模糊语言在商务英语中的应用.doc

本科学生毕业论文
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模糊语言在商务英语中的应用
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黑 龙 江 工 程 学 院

The Graduation Thesis for Bachelor's Degree

The Use of Fuzzy
Language in Business English

Heilongjiang Institute of Technology

黑龙江工程学院本科生毕业论文
中文摘要示例

摘□□要
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本文主要针对商务沟通中模糊语言的使用进行语用分析。语言的模糊性是语言的基本属性之一，自然语言的模糊性及其语用功能在商务英语中的重要性十分突出……
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关键词：语言；语言学；模糊语言；模糊性；应用；商务沟通

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英文摘要示例Times New Roman体，字号与中文对应

Abstract
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The paper is a pragmatic analysis of fuzzy language in business communication. Fuzziness is one of the essential properties of language. Fuzziness of natural language and its pragmatic functions are salient in business English…..

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Key words: language; linguistics; fuzzy language; fuzziness; use; business communication

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I

目录示例

Contents
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摘要……………………………………………………………………………………….Ⅰ
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….Ⅱ
I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………1
A. The purpose of the paper…………………………………………………..……….…1
B. The significance of the paper……………….…………………………………………1
C. The background of the paper……………………………………………….…………3
II. The study of compliments………………….…...…………………………………6
A. The definition of compliments………………………………………………………..6
B. The influencing factors of compliments……………………………………………..7
III. Linguistic differences between English and Chinese compliments……9
A. The different lexical patterns……...……………………….. …....…………………9
B. The different syntactic patterns……………………………………………… …10
IV. Cultural differences between English and Chinese compliments. …….14
A. Cultural differences in topics………………………………………..……….....14
B. Cultural differences in responses………………………..…………..………….15
C. Cultural differences in courtesy..……………….……………………………….16
D. Cultural differences in time values…………………………..………………….17
E. Cultural differences in social functions…………………...…..………………….18
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..21
Works Cited………………………………………………………………………….….23
References……………………………………………………………………………24
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………25

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I. Introduction

A. Purpose and significance of the thesis
As an important figure of speech in the English language, personification is the ascription of characteristics of a human being to an animal, an object, or an idea.
Personification is one of the best tools in writings, and has been known for its effectiveness for a long time. The application of personification can be found everywhere. And the fascination of the personification can be seen obviously. The object which has characteristics of a human being will turn to be vivid from the inanimate. What’s more, the sentence with personification will also become more effective. That is, on one hand, the sentence becomes lively and interesting. On the other hand, the sentence is easy to be understood.
But as for the translation on personification, it is not an easy task. The better a translation is, the more effective the objective will be. Good translation not only can deliver the accurate information to the receptor but also can make the language vivid. Therefore, it’s completely necessary to study the personification and its translation. This paper tends to analyze and discuss the personification and its translation. Through the introduction and discussion of the three translation methods of personification, this paper can promote the research of the translation on personification.
B. Literature review
It is clear that personification plays an important role and it is highly used in nearly every text. Research on the personification translation never stops.
Until now, the research on the personification and its translation at home and abroad can be found here and there. There are a number of theories and important views about them.
As for the personification translation, there are many researchers who makes great contributions in this filed. The research on the translation of the personification in China should trace back to the ancient. The personification takes an important rhetoric to have the application in the Chinese ancient poetry either in the Six Dynasties or in the Tang Dynasty. Afterward，a growing number of scholars begins to study personification in the area of its translation. A young scholar Guo Jianzhong, expounds the theory of translation personification mainly on the deconstruction and fascination. Scholars like Hu Shuzhong, Lu Hongmei, Chen Ding’an, briefly introduce some methods of personification translation, such as, literal translation, free translation. And the translators Li Jinghua, Qian Gechuan and Feng Qinghua give much more translation methods of personification which are loan translation and literal translation plus annotation.
In the west, there are many researchers who make contributions to the theory of personification. Lawrence Venuti is as a famous expert in the field of the translation of personification and his translation theory is explained in his three main works. Discourse, Subjectivity, Ideology, The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation and The Scandal of Translation: Towards an Ethics of Difference. He also advocates “resistance translation in order to develop a new theory and practice of translation to signify the linguistic and cultural differences of the foreign text.” [6]
Nida is an important translator who gives the personification theory and in his theory, “natural equality” is emphasized. What’s more, some experts introduce the translation principle of personification. Alexander Fraser Tytler is given three translation principles of personification in Essay on the Principles of Translation. Translator Fu Lei gives three translation principles on personification, the faithfulness, expressiveness and fitness. The famous writer Lu Xun has pointed out the translation principle of personification in his book. In his book, he emphasizes that two aspects should be taken in to consideration while translating—First, translation should be easy to understand. Second, translation should keep the original taste.
C. Organization of the thesis
This thesis tries to introduce the personification, the importance and methods of its translation to promote the research on the field of personification and its translation. This thesis is mainly divided into five parts.
In Chapter One, it briefly introduces the purpose, significance, literature review and structures.
In Chapter Two, it is aimed to discuss the definition, the classification of personification. And it puts emphasis on the function of the personification.
In Chapter Three, it briefly introduces the theory of translation which includes the principle of translation and the requirement for the translator.
In Chapter Four, it is mainly about the application of translation methods of personification. In this chapter, three translation methods will be illustrated in details.
In Chapter Five, the author arrives at a conclusion. It gives an illustration of the three methods that should be used alternatively in different personification translations.

Ⅱ. The study of personification

A．Definition of personification
There are different definitions on personification. Up to now, it seems difficult to judge which one is the most perfect.
According to the Perrine’s definition, the personification is “a kind of figure of speech in the English language, in which the object without life is always having the mind or action of a human being.”[5]
For example, in the sentence “you may see their trunks arching in the woods; years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground; like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair; before them over their heads to dry in the Sun.” 你会在森林里看到那些白桦树, 弯曲着树身，树叶在地面上拖扫，好像趴在地上的女孩子把一头长发，兜过头去，好让太阳把头发晒干。This is written in Robert Frost’s poem “Birches” in which, by using personification, the tree is given the action of a human being, and the tree is regarded as a girl who has the long hair. Only a person can have the action of enjoying sunshine. Here, the tree is personified as a pretty girl with long hair enjoying sunshine in a beautiful day. What’s more, the poem with personification is getting more interesting and lively.
Ralph Ellison gives definition of personification in early times, an animal or thing typifying a certain quality or idea of a human being.
For example, “one day the sun and the wind had a quarrel. The sun said he was stronger that the wind. And the wind said that he was stronger than the Sun.” 有一天，太阳和风争吵。太阳说他比风强大，而风却说他比太阳强大。This example is from a fairy tale, in which, by the personification, the sun and the wind are given the quality of a human being and they are regarded as competitors. Here, the sun is personified as a person who has a quarrel with wind and both of them want to be winner. In addition, just few words, personification can describe the sun and wind vividly in order to highlight the characteristics of them.
In short, personification is “a figure of speech in which inanimate objects are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form. Natural phenomena (earth, sky, rivers), places (cities, countries), divisions of time (seasons, months, a lifetime), states of the body (health, sleep, death), emotions (love, envy, fear), and political concepts (victory, democracy, war) all appear in human, usually female, form.” [1]
B. Classification of personification
According to different objects which are to be described, personification is divided into two types. One is the concrete personification, the other is abstract personification.
1. Concrete personification
Concrete personification refers to something concrete like trees, flowers, desks, boats personified by and given the human being’s attributes.
For examples, “the ship began to creak and protest as it struggled against the rising sea.” 船舶开始吱吱和抗议，因为它面对的海平面上升。Here, the ship a concrete thing is personified as a person who is given life and has ability to talk like a human being and is struggling against the rising sea. In the example, personification no only can describe the inanimate ship vividly but also can show dissatisfaction against the rising sea. Moreover, personification adds something interesting to this expression.
Here is another example, “we bought this house instead of the one in Beijing because this one is friendlier.” 我们买了这所房子，而不是在北京，因为这个更友善些。In the example, although the house is a concrete thing, by the personification, the house is given life and character of a human being. Only a person can have friendly character. Here, this house is personified as a friendly person and the advantage of this house is shown to the reader directly. The advantage appears in different aspects such as much more comfortable living conditions, lower price or something else. Therefore, personification implicated in the sentence can highlight the kind character of inanimate house clearly.
In short, by the personification, the inanimate object is given action or character of a human being. It is obvious to see that an inanimate object implicated in the figure of speech personification will be described vividly. In addition, personification can deliver the colorful and vivid expressions.
2. Abstract personification
Abstract personification refers to something abstract like the ideas or the emotion personified by and given the human being’s attributes.
For examples, “he is the favorite child of Fortune.” 他是幸运的宠儿。In this example, although “Fortune” is the abstract thing, by the personification, and the “Fortune” is given the human being’s attributes. Here, the abstract “Fortune” is personified as a person who gives the favorite love to the lucky man. In addition, in abstract personification, the abstract object is always written in capital letter to emphasize.
Here is another example, “Culture is not satisfied till we all come to a perfect man. It knows the sweetness and light of the few must be imperfect until the raw and unkind led masses of humanity are touched with the sweetness and the light. 在我们大家都认为成为完美的人之前，文化是不会满意的，文化懂得在人类未开化和未觉醒的广大群众享受快乐和光明之前，少数人享有的快乐和光明必然是不完美的。
In the example, although the “Culture” is the abstract thing, by the personification, and the “Culture” is given idea of a human being. Here, the “Culture” is personified as a leader who requires a lot for a man to become a perfect one. Moreover, by personification, it is obviously to see information of the example clearly delivered to the receptor.
In short, the abstract object personified is brought to life and is given greater vivid description. What’s more, an abstract object, personified as a person, can be in a concrete way accepted easily by the readers.
C. Function of personification
Personification is an important figure of speech in English language and it is used in nearly every text. The function of personification is discussed as follows.
1. To highlight the characteristics
By personification, the activity of a human being is given to the inanimate object. Personification can transfer inanimate object to the vivid one in order to highlight the characteristics of the inanimate object.
For example, “May is a boy with a fishing rod walking to the pond on Saturday morning，and young sweethearts strolling along the pond on Saturday nights.” 五月是一个手持钓鱼杆在周末早晨走向池塘的男孩，也是周末晚上沿池塘漫步的情。In the example, although May is the common month, by the personification, and “May” is given the character of a human being. Here, the “May” is personified as a young boy who has the characteristic of liveliness and youngness and “May” is also personified as sweethearts who have the characteristic of love to highlight the characteristic of energy and romance. Therefore, the “Month” personified is described vividly to highlight characteristic clearly.
Here is another example in advertisement, “the flower speaks from the heart.” 花发自内心的讲话。This is an advertisement for flower. In this advertisement, although flower is a common plant, by the personification, and the flower is given the activity of a human being by the advertisement composer. In most people’s minds, only close friends speak to each other from the heart. Here, the personified flower is endowed with life in order to highlight the characteristic of being friendly. Therefore, by the personification, this advertisement makes the customers feel cordial to promote sales which can touch the customers’ hearts.
2. To arouse imagination
Personification help inanimate object possess some quality of a human bein