关于查尔斯·狄更斯小说《大卫·科波菲尔》英语原本中方言使用的特点的研究(revised) (1) (1).doc

A Study on the Characteristics of the Use of Dialect in Charles Dickenss David CopperfieldXiang QihongClass 4, Grade 2012, School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Chongqing Normal UniversityAbstract: David Copperfield is the eighth novel written by the English novelist Charles Dickens. It is to some degree a biographical novel. He says in the preface to the novel that “of all my books, I like this the best.” As characters of this novel come from variegated places and are of variegated origins, the author uses different kinds of dialects to depict characters in specific ways (A dialect refers to a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers). Dialects spoken in the novel seem strange and even incomprehensible at first sight, but it is found by means of textual analysis that they are still governed by rules, following which these dialects can be well matched with the Standard English. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate such rules so as to provide guidance for understanding the dialects in the original text.Key Words: David Copperfield, dialect, textual analysis1. IntroductionThis chapter introduces the background, significance, methodology, and structure of this thesis.1.1 Research backgroundMany scholars have studied David Copperfield from various perspectives because of the novels outstanding achievements in its literary value and its detailed depiction of capitalism in the middle of the nineteenth century in England. Some scholars approach the novel from the perspective of translation. For example, Shu Lan (2005) studied the influence of ideology and poetics on translation based on the novel. Chen Qi (2005) analyzed four of its translations through culture. Shi Shu (2004) employed the poly-system theory to compare two translations. Some approach it from the original text. For example, Zhang Jing (2008) studied female characters in the novel. He Huiying (2012) analyzed the linguistic characteristics of several characters in the novel. Some approach the novel from linguistics. For example, Tang Yanbing (2005) analyzed the stylistic characteristics of the novel from the perspective of linguistics. Jin Zhibo (2012) compared the original text and the simplified version from the perspective of the ideational grammatical metaphor and interpersonal grammatical metaphor. In view of the fact that most of the researches are conducted by using a popular theory in a certain area to analyze the original text or translations to derive the same conclusion as that of the theory, for example, employing Zohars poly-system theory to analyze certain translations, or by unsystematically discussing the linguistic characteristics of the original text without any clearly-stated aims or frameworks, this thesis will employ textual analysis as the research method to investigate one of the many facets of the linguistic characteristics of the original text, that is, dialects.1.2 Purpose and significance of the studyAs characters of this novel come from variegated places and are of variegated origins, the author uses different kinds of dialects to depict characters in ways that match with their social standings. Dialects spoken in the novel seem strange and even incomprehensible at first sight, but it is found by means of textual analysis that they are still governed by rules, following which these dialects can be well matched with the standard English. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate such rules so as to provide guidance for understanding the dialects in the original text. Some may say that it is unnecessary to spend a lot of time and energy studying the original text because there are already translations to help the reader understand the novel, but English dialects are quite different from Chinese ones. An English dialect sentence cannot be translated into a Chinese one without losing some significance. The English dialect spoken in Canterbury is not at all equivalent to the Chinese one spoken in Sichuan. As a matter of fact, the characteristics of the dialect in the original text can hardly be conveyed to the target language. In order to gain deeper insights into the Western culture in different regions, reading original texts is inevitable, because language is the foundation on which culture is built. In a word, it is necessary to directly study the dialects in the original text.1.3 Structure of the thesisThis thesis consists of three chapters.The first chapter defines what a dialect is. Based on the definition, the second chapter goes on to analyze the dialects used in David Copperfield from the perspective of linguistics. It provides possible answers to the following questions: What are dialects spoken in the novel like? In what relations are they connected to the standard English? Are the grammatical rules governing dialects different from those of the standard English? If yes, how are they different from those of the standard English? The third chapter deals with the influence of ones social standing upon his way of speaking with David Copperfield as an example. It is found that people with higher social standings tend to use language in a more standard way.2. Definition of dialect2.1 Definition in a linguistic senseThe term dialect in a linguistic sense refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. Different groups of people speak different dialects. From a pure linguistic perspective, it is interesting to study the grammatical differences between different dialects and different word choices or expressions used by different dialects. But studying dialects in such a way only reveals a tip of the iceberg. It is necessary to dig deeper.2.2 Definition in a social sense The term dialect in a social sense refers to a language that is socially subordinated to a regional or national standard language. It is often historically cognate or related to the standard language, but not actually derived from it. A dialect is usually viewed as inferior to its standard counterpart. The way one speaks actually reveals on which rung of the social ladder he stands. Consequently, a dialect is not just a linguistic phenomenon, but even more of a social phenomenon. In India, caste places one community of people superior to another. Language to some degree can also be viewed as a kind of caste. Dialects spoken in political or cultural centers often evolve into standard languages, while those in smaller cities tend to be forgotten by history. Similar to history, the greatest portion of which is used to record the life of monarchs and game changers, most dialects disappear without being written down. It is not because these dialects are inferior to the standard language but because people who speak them are socially inferior to those who speak the standard language.3. Dialects in David CopperfieldIn David Copperfield, the Peggotty family originated from the countryside, so their dialect is the hardest to understand. David Copperfields nanny Peggotty stays with him in the city for a long time, so her accent is less thick than her brother Mr. Peggotty. Although Uriah Heep almost speaks in a standard way, he still uses his dialect sometimes.3.1 Pronouncing differences from the standard EnglishThe pronunciations of many words in dialects are different from those of the standard English. There are many examples in David Copperfield that can prove this point.Peggotty the nanny says, “Me handsome, Davy! Lawk, no, my dear! But what put marriage in your head (Dickens, 1981: 19)?” “Lawk” is actually “look”, but Peggotty changes its pronunciation from /lk/ to /l:k/. One characteristic of Uriah Heeps pronunciation is that he never articulates “h” in “humble”, for example, in the sentences he addresses to David Copperfield, that “Me, Master Copperfield? Oh, no! Im very umble (Dickens, 1981: 221)” and “I am well aware that I am the umblest person going (Dickens, 1981: 221).” Mr. Peggotty tends to omit some of the vowels in a word and change the pronunciation of some word significantly. When he welcomes David Copperfield and Steerforth, who have come to visit his boat for the first time, he says, “Why, that you two gentlmen-gentlmen growed-should come to this here roof tonight.Emly, My Darling, come here!.Theres the gentlman as youve heerd on, Emly. He comes to see you, along with Masr Davy (Dickens, 1981: 291).” He does not articulate / in gentleman, / in Emily and /st/ in master. “Heerd” is supposed to be “heard”. “Hear” should be pronounced as /hi/, and its preterit should be pronounced as /h:d/. However, Mr. Peggotty does not change his pronunciation according to the preterit, and still pronounces “heard” as /hid/. In some of Mr. Peggottys dialogues, his pronunciation of words deviates even more from the standard English. When Mr. Peggotty tries to explain to David Copperfield what love Ham bears for Emily, he says, “but he loses that there art of his to our little Emly. He follers her about, he makes hisself a sort o servant to her, he loses in a great measure his relish for his wittles, and in the long-run he makes it clear to me wots a miss. Now I could wish myself, you see, that our little Emly was in a fair way of being married. I could wish to see her, at all ewents, under articles to a honest man as had a right to defend her (Dickens, 1981: 292).” “Art” is “heart”. Like Uriah Heep, Mr. Peggotty forgets to articulate h. One can hardly understand what “foller” means without the context. It can be inferred from the context that it means “follow”. /fl/ is pronounced by him as /fl/. “A sort o” is supposed to be “a sort of”. “f” is not articulated. “wots” in fact is “whats”. The pronouncing difference between the two is that the former is /wtz/, and the latter is /hwtz/. “ewents” should be “events”. Mr. Peggotty pronounces the word as /iwent/. 3.2 Grammatical differences from the standard English From a descriptive point of view, there is no right or wrong grammar. If most people accept a certain grammatical rule even if it is traditionally thought of as wrong, then the rule should be viewed as a valid one. Therefore, it is not the objective of this thesis to find fault with dialects, but instead this thesis aims to find out if the grammatical rules governing dialects are different from those of the standard English.3.2.1 Archaic WordsIn dialects spoken in David Copperfield, archaic words are used more often and more extensive than in the standard English.Mr. Peggotty describes what Emily means to him by saying, “I am as rough as a Sea Porkypine; but no one, unless, mayhap, it is a woman, can know, I think, what our little Emly is to me. And betwixt ourselves, that womans name aint Missis Gummidge neither, though she has world of merits (Dickens, 1981: 292).” “mayhap” is an archaic word for “perhaps”, and “betwixt” one for “between”. When he speaks to Martha, he says, “Martha, God forbid as I should judge you. Forbid as I, of all men, should do that, my girl! You doent know half the change thats come, in course of time, upon me, when you think it likely. Well! You doent understand how tis that this here gentleman and me has wished to speak to you. You doent understand what tis we has afore us (Dickens, 1981: 635).” “tis” is often found in Shakespeares works, which stands for “it is”. “Afore” is an archaic word for “before”. Other similar examples that can be found in the novel.3.2.2 Future tenseMr. Peggottys way of using the future tense is different from that of the standard English in terms of form. In the standard English, the future tense is “be going to”, but Mr. Peggotty always says “be a-going to”. For example, when he expresses his determination to find Emily, he says, “Im a-going to seek her, fur and wide (Dickens, 1981: 438).” When he is going to find a place to stay, he says, “I was a-going to turn in somewheers (Dickens, 1981: 541).” Or he says, “I aint a-going, if I know it, to run the risk of being plotted against (Dickens, 1981: 566).”3.2.3 Grammatical deviationsIn some sentences spoken by the Peggotty family, the predicate is not in agreement with the subject. For example, Mr. Peggotty tends to use “they was” instead of “they were”. This fact can be seen from the following sentences: “Im amost glad on it, though they was so poor (Dickens, 1981: 676),” and “I was to come over and inquire for Masr Davy and give her dooty, humbly wishing him well and reporting of the famly as they was oncommon toe-be-sure (Dickens, 1981: 99).”4. The influence of ones social standing on the usage of dialectAs said above, ones way of speaking is not just a linguistic phenomenon but even more of a social phenomenon. This is also true in the novel David Copperfield. After all, the novel is to some degree a biography.4.1 The Peggotty familyDaniel Peggotty, referred to as Mr. Peggotty, is a fisherman. Clara Peggotty is David Copperfields nanny. And Ham Peggotty is a fisherman and boat builder. Two other family member, Emily and Mrs. Gummidge, though they are not biologically related to the Peggotties, live with Daniel Peggotty and Ham Peggotty in a boat near the sea. Except Emily, all of them have accents. However, Emily has been living with them since she was a child, so she should have the same accent. The truth is that it has something to do with her determination to be a lady. When David Copperfield first sees Emily, the latter says, “thats why I should like so much to be a lady. But Im not afraid in this way (Dickens, 1981: 37).” Since she wants to be a lady, the prerequisite is that she should speak standard English. The experience that a kid who speaks in dialect is constantly mocked and ignored by other kids is not uncommon. Clara Peggotty lives with the Copperfields, a middle-class family, so she is influenced by their way of speaking. But she still keeps some characteristics of the dialect she has been used to. For example, when she tries to tell David Copperfield that his mother is going to get married, she says, “you see, dear, I should have told you before now, but I hadnt an opportunity. I ought to have made it, perhaps, but I couldnt azackly bring my mind to it (Dickens, 1981: 43).” “Azackly” is actually “exactly”. The author explains it later. There are a few other examples like this one to prove that though Clara Peggotty almost speaks in the standard way, she still keeps some characteristics of her dialect. 4.2 The Steerforth familyThe Steerforth family is made up of three members, David Copperfields classmate Steerforth, his mother Mrs. Steerforth, and Miss Dartle. Steerforth was born into a wealthy family. Mrs. Steerforth, in particular, speaks in a stately way. For example, when she praises her son by degrading his school, she says, “It was not a fit school generally for my son, far from it; but there were particular circumstances to be considered at the time, of more importance even than that selection. My sons high spirit made it desirable that he should be placed with some man who felt its superiority and would be content to bow himself before it (Dickens, 1981: 277).”4.3 The Heep familyThe Heep family only has two members, Uriah Heep and his mother. The family is rather poor and “humble”, according to Uriah Heep himself. But later in the novel, Uriah Heep manages to make his way up the social ladder in a dishonest way. He can speak the standard English, but he still keeps pronouncing “humble” as /mbl/. He inherits this pronunciation from his mother Mrs. Heep, as Mrs. Heep says, “My Uriah has looked forward to this, Sir, a long while. He had his fears that our umbleness stood in the way, and I joined in them my self. Umble we are, umble we have been, umble we shall ever be (Dickens, 1981: 240).”5. ConclusionThis