The Influence of the Differences between Chinese and English Modes of Thinking on Writing.doc

中英思维方式差异对英语写作的影响The Influence of the Differences between Chinese and English Modes of Thinking on WritingContentsAbstract .1Key words.11. Introduction22. The Importance of English Writing in English Learning23. Problems in English Writing.34. The Influence of the Differences between Chinese and English Modes of Thinking on Writing44.1 Selection of words.5 4.1.1 Custom of words using5 4.1.2 Collocation of words64.2 Construction of sentences .7 4.2.1 Time and order7 4.2.2 Conjunctions74.3 Structure of articles .84.4 Style of language95. Solutions .96. Conclusion.10References .11The Influence of the Differences between Chinese and English Modes of Thinking on WritingAbstract: The ability of writing in English is one of the requirements to English learners and it embodies the ability to communicate in English. English learners increasingly realize its importance. Each race contains its own culture; each language has its own special language rules. Chinese and English have differences in culture and rules. They belong to two different families. The social and cultural backgrounds they are in definitely different. Under the influence of those, Chinese and English have differences in modes of thinking. When writing in English, English learners will be affected by the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking. Selection of words, construction of sentences, structure of article, and style of language, which are four important aspects in English writing. English learners often meet difficulties in these four aspects. They often write in Chinese thinking modes. As a result, the writing may be right in English grammar, but wrong in English rules. So the influence that Chinese receives during the process of studying English is greater, even more complicated.Key words: thinking mode; writing mode; influence摘 要：英语写作能力是英语学习者必须掌握的技能之一，是英语交际能力的重要体现。越来越多的英语学习者已经意识到英语写作的重要性。每种语言都有其独特的规则，每个人种都有其独特的文化。汉语和英语在文化和规则方面有很多不同点。他们属于不同语系，所处的社会和文化背景也不同。在这些方面的影响下，汉英在思维方式方面产生了很多不同。在英语学习中，英语学习者难免会受到汉英思维方式不同的影响。词语的选择、句子构建、语篇结构以及语言风格，是英语写作的重要方面，也是经常遇到困难的地方。英语学习者常常受到汉式思维方式的影响，结果，写出一些语法没有错但不合英语规则的文章。因此，在英语的学习过程中，汉语的干扰作用是很强的，甚至很复杂。关键词：思维方式 写作方式 影响1. Introduction English is a foreign language for English learners. When learning it, learners could meet many difficulties. Writing is an important part of English learning, and it is difficult to improve. Many people are good at speaking, reading and listening, but they are not good at writing. English learners increasingly want to improve their writing well, but the result is still not satisfying. Some learners even do not know the reasons. Others think the reasons are the differences between Chinese and English on culture; some learners think it is because their ability of Chinese writing is poor. There are many reasons for this. One of them is the influence of the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking. Language is one of the expression tools of thinking, and of course it is safe to say that ways of thinking influence on writing greatly. This is a problem that can not be avoided in English learning. In this thesis, the author will compare English thinking modes and Chinese thinking modes to demonstrate the different ways of thinking modes, carry out a scientific analysis about interfering effect of Chinese native language on English writing discourse. At the end, this paper gives English learners some effective suggestions. They can help them to get rid of the interference of his mother tongue, to make fewer mistakes, and to improve their quality of English language learning.2. The Importance of English Writing in English Learning Someone said that people who live in the 21st century should have good command of three essential skills, including English, computer and drive license. Nowadays, the social tendency has proved what he said is right.We all know that English as an international language is used worldwide. English has been a skill that most people should master in modern time. However, the people who are good at English only in listening, speaking and reading cant completely satisfy the demand of the society all the same. The ability to write is terribly important. In particular, English writing can foster the sense of English for English learners in many aspects. Such as English grammar, vocabulary. Because oral English is more informal than written English, less in thinking of the rules of grammar, for example: there are many people who are able to speak English very fluently, but maybe they arent good at in English writing. English writing also plays an important role in promoting the relationships between China and foreign countries. In addition, English writing helps us to know foreign cultures better. In order to write out an excellent works in English, you should master the language and be acquainted with the background of the common culture of the English speaking countries. Otherwise, your English works is only stiff, only filled with a mass of idle words and standardized grammar, lacking soul of the language. Whereas, when your level of English writing gradually improves, your knowledge of foreign cultures is increasing.3. Problems in English WritingWhen writing in English, English learners will be affected by the learners mother tongue (Chinese) more or less. It is possible for English learners to transfer the way of thinking from Chinese to English, and finally obtain its rational recognition and identification. It has been proved in practice that a person who masters English can get used to the English way of expressing but inarticulate in Chinese. As more and more people begin to learn English and use English. An unsatisfying problem appears, that is Chinglish.Some of the sentences are wrong in grammar, or they are not fit for English rules. For example:(A) The China is bigger than the France. (B) I must to go.(C) I want a soup.(D) I tomorrow go to Shanghai.(E) I this morning eat breakfast.Take (D) as an example, it is written under the influence of Chinese thinking modes. It is right from Chinese meaning, but it is wrong in English. This sentence is not fit for English grammar. Because what it means is a future thing, so it should be added “will” in English grammar. Therefore, it should be changed into “I will go to Shanghai tomorrow.”Some of the sentences are not wrong in grammar, but they contain Chinese thinking. For example:(A) My study was very busy at that time. (CE) I was very busy with my study at that time. (IE)(B) His age is very young. (CE)He is very young. (IE)(C) My exam did not pass. (CE)I failed in the exam. (IE)(D) My study was much better than that of hers. (CE)I did much better than she did in English. (IE)(E) Today is Sunday. (CE)It is Sunday today. (IE)(F) I found that to learn English well was difficult. (CE) I found it is difficult to learn English well. (IE)(G) I think she will not turn against me. (CE) I do not think she will turn against me. (IE)(H) Some people told me living in shanghai was very challenging. (CE) I was told living in shanghai was very challenging. (IE) Take (A) as an example, the first sentence is written in Chinese thinking modes. What it wants to describe is not wrong, but it is not fit for English rules. The second sentence is right, because it is written in English rules. The first sentence shows a phenomenon, it is called Chinglish.Chinglish means Chinese-English. From the definition, we know that Chinglish couldnt be good, which is mainly used by the English learners in China who misunderstand the usage of English because of the interference of their mother tongueChinese. Chinglish is usually found in written form. Such as example (G), it is written in Chinese way completely. The purpose of learning English is to communicate with foreigners. Although Chinglish reflects our nations culture to some extent, it also makes big obstacles in international communication. The loss outweighs the gain. Chinglish is very common in English learners writing. Because the English learners are so familiar with their study habit of writing. In Chinese practice they often put it into practice in English writing. This is a big obstacle for English learners to learn English well. When English learners who lack a real English environment to learn English, they easily tend to ignore the differences between the two languages. So getting rid of Chinglish is very important in English learning.4. The Influence of the Differences between Chinese and English Modes of Thinking on WritingThe person, who is learning a kind of foreign language, believes in a famous saying: “When one is learning a foreign language, he should forget his mother tongue to the best”. However the mother tongue interference is widespread. People in English learning may be unaware of it, and be influenced by the mother tongue. Chinese and English belong to two different language families: Chinese: the Sino-Tibetan family and English, the Indo-European family. The two languages have different cultural backgrounds: western and Chinese. These lead to the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking. And these differences have many influences on writing. As it is difficult to list all influences of the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking on writing, I would like to focus several aspects which count in Chinese and English.4.1 Selection of WordsEach nation has its culture and language, which are different from others. Different culture and language have special patterns of form and content. Words are a summary of world.4.1.1 Custom of words usingEnglish speaking countrys people are good at abstraction and formal logic, using abstract words to express complicated notions. The following sentence is an example: The absence of intelligence is an indication of satisfactory developments (= No news is good news.). However, Chinese people are good at thinking in terms of images and dialectical logic, managing to express abstract concepts in concrete and vivid words, for example: draw cakes to allay hunger（feed on illusions）. Here “cakes” and “hunger” are used to make the concept concrete. And English speaking countrys people strictly distinguish between subject and object, but Chinese people pay less attention to them.Each language expresses the same thing with its characteristic customs and actual needs. People live under more than one set of conditions, and they have different experience, so they have different opinions about subject things. For example, dragon, there is great differences between china and western countries. In China, it is an emblem of the monarch. It can bring hope and light to people. So it is holy, and there are many words about it. But in English speaking countries, it is thought as an animal with long-tail and fins, also, it can fire. It is frightful. This shows the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking, and under influence of the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking. When Chinese and English speaking countrys people use “dragon” to write in English, there will be very different expression in writing. Another animal-dog, the differences between Chinese and English are obvious. In China, most idioms with dog are derogatory, those exist in Chinese culture. But, in English speaking countries, it is considered as the honest friend of human. Most idioms with it are commendatory. So, under influence of the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking, when expressing the same thing, people will choose different words in China and English speaking countries. For example, if English learners do not know the meaning of the idiom “you are a lucky dog”, when they want to express a person who is very lucky in a kind of animal, he may use dragon but not use dog. If a word is chosen wrongly, the meaning of sentence is changed, and the whole article may be changed completely. There are many similar words. Such as: (A) As timid as a rabbit. (B) As strong as a horse. (C) A lucky dog, as easy as A.B.C.(D) Teach ones grandmother to suck eggs.(E) To kill two birds with one stone.(F) It is foolish to cry over spilt milk.Take (B) as an example, according to thinking modes of Chinese, English learners may choose “cow” to instead of “horse” in their English writing. So, as choosing words to write in English, English learners will be affected by thinking modes of Chinese. Under the influence of Chinese, English learners will create some words that are wrong, such as: red man, red tea, yellow film, fast train, run car, department Company, family computer, long-foot development. And, English learners also will create some sentences, for example: (A) On National Day, there are people mountain people sea in Zhongshan park.(B) As the 20th century is passing away, the new century is coming to our body side.(C) Good good study, day day up.4.1.2 Collocation of wordsCollocation of words is the most troublesome part in English writing. If it is not paid attention to by English learners, it is easy to make mistakes. There are a lot of words to express the same meaning, but one or some of them are not sure-enough, even it is not limited. For example, under the influence of the differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking, some English learners will write “learn knowledge”, it is not sure-enough. The “learn” should be change into “acquire, gain, obtain,” or “gather”. The word “eat”, it is not used to express the meaning in every sentence correctly. For example:(1) To eat an apple. (T)(2) To eat an idle life. (F)To lead an idle life. (T)(3) To eat ones meal in the dinning hall. (F) To have ones meal in the dinning hall. (T)(4) Marry won Jane in the speech contest. (F)Marry beat Jane in the speech contest. (T)Although, many words have the same meaning, but they could not be used to collocate with every word. The former “eat” is a very good example. So collocation of words is a question of the greatest importance, we can not ignore it. 4.2 Construction of Sentences4.2.1 Time and orderEnglish sentences are full of verbs. Person numbers, tenses, voices are limited by time and space during English writing. And there are rigid rules, orders about structure of sentence which must be in agre