代周