母语负迁移对汉英翻译的影响_英语论文

A Study of the Negative Transfer of Mother Tongue in Chinese-English Translation

摘要

母语迁移是指学习者已经掌握的第一语言即母语知识影响第二语言习得过程和发展的现象，一直是备受国内外学者关注的研究课题。其中母语因其与外语的相似成分而对外语习得产生的助益的、积极的影响称作正迁移，反之，两种语言的相异成分对外语习得造成的反面的、消极的影响称作负迁移，是学习者掌握和应用外语的障碍。翻译，作为一种源语和目标语之间的信息转换活动，很容易受到母语的干扰。词语作为翻译的最小单位，对它的理解也是翻译实践的基础。本文从词汇意义层面入手，研究非英语专业大三学生在汉英翻译中的母语负迁移问题。

文章基于对比分析理论探讨汉英在词汇意义包括概念意义、内涵意义和搭配意义方面的差异，分析学习者可能遇到的困难。以此为指导，本文采用实证调查的方式，给被试者发放翻译测试卷。根据错误分析理论对学生答案中出现的词义负迁移错误进行定位分析，并附以数据统计。

本次调查研究力求帮助非英语专业学生意识到汉英翻译中的母语负迁移现象，而不是停留于字对字的机械翻译；提高词汇理解能力与语言水平以此减少负迁移的产生。

关键词：母语负迁移；汉英翻译；词汇意义；对比分析；错误分析

Abstract

The transfer of mother tongue (MT) has long been a research topic with extensive concern. It refers to learners applying knowledge from native language to another language. The positive influence originating from cross-linguistic similarities is termed as positive transfer, facilitating language learning. On the contrary, those differences between two languages lead to the interference of mother tongue termed negative transfer. Translation, as the communication between a source language text and an equivalent target language text, is easily affected by negative transfer of MT. Word is the minimal unit of translation, the interpretation of which is also the basis of translation practice. This paper investigates negative transfer of MT in the translation products of third-year non-English majors from the perspective of word meaning. 

On the basis of Contrastive Analysis Theory, this paper examines the differences between Chinese and English in terms of lexical meaning including conceptual, connotative and collocative meaning, and difficulties that may occur. Furthermore, an empirical study is integrated into this paper, with 50 randomly selected students involved in a translation test. Error Analysis is then applied in interpreting errors in students’ products. 

This study seeks to raise non-English majors’ awareness of negative transfer of MT in C-E translation. It is recommended that they enhance vocabulary comprehension to reduce negative effects of MT.

Keywords: negative transfer of MT, C-E translation, word meaning, CA, EA

Contents

摘 要 I

Abstract II

Acknowledgements III

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Research 1

1.2 Significance of the Research 2

1.3 Structure of the Thesis 2

Chapter Two  Literature Review 4

2.1 Research on Language Transfer Abroad 4

2.2 Research on Language Transfer in China 6

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 9

3.1 Language Transfer 9

3.2 Contrastive Analysis 11

3.3 Error Analysis 13

Chapter Four  Contrastive Analysis of Chinese and English in Lexical Meaning 15

4.1 Conceptual Meaning 16

4.2 Connotative Meaning 17

4.3 Collocative Meaning 18

Chapter Five  Analysis and Test Results 19

5.1 Analysis of Transfer Errors 19

5.1.1 Negative Transfer in Conceptual Meaning 19

5.1.2 Negative Transfer in Connotative Meaning 21

5.1.3 Negative Transfer in Collocative Meaning 23

5.2 Test Results 25

Chapter Six  Conclusion 27

References 28