A Study of Chinese Westernization in E-C Translation of International News

By

Li Luyang

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Department of English

College of Liberal Arts

Nanjing University of Information Science amp; Technology

May, 2018

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘 要

1. The anomaly of Chinese- a general introduction of Chinese westernization

2.Attitudes towards Chinese westernization during long historical development

3.The impact of Chinese Westernization in international news translation

3.1 The first level- words and vocabularies

3.1.1 Misunderstandings of articles and unnecessary numeral words

3.1.2 More abstract nouns and weak verbs

3.1.3 Too many conjunctions

3.1.4 Extra Auxiliaries

3.1.5 Unnecessary prepositions

3.1.6 Redundant adverbs

3.1.7 Unnatural comparatives

3.2 The Second Level- Sentences and Clauses

3.2.1 Mixed sentence pattern

3.2.3 Semantic Repetition

3.3 The Third Level- Discourse and Voice

3.3.1 Wrong Interpretation of time

3.3.2 Improper use of passive voice

4. Conclusion

References

Acknowledgements

Upon the completion of this thesis, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Associate Professor Li Xiaosa, my supervisor, for her priceless guidance and constant encouragement in my academic studies and self development. She has walked me through all the stages of the writing of this thesis and accompanied me all the way in my college life. Without her illuminating instructions, insightful criticism and sincere support, the completion of this thesis as well as my higher education would not have been possible. I really feel lucky to have Miss Li as my tutor and friend.

I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to China Daily and the NUIST translation group. The six-month internship in China Daily has greatly enriched my experience and provided a sound basis for this study. I’m also greatly indebted to Lecturer Mr. Xia Yang, who offered me an opportunity to make an exceptive application of for the internship program that turned out to be a splendid beginning of my translation career.

Last but not the least, I wish to thank my beloved parents for assisting, supporting and caring for me along the way.

A Study of Chinese Westernization in E-C Translation of International News

Li Luyang

Department of English

School of Liberal Art

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Abstract: With the growing trend of globalization, Chinese westernization, a special linguistic phenomenon that can be traced back to several centuries ago has exerted its own impact on translation, especially on international news translation, the most common channel of information dissemination among various languages and cultures. This paper lucubrates the origin, forms and evolution of Chinese westernization as well as its manifestation and influence in international news translation in clear categorization from a single language unit to discourse as a whole based on the case study of the Bilingual News translation Program of China Daily.

Key words: Chinese westernization; international news translation; case study

摘 要

随着全球化趋势不断深化，汉语西化这一可以追溯到几个世纪前的特殊语言现象对翻译，尤其是国际新闻翻译这一多语言文化间最常见的信息传播渠道产生了独特的影响。 本文以中国日报双语新闻编译项目为例，从单个语言单位到整个语篇进行清晰分类，深入研究汉语西化的起源、形式、演变及其在国际新闻翻译中的表现与影响。

关键词：汉语西化；国际新闻翻译；案例研究

1. The anomaly of Chinese- a general introduction of Chinese westernization

With the advanced development of chronological linguistics, the importance of language interaction and integration in the evolution of languages and cultures is more widely recognized. The communication and coordination between English and Chinese can be dated back to the early period of the 17th century, but it was not until the May 4th Movement in 1919 that Chinese westernization was highlighted nationwide with the introduction of English as the world language to connect with the outside world (He, 2007). Acting as shaping forces, English vocabularies, phrases, grammars and characteristics have made a strong impact on the evolution of Chinese. At the same time, Chinese has undergone a series of changes from vernacular Chinese (the classical Chinese) to contemporary Chinese, during which the characters, expressions and grammars of Chinese have also transformed from the traditional ones into the simplified and modern ones. According to some researches conducted in the past fifty years, the evolvement of Chinese itself has intertwined with the increasing influence of English, which can be defined as Chinese westernization. Wang Li once pointed out, “The transformation of Chinese grammar during the short twenty years from the early time of the Republic of China has exceeded that from Han Dynasty to Qing Dynasty. The westernization of Chinese grammar remains as an important issue in the linguistic history, of which we should develop clear awareness.” (1944, p.34)

Chinese westernization can be shown in various forms at different levels. The first level is words and vocabularies, including the speech, order and collocation of words and expressions; the second level is sentences and clauses, including the coordination and arrangement of several complete sentences and clauses; the third level is discourse and voice, referring to an integrated language unit in actual use comprised of a series of consistent sentences, clauses and passages (Cordes, 2014). No matter which level it's in, the authentic Chinese will be distorted to varying degrees, sounding unnatural and losing its own style, which is deemed as a noticeable damage to the language. Furthermore, The previous studies have pointed out the general form and impact of Chinese westernization, but none of them have sum it up in clear categorization, especially based on a solid case study.

2.Attitudes towards Chinese westernization during long historical development

The earliest existing literature supportive of Chinese westernization is How to do vernacular Chinese writing by Fu Sinian in 1919. Fu stated that the way of word building has to follow the rules of western languages, convey western ideologies and finally directly use the grammar, morphology and syntax of the western linguistic system. Two years later, in 1921, Chen Wangdao held a two-sided critical view toward Chinese westernization, calling for both promotion and restriction on such trend. After him, Chen Duxiu (1922) and Lu Xun (1923), two giants in Chinese academic circle, expressed their positive attitudes to Chinese westernization, contending that westernized sentences can enrich Chinese with new thoughts, new things and new expressions and enhance the clarity of the language. There also remained dissenters of this special linguistic phenomenon. Hertze Ke(1928) noticed the mechanical application of western grammar, gender, punctuation marks, phrases and clauses had contaminated Chinese. Besides, Liang Shiqiu, a well-known Chinese writer and translator, was diametrically against Chinese westernization, which he believed had direct relations with rigid translation (He, 2008).

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