Abstract

Abbreviation is one of the main word-formation means of language, which is frequently used in language communication. And abbreviation is intimately related with people's lives. Following the principle of saving time and energy, people always tend to use concise language to deliver rich messages in communication in the human relations. Every language has abbreviations that are produced in accordance with certain rules. There is also a wide range of abbreviations in the same English-Chinese language, moreover they are widely used in people's communication, because the two languages have the obvious difference in the composition of the abbreviation, therefore English and Chinese abbreviations not only give us convenience in the process of cultural exchange, but also bring confusion to us. In the translation of English and Chinese abbreviations, various kinds of misinterpretation often occur, so contrastive study of English and Chinese abbreviation is discussed in the paper, people are able to establish better methods and principles of English and Chinese abbreviation translation and reducing the hindrance in cultural exchanges. This paper analyzes the definition and classification of abbreviations from the aspects of translation and grammar, and compares the similarities and differences between English and Chinese abbreviations, making an analysis on the principles and methods of English and Chinese abbreviations.

Key Words：abbreviation; classification; composition; translation; comparison

Contents

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction-1

2. A Brief introduction of English and Chinese abbreviations-3

2.1 Definitions of English and Chinese abbreviations-3

2.2 The origin and development of the English and Chinese abbreviations-3

3.The classification of English and Chinese abbreviations-6

3.1The classification of Chinese abbreviations-6

3.2The classification of English abbreviations-8

4.The comparison of English and Chinese abbreviation composition-9

4.1The composition of English abbreviations-9

4.2The composition of Chinese abbreviations-12

4.3The similarities and differences between English and Chinese abbreviations formations-13

4.3.1 The similarities between English and Chinese abbreviations formations-13

4.3.2 The differences between English and Chinese abbreviations formations-14

5. Translation of English and Chinese abbreviations-17

5.1 English and Chinese abbreviations translation principles-17

5.2 The translation of English and Chinese abbreviations-17

5.2.1 Explanatory translation.-17

5.2.2 Literal translation.-18

5.2.3 Free translation-19

5.2.4 The Combination of Literal Translation and Free Translation:-20

5.2.5 Zero translation-20

6. Conclusion-21

References-22

Acknowledgements-23