Analysis of Abbreviations in the Results of Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations.doc

Analysis of Abbreviations in the Results of Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade NegotiationsContentsAbstract in English .3Abstract in Chinese .51 Prelude.62 Introduction .8 2.1 A Brief Introduction of Abbreviation.8 2.2 History of Abbreviation83 Forms of Abbreviations . 124 Clipping .235 Application of Abbreviations .27 5.1 Positions of Abbreviations .27 5.2 Abbreviations Not Appearing Where They Should Do306 Translation of Abbreviations .347 Relationship between Abbreviations and Internet .418 Conclusion.44Bibliography.48AbstractWhen people first come across the word “abbreviation”, they are likely to question, “What is the definition of abbreviation?”, “How is it formed?” or “How many letters are needed to form an abbreviation?”Abbreviations were not born together with English. Although the Anglo-Saxon people expressed themselves by uttering very simple syllables, these syllables can not be called abbreviations. The birth of the abbreviation is given by the rapid development of science and technology, which are characterized as precision, utility and creativeness. If the already existed terms have been so frequented peoples eyes for a long time that people feel it troublesome and tiresome to repeat them, then they need shortening to cater to the trend of language developmentprecision and simplicity. As the development of English embarks on a new stage, the usage of abbreviations takes on a new look. Peoples writings and documents sometimes will adopt the abbreviations appeared in the spoken English with high frequency, which seems to have forged a principlethe informal will become formal by repetition.The Results of Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations is a book that contains the words and phrases of current usage. It is not merely the bible for studying WTO rules and regulations, but also provides a good opportunity for language learners to look into the formal usage of trade and legal terms, particularly the abbreviations. Its greatness lies in its precision and accuracy in utilizing these terms with sound explanation and illustration in details. There is no exaggeration to say it has set up a scientific system in which not merely all agreements of significance are recorded, but also the perfect usage of various word-formations is given. This works came into the world the moment people of all countries were beginning to learn the knowledge about WTO and the WTO was actively advocating and advertising itself among the public. Therefore, it created a large number of abbreviations on trade, economy and finance to facilitate peoples reading and memorizing. That is the reason why the author selects this works as an illustrator and evidence-provider instead of others. Meanwhile, as a student of the first WTO Research School established in China, the author feels an urge to acknowledge this book to the Chinese people, endeavoring to leave them an impression of the word adoption and usage in this book.The author first classifies the abbreviations appeared in this works, explaining in detail their distinctive features. At the same time, he analyzes the positions of the abbreviations in the agreements and documents and the approaches to their translation, which paves the way for the Chinese people to learn them in two languages. Then he explores the relationship between abbreviation and the Internet language, the contribution of the abbreviations to the economic globalization and the world peace. Key words: abbreviation agreement initial memorize precision record内容提要：缩略语并不是和英语一起诞生的。随着经济贸易往来的飞速发展和科技水平的提高，人们对语言的简洁实用提出了更高的要求。首先，缩略语的形成和字母的选择更趋合理，更便于人们记录和记忆；其次，一些在非正式场合中形成的缩略语也逐渐为人们所采用。乌拉圭回合多边贸易谈判结果是一本有大量的缩略现象的书。它不仅是一本人们研究WTO规则的“圣经”，对语言学习者了解贸易和法律术语更是提供了很好的机会。它的伟大之处就在于对这些术语，尤其是缩略语给予了准确详实的解释。可以毫不夸张的说这本书设立了一个科学规范的体系，既记载了非常重要的WTO协议，又教会了人们构词法和缩略语在正式文献中的运用。作者首先把该书中的缩略语进行分类，然后分析了这些协议中缩略语出现的位置以及它们的翻译方法，最后评价了缩略语对语言和社会的发展做出的贡献。关键词：缩略语 协议 首字母 记忆 简洁 记录1 Prelude1.1 This article mainly aims at looking into the phenomenon of abbreviation existed in The Results of Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. How can they evolve into todays form and be translated properly into Chinese? This article gives a thorough analysis on the forms of abbreviations, which are classified into several categories in accordance with their features. Then the writer attempts to seek the law how the abbreviations find their places in these documents and why in other cases they need not appear. Accordingly, the way of translating them varies and sometimes it is even not necessary to translate them into Chinese. Finally, the author exhibits the function and role of abbreviations played in human history of language and believes that they will definitely promote the development of human culture and make peoples communication prosperous.The purpose of this research is to furnish people with deep insight into human language, particularly in todays world where the written English has lagged behind the spoken one owing to the latters creativeness and flexibility in most cases.1.2 As to the WTO abbreviations, the research on this has just stepped into the threshold. Many researchers and translators, at home or abroad, put much emphasis merely on trade and economic terms. Even if they claim their study involves WTO terms, they just use the same research method as analyzing the trade terms. In addition, since the translation of these terms is relatively easy, either following the designated rule or being unnecessary to translate (in Chinese version, some abbreviations are directly put in the text without turning into Chinese abbreviations), there seems no thorough research on the translation method. Some domestic works simply list all WTO terms to cater to the WTO study fashion. There is no systematic and linguistic summary on the abbreviation forms and positions in the documents.1.3 The research achieves its designated effect mainly through comparison. By comparing the old abbreviations with the new ones, the WTO abbreviations with the spoken ones and those appeared on the Internet, the author summarizes the rules and gives the reasons why they should be classified into different groups. He does not take it for granted that the abbreviation formation is natural, and aims at finding something in common between them. He believes the pace of language development is in harmony with that of social evolvement. He wishes his research could pave the way for the experts deeper and further study.2 Introduction2.1 A Brief Introduction of AbbreviationIn accordance with the definition from the encyclopedia, the abbreviation is the shortened form of words and expression. It is either cluster of initials or one phrase appearing several times in one article. If it is formed by initial letters, those letters are mostly consonants because a word usually starts with a consonant. If it is a phrase, it may contain the words that will emerge many times in one text. It seems as a new kind of language, spoken by a small number of people or experts.How can we recognize an abbreviation or ensure that we do not mistake a word or phrase for an abbreviation? For example, if we encounter a word in capitalized form “SWIFT”, we must determine the part of speech from its context. If it is an abbreviation, there must be explanatory note after it or in the footnote. Otherwise it is likely to be either an adjective or a mans name.2.2 History of AbbreviationThe use of abbreviations is due, in part, to exigencies arising from the nature of the materials employed in the making of records, whether stone, marble, bronze, or parchment. Lapidaries engravers, and copyists are under the same necessity of making the most of the space at their disposal. Such abbreviations, indeed, are seldom met with at the beginning of the Christian era. Material of all kinds was plentiful and there was consequently, no need to be sparing in the use of it. By the third or fourth century, however, it had grown to be scarce and costly, and it became the artists aim to inscribe long texts on surfaces of somewhat scanty proportions. It is when we come to consider the subject of inscriptions cut in stone that we find the most frequent use of abbreviations. At certain late periods for example, in Spain in the Middle Ages this custom becomes abused to such an extent as to result in the invention of symbols which are undecipherable. In the best period of epigraphy certain rules are strictly observed. The abbreviations in common use fall under two chief heads: The reduction of the word to its initial letter; The reduction of a word to its first letters in a bunch or to several letters taken at intervals in the body of the word. This latter arrangement is almost conclusively Christian, whereas in heathen inscriptions the number of letters left in the abbreviation is more or less limited, yet no intermediate letter is omitted. The following readings may be noted: PON., PONT., PONTF., for Pontifex; DP., DEP., DPS., for Depositus; MCP for Municipii. Occasionally a phrase which has become stale by constant use and has grown into a formula, is rarely found in any other form than that of its abbreviation, e.g. D.M. for Diis Manibus, IHS for Jesus, just as we have kept R.I.P. for requiescat in pace. Lastly a whole epitaph is often met with on tombs where the husbands epitaph to his wife takes the following form: DE qua N(ullum) D(olorem) A(cceperat) N(isi) M(ortis). 1 An Introduction to English Words-Formation, Chapter III.1Another form of Abbreviation consisted in doubling the last consonant of the word to be shortened as many times as there were persons alluded to, e.g. AVG for Augustus, AVGG for Augusti duo. Stone cutters however, soon began to take liberties with this rule, and, instead of putting COSS for Consulibus duobus, invented the form CCSS. Still, when there was occasion to refer to three or four people this doubling of the last consonant gave way of necessity, in abbreviations, to the simple sign of the plural. A horizontal line over a letter or set of letters was also much used, and was destined indeed, to become almost universal in the Middle Ages. There is never any difficulty in settling the date of monuments where this sign of abbreviation occurs; the undulating line, or one curved at each end and rising in the middle only came into use at a comparatively late period. Certain marks of Abbreviation have had so widespread a use as to merit special note. The ancient liturgical manuscripts that contain recensions of Masses, and are known as Sacramentaries all have the letters VD at the beginning of the Preface, set side by side and joined by a transverse bar. Mabillon interprets this monogram as being that of the formula, Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare. According to the various manuscripts, the monogram stands for the words vere dignum, or else for the whole formula; in the majority of instances the letters VD stand for the phrase Vere dignum et Justum est, which is followed by the rest of the context, oequum et, etc. In a large number of manuscripts these letters VD have fired the imagination of illuminators and copyists. It is however, impossible to enter into a general description of the subject. Under a growth of arabesques of foliage, of fancies of all kinds the outline of the two letters is sometimes hard to distinguish. The symbol encroaches more and more, and grows from a mere initial into an ornamental page. It was inevitable that medieval writers should build a whole system of mysticism and allegory on the VD of the Preface. A word may be said concerning the abbreviation IHV. It is found on a great number of different objects: ancient gems, coins, epitaphs, dedications and diplomas. The symbol IHS was destined to endure for many ages, but it is only since the time of St. Bernardine of Sienna that it has come into such widespread use. It is impossible, with the information available, to say whether it is of Greek or Latin origin.2 Dictionary of International Biography, page 89.2 What this suggests is the eternality of abbreviations. With the initials of beloved persons name carved on rings or gems, one can extend his love, belief or beautiful memory for a whole life.In the following text, we will classify the abbreviations in the Results of Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations according to their own features and provide examples respectively. It is the examples that will truly make you understand the diversity and wonderfulness of abbreviation.3 Forms of AbbreviationsIn terms of the formation process, the abbreviations in The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations are different and assorted. Thoroughly speaking, they can be classified into the following 18 forms.1. 1. Initials of all words e.g. DSB (Dispute Settlement Body);TPRM (Trade Policy Review Mechanism); These are the commonest abbreviations, which reflect the general rule and feature of the abbreviation formation: people pick the initial letter of each word and put them together. The abbreviation, usually three or four letters, is mostly a list of consonants, because they start the spelling of a word. The letters appear in the same order as the words do, which is able to remind people what the letter stands for when people see and read them. Initialized letters are likely to arouse peoples curiosity to make clear where the letters come from.2. Abbreviations without initials of prepositions and conjunctivese.g. AMS (Aggregate Measurement of Support);GATS (General Agreement of Trade on Service);SCM (Subsidies and Countervailing Measures)These abbreviations do not contain the initials of the prepositions “of” and “on”, or the conjunctive “and”. This does not mean that these words are of no significance, but the initials of key words are adequate to form an abbreviation and express the meaning clearly. Compared with the one in the abbreviations like VOA (Voice of America) and POW (Prisoner of War), the preposition “of” in Aggregate Measurement of Support is not inferior. The mere reason is that there are only three words in the phrases like Voice of America, and the addition of “O” to between V and A facilitates peoples spelling and memorizing. There is a tendency of utilizing “O” between the consonants of the abbreviation, like PBOC (Peoples Bank of China) and MOF (Ministry of Finance). On the other hand, the initials of the key words are enough to remind people what they stand for, and people can easily point out the link words.In most cases, one abbreviation contains three or four letters. Therefore, if there are more than four words in the full name, the initials of unimportant words will be omitted in developing an abbreviation. If the key words of the full name are less than three, the initial letter of the unimportant words will mostly become part of the abbreviation. Of course, there are exceptions. For instance, TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the initial letter of the preposition “as” is not contained in the abbreviation, while that of “of” contained.3. 3. Abbreviations without initials of some important wordse.g. HS (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System)TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)HS is perhaps the most shortened form of all WTO abbreviations, with the initial letters of “Commodity, Description and Coding” omitted. People would be puzzled and not associate this abbreviation with its full name on mentioning it. However, if all the initials are put in the abbreviation, it would be extremely difficult to spell and remember. So even if the omitted three words are important, they are sacrificed to peoples reading habits. There are also exceptions to this phenomenon, such as CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade), and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). In the former abbreviation, there are two Cs and the four letters CCPT all end with the vowel /i:/, which facilitates peoples spelling. The latter is a word itself. In TRIPS, “R” comes from the modifying word “Related”, not from the key word “Rights”. Comparatively speaking, TRIPS is easier to spell than TRIPR. Moreover, the initial letter of “Aspects” is omitted. 4. 4. Abbreviations with the initial letters of two words in compoundse.g. SSG (Special Safeguard)TRIMs (Trade-Related Investment Measures)Compound is the process of new word creation by joining two words together. “Safeguard” is a noun here formed by an adjective plus a noun, while “Trade-Related” is a noun plus an adjective. The difference is that there is no hyphen in “safeguard”, so it is hard to imagine that “SG” comes from one word. However, since the abbreviation “SS” stands for lots of things, adding “G” in the abbreviation will enable us to distinguish it from other abbreviations easily. Moreover, “TRIMs” and “TRIPS” have the first similar letters, which is easily for us to remember the two abbreviations.However the compound is formed, the abbreviations indicate that the two parts of the compound are of equal importance.5. 5. Abbreviations without initial letter of the second word in compoundse.g. CCC (Customs Co-operation Council)This abbreviation does not comprise the initial of the word “-operation”, so the second C in CCC comes from the prefix co-. Compared with MFA (Multifibre Agreement), which adopt the