figures of speech3.doc

英语写作修辞_2 2011级第 6 页2020/1/144. 转喻（metonymy） 用某一事物的名称代替另一事物的名称的修辞手法叫做转喻或借代。这两种事物之间有着密切相关的联系。转喻通常用下列几种方式指代。1). A container for its contentThe kettle is boiling. He is too fond of the bottle. 他太喜欢喝酒了Sorry, my pocket cant afford such a pair of shoes.2). A place for the people. The whole town attended the funeral.3). A location for the institution or organizationDowning Streetthe British cabinet, the British government Fleet Streetthe British press the White Housethe US governmentKremlingovernment of the former Soviet Union Hollywoodthe US film-making industry4). An instrument for its userThe pen is mightier than the sword. When the war was over, he laid down the sword and took up the pen.The pen is mightier than the sword. 文章胜武力。Books and writing armed forceOnly the knife can save him.只有手术能够挽救他。5). A striking feature for the person or thing Bob was promoted from the grey-collar to the white-collar in the shortest time.6). An organ for its function He has a rough tongue. 7). Author for workTo read a Shakespeare or a Mark Twain is to eat a food full of protein; likewise, to read a pornographic magazine is to eat a sugar-coated poison. 8). The concrete for the abstract, or the specific for the general Without sweat, without bread. 9). The abstract for the concrete or the general for the specific The work is a pleasure to me.(乐事）Death fell in showers.(子弹） 5.提喻法(synecdoche)用局部代替全体或全体代替局部，用属代替种或种代替属，用具体代替抽象或抽象代替具体的修辞手法叫做提喻。提喻的用法：（1）以局部代全体The poor man had six mouths to feed.这可怜的人要养六口人。PeopleHe cant ride a wheel. 他不会骑自行车。Bicycle“轮子”只是自行车的一个部件，在此用来指代“自行车”。（2）以全体代局部The birds sang to welcome the smiling year. 小鸟歌唱迎新春。The spring“春季”只是“一年”中的一个季节，句中用“欢笑的年”指代“春天”。He has gained a footing in the musical world. 他在音乐界站住了脚。Field.“世界”包括一切，表示“领域”的“界”Spring vanishes with the rose.花谢春尽。Flowers“玫瑰”属于“花”中的一种。It will cost you a pretty penny. 这恐怕会花费你许多钱。Money.“便士”属于“钱”的一种。What a lovely creature! 多么美丽的女人啊！A beautiful woman （用“生物”代替“女人”）转喻（metonymy）与提喻(synecdoche)的比较Metonymy 与synecdoche 的共同点是它们都可以用人体的各个部位进行借代；它们的不同点在于：metonymy 是利用人体部位指代其功能或特点，而synecdoche则是利用人体部位指代整体。试比较：例1：Her heart ruled her head.她的感情控制了理智。转喻例2：No eye saw him, but a second later every ear heard a gunshot。没有人看见他，可是，一秒钟以后每个人都听到一声枪响。人体部位指代人。提喻。例3：We are all ears.我们洗耳恭听。用“耳朵”指代“听”的功能。转喻例4：Two heads are better than one.两个脑袋总比一个脑袋强。用人体部位“头”指代整体“人”。提喻例5：He has an old head on young shoulders.他年轻而有见识。Head 是人体部位，前面加了形容词old后，产生一种联想意义，即“有见识的”；shoulders也是人体部位，前面加了形容词young 后，产生一种象征意义，即“年轻人”。该句没有用人体部位指代整体，而是用人体部位指代其特点，故修辞手法是转喻6. 委婉(Euphemism)委婉语（euphemism）来源于希腊语的euphemisos，词头eu-即good，well；phemism即saying，speech，因此整个字面意思就是讲“好听的话”（speaking with good words），是用漂亮的词语或玲珑的谈吐表达语言，用一种无害的或悦耳的词语替代一种较直接的、冒昧唐突的词，或者说用善意的话语把事实掩盖起来。委婉语的产生有两个主要方面的原因：由于人类潜意识的心理恐惧和社会伦理道德观念的约束，许多自然、生理现象与事物的名称成了语言忌讳（taboo），而由新的语言符号取而代之，如fall asleep（长眠），wash ones hands （方便一下）等皆属于此类；为了避免伤害他人的自尊心，在交际中，不少事物和现象以及个人意见常常不能直截了当地说明，必须用别名称或方式予以表达，如pension（救济金）被婉转称之为welfare benefits（社会福利），而ugly则用plain或homely代替。委婉语的产生也有它的社会基础：委婉语从来就是社会心理在语言中的反映，因此它的产生始终与时代紧密相关。在经济萧条的时候，特别是在战争年代，语言普遍粗野化，委婉语便出现得少；当社会趋于繁荣稳定时，人们自然地追求语言文明，于是委婉语也就相对增多。俗话说“饱足知礼仪”，这正是产生委婉语的前提。委婉语的产生主要来自中产阶级。上层社会的人们由于自身地位已经巩固，所以在语言上也不再斟词酌句；贫苦的人们处于社会底层，文化低，没有条件进行细致推敲；唯有中产阶级为寻求改善自身状况、提高自身地位，在语言上既要力求美化自己，又要做到不刺激或伤害他人，这就构成了委婉语产生的社会需求。委婉语的产生发展与妇女在社会上的地位密切相关。在许多国家，人们几乎从懂事时起就耳濡目染，潜移默化地接受了这样一种思想：许多话在妇女面前不宜讲；对妇女讲话，要格外留神等等。妇女占人口的半数，于是委婉语成了人类语言使用过程中不可缺少的一个重要组成部分。drunkHe is in his cups.He is merry. He had a drop too much.He is glorious.He is reeling 旋转MadEmotionally disturbedDustman Sanitation worker, sanitation engineerhairdresser（理发员）为beautician（美容师）；prostitute（妓女）为pavement princess（马路公主）；称bootblack（擦鞋匠）footwear maintenance engineer（鞋类保养工程师）LavatoryBathroom, mens (womens) roomto answer the call of nature, to go to the bathroom, to go and wash ones handsMay I be excused a while?go to the fourth或the 100英国人用指代“上厕所”，number one（小便）number two （大便）美国儿童则流行fatplump, stout,mighty, chubby, Heavy-set, outsize, full-figureOld peoplemature people, senior citizen, elderly people, grey-headed people, second childhood, seasoned people, well-preserved people, reach ones golden age, feel ones age, be advanced in age,be getting on years通过简写省掉某些音节Ca, big C cancerlav lavatory厕所 C-girl call girlG-man garbage manB bastard私生子 Qqueer(男同性恋）fair lady -女同性恋DDdrunk and disorderly (酒后滋事）RRRape and robberyTo dieHe is gone. He is no more. close ones life, Breathed ones last, fell a sleep, closed ones eyes. Went to his last home. Paid the debt of nature .Went out like the snuff of a candle,Joined his ancestors, took his last sleep, be finished.poorneedy, indigent, less well off, badly off, down on ones luck, economically disadvantaged, underprivileged, be shy of funds, 有关贫穷的委婉语“I used to think I was poor,” she wrote. “Then they told me I wasnt poor; I was needy. Then they said it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, that I was culturally deprived. Then they told me deprived was a bad image, that I was underprivileged. Then they told me that underprivileged was overused, that I was disadvantaged. I still dont have a dime but I have a great vocabulary!”7.反语ironyThe use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.What fine weather for an outing!Of course, you only carry large notes, no small change on you. the waiter said to the beggar. 8. 夸张（overstatement） 夸张手法是人们从主观出发，有意识地把事实夸大，故意言过其实，以达到强调或突出的一种修辞手法。它偏重于情感，而不太注重事实，表达得比实际事情更高、更强烈、更有集中性，具有诙谐、讥讽、褒贬等功用。一般说来，凡事物，都可适当地利用夸张去修饰。 夸张的最常用手法有以下几种： （1）利用数词 His eyes fell on the page, but his mind was a million miles away.(他的眼睛在书页上，可心思却在十万八千里之外。) I am ten times better than you in handwriting.(我写字比你好十倍。) （2）利用极端概念 Ill keep it a secret till the end of the world.(我将把秘密保持到世界末日。) I will love you till the seas gone dry, the rocks melt with the sun.(我爱你到海枯石烂。) （3）利用形容词和副词 The cost mounted to astronomical figures.(花销达到天文数字。) I am thirsty to death for the book.(我想那本书想得要命。) 如果用terrible, terrific, awful, horrible, fantastic等感情强烈的词去修饰并不重要的事情，就具有夸张的成分。 （4）利用形容词和副词的最高级 Im the happiest man in the world.(我是世界上最幸福的人。) Shakespeare is universally well known. (莎士比亚名冠天下。) （5）利用介词短语 Bill Gates rounded up a wealth beyond calculation.(比尔盖茨聚财无数。) Dont let the chance slip through fingers.(不要让机会溜掉。) （6）利用名词 He is always punctual as the Big Ben.(他总是守时如大本钟。) They cried to high heaven for a timely rainfall.(他们喊声震天乞求及时雨。) Understatementa statement which is not strong enough to express the full or true facts or feelings. In Chinese, “轻描淡写的陈述，不充分的陈述” 它是与Hyperbole（夸张）相对的一种修辞格。 Hyperbole是故意“夸大其辞”，“化小为大”，是deliberately maximize the importance和 play up； Understatement则故意采取“低调”，化大为小”，是deliberately minimize the importance和 play down。一、借助词汇手段表示低调陈述1. For large numbers of people the absence of work is harmful to their health. 对所有人来说，事业都不是一件轻松的是事情，在心理和经济上都要承受巨大压力。而作者运用低调陈述的方法，轻描淡写，淡化事情的严重性，把失业（unemployment）这件大事说成“不上班”（the absence of work）2. I have studied humane nature, and I knew a thing or two. 句子中“略知一二（know a thing or two）” 表明说话人非常谦虚，为人低调，同时强调他见多识广，能洞察人情和识破虚假。二、借助语法手段表示低调陈述1. 虚拟语气 I know he is honest, and I wish I could add he were capable. 这句话的内涵是：诚实只能说明一个人的品质，不能表明他的才干。说话人意在强调“he is honest, but not capable of dealing with things.2. 双重否定表示低调陈述 It was not without reason that the council decided to take such measures. 这句话的内涵：the council decided to take such measures with good reasons.)双重否定使得语气更加强烈，说明安理会采取这样的措施是完全有理由的。There was a slight disturbance in the Soviet Union last year, which caused the disintegration of the country. (苏联出了一点小乱子，导致了这个国家的解体) 把重大的政治动乱说成是“出了一点小乱子” (a slight disturbance）,这种含蓄的轻描淡写给人造成了极其强烈的印象。1) 以弱说代替强说1)The face wasnt a bad one; it had what they called charm.意即The face was sweet; her charm conquered everybody. 明似贬抑，实则褒扬，不是冲淡她的魅力，而是采用低调渲染强调她的魅力 2)It was no small feat to harness the energies of an entire nation for a united show of hospitality and good will for visitors from around the world. （把整个国家的能量调动起来，对来自世界各地的访问者表现出一致的好客和友好，这不是小事情。）No small实际是表示肯定，说明这可是一件“了不起的大事”。2）以反说代替正说可以减轻说话者的语气和对事物的评价，避免绝对化。这种方式，常使用no, not, never, none以及否定词缀等否定词或否定表达方法来表述肯定的内容，very good 可以用not bad 来代替，这种表达方式在修辞学中叫做“曲言法”Litotes 9. 矛盾修饰法（oxymoron） 矛盾修饰法是把意义上相互矛盾或不协调的两个词或词组放在一起使用，组成句子描述一个事物，表达一种思想或说明一个道理.这些词或词组从字面上看似乎自相矛盾，但仔细回味便会感到意味深长，妙趣横生。 (1)形容词+名词：cruel kindness, orderly chaos, wise fool, painful pleasure (2)动词分词+名词：loving hate, walking dead (3)形容词+形容词：ugly beautiful, bitter sweet, poor rich (4)副词+形容词：mercifully fatal, deadly alive, disagreeably pleasant (5)副词+动词分词：changelessly changing, stably moving (6)名词+名词：enemy friend, life-and-death (7)动词+副词：hurry slowly, talk silently, live deadly 10. AlliterationAlliteration in proverb谚语语言精练,韵味隽永,寓意深刻,闪耀着语言艺术的光辉.谚语是一个民族智慧和文化的结晶它经世世锤炼 ,琅琅能上口, 字字珠玑，谚语在语言运用上注重声音的表达效果，因而头韵修辞格便得到广泛应用 【例1】Speech is silver, but silence is golden. 沉默是金, 言语是银上例中speech, silver和silence三个单词中连用摩擦音/s/ 读起来音律流畅,节奏明快 ,深入人心 例2 Fortune favors fools. 傻人有傻福 /傻人命好 本例中摩擦音/ f / 的使用达到节奏平衡的效果 Alliteration in proverbNo sweet without sweat. 先苦后甜。Through thick and thin同甘共苦 Love laughs at locksmiths. 爱情锁不住。Forbidden fruit is sweet. 禁果格外甜。safe and sound安然无恙A light heart lives long. 静以修身 All rivers run into sea. 海纳百川Beauty lies in the lovers eyes. 情人眼里A bad beginning makes a bad ending. 不善始者不善终A friend without faults will never be found 没有十全十美的朋友Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. 早睡早起身体好。Be swift to hear, slow to speak. 听宜敏捷，言宜缓行。Alliteration in advertisement 例3 Export fair set for foreign-funded firms. 这是外资企业出口产品博览会的广告，七个词中有四个 fair foreign funded firms 互押头韵，让人听起来好像是博览会在彬彬有礼地笑迎众多外资企业。例4 You will go nuts for the nuts you get in Nux. 纳克斯坚果让你爱不释手该例中nuts 和Nux 构成头韵.广告制作人丰富的创造力可见一斑 To go nuts 是一句成语意思是 “发疯，疯狂 ”表明了纳克斯坚果对人们的诱惑力是无法抗拒的Alliteration in poem诗歌是诗人情感和思想的凝结，通过内容和韵律带给读者美的感受。诗歌悦耳动听的音律和节奏感给人以气韵回荡，语音缭绕的美感。英语头韵发轫于诗歌，被界定为英诗本体的一部分 。 The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew; The furrow followed free, We were the first that ever burst, Into that silent sea.以上为英国湖畔诗人柯勒滤律治的名诗古舟子咏中的一节.其中轻柔的辅音/ f / 巧妙地模仿了柔风轻涛的声响，创造了一种宁静的意境最后两个辅音/ s / 犹如和风吹过海面发出的咝咝声。诗人把音律和意境巧妙结合起来的高超技艺可谓炉火纯青精妙绝伦 .Alliteration in speech 演讲给人以语调高低平缓、字音抑扬顿挫、快慢强弱等节奏 ，起着辅助性的作用。因为突出字的声音， 头韵法可唤起听众的注意力 ，并使演讲人的思想更容易为听众记住。 用得恰当的话 ，头韵法是 极有用的办法，可使演讲听上去整整齐齐。We should not demean our democracy with the politics of distraction, denial and despair .我们不可用消解 拒绝和绝望的托辞贬屈我们的民主 这里用爆破音/d/ 作头韵加强节奏的效果尤为显著 因为爆破音本身送气带有一种力度和气势,将演讲者的感情表达得淋漓尽致In a nation founded on the promise of human dignity, our colleges, our communities, our country should challenge hatred wherever we find it. (by Hillary Rodham Clinton) 这个国家缔造于给予人类尊严的承诺之上。因此无论在什么地方发现了仇恨,我们的大学、我们的社区和我们的国家都应该向它发出挑战 。希拉里(Hillary)在此用距离很近的几个单词(colleges, community, country)重复使用爆破音/k/ 突出主题 ，唤起听众共鸣。In news headlineMagnetic, Magnificent Meril.(美貌迷人 美名高筑的美瑞莲) 该例为报刊文章的标题该标题以三个M 开头 采用头韵排比的修辞手法以生动夸张,妙趣横生的笔触来描述曾荣登奥斯卡影后宝座的Meril 的两大非凡之处,魅力四射,硕果累累.11. 移位修饰法（transferred epithet）移位修饰法就是将仅可用于修饰某种东西的词汇移植修饰到另类东西上的一种语言使用手法，即将甲事物的修饰成分转移到乙事物上，使风马牛不相及的成分凑在一起，反而使得语言简练凝缩，形象生动。比如我们经常使用的“Happy New Year!”, “year”是不会“happy”的，如果非要生硬地说“You feel happy in the new year.”，反倒累赘了。其它如“a sleepless night”，“the smiling spring”，“hurrying autumn”，等等，都是常见的例子。由于这种修辞手法的独特性和形象生动性，其在英语中的使用颇为广泛。 1.由修饰人物转为修饰事物 (1)He lay in bed, smoking his thinking pipe.（他躺在床上，抽烟思考。） (2)Mother simply couldnt fall asleep