摘要
本文依据图形-背景理论,从认知突显的角度探索汉语复句的英译过程。图形-背景理论中的图形在语言上指信息值高的突显信息;背景指信息值较低的参考信息,为烘托图形而存在。英语中主句具有图形的特征;从句、其它限定性短语具有背景的特征。汉句英译时将汉句的图形择定为译语的主句,首先译出;背景信息则以从句、短语的辅助形式随后补进。译语中信息的选择与布局取决于信息的突显等级和信息值。
Based on the figure-ground theory,complex sentence translation into English is stud- ied with regard to the prominent view in cognition.In linguistics,'figure'refers to the prominent information with higher discourse weight while'ground'refers to the back- ground information with lower discourse weight,which helps the figure information stand out prominently.The main sentence in English is characterized by figure whereas the clause or phrase is believed to serve as ground.In translation,the figure information should be first distinguished and translated into English as the main sentence,followed by clauses or phrases as ground information.Information is selected and arranged on the basis of its prominence degree and discourse weight.
关键词
图形
背景
英译
信息
figure
ground
English translation
information
