2015.9作业Differences between English and Chinese Written Discourse

Differences between English and Chinese Written Discourse

The school of food and biological engineering Song Juanna My paper aims to compare the two different written discourse in Chin- ese and English, in the hope of finding some diffences and possible solutions for Chinese writer to find ways of achieving acceptable by English editer when they contribute ademic paper.

Chinese language, as one of the most ancient languages is spoken by more than 1.5billion, the biggest population in the world. English is sp-oken by the most people except Chinese, and it is the most influential and most widely used language. Keen awareneness of the similarities and differences between the two languages can facilitate foreign language learning.

There are many differences between English writing and Chinese writing. To a large extent, it is related to their different cultures, in which people have diverse thought patterns and habits. English is an inflective language, while Chinese is not.

Written discourse in chinese and English greatly differ in the mode of thingking ,the structure ,and linguistic features. Long sentences make up much of the whole in English essays. While it is reverse in Chinese writing. In addition, people are likely to use the passive voice in the former one. The Chinese are not.

First of all,let’s look at the different ways British and American

people and Chinese people think.Anglo –American human way of thingking is linear ,they are observing the words and sentences from the general to the specific from the summary to the example ,from the overall to individuals.

In Chinses ,we usually said the reasons the first minutes after the results,citing the results of so-called”cause and effect”.

Example is the following one to write a note :Bcause your mother’s sudden illness,and you can not go dancing with Tom over the weekend,and you found a good dancer Shi Dai instead of you,and apologaize.

The English note was writeen by British and American people as follow: July 6,2015 Dear Tom,

I am sorry to inform you that I won’t be able to go to dance with you this weekend.My mother is suddenly taken ill.In order not to disappoint you,I have asked Shi Dai to take my place.She is a better dancer,I think . My refrets. Joe.

The English note was written by Chinese people as follow: July 6,2015 Dear Tom,

It is my pleasure to go to the prom together with you,I know you are a

good dancer.I `m really looking forward to dance with you.But my mother is suddenly taken ill, she need me so I should take care of her this weekend, I am sorry to inform you that I won’t be able to go to dance with you.I have asked Shi Dai to take my place.She is a better dancer,I think . My refrets. Joe.

As can be seen from the note in English which was written by British and American people to express first “result ”– I won ’t be able to go to dance with you this weekend.after “for ” my mother is suddenly taken ill ,the so-called “first result after the cause”.The other note which was written by Chinese people is opposite.

The English thought pattern is linear. Each paragraph often begins with a statement of its central idea, known as topic sentence. English writing prefers to come to the point directly rather than provides much room for the background or the environment. In contrast, the Chinese thought pattern is circular. The idea is introduced at first, and as the following paragraphs are developed, it comes closer and closer to the point. Therefore, sometimes the main issue is not clear enough until the end. Based on the central idea, every paragraph expounds the thought of the writer so that the whole essay is flooded with the main issue.

In a single sentence,the English sentence is the first center,which is

the main idea of the results on the sentence and placed inside the main sentences expressin;and Chinses on the contrary,the general post-center, the main point of view,information is often planced at the end of the sentence.

Such as:He had to stay at home yesterday because he was ill(English).

Because he was sick yesterday,he had to stay at home(Chinese). The other difference is that English writing is objective, while Chinese writing is more subjective. The English writer acts like a camera, which puts itself outside the event when the event happens. Usually, he puts forward his ideas, followed by the facts to argue in favor of them. On the contrary, the Chinese writer spares no efforts to make his ideas come to light. What’s more, he writes from the inside of the issue, that is, his points are mixed with his own feelings. The writing is a success if most readers are persuaded by his feelings. In other words, the feeling of the writer is the essence of the whole essay.

In the other hand,the diffence between Chinese and English Written discourse is Syntax.

Comparison between the English sentence and the Chinese sentence order focuses on the comparison of the time sequence and the logic order between the English complex and the Chinese composite.

See the following examples: