時間:2022-05-06 18:58:11
導言:作為寫作愛好者,不可錯過為您精心挑選的10篇英文畢業論文,它們將為您的寫作提供全新的視角,我們衷心期待您的閱讀,并希望這些內容能為您提供靈感和參考。
畢業論文和學位論文通常是有一定長度并有文獻資料佐證的學術研究論文,專門對科學領域中的某些問題或現象進行探討研究,具有科學性和創見性。畢業論文的完成是學生在掌握本專業要求的全部知識、理論和技能的基礎上進行綜合運用,獨立地、創造性地解決理論和實際問題的一項活動,是學生從事獨立科研工作的起點,也是展示自己專業水平和科研能力的一次機會。更重要的是,畢業論文寫作的優劣是決定學生畢業時可否被授予學士學位的重要依據。因此,畢業論文的寫作應當受到高度重視。然而,目前的本科畢業論文質量令人擔憂,曾有文章比之為“雞肋”,意為“棄之可惜,食之無味”。就英語專業畢業論文而言,情況則更應引起重視。
一、論文現狀根據教學進度的要求,英語專業的學生在第八學期開學伊始就要準備論文開題報告,從而進入實質性的論文寫作過程。下面是在各個環節出現的問題。
1.選題草率,研究方向不確定。學生在選題時不夠慎重,沒有經過嚴肅的思考,有的同學僅憑一時興起就定下題目,如《論佛教在中國的發展》。且不說這個題目大小,其內容本身就已超出專業范圍,用英文撰寫對本科生也實屬力所難逮。還有的同學選題為‘OnReading’,研究方向不確定,泛泛而談,不知側重在哪里。雖然從表面上看,有些情況屬于個案,但事實上,近幾年,題目難以確定的現象越來越多,有的已經導師認可的題目,學生在進行下一步工作之前又有較大改變,甚至改變研究方向。
2.資料收集倉促,時而迷失方向。論文中表達的觀點和論點一般是以資料研究為基礎的,如果僅憑一兩本或幾篇文章,就想從中得出令人信服的結論是不可能的,即使得出結論,也沒有多大說服力,因為資料太少,不足為證。然而,學生收集資料缺乏系統性,覺得不夠用了則難以繼續,轉而換題,資料跟著題目變,倉促之間,迷失方向不知所措。
3.論文撰寫問題重重。撰寫論文要對收集到的資料進行閱讀、做筆記、研究和整理之后,用自己的語言將其串聯起來,說明論點、擺出論據、完成論證。如果只是把收集到的資料堆積在一起,東一段、西一段地拼湊下來,不能稱其為論文。而大部分學生恰恰是以堆積為主,自己陳述為輔,論點跟著論據走,缺乏一致性,連貫性和邏輯性。另外,從論文整體的文字上看,資料部分用詞專業、準確,句子相對復雜,而學生自己的陳述則語法錯誤頻頻出現,句子簡單并口語化。
二、現狀的成因
1.形勢與應試的導向。近幾年的擴招使學生數量有所上升,而教師的數量不但基本上沒有上升,還有不少人投入國內外的進修學習而不能擔任課程。由于課程負擔過重,使教師不堪重負而有意無意地忽視了寫作課實踐環節以及批閱后的反饋。全國統一安排的英語專業四、八級考試合格證已成為評定英語專業水平的重要砝碼,在社會和校方的大力關注下,學生認識到四級考試決定畢業證,八級考試關系到找工作,寫作課教師也希望學生在寫作項目考試中得高分。于是,大部分時間都圍繞四、八級考試進行。學生熟悉了框架形式、套路,只注意與過級考試相關的寫作形式與技巧,不善于觀察生活和知識積累,因此也就談不上運用所學的知識表達思想、分析問題和解決問題了。
2.寫作教材的適用性。我國大學英語專業的寫作教學一直缺少一套較為完整,由淺及深,循序漸進,適合現實各個階段教學需要的教材。基礎英語寫作教材的范例雖多,但語言過于淺顯,有些內容較貼近生活,但實用性和趣味性還有待提高;課后練習多為圍繞四、八級考試出題,學生“見多了”正式考題,對此類寫作練習,缺乏動力,且練習都未附參考答案,使師生課后沒有參閱的標準;畢業論文一章,在二年級開始講授,引不起學生的共鳴,一來是學生忙于考級,論文不是重點,二來時間尚早,缺乏一個過渡期,無法形成理性認識。
3.學生基本功較差又缺乏實踐。學生習慣于讓老師灌輸詞匯句型,不愿意動腦筋積極思考,寫出來的東西用詞不貼切,語法不規范,行文不順暢,缺乏邏輯性、無條理。眾所周知,寫作不僅在于語言文字的組織,更多的功夫在于知識積累和文化素質,這方面的提高對于學生更為重要。然而,待學生忙完了四、八級考試轉入論文寫作的時候,才發現自己沒有做好這方面的準備,無論是題目、提綱還是摘要、引言、參考文獻,從形式到內容腦子里一片空白。雖說在之前的寫作課上,這些內容都講過,但當時不是學習重點,而且沒有親自實踐過程,學生不知所措,無從下手。
三、英文寫作課的定位
1.專時專用,突出目標。將四、八級考試及畢業論文寫作分階段進行,形成層次。在基礎英語寫作階段,集中實現兩個公認的目標:提高英語寫作能力和順利通過四、八級考試。將教材中傳統的寫作技巧中的精華部分及增加的課外內容邊講授邊加入寫作實踐,從而更加強調寫作的動態過程和學習者創造性的發揮。畢業論文指導要作為一門課程開設,專門講授學術論文的研究方法,這樣不僅為學生的四年學業成就提供展示的機會,而且為將來的學習和工作打下良好的基礎。
2.注重實際,精講多練。有效克服教材的不足,從實際出發,為我所用,可適當放棄一些高深的章節,并增加一些循序漸進的內容,保證穩步提高。針對學生存在的諸多問題,在講授詞匯、語法、句法方面多做有益的練習,盡量找生動、學生易犯的大量的中式英語的例子,使學生在談笑間能將其錯誤牢記在心。而大量的練習能給學生留下長久的印象。這樣既提高了四、八級成績,又有助于學生寫作能力的提高,更重要的是提升了跨文化交際意識。
3.發動學生,互幫互進。由于教師的精力有限,可適時適量地發動學生互評作業,學生自己能夠解決的問題自己解決。同學間同級互評能幫助學生增強讀者意識,降低寫作焦慮,彌補自己寫作中的不足。首先,互評可增加其詞匯量,正反兩方面的評價有益于所有學生作文水平的提高。其次,學生能夠通過討論互評首先成為一個頭腦敏銳、豐富的讀者、聽眾,然后成為一個思路清晰、能寫出好文章的作者。
這樣,教師不再是作為唯一的“讀者”去評判學生的作品。全班同學在教師的幫助下,發現問題并能表達出問題的所在。最終學生對評判自己的作品的內容的表達方面也更加敏銳,并能更好地修正自己的作品,學生會很快地從評判活動中看到益處,也會把大家對自己作品的評價作為提高文章水平的重要的參考資料。其實,這不僅解決了日常教學中的問題,而且培養了學生嚴謹治學的良好習慣。總而言之,對英語專業畢業論文反映出來的問題要認真研究,其中英文寫作課的教學任務極為關鍵,通過調查研究與實踐相結合,不斷探索,希望能夠提高學生的論文本論文由無憂論文由寫作能力。
參考文獻:
3.論文如有問題或已在公開期刊上發表,請在篇首頁地腳處注明.
4.摘要英文摘要一般為150-180個實詞,中文摘要一般在300字以內,中英文摘要應基本一致.其內容應包括研究目的,方法,結果,結論等,禁用"本文","作者","Thispaper"等作主語.詳見"科技期刊文章摘要的寫作要求".
5.關鍵詞每篇文章可選3~8個能反映文章主要內容的單詞,詞組或術語.英文關鍵詞應與中文關鍵詞相對應.
6.中圖分類號請查《中國圖書館分類法》.
7.正文正文篇幅一般希望控制在成書5頁(記空格,圖表占位)以內.內容力求有創新,論證嚴謹,語句通順,文字精煉.
8.文中正體,斜體,黑體字符的用法:
⑴斜體.變量名稱用斜體單字母表示;下標若是由變量轉化來的則用斜體;坐標軸(如x,y)和變量(如i,j)用斜體.
⑵正體.下標由文字轉化來的說明性字符用正體;單位,詞頭用正體,如nm,pF等;幾個特殊常量用正體,如e,i,π等.
⑶黑體.矩陣,矢量名稱用黑體表示.
9.圖形要求
圖中所有線條,文字必須用黑色繪制;用線形或標識符區分;不得有背景;
圖中線條須清晰,均勻,刻度線向內側畫,并且間隔應均勻;
圖中坐標線粗0.5磅,曲線寬度為坐標線寬度的3倍;
10.表格要求表格采用三線表,表頭中使用物理量符號/單位,如下例:
x/cm
I/mA
v/(m·s-1)
h/m
p/MPa
10
30
2.5
4
110
11.參考文獻來稿引用他人觀點與材料,須將參考文獻按正文中出現的先后次序列于文后,文中須在引用處右上角加注"[序號]".中文參考文獻必須列出相應的英文,并在后面加注"(inChinese)".引文作者姓名均為姓前名后,最多標3名,余下用"etal."代表.
著錄格式為:(按不同析出物分類說明)
[連續出版物]主要作者.題名[J].刊名,年,卷(期):起止頁碼.
[專著]主要作者.書名[M].出版地(城市名):出版者,出版年.起止頁碼.
[譯著]主要作者.書名[M].譯者.出版地(城市名):出版者,出版年.起止頁碼.
[論文集]主要作者.題名[A].編者.論文集名[C].出版地(城市名):出版者,出版年.起止頁碼.
[會議論文]主要作者.題名[Z].會議名稱,會議召開地(城市名),召開年.
[學位論文]作者.題名[D].所在城市:保存單位,年份.
[研究報告]主要作者.題名[R].報告代碼及編號(或:保存地點:責任單位),年份.
[報紙]作者名.文章名[N].報紙名,出版日期(版次).
[電子文獻]作者.題名[EB/OL].………,發表或更新日期/引用日期.
[專利]申請者.專利名[P].專利國名:專利號,日期.
[技術標準]技術標準代號,技術標準名稱[S].
投稿模擬樣本
NewImagingSpectrometricMethodforRotaryObject
CHUNYu1,DONGXiao-xue2
DepartmentofElectronicEngineering,SchoolofInformationScience
andTechnology,BeijingInstituteofTechnology,Beijing100081,
China;2.SchoolofMechatronicEngineering,Beijing
InstituteofTechnology,Beijing100081,China)
Abstract:Anewtechniqueforimagingspectrometerforrotaryobjectbasedon
computed-tomographyisproposed.Adiscretemodelofthisimagingspectrometric
systemisestablished,whichisaccordanttoactualmeasurementsandconvenient
forcomputation.Incomputersimulationswiththismethod,projectionsofthe
objectaredetectedbyCCDwhiletheobjectisrotating,andtheoriginalspectral
imagesarenumericallyreconstructedfromthembyusingthealgorithmof
computed-tomography.Simulationresultsindicatethattheprincipleofthemethod
iscorrectanditperformswellforbothbroadbandandnarrow-bandspectral
objects.
Keywords:aerodynamiccharacteristics;stealthcharacteristics;numericalcalculation;polarization
CLCnumber:TP374.2
引言(不編入章節號)
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(1)
該論文為論文,不宜公開張貼或發表
該論文已公開發表
BiographyCHUNYu(1963—),professor,Ph.D.,abcd@.
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n
f0/MHz
R/Ω
VSWR
BW/%
L/cm
line
955
36.4
1.36
15.4
7.0
804
30.7
1.56
22.0
7.0
1
750
27.8
1.73
17.3
8.6
2
706
23.6
2.0
12.7
10.2
3
670
21.6
2.17
9.4
11.8
4
642
20.1
2.37
6.38
13.4
References:
SchlkopfB,BurgesCJC,SmolaAJ.Advancesinkernelmethods–Supportvectorlearning[M].Cambridge,MA:MITPress,1999.
HearstMA,SchlkopfB,DumaisS,etal.Trendsandcontroversies–Supportvectormachines[J].IEEEIntelligentSystems,1998,13(4):18-28.
EricC.Hacker''''sattackanalyzeanddefense[M].SuLeitransl.Beijing:PublishingHouseofElectronicsIndustry,2002.
BurgesCJC.Geometryandinvarianceinkernelbasedmethods[A].BurgesC,SmolaA.AdvanceinKernelMethods—SupportVectorLearning[C].Cambridge,MA:MITPress,1999.
CunLY,JackelLD,BottouL,parisonoflearningalgorithmsforhandwrittendigitrecognition[Z].ICANN''''95,Nanterre,France,1995.
ChangCC,LinCJ.LIBSVM:Alibraryforsupportvectormachines[EB/OL].csie.ntu.edu.tw/~cjlin/libsvm,2001-06-19/2002-03-10.
SwansonRS,MusaS.Theestimationofobstacleandterrainclobberprobabilities[R].AIAA75-1118,1975.
YoungS,KershawD,OdellJ,etal.TheHTKBook(version3.0)[R].Cambridge:UniversityofCambridgePress,2000.
GJB736.8-90,Methodofinitiatingexplosivedevicetest,acceleratedlifetest,methodofthetestat71℃[S].(inChinese)
WhiteSA.Trackingfilterandquadrature-phasereferencegenerator[P].USP:5491725,1996-01-13.
JiaYubin.Astudyonmicroquartzangularratesensor[D].Beijing:DepartmentofOpticalEngineering,BeijingInstituteofTechnology,1999.(inChinese)
Fig.1Thedualmeanderlinemonopoleantenna
b
b
β
h1
h2
α
w
d
Fig.2Flowchartofsimulationforstandingstartaccelerationprocess
end
establishingmodel
check
datacorrect
adjusting
importingdata
calculating
adjusting
databeingcorrect
addingthetrunk
calculatingresults
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
1.0 前言
近15年,體裁(genre)和體裁分析(genre analysis)成為第一語言和第二語言教學領域里的熱門話題(Hyon 1996)。我國不少專家、學者都試圖把這種理論應用在具有特定交際目的的篇章上,如分析農業英語論文摘要(易興霞,2006),分析應用語言學領域學術文章的宏觀和微觀結構(楊瑞英,2006)畢業論文模板,分析商務促銷類語篇(王宏俐, 郭繼榮,2006)等。本文擬從Bhatia的英文促銷信的體裁分析模式入手,分析主要交際目的為說服潛在客戶購買商家所提供的產品或接受其服務的英文促銷信的表現形式,圖式結構和特殊信息,并通過分析語義的文化預設和搭配意義,加深對促銷信的語言表面特征的認識。
2.0理論依據
2.1體裁
語言學中的體裁(genre)不同于文學中的體裁。Swales (1990: 45-58) 認為體裁是在特定社會文化背景下對人類交際事件進行分類的結果。所謂交際事件就是人們按照特定目的和特定程式運用語言在社會中辦事的實例。新加坡的Bhatia (1993:13-16)在 Swales的體裁理論基礎上做了進一步的完善, 認為:1)體裁是一種可辨認的交際事件;2)體裁不是一般的交際事件 ,而是一種內部結構特征鮮明,高度約定俗成的交際事件;3)在建構語篇時 ,必須遵循某種特定體裁所要求的慣例;4)盡管體裁有其慣例和制約性, 內行人仍可在體裁規定內傳達個人意圖和交際目的。因此交際目的往往決定應該使用哪種體裁,而體裁的常規性又維我們提供了可以遵循的體裁結構潛勢。
2.2體裁分析
體裁分析是20 世紀90 年代由Swales (1990)和Bhatia (1993)發展起來的一種分析方法。他們認為任何體裁都是由一系列的語輪構成,語步(move)和步驟( step)是語篇分析的出發點論文開題報告范文。Swales的層次動向法(move approach)常用在具體的體裁分析中,即根據不同的交際目的,對某一語篇按照意義與功能劃出層次,然后再根據層次來考察分析語言的表達形式。Swales 沒有對語步和步驟提出明確的定義,但Nwogu (1997)認為語步是一個由一系列詞匯,主題意義和修辭特征所標明的具有統一意義傾向的語篇片斷,步驟是實現語步的可供選擇的修辭策略,一個語步可以由一個或多個步驟來實現。例如畢業論文模板,Bhatia (1993:62)根據體裁“ 語步 (moves) 和步驟( steps)”分析理論,將推銷體裁概括成七個 “語步” (move) :1. Establishing credentials (確立資格證明) ; 2. Introducing the offer (介紹推銷內容):⑴offering the product orservice (介紹產品或服務) ,⑵ Essential detailing of the offer (介紹推銷內容的重要細節) , ⑶Indicating value of the offer (指明推銷內容的價值) ; 3. Offering incentives (激勵購買) ; 4.Enclosing documents (附寄文件) ; 5. Soliciting response(請求回復) ; 6. Using pressure tactics (采用壓力策略) ; 7. Ending politely (禮貌收尾)。在以上七個“語步” 中 ,第二語步 Introducing the offer 又是由三個步驟(step)組成的。
體裁分析模式為語篇研究提供了新的考察視角與方式。使用體裁和體裁分析理論對某個特定語篇進行分析,是對語篇宏觀結構和微觀結構分析的有機結合,既注重語篇結構的宏觀結構和認知結構,也注重特定的體裁結構在詞匯和語法層面的特定表現。
3.0體裁分析在英文促銷信中的應用
3.1促銷信的體裁界定
促銷信是商務英語中常見的一種語篇,它是以書信的格式由促銷人員向顧客傳遞商品或服務的存在及其性能、特征等信息,幫助顧客認識商品或服務所帶來的利益,從而達到引起顧客的注意和興趣、喚起需求、采取購買行為的目的。因此它的本質是銷售者和消費者之間的信息溝通,主要交際目的就是通過向消費者的宣傳、誘導和提示,促進消費者產生購買動機,影響消費者的購買行為,實現產品由生產領域向消費領域的轉移。這樣的交際目的決定收信人和寫信人通常為并不熟悉的雙方,因此語言上謙虛有禮、簡潔明晰是必不可少的。
3.2 促銷信的內在宏觀結構
一封成功的促銷信在內在結構上 ,基本遵循Bhatia 的七個 “語步”的模式 ,通過吸引客戶的注意、向客戶詳細介紹所推銷的產品或服務并索求回復等語篇片斷來實現說服潛在客戶購買所推銷產品或服務的交際目的。下面我們從Bhatia的英文促銷信的體裁分析模式入手畢業論文模板,來具體討論促銷信的層次動向。。
Dear customer,
⑴Theunion bakers would like to announce a great offer this Valentine day. Every two kg cakeyou buy you get raffle ticket which allows you to enter into a draw which willgive you a chance to win a dinner for two at a three star hotel. You can have awonderful dinner with your loved one on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
⑵ Thebakers will arrange for the pickup and drop to the venue and you can enjoy thedinner along with the dance party at the three star hotels.
⑶Don’tyou think it will be fun to take your girlfriend or boyfriend out for dinner ona valentine’s day and make the day a special one? Imagine all that fun you havewith your loved one with tasty cuisine and exciting and thrilling dance party.To top it all you can meet famous singer and dancer who is the guest of honorthat day.
⑷Visitany of our outlets to get more information. Hurry and buy a wonderful tastycake for your loved one.
⑸Sincethe offer is valid till (time how long).please act now.
⑹Sincerely,
這封促銷信由五段組成,第一段的第一句是第一個語步: Establishing credentials (確立資格證明),通過提及在情人節要提供的一項服務來吸引顧客的注意力;第一段的第二句到第三段是第二個語步:Introducing the offer (介紹推銷內容)。第二個語步由三個步驟組成:⑴offering the product or service (介紹產品或服務) ,⑵ Essentialdetailing of the offer (介紹推銷內容的重要細節) , ⑶Indicating value of the offer (指明推銷內容的價值) 。第一段的第二句是第一個步驟,主要介紹了即將推出的服務——每買兩公斤蛋糕就能抽簽,就有機會贏得在三星級賓館的兩人晚宴;第一段的第三句和第二段是第二個步驟,詳細介紹推銷服務的細節——情人節前夕在三星級賓館和摯愛共進晚餐、共舞;第三段是第三個步驟,主要指出推銷服務的精神價值——使情人節過得特別,并能遇到明星。第二個語步是促銷信最為重要的部分,決定能否幫助顧客認識商品或服務所帶來的利益,從而達到引起顧客的注意和興趣、喚起需求、最終采取購買行為的目的。第四段是第三、四個語步:Offering incentives (激勵購買)和Soliciting response(請求回復)。第四段第一句是請求顧客做出回復——到銷售點尋求更多信息;第二句是鼓勵有購買傾向的顧客下定決心。第五段是第五個語步:Using pressure tactics (采用壓力策略),Sincerely和簽名是第六個語步:Ending politely (禮貌收尾),作為傳統信件獨特的結尾方式,這一語步在促銷信中也很常見。
與Bhatia的七個語步模式略有不同的是:這封促銷信并沒有Enclosing documents (附寄文件)這一語步;而且Offeringincentives (激勵購 買)和Soliciting response(請求回復)的順序也有所不同。王宏俐, 郭繼榮(2006)認為,在語篇構建中常使用的語步是核心語步畢業論文模板,不太出現的輔語步是外圍語步,在促銷信中,第一、二、四語步是核心語步,由于Enclosing documents (附寄文件)這一語步是外圍語步,銷售者可根據情況決定是否使用;至于語步順序,盡管促銷信是專門用途英語里的一種,有其慣例和制約性,但我們仍可在體裁規定內傳達個人意圖和交際目的論文開題報告范文。
3.3 促銷信的文化預設和搭配意義
這實際是一封是以西方文化為背景的抽獎促銷信。促銷信的最主要部分——第二語步也是以這個文化預設為先決條件的。銷售者想要促銷的商品是蛋糕,但在促銷信里,抽獎有可能贏得情人節的晚餐卻是描述的重點,這主要是商家抓住了顧客消費過程中的僥幸獲大利心理——以抽獎贏得與摯愛在情人節共進免費晚餐的機會,設置中獎機會,利用抽獎的形式畢業論文模板,來吸引消費者購買商品蛋糕。令人心動的抽獎活動成功地把顧客的注意力指向拉到了本應大力宣傳的產品——蛋糕上面。如果收信人不了解這個文化預設,就不容易達到促銷信的交際目的。
Leech(1981:17)認為:搭配意義是指一個詞與另一個詞連用搭配時使得該詞的意義隨語境而發生的變化。因此促銷信在詞的搭配上非常注意。促銷信使用的形容詞大多是描述性和評價性的,多為褒義詞,例如:great, wonderful, special, tasty, exciting, thrilling, famous,wonderful, 這些形容詞為收信人勾勒出一幅浪漫、激情、美味的晚餐情景。盡管這是一封書信,但口語詞匯多余書面語詞匯,淺顯易懂、簡潔明晰。銷售者為了推銷商品或者服務,常常直接使用反問疑問句和祈使句,增強引導功能,說服或敦促收信人采取購買行動。
3.4 總結
體裁分析超越了對語篇語言特征的簡單描述,力求解釋語篇的理據, 探討語篇結構背后的社會文化因素和心理認知因素, 揭示實現交際背景的特殊方式和語篇結構的規范性。促銷信具是專門用途英語的一種,把促銷信這一體裁語篇看作是一個有規律的有結構的層次動向的組合的思想, 有助于我們更好地理解這種信函體裁,寫出目的明確、結構清晰、用詞準確的促銷信。
參考文獻:
1.Hyon, Sunny. Genre in Three Traditions:Implications for ESL [J]. TESOL Quarterly, 30/ 4 :693-722, 1996.
2.易興霞.體裁分析與農業英語論文摘要[J]. 西安外國語學院學報,2006(9):28-31.
3.楊瑞英.體裁分析的應用:應用語言學學術文章結構分析[J]. 外語與外語教學,2006(10):29-34.
4.王宏俐,郭繼榮.體裁分析與商務促銷類語篇[J]. 外語教學,2006(7): 32-37.
5.Swales, J. M. Genre Analysis: English inAcademic and Research Settings [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
6.Bhatia, V. K. Analyzing Genre: Language Usein Professional Settings [M]. London: Longman, 1993.
7.Nwogu, K. N. The Medical Research Paper: Structureand Function [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 199 16 (2): 119-138.
2.1 Current situation of company website translation 2
2.2 Samples of famous foreign company website 3
2.3 Features of company website translation 4
3. The skopos theory and company website translation 6
3.1 Introduction of Skopos theory 6
3.2 The wrong types of translation from the perspective of Skopos 8
3.2.1 Functional translation errors 8
3.2.2 Liguistic translation errors 9
3.2.3 Cultural translation errors 10
4. Analyses of website translation of foreign trade company in Zhejiang province 13
4.1 Functional translation errors 13
4.1.1 Problem of length 13
4.1.2 Problem rooted from different thought pattern 15
4.2 Liguistic translation errors 16
4.2.1 Spelling errors 16
4.2.2 Improper use of punctuation 17
4.2.3 Incorrect word translation 17
4.2.4 Illogical arrangment 18
4.3 Cultural translation errors 19
5. Conclusion 20
Acknowledgements 21
References 22
1.Introduction
Thanks to the ongoing economic reform and opening-up and the irresistible trend of globalization, China’s communication with the world has been intensified in recent years. Though almost every company which deal with the foreign trade owns his English version website, the overall situation of the C-E translation of Chinese company website is far from satisfactory that leave a lot of work to do. For the present, most of the work are based on the rule of skopos theory which we will investigate later.
And with the popularity and applications of the Internet, the company website plays an increasing important role in foreign exchange, outreach, and the absorb foreign capital[2]. Although nowadays most domestic enterprises have set up their own websites and e-commerce platform, many export-oriented enterprises is established in English, the site has become a propaganda of the enterprise, an effective channel to promote company products. However, there is no difficulty in finding errors comparing the domestic foreign trade company website to the foreign company website. Some mistakes are even too much to bear. In recent years, there appears a large number of discussion on website translation, start from Skopos basis direction, and have a lot of research fruits on the problem of company website mistranslation. But for the relatively small corporate company website translation, it had not been given sufficient attention and standardized management, error-prone web site translation directly affect a company’s image.
2. Current situation and features of company website translation
In the world today, global and regional cooperation is in full swing and countries are increasingly interdependent. Company website provide a quick and convenient access to the general understanding of what a Chinese company is like, thus serving as bridges that enable business people from different countries with different cultural backgrounds to have a better understanding of each other. In fact, as a specialized and important area of translation, the translation of company profiles has its own features and particular communicative functions which deserve an in-depth and systematic study.
2.1 Current situation of company website translation
Foreign propaganda in the business text, Chinese text use more modifiers which using rhyme, parallelism, words with other parties type the text in order to increase the beauty, attract potential customers and clients. Many translators often find it difficult, even if be translated, also bite the bullet and let the readers of English-speaking find it difficult to understand. Company’s publicity text translation is accurate for the purpose of translation about business, product-related information. So prominent is the informational translation, first principle focus on the information, and others such as style, rhetoric and so on is secondary to bit. If translate directly, the text will cause a pile, information duplication, not meet the English language of expression. On the basis of Skopos principles, the translator should cut the original text appropriately in order for information receiver better understanding the text.
Different from other text types, a company profile is a special kind of text with particular purposes and functions. The translation purpose of company profiles is to enable more foreigners to know more about Chinese companies, thus achieving international recognition and establishing the credibility of the company and its products. In order to achieve these purposes and functions, more attention should be paid to target readers who have different cultural backgrounds in the company profile translation. According to skopostheorie, a translation action is determined by its Skopos and the end justifies the means. That means the purpose of translation determines the translation methods and strategies that are to be employed in order to produce a functionally adequate result. Therefore, in the C-E translation of company profiles, translators should adhere to Skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule and it is applicable for them to adopt a TT-oriented or reader-centered translation strategy.
However, many translators in this field tend to neglect the translation purpose of company profiles. As a result, linguistic and cultural problems still exist and obstruct the achievement of the Skopos of company profiles. Enlightened by the functionalist approach, the thesis also conducts a comprehensive survey as to the readability and acceptability of the target text[6]. It is found that foreign people do not respond positively to the English translation of Chinese company profiles. These problems or errors adversely affect the quality of translation. Primarily under the guidance of the functionalist skopostheorie, the thesis puts forward a set of guiding principles for the C-E translation of company profiles, that is, idiomatic, comprehensible, and acceptable. By analyzing authentic examples, the study also justifies someappropriate strategies such as addition, abridgement and restructuring. A conclusion can be drawn that it is feasible to guide the C-E translation of company profiles in the light of the functionalist approach, particularly skopostheorie. In the translation process, the translator is expected to bear in mind the intended function of the target text and produce a version that is comprehensible and acceptable to the target reader. Due to great linguistic and cultural differences, the translation process usually involves considerable adjustments or adaptations of the source text in order to achieve the intended function of the target text.
Hopefully, the principles and strategies proposed in this study would be of some value to the C-E translation of company profiles as well as other public materials.
2.2 Samples of famous foreign website
There are a lot of famous company on the list of top 500 in the world, after searching for their company, not difficult in finding a lot of features in common about their web page design. The followings are classic samples.
Example[1]: In 1886, Coca-Cola® brought refreshment to patrons of a small Atlanta pharmacy. Now well into its second century, the Company's goal is to provide magic every time someone drinks one of its more than 400 brands. Coca-Cola has fans from Boston to Budapest to Bahrain, drinking brands such as Ambasa, Vegitabeta and Frescolita. In the remotest comers of the globe, you can still find Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola is committed to local markets, paying attention to what people from different cultures and backgrounds like to drink, and where and how they want to drink it. With its bottling partners, the Company reaches out to the local communities it serves, believing that Coca-Cola exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches.
(heritage.coca-cola.com/)
Example[2]: Software is a leading online portal for software products, with free downloads and expert software reviews to help you make an informed choice. We list thousands of discounted software products with prices that are almost always the lowest available in the country. We also list a huge selection of free downloads so you can try software free before you decide to buy.
The Software.com store features the the software industry’s leading publishers, including Microsoft, Intuit, Symantec, Adobe, Nuance and hundreds of others. Our software store provides users with rich resources including thousands of user reviews, articles, and product comparison charts.
Software.com employs a team of industry experts with over 40 years of combined experience in online software distribution. Our goal is to bring you the best range of world-leading software, at the best prices, with rich reviews and product information so you can choose the software that is right for you. (software.com/about/)
As we can see from these samples, the foreign company websites are more functional and focus more on introdu cing products, and the purpose are much stronger and prominent. This is exactly what our company website is lack of, for we always put more words in describing company history and prior tradition, but lack of products introduction and special users attraction.
2.3 Features of company website translation
First of all, company website translation profile depends more on the skopos rules. Different from other text types, a company website profile is a special kind of text with particular purposes and functions. The translation purpose of company website profiles is to enable more foreigners to know more about Chinese companies, thus achieving international recognition and establishing the credibility of the company and its products. In order to achieve these purposes and functions, more attention should be paid to target readers who have different cultural backgrounds in the company profile translation. According to skopostheorie, a translation action is determined by its Skopos and the end justifies the means. That means the purpose of translation determines the translation methods and strategies that are to be employed in order to produce a functionally adequate result. Therefore, in the C-E translation of company profiles, translators should adhere to Skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule and it is applicable for them to adopt a TT-oriented or reader-centered translation strategy.
Secondly, primarily under the guidance of the functionalist Skopostheorie, the thesis puts forward a set of guiding principles for the C-E translation of company profiles, that is, idiomatic, comprehensible, and acceptable. By analysis authentic examples, the study also justifies some appropriate strategies such as addition, abridgement and restructuring. A conclusion can be drawn that it is feasible to guide the C-E translation of company profiles in the light of the functionalist approach, particularly skopostheorie. In the translation process, the translator is expected to bear in mind the intended function of the target text and produce a version that is comprehensible and acceptable to the target reader. Due to great linguistic and cultural differences, the translation process usually involves considerable adjustments or adaptations of the source text in order to achieve the intended function of the target text.
Hopefully, the principles and strategies proposed in this study would be of some value to the C-E translation of company profiles as well as other publicity materials.
At last, defined as the measure of all things in translation by Reiss, the ST is regarded by Vermeer as merely an “offer of information” which can be partly or wholly transmitted for the target audience, leaving its status much lower in skopostherie than in equivalence-based theories. And it is the purpose of the translation that determines what to translate, how much to translate and what strategies to employ in specific situations. For this reason, in C-E translation of company website, any translation strategy can be adopted provided it is effective in publicizing the company in the target culture and expanding its business there. The translator needs to serve as “cultural filtering”, which means making adjustments to the structure and style of the source text by addition, deletion and rewriting. In this section, different successful translation techniques applicable to company profile translation in light of skopostheorie will be explored.
3. The Skopos theory and company website translation
A company website is a particular communicative message that an organization wants to deliver to a particular audience. It is essentially “a résumé” presenting an image of a particular company, aiming to “establish the credibility with the market the company serves” . Klein also argues that a company website provides insight about a company to its customers and prospects; potential employees and partners view it to evaluate whether or not it is the kind of company they’d like to work with. Generally speaking, a well-written company website contains the company’s founders, product range or service that a company offers, major stockholders, members of the board, address, telephone and fax numbers, website, and other vital information. Some website include their history and significant achievements they have made through the years. This thesis defines a company profile in a narrow sense and refers to a company introduction since introductory remarks head all the other subdirectory items and are of the most representative characteristics. The samples employed in this thesis include brochures and materials from the Internet and cover a great variety of b usiness fields such as banks, hotels, automobiles, medicine, wine, household electrical appliances, tobacco, and sports goods.
3.1 Introduction of skopos theory
The Skopos theory is an important functionalist theory of translation that was developed in Germany in the 1970s. It reflects “a general shift from predominantly linguistic and rather formal translation theories to a more functionally and socioculturally oriented concept of translation” [8]235. It greatly widens the research field of translation and puts translation researches in the framework of cross-cultural communication, instead of the narrow framework of source and target texts or the transmission between two languages. The Skopos theory draws inspiration from communication theory, action theory, text linguistics and text theory, and also from movements in literary studies toward reception theories. It is regarded as the core of German functionalism.
Hans Vermeer who proposed the Skopos theory gives his own definition of translation from a unique perspective that translation is a “purposeful action”. In the Skopos theory, translation is basically a type of communication. In other words, translation is a type of human action. Since action is the process of acting, which means “intentionally(at will)bringing about or preventing a change in the world (in nature), and thus can be defined as an intentional change or transition from one state of affairs to another” 18. Based on this belief, Vermeer put forward his translation principles, including the Skopos rule ad the guiding principle, and the coherence and the fidelity rule as subordinate principles.
It requires that a good translation be:
[1] pragmatic, accounting for the situational conditions of communicative interaction and, accordingly, for the needs and expectations of the addressees of the target text and even making the receiver the most important yardstick of translational decisions;
[2] culture-oriented, giving consideration to the culture-specific forms of verbal and nonverbal behaviour involved in translation;
[3] consistent, able to show the translator’s decisions in any type or form of translation task and make the target text a functional one;
[4] practical, accounting all the forms of transcultural communication needed;
[5] normative, displaying the translator’s particular purpose;
[6] comprehensive, the communicative effects of a target text being equivalent to those of the source text;
.
3.2 The wrong types of translation from the perspective of Skopos theory
During the information exchanging, Chinese companies have to provide effective company website profile linguistically and culturally acceptable to their target readers. Consequently, the English translation of Chinese company website plays a significant role in ensuring a successful communication with the outside world. Yet the overall situation of the C-E translation of Chinese company profiles is far from satisfactory. From the perspective of Skopostheorie, “if the purpose of a translation is to achieve a particular function for the target addressee, anything that obstructs the achievement of this purpose is a translation error” [9]74. Thus, to decide whether a piece of translation is a translation error or not is neither to see whether the translation is grammatically correct or not, nor to see whether the translation is loyal to the meaning of the source text. Instead, it should depend on whether the translation has achieved the intended purpose of the original work. As far as the C-E translation of company profiles is concerned, major problems and errors result from the ignorance of linguistic and cultural differences. The common errors in the C-E translation can be roughly classified into two categories: functional translation errors, linguistic tr anslation errors and cultural translation errors.
3.2.1 Functional translation errors
Functional inadequacies occur in four ways. They may be pragmatic translation errors, which are the result of “inadequate solutions to pragmatic translation problems such as lack of receiver orientation”. Secondly, they may be cultural translation errors, which are “due to an inadequate decision with regard to reproduction or adaptation of culture-specific conventions”. Thirdly, they may be linguistic translation errors, which are “caused by an inadequate translation when the focus is on language structures”. Fourthly, and finally, they may be text-specific translation errors, which are “related to a text-specific translation problem and, like the corresponding translation problems, can usually be evaluated from a functional or pragmatic point of view” 76 .
Function refers to the factors which make the text work in the intended way in the target situation. Loyalty refers to the interpersonal relationship between the translator, the source-text sender, the target-text addresses and the initiator. Loyalty limits the range of justifiable target-text functions for one particular source text and raises the need for a negotiation of the translation assignment between translators and their clients[11]126.
The claim that a variety of strategies, often moving away from the linguistic surface of the source text, are necessary to produce a functional target text gives a more grounded precision to the claims of Goldblatt and Raffel. Nord’s argument helps us to understand that these strategies are not to be considered shortcomings or inadequacies, reluctantly accepted as abstract “poetry” but never as “scholarship” – they are deliberate and intelligent forms of both creativity and fidelity. Indeed they are the inevitable, different paths that translators must follow if they wish to create new texts based on their appropriately functional readings of the source-text. (Scholars, to paraphrase Raffel, are then entitled to translations as much as poets – but because their needs are different, they each require a different sort of translation.) If these strategies of non-equivalence are to be considered “mistakes” at all then they are, in a paradoxical way, “deliberate mistakes”, intentionally undertaken in order to recreate the text in a way that deviates from the literal surface meaning of the source text so as to represent its other, deeper, features. Other errors, or “mistakes”, which are the result of our intentions being neither adequate nor appropriate, might be considered, in contrast, to be “foolish mistakes”, the product of ignorance but not of maliciousness. And ignorance can be overcome by “an adequate level of language and culture proficiency”.
3.2.2 Lingustic translation errors
Linguistic translation errors are at the basic level among the four types of errors mentioned above. They usually stem from an incompetent translator’s poor command of the target language. Unfamiliar with the target language norms and conventions, an unqualified translator would make all kinds of errors, which range from levis (spelling and choice of words), semantics (meaning the source text intends to convey) to syntax (grammatical sentences and structure). Hence the translated text cannot be fully understood by the foreign audience. For example,“拳頭產品”has been translated literally as “fist product”. In Chinese,“拳頭產品” indicates that the product sells well in the market and it is regarded as a brand name. The counterpart “fist” in English, however, just means the hand when closed tightly with the fingers bent into the palm, which cannot convey the original meaning. It would be better to be translated as “knockout product”, “hard-punch product”or“product with a competitive edge” [12].
Example[3]: 三十年紡織品和服裝出口經驗,質量第一,信譽第一,友情第一,重合同,守信用,始終如一。(ex.cn)
Original version:Thirty years’experience of textiles and garments export.Quality the best.Reputation and friendship the foremost. Always abide by contacts and credibility.
Revised version:The rendering in this example is a typical word-for-word one, let alone the grammatical mistake in the last sentence “Always abide by contacts and credibility”. The deliberate faithfulness of its sentence structure actually results in sen tence fragments in English, which are far from emotionally appealing to the English readers. Such redundant syntactic structure will surely confuse the target readers.
Example[4]: 集“中國馳名商標”、“中國名牌”、“國家免檢產品”和“國家出口商品免驗”等榮譽于一身的特步(中國)有限公司,位于福建省泉州市經濟技術開發區。(xtep.com.cn/)
Original version:Xtep(China)co.,ltd.,honored with China's famous and popular brand, China's famous brand, products exempt from inspection and export products exempt from inspection; which locates in Quanzhou Economic and Technological Development zone. After correcting the grammatical errors in this version,an improved version could be:
Revised version:Xtep(China)Co., Ltd.,winning honors like “China’s famous and popular brand”, “China’s famous brand”, “inspection-exempt products” and “inspection-exempt products for export”, which is located in Quanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone.
3.2.3 Clutural translation errors
What does the word “culture” mean?As we have seen, culture is ubiquitous, multidimensional, complex and all-pervasive. Though there has been a century of efforts to define culture by scholars from different points of view, an agreement has so far not been reached[13]. The definition of culture seems simple but complex in reality. It covers aspects of everyday life to cognitive and social structure. And it refers to communities that have different attitudes toward political and social issues, different cultural practices and references in their private lives, different social backgrounds, etc.
In 1871, in his classic book Primitive Culture, British anthropologist Edward Tylor first gave the definition of culture which is widely quoted :“culture...is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom and any other capacities and habits acquired by man as a member of society” [13]. This definition is far from complete and vague to some extent because it only stressed the spiritual part of culture, but has neglected its material basis without which culture is an impossibility.
Translation and culture are closely related to each other. Translation is a cross-cultural communication. Various scholars have elaborated on the relationship between culture and translation.
Toury holds that translation is a kind of activity which inevitably involves at least two languages and two cultural conditions48.
In order to achieve the expected purpose of the C-E translation of company profiles, it is particularly important to know the role of culture in the C-E translation of company profiles. First of all, culture affects the selection of company profiles. In order to carter for the target readers, the initiators have to select materials that characterize the Chinese culture and are acceptable in the target cultural system. Secondly, culture affects the acceptability of translations in the target culture[18]. Because of the cultural differences, what is appreciated in one culture may not be acceptable in another culture differences, what is appreciated in on culture may not be acceptable in another culture. Thirdly, culture also affects the approaches to be adopted in the translation process. For different translation purposes, people may resort to different apporaches to solve cultural clashes.
Chinese and western cultures differ greatly in their historical development, geographical locations, customs, conventions, religious beliefs and aesthetics,which have a great impact on cross-cultural communication.According to Skopostheorie, a cultural translation error occurs when something in the translation doesn't conform to the norms and conventions in the target culture. Cultural transla tion mistakes or errors, though very covert, cause a lot of hideous barriers in the cross-cultural communication.
As has been mentioned above, what is appreciated in the Chinese culture may be unacceptable in the English culture due to the cultural differences. For example, we have always prided ourselves as“龍的傳人”, which is literally translated as“descendants of the dragon”. However, the Chinese word“龍” in the Chinese culture is not equivalent to the “dragon” in the western culture. Though both of them are legendary animals, their images and connotations are quite different. In the Chinese culture, the image of “龍” has undergone a series of changes before it takes its present form. It has the combined features of a number of animals—a reptile-like animal with a scaled body and claws, which can not only crawl, but also swim and fly. It is the symbol of the Chinese nation and the Chinese national spirit. It represents power, supremacy and auspice. In feudal China, emperors were compared to dragons. But in the western legends, dragon is a huge lizard with wings, scales and a long snake-like tail. It can spit fire. Dragon in the western culture is the symbol of evil[19]. So if the phrase“以外貿企業為龍頭” is translated into English as “with foreign trade firms as the dragon’s head”, the foreigners will feel awful when they read the translation. It will be acceptable when it is translated as“with foreign trade firms as the locomotive(or flagship)”.
Besides, English company profiles emphasize simplicity, individuality and substantiality, while Chinese ones stress elegance, uniformity, and authority. For this reason, the author of this present paper suggests that to realize intended commercial purpose, translators should avoid literally translating four-character phraseology into English because foreign consumers may show their doubts at the first sight of these patterns:“Who knows?” as shown in the following examples.
Example[5]: 該廠能生產大衣、西裝、時裝、襯衣、毛衣等不同類型服裝用的上千個花色品種的紐扣,產品規格齊全,品種繁多,造型新穎。(lxbutton.com/)
Original version:The factory can produce thousands of type of buttons for coats, suits, fashions, shirts and sweaters. They have complete ranges of specification and various types and are novel in shape.
Revised version:The factory can produce various new types of buttons in thousands of different designs for coat, suits, fashions, shirts and sweaters.
It seems that the modifications in the second English version not only successfully achieve commercial effect but also makes the content more succinct. Hence, a translator should always bear in mind that cultural comparison is a “must” in the translation process. Without comparisons of the two cultural systems, successful translation would not be possible.
4. Analyses of website translation of foreign trade company in Zhejiang province
There are many famous foreign trade companies in Zhejiang province, almost every company owns its English version website profile which focus to attract foreign business partners around the world. But owing to the different levels of translators who work as the company website translation, there exists a big difference in the quality of website translation, some even cause serious problem which make foreign trade partner confused about the compani's business and even products' function. So it is very important for translators of company website to follow some principles while dealing with the translation work.
4.1 Functional translation errors
4.1.1 Problem of length
The main reason for the too long translation is the profile of the translation focus too much on faith, but neglect removing or simplifying the useless information for audience. In accordance with the “Skopos rule”, the purpose of translation decides the behaviour of translation work. The translators should add, adjust or predigest the original work depending on the purpose of the translation.some of the original target information is out of communicative value which will make the translation empty, trash-talking and even affecting the information transforming.
Example [6]: 進入新世紀后,娃哈哈已擁有了雄厚的產品自主研發能力和技術創新能力,在雄厚的資金保障下,通過引進國際最先進的生產設備技術,進行消化、吸收、再創新,使公司擁有強大的核心競爭能力。同時,通過自主開發營養快線等系列創新產品,廣開銷路,實現科學發展,行業龍頭地位日益穩固。目前,娃哈哈正在不斷擴大投資規模,不斷自主創新,向著世界500強企業的目標闊步前進!(劃線部分為錯誤點)(wahaha.com.cn/aboutus/history/)
Original version: The third time milestone development: entering the new era, Wahaha cultivated the dependent R&D ability and the technology innovation ability. Secured by abundant capital, we adopted the international advanced equipment technology with absorption and d igestion, making sure that Wahaha keeps the core competitive edge. We also developed the popular products like Nutrition Express to sustain the scientific development, stabilizing our leading position. Currently, Wahaha keeps further investment and constant innovation, aiming for becoming the world Top 500 enterprises.
We can find that some information in the Chinese version is useless and redundant,“消化、吸收、再創新”,“自主研發能力和技術創新能力”they all means innovation.so we can simplify the version into:
Revised version: Entering the new era, Wahaha cultivated the ability of innovation and R&D with abundant capital, we adopted the international advanced equipment with renew ability, making Wahaha keep the core competitive edge. At the same time, we have developed the popular products like Nutrition Express to sustain the scientific development, stabilize our leading position. Currently, Whaha keeps investment and innovation for becoming the world top 500 enterprises。
Example [7]: 東方機械位于風景秀麗、物產豐富、經濟發達、文化繁榮,素有江南“魚米、皮革之鄉”美稱的錢塘江畔。(hua-jia .com/s1.htm)
Original version: Our factory is located in Dingqiao Town by the Qiantang River where is famed as"The Home of fish,Rice and Leather",with beautiful scenery,rich products,flourishing economy and prosperous culture.
Revised version: “...located at Dingqiao Town by the Qingtang river, our company specialized in the production of ... ”(we can just delete the underlined part)
Example [8]: 2003年初,公司為滿足國內市場對專用車的需要,及時調整產品結構并成立的專用車公司,在做穩、做強客車的同時,投巨資實施專用車項目,精心打造有洛陽宇通特色的專用車產品,本著“低端切人、高端占領”的原則,經過精心籌備,四大系列產品即混凝土攪拌車系列、散裝水泥車系列、加油車系列、灑水車系列一經投放市場,便以其全新的設計、優美的造型、細膩的工藝贏得了市場的青睞。(lyyt.com/t9/index.asp)
Original version: In the early of 2003, in order to meet the demands for special-purpose car in domestic market, we adjusted our product's structure and set up a new department dealing with special purpose car. While steadying and strengthening the production of passenger car, we invest large amounts of money in special-purpose car to carefully make this kind of products with vivid Luoyang Yutong characteristics. With the principle of cutting in from the low end and taking possession at the high end, our four series of products were put into market in April of 2003 after careful preparation. They are dowser series, water cart series, bulk cement vehicle series and concrete-mixing vehicle series. The products win for their new designation, exquisite molding and technique.
Revised version: In addition to its wonderful performance in the sector of passenger cars, Luoyang Yutong Automobile co., Ltd. Moved forward with an aggressive campaign to stay at the forefront of transportation. In the early of 2003, we set up a new sector to manufacture special-purpose vehicles including fuel trucks, spraying cars, bulk cement trucks and concrete-mixing trucks which are tailored to the needs of Chinese market. They gained excellent reputation for their original design and state-of-the-art technics among clients as soon as they were put into market in April of the same years.
4.1.2 Problem rooted from different thought pattern
In the functionalist perspective, the purpose of a translation is to achieve a particular function for the target address, and anything that prevents the achievement of this purpose in considered as a translation error. This means that a particular expression or utterance is not inadequate in itself; it only becomes inadequate with regard to the communicative function it was expected to achieve. Furthermore, Nord classifies the translation errors into four categories: pragmatic, cultural, linguistic and text-specific ones[9]. Study of the small corpus shows those translation errors in the translated corporate website are mainly linguistic and cultural. In the following parts, the author is to demonstrate the problems common to nearly all the sample texts, with suggested solutions thereafter.
Example [9]: 引進大量的科技管理人才,成立“真愛集團人才聯誼會” 形成“重知識,重人才” 的良好氣氛。(truelovegroup.com/english/about/about.asp)
Original version: To form well atmosphere “esteem acknowledge, esteem intellect”, truelove employed a mess of technology and management persons and set up “truelove group talent sociality”.
Revised version: To form well atmosphere “respect knowledge and talents”, Truelove employed talents and set up “Truelove talents Union”.
Example [10]:
(1)醫德醫風
Medical ethics
(2)全體員工精誠團結,上下一心
All the staffs unite absolute sincerity
(3)上有上策,下有下策,有令不行,有禁不止。
Disobey orders and defy prohibition.
In these translations repetitions have been talked carefully.The Word “ethics” contains the meaning of both“德”and“風”. The Chinese“精誠團結”and“上下一心” which have the same meaning are translated into “unite in absolute sincerity.” As with these, the third English sentence fully renders the Chinese version whose second part means the same as the first one.
Let's quote example (2) as another example of this strategy. Taking a look at the underlined parts, we find the Chinese phrase“進入飯店” has not been translated. The English version “Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel Management Group introduced us ...” is clear and sufficient to express the meaning of “進入飯店,帶來…”. If we translate it in the word-for-word way “as entered the hotel and brought...”, the TT readers in English cultures will be confused. Thus, leaving out tautological words is one of the communicative methods in translating to realize the purpose of the TT. More specifically, this translation is a compliance with coherence rule rather than the fidelity rule.
4.2 Linguistic translation errors
A linguistic translation error is at the most basic level among the types of errors mentioned above. They usually stem from an incompetent translator's poor command of the language. Unfamiliar with the language norms and conventions, an unqualified translator would make all kinds of mistakes, which range from lexis (spelling and choice of words), syntax (grammatical sentence and structure) and semantics (meaning that the source text intends to convey).
4.2.1 Spelling errors
Example [11]: 本公司始終堅持以“質量為本,科技創新,優質服務,環保產品”為發展宗旨。(chinacgic.com/company.asp)
Original version: Our company has all along been adhering to such a development philosophy: quality basis, technological innovation, high-quality service and environment-friendly products.
Revised version:our company has all along been adhering to such a developing idea: quality basis, technological innovation, high-quality service and environment-friendly products.
Example [12]:“成功電子” 以擁有您的支持而自豪,并有信心通過我們不斷的努力使您以使用“成功電子” 產品而驕傲。(chinacgic.com/)
Original version: Success Electronics is proud for having your support and convinced that our constant efforts can make you proud of using our products.
Revised verion: Success Electronic is proud for having your support and it convince that our constant efforts can make you proud of using our products.
4.2.2 Improper use of punctuation
Example[13]: 公司自創辦以來,不斷擴大規模,更新產品的種類。歡迎各中外客商前來共創商機! (rx-china.com/)
Original version: The company spread dimensions at once. sincerely welcomes its friends to have business negotiation, cooperate with them and jointly make great achievement.
Revised version: Since the establishment of our company we have always been expanding our industrial scale and adding new ranges to our production line. Now we warmly welcome our customers, both at home and abroad, to come together and enjoy better business opportunities!
Example [14]: 本公司經營的產品廣泛用于通訊設備、家用電器、儀器儀表、數碼產品行業、電子玩具以及工業自動化設備等各種領域, 在電子行業有很高的聲譽。(zszyss.com/)
Original version: The product of company’s operation is used in the various fields such as communication equipment, electric home appliances, instrument appearance, digital product profession, electronictoy as well as industrial automatic equipment extensively, we have very high reputation on electronic profession.
Revised version: The products we deal in are widely used in such areas as communication, household electrical appliances, instruments and meters, digital products, electric toys and industrial automatic equipment. Our company enjoys a high reputation in the line of electronic.
4.2.3 Incorrect word translation
Example [15]: 本公司近年致力弘揚、推廣中華優秀傳統文化和與之相結合的高新科技。2002年起被中央有關部門指定為外交部國禮系列圖書國內外主要發行單位之一。(zylp.com/)
Original version: This company recent years devoted to bring honor to , to promote the China outstanding traditional culture and high speed science which unified with it. In 2002 is assigned by the central department concerned one of for country cash as a present book domestic and foreign main release units .
Revised version: We have been carrying forward and popularizing traditional Chinese culture combined with newly developed high-tech. In 2002, our company was appointed to be one of the authorized publishers of series of golden books as official gifts for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Example [16]: 百果園占地面積20 畝,花園式布局,生產車間4800m²,設有原料、粗加工、成品、包裝、冷藏、鍋爐等生產車間。(baiguoyuan.com.cn/)
Original version: Baiguoyuan is like a garden it cone ns an area of zomu, with 3400 sguan meters work shop, including material storage workshop , naw processing workshop, finshed produet workshop, packing workshop, cold stonage workshop and boilen workshop.
Revised version: Baiguoyuan, a well laid out garden-like enterprise, covers an area of 20 mu, and owns a production department of 4800 square meters including workshops handling materials, rough processing, finished goods, packing, refrigerating and a boiler room.
4.2.4 Illogical arrangement
Illogical arrangement is primarily coordinated at the incorrectly translation of an individual expression or sentence's elements which cause incoherent and misunderstanding.
Example [17]:(本單位)成立于1988年,是經國家建設部批準,專業從事地基與基礎工程施工的壹級企業。(richelevator.com/hz/)
Original version:We are the stair enterp rise professioned on construction of groundwork and base engineering approved by national construction department founded in 1988.
Revised version: Our company, with the approval of Ministry of Construction, was established in 1988 and we are now a first grade enterprise specializing in the construction of groundwork and foundational engineering.
Example [18]: 公司非常重視對員工隊伍素質的培訓工作,專門成立了人力資源部,對員工進行操作技術、專業技能、安全生產、市場意識、產品質量等方面的培訓。(chinacgic.com/)
Original version: The company emphasize on training for the staff, specialize to establish HR department, train manipulating technique, specialty skill, safe producing, market apperceiving, product quality and the other side training.
Revised version:We put emphasis on training our working staff and specially set up a human resources department for the purpose of guiding our staff members to master new operating techniques, professional skills, safety in production, marketing strategies and quality control.
4.3 Cultural translation errors
When preparing an English version of the corporate profile, the Chinese companies tend to translate literally the existing Chinese language, regardless of the fact that different addressees require an adjustment of the relationship between the explicit and implicit information in the target text and that the target cultural conventions should be given priority.
Example[19]: 公司于2000年順利通過ISO9001: 2000版國際質量體系認證,形成了一套完整的質量保障體系,2002年11月被中國輕工業質量認證中心授予 “環保陶瓷”稱號。(.cn/)
Original version:the company passed ISO9001:2000 International Quality System Certification in 2000, and has established a complete quality assurance system. It was awarded as “Environmental friendly ceramics”.
In this short paragraph, the company exhibits four honorary titles: ISO9001:2000版國際質量體系認證,“環保陶瓷” without further explaining what the awards are about, what requirements should be met to win each and how this company is qualified to receive the glories. For people who are familiar with the awarding system, this information is able to serve as a strong support for the qualification of company. However, the westerners are probably not so moved by these titles. Questions may haunt the readers, such as “what is the evaluation standard of the award?” “how often is the award granted?” “how many enterprises can get award in each season?” in other words, only when the information becomes convincing enough can the foreigners acknowledge the qualification of the company.
5.Conclusion
It should have been a progress for the development of the Chinese enterprises since the bilingual corporate websites open a new channel for them to present themselves to the world; however, in the analysis of the translated company introductions, the author observes quite a number of errors and problems prevailing the target text, which can hardly help achieve the function of the source text, only to ruin the image of the company. After all, a company with a poor English introduction can hardly convince the potential customers of the top-quality claim of the product and service therein. Delving into the translated corporate profiles, the author finds out that as far as the translation of the Chinese corporate profiles is concerned, Chinese companies still have a long way to go.
In this light, the paper analyses the language, cultural-specific terms and discourse of the translated corporate website translation, locates common errors and proposes some methods for better communication with the international audience.
However, as nearly all the cooperate profiles are translated literally in the process, even if the linguistic and cultural errors are corrected the target texts still appear awkward in the whole text and fail to become fluent English. In other words, any corrections made in the English sentences do not solve the problem and cannot ensure a functionally satisfactory reaction from the audience.
Guo Jianzhong says the translation of pragmatic texts is an art of re-expression based on writing techniques. It holds true to the company introduction, which is tattooed to translate according to the source text’s diction and structure. What the translators need to do is to adapt to or rewrite the source text before translating. Though the English may be not literally correspondent with the original source text, the meaning of the content and stylistic features retain. As a result, the communication carries out successfully and the function is fulfilled.
Acknowledgements
My initial thanks go to my supervisor Yang Xue, who patiently supervised my dissertation and was at times very willing to offer me illuminating advice or suggestions. Without her help, I could not have finished this dissertation.
I am also indebted to other teachers and my classmates who have not only offered me their warm encouragements but also shared with me their ideas and books. They are Zhang Lan, Zhu Ming, Wu Xiaoyun, and many others.
My greatest personal debt is to my parents, who have cultivated a soul of sensitivity, hospitality, and honesty out of me, and offered a harbor of happiness and sweetness for me.
The remaining weakness and possible errors of the dissertation are entirely my own.
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誠 信 承 諾
我謹在此承諾:本人所寫的畢業論文《外貿公司網站英譯研究之目的論視角》均系本人獨立完成,沒有抄襲行為,凡涉及其他作者的觀點和材料,均作了注釋,若有不實,后果由本人承擔。
高等學校英語專業英語教學大綱明確指出:“畢業論文是考查學生綜合能力,評估學業成績的一個重要方式。”畢業論文一般應用英語撰寫,長度為3,000―5,000個單詞,要求文字通順,思路清晰,內容充實,有一定的獨立見解。由此不難看出,畢業論文在整個英語教學和英語學習中占舉足輕重的地位。摘要又稱概要或內容提要,是論文中不可或缺的一部分,是對論文主要內容進行的簡單、易懂、精辟的概括總結。摘要的四個要素分別是研究目的、研究方法、研究內容、研究結果,這也是英文摘要的核心內容[1]。論文的英文摘要適應了信息時代電子文獻檢索機構的要求,是國際學術交流的重要橋梁。英文摘要的形成是一個由漢語摘要向英文翻譯的轉化過程,其質量反映了翻譯的水平,在一定程度上也對論文的交流產生影響[2];同時英文摘要的語言質量直接影響了論文本身的信度[3],因此,我們可以毫不夸張地說,論文的英文摘要是英語專業學生綜合英語能力的主要表現形式之一,也是衡量其英語水平的重要標準之一。
一、研究對象與研究方法
以我院英語專業本科畢業生的存檔畢業論文為研究對象,從中隨機抽取了40份,論文內容涉及語言學(7份)、文學(12份)、翻譯(9份)、文化(6份)及教學(6份)等五個不同方面。學生畢業后大多數在外企或者中學就業,其英語水平直接影響對外貿易的結果及中小學的英語教學效果,因此該研究就顯得更加重要了。通過認真研讀學生畢業論文的英文摘要,我側重研究其內容是否合乎要求,語言是否流暢通順、符合英語表達習慣等問題,并且根據研究所發現的問題提出可行對策,以便切實提高學生的語言綜合能力,提高其執教能力。
二、結果分析
(一)在內容方面存在的問題
關于摘要的內容,首先研究其是否具備應有的四個要素,以及各個因素在摘要中出現的頻率,具體情況見表1和表2。
學生的論文摘要在內容的完整性上還遠遠不符合要求,只有四分之一的摘要涵蓋了所需的四個要素,將近一半的摘要寫出了大部分內容,其他的摘要未免過于簡單,多余的部分就都是不必要的重復,這與摘要語言簡明扼要的特點是相悖的。
表2表明,摘要中出現頻率最高的是研究目的,其次就是研究內容和研究結果,頻率最低的是研究方法,可見學生對于自己使用何種方法來展開研究不是十分清楚,沒有恰當有效的研究方法做保障,那么研究結果的可信度就會大打折扣。
(二)在語言表達方面存在的問題
關于語言表達,本文主要側重研究其詞語/短語是否運用恰當,詞語的語體是否合適,句子結構是否合理等問題,具體結果見表3和表4。
摘要的語言要正式嚴謹、書面化,避免使用非正式的詞語,由表3可以看到,在學生的論文摘要中非正式詞語數量還是很多的,說明學生在這方面沒有給予足夠的重視。文體猶如四季,有其鮮明的標記,古希臘哲學家亞里士多德在其《修辭學》一書中提出:既不要把重大的事情說得很隨便,又不要把瑣碎的小事說得冠冕堂皇。[4]200―201在外語寫作或者翻譯中最容易出錯的地方不是語法,又不是詞匯,而是詞語的搭配(He「one who writes or speaks in a foreign languagewill be “caught” out every time,not by his grammar ... not by his vocabulary ... but by his unacceptable or improbable collocations.)。[5]85因此,要想用詞地道,搭配合理,就需要日積月累,逐步培養良好的英語語感。混淆詞語的詞性或者用錯介詞、漏掉介詞這些失誤都是語言基本功不夠扎實,以及不了解英漢差異的表現,這些看似簡單實則繁瑣的地方往往最容易被學生忽視。
由表4可以看出,摘要中以第一人稱作主語的句子數量很少,更多的是使用抽象的名詞作主語,即無生命主語,這樣作者就可以盡可能地遠離評價行為,而把評價的任務交給抽象實體,如研究的課題或其結果;被評價的對象似乎成了世界的本來事實,離作者很遠,因而顯得無可爭議和客觀化。[6]30這種做法與學生的論文寫作課程及教師的指導有關。相對漢語而言,英語更習慣使用被動語態,而在調查的英文摘要中使用被動語態的句子少之又少,這同樣是受母語負遷移的影響,對英漢差異不甚了解所造成的。
當代美國著名翻譯理論家奈達在其Translating Meaning(1983)一書中指出:就漢語和英語而言,也許在語言學上最重要的一個區別,就是形合與意合的對比。漢語的哲學背景是儒、道、佛的悟性,用詞造句成章的最大特點是意合法,重意義組合而輕形式結構,讓讀者和聽者領悟其中的意義和關系;詞沒有嚴格意義的形態變化;句子不受嚴格的主謂結構的束縛,少用或不用關聯詞語。而英語的哲學背景是亞里士多德的形式邏輯,以及十六至十八世紀風行歐洲的理性主義,其用詞造句成章的最大特點是形合法,重形式結構協調;詞有嚴格的形態變化,用詞強調人稱、數、格的一致;句子受嚴謹的主謂結構協調一致的制約,多用關聯詞,句子結構復雜,猶如參天大樹,而學生摘要中的復雜句子使用頻率偏低,即使是復合句,也往往存在很多問題,諸如關聯詞使用不當,或者省略關聯詞等。
三、對論文寫作及論文指導的啟示
1.強化英漢對比知識。對于學習中常見的一些語言現象,學生已經熟悉了所謂“習慣用法”的解釋,長此以往,他們語言學習的積極性與主動性肯定會受到影響。英漢屬于不同的語系,熟悉兩者之間的差異會使得英語學習事半功倍,正所謂“授人以魚不如授人以漁”。掌握了正確的學習方法,了解了其中的奧妙所在,學生的語言水平就會發生質的變化。
2.加強日常大聲朗讀的訓練。漢語中常把“看書”稱為“讀書”,顧名思義,大聲朗讀,書讀百遍,其義自現。朗讀可以調動口、耳、眼、腦等多個器官一起參與復雜的思維活動,極大地提高思維的速度并增強效果。同時,朗讀可以激活語言的美感與樂感,強化語感,正確、流暢而富有美感的朗讀能使學習者得到聽覺享受,增進大腦記憶,增強創造性[7]100―102,從而提高英語學習的效率。
3.培養學生的語體意識。“不同的體裁類型中,措辭、句法結構、成文結構、語體風格等都是各不相同的”[8]85。文體學認為,言語事件發生的語境不同,人們相對使用語言的情況也就不相同。為適應特定語境而運用不同的語言特征系統構成語言的不同功能變體(語體)[9]122。因此,教師在教學中要注重培養學生的語體意識,學會隨著語境場合的變化來選擇合適的詞語,避免發生語體錯位的現象。
4.培養嚴謹、認真的科研態度。有些在論文摘要中出現的失誤,稍加注意是完全可以避免的。因此,無論教師還是學生都必須端正態度,認真嚴肅地對待論文寫作,將不必要的錯誤降低到最少,提高論文寫作的質量。
既然稱之為英語專業,那么對學生的英語語言能力方面就應該有更高的要求,這是英語專業學生基本、首要的要求,怎么強調都不為過[10]216。通過對學生畢業論文英文摘要的調查,我們發現了一些內容和語言方面的問題,這些也是普遍存在的問題,不僅影響了論文的質量,而且嚴重影響了課堂教學的效果,因此,值得引起廣大師生的關注。
參考文獻:
[1]陸元雯.基于語料庫的英文論文摘要的語言特點研究[J].外國語學院學報,2009,(11).
[2]高艷,毛忠明.期刊英文摘要常見錯誤剖析[J].大連海事大學學報(社會科學版),2008,(8).
[3]潘,簡慶閩.外語類學術期刊論文錯失析評[J].外語與外語教學,2008,(1).
[4]毛榮貴.英譯漢技巧新編[M].外文出版社,2003.
[5]陳宏薇,李亞丹.新編漢英翻譯[M].上海外語教育出版社,2009.
[6]云紅.論文摘要中作者身份的顯與隱――一項基于2008醫學與語言學國際學術期刊的修辭性研究[J].外語教學,2009,(9).
[7]毛榮貴.翻譯美學[M].上海交通大學出版社,2005.
[8]朱怡.論文摘要語篇視閾下英語專業學生的綜合概括能力探究[J].中國外語,2008,(7).
[9]朱建祥.科技論文摘要翻譯探討[J].商丘師范學報,2003,(8).
教育部辦公廳在2004年4月發出《關于加強普通高等學校畢業設計(論文)工作的通知》,通知中強調:畢業設計(論文)旨在培養大學生探索真理,強化社會意識,提高綜合實踐能力,是衡量教學水平,學生畢業與學位資格認證的重要依據。教育部在2009年的《普通高等學校本科教學工作水平評估方案》中再次明確要求本科畢業設計(論文)“選題要緊密結合生產和社會實際,難度工作量適當,體現專業綜合訓練要求”。從2010年起至今北京城市學院國際語言文化學部英語(國際商務)專業進行了相關的改革研究與實踐。結合畢業設計管理與指導實踐,作者對積累的一些經驗和存在的問題進行總結。
一、高校商務英語專業(方向)畢業論文的現狀
高校商務英語專業畢業論文選題學術氣氛濃厚、重復率高。多集中于“商務談判的技巧”、“商標的翻譯策略”、“商務廣告的語言特色”等,與商務實踐密切相關的文章寥寥無幾。學生在選題上還是側重于文學和文化,沒有充分體現出商務英語的專業方向性。多數的商務英語專業學生寫作內容脫離實際,沒有注重畢業論文的自身價值與實際意義。缺乏實證分析,不會運用所學的知識對實際問題進行研究,有的同學撰寫的內容與將來所從事的商務活動毫無關系。大多數學生都是根據指導教師布置的論文題目獨自搜索文獻、分析整理資料、缺乏了團隊協作、限制了思想火花的碰撞。如果畢業設計能夠以團隊的形式來完成撰寫必將對學生的實踐能力、團隊協作能力、組織與溝通交流能力的提升起到非常大的幫助。
二、商務英語專業畢業論文改革探索與實踐
1.畢業論文改革的形式和內容。
掌握商務文書的基本知識、寫作方法、寫作技能,能運用嫻熟、得心應手地撰寫各類商務文書是衡量現代商務工作者的素質、能力的重要標準。根據我校英語專業國際商務方向學生實際情況和商務文書撰寫的難易程度,英語(國際商務)學生選擇商務報告中的調查報告(SurveyReport)開展畢業論文改革。調查報告具體要求:調查報告由2人共同完成,學生需進行社會調查、訪談或其他調研方式。要求調查報告的字數不少于5000字英文,其中含1000字中文概要,調查問卷樣卷和訪談提綱樣卷為中英文對照版。
2.行業人士進行調查報告撰寫的指導和培訓。
為了幫助學生更好地掌握商務文書的撰寫規范,行文要求,專業安排了行業人士對調研報告的撰寫進行了指導和培訓。調查報告撰寫的培訓方案:調查報告撰寫指導分為三部分:第一部分對調查報告的定義、結構、撰寫過程進行宏觀指導;第二部分主要講解調查報告的研究方法、資料的收集與研究、問卷和訪談內容的設計;第三部分調查報告的選題和開題指導。
3.調查報告雙導師指導的管理與監控。
畢業論文“雙導師制”指導模式是依據北京城市學院辦學目標和特色,結合商務英語專業學生特點,通過校內英語指導教師與來自其他學院跨學科或者行業的合作導師“雙導師”聯合指導,重點實施理論學習環節、調研環節、理論與實踐整合環節等雙導師式培養的畢業論文指導模式。選題環節。畢業論文的選題是做好畢業論文工作的首要環節,指導教師嚴格把好選題關是保證畢業論文質量的前提條件。校外合作導師提出若干個用人單位在實際工作操作中遇到的真實問題。畢業論文選題來自于實際工作過程中的問題,既體現了實際應用價值,又能很好地鍛煉學生的實踐能力。理論學習環節。為了讓學生有更充裕的時間進入第七學期的學習和第八學期工作崗位的實習,我們將理論環節的學習提前到夏季小學期。由校內指導教師和行業合作導師進行聯合講解。學生在雙導師的指導下,完成選題、開題報告準備等環節。調研實踐環節。在夏季小學期結束后的暑期,學生要開展為期約4周的調研活動。在調研實習期間,由實習單位的校外指導教師,監督和指導學生的調研實習實踐活動,補充學生理論學習的缺陷,提高學生商務實操能力。在這一環節,校內英語指導教師也需要及時與校外指導老師溝通,協助學生完成調研實踐環節。理論與實踐整合環節。學生在調研實踐活動后,即完成問卷發放和訪談活動,回到學校進行調研報告的撰寫。學生需要在這個環節聽取校內英語指導教師和校外指導教師的指導建議,展開數據的統計分析,以及調研報告的撰寫。雙導師綜合評定給出畢業設計的成績。答辯環節。采用校內老師和行業人士聯合組成答辯專家組,對調查報告中涉及的理論環節和實踐環節進行全面系統的提問,雙導師以及答辯專家組綜合評定后給出每組同學畢業論文成績。對于學生各項成績的評定,第一指導教師占總成績的60%,第二指導教師占40%。專業要求學生畢業設計完成情況嚴格進行前期、中期檢查與考核。如果因為教師指導不力,學生沒有圓滿完成畢業設計,將追究校內導師的責任。對于畢業設計工作不認真、投入不夠、完成質量差而又達不到專業培養目標的學生,學部將根據畢業設計要求的有關規定嚴肅處理。畢業論文“雙導師制”指導模式強調了基礎理論知識和專業實踐知識的有機結合,彌補了高校英語教師缺乏商務實戰經驗的弊病。“雙導師制”將顯著增強學生的專業能力和社會適應能力,使得學生在進入企業后,能夠更快地適應環境,從而直接進入工作狀態。學生通過這種模式的訓練,鞏固發展了專業知識和技能,也為日后的就業打下扎實的基礎。
4.調查報告的評審標準要適當調整。
畢業論文評價體系是引導畢業論文工作的杠桿和指揮棒。重點考察學生畢業論文的原創性、實效性,即畢業論文必須是學生經過努力研究真實做出來的,解決了實際工作中的某一個問題,比較真實地反映了學生的實際工作能力與水平。在評價程序上,整個撰寫過程采用雙導師(校內英語教師與行業專家)綜合評定和指導,在評審的各個環節均采用英語教師和行業專家雙評審制度。評分標準也相應地區別于傳統的學術論文,例如在選題上要評定“選題是否具有較強的現實意義,符合實踐性、科學性、創新性要求”;調查問卷的設計上要評定“調查問卷的結構、內容設計科學、合理,較為清楚地說明調查問卷的發放及回收情況”;數據綜合分析能力上要評定“能夠靈活運用多種形式的圖表對調查問卷所得結果和數據進行恰當、科學、有效分析”;在調查報告整體質量上要評定“研究結果摘要部分:論述清晰;正文部分:理論運用正確,數據分析科學、合理,論述充分,結構嚴謹,條理清晰;結論與建議部分:結論正確,具有創新性,實用性。調查報告結果具有一定的參考、應用價值。全文專業術語使用準確。符號統一,編號齊全,書寫規范,圖表完備、整潔、正確”;畢業論文的答辯和評審標準都結合實際進行了適當的調整以保證評價的得體性和公平性。
三、政策建議
1.深化畢業論文以及配套商務英語教學改革。
商務英語專業應該以畢業論文改革為契機,不斷深化商務英語教學改革,整合各種實踐教學資源,使教學理論、人才培養模式與人才培養目標達成一致。在商務英語教學過程中,可以采取多種方式培養學生的商務實踐能力和創新能力,例如不斷加強校企合作力度;學校與企業和政府建立實踐教學合作關系;請行業專家到學校授課或開辦講座;提倡英語教師帶領學生到企業現場教學;鼓勵英語社團組織承接社會項目;等等。
2.加強實踐型教師隊伍建設。
學校要通過各種途徑增強教師實踐意識和實踐能力的培養,例如,鼓勵教師帶領學生參加社會課題研究、對專業教師進行實踐教學培訓等,并且納入對教師的考核體系中;學校派青年教師到企事業單位、外企外貿公司掛職鍛煉,以此來增進教師對社會的了解,要求教師在授課的過程中滲透實踐內容,培養學生的實踐能力和創新意識。學校也可以將具有創業經歷和實踐經驗的各類人員融入到教師隊伍里。通過上述措施,強化學校的實踐人才培養特色,加快相關教學方法的改進與教學條件的改善步伐。
3.畢業論文的體裁和形式多樣化。
畢業論文體裁可以多樣化,充分體現學生的實踐能力和專業特點,體裁不僅局限于傳統的學術論文,而且可以將其拓展為商務實用文書的撰寫和商務情景的模擬。前者包括標書的撰寫、市場調查報告、廣告策劃、營銷方案等,后者包括商務談判、國際會展、商務洽談、產品推薦會情景模擬等。畢業論文的各種體裁和形式均采用團隊協作的模式,使學生能夠各盡所長、發揮集體的智慧。
參考文獻:
[2]教育部.教育部辦公廳關于加強普通高等學校畢業論文(設計)工作的通知(教高廳[2004]14號)[R].
[3]李志生.建筑工程招投標實務與案例分析[M].北京:機械工業出版社,2011.
[4]劉曉輝,魏俊玲.淺談經濟全球化中商務英語人才的培養[J].中國商貿,2009,(15).
[中圖分類號]H193.6[文獻標識碼]A[文章編號]1672-8610(2016)01-0132-03
本科畢業論文是實現本科培養目標要求的重要教學環節,也是檢驗學生綜合素質與實踐能力培養效果的手段,還是評價學校教育質量和辦學水平的重要標尺。獨立學院作為我國高等學校本科辦學模式的新生力量,主要以培養素質高、能力強、會創新、能創業的高級應用型人才為目標。畢業論文反映獨立學院內涵建設的水平,關系學校的辦學聲譽和可持續發展。
一、問題的提出與研究現狀
目前,我國高校大部分獨立學院都以“應用型”作為人才培養主要目標之一,課程設置方面也在一定程度上做出了與母體學校相區別的設置,但在畢業論文這一環節卻多半沒有明顯的區分度,尤其是文科語言類的專業,依然以撰寫學術論文的形式存在。學習過程中側重實踐與應用,但在畢業論文環節又繞回到了重理論與學術研究的狀態,此種矛盾不僅困擾了眾多的學生,也令許多論文指導老師一籌莫展。學生在撰寫畢業論文的過程中困難重重,較常見的問題有:科研經驗不足、科研興趣偏低、選題困難、難以創新等。論文指導老師抱怨較多的方面則是:學生邏輯論證能力差、閱讀量太少、科研語言表達能力欠缺、學術論文格式規范度不高、畏難情緒嚴重、主動性不夠等。從師生兩方面反映的困難不難看出,諸多問題的存在與課程設置、學習過程中缺乏與撰寫學術論文相應的支撐有密切關系。也可以理解為:畢業論文的撰寫形式與培養過程中重實踐與應用的模式不匹配。為此,相繼有學者對獨立學院的本科畢業論文改革展開研究。在知網的搜索顯示,關于本科畢業論文改革的文章,以“獨立學院畢業論文”為關鍵詞的論文有22篇,時間段集中在2008年至2014年,平均每年為3.6篇。而以“獨立學院英語專業畢業論文”為關鍵詞的有關論文為3篇,研究角度集中在寫作過程調查、問題與對策等方面。有青年學者提出以配音講解作品替代學術論文的做法。[1]147-150也有學者認為畢業論文要與社會接軌。[2]123甚至還有學者對畢業論文與實習和就業一體化模式進行了探討,主張畢業論文的選題與學生實習、就業緊密相關外,還提出學生可用外語類職業資格證書、國家級競賽獲獎證書等方式申請免撰寫畢業論文。[3]99-102與此相對應的,公立院校針對本科畢業論文改革進行研究的論文則高達上萬篇,時間也要久遠得多,有專門針對理工科專業的,如《電子信息專業本科畢業論文改革實踐》[4]84-87,也有專門針對文科專業的,如《畢業論文改革:高校新聞本科教育改革的切入點》。[5]110-112姑且不論獨立學院是20世紀80年代的新生事物,但相關研究論文絕對量較少,是否就意味著獨立學院畢業論文改革的重要性偏低,必要性不具備呢?答案是否定的。課題小組以南國商學院英語類本科專業2013屆、2014屆和2015屆連續三屆畢業生為研究對象開展的重點校級課題中所采集的有關數據顯示:應用型本科學生的畢業論文改革勢在必行。
二、項目研究設計
本課題的目的在于結合學校英語類本科專業畢業論文的現實情況,提出改革的方案,進行改革實踐,推動獨立學院本科畢業論文科學發展。據此,特擬定了如下研究內容:一是審視學校的人才培養模式和培養目標,究其是否與經濟社會的發展需求相吻合;二是考察本專業的人才培養方案,看其中的課程設置是否與學生必須具備的知識結構和能力結構相沖突。三是采取試驗實踐的方法,了解學生對其他形式的畢業設計是否感興趣,具體做法包括:引導學生在大學期間積極寫作,爭取在省級及以上刊物公開;鼓勵翻譯專業的學生從事翻譯實踐并撰寫翻譯體會;提倡商務英語專業的學生開展市場調查并撰寫調研報告;幫助英語專業的學生從事跨文化比較研究。
三、項目研究過程與研究結果
本課題研究的過程是通過審視學校人才培養方案和培養目標、考察專業人才培養方案和開展為期三年的試驗實踐的方式進行,最終通過分析試驗和調查問卷數據,得出研究的結果。
(一)研究過程
1.審視學校人才培養方案和培養目標。審視學校的人才培養模式和培養目標,究其是否與經濟社會的發展需求相吻合。學校以“通基礎、精專業、強外語、重實踐”為人才培養模式,致力于培養“應用型、復合型、外向型”人才。可見,在培養模式和培養目標方面總體上符合地區經濟社會發展對獨立學院人才培養的期望。2.考察專業人才培養方案。考察本專業的人才培養方案,看其中的課程設置是否與學生必須具備的知識結構和能力結構相沖突。2013屆的英語專業人才培養方案中,在三年級之前閱讀和寫作課程分別開設了兩個學期,之后再無寫作課程。也就是課程設置中并無有關學術論文寫作的課程,但學生畢業之時要求撰寫畢業論文。2014屆和2015屆的人才培養方案中,閱讀和寫作課程依然在低年級各開設了兩個學期,但在三年級第二學期均開設了文獻檢索與論文寫作課程。這意味著學生剛開始學習如何撰寫學術論文就要開始撰寫畢業論文了。此外,學校本科畢業論文(設計)工作管理辦法中明確規定了論文指導老師的職責和畢業論文的格式等主要內容,可以理解為撰寫學術論文是完成畢業論文的唯一形式。顯然,專業人才培養方案中的課程設置與畢業檢測形式不匹配,與應用型人才的培養目標不一致。3.開展畢業論文改革實踐。針對人才培養方案的不足,在畢業論文論文撰寫階段采取試驗實踐的方法,幫助學生開展不同形式的論文撰寫,突出實踐性和應用性。一是引導學生在大學期間積極寫作,爭取在省級及以上刊物公開。凡是在本學科省級(含以上)刊物發表文章、譯文的,且文章字數與畢業論文字數相當(約5000字),無論文章使用的語言是中文還是英文,只要在答辯前出刊,均可直接參與全英文答辯。選擇公開的同學在開題時填寫《本科畢業設計計劃書》,內容要素與畢業論文開題報告書有較大不同,內容有“擬撰寫字數”、“論文內容概要”、“擬發表刊物等級”和“進程安排”等方面。計劃書通過后,在論文指導老師的引導下,完成論文的撰寫與發表,最后經學院學術委員會審定能達到畢業論文要求的,允許參與答辯。二是鼓勵翻譯專業的學生從事翻譯實踐并撰寫翻譯體會。翻譯專業的人才培養目標是培養能熟練使用翻譯工具,能夠勝任不同文體文本的筆譯、口譯工作的應用型高級專門人才。由此可見,翻譯是畢業生必備的技能,鼓勵學生從事翻譯實踐無疑具有很強的職業預備性。翻譯資料的方式可以是中譯英,也可以是英譯中,原始翻譯資料的總字數需達到3000字以上。譯文被公司采納的學生,需結合翻譯實踐撰寫2000字左右的全英文論述文章,經論文指導老師審定合格后,可以憑借書面的采納證明申請參與全英文答辯,答辯時還需提供翻譯原件和譯稿。選擇從事翻譯實踐的同學在開題時填寫《本科畢業設計計劃書》,計劃書的內容要素有翻譯類型選擇“英譯中/中譯英”、翻譯字數選擇“1500字漢譯英+1500字英譯漢/3000字漢譯英/3000字英譯漢”、“擬翻譯的內容概要”和“翻譯公司的相關信息”(需提供相關證明材料)。三是提倡商務英語專業的學生開展市場調查并撰寫調研報告。商務英語專業的人才培養目標是培養能在國際環境中熟練使用英語從事經貿、管理、金融等領域商務工作的應用型高級專門人才。而近年來對畢業生就業開展的跟蹤調查表明:有相當一部分畢業生會從事與市場有關的工作。因此本項目提倡學生結合專業實習撰寫有關的調研文章或論述文章,且字數、文章質量與畢業論文相當時,經審定能達到畢業論文要求的,視為完成畢業論文,最后參與全英文答辯。在此過程中,選擇撰寫調研報告的同學在開題時填寫《本科畢業論文(設計)開題報告》,與撰寫普通學術論文相同,但要求學生通過制定調查問卷,收集下翔實的數據,文中就調查問卷所取得的數據進行統計分析,得出相關結論,且調查問卷需附在正文之后,供答辯小組成員參考。四是幫助英語專業的學生從事跨文化比較研究。根據人才培養方案的要求,英語專業的學生需具有較強的英語語言運用能力和跨文化交際能力,因此,通過適度的問卷調查從事跨文化比較研究也是比較貼近實際、提升學生語言運用能力的手段之一。對三屆畢業生的選題進行分析發現,在導師的指導下,大量學生從事跨文化比較研究,類似的選題如:《英漢廣告幽默文化對比》《中美災難文化價值觀異同》《中美商務談判文化風格差異對比》和《中美企業文化差異對比》等。事實上,這些選題被學生認為易于撰寫,并且完成得較好。五是告知學生還可用反映本科畢業研究水平的其他形式替代畢業論文的撰寫。其他與專業相關的創新設計,字數、質量與畢業論文相當,經審定達到畢業論文要求的形式均可由學生開展。如與在省級(含以上)刊物公開相當的有主持或者參與省級大學生創新項目;與參與翻譯實踐相當的有參加省級(含以上)口、筆譯大賽并獲獎;通過國家級職業資格證書考試等等。視具體情況,由學生提出申請,學院學術委員會討論通過,經審定合格的,均可視為達到畢業論文的水平。
(二)研究結果
1.改革實踐數據統計。2013級305名畢業生中,有4人參與了翻譯實踐,占畢業人數的1.3%。2014屆200名畢業生中,共有42人參與畢業論文改革實踐。其中7人在公開刊物,占畢業人數的3.5%;35人從事翻譯實踐,占畢業人數的17.5%。參與畢業論文改革實踐的學生總體比例為21%。2015屆290名畢業生中,共有66人參與畢業論文改革實踐,其中2人在公開刊物上發表文章,占畢業人數的0.6%,51人從事翻譯實踐,占畢業人數的17.6%,15人進行調查研究,占畢業人數的5%,參與畢業論文改革實踐的學生總體比例為23.3%。三年的數據表明,參與畢業論文改革實踐的學生絕對人數及比例呈逐年上升趨勢。2.問卷調查數據分析。由于2015屆為學院迄今為止畢業生人數較多、參與畢業論文改革人數最多的年級,故選擇作為本次問卷調查的對象。問卷以不定項選擇題和開放式問答題的形式,就“獨立學院的大學生有無必要完成畢業論文?”,“畢業論文撰寫方面遇到何種問題?”,以及“最希望以何種形式完成畢業論文?”等十項內容進行調查。經過對調查問卷收集的數據進行分析發現:學生普遍承認完成畢業論文是必要的、的確有利于綜合素質的培養、也有利于科研能力的提升,并且對于英語表達能力的培養也有明顯幫助;但資料貧乏、科研經驗不足、語言表達跟不上和難以創新凸顯了教學與檢測的不對接。絕大部分學生認為現有的畢業論文形式的確需要進行改革,要實現教學內容與畢業檢測的全面對接;有學生認為實踐能力遠比科研能力重要,學校需要對所開的專業課程進行相應改變以對接畢業論文改革。且不論學生看問題有無偏頗,從對人才培養方案的考察來看,學生要求教學內容與畢業檢測對接的要求無疑是正確的。3.有待解決的問題。研究中反饋的問題包括三個方面:第一,在省級(含以上)刊物公開的學生均是使用中文撰寫,雖然答辯時使用的是英文,但并不能完全說明其使用英文撰寫畢業論文的能力也達到了相應的水平。是否要求學生在省級(含以上)刊物發表全英文的文章還有待進一步商榷。第二,根據論文指導老師的反饋,從事翻譯實踐的同學所翻譯的譯文初稿水平并不能達到相應要求,都需要指導老師的大力修改方能達到公司期望的水準。雖說在反復修改的過程中,學生的翻譯能力也會因此而提高,但指導老師認為譯稿的最終水平并非學生真實翻譯能力的體現。如果委托公司借此聘用學生擔任正式的翻譯,日后在無教師指導下的翻譯水平能否保證還有待考證。第三,暫時還未對反映本科畢業研究水平的其他形式進行實踐研究,也沒有學生提出相關置換申請。課題組成員認為,畢業檢測的形式應該沒有窮盡。從研究的結果中發現,對于以“應用型”作為人才培養主要目標之一的獨立學院的英語類專業學生而言,雖然更看重自身實踐能力的培養,但恰當的科研對于提高其綜合的語言能力和研究能力有著不可或缺的作用。有關教學與檢測對接問題的探索,不僅需要在課程設置方面開展研究,也需要在畢業論文的撰寫形式方面積極改革,更需要對不同形式的畢業檢測進行利弊分析,力爭使教學過程與教學檢測相一致,理論學習與實踐應用相一致,在校學習與求職就業相一致,最終實現畢業論文撰寫形式多樣化、方式合理化、效果顯著化的目標,提高獨立學院的本科人才培養質量。
【參考文獻】
[1]郭慶,黃運婷.英語專業本科畢業論文改革的研究與實踐[J].太原師范學院學報(社會科學版),2013(3).
[2]奚道同,等.民辦高校畢業論文(設計)改革方向研究[J].山西財經大學學報,2013,35(1).
[3]王淼.獨立學院英語專業本科畢業論文、實習、就業一體化模式探索[J].海外英語,2014(6).
一、引言
畢業論文在英語專業人才培養過程中起著至關重要的作用。《高等學校英語專業英語教學大綱》強調,“畢業論文是考察學生綜合能力、評估學業成績的一個重要方式。”[1]11教育部“關于加強普通高等學校畢業設計(論文)工作的通知”(教高廳[2014]14號)也指出,“畢業論文是培養大學生的創新能力、實踐能力和創業精神的重要實踐環節,也是學生畢業與學位資格認證的重要依據。”因此,“各校要加強對學生撰寫畢業論文的指導和評審,使之對學生真正有所裨益,防止流于形式。”[1]11應用型本科院校以應用型人才培養為目標,為畢業論文選題和寫作提供了明確的導向。教育部2012年的《本科教學水平合格評估標準》進一步指出,文科專業的畢業論文要有50%左右的選題與實踐性、應用性掛鉤,該標準為應用型本科院校的畢業論文提出了具體的指標。本文以濱州學院英語專業2014—2016屆的畢業論文為研究對象,系統分析畢業論文中存在的問題,并提出相應對策,以提升應用型人才培養目標下英語專業畢業論文質量。
二、存在的問題
《大綱》規定“畢業論文一般應用英語撰寫,長度為3000~5000個單詞,要求文字通順、思路清晰、內容充實,有一定的獨立見解。評分時除了考慮語言表達能力外,還應把獨立見解和創新意識作為重要依據。”[1]11筆者以此為標準,對英語專業2014—2016屆的畢業論文進行系統分析,發現主要存在以下問題:
(一)論文選題不當,缺乏新意,應用性不強畢業論文選題要適中,最好能夠做到“小題大做”,而部分論文選題過大過泛,沒有研究焦點,根本無法完成,如“莎士比亞詩歌研究”;選題不能緊跟本專業研究前沿,過于陳舊,缺乏新意,如對顏色詞的研究、英語習語跨文化比較等;有些選題與英語專業沒有密切關系,相差甚遠,如“中美婚姻觀的比較”;有些選題未達到嚴格意義上“一人一題,不得重題”的要求,如“任務型教學法在初中英語詞匯教學中的應用”和“任務型教學法在高中英語詞匯教學中的應用”;實踐性和應用性的選題比例不高,與50%的目標存在一定的差距。
(二)寫作基本功不扎實,語言表達能力不夠強畢業論文寫作屬于學術論文寫作,需要較扎實的寫作基本功和較高的語言表達能力,而大多數畢業論文在語言表達上都存在這樣那樣的問題,主要體現在專業術語不準確,書面語和口語混合使用,文字不通順、表達不準確,漢式英語較多,串句、主謂不一致、結構不完整、懸垂現象、搭配錯誤等語法錯誤時有出現,甚至還有單詞拼寫錯誤、首字母大小寫錯誤等細節問題。
(三)論文思路不清,邏輯混亂,思辨缺席畢業論文是學生圍繞研究問題形成的一個立論正確、結構合理、思路清晰、邏輯性強、論證合理的語篇,而多數畢業論文思路不清、邏輯混亂、結構松散、論點不清、論證乏力,思辨缺席現象較為嚴重。黃源深指出思辨缺席對畢業論文的影響,“在二三十篇論文中難得有一兩篇像樣的,大多數論文都有這樣那樣的問題,往往論文的題目就暴露出很多思維上的負面信息。”[2]12
(四)體例不夠統一,格式不夠規范畢業論文屬于正式文體,需要按照規定的體例和規范撰寫,以顯示其嚴謹性和規范性。有些學生沒有意識到體例和格式的重要性,不注重論文寫作規范,隨心所欲地撰寫,體例和格式較為混亂,主要體現在參考書目沒有按照學校規定的APA格式撰寫,文內引文格式混用,標題首字母大小寫不恰當,字體、字號、行間距不符合規范,中英文標點符號混用等方面。
三、對策
(一)加強畢業論文選題指導,增設專業選修課程,建設論文選題庫,多渠道拓寬選題范圍。英語專業選題范圍較廣,主要包括語言學、文學、文化、教學、跨文化交際和翻譯等方面,指導教師應該加強選題指導,避免題目過大、過泛和過舊。增設專業選修課程,擴寬學生視野,便于學生擴寬選題范圍。另外,可以根據歷年選題情況,結合指導教師專業特長,建設畢業論文選題庫,供學生選題參考。最為重要的是,可將畢業論文選題與指導教師承擔的各類教科研項目、畢業實習、大學生研究訓練項目、大學生創業計劃和大學生學科競賽等相結合,更好地體現畢業論文的應用性和實踐性。
(二)改革和完善專業課程體系,建設畢業論文課程群,做到英語寫作四年不斷線,夯實學生寫作基本功。語言表達能力是英語專業學生的基本能力。莊智象曾指出,“既然稱之為英語專業,那么對學生的英語語言能力方面應該有更高的要求。我認為這是英語專業學生基本的、首要的要求,怎么強調都不為過,而目前更顯得必要。”[3]216而英語寫作能力的培養絕非一朝一夕之事,是個循序漸進的過程,僅靠“學術論文寫作”這門課程遠遠不夠,需要調整專業課程體系,建設畢業論文課程群(包括英語基礎寫作、英語高級寫作、英語語法、英語修辭和學術論文寫作等課程),做到英語寫作四年不斷線,夯實學生寫作基本功,提高學生語言表達能力,為能夠寫出高質量的畢業論文打下堅實的語言基礎。
(三)注重培養學生的思辨能力,增強學生的創新意識,不斷加強學生思維能力和創新能力的培養。錢寧指出,“我國高校英語專業本科生畢業論文寫作中存在的根本問題之一在于學生的思維方式不合理。”[4]103因此,方瓊強調“高校英語專業應重視學生思辨能力的培養,將其放在和傳授知識、培養技能同等重要的位置。”[5]91要培養和提高學生的思辨能力,應該調整英語專業的課程結構,增加英語演講、英語辯論等課程;任課教師應該更新教學理念,改變教學方法,課內加強邏輯思維訓練;堅持“本科生導師制”,鼓勵學生參與教師科研項目,高質量撰寫學年論文,增強學生的科研意識,提高學生分析問題和解決問題的能力;另外,鼓勵和支持學生參加英語沙龍、專題討論和英語演講、英語辯論、英語寫作等各類學科競賽,增強學生的創新意識,不斷培養學生的思維能力和創新能力。
(四)加強論文指導教師隊伍建設,強化過程管理,確保畢業論文的質量。畢業論文質量是學生專業水平和創新能力的體現,更是指導教師學術視野和學術水平的體現,所以《高等學校畢業設計(論文)指導手冊(外語卷)》指出,“高校外語專業的畢業論文寫作是衡量、評估高校外語專業教學質量和水平的重要內容之一。”[6]3論文指導教師的水平直接影響到畢業論文的質量,應遴選具有豐富科研經驗和實際指導經驗的教師擔任指導教師,加強對學生文獻檢索與搜集、選題、開題答辯、初稿、二稿、定稿和畢業答辯各個環節的指導,尤其是文獻檢索與搜集、研究方法、數據統計和數據分析方面的指導,強化論文寫作過程的動態管理,確保畢業論文質量。另外,還需要規范畢業論文管理制度,優化畢業論文管理流程,健全畢業論文管理方式,提高畢業論文工作效率。畢業論文教材建設也是指導教師需要考慮的問題。張春芳曾指出,“英語畢業論文寫作教材建設有待加強,目前國內關于學術論文(包括畢業論文)寫作的中英文編著至少有20部,但是教師們仍然抱怨難以選到合適的教材。因此,指導教師要以應用型人才培養為導向,結合本校畢業論文的相關規定,編寫符合專業特點、操作性和實踐性強的畢業論文教材。
四、結語
畢業論文是英語專業人才培養的重要組成部分,而應用型人才培養為英語專業畢業論文提出了更高的要求。本文以濱州學院為例,探討了應用型本科院校英語專業畢業論文存在的問題,主要體現在論文選題、語言表達、思辨能力和格式規范四個方面,并針對這些問題提出了相應的對策,以期為應用型本科院校英語專業畢業論文工作提供參考,實現應用型英語人才培養目標。
參考文獻:
[1]高等學校外語專業教學指導委員會英語組.高等學校英語專業英語教學大綱[Z].北京:外語教學與研究出版社,2000.
[2]黃源深.英語專業課程必須徹底改革—再談“思辨缺席”[J].外語界,2010,(1):11-16.
[3]莊智象.外語教育名家談[M].上海:上海外語教育出版社,2008.
[4]錢寧.淺析高校加強思維訓練的重要性—以英語專業畢業論文寫作為例[J].西北成人教育學報,2014,(4):100-103.
[5]方瓊.英語專業本科生畢業論文中的思辨缺席[J].湖北第二師范學院學報,2013,(12):90-92.
中圖分類號:G642.0 文獻標志碼:A 文章編號:1674-9324(2013)22-0196-03
長期以來英語教學的目標和方法一直是我國大學英語,尤其是專業英語教學所探討的一個問題。多年以來的應試教育已經給受教育者留下了難以學以致用的問題。不少人拿到四、六級證書依然不能跟外國人交流,不能用英文寫作,成了一個語言的拿證者卻無法動筆動嘴的“人才”(林莉蘭,2006)!已有一些從事英語教學與教育的工作者專門討論過這方面的問題(田強等,2006;王曉軍,2005;張翼翼,2006;賈國棟,2006;周爽等2006)。本文根據我院這幾年來在專業英語和專業課雙語教學的教學實踐,尤其是讓工科本科生用英語進行畢業論文寫作和進行論文答辯的實踐教學嘗試,從英語教學延伸和應用的實效性角度探討了如何檢驗大學英語教學的效果,如何確定英語教學目標,以及實現這種目標的方法。我們中國地質大學(北京)能源學院一直在專業英語和雙語教學的手段和實效性方面進行著探討。2004年我院獲得了學校在“工科教學基地”項目上的資助。為配合國家在石油領域“走出去”的可持續發展戰略、培養具有英語實用水平的工科本科畢業生也成了我院教學工作的一個重要任務和目標。我們利用我院大部分教師都有在國外留學、進修和培訓方面的經歷這個優勢,積極開展了密切結合專業的專業英語和雙語教學的教學實踐。我們鼓勵用先進的教學理念進行大膽實踐,積累教學經驗。在2006屆部分工科畢業生中讓部分同學用英語進行論文寫作和答辯,通過導師的指導,試圖將其作為專業英語和雙語教學在專業實踐方面的延伸。這樣做,一方面是希望通過用英語進行論文的撰寫和答辯提高同學們英文應用水平,另一方面也為同學們畢業后進入企業或科研崗位、甚至走出國門打下良好的基礎。在這次試點中我們在我院資源勘查工程和石油工程兩個專業選取了幾名優秀學生,從畢業論文寫作到答辯全程采用英語。這對學生提出了比較高的要求,要求學生比較熟練或基本掌握專業英語的語法、專業詞匯、寫作技巧和寫作規范等多方面的知識。當然,表達能力也能在答辯的過程中得到充實和提高,對話能力在提問過程中也能實踐、發揮和檢驗。從論文寫作和答辯的結果來看,這次嘗試是成功的。這幾名同學論文的寫作用詞和語法正確,論文宣讀及回答問題都比較清晰流利。同學們和指導教師都從中受到了鼓舞,說明我院的專業英語和雙語教學取得了明顯的成效。歸納起來,這幾年來我們在專業英語和雙語教學實踐中做法、嘗試以及同學們的反饋包括以下幾個方面。
一、專業英語和雙語課教材
在我院的專業英語和專業課“雙語教學”實踐中,學院要求在國際通用性的專業課方面應盡量使用外文原版教材,采取多種方式使用外文教材。如專業英語課在教材選用上的做法是從國外的原版教科書上找到適合同學英文能力的相關文章進行講授;環境地質學和現代試井分析雙語課使用了原版的英文教材。
二、授課方法
專業英語授課過程中不是滿堂灌,而是讓同學自己閱讀翻譯和講解,一方面可以檢測同學是否預習,另一方面發現同學們在哪些方面存在理解有誤的地方,再有重點、有針對性地進行講解。這種方法效果較好,既激發了同學們學習專業英語的興趣,同時也在實踐中提升和改進了我們的專業英語教學法。在環境地質學和油藏工程這兩門課雙語教學中,老師以中文和英文交叉、結合進行綜合講解,讓所有同學參與到教學中來。讓同學們上臺用英語講解自己的觀點和見解,大家對一些有爭議的問題共同用英語討論,共同學習。在實踐過程中幫助同學們克服了在眾人面前講英語的恐懼心理。在交流溝通過程中英語聽說能力得到了提高。這種教學過程是實踐“課堂教學應以學生為中心”的教學理念的有效形式。
三、雙語課在提高學生學習英語興趣和水平中的作用
有的同學說,起初對雙語教學就有幾分好奇,而在剛接觸到雙語教學課程時,沒想到卻有些不適應,在經過一段時間的學習之后,發現雙語教學比一般的外語教學更能激發興趣,至少與普通外語教學相比是這樣的。雙語教學在我院還正在全面展開,可以說現階段還是處在嘗試階段,但我們確實能體會到它的可行性、有效性和必要性。有的同學還說,大學四年的學業已結束,總感覺以前的外語課還沒能使我們的聽說讀寫能力加強多少,反倒是在接受過雙語教學之后,發現自己的外語水平有很大提高,課堂上的師生互動使我們敢于用英語和他人進行交流。
四、用英文進行畢業論文寫作的作用
用英文進行畢業論文寫作能讓學生更多的掌握英語的實用知識,可以提高學生學習英語的積極性。與普通的英語學習不同,畢業設計關乎學生的學士學位,學生對它的重視程度會大大提高,特別是專業英語知識。用英文進行畢業論文寫作涉及到英語知識的方方面面,從單詞的詞義到句法的運用,再到成篇構思甚至語言的概括表達。寫作的過程就是英語知識的再現和學習效果的過程,也就是提高英語水平的實踐過程。同學們說在畢業論文的外國文獻翻譯過程中,深刻地感受到了專業英語的重要性。盡管我國的科技水平提高得很快,但是在石油工程領域,我國的科技水平仍與國外的先進水平有一定的差距,所以,客觀上要求同學們現在和以后不得不有直接閱讀外文專業文獻的能力,從國外先進的技術中找到我們需要的知識,為我們的國家服務。
五、用英語進行畢業論文答辯的作用
答辯材料的準備和臺上的演講,這些都需要較高的口語能力,經歷了這次答辯,不僅提高了口語的表達能力,最重要的是同學們有了勇氣去說出英語,這是最大的收獲,也是同學們學習語言的最終目的――交流。用英語進行答辯的目標和過程對于提高學生交際能力和綜合應用語言能力有重要意義。
六、專業英語與就業的關系
隨著我國改革開放程度的不斷加深,以及中國加入了世界貿易組織,大量的國外企業涌入中國投資,設立公司,而英語是國際公認的通用語言,因此需要大量雙語人才。同學們已注意到在這一屆的畢業生找工作的時間段內,越來越多的外國或外資企業也來到我們學校召開宣講會,希望可以招聘到合適的有能力的畢業生加入他們的公司。招聘的第一道門檻就是英語能力,這恰恰是我們過去的軟肋。還有石油領域的國有企業進軍海外的石油開發項目越來越多,同樣需要大量懂英語的大學畢業生。同學們說“既然這方面的缺口這么大,我們更應該提高我們的英語能力,這既是對市場需求的響應,同時使我們以后的就業前景更光明更廣闊”。我們認為大學英語教學目標,不是過四、六級英語考試,而是“可以用英文進行畢業論文寫作和答辯”。這個目標里面自然包含了“聽、說”能力,并且體現了學生綜合應用英語的能力。專業英語和專業課雙語教學是實現這個教學目的的有效手段。實踐中可對低年級同學較早提出這個目標來引起他們在思想上的重視,從而通過綜合效應實現大學英語教學水平的提高。當然,目前還只是少數同學具備這樣培養的條件。
鳴謝:本文在成文過程中得到了我校長宣教授的指點和幫助,深表謝意。
參考文獻:
[1]林莉蘭.大學英語口語教學芻議[J].中國高等教育,2006,(5).
[2]田強,李潔紅,李小紅.略論英語教育與幾種基本教育概念的關系[J].科教論壇,2006,(1).
[3]田強.關于我國英語教育的“應試教育”模式的反思[J].科教論壇,2006,(1).
[4]王曉軍.貫徹“大學英語課程教學要求”提高英語教學質量[J].中國地質教育,2005,(1).
1 畢業論文要求科學性
無論是自然科學還是社會規律,必須根據科學研究這個總的任務,對研究的對象進行探討,揭示規律。是科學的,經得起推敲的,獨到見解也是建立在科學的基礎上的。必須從客觀實際出發,從中引出符合實際的結論,不得帶有個人的好惡和偏見。在論據上作者必須經過周密的觀察、實驗或者閱讀、思考。
2 畢業論文要求創見性
科學研究的任務是對新的知識的探求,在綜合別人研究的成果的基礎上去發現別人沒有發現過或者沒有涉及過的問題。科學研究的任務本身就決定了它必須去探索規律,必須實事求是。科學研究本身又蘊涵了創見性,就是在綜合別人研究成果的基礎上去發現別人沒有發現過或者沒有涉及過的問題。要有獨到的見解,要發現一個新的創見。
3 畢業論文要求專業性
我們不同專業領域里的畢業生可以根據自己平時的積累和愛好選擇題目,基本上都是在自己的專業領域內。不要離開自己的專業去寫別的跨專業的。
4 畢業論文要求通俗性
盡管我們要求論文的專業性,但語言要求通俗,這樣便于傳播和交流。
二、畢業論文的選題原則
1 要選擇有科學價值的問題,要選擇亟待解決的課題,減少選題的盲目性。
2 利用靈感來選題
看別人的評論過程中打開自己的思路,進行選題。在你看書、觀察或思考的過程中,你會發現這個角度我可以深入下去。考慮選題的大小、難易度和利用自己的靈感思維來選題。
三、畢業論文的寫作
1 圍繞著論題去占有和選擇材料。
首先要進行寫作前的準備工作。先要圍繞著論題去占有和選擇材料。也就是說,當你的論題已經確定以后,圍繞著立論去占有材料,多多益善的去看。積累材料,再有論點。要對研究對象的外延材料占有。在有材料的基礎上要選擇材料。材料多的情況下,你就選更好的材料。
2 選擇論文的類型
畢業論文的類型一是學術性論文,二是報告性論文。應用性比較少的科目來說比較容易做成學術型論文,應用性比較強的學科,論文一般寫成調查性的或總結性的報告型論文。論文類型的選擇,主要是看論文的對象。如果是宏觀的,我們就用綜述性的描述:如果是微觀的,涉及到某一個具體作家作品或某一個問題,我們就選擇論述性的。
3 要擬訂論文的寫作提綱
如果沒有完整的寫作提綱的話,邏輯思維就會出現偏差。把一個個提綱羅列出來,羅列出來以后看一下,總論點是什么,分論點是什么,圍繞著總論點有幾個分論點,分論點列出來了以后,一定要注意以綱帶目。提綱、材料等出來以后,就可以進行論文寫作了。
4 開始寫論文的時候,要注意標題擬制
論文的標題擬制,一般是兩個標題。如果是一個標題不太容易駕馭。一個標題往往是比較宏觀一些。當然也可以用正標題來表示論題的觀點,副標題表示研究的對象。題目擬制好了以后,論文還要注意要寫摘要,把整個論文的主要內容說一下。在論文的扉頁上,先是題目,題目下面是摘要。論文提要主要交代清楚選題的背景、理由,論文的觀點和價值,簡明扼要的揭示出來,便于讀者(主要是導師、評委、編輯等)即使不閱讀全文就可以獲得最重要的信息。一般宇數不超過全文的5%.在摘要下面要有關鍵詞。關鍵詞把論文的主要觀點用3到5個詞提取出來。
5 論文的格式
論文的規格:正文長度800-2,000單詞。使用的語言:英語論文正文部分:
(1)題目大寫,三號字,新時代羅馬宇,大寫下面可寫一個附標題,4號字;
(2)作者名,5號字,班級,學號
(3)指導教師名,5號字,職稱
(4)摘要:300字左右,5號字,英文一頁,中文一頁
(5)關鍵詞:不能用專有名詞,詞與詞之間空四格,不加標點符號
(6)正文:用5號字,大部分標題用5號字黑體、小部分、小小部分。大部分用羅馬字,小不分用一般數字符號。
(7)參考文獻(Bibliog raphy):先英文,后中文,作者名,文章名,書刊名,出版社,地點,出版年月,
6 畢業論文質量標準
(1)選題恰當、與畢業生的知識水平與認識能力相當:
(2)內容豐富、資料翔實、論證充分有力.
(3)敘述清楚、層次清晰而豐富,