Parataxis_verse_Hypotaxis_in_Chinese_and_English

1、 AbstractParataxis and hypotaxis is the most distinguishing features in linguistics between Chinese and English. Chinese lay stress on parataxis, while English lay stress on hypotaxis.The distinction between hypotaxis and parataxis can be traced back to the different philosophical foundation as well

2、 as the different way of thinking between Chinese and people from English-speaking countries. In translation, we must omit or add some words even phrases to make the translation close to the native expression? With time passing by, Both English and Chinese are changing, When we do translation, we sh

3、ould also take the development into consideration. Key words: parataxis; hypotaxis; difference; translation；changing 中文摘要 意合和形合是中文和英文最大的區(qū)別，中文重意合，英文重形合。這種區(qū)別可以歸結(jié)于中國(guó)和英語(yǔ)國(guó)家不同的哲學(xué)基礎(chǔ)以與不同的思維方式。在翻譯中，我們應(yīng)增加或者減少一些詞匯使翻譯更加地道。隨著時(shí)間的流逝，中英文都在不斷變化，翻譯時(shí)我們應(yīng)該考慮到這些變化。關(guān)鍵詞：意合；形合；區(qū)別; 翻譯；變化 IntroductionIn this part, I will intr

4、oduce some basic knowledge of Parataxis and Hypotaxis. Parataxis derives from Greek word “hupotaxis“( hupo + taxis = under arrangement ),which means the coordinate, subordinate or embedding constructions or relationships of clauses and sentences with connectives. While Hypotaxis derives from Greek w

5、ord “parataxis”( para+ taxis= beside arrangement),which means the arranging of clauses and sentences one after the other without connectives showing the relation between them.Parataxis and Hypotaxis are means to connect sentences and paragraphs in all languages.Most linguists agree that English is m

6、ore hypotactic while Chinese more paratactic. So we call the English structure as “tree-type” and the Chinese as “bamboo-type” vividly.1. Difference between Chinese and EnglishThe distinction between hypotaxis and parataxis can be traced back to the different philosophical foundation as well as the

7、different way of thinking between Chinese and people from English-speaking countries. In ancient China, there are three typical kinds of theories concerning relationships between man and nature: Zhuangzi's theory of conforming to nature, Xunzi's theory of transforming nature, and the harmoni

8、ous relationship between humans and nature advocated in Yijing .Human beings are an integral part of nature. According to ZhangZai, human beings are a component of heaven and earth, or nature. Thus, human beings should also obey the laws of nature. The theory also holds the view that ethical princip

9、les are consistent with natural rules. The ideal of life is to attain harmony between man and nature.By contrast, Western dualism led to an opposition between man and nature.According to the famous scholar, Ji Xianlin, each of the four Chinese characters tian ren he yi respectively means nature, hum

10、an beings, mutual understanding and friendship, and oneness. While Westerners always try to conquer and plunder from nature with its increasingly highly advanced technologies, the ancient Eastern sages admonish that human beings are just a small part of, and closely linked to, the world. These thoug

11、hts are universal in Chinese culture. For instance, traditional Chinese tea sets always have three parts: the lid, cup, and tray, respectively symbolizing heaven, people, and earth. In another example, Chinese stress reunions of the family, and consider harmonious family relationships a great fulfil

12、lment and pleasure in life, while the westerners are generally more individual, independent, and adventurous.Whats more, Chinese lay stress onsystemization and integrity, while English lay stress on analysis and formalization. As a result, Chinese is covert-relation representation; Lacking in formal

13、 markers, loose and detached structure; English is overt-meaning representation；Rich in formal markers, rigid and well-knit structure.2. Translation between Chinese and English2.1 English-Chinese translationSome English sentences, especially compound sentences,composite sentences and coordinate comp

14、lex sentences is highly hypotactic.In translation, if you dont omit the coordinators, subordinators, relative pronouns, adverbs and prepositions. The translated work will seems to be too complicated. I will elaborate it though examples.1. Smart as a rule, but this time a fool.A、通常很聰明，但此刻很糊涂。B、聰

15、明一世，糊涂一時(shí)。2. Come if you like.A、如果你想來(lái)就來(lái)吧B、想來(lái)就來(lái)吧3. When Smith was drunk, he used to beat his wife and daughter; and the next morning, with a headache, he would rail at the word for its neglect of his genius.A、當(dāng)史密斯喝醉之后，他常常打老婆和女兒；并且第二天帶著頭痛發(fā)牢騷，抱怨世人不能賞識(shí)他的才華。B、史密斯喝醉之后，常常打老婆和女兒；第二天帶著頭痛發(fā)牢騷，抱怨世人不能賞識(shí)他的才華。 From

16、 the example above, we can find that “B” is better than “A”. Why? Because in “B”, we omit the connectives such as: “but”“if”when”, so the translated Chinese vision in” B “is nature, simple and smooth. However, there are also some Chinese sentences carry the hypotactic features, thus, we might as wel

17、l retain the original words. Most of these kinds of words are connectives which represent causes and results, purposes or conditions. Here are examples.1. If anyone should call, please let me know.A. 有人打，請(qǐng)告訴我一下。B. 如果有人打，請(qǐng)告訴我一下。2. Since we live near the sea, we enjoy a healthy climateA、我們住在海濱，能夠享受有益健

18、康的氣候。B、因?yàn)槲覀冏≡诤I，所以能夠享受有益健康的氣候。3、He told us to keep quiet so that we might not disturb others.A.他叫我們保持安靜，怕打擾別人。B他叫我們保持安靜，以免打擾別人。 In the three examples above, “B” is a better choice. Because it disclosure the relationship between clauses and make sense. So sometimes we should not omit the connective w

19、ords. 2.2 Chinese -English translation English grammar is overt, while Chinese grammar is covert. When we do Chinese -English translation, we should first understand the meaning of the Chinese sentences and find the logical relationship within the sentence, second, add the missing words into the sen

20、tences; finally, translate it into English.1.燕子去了, 有再來(lái)的時(shí)候; 柳枯了, 有再青的時(shí)候; 桃花了, 有再開的時(shí)候。但是, 聰明的, 你告訴我, 我們的日子為什么一去不復(fù)返呢?Swallows may have gone, (but) there is a time of return;Willow trees may have died back, (but) there is a time of regreening; Peach blossoms may have fallen, (but )they will bloom again.

21、 Now, you the wise, tell me, why should our days leave us, neverto return?2.一般情感主義者喜歡用大字眼，稱之為對(duì)于理想愛情的渴望。換言之，他們認(rèn)為女人的情感平時(shí)只能零星發(fā)泄，必須有了丈夫和孩子，情感收聚起來(lái)有了歸宿，自己才能得到滿足。It was ( what ) sentimentalists, who deal in very big words, call a yearning after the deal, and simply means ( that ) women are not satisfied (

22、until ) they have husband (and ) children on whom they may center affections, (which) are spent elsewhere, as it were, in small change.3.太公釣魚,愿者上鉤。嗟來(lái)之食,吃下去肚子要痛的。(Like) Chiang Tai Kung fishing , they have cast theline for the fish who want to be caught . But he (who) swallows food handed out in conte

23、mpt will get a bellyache.In the three examples, We add different kinds of connectives into the sentence so as to make it confine to the rigid Englishstructure.3. The development in both English and ChineseAs time goes by, more and more English sentences carry the characteristics of parataxis. From a

24、 research, we find that the paratactic sentences in the novel A Tale of Two Cities is 57 percent and in the novel The Adventures ofTom Sawyer is 62 percent. If we look the works of the 20th century, such as For Whom the BellTolls, Gone with theWind, we can find more .Here are examples Outside, the l

25、ate afternoon sun slanted down in the yard, throwing into gleaming brightness the dogwood trees. - Gone with theWindHe had left his wife sitting on the sofa in the drawing room, her hands crossed in her lap, manifestly waiting for him to go out. This was not unusual. It happened, in fact, every day.

26、 - The Forsyte SagaThe bustle in a houseThe morning after deathIs solemnest of industriesEnacted upon earth, The sweeping up the heart,And putting love awayWe shall not want to use again -The Bustle in a House From the sentences and poem above, we can see that even though they did not use any connec

27、tives, relative pronouns, or relative adverbs, we can still catch the meaning.In contrast, when we compare the old Chinese with the modernChinese. We may found that the modern Chinese seems to be more hypotactic than the old Chinese. Here is an example:1.（當(dāng)時(shí)）余聞而愈悲。（因?yàn)椋┛鬃釉? “苛政猛于虎也?！保ūM管）吾嘗疑乎是, 今以氏觀之,

28、 猶信。2、一股作氣，再（擊鼓）（士氣）而衰，三（擊鼓）（士氣）而竭。The old Chinese is more paratactic than the modern Chinese, When we translate the old Chinese into modernChinese, we should add some connective words, subjective, predict and so on to make it understandable.Nowadays, when we do translation, we use English paratacti

29、c sentences to translate Chinese paratactic sentences. For example:黛玉嘆道:“生死有命, 富貴在天 , 也不是人力可強(qiáng)的。今年比往年反覺雙重了些似的?！闭f(shuō)話之間, 已咳嗽了兩三次?！癓ife and death are determined by fate, rank and riches decreed by Heaven,”quoted Taiyu with a sigh.“Itis beyond the power of man to alter fate. It seems tome my illness is worse this year