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A Comparative Study of Rhetoric Features between Chinese and English Speeches through Translation Chapter I. Introduction Public speech is an essential stylistic in Western countries. However, in China, because the historical and social reasons, this stylistics is not that common. Nowadays, by more frequent communication with western countries, the speeches are used more by Chinese leaders. In this thesis, it focuses on study of the features of speeches in the process of translation, for translation is the window between our Chinese and outside world. Chapter II. Literature Review Many scholars have studied the features of public speaking. they mainly concentrate on these features of its language use, such as, syntactic, lexical, phonetic, rhetorical devices features and also the stylistic features. Some linguists have also done research from the perspective of metaphor. “Speeches are usually considered as a unified strategy aimed to achieve a specific effect, informative, persuasive, or other, to the extent that it is clear, interesting, credible, and appropriate for the audience within a given time limit.”(Wilson5-6) And in this paper, the features of speech will be introduced in the process of translation. ChapterIII. Features of English speeches Generally speaking, most political speeches are dignified and intelligent ones addressed by VIP’s , such as presidents. And the speeches are connected with specific historical time. As far as style is concerned, the particular public-speaking situation determines that this genre has the dual characteristics of both spoken and written discourse. As far as the speech language is concerned, it is usually easy to understand and remember, because speech deliverer knows that only common language can reach out to more audiences. As far as the effectiveness of persuasion is concerned, speech deliverers usually pay attention to appeals to emotion, which can be an effective way to achieve a desired response from an audience. The persuasive speakers often seek to arouse the feelings of their audiences and make them feel sad, happy, angry, sympathetic, etc.( Seems you are quoting from some source. If this is so, give credit) Chapter IV. Rhetoric features of English speech A. Form of address Form of address is a very essential part in the English speech, and translators required to translate them by all means. It is common that presidents use the specific form of address “fellow citizens” at the very beginning of the speeches and the use of inclusive pronouns “we”, “our” in the process of delivering the speeches. These addresses encourage a sense of group identity and a feeling of cohesiveness. This is an example from the inaugural address of George W. Bush: “Our national courage has been clear in times of depression and war, when defeating common dangers defined our common good. Now we must choose if the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn us. We must show courage in a time of blessing, by confronting problems instead of passing them on to future generations.” Words “we”, “our” are used by speaker to address audience in order to create a feeling of belongings and build a sense of closeness. Translation: “在大萧条和战争年代，美国的勇气 表 关于同志近三年现实表现材料材料类招标技术评分表图表与交易pdf视力表打印pdf用图表说话 pdf 现得淋漓尽致，当时，我们征服了共同的危险，确定了共同的利益。现在我们必须作出选择，是让父辈的榜样激励我们，还是让父辈的榜样谴责我们。我们在幸福年代必须拿出勇气，敢于面对问题，而不是将问题留给后代。”（余芝萍 译） This translation is proper because it reflects the original meaning and, more importantly, emotion. In the translation, “我们” cannot be omitted in some sentence because of its repetition. Otherwise, the friendly atmosphere aroused by the specific addresses will be lost . B. Words An English word usually has many different meanings. In a certain speech, what one word means bases on the whole context and, more important, the certain historical and social background of the times. Here is one example: “Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts…Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. 译文1 但是我们的苦恼决不是因为缺乏物资。我们没有遭到什莫?蝗虫灾害。……大自然仍在给予我们恩惠，人类的努力已使之倍增。 译文2 但是，我们的困难并不是由于实质上的失败。我们没有遭到什莫蝗虫之害。……大自然的施惠不减，而人的努力更是使其倍增。 译文3 但是，我们的困难并不是由于物质的匮乏。我们没有遭到什莫?蝗虫之害。……大自然的恩惠不减，而人的努力更是使其倍增。 In these three translations by different translators, the main difference is the different translations of the word “substance”. According to Longman Dictionary, the word “substance” mainly has four meanings: “物质，物”；“实质，内容”；“主旨，大意”；“牢固，坚实”。What on earth is the meaning of the word in this sentence of the speech should be based on the context and the historical background of that age. The speech was delivered in the period of the Great Depression in the 1930s. And from the context “Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it”, we can say the word “substance” shouldn’t be translated into “实质上的失败”. English words have not only the basic meanings, but also the stylistic meanings. Therefore, while translating, translators should take consideration of different language features in order to represent to the readers what the original wants to tell. For instance: …the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. 译文1 ……我们唯一不得不害怕的就是害怕本身 — 一种莫名其妙的、丧失理智的、毫无根据的恐惧，它会把转退为进所需的种种努力化为泡影。 译文2 ……我们唯一值得恐惧的就是恐惧本身 — 会使我们由后退转而前进所需的努力陷于瘫痪的那种无名的、没有道理的、毫无根据的害怕。 From stylistic aspect, the word “terror” is much more formal than “fear”, according to the statistics of Longman ( the 1995 edition), the noun “fear” is one of the one thousand most common words in written English and one of three thousand most common words in oral English, while “terror” doesn’t belong to three thousand most common words at all. The difference between “fear” and “terror” is almost like the difference between “害怕” and “恐惧” in Chinese, the former is a general word, and the latter is a written word. Therefore translation no.1 is better . In the English speeches, the frequency of using formal words is high in order to make the solemn atmosphere in special occasion. For example, in the Gettysburg Address from President Abraham Lincoln: “Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” At the very beginning of the speech, President Lincoln picked up the formal word “score”, but not directly said eighty-seven years ago, setting off the main part of the sentence “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”. In Chinese language, there is no expression of “几个二十”, how to translate it? There are two kinds of translation found: 译文1：87年前 译文2：八十七年前 Because Chinese words are more formal than Arabic numerals in writing numbers, the latter translation is the better choice. Another feature of English words in speeches is that verb phrases are replaced by synonymic noun phrases to be more formal such as: On my introduction into the Presidency 译文1：在就任总统时 译文2：值此我就任之际 In the daily talk, “On my introduction into the Presidency” can be rewritten to be “when I become the president”, they are equivalent in meaning. However, the latter expression is more official and more suitable to the gathering of a large number of people. To achieve the exact effect in Chinese, one of the most common methods is to use classical Chinese words and phrases ( 黎运汉，1990：186；唐松波，1988：146).The second translation is more formal because of using “值此” and “之际” and it is essential for the beginning of the political speeches. C. Rhetorical devices In English speeches, in order to create the desired emotional impact, the speakers usually apply some suitable techniques; one of them is the use of a variety of rhetorical devices, such as parallelism, rhetorical question, metaphor, antithesis, which increase the vividness and force of the language. 1. Simile “Simile”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “an expression that describes something by comparing it with something else, using the words ‘as’ or ‘like’, for example, ‘as white as snow’”. “明喻” has equivalent meaning in rhetorical device with “simile”, so it is convenient in translation of sentences containing simile. For example (I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.): “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” 译文：这个文献为千千万万在非正义烈焰中煎熬的黑奴燃起一座伟大的希望灯塔。（This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.） Here Martin Luther King compared the Emancipation Proclamation with beacon light of hope, which is vivid in expression Negro slaves’ real emotion. 2. Metaphor “Metaphor”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “a way of describing something by referring to it as something different and suggesting that it has similar qualities to that thing”. “隐喻” has equivalent meaning in rhetorical device with “metaphor”, so it is convenient in translation of sentences containing metaphor. For example (I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.): “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the clip of bitterness and hatred.” 译文：我们不能用仇恨的苦酒来缓解热望自由的于渴。 3. Pun “Pun”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “an amusing use of a word or phrase that has two meanings, or of words that have the same sound but different meanings”. E.g.1: In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check.”(Martin Luther King, Jr.) The word “capital” here has two meaning: “首都” and “资方”，so the translation could be “从某种意义来说，我们到达首都（资方）兑换支票来了”. ( I don’t think there is any ambiguity in the original. Pnly one translation is possible.) E.g.2: Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." (Martin Luther King, Jr.) The word “check” here has two meaning, one is “支票”, and the other is “检查，检验”. Translation 1: 美国不但没有承担这项神圣义务，反而给黑人一张无效的支票。 Translation 2: 美国不但没有承担这项神圣义务，反而给黑人不合理的查验（待遇）。 Two kinds of translation are both proper because of the use of pun. Mr. Martin Luther King compared the Negro people’s striving for the civil rights with cashing a check in the capital, which is also profound metaphor. Using pun and metaphor at the same time made language more vivid and powerful in expressing the speaker’s meaning and emotion, thus perfectly emphasizing the political intentions of the speaker. 4. Antithesis “Antithesis”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “the complete opposite of something”. And the explanation of Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary is “contrast of ideas marked by the choice and arrangement of words”. It is similar with one kind of Chinese rhetorical device “对偶”. e.g.: Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.” 译文：现在是从种族隔离的黑暗、荒芜的狭谷踏上种族平等的阳关大道的时候。 “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” 译文：现在是将我们的国家从种族不平等的流沙中拯救到和睦的坚固磐石上的时候。 The speaker contrasted “dark and desolate valley of segregation” (种族隔离的黑暗、荒芜的狭谷) with “the sunlit path of racial justice” (种族平等的阳关大道) and contrasted “the quick sands of racial injustice”(种族不平等的流沙) with “the solid rock of brotherhood” (和睦的坚固磐石), emphasizing the last parts of the two sentences and expressing vividly the hope of justice of speaker. 5. Alliteration “Alliteration”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “the use of several words together that begin with the same sound or letter in order to make a special effect, especially in poetry”. Alliteration is employed to give emphasis to the relevant things. For example: “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.” 译文：现在是从种族隔离的黑暗、荒芜的狭谷踏上种族平等的阳关大道的时候。 6. Rhetorical question “Rhetorical question”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “a question that you ask as a way of making a statement, without expecting an answer; using speech or writing in special ways in order to persuade people or to produce an impressive effect”. e.g. “Has the sword of despots proved to be a safer or surer instrument of reform in government than enlightened reason? Does he expect to find among the ruins of this Union a happier abode for our swarming millions than they now have under it?” (President James Polk) 译文：就政府的改革而言，难道独裁的剑会比开明的理性更安全更稳当吗？难道他想在联邦的废墟上为几千万民众找到比现在更快乐的居所吗？(陈维安 译) The questions in above sentences actually mean negative answers. Comparing with direct statement, the uses of rhetorical questions express stronger feeling and increase the power of language better. 7. Parallelism “Parallelism”, according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is “the state of being parallel with something”. Parallelism is widely employed in the speech, and it creates more emphatic and emotional effects. Parallelism is used to tie the relevant things together, and it can increase force of the language and express speaker’s strong feeling, thus attracting audience’s attention and boosting their emotions. For example: “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.” 译文1. 这个伟大的国家将一如既往地坚持下去，它会复兴和繁荣起来。 译文2. 我们的国家过去经得起考验，今后还会经得起考验, 复兴起来，繁荣下去。 译文3. 我们的国家过去经得起考验，今后还将会经得起考验，复兴起来和繁荣下去。 Comparing these three translations, they are all proper in expressing original meaning. However, there is difference among them in Rhetorical aspect. The original sentence contains neat parallel structures; therefore, the translation should respect the same style. From rhetorical point of view, the second translation is better because of using the four-word phrases.