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第十一章 英語(yǔ)平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)和漢語(yǔ)排比本章內(nèi)容概覽:英語(yǔ)平行結(jié)構(gòu)就是兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上結(jié)構(gòu)相同,意義并重的語(yǔ)言單位排列成串,其目的在于增強(qiáng)語(yǔ)勢(shì),提高修辭效果。它是英語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)修辭的一種重要形式,體現(xiàn)的是英語(yǔ)行文的均衡美。常見(jiàn)的有詞的平行,短語(yǔ)的平行,從句的平行,句子的平行,段落的平行。平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)可以用來(lái)寫(xiě)人、寫(xiě)事、抒情、議論、敘事、列舉、描述、闡釋和演講等。漢語(yǔ)排比和英語(yǔ)平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)相比,雖然其修辭功能相同,但在語(yǔ)言單位的大小和排列數(shù)量上有不同的要求,因此不能把兩者混淆。Abstract: Parallelism is the juxtaposition of two or more identical or equivalent syntactic constructions, especially those expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, introduced for rhetorical effect. The mon forms tend to be the parallelism of words, phrases, clauses, sentences or paragraphs. Chinese Paibi and English parallelism should not be confused, since they are quite different in some aspects. 老師:下面是一組句子,同學(xué)們看看是否有改進(jìn)的余地?1. The Writing Center needs tutors who are ambitious, who are selfmotivated, and who are dedicated.2. Clear writing should be a major concern both of writers and readers.3. The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warmup exercises before the game.4. The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.學(xué)生:老師,例1有點(diǎn)羅嗦。三個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句有必要都重復(fù)“who are…”嗎?是不是這樣改更簡(jiǎn)潔一些?1a The Writing Center needs tutors who are ambitious, selfmotivated, and dedicated.1b The Writing Center needs tutors who have ambition, motivate themselves, and exhibit dedication.老師:是的,這樣一改,句子既簡(jiǎn)潔又平衡。1a中, 三個(gè)形容詞一行排開(kāi), 構(gòu)成平行結(jié)構(gòu): 形容詞1(ambitious) + 形容詞2 (selfmotivated)+ 形容詞3(dedicated)?;蛘吒某?b的句式也很不錯(cuò),因?yàn)槎ㄕZ(yǔ)從句中三個(gè)動(dòng)詞詞組作從句謂語(yǔ)同樣也構(gòu)成平行結(jié)構(gòu): 動(dòng)詞詞組1(have ambition)+動(dòng)詞詞組2(motivate themselves)+動(dòng)詞詞組3(exhibit dedication),給人一種平衡美。學(xué)生:例2有點(diǎn)問(wèn)題。Both…and…叫作并列連詞,連接的應(yīng)該是兩個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)一樣的詞,或者結(jié)構(gòu)一樣的短語(yǔ)。但這里連接的卻是of writers和readers,一個(gè)是介詞+名詞,另一個(gè)是名詞。從結(jié)構(gòu)上看是兩個(gè)迥異的成分,破壞了句式的平衡美。應(yīng)該改成如下的形式:2a Clear writing should be a major concern of both writers and readers.2b Clear writing should be a major concern both of writers and of readers.并列連詞both…and…要么連接writers 和 readers兩個(gè)名詞,要么連接of writers 和 of readers兩個(gè)介詞+名詞的結(jié)構(gòu),都能給讀者一種平衡美感。例3中,雖然分隔開(kāi)來(lái)看,每一部分都沒(méi)有問(wèn)題,但總覺(jué)得句式結(jié)構(gòu)別扭。老師:是的,問(wèn)題就出在結(jié)構(gòu)上。例3中,前面兩個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的賓語(yǔ)從句沒(méi)有問(wèn)題,但到讀者期待第三個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的賓語(yǔ)從句時(shí),作者卻打亂了思路,突然用了一個(gè)不定式短語(yǔ)(to do some warmup exercises before the game)匆匆結(jié)束了句子,造成結(jié)構(gòu)紊亂。改成下面2a,2b或者2c的形式更符合英語(yǔ)行文美的要求,也更符合讀者的期待。2a The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warmup exercises before the game.2b The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warmup exercises before the game. 2c The coach told the players to get a lot of sleep, not to eat too much, and to do some warmup exercises before the game. 2d The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should eat less, and that they should do some warmup exercises before the game.2e The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, eat less, and do some warmup exercises before the game. 2f The coach told the players to get a lot of sleep, to eat less, and to do some warmup exercises before the game. 學(xué)生:老師,照這樣看來(lái),例4應(yīng)該沒(méi)有問(wèn)題,三個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的賓語(yǔ)從句連續(xù)排列。老師:例4中,三個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的賓語(yǔ)從句連續(xù)排列不錯(cuò),但是前兩個(gè)賓語(yǔ)從句是主動(dòng)句式,而第三個(gè)賓語(yǔ)從句卻成了被動(dòng)句式,打破了句式連續(xù)性,因而不是一個(gè)漂亮的表達(dá)。應(yīng)該改成4a才好:4a The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers would ask him questions.4b The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that he would have time to show his slide presentation, and that he could answer the questions of prospective buyers.上面的四個(gè)例句之所以要作這樣的修改,是因?yàn)橛⒄Z(yǔ)中有一特別重要辭格—平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)。它追求語(yǔ)言句式結(jié)構(gòu)的整體美,是個(gè)很富有表現(xiàn)力的修辭手段。要寫(xiě)好作文,不懂得平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)辭格便無(wú)從談起??梢院敛豢鋸埖卣f(shuō),要想語(yǔ)言表達(dá)好,平行結(jié)構(gòu)是個(gè)寶。學(xué)生:老師,那您趕緊給我們講講平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)吧,好多同學(xué)都不知道如何提高英語(yǔ)寫(xiě)作呢。老師:平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallelism)起源于希臘語(yǔ),其意思是:一個(gè)與另一個(gè)并排(Etymology: From the Greek, “beside one another”)。下面是三個(gè)權(quán)威工具書(shū)給Parallelism (平行結(jié)構(gòu))下的定義:定義一、The use of identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases.Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed. 平行結(jié)構(gòu)就是在相應(yīng)的從句或短語(yǔ)中,使用相同或?qū)Φ鹊木浞ńY(jié)構(gòu)。作者譯定義二、The juxtaposition of two or more identical or equivalent syntactic constructions, especially those expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, introduced for rhetorical effect. Wiktionary平行結(jié)構(gòu)就是兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上結(jié)構(gòu)相同,意義并重的短語(yǔ)或句子排列成串,其目的在于增強(qiáng)語(yǔ)勢(shì),提高修辭效果。作者譯定義三、in rhetoric, ponent of literary style in both prose and poetry, in which coordinate ideas are arranged in phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that balance one element with another of equal importance and similar wording. The repetition of sounds, meanings, and structures serves to order, emphasize, and point out relations. In its simplest fo