Abstract：Nominalization refers to any process by which either a noun or a syntactic unit functioning as a noun phrase is derived from any other kind of unit such as a word, a clause or a sentence. Nominalization is one of the most important characteristics of formal written English. Researchers both at home and abroad showed great interest in this phenomenon and have carried out explorations from different perspectives. Nominalization functions as conciseness, objectivity, cohesion and can also generate certain rhetorical effects. Owing to the differences between Chinese and English—Chinese is more dynamic and concrete while English is more static and abstract—the phenomenon of nominalization should be considered and applied in Chinese-English translation. Under the guidance of Nida’s Theory of Functional Equivalence, translators should take the following elements into consideration during the course of translation, namely content, effect as well as style, and accordingly translate Chinese structure into English nominalization. Of course, not all kinds of Chinese structures can be transformed into English nominalization. According to the analysis of corpus materials, this thesis believes that there are five grammatical structures that can be transformed into English nominalization, including predicate, subject-predicate structure, verb-object structure, simple sentence and clause. With the help of nominalization structures, the meaning of the Chinese original text can be maximally preserved and its conciseness as well as logic can be enhanced in the translated text at the same time. Besides, the translated version can better appeal to the target readers’ thinking mode and functional equivalence between the source language and the target language can therefore be realized. 

Keywords: nominalization; function; Theory of Functional Equivalence; translation

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter 1  Introduction-1

Chapter 2  Literature Review-3

2.1 Definition of Nominalization-3

2.2 Study Abroad-3

2.3 Study at Home-4

Chapter 3  Theory of Functional Equivalence and Its Application-7

3.1 Functional Equivalence Theory-7

3.2 Functional Equivalence Theory in Chinese-English Nominalization Translation-7

Chapter 4  Functions of English Nominalization-9

4.1 Enhancing Conciseness-9

4.2 Increasing Objectivity-9

4.3 Strengthening Cohesion-10

4.4 Producing Rhetorical Effect-11

Chapter 5  Translation of Chinese into English Nominalization-13

5.1 Brief Comparison Between English and Chinese-13

5.2 Application of Nominalization in Chinese-English Translation-14

5.2.1 Translation of Chinese Predicate-15

5.2.2 Translation of Chinese Subject-Predicate Structure-15

5.2.3 Translation of Chinese Verb-Object Structure-16

5.2.4 Translation of Chinese Simple Sentence-17

5.2.5 Translation of Chinese Clause-17

Chapter 6  Conclusion-19

References-21

Acknowledgements-22