论平行结构在语篇中的修辞功能_平行结构论文

论平行结构在语篇中的修辞功能_平行结构论文

论平行结构在语篇中的修辞功能,本文主要内容关键词为:修辞论文,结构论文,功能论文,语篇中论文,此文献不代表本站观点,内容供学术参考,文章仅供参考阅读下载。

一般来说,写文章都离不开修辞(Figure of speech),Parallelism(平行结构,又称排比结构)是英语修辞上的一种写作技巧,即用类似的语法形式来表达类似的概念。具体地说,平行结构要求当一个句子的某些部分并列使用或由关联词连接时,句子的这些部分必须保持相同的语法结构。

平行结构的显著特点就是对称、排比。依据平行结构对称成分的不同,我们可对其进行以下分类:

1.单词对称

1)India,China,and East Africa are my favorite travel destinations.(名词)

2)Tom skies,bowls,and surfs.(动词)

3)Her husband was witty,intelligent,and experienced.(形容词)

4)The horse jumped quickly and surely over the rail fence.(副词)

5)They had their choice of watching television,going shopping,or eating out.(动名词)

2.短语对称

1)They searched for the books in the living rooms,in the bedroom,and in the garage.(介词短语)

2)To finish school and to get a good job are my ambitions.(不定式短语)

3)I passed my time in the train compartment,eating my lunch and talking with the other passengers.(分词短语)

4)Filling out the marriage license and signing it were the last steps.(动名词短语)

3.从句对称

1)Tom knows that he has to work hard,that the has to earn enough money,and that he has to give up his holidays.(宾语从句)

2)If you leave a note or if you telephone,I will get your message.(状语从句)

3)They are looking for a house that has four bedrooms and that sits on a hillside lot.(定语从句)

平行结构的黄金时代是15、16世纪的“文艺复兴”时期和18世纪的“新古典主义”统治文坛时期,似乎那些时代的人们思考问题的方式就是平行式的、平行结构有以下功能和作用:

1.清晰明了,言简意赅

通过单词、短语或一连串的排比使一个句子或段落的思想内容逐步累进,印象至深,达到高潮,读来铿锵有力,具有很强的感染力。例如:

1)She(Mrs Bennet)was a woman of mean understanding,little information,and uncertain temper.(Jane Austen,Pride and Prejudice).作者用mean understanding(理解力低劣),little information(学识浅陋),uncertain temper(脾气反复无常)三个排比的介短定语勾划出Bennet夫人的可鄙形象,入木三分。

2)Never had Bennet seen such chaos as during the earthquake,windows of storefronts were shattering,streets were splitting open.Bricks and boulders were crashing down from tall buildings on the people below.三个独立句子的并列排比生动勾划出地震发生时的可怕情景:商店门窗向四面八方崩碎,街道地面裂开,砖头和大块石子从高楼砸向下面的人们。

2.语篇连贯

使语篇连贯是平行结构的主要功能之一。这里的连贯是指平行结构通过重复语法或某些词汇,可达到表层结构上的衔接,使语篇流畅、自然而不是拗口、别扭。比如,在下面两句中,句(a)听起来很别扭,而修后的平行句(b)听起来就流畅、自然多了。

(a)Come to the meeting prepared to take notes and with some questions to ask.

(b)Come to the meeting prepared to take notes and to ask questions.

3.整齐均衡

英语平行结构将两个以上相同或相似的概念整齐地排列起来,构成整齐一致的形式,且各成分之间常具有匀称、平衡的两两相对的组合关系,能给人以愉快和谐的美感。例如:

美国前五星上将麦克亚瑟1962年在西点军校发表的著名演说中阐述美国军人的理想及西点军校的箴言“Duty,Honor,Country”的意义时说:Let civilian voices argue...whether our strenght is being sapped by deficit financing,indulged in too long;by federal paternalism grown too mighty;by power groups grown too arrogant;by politics grown too corrupt;by crime grown too rampant;by morals grown too low;by taxes grown too high;by extremists grown too violent;...这段语篇里的平行结构是由8个结构相同(by+名词短语+过去分词+too+形容词)、词义各异的介词短语构成的,相同的结构形式鱼贯而下,语言呈现出赏心悦目、颇有气势的艺术整体美。

4.节奏感强

在英语平行结构中,同一语法模式的重复,单词、词组、从句或句子的整齐均衡地排列,以及停顿的有规律出现,使得英语语篇富有节奏感和旋律感,给人以美的享受。

下面是美国前总统肯尼迪1961年就职演说里的一段话:Let every nation know,whether it wishes us well or ill,that we shall pay any price,bear any burden,meet any hardships,support any friend,oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.该段语篇只有一个句子,却包含三组平行结构,其中以第二组平行结构最为明显。该组平行结构由五个平行项目构成,每个平行项都是由三个单音节或双音节词构成的动宾结构,即动词+any+名词,并以逗号停顿,排列整齐,重音突出,节奏响亮、鲜明;“any”的有规律再现也加强了平行结构的节奏感。

5.烘托对照

利用平行结构,不仅可以将相似的思想集中在一起表达,而且可以将相反、相对或相差的事物并置加以比照、烘托。通过“货比货”的对照,可以更鲜明地表现事物的特征,使事物是非清楚、黑白分明,给读者留下深刻的印象:例如:

There are important contrasts between ltaly and Greece.For example,dining in ltaly can be a memorable experience,while food in Greece tends to be wholesome but plain.and the look of each country is different.The ltalian countryside is green and lush.On the contrary,the Greek terrain is dry and desertlike.将意大利和希腊放在平行结构中进行对比,效果鲜明强烈,读者看后一目了然:在意大利就餐令人难以忘怀,而希腊的食品卫生且简朴:意大利的乡村景色青葱翠绿,而希腊的土地干旱荒芜。

6.加强语势

由于平行式将结构相同或相似的词、句连接排列,形式整齐,讲读起来出现相同节奏的重复,这就增强了语言气势,突出了表达的力量,强调了所表达的思想感情,或如逐层排浪滔滔而来,或如长江大河一泻千里,给人以强烈的印象:例如:

It is about time we realize that many woment make better teachers than mothers,better actresses than wives,better diplomats than cooks.将妇女的作用用三个平行式的比较级来表达,使语篇句法严谨,节奏明快,从而强调了内容,加强了语势,有利于提高人们对妇女新角色的认识及增强作者的说服力。如果把三个比较级短语并成一句:better teachers,actresses and diplomats than mothers,wives and cooks,意思虽然一样,但语势大减,妇女的潜力大大淡化了,而作者希望妇女走出家庭,走向社会的呼吁也就大大削弱了。

7.建立高潮

由于排比句能够加强语势,由浅入深地抒发感情,阐明观点,一步一步地说服听众,所以在讲演、辩证、鼓动性等文章中使用最多。

下面一例选自林肯1863年11月9日在葛底斯堡烈士公墓落成典礼上的讲演。整篇演说只有十句,措词简练,感情深沉,特别是最后一句的平行(排比)结构,使讲演内容达到高潮:...for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us,that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion;that we here highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain;that this nation,under God,shall have a new birth of freedom,and that government of the people,by the people,for the people,shall not perish from the earth.

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论平行结构在语篇中的修辞功能_平行结构论文
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