Ellipsis of the predication in finite clause- 123docz.net

CHAPTER 4. ELLIPSIS IN COMPLEX SENTENCES IN THE NOVEL “GONE WITH THE WIND” IN ENGLISH AND THEIR VIETNAMESE

4.3. English elliptical clauses and its Vietnamese equivalents

4.3.1. Ellipsis of the predication in finite clause

According to Quirk (1985), general ellipsis in the finite clause is similar to general ellipsis in the noun phrase. Typically, the clause is divided into two parts: subject and operator which remain, and predication which is elliptical. In terms of verb, object, complement, and adverbial, the constituent of the elliptical predication can be varied.

39 4.3.1.1. Ellipsis of subject complement

There are seven cases of ellipsis of subject complement identified in the English novel “Gone with the wind” while this number decreases to six cases in Vietnamese equivalents.

Ellipsis of subject complement is one of the constructions of English which requires the verb BE being the operator. The following are some cases of ellipsis of subject complement.

(16) These men wounded in the retreat were not so attractive as the earlier ones had been ▲.(Page. 294)

Bây giờ những người bị thương sau nhiều lần rút lui tơi tả không còn đẹp trai.( page 293)

(17) She was happy those two months, happier than she had been ▲ in yeas.

(Page. 275)

Luôn trong hai tháng nàng sống hân hoan bằng cả mấy năm. (page 277) (18) If you hadn’t been brave enough to do it, I would never have been▲,

either. (Page 184)

Nếu em không có đủ can đảm làm điều đó thì chị cũng không luôn. (Page 186)

As can be seen from these elliptical cases, subject complement ellipsis in complex sentence in the English novel has a great tendency of appearance in comparative structure. By looking at the previous clauses, the readers are likely to understand which elements are omitted, and still understand the author’ implication.

Ellipsis of subject complement can be final ellipsis as in (16) and (18) or medial ellipsis as in (17). This phenomenon can be ellipsis of subject complement alone as in (16) and (18) and ellipsis of subject complement plus adverbial as in (18). In (18) the elliptical elements are both subject complement “brave” and the adverbial “to do it”. Or in the following case, subject complement and adverbial ellipsis are omitted both in English and its translated version.

(19) She would be a lady in the true Southern manner, as her mother had been

▲. (Page 660)

(Nàng sẽ là một phụ nữ quý tộc theo cung cách của người miền Nam như mẹ

nàng) (page 614)

In this sentence, the subject complement “a lady” and the adverbial “in the true Southern manner” in the subordinate clause are both elliptical. This can be

understood by looking back the precedent clause. It is similar to one in Vietnamese equivalents.

In Vietnamese equivalents in translated version, subject complements in most cases are also elliptical. These elements are not repeated and the whole sentence is translated in an appropriate way to be understood by the readers in Vietnamese literature style.

As it is revealed from the following case, the Vietnamese equivalent still keeps the elliptical subject complement in English sentence. In other words, there is no elliptical case in this Vietnamese equivalent.

(20) It would be much more dreadful if I pretended to be sorry, when I wasn’t

▲wouldn’t it? (Pag.749)

(Ghê tởm hay không là khi tôi giả vờ buồn trong khi tôi không một chút buồn, phải vậy không? (page 668)

Subject complement was always found on its own and as a conclusion it can be said that ellipsis of subject complement is classified as a more frequent phenomenon in comparative structure.

4.3.1.2. Ellipsis of adverbial alone

There is only one English elliptical case of adverbial alone the author can be found, and it does not happen in its Vietnamese equivalent.

(21) Having to pretend that her heart was in the grave when it wasn’t ▲.(Page 236)

(…nàng cứ phải làm như tim mình đã được chôn theo chồng trong khi nó vẫn còn đập mau trong lồng ngực.) (page 239)

While in English complex sentence above the adverbial “in the grave” is omitted, It was translated in another way, which is of great literary style and more persuasive.

As analyzed in 4.3.1.1 and in the following part, ellipsis of adverbial often combines with other part in the predication of the clause.

4.3.1.3. Ellipsis of non-finite part of verb

As referred in the theoretical part, non-finite parts of a verb are those that do not indicate number, person or tense, and there are quite many elliptical cases of nonfinite parts of verb collected from the English novel “Gone with the wind”.

Twenty English cases and 19 their Vietnamese equivalents founded are categorized into three sub- groups: the ellipsis of non-finite verb alone, the ellipsis of non-finite verb plus object, and the ellipsis of non-finite verb plus object and adverbial.

41 a. Ellipsis of non-finite part of verb alone

Four elliptical cases non-finite part of verb alone collected from the English novel and only three of them have relevant ellipsis in their Vietnamese equivalents. All the elliptical cases of this type found are considered as final ellipsis.

The following are some cases.

(22) When you’ve been talked about as much as I have ▲, you’ll realize how little it matters. – Page 191.

Khi nào cô bị dị nghị như chính tôi đã bị, cô sẽ ý thức rằng đó là chuyện nhỏ

nhặt. – P135

(23)The wonder is that it’s lasted as long as it has (▲). – Page 236 Lạ một điều sao nó vẫn tồn tại. – Page 239

(24)But if they were suffering as acutely from brutal circumstances as she was(▲) and they were (▲) how could they maintain this air of gaiety and lightness of heart? – Page 593

Nhưng nếu họ đang khốn khổ trước thời buổi khó khăn này như nàng – và

quả là họ đang khố khổ thật- thì tại sao họ lại làm ra vẻ vô tự lự và thoải mái như vậy?

In (22) and (23), the non-finite part of verb which is past participle is omitted alone.

In (22) it is “been told about” and in (23) it is “lasted”; and in their Vietnamese equivalents these are also elliptical.

In (24) the non-finite part of verb, present participle- “suffering” after verb “were”, is elliptical alone. . However, there is a different trend in translation of elliptical element this case. The English non-finite part of verb, “suffering”, which is the lexical verb in Vietnamese, still remain in its Vietnamese equivalent. This makes the sentence more literary and persuasive to the readers.

b. Ellipsis of non-finite part of verb plus object

In comparison to the ellipsis of non-finite part of verb alone, the ellipsis of non- finite part of verb plus object was found in little greater frequency twelve cases and this number stay the same in their Vietnamese equivalents. Some of the typical cases of this kind are mentioned below.

(25) I shan’t attack your precious sister, though I might have (▲) if I’d stayed at the burying-ground. (P. 699)

Tôi không tấn công cô em gái quý giá của cô đâu dù tôi thừ sức. Tôi chỉ

cần đứng nán lại ở nghĩa địa là xong. (P.646)

(26)Though she tried to make herself hate him, tried to be indignant, she couldn’t (▲). (Page 918)

Nàng có muốn thù ghét, giận hờn hắn cũng không thể được. (Page 838) (27) We could mortgage it for enough to pay the taxes, if we had to (▲).

(P.510)

Mình có thể đem cầm thế nó để kiếm tiền trả thuế. (P.490)

(28) I know I’m not a gentleman, in view of the fact that pregnant women do not embarrass me as they should (▲). (P. 667)

Tôi cũng tự biết tôi không phải là người đứng đắn vì tôi không bao giờ bối rối trước một người đàn bà có thai như kẻ khác. (P620)

The ellipsis of non-finite part of verb plus object most happens in various subordinate clauses in complex sentence, namely adverbial clause of manner, of condition, of concessive, and comparison. In addition, it also occurs in the main clause as example (26). In other words, this elliptical case can appear either in subordinate or main clause in complex sentence as long as the clause containing ellipsis comes after the other.

In English complex sentence collected, the elliptical elements can be easily understood basing on the preceding clauses. For instance, in (25) it is not difficult to identify the elliptical element in the concessive clause is “attacked your precious sister” or “tried to make herself hate him, tried to be indignant” in (26), or “pay the text”, or in (27) , or “embarrass me” in (28).

It can be easily seen that although their Vietnamese equivalents seem to contain the respective English ellipsis, the English sentences were translated in another way.

However, it does not affect the purpose of the author, which is to persuade the readers.

c. Ellipsis of non-finite part of verb plus object and adverbial

There are four elliptical cases of non-finite part of verb plus object and adverbial collected from the English novel and at the same time this number is the same as in their Vietnamese equivalents. Let’s analyze some typical cases to understand more.

(29) They would take the horse away from you as quickly as the Yankees would.

(page. 371)

Họ sẽ cướp ngựa của cô còn lẹ tay hơn quân Yankees. (Page. 362)

In (29) “take horses away from you” is the elliptical part of the subordinate clause of comparison. There is a respective omitted part in its Vietnamese equivalent.

(30) Ellen’s tired mouth smile into the tumult as she addressed herself first to her husband, as a wife should▲.(page 68)

Ellen mỉm cười mệt nhọc, giữa tiếng ồn ào đó, bà trả lời câu hỏi của chồng đúng theo bổn phận của người vợ. (page 71)

As can be seen in (30) English sentence the elliptical part in subordinate clause of manner is “address herself to her husband” in which the nonfinite part of verb is

“address”, object is “herself” and “to her husband” is adverbial. It is not difficult to find out the elliptical part basing on the previous clause. Although bearing the same elliptical parts, the Vietnamese equivalent expresses the meaning in another way by adding the noun “bổn phận”. With this, the Vietnamese sentence sound more natural and persuasive.

4.3.1.4. Summary of ellipsis of the predication in finite clauses

What has been analyzed above enhances the Quirk’s viewpoint. Ellipsis of the predication is one of the constructions of English that require operator- support.

All complex sentences containing elliptical cases of this type have operator – support. They may be auxiliary modal verbs, auxiliaries such as do, did, have, has,

… In addition, the elliptical cases of this type can be easily converted basing on the preceding clauses. In terms of translation, most of their Vietnamese equivalents bear the same elliptical elements, only some of them were translated in full sentences.

There are also a small number of cases translated in different ways due to the Vietnamese literary style and the hope to increase the persuasion.

Ellipsis of the predication in finite clause

Types of ellipsis in complex sentences

Ellipsis of head noun alone