Comparative Studies from a MacroscopicView PointAccording to some linguists, noticeably Mr. Lian Shuneng in his Contrastive Studies on English and Chinese, ten contrasts indicate the disparity between the English and the Chinese languages.1. Synthetic vs. AnalyticEnglish is a synthetic language marked with inflexions (曲折变化形式) while Chinese is an analytic language without any inflection, which is usually implied in the context or explicitly shown in such words as “着、了、过”etc. For example:?During the wartime, years like these would have meant certain death for many people. Many would have become beggars and others would have been compelled to sell their children.?Thus encouraged, they made a still bolder plan for the next year.2. Compact vs. DiffusiveEnglish sentences are compact (聚集) , namely, tightly combined with connectives or prepositions, while Chinese is diffused(流散)，that is, loose in structure.? Now the integrated circuit has reduced by many times the size of the computer of which it forms a part, thus creating a new generation of portable minicomputer.?A notion has taken hold in the US to the effect that the only people who should be encouraged to bring children into the world are those who can afford them.? Although lonely in a new land, he was described by his fellow workers and students as cheerful, of a friendly nature, honest, and modest.3. Hypotactic vs. ParatacticIn English, clauses or phrases are coordinated with one another or subordinated to one another syntactically while in Chinese they are placed one after another without coordinating connectives.?The many colors of a rainbow range from red on the outside to violet on the inside.? He had a disconcerting habit of expressing contradictory ideas in rapidsuccession.? The present onslaught of vehicles poses a serious threat to urban life and pedestrian peace of mind.4. Complex vs. SimplexEnglish sentences are long and complex, while Chinese sentences are short and simple. For example:? Many man-made substances are replacing certain natural materials because either the quantity of the natural product can not meet our ever-increasing requirement, or, more often, because the physical properties of the synthetic substance, which is the common name for man-made materials, have been chosen, and even emphasized, so that it would be of the greatest use in the fields in which it is to be applied.5. Impersonal vs. PersonalEnglish uses more impersonal structures than Chinese does, as shown in the following examples:? What has happened to you?? An idea suddenly struck me.? A strange peace came over her when she was alone.? Not a sound reached our ears.? A great elation overcame them.他们欣喜若狂。

? Alarm began to take entire possession of him.? From the moment we stepped into the People's Republic of China, care and kindness surrounded us on every side.? The thick carpet killed the sound of my footsteps.? Excitement deprived me of all power of utterance.6. Passive vs. ActiveAs we have mentioned in the previous units, the passive voice is extensively used in English, while Chinese sentences are usually active.? A few years ago it was thought unusual that programs could ever be called up by viewers to be displayed on their TV screens at home.? The volume is not measured in square millimeters. It is measured in cubic millimeters.? Electrical energy can be stored in two metal plates separated by an insulating medium. Such a device is called a capacitor, or a condenser, and its ability to store energy is termed capacitance. It is measured in farads.7. Static vs. DynamicEnglish is static, and agent nouns are frequently used to replace verbs, while Chinese is dynamic, using more verbs in a single sentence.? He is a good eater and a good sleeper.? You must be a very bad learner; or else you must be going to a very bad teacher. ? The computer is a far more careful and industrious inspector than human beings.8. Abstract vs. ConcreteIn expressing the same idea English is more abstract while Chinese is more concrete.? The absence of intelligence is an indication of satisfactory developments.?A high degree of carelessness, pre-operative and post-operative, on the part of some of the hospital staff, took place.9. Indirect vs. DirectSome English sentences tend to use indirect ways of affirmation while Chinese sentences are straightforward.? I couldn't feel better.? I couldn't agree with you more.? He can't see you quick enough.? I don't think the Council can or should remain indifferent to these most serious violations of human rights.? I don't feel that we should leave them isolated.10. Substitutive vs. RepetitiveGenerally speaking, English doesn't use so many repetitions as Chinese does.? You should help her since you have promised to do so.? He hated failure; he had conquered it all his life, risen above it, and despised it in others.? Men and nations working apart created these problems; men and nations working together must solve them.。