A Contrastive Study of Punctuation in Chinese and EnglishⅠ.IntroductionA. The definition of the punctuation marksThe punctuation marks are a series of marks which are used to separate the written language into sentences or phrases, thanks to which we can read fluently and understand easily.B. The origin of punctuation marksThe origin of punctuation marks is lost in the mists of time. The Romans had neither punctuation marks nor spaces between their words and punctuation marks are not used in ancient China. The first known example of punctuation marks is found in Hamlet which contains most of the simple forms of punctuation marks. An earlier example in an Etruscan love letter is disputed, as it might just be a little heart over the “I”.Most scientists believe that punctuation arose through gradual evolution. It is speculated that the original punctuation marks was a period formed by a mosquito swatted by an ancient scribe. The comma would then naturally arise from a swat which smeared the mosquito a colon from two mosquitoes and so on. Others, however, dispute this claim and assert that punctuations suitability for use is clear evidence of intelligent design likely carried out by either Oscar Wilde or the Flying Spaghetti MonsterC. The function of the punctuation marks.The punctuation marks can separate the sentences and indicate where to stop. It is called the grammatical function. For example, I love my country. In this example, the full stop mark means the whole sentence is over.Another function is rhetorical function. Some punctuation marks can be used in rhetoric. For example, Women “suffer” at home. In this sentence, “suffer” not only means live badly in their dayflies, but also means that women are treated unequally.However, the functions of punctuation marks are more than those. It can also express the modal. For example, I loved the book, but I hated the movie.I loved the book; but I hated the movie. In these two examples, the former sentence is separated by a comma. It means that the judgments of the two thoughts are equal. Butthe later sentence is separated by a semicolon mark. It means that the second thought is prominent. The speaker hate the movie worse than the book..D. The division of the punctuation marks.The punctuation marks are divided into the colon mark (:), the comma mark (,), the dash mark (—), the dots mark (…), the exclamation mark (!), the full stop mark (.), the question mark (?), the quotation marks (… ‟ “ “), the semicolon mark (;), the slash mark (/) and any other marks.II.Some punctuation marks are of the similar use both in Chinese and English.A.The ways to use the full stop mark.a. The full stop mark is a little point. First, it is often used at the end of a declarative sentence and means a full stop of a sense group. For example, Beijing is the capital of China. The full stop mark in this sentence means the whole sentence is over. It has been expressed a complete meaning.b. Second, it is used at the end of the imperative sentence whose mood is soothing. For example: Open the door, please. In this imperative sentence, the mood is not so serious. The full stop expresses a hope that the speaker wants to be served.B. The ways to use the comma mark.a. The comma mark is used in the sentence. It means there is a little stop, which is shorter than the full stop mark. For example, I am 22 years old, and from Beijing. In this example, there are two pieces of information. Between them, the comma mark is used to express there is a shorter stop.b. The comma mark is used between the adverbial and the main body. For example: F acing the test, he was full of confidence. In the example, the comma is used between the adverbial and the main clause. It is a symbol which is used to separate the two elements.c. The comma mark is used between the subject and the verb. For example, he, my brother, learned the text yesterday. The comma mark is used between the subject and the verb to emphasize the subject in this example.d. The comma mark is used in the complex sentence to separate the every clause from each other. For example, when I saw him, I knew he is a student. In this sentence, the comma is used to separate the adverbial clause of time and the main clause.C. The ways to use the question mark.a. The question mark is used at the end of an interrogative sentence and means a full stop. For example, what‟s you name? In this sentence, question mark is used to express an interrogative mood.b. The question mark is also used at the end of a rhetorical question sentence. It can be replaced by a full stop sometimes here. For example, why don‟t you go on a trip? The question mark here expresses a rhetorical mood. And it means that you should go on a trip.D. The ways to use the semicolon mark.a. The semicolon mark is used in the complex sentence to separate the every clause from each other. For example, without food, we can live; without air, we can die only. In this example, the semicolon mark separate two clauses from each other. The relationship of the two clauses is equal.b. The semicolon mark is also used in the non-parallel relationship sentence, such as the causality and disjunction relationship sentence. For example,citizens who reach 18 years old, regardless of nationality, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious , education, property status, residence, have the right to vote and stand for election; but according to the law, the person who deprives the political rights is not applicable . In this long sentence, the relationship of two clauses is disjunction. So the semicolon mark is used.c. The semicolon mark is used in the items which are listed. For example, the Administrative Division of the PRC is listed as follow: the whole country is divided into provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities; the province is divided into cities, counties and autonomous prefectures.E. The ways to use the exclamation mark.a. The exclamation mark is used at the end of the exclamatory sentence, and it also means a full stop. For example, how beautiful the park is! In this example, the exclamation mark is used at the end of the sentence and means a full stop. It expresses a surprise mood.b. The exclamation mark is used in at the end of the imperative sentence whose mood is intensive. And also it means a full stop. For example, go out! In this sentence, the speaker wants to express an angry tone.F. The ways to use the colon mark.a. The colon mark is used after the word such as “say”in order to lead to the next. In this situation, the colon mark is usually used together with the quotation mark. For example, she says: “I‟m from the USA”.b. The colon mark is used after the summative words. For example, there are two poles on the Earth: North Pole and South Pole.c. The colon mark is used after the words which need to explain. For example, to: Mr. Wang. In this example, “to” needs a specific explanation. So the colon mark leads to the below in order to explain it.III．However, due to the different culture and speaking habit, there are still some differences among the use of the punctuation marks between Chinese and English.A. There are some of the punctuation marks which are used in Chinese but not exist in English.a. Pause mark. In English, there isn‟t a pause mark. It is replaced by the comma mark. For example, John, James, and Harry have come. In this sentence, the comma is used between the names, whose function is the same as the pause mark in Chinese. It means a little stop in the sentence.b. Title mark. In English, t here isn‟t a title mark. English-speakers use italic with the first letter capital, underline, quotation mark, bold, and all capitals to indicate. For example,while she is reading Gone with the Wind, I am cooking. The title can also be Gone with the Wind, “Gone with the Wind”, and Gone with the Wind, Gone with the Wind or GONE WITH THE WIND. Usually, people use italic or underline when indicated books, newspaper, movies, poems and dramas; and quotation mark with the articles, songs, and chapters.B. And also, there are some of the English punctuation marks which may be used confusingly with Chinese.a. The comma. First, the comma mark is usually used before the conjunction such as and, but, yet, or, for, so, nor. Foe example,I have explained this work to Richard, but he still doesn‟t understand it. The comma mark is used before “but” to separate two clauses. Second, the comma mark is used between the parallel compositions, such as the subject, the verb, the object, and the predicative. For example, TV stations provide people with news, music, drama, sports and comedy. In the sentence, the comma is used between the parallel object. Third, the comma is used to separate the non-restrictive attributive clause, phrases, independent expression, and appositive. For example, this is Miss. Chen, the new director of our company. The comma in this sentence is used to separate the appositive. Fourth, the comma is also used when the adverbial clause is at the very beginning or in the middle. For example, when he can not use his eyes to guide his steps, he will walk straight only if he takes a step of the same length with each foot. Fifth, the comma is used when the direct Speech occurs. For example, “My car‟s parked out side,” he told her. Sixth, the comma is used to indicate the date or address. For example, On Sunday, April 12th, 2001, I got my first job.b. Semicolon mark. First, the semicolon mark is used between the Parallel Independent clauses which don‟t use the conjunction. For example, for fifteen years the painting stood in the attic; even Mr. Kirk forgot it. Second, the semicolon is used after the sentence led by the conjunction such as how ever, then, for example, for instance, namely, that is(to say), in fact, e. g. . F or example, the painting was valuable; in fact, the museum offered five thousand dollars for it.c. The colon mark. First, the colon mark is used between two clauses, which the later one is the explanation to the former one. For example, here you can do whatever you want: read books, play tennis, take a walk after supper and so on and so forth. The later clause explains the former one, so the colon mark is used here. Second, the colon mark id\s used before the listed things. For example, he offered me the choice of any one of the gifts: a ring, a neck lace, a car and a house. Third, the colon mark is used between the hour and minute. For example, the match began at00:45 A.M.IV. W e should try our best to reduce the mistakes in our writing and translation.Since the punctuation marks are so closely related to our study and life, it is better for us to know more about the knowledge of punctuation marks and should not copy the single method, but use it correctly in order to get functional equivalence in both the thought and form of the language. As well as writing, when translating a foreign culture, we should not translate the punctuation marks rigidly. On one hand, make sure the translation is consistent with the habit of Chinese, and on the other hand, it could reproduce the information and culture of the original language.V. ConclusionThe punctuation marks are so common in our study and writing, so it is of great importance to know how to use the punctuation marks correctly. This article shows the origin of punctuation marks, the similarities and differences between English and Chinese punctuation marks though examples. We should not copy mechanically without considering the practice. Only obey the rules and the practice can we use the punctuation marks correctly and overcome the problem that we mix the English punctuation marks with Chinese ones. And also, it will help us strengthen the comparison of English and Chinese.Bibliography:[1]周小群，李奉栖英汉标点符号对比分析[J];编辑之友;2007年05期[2]程丽英汉标点符号的差异[J];郧阳师范高等专科学校学报;2007年05期[3]王初华英汉标点符号对比之研究[J];科技资讯;2006年33期[4]阮继中英文标点符号的使用比较[J];中山大学学报论丛;2002.22(2):294[5]薄冰英语语法[M];北京:开明出版社;2000:601～602[6]张道真实用英语语法[M];北京:商务印书馆;1994[7]Hacker D.1999. A writer‟s reference Boston：Bedford/St. Martin's。