Strategies For Translating Negative Sentences From English To Chinese

Negation is one of the most common linguistic phenomena in every kind of language.In English,there are many ways to express negation.Sometimes,we find it difficult to translate them accurately.And in translating the chapter four of America in Our Time by Godfrey Hodgson,the author found negative sentences pose special difficulties.So this thesis will focus on strategies for translating negative sentences into Chinese.This thesis begins with the discussion of the definition and classification of negative sentences by different scholars.Then,based on this,all the negative sentences in the chosen text will be divided into six kinds:full negative sentences,semi-negative sentences,double negative sentences etc.Through case study,strategies for translating negative sentences will be analyzed combining the following methods or principles:methods put forward by Huang Yanglou(2002),general principles by Liu Miqing,and positive and negative translation which has been well-acknowledged.Through analysis,the author concludes that translating methods proposed by Huang Yanglou can be adopted,but there are some exceptions:1.When translating implied negative sentences,positive and negative translation can be used to present the best expressions;2.Double negative sentences should be translated into negative sentences in Chinese to express emphasis,otherwise be translated into affirmative sentences in Chinese;3.If the structure of "no more than" is followed by a single noun,it should be translated into affirmative sentences in Chinese.