Abstracts of Major Papers in This Issue

College English Needs Analysis from the Perspective of Dynamic System Theory,

by YU Jie & LI Dongqing, p.4

The previous studies neglect the dynamics and non-linearity of the elements in the needs analysis system. From the perspective of dynamic system theory, this paper proposes a new model of needs analysis. Since language development is considered as a dynamic system, needs analysis of language course should study the initial state, the target state, state variables of the system, input variables which can influence the system changes and the dynamic relationship between state variables and input variables.

A Study on Applied Technology University English Course Reform Based on CEFR

by HAN Yinghuan & GAO Linlin & BIAN Kepan & GE Zhongqiang, p.17

With the transformation from local newly-established universities to applied technological universities, their English courses reforms are facing great challenges. This article will discuss the theoretical framework of CEFR, discover the problems of English courses of local newly-established universities and discuss the applied technological English course reforms in terms of English benchmarks, curriculums, teaching modes, English practical abilities and evaluations.

On the Negative Transfer of English Loan-words in Chinese in English Vocabulary Teaching

HAN Yan, p.22

The negative transfer from mother tongue is not only syntactical, but also lexical. English loanwords in Chinese, for example, can cause such negative transfer on ESL learners, though they are borrowed from English language and with certain alien language and cultural patterns, because they are essentially different from English vocabulary and have to follow the general rules of Chinese language. The negative transfer of these loan-words can cause the confusion and interference in English vocabulary in terms of sound, grammar and meaning. In teaching English words, teachers should be aware of and prevent from the negative transfer of interfering knowledge and at the same time try to develop the positive transfer of effective knowledge so as to avoid this interference.

An Educational Ecology Study of College English Listening and Speaking Teaching,

by HAN Feihu, p.29

Educational ecology indicates holism which regards the entire education activities as an organic system. The students, the teacher, the teaching equipments and the teaching process are all considered as basic factors in the system. The theory advocates promoting rational flowing among the various factors to achieve teaching objectives. It is very significant for college English teachers to contemplate the relationship among these various factors, put the principles of the theory into teaching practice, promote English teaching innovation and improve teaching effectiveness.

Research on English-Writing Textbooks for English Majors at Polytechnics from the Perspective of

Cognitive Processing Theory

by GUO Shixiang, p.110

Textbooks, as one of the important elements for the teaching effects, students’ training aim and quality are the main carrier and means for the teachers to realize their teaching objectives. The paper analyzes the problems of currently-used textbooks from these aspects: textbook users, compiling stylesand contents, based on 31 popular English writing textbooks used at Polytechnics as research subjects. Some positive ideas about compiling English writing textbooks on the basis of Feuerstein’s theory are also put forward in the paper so as to effectively improve the textbook quality and English teaching reform at Polytechnics.

The Pragmatic Functions of Hermeneutic Increments in Coleridge’s Conversation Poems——A

Case Study on The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

by WANG Junhan, p.136

In Coleridge’s conversation poems, there are two common phenomena: a speaker often gives detailed descriptions and complementary explanations to the previous utterance and the author tends to repair the previous text. Frank Kermode believed that these phenomena could be taken as hermeneutic increment, which shares many similarities with conversational increment Schegloff has defined. With reference to analysis of pragmatic increment of conversational increment, this paper takes the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as an example to analyze the pragmatic functions of hermeneutic increment in Coleridge’s conversation poems and finds that hermeneutic increments in this poet perform both the didactic function of moral education and the function of maintaining good interpersonal relations.

Lao She’s Narrative Art—Analysis of Point of View in Mao Chengji and its Translation

by WENLijuan, p.156

Mao Chengji, nominated as the Nobel Literature Prize, is a sarcastically alien science fiction written by Lao She in 1932. This thesis takes Narratology as the theoretical basis to analyze Mao Chengji from point of view, so that the narrative strategies in Mao Chengji can be well represented. Moreover, this thesis makes contrastive analysis of two translations of Mao Chengji to study different means taken by the two translators to represent the shifts of points of view.

Xu Yuanchong’s Three Aesthetic Pursuits in His Translated Work of Romance of Western Bower

ZHAO Xia & GE Mingyong & ZHANG Shunsheng, p.160

This paper aims to study the translation strategies in Prof. Xu Yuanchong’s Romance of Western Bower; an English translated version of Xi Xiang Ji based on his theory of the Three Aesthetic Pursuits. Meanwhile, it also systematically compares, analyses and summarizes the translation strategies by making a comparison between the Chinese original work and Xu’s English translated work. The paper holds that Prof. Xu Yuanchong’s translated version, which dwarfs the others with dazzling attainments, is the model of his theory of the Three Aesthetic Pursuits. Many thought-provoking merits in it are well worth reference for those who are engaged in translation and those who are fond of translation works.

An Application of Creative Translation to Ancient Chinese Poetry by Kenneth Rexroth,

by YAOQiaomei, p.166

Kenneth Rexroth is a very famous poet and translator in modern American society, whose poems are deeply influenced by ancient Chinese poetry. His translation works are regarded as one of the most successful classic translation works in the 20th century. His works are characterized by strong poetic situation, sincere emotions, clear images and graceful language, which is rich in artistic charm. The secret of his success lies in the reason that he is good at using creative translation strategies, adopting the English verse of free style to translate the Chinese poetry by his own understanding and explanation to represent the spirit and the poetic situation of the original verse with his translations.