英汉语言差异8_conv.doc

英汉语言差异之八 抽象与具体 Abstract vs. Concrete 英语的名词化往往导致表达的抽象化。英语的抽象化表达法主要见于使用大量的抽象名词。这类名词含义广泛，指称笼统，往往有一种“虚，泛，暗，曲，隐”的“魅力”，因而用于表达复杂的思想和微妙的情绪。 抽象表达法在英语当中使用相当普遍，尤其常用于社会科学论着，官方文章，报刊评论，法律文书，商业信函等文体。 Eg： The signs of the times point to the necessity of the modification of the system of administration. (Times) No year passes now without evidence of the truth of the statement that the work of government is becoming increasingly difficult. (Spectator) There seems to have been an absence of attempt at conciliation between rival sects. (Daily Telegraph) 译文： 管理体制需要改革，这已经越来越清楚了。 行政管理工作已经变得越来越困难了，每年都证明确实如此。 对立的派别 似乎从来就没有试图去谋求和解。 用简单的英文表述： 1. It is becoming clear that the administrative system must be modified. 2.Every year shows again how true it is that… 3. The sects seem never even to have tried mutual conciliation. 英语中广泛使用抽象表达法的原因如下： 一.抽象思维被人们认为是一种高级思维（superior mind)，是文明人的一种象征(mark of civilized man)。 二.抽象词语意义模糊，便于掩饰作者含混或真实的思想，以迎合其某种表达的需要，因而也得以流行。 三.英语中有大量丰富的词义虚化手段，这就大大方便了抽象表达法的使用。 一.抽象思维被人们认为是一种高级思维（superior mind)，是文明人的一种象征(mark of civilized man)。 一方面，随着科学技术的发展，原有的感性的表达方式不足以表达复杂的理性概念，因而需要借助于抽象的，概括的方法。 另一方面，许多作者为了显耀其思想的深奥而故弄玄虚，追随时尚，也嗜好抽象表达法。 Eg： The absence of intelligence is an indication of satisfactory developments. Was this the realization of an anticipated liability? The actual date of the completion of the purchase should coincide with the availability of the new facilities. A high degree of carelessness, pre-operative and post-operative, on the part of some of the hospital staff, took place. The lack of figures may prove to be an obstacle to the efficiency of the whole of the proposed statistical content of the exercise. 译文 没有消息即表明有令人满意的进展。 你没有预料到你必须做这件事情吗？ 必须等到有了这些新设备，才能购买这批货。 医院某些医护人员在手术前后都非常粗心。 缺乏数据会使得准确的统计变得很困难。 用简明英语表达： 1.No news is good news. 2. Did you expect you would have to do this? 3. The new purchase should not be completed until the new facilities are available. 4.Some of the hospital staff were very careless both before and after the operation. 5. Lack of figures ma