谈英语词汇的直白性强调手段

2016-03-11 01:00柴媛媛
考试周刊 2016年3期
关键词:语气代词副词

柴媛媛

强调(emphasis)是英语语言的众多功能之一,因其能增强说话者的语气,强化语言表达的语义关系,凸显文字重点,凸出主题,所以人们在英语写作或交际过程中,为了使自己的思想能被读者或听者恰当理解,增加对比效果和感情色彩,就会用到强调。在英语中,对某一意义的表达既可以是直接的或明说的,又可以是间接的或隐含的。同样,语言强调可以是直接的,也可以是隐含的。因此,英语强调手段大体可分为两大类,即直白性(explicitness)和隐含(implicitness)。直白性强调主要是通过词汇或语法的手段直接增强语气,强化意义。而隐含性强调则是通过某种词语调配、语音偏离常规或者修辞等方式间接实现强调功能。例如:①I am extremely tired. ② I am tired to death. ①句中的 “extremely” 是一个增强词,直接用于强化 “tired” 的语义,这就是直白性强调。②句中“to death”运用了夸张的修辞法,故意言过其实,突出疲劳的程度,以达到隐含性强调的效果。本文将从直白性强调的词汇手段详细进行论述。

一、动词强调

1.用助动词“do(does,did)+动词原形”强调句中谓语动词,用来加强陈述句和祈使句的语气,译作“的确”、“一定”、“确实”。如:

Do come earlier next time.(下次一定要早点到。)

She did come here last night.(她昨晚的确来了。)

2.用动词的进行时态表示强调,常用来强调说话人当时的想法、感觉等心理活动,而非表动作正在进行。如:

He is always doing things for others.(他总是为别人做好事。)(比He always does things for other people.语气更强烈)

3.用情态动词的否定形式加强语气,在英语表达中较为常见。

You must not always be talking in this way.(你不能总是这样讲话。)

He cant be more foolish.(他笨的不能再笨了。)(比“He is foolish.”语气更强烈)

二、形容词强调

1.常见的强化形容词表强调,如:very, clear, real, simple, only, extreme, utter,single, such,等等。

He is the only person here who can speak English.(他是这里唯一会讲英语的人。)

How dare you buy such expensive jewels?(你怎么敢买这么贵的珠宝呢?)

At that very moment he heard a cry for help.(正在那个时候,他听到有人呼喊救命。)

2.“形容词最高级+of”表强调,如:most, truest, longest, worst, best,meanest,等等。

This is the most important part in the text.(这个是文章中最重要的部分。)

He is the meanest of the men.(他是最卑鄙的男人。)

3.形容词比较级前加上far, much, still, even, a little, a great deal, a bit等,最高级前加上by far, by no means等表示强调。

You are far more patient than I am.(你比我有耐心多了。)

The new house is much/far/even/a great deal/a bit larger than the old one.(这个新房子比那个旧的大多了。)

4.关系形容词,如:whatever , whichever分别是what和which的强调形式。

Whichever road you take, it will take you to the theatre.(无论你走哪条路,都可以到达剧院。)

5.形容词all获得强调,结构是:”be+all+抽象名词”,”be+all+复数名词”,表示某种性质达到了极点。

The students are all ears to his speech.(学生们全神贯注地听他的演讲。)

The children are all eyes at the magic show.(孩子们目不转睛地看着魔术表演。)

三、副词强调

1.与强化形容词相应的强化副词,如:badly, really, greatly, completely, highly等带有-ly的副词进行强调。

Peter was highly praised in the class.(皮特在班上受到高度赞扬。)

The children were greatly afraid going through the forest.(孩子们在穿越森林时感到极其恐惧。)

2.如very, much, only, so ,still, rather, quite, too等一般性副词和no,never,seldom等否定副词表强调。

I am still nervous after answering the question.(我回答完问题后心里仍然怦怦直跳。)

She never said a word the whole day.(她一整天没说一句话。)

3.副词ever用于特殊疑问句,与what,who,when,where,how,why等连用,表示惊奇、烦恼、愤怒等。

Who ever can it be?(到底是谁呢?)

Why ever didnt you say so?(你当时究竟为什么不这样说呢?)

4.Wherever,however等用作疑问副词和连接副词都有强化语气的作用。

However hard she tried,nothing seemed to work.(不管她怎么努力,好像都无济于事。)

Wherever did you leave your schoolbag?(到底把书包丢在哪里了?)

四、代词强调

1.nothing,nobody,none,everybody,anything,everything等不定代词表强调。

Nobody can change his mind.(没有人能改变他的主意。)

2.用whoever,whichever,whatever等关系代词和疑问代词表强调。

Whoever thought up that riddle?(到底是谁想出的这个谜语?)

Choose whichever you really want to.(选一个你真正想要的。)

3.反身代词及反身代词itself特殊结构“be+抽象名词+itself”,表某种性质达到了极点。

My father himself fixed the microwave.(我爸爸自己修好了微波炉。)

I am energy itself after a short rest.(休息了一小会儿我浑身是劲。)

五、各种短语表强调

1.各种介词短语表强调,如:in the world,in the least,in hell,on earth,under the sun,

in every way,in no way,by all means,by no means,in heaven等加强疑问或否定语气。

Where in the world did you go just now?(你刚才到底去哪儿了?)

Why on earth did you tell a lie?(你到底为什么说谎?)

This by no means the first time you have been late.(这绝不是你第一次迟到了。)

I was in heaven when I heard the good news.(听到这个好消息后我兴奋异常。)

2.各种惯用短语表强调,如:a dam,at all,only too,all too,let alone,not to mention,to say nothing of,not to speak of,anything but,nothing but,any longer等。

We are all too pleased to listen to the opinions of other.(我们非常乐意听别人的意见。)

The dampness is uncomfortable, not to mention the cold.(潮湿就令人不舒服,更不必说寒冷了。)

It will need much time, not to speak of the expense.(那需要好多时间,更不用提费用了。)

六、成对词表强调

成对词是英语中极富特色的一种词组,它由两个词性相同的词(大多为近音词)组成,中间用and连接,结构固定,语义完整。这种词组比一般词语鲜明生动,节奏明快,具有十分明显的强调功能。

He is an up and coming (=motivated) young man.(他是个有上进心的年轻人。)

The atmosphere in the office is quite free and easy (=relaxed).(办公室的气氛相当轻松自如。)

He insisted on putting the agreement down in black and white.(他坚持把这项协议白纸黑字写下来。)

综上所述,英语词汇的直白性强调手段非常丰富,它们或增强语句中肯定或否定语气,或强化语义,主要作用是强调。只有在英语学习过程中正确认识和恰当运用不同的词汇手段,做到融会贯通,才能更好地应用到英语学习中。

参考文献:

[1]R Quirk,G Leech:A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language[M].London:Longman Group Limited,1985.

[2]章振邦.新编英语语法[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1982.

[3]吕煦.实用英语修辞[M].北京:清华大学出版社,2004.

[4]徐鹏.英语辞格[M].北京:商务印书馆,1996.

[5]汪榕培.英语词汇学研究[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2002.

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