Analytical and synthetic expressions in Chinese and English

See the last slide for a list of references

1. Lexicalization• the process of making a word to express a conc

ept (TheFreeDictionary)• the realization of a meaning in a single word or

morpheme rather than in a grammatical construction (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

• A language has lexicalized a concept when it uses a word or other lexical items to represent this concept (from the article and ppt about Language Universals).

2. Two kinds of expressions

• Analytic Expression （分析型表达法 ) : description– Water is falling from the sky.

• Synthetic Expression （综合型表达法） : lexicalized– It is raining.

• Degree of lexicalization: Is English higher than Chinese?

• Most say yes.• How can you prove this?

2.1 Analytic Expressions

• English syntactic causative structure often using: make/have/get +object +complement.– e.g. The pain made him cry out.

• Chinese: 使 / 令 / 让 + object +complement – e.g. 这则新闻使大家振奋了精神

(zhe ze xin wen shi da jia zhen fen le jing shen.)

2.1 English Synthetic Expression and some Chinese equivalents

• Derivation words constructed by affixesen- 　 　 enrich 　 　 　 　 　 　 …使 富有

Eager　to　enrich　the　treasury,　the　Crown　began　a　rapid　development　of　these　resources.

金钱不能让人富有，只有产生金钱的资产才使你富有！　　　dis-　 　 　 　　 dispirit　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 … 　使 沮丧

The　presence　of　the　Colonel　walking　at　her　side　was　dispiriting.

因一个委托任务，使我心情非常沮丧　　　

-fy 　　　 identify 　　　　　 使…等同于

The　source　of　this　paradox　is　not　difficult　to　identify.

VB 中怎样设置使按键盘上的按钮等同于点击设置的按钮 _ 百度知道

　　　-ize　　　　　　　　　　　modernize 　　　　 使…现代化

We　should　modernize　our　country.

中国政治文化为什么没有使中国走向现代化道路

• Zero derivation (Conversion):– Noun → Verb

– Chinese?

light 光 → 使…发光– We lit the room with a lamp.– 用手就能使灯泡发光的电灯泡

• Single-morpheme words (simple words)

excite 　 　　　　　　　　 　使兴奋，使激动

Examples of L1 interference

• Study knowledge --- to learn

Pedagogical suggestions

• Give exercises showing differences.

• Give writing exercises where students should not use the verb “to be” or “have/had” or any of the other causatives listed above.

References• Many thanks to Kiki Wang in year 4 who provided the ideas and mu

ch of the material for this ppt.• 陈定安（ 2006 ） - 《英汉比较与翻译》 pp.48-49, 63-64, 72, 129-1

38• 何善芬 （ 2002 ） - 《英汉语言对比研究》 pp.104-112• lexicalization (2003-2008), TheFreeDictionary. Retrieved May 15, 20

10, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/lexicalization • lexicalization. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retriev

ed May 15, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lexicalization

• 严佳，卞浩宇（ 2007 ） - “ 从词化程度看英汉使役关系表达的异同” from: http://wy.yuloo.com/wenzhang/2008-02-06/71830.html

• 白国芳（ 2007 ） - “ 英汉动词词化模式及词化程度比较分析”• 陈文（ 2007.11 ） - “ 中英文中红，白，黑颜色习语的翻译”