为了让阅读者能高效且有效地理解并吸收本篇文字，咱们预先设定阅读背景三条，以谋求共识。具体内容如下：

1、近义词辨析是基于他们的交集意思进行辨析，而非他们的其他不相关意思。

2、近义辨析很难，尤其是跨语言的近义辨析。因为翻译就是一个信息衰减的过程，所以请阅读者在进行近义辨析时，多结合生活中的实际场景去思考、体会和理解。

3、近义词辨析不仅能学习到相关词汇知识，而且在辨析过程中，也是对其他相关知识的一种梳理、重构和查缺补漏。

言归正传，今天的主题是【Classification, Class, Categorization, Category】之间的联系与差异。



1


基本概念

想要区分【Classification, Class, Categorization, Category】这几个单词之间的差异，就得先设定一些参考基准线，而这几个单词之间的差异就围绕这些基准线展开。只有这样，我们才能察觉出他们之间的细微差异。

一般来说，各位看官需要先阅读下述的基本概念，再通过数个例句营造的语境来体会、理解词汇的核心意思，最后再通过差异对比才能真正理解词汇之间的细微不同。

当然，如果你觉得这些内容都没必要，则可以跳到本篇的最后小节，直接阅读词汇之间的差异对比。

一、基本概念

  • 由于Type, Class, Category 这几个词的意思非常相近，为了避免混淆，故在本篇文字中的大部分情况下，他们都不做翻译，保持英语原貌。如果非要在汉语中，找几个对应的词，那最有可能入选的应该是类型、类目、类别。

  • 在此篇文字，为了区别【Category】与【Classification】两者，【Classification】被翻译成了【类目体系】，与前一篇不同。不过，他们的实质，其实都是一个【类X体系】。【X】代表没法翻译，一翻译就错。

  • 类X体系分支或主干，是指在【classification system】体系中，处在主干位置的较大的类目或类别，其下还有较明细的类目或类型。

2


区别与联系

【Classification, Class, Categorization, Category 】这几个词，他们每一个都有多种用法。本篇文字讨论的是他们之间的交集意思，也就是他们之间最容易被混淆的地方，而非全面地阐述每一个单词的每一种用法。

一、Classification

【Classification】的核心意思：专业的，系统性分类过程，及结果。而且这种分类常应用于正式语境中的事物分类，强调事物的类别体系，以及层级间的等级或高下，以及一定范围内的共识性，及相对客观性。

1、专业的，系统性分类过程

  • Difficulties of classification at the species level are considerable.     分类的难度可想而知（considerable）

  • Categories are formed as a result of the classification process. 分类过程

2、类目体系或类别体系

类目体系的全称应是【classification system】，但有时也简称为【classification】

  • In a grocery store, fruits and vegetables form separate categories based on their botanical classification.

  • This hierarchical classification is prevalent across various disciplines, from biology, where living organisms are categorized and typed by traits and genetic makeup, to consumer products, which are categorized by purpose and typed by design or functionality.

  • In earlier classification systems, the organism was divided and classified into two kingdoms that are plants and animals. On these bases, the organisms were classified into five kingdoms, such as Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. 

3、类目体系分支或主干

  • This is a document with the security classification ‘confidential’.    类目体系分支

  • The material was put into the highest security classification.

  • These messages could be said to fall under the classification of ‘abuse’.

  • Electric bikes are in the same classification as mopeds.

  • The classification ‘science’ covers a great many different subjects.

说明：这个意思，最容易与【class】混淆。

二、Class

【Class】的核心意思：基于共同属性而构成的具体层级，强调层级间的等级或高下，以及一定范围内的共识性，及相对客观性

  • Humans belong to the class Mammalia.

  • Have you passed a test for this class of vehicle?   这一类车辆

  • The port now attracts a wealthier class of visitor.

  • The ruling class is/are not going to give up their position without a fight.

  • while many categories can be further subdivided into classes, some may be too broad or general for meaningful subclassification in certain contexts.

三、Classification   vs.   Class   vs.   Categorization

Classification, Class, Categorization, Category 的区别与联系

  • This book belongs to the class of science fiction.   强调具体类目

  • This book falls under the classification of literature and fiction.   强调【类X体系】的分支或主干

  • The old class system is not appropriate in a modern age.    旧的阶级体系（不可数或没法数）

  • This is a society in which class is more important than ability.   由阶级体系，抽象为阶级地位（不可数或没法数）

  • Carolus Linnaeus also developed a classification system called the taxonomic hierarchy   【类X体系】

  • The classification system is continually revised based on new discoveries and research.

  • We argue that any organization with a significant number of projects must have some way of labelling the types of projects they do and that this is, in fact, a categorization system, though possibly an informal one.

说明：有时【classification system】中的【system】可以省略，省略的前提是上下文或语境明确，不会引起歧义。

四、Category

【Category】的核心意思：基于共同属性而构成的层级，强调共性和结构框架（或称大类）

1、类别（共性分类）

  • He competed in the youngest age category.

  • Students over 25 fall into a different category.

  • The results can be divided into three broad categories.

  • His style does not fit easily into the category of jazz.   jazz这个类别

  • Theft is one of the major categories of crime.

2、某种类别中所包含的事物

  • Various categories of goods are on sale.

  • Members of a category are its species.

  • There’s a category of cases that involve good intentions but improper use of the trademarks.   有一类案件（共性），涉及善意但商标使用不当

3、引申意思

  • It was tough sometimes, watching Sasha navigate a world that didn’t even have a category for them.   没有一个粗略的框架  

五、Classification vs. Category

【Category】，一般来说，是指初级大类，而【Classification】是指【类X体系】中的分支或主干。在【类X体系】之中，有时两者可以混用；但如果还未形成【类X体系】之前，一般来说，则常用【Category】，而非【Classification】。

  • An aircraft category refers to the broadest classification of aircraft based on their intended use and operating environment. 

  • In the realm of taxonomy, for example, a category might refer to a broad classification such as ‘animals’ or ‘plants’.

  • The U.S. government uses three levels of classification（类X体系） to designate how sensitive government information is: confidential, secret and top secret.

  • No other categories（类别名称） are to be used to identify official information or material requiring protection in the interest of national security. These classification categories（这些类X体系中的类别） are defined as follows:

  • Top Secret refers to national security information or material which requires the highest degree of protection. The test for assigning Top Secret classification（类X体系分支或主干） is whether its unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.

  • The Kingdom is the broadest category of classification.  类X体系

  • Aircraft category(抽象概念) may refer to three types of categories(具体类别): Pilot Certification Category, Aircraft Certification Category, and Aircraft Approach Category.

  • A category of aircraft is an overarching classification of aircraft. Some categories are further broken down into a ‘class.’ Classes are a way to further distinguish between types of aircraft.   航空器的一个类别，就是航空器的一个类X体系中的分支。一些类别可以被进一步划分为一个类目体系（多个类目）。类目体系（多个类目）是进一步区分各种航空器类型的一种方式。

六、Categorization

【Categorization】的核心意思：非专业性的，非正式性的分类过程，及结果。而且这种分类常应用于非正式语境中的事物分类。

  • Categorization is the act of sorting and organizing things according to group, class, or, as you might expect, category.

  • Another form of categorization is the way libraries shelve their books by subject, genre, and reading level. 

  • We argue that any organization with a significant number of projects must have some way of labelling the types of projects they do and that this is, in fact, a categorization system, though possibly an informal one.

七、Categorization vs. Classification

  • Classification is systematically arranging entities into groups based on shared qualities; categorization is grouping entities based on general common features.

  • Are classification and categorization mutually exclusive? No, they often work together; items can be categorized before being more finely classified.

  • Does categorization require a set system? No, categorization can be more flexible and doesn’t always require a pre-defined system.

3


总 结

一、比较或对比的分析过程最好是直抵核心，差异突出、细节丰富。但实际应用的逻辑则是越精简越好，所以最后的总结只有一条应用逻辑，但细分为两点，内容如下：

1、总原则：【class, classify, classification】强调专业性或正式性，以及一定范围内的共识性，及相对客观性；【category, categorize, categorization】强调非正式性，通常应用于非正式语境下的事物简化。

2、对相关事物进行分类，就是在进行【categorize, classify, type】，过程中产生了一个个具体的【categories, classes, types】，最终形成了【categorization, classification】，而整个分类过程，则称为【categorization, classification】。

3、文字总是抽象，图片一目了然