英汉句式差异

英汉句式差异I.英语语言特点：树形结构从两种语言的句子结构来分析，不少语言学家都注意到，英语的造句犹如树形结构，先有主干（主谓句），然后利用各种时态关系以及关系代词，介词和连词等把短语、从句往这个主干上挂，句子呈空间发展，形成大树。BecauseofthisEnglishbackgroundofcivilconflict,English-speakingAmerica,wheretherewerenoreligiouswar,isoftendescribedasalandofrefugetowhichmenandwomencameinordertoenjoythereligiousandpoliticalfreedomwhichwasdeniedthemintheirhomeland.

在Americaisoftendescribedasalandofrefuge这个主干上，生出这么多的短句，从句的树枝。 而汉语就没有那么丰富的关系代词、关系副词和时态的优势，句子结构只能呈竹竿型，按时间顺序一句一句直线前进：英国国内内战不断。在这种背景下，美洲就成了人们描述的流亡的乐土。因为美洲没有宗教战争，又是讲英语的。人们来到这里追求宗教和政治自由。而这些自由在他们国家里是得不到的。(1a)NankingissituatedamidstoneofChina’smostsplendidnaturalsettings.ItsitsinabasinformedbytheYangtzeRiverontheNorthandtheTsechenMountainsontheotherside.(1b)NankingsitsamidstoneofChina’smostsplendidnaturalsettings,inabasinsurroundedbytheYangtzeRiverontheNorthandtheTsechenMountainsontheotherside.两个平行句变成了一句，压缩了12%。(2a)Beijingzooliesinwesternsuburbnearmyhome.ItisthebiggestzooinChina.TheBeijingzooattractsalotofpeopleespeciallychildren.(2b)ThebiggestzooinChina,Beijingzoo,inthewesternsuburbnearmyhome,attractsmanypeopleeveryday,especiallychildren.三个平行句变成了一句，压缩了29%。Exercise:(3a)Thereisabeautifulparknearmyhouse.ThenameoftheparkisTian-TanPark,whichwasbuiltseveralhundredyearsago.ItisthebiggestparkinBeijing.TheTian-TanParkisfamousnotonlyforitsbeautybutitsquietnessaswell.(4a)Thepressureofcompetitionismounting.Theexpectationoftheirparentsishigh.Somanystudentshavetodrivethemselveshard.(5a)TherearemanyadvantagesofTVeducationalprograms.Oneofthemisthatthereisnolimittothenumberofviewers.TVviewerscanlearndifferentsubjects.BecausethesubjectsrangedfromEnglishtolaw.Key(3b)NearmyhousestandTian-Tan,thebiggestparkinBeijing,builtseveralhundredyearsagoandfamousnowfornotonlyitsbeautybutalsoitsquietness.(4b)Withthemountingpressureofcompetitioncoupledwiththehighexpectationoftheirparents,manystudentshavetodrivethemselveshard.(5b)OneoftheadvantagesoftheTVeducationalprogramsisthatthereisnolimittothenumberofviewerswhomaylearndifferentsubjectsrangingfromEnglishtolaw.II.英汉语言差异：表达顺序一个句子里有小句、短语或好几个信息，有结论性的，有叙述性的，它们应当如何安排？哪一个放在前面？那个放在结尾？汉语是自然语序，即思维和语序自然合拍。句子的语序基本上反映了思想的过程：先想到什么就先说什么，叙事是按照时间顺序发生的。先介绍背景，如条件、事实、道里一一交代周到，最后点出话语的信息中心，下结论，表态度。 而英语恰好相反。说话人在说话前先把要表达的信息组织一下，一般强调什么，就先说出，即把最重要的事，如态度、观点、结论放在句首，开门见山交代清楚。然后再把理由、条件、原因、例证等一条条补述，形成一条头短尾长的线性链。

(1a)HehadflowninjustthedaybeforefromGeorgiawherehehadspendhisvacationbaskinginCaucasiansunafterthecompletionoftheconstructionjobinwhichhehadbeenengagedintheSouth.

用汉语习惯来表达，应该是： 他先在南方参加某项工程建设，完工后，就去乔治亚度假。在那里他享受了高加索的阳光，昨天才回来。按照这种思维方式写出的英语就不符合英语的表达习惯：(1b)IntheSouthhehadbeenengagedinaconstructionjob.AfterhecompletedtheworkhewenttospendhisvacationinGeorgia.TherehebaskedinCaucasiansun.Andhehadflowninjustthedaybefore.Moreexamples:(2)PeopleintheWestareindebttotheauthorfortheserviceherenderedinthatbookbypresentingthemwithatrueChina.作者在这本书里向西方描述了真实的中国。对于他作出的这一贡献，西方国家的人民是要感谢的。(3)NowChinahassolvedtheproblemoffoodandclothingtoapointwhereithasmanagedtofeed1.2billionpeople,22percentoftheworld’stotalpopulation,withonly7percentoftheworld’scultivatedland.Exercises(4a)Moneyandpowerarewhatallchildrenhavebeenbroughtuptoseek.ButIdidnotwantthem,sohewaspuzzled.(5a)BecausetheChinesetraditionallyandmorallyattachmoreimportancetomarriage,sotheyconsistentlyholdanegativeattitudetowarddivorce.(6a)Theirspeechandconductissorude.Thismakesallofusshocked.(7a)Childrenfailthecollegeentranceexaminations.Theirparentsareverydisappointed.Key(4b)HewaspuzzledthatIdidnotwantwhatallchildrenhavebeenbroughtuptoseek:moneyandpower.(5b)AnegativeattitudetowardsdivorcerunsconsistentlythoughtheconsciousnessoftheChinese