七0-videoweb.ppt

A Comparison of the Syntax of Chinese and English from the Perspective of Translation David Deterding NIE, Singapore Chomskys Principles and Parameters Principles are fixed. Parameters vary between languages. Analysis of parameters allows us to see the difference between two languages. Parameters Wh Parameter Null-subject Parameter Head Parameter Wh Parameter In Chinese, the question word does not get moved. It remains in situ. In English questions, the wh word is moved to the front. Types of Question There are two types of question: Yes/No question: Is it raining? Wh-question: What are you doing? We will just consider wh-questions. 你在做什么? What are you doing? 你在做什么? What are you doing? 这本书多少钱? How much is this book? 这本书多少钱? How much is this book? 你住在哪儿? Where do you live? 你住在哪儿? Where do you live? Wh-movement in 颁 奖 典 礼 Which question has wh-movement in the translation? Wh-movement in 颁 奖 典 礼 line 7: 还 有 什 么 好 抱 怨 的。 line 8: What are you complaining about? Wh-movement in 颁 奖 典 礼 line 7: 还 有 什 么 好 抱 怨 的。 line 8: What are you complaining about? Null-subject Parameter Chinese is a null-subject language. If the subject of a clause is predictable, it can be omitted. English is not a null-subject language. Every finite clause must have a subject. Null-subjects and translation In translating from Chinese to English, subjects must be added. Sometimes the identity of the subject is not clear. Null Subjects in 七 0 How many pronouns are there in the Chinese? How many pronouns are there in the translation? Could a different choice of pronoun have been made? Null Subjects in 七 0 Chinese has no subject pronouns. English has: I (line 2) and we (line 5) Could they have been avoided? Also my (line 1); (but this is a possessive pronoun, not a subject) Null Subjects in 颁 奖 典 礼 How many pronouns are there in the Chinese? How many pronouns are there in the translation? Which extra pronouns are related to the Null-Subject Parameter? Extra pronouns in 颁 奖 典 礼 line 4 : 愈 是 想 装 成