Translation of Pronouns

Translation of Pronouns 2.0 Generalization A pronoun is a word that is used in place of a noun or a noun phrase. In English the pronoun can help to increase the cohesion or coherence in a text and so is the case in Chinese. However, its cohesive force in English is stronger than that in Chinese. Therefore in the English context a pronoun is regarded as a necessary unit but in the Chinese context it may be regarded as superfluity. What is more, a pronoun in English may refer to something or somebody that is not accepted in Chinese. In translation from English, we have several rules to deal with pronouns. 2.1 Translation of First Person Pronouns In English we have one plural form for the first person pronoun as we do for the second and the third person forms. But in our standard Chinese we have two distinct forms for the first person plural pronoun. They are the inclusive form “咱们” and the exclusive form “我们”. When the person spoken to is included, we use the former; when not, we use the latter. There is nothing to do with the number of persons spoken to. The typical examples are: We are going; see you again! 我们走了，咱们再见～ We are northerners, you are southerners, but we are all Chinese. 我们是北方人，你们是南方人，咱们都是中国人。 In English the same distinction is made only in spoken language between “let’s” and “Let us”. See the following examples: Let’s have a talk, shall we? 咱们来谈谈，好不好, Let us know when you will come again. 告诉我们，你们什么时候再来, However, in the formal speech, “Let’s” is never used, so the phrase is inclusive. In English if we emphasize the inclusion of the person spoken to we say “we all” or “us all”, while in Chinese we often use the word “我们大家”. You have got the golden star in the movement, which means a great honor to us all. 你们在运动中荣获金星奖，这是我们大家的光荣。 2.2 Translation of Second Person Pronoun The modern English provides no distinction of the singular in the second person from the plural form. In Chinese the plural is expressed by the sign “们”. And so the translation of the second pronoun from English into Chinese depends on the context. 2.3 Translation of Third Person Pronouns The two languages have different third person forms and they have different usage. Translation of third person pronouns are more complicated. The following methods may be adopted according the actual situations. 1) To turn them in the corresponding Chinese characters, that is, to translate them literally. Her mother is cooking for her. 她母亲在给她做饭。 2)To repeat the antecedents Our culture has become a scientific, popular and new democratic culture, arising from the people and serving them. 我们的文化已成为科学的，全民的，新民主的文化，从人民 中来，为人民服务。 3)To omit them altogether As soon as Penny opened his eyes on that never-to-be forgotten morning, he saw them (rollers). 在那难忘的早晨，彭尼一睁开眼睛，就看到这些筑路 机。 Comrades! They say there are many races on the earth--Jews and Germans, English and Tartars. But I don’t believe it. 同志们，人家说世界上有许多种族，有犹太人和德国 人，有英国人和鞑靼人，但是我就是不信。 4)To use the reflexive pronoun “自己”instead: The workers of foreign countries have already learnt this simple truth, and today, on this bright First of May, the foreign working people fraternize with one another. They leave their work, and go out into the street to look at themselves, to take stock of their great power. 外国工人已经懂得这个简单的道理，所以在今天，光明 的五月一日，外国工人兄弟般地团结起来，丢下工作，跑到 街上去看他们自己，衡量自己伟大的力量。 5)To use demonstratives instead China is rich in antimony, tungsten, manganese, irons, etc. they are useful and necessary metals for heavy industry. 中国锑、钨、锰、铁等的储量甚丰。这些都是重工业有 用而必需的金属。