论文总字数：51952字

摘 要

英语正式文体中大量使用名词，因为西方人倾向静态思维；而汉语中动词占优势，句子多呈现动态。虽然近年来针对英语行文中抽象名词的过度使用，英语国家发起了简明英语活动，但中国学生在英语写作中，由于对英语抽象名词缺乏理解，仍然很少使用抽象名词表达，抽象名词的教学在中国大学生英语课堂上也没有受到足够的重视。本篇论文选取英语抽象名词作为研究对象，可以帮助中国学生提高英语表达的专业性。

本文先采用文献综述法，在广泛研读国内外英语抽象名词研究文献的基础上，首先对英语抽象名词的定义、表达结构和修辞功能的研究进行综述，然后通过文本分析法，综合运用翻译理论与语言学、应用语言学的知识和理论，来分析中国日报网对美国总统就职演说的中文翻译，归纳总结出英语抽象名词在政治演讲等正式文体中翻译的常用技巧。

关键词：英语抽象名词； 汉语抽象名词； 英汉翻译； 英汉对比

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

摘要 iii

Table of Contents iv

List of Tables: v

Chapter One Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Significance and purpose of the study 1

1.3 Layout of the thesis 2

Chapter Two Literature Review 3

2.1 Definition of English abstract nouns 3

2.2 Current research on English abstract nouns 3

2.2.1 Research abroad 3

2.2.2 Research at home 4

2.2.3 Plain English and overuse of English abstract nouns 5

Chapter Three Features of English Abstract Nouns 7

3.1 Classification of English abstract nouns 7

3.2 Expression of English abstract nouns 10

3.3 Rhetorical function of English abstract nouns 11

3.3.1 Brevity 12

3.3.2 Vividness 14

3.3.3 Variety 14

3.3.4 Balance of sentences structure 15

3.3.5 Emphasis 15

3.3.6 Anaphor 16

3.3.7 Euphemism 16

Chapter Four A Contrastive Study of English and Chinese Abstract Nouns 18

4.1 Features and expression of Chinese abstract nouns 18

4.2 Contrastive study of functions between English and Chinese abstract nouns 20

4.2.1 More abstract nouns in formal English texts 20

4.2.2 Abstract nouns are preferred in English 22

4.3 Reasons for different portions of abstract nouns used in English and Chinese 24

Chapter Five Translation methods in American Presidential Inaugural Addresses on China Daily 26

5.1 Lexical transformation 26

5.2 Using figuration of abstract nouns 27

5.3 Using Chinese four-character structures 28

5.4 Using category word or suffix 29

Chapter Six Conclusion 31

References 32

List of Tables:

Table 1. Buzz-phrase Generator

Table 2. Two general classifications of English abstract nouns

Table 3. Three minor classifications of English derived abstract nouns

Table 4. Three minor classifications of English compound abstract nouns

Table 5: Comparison of English abstract nouns in different genres

Table 6. Comparison of abstract nouns in English and Chinese articles.

Chapter One Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

English abstract nouns are widely used in formal English texts for their rich meaning which has become one of the significant differences between English and Chinese formal writings. English is static with preponderance of nouns over verbs while Chinese is dynamic with preponderance of verbs over nouns. As a result, nouns, especially abstract nouns, are widely used in English but not in Chinese. Regardless of advocacy for English abstract nouns, there is also voice that calls for plain English which is defined in Plain English Campaign UK as “something that intended audience can read, understand and act upon the first time they read it.” Plain English resists to vagueness and waste of time in understanding caused by overuse of English abstract nouns while suggesting effective and audience-oriented communication.

However, compared with native speakers, Chinese EFL learners use nominalization structures much less in their writings and translation. And it is acknowledged that most nominalization structures are those of abstract nouns.(Wu Chunming: 2009) Li Changshuan(2004) explains that though Chinese EFL leaners has a genuine advantage to avoid the historical restriction of English language, we are still not so proficient in expressing English by standard of plain English. And he also suggests that whether use plain English or not is determined by the standpoint and purpose of the author.

1.2 Significance and purpose of the study

This paper makes a thorough study of English abstract nouns in terms of its definition and function. A contrastive research of English and Chinese abstract nouns and E-C translation are also conducted which can serve as a reference for the theoretical study of English abstract nouns.

A digging into the use of English abstract nouns in Chinese EFL leaners’ writings can contribute to students’ understanding of English abstract nouns and raise the sensitivity to the differences between English and Chinese, which is of significant value for students to boost the skills of writing and translation in practice.

1.3 Layout of the thesis

This thesis is divided into six chapters. The first chapter gives a general introduction of the thesis. It presents the research background, the significance and purpose of the study and the structure of this thesis. Chapter Two is mainly about the literature review which includes definition of English abstract nouns and current research on English abstract nouns at home and abroad. Chapter Three introduces features of English abstract nouns in terms of the classification, expression and rhetorical function in the passages. Chapter Four does a contrastive study of English and Chinese abstract nouns with five excerpts to give a quantitative contrast and then give reasons for the differences. In Chapter Five, it firstly introduces features and expressions of Chinese abstract nouns and then analyzes in detail the translation methods applied in American Presidential Inaugural Addresses on China Daily. And the last chapter, Chapter Six, makes a conclusion of this study by making a summary pointing out the limitations of it, and giving suggestions for future study.

Chapter Two Literature Review

2.1 Definition of English abstract nouns

English abstract nouns are defined by Quirk(1985) as a semantic division into nouns that are typically non-observable and non-measurable in contrast with concrete nouns that are observable, measurable and accessible to the senses. And he also states that there is a considerable degree of overlap between abstract nouns and non-countable nouns.

In New Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary, “abstract” of words especially nouns used to denote an idea, quality, or state rather than concrete object. Schmid(2000) introduces the notion of shell nouns, a class of abstract nouns, that are characterized not by inherent nature of the nouns themselves but by their use in particular types of construction where they encode information that is present in an adjoining clause.

And to my understanding, English abstract nouns are nouns corresponding to concrete nouns that used to describe objects without physical form and the meaning of those nouns are partly inherent like peace and honest but mostly should be explained based on the context. Though as part of lexical group of nouns, abstract nouns are appreciated for rhetorical features in the text.

2.2 Current research on English abstract nouns

2.2.1 Research abroad

For the wide use of English abstract nouns, many linguists abroad have done research in this field. The notion of English abstract nouns can be firstly traced to Cohesion in English by Halliday amp; Hasan (1976) in which “general nouns” are introduced. These nouns are classified as the borderline of grammatical and lexical cohesion and when used cohesively in the text, they are often in the form of “attitudinal modifier plus general nouns” which includes interpersonal meaning and also “the general nouns” which function like an anaphoric reference item.

Quirk in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Grammar (1985) defines English abstract nouns as a semantic division into nouns that are typically non-observable and non-measurable in contrast with concrete nouns that are observable, measurable and accessible to the senses. And he also states that there is a considerable overlap between abstract nouns and non-countable nouns. How articles collocate with abstract noun-countable nouns is also introduced. But his research only focuses on some typical examples without further digging into some exceptions.

Besides, some experts classifies English abstract nouns into various definitions from different aspects. Francis(1986) introduces “anaphoric nouns” and “labels” with many examples to demonstrate that these nouns usually function as anaphorical reference items to previous paragraphs. McCarthy(1991) discusses the textual function of English abstract nouns and points out that their main function in the text is to organize and construct an argument rather than illustrate the content or theme of the article. Hunston and Francis (1998) reclassified these nouns into “shell nouns” based on which Schimid(2000) furtherly divided these nouns into five groups with corpus-based study including Idea group, Argument group, Evidence group, Possibility group and other group.

2.2.2 Research at home

Relative study of English abstract nouns by Chinese experts and scholars are mostly contrastive study of English and Chinese in terms of their features and functions. Wang Li (1984) mentions that there is few corresponding words that are coined according to the rule how English abstract nouns are derived from verbs and adjectives in that nouns in Chinese used to refer to concrete agents apart from nouns in the field of philosophy. More specific to the translation or interpretation of English abstract nouns, Lin Yutang (1994) finds that it is most difficult to translate scientific papers in English to Chinese since Chinese lacks abstract nouns though it is resourceful with figurative words. Cai Jigang(2003) gives a comparatively systematic summary of the structure and rhetorical function of English abstract nouns as well as the corresponding expression in Chinese. A list of recommended collocations of English abstract nouns are also attached in the last part of the book. In Contrastive studies of English and Chinese, Lian Shuneng(2010) puts more emphasis on the contrastive study between English abstract nouns and Chinese abstract nouns in aspects of word-formation and various methods applied to E-C and C-E translation.

2.2.3 Plain English and overuse of English abstract nouns

Although English abstract nouns are appreciated for its generalization and brevity, some scholars criticize the overuse of English abstract nouns and hold the view that concrete terms produce more vivid impressions than abstract ones, and should, when possible, be used instead. Contrary to plain English, there has been a “Buzz-phrase Generator” for politicians to write official documents that is redundant with English abstract nouns like Table 1:

Table 1: Buzz-phrase Generator

Choose any one from every column then you can make a NP, for example 602 means “optimal management capability”. It is actually plain in meaning but is prevailing in academic papers, political journals as vogue words just as E. Gower (1987) criticizes “The social science, including education, are notorious for obscure pretentious writing, particularly in their academic journals. But some social scientists strive for convoluted sentences filled with technical terms even when they are writing for ordinary people.”

Apart from total denial nor total appreciation, however, there are also some scholars suggesting for a compromise. Li Changshuan(2004) gives a thorough introduction of plain English and he also suggests that whether use plain English or not is determined by the standpoint and purpose of the author. Since as a stylistic phenomenon, abstraction is often found in close conjunction with concreteness which is also a suggestion from Aristotle early to 2300 years ago as “mixed diction”-- “a mixture of long abstract Latin words with short concrete Anglo-Saxon” which has also proved that an effective combination of plain English with English abstract nouns will help keep the vividness and utilization of English language.

Chapter Three Features of English Abstract Nouns

3.1 Classification of English abstract nouns

As it has been reviewed above, classification of English abstract nouns varies from each other according to different standards in different times but this thesis classifies all these nouns into two major groups including derived abstract nouns and compound abstract nouns.

Table 2: Two general classifications of English abstract nouns

Derivation is a main word-formation method in English in the production of new words by prefixing or suffixing and abstract nouns derived in this way can be furtherly classified into three minor groups including abstract nouns of action, nouns of quality and nouns of status.

Abstract nouns derived from verbs are the first category that are named verbal nexus-word or nouns of action. It’s worth mentioning that although abstract nouns with these suffixes are usually abstract nouns of action, there are still exceptions, such as dream, love, laugh and control of which no transformation is made; and also like “experiment” which has suffix “-ment” but is a root abstract noun of status, not derived from a verb.

The second minor category of nouns are derived from adjectives thus named as predicative words or nouns of quality referring to an abstract concept which embodies the characteristics by the corresponding adjectives or by adverbs.

The third group of English abstract nouns are abstract nouns of status which are derived from both concrete nouns and abstract nouns with the latter comparatively fewer. Examples are as follows:

Table 3: Three minor classifications of English derived abstract nouns

However, compound abstract nouns are in a smaller percentage in English in contrast with those in Chinese since English word-formation is built mainly by derivation not by compounding. Though it is very rare of this kind, there are still some examples that can be furtherly divided English compound abstract nouns into three genres respectively including English compound abstract nouns of action, of quality and of status.

The first genre is English compound abstract nouns of action among which there are altogether ten compound structures that are capable of producing compound abstract nouns of action since generally at least one component of them is a verb and can be substituted by verbs or verb phrases in use.

The second genre is English compound abstract nouns of quality which are even more rarely seen with only a few examples to list: A N: light-heartedness, software, goodbye.

The last genre is English compound abstract nouns of status which are not as many as those producing compound abstract nouns of action but there are still some more examples than those of quality.

It has to be made clear that the structure “N N” is applicable both in producing English abstract nouns of action and of status. But there is a way to distinguish that if one of the components in the structure is an abstract noun of action, such as “moon walk”, it is usually a compound abstract noun of action. If there is no component in such a structure like in “landlordism”, it is usually a compound abstract noun of status.

Examples are as follows:

Table 4: Classifications of English compound abstract nouns

Apart from above, exceptions are also worthy of attention that few nouns are abstract nouns themselves to express abstract notions in real life which are not derived or compounded from certain lexical groups such as war, art, opinion, and thought.

3.2 Expression of English abstract nouns

English abstract nouns are generally expressed in the form of NP (N of N) by collocating with different modifiers like adjectives, past participles and nouns as well. Instead of being redundant with verb phrases, sentences can also be organized with English abstract nouns corresponding to five basic English sentence patterns as follows:

1. S V

His escape=He escaped.

1. S V O

The ignorance of his own mistake. = He ignored his own mistake.

1. S V O O

His denial of any mercy to evils.= He denied any mercy to evils.

1. S V O C

Their election of her as leader. = They elected her as leader.

1. S Be P

His determination. = He is determined.

Grammatically speaking, English abstract nouns can function as different components in a sentence:

1. Function as subject such as: her election of, the lack of, the demand of;

When functioning as subject-predicative structure, the English abstract nouns in the NP must be transferred from intransitive verbs, for instance “the survival of our species=our species survive, the amazing growth of career education=career education has grown amazingly”.

1. Function as object such as:

Object after verbs: cause the loss of, accelerate the growth of, acknowledge the failure;

Object after prepositions: with exhaustion, in spite of resistance, beyond imagination;

When serving as verb-object structure, the origin word of those English abstract nouns should be derived from transitive verbs mostly such as “the elimination of serious deficiencies=eliminate serious deficiencies”.

(3) Function as predicative such as: be a reflection of, be a trial of, be a loss of;

(4) Function as attributive such as: the entrance examination, safety belt, emergency meeting;

When it comes to attributive structure of “N of N”, there are two different collocations. One is that the first noun is an abstract noun transferred from adjective as attributive to modify the latter nouns like “a depth of solemnity” and “the abundance of evidence”; the other one is that the latter noun is transformed to modify the first noun which are usually nouns of sense, feeling, level such as “feelings of both pride and dismay=both pride and dismay feelings”, “the twin forces of acceleration and transience=the twin accelerating and transient forces”.

It’s worth special attention that many abstract nouns express passive meanings themselves. For example:

1. The place deserves to be visited.
2. The place deserves a visit.

In the above two sentences, “to be visited” could be replaced by the abstract noun with more simplicity and conciseness.

3.3 Rhetorical function of English abstract nouns

As it has been introduced that most verb-phrases can be transformed into noun-phrases of English abstract nouns. This section will explain in detail the reasons for using English abstract nouns from all together seven points of their rhetorical function.

3.3.1 Brevity

Firstly, NP of English abstract nouns can express the content of verb-phrases and subject-predicate sentences. And here is an example in R. Quirk’s(1985) A Comprehensive Grammar of English Language:

Example (1):

1. Lanzarotti was disappointed by the fact that the reviewers criticized his play in a hostile manner.
2. Lanzarotti was disappointed by the reviewers’ hostile criticism of his play.

In these two sentences, NP in sentence (b) is shorter but concise in meaning since a sentence must be organized grammatically with all necessary components like subject, predicate and object while structures of English abstract nouns are free of strict syntactic restrictions.

Secondly, single abstract noun usually implies a logical subject or object because they are mostly transferred from verbs or adjectives with their own collocation which helps enrich the meaning of abstract nouns. In other words, English abstract nouns can transfer compound sentences into simple sentences or phrases. Six more examples help illustrate this point.

(a)Transferred from nominal clauses, for example:

Example (2):

We were upset to find that she was absent.

We were upset at her absence.

(b) Transferred from appositive clauses, for example:

Example (3):

The fact that we lack manners which are standardized results in an often angry, chaotic society.

The lack of standardization of manners results in an often angry, chaotic society.

(c) Transferred from infinitive clauses, for example:

Example (4):

Resources to arms is not the best way to solve a quarrel between countries.

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