A Comparison of Transitivity System in English and Chinese
Abstract
Transitivity system is an important concept of Systematic Functional Grammar (SFG) as well as a useful tool for discourse analysis. Based on Halliday’s theoretical framework, this paper compares the similarities and distinctions between English and Chinese on the transitivity system, hoping to deepen the understanding toward the two languages from a new aspect and throw light on E-C translation. The research indicates that the six processes on the transitivity system in English and Chinese is semantically the same and can remain unchanged in E-C translation, while in certain circumstances process transfer is necessary.
Key words: Comparison; Transitivity system; English and Chinese translation implication
Keywords
References
Halliday, M.A.K. (1967). Notes on Transitivity and Theme in English. Journal of Linguistics,3(1),38-39
Halliday, M.A.K. (1971).Linguistic Function and Literary Style: An Inquiry into the Language of William Golding’s The Inheritor’. In S. Chatman (Ed.). Literary Style: a Symposium. New York: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M.A.K. (1994). An introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Li Fagen. (2004). The Experimental Function of Clauses and Translation. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching,(7),47
Lian Shuneng. (2011). Contrastive Studies of English and Chinese. Beijing: Higher Education Press.
Liu Miqing. (2006). A New Comparison of Chinese & English and Translation. Beijing: China Translation & Publishing Corporation.
Thompson, G. (2000). Introducing Functional Grammar. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Zhu Shichang. (1995). A Brief Transitivity Analysis on English Novels. Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages,(2),11-13
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020120804.2411
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