Abstract：In every language, we can find some words or phrases that designed to describe or simulate various natural sounds, which are called onomatopoeia. Although natural sound form the basic of onomatopoeia, for the purposes of rhetoric, all ethnic and national language system and way of thinking work for the formation of onomatopoeia, and their use plays a significant role. In English and Chinese language, there are a lot of onomatopoeia, and showing device features. This paper conducts a comparative study of onomatopoeia in the fields of the historical development, functional grammar, translation techniques focusing on comparative analysis of their similarities and differences, together with analyzing onomatopoeia applications under different contexts. It is argued that understanding and mastering the differences between English and Chinese onomatopoeia in all aspects, can not only to enrich our knowledge of aspects of the rhetoric and broaden our knowledge and improve language and appreciation, but also help to improve our level of translation.

Key words: Chinese onomatopoeia; English onomatopoeia; Contrast; Translation

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

Introduction-1

1.onomatopoeia contrast in different stages-3

1.1 Research on the onomatopoeia of speech and attribution-3

1.2 Research on the onomatopoeia voice Law-4

1.3 Onomatopoeia research on modern Chinese-6

2.An analysis of onomatopoeia-8

2.1 Differences in Onomatopoeia Categories-8

2.2 Differences in grammatical function-10

2.3 Differences in semantic functions-11

3.1 Chinese works vs. American works-13

3.11English onomatopoeia translating into Chinese onomatopoeia directly-13

3.12 onomatopoeia as different parts of the sentence-13

3.2 Omission of Some English Onomatopoeia-14

3.3 Non-English Onomatopoeia can be translated into Chinese onomatopoeia-15

3.4 Onomatopoeia applications in different locale-17

3.41Onomatopoeia in literary works-17

3.42 Onomatopoeia in children's language-18

3.43 Onomatopoeia in advertising language-19

3.44 Onomatopoeia in Network language-20

Conclusion-22

References-24

Acknowledgment-25