英汉进行体结构用法上的两个差异及其对翻译实践的启示

Two Differences in Use between English and Chinese Progressive Constructions: A Contrastive Analysis and Its Application to E-C/C-E Translation

作为英、汉语进行体的主要表达方式 ,英语的 BE+VP- ing结构和汉语的“在 /正在 /正 +VP”结构在表达进行意义方面存在着两个值得注意的差异 ,即英语的 BE+VP- ing结构可以表达一个处于起始阶段的进行动作 ,还可以表达一个由不同主体先后重复同一不可重复瞬间动作从而形成的过程 ,而汉语的“在 /正在 /正 +VP”结构则不能表达或不能充分表达上述两种进行意义。本文在简要讨论英汉语进行体结构的上述差异的基础上 。

Starting with a brief discussion of two noteworthy differences in use between the English BE+VP ing construction and the Chinese 在/正在/正+VP constructions as the respective predominant progressive forms in the two languages, the present paper concentrates on how in E C/C E translation one should take into consideration the two differences pinned down in the discussion; that is, while the English BE+VP ing construction is capable of indicating an ongoing event at its initial durative stage or an ongoing event formed by different subjects successively performing the same non iterative action, a Chinese progressive construction is not or not fully capable of doing so. [