摘 要

名物化隐喻是指将一个分句所表示的意义压缩成一个名词短语，用作另一分句中的某一成分。名物化将过程、特征、评价经过隐喻化，使其不再是小句中的过程或修辞语，而是以名词形式体现的参与者。这种隐喻手段对于语篇的正式客观化起着重要的作用。本文主要以韩礼德的系统功能语法理论为背景，探讨名物化隐喻对于英译版《物权法》此类的法律语篇所起到语篇功能，主要包括简化语言、提高信息含量，促进语篇发展、实现语篇衔接，以及使语篇更加正式客观。研究结果强调了名物化隐喻的重要性，以及恰当地发挥它的作用可以更好地实现语篇的正式性和客观性。

关键词：名物化隐喻；英译版《物权法》；系统功能语法；语篇功能

Abstract

Nominalization metaphor refers to the compression of the meaning of a clause into a noun phrase, which is used as a component of another clause. Nominalization metaphorizes the process, quality and evaluation, to make them not the process or rhetoric in clauses, but the participants in the form of nouns. This metaphorical device plays an important role in the formality and objectification of discourse. Based on Halliday's systemic functional grammar theory, this paper explores the text functions of nominalization metaphor in the legal text, the English version of Property Law, including simplifying the language and improving informativeness, promoting text development and realizing coherence, and strengthening the text objectivity and formality. The results of the study emphasize the importance of nominalization metaphor and that properly exerting its function can better realize the formality and objectivity of the legal text.

Key Words: nominalization metaphor; English version of Property Law; systemic functional grammar; textual function

Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Purpose of the study 1

1.2 Significance of the study 1

2 Literature Review 3

2.1 Overview of metaphor and nominalization metaphor 3

2.2 Overview of textual function 6

3 The Textual Functions of Nominalization Metaphor in Legal Texts 8

3.1 A brief introduction to legal language 8

3.2 Compression function 8

3.3 Cohesion function 8

3.4 Objectivity and formality function 9

4 The Textual Functions of Nominalization Metaphor in English Version of Property Law 10

4.1 Simplifying the language and improving informativeness 10

4.2 Promoting text development and realizing coherence 11

4.3 Strengthening the text objectivity and formality 12

5 Conclusion 14

References 15

Acknowledgements 16

Textual Function Analysis of Nominalization Metaphor in English Version of Property Law

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the study

This paper mainly takes the English version of Property Law as an example to explore the function of nominalization metaphor in the whole text, from the perspective of systemic functional linguistics. Based on Halliday's theory of linguistic function, this paper studies the relationship between grammatical structure and semantics from the perspective of grammatical metaphor. Nominalization metaphor usually transforms consistent verbs and adjectives into metaphorical nouns. Nominalization is of great significance to the expression of meaning in clauses and texts, which can make the information structure reassemble. Through the use of nominalization metaphor, the expression of real right law is formal and objective, so that it does not lose the authority of law. Taking this as an example, this paper explores the function and perfection of nominalization metaphor in legal English.

1.2 Significance of the study

The Real Right Law of the People's Republic of China is to safeguard the basic economic system of the country, maintain the order of the socialist market economy, clarify the ownership of property, give full play to its utility, and protect the property rights of the obligee. It is a statute formulated in accordance with Constitution. This law is closely related to people's daily life and shows how to solve the property relationship between people in China's unique institutional environment and social background. This law has great research significance. This paper takes the English version of Property Law as the research object, and studies the law from the perspective of linguistic characteristics. In the process of expressing Chinese laws in English, the nominalization of legal English language needs to be paid more attention to. Nominalization metaphor is an important way to regulate the characteristics of legal English. The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of nominalization metaphor in the English version of Property Law and its textual functions in order to better understand and grasp the phenomenon of nominalization metaphor.

Based on Halliday's theory of functional linguistics, nominalization is the most important form of grammatical metaphor and the way in which human beings reconstruct the empirical world with language. The definition of nominalization is transforming verbs or adjectives into nouns or noun phrases so that nouns or noun phrases can acquire the meaning of verbs or adjectives and then have grammatical function. The use of nominalization metaphor is the main feature and formal style of written English. The correct use of nominalization metaphor can help people express their meaning concisely, accurately and rationally, and embody the formality and authenticity of the style. Legal English fully embodies nominalization metaphor, which makes legal English have a unique stylistic style.