英语专业英语修辞荟萃.doc

Figures of speech (修辞)are ways of making our language figurative. When we use words in other than their ordinary or literal sense to lend force to an idea, to heighten effect, or to create suggestive imagery, we are said to be speaking or writing figuratively.1. simile 2. metaphor3. personification 4. metonymy5. synecdoche 6. irony7. epigram (paradox) 8. repetition9. antithesis 10. parallelism11. euphemism 12. transferred epithet13. oxymoron 14. alliteration15. hyperbole 16. litotes17. anti-climax 18. assonance19. periodic sentence 20. rhetorical question21. onomatopoeia 22. pun1. simile a comparison between two unlike things having at least one quality or characteristic in common The water lay grey and wrinkled like an elephants skin. Her eyes were jet black, and her hair was like a waterfall. 2. metaphor a comparison between two unlike things, but the comparison is implied rather than statedSnow clothes the ground. The ship ploughed the sea.They will be rounded up in hordes.He swam bravely against the tide of popular applause.main artery of transportation in the young nations heart3. personification a figure that endows objects, animals, ideas, or abstractions with human form, character, or sensibility Life dealt him profound personal tragedies.the river had acquainted him with . to literatures enduring gratitude.Bitterness fed on the man.America laughed with him.The Middle Easter bazaar takes you.dancing flashes4. metonymy a figure of speech that consists in using the name of one thing for that of something else with which it is associatedIn Japan there is an incessant struggle between the kimono and the miniskirt. She was a girl who excited the emotions, but I was not one to let my heart rule my head.heart: feelings and emotionshead, brain: wisdom, intelligence, reasonMetonymy can be derived from various sources:a. Names of personsUncle Sam: the USA?b. Animalsthe bear: the Soviet Unionthe dragon : the Chinese (a fight between the bear and the dragon)c. Parts of the bodyheart: feelings and emotionshead, brain: wisdom, intelligence, reasonShe was a girl who excited the emotions, but I was not one to let my heart rule my head.grey hair: old aged. Profession: the press: newspapers, reporters etc.He met the press yesterday evening at the Grand Hotel.the bar: the legal professione. location of government, business etc.Downing Street: the British Governmentthe White House: the US president and his governmentthe Capitol Hill: US CongressWall Street: US financial circlesHollywood: American filmmaking industry5. Synecdoche (提喻)with part representing the whole or vise versaTwo heads are better than one.Many hands make light work.The football match was a close contest. In the end, China won.The world knows his worth.6. Irony (反语)a figure of speech in which the meaning literally expressed is the opposite of the meaning intended and which aims at ridicule, humour or sarcasmHiroshima-the Liveliest City in JapanEach day of suffering that helps to free me from earthly carescongratulate myself on the good fortune that my illness has brought memarching backwards to the glorious age of the 16th century7. Epigram (paradox) (警句)a brief, pointed saying that has the nature of a proverbThe best epigrams are those in which there is an apparent contradiction between the intended meaning and the form of the expression. Like antithesis, epigram is based on contrast.Business is business. (Friendship is friendship.)Home is home, be it ever so homely. (East or West, home is best.)A little learning is a dangerous thing.Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.The day has eyes, the night has ears.A snow year, a rich year.Words are women, deeds are men.One has to be cruel to be kind.War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.More haste, less speed.8. Repetition (重复)We have but one aim and one single purposenothing will turn us-nothingWe will never parley, we will never negotiate.This is our policy and this is our declarationas we shall faithfully and steadfastly9. Antithesis (对偶)the deliberate arrangement of contrasting words or ideas in balanced structural forms to achieve emphasis. between what people claim to be and what they really are. took unholy verbal shots at the Holy Land. a world which will lament them a day and forget them foreverSpeech is silver; silence is golden. Man proposes, God disposes.10. Parallelism (排比)use of parallel parts of relevant meanings and similar structures to emphasize or render depth to the narrationThe past, with its crimes, its follies, and its tragedies.I see,.I see.the return of the bread-winner, of their champion, of their protectorWe shall fight him by land, we shall fight him by sea, we shall fight him in the air11. Euphemism (委婉语)the substitution of an agreeable or in-offensive expression for one that may offend or suggest sth unpleasantHe was sentenced to prison-He is now living at the governments expenses.He commented with a crushing sense of despair on mens final release from earthly struggle.The boy is a bit slow for his age.12. Transferred epithet (移就)an adjective used to limit a noun which it cannot logically modifyI spent sleepless nights on my project.The U.S. has now set up a loneliness industry.Darrow had whispered throwing a reassuring arm round my shoulder as They made a new set of laws.He made himself a profoundly bad cup of tea.Instantly from the dark holes all round, there was a frenzied rush of Jews.13. Oxymoron (矛盾修辞)formed by conjoining of two contrasting termsMalone called my conviction a victorious defeat.bitter sweet memories proud humilityorderly chaosa damned saint14. Alliteration or front rhyme (首字母押韵)the repetition of an initial sound that is usu. a consonant in two or more neighbouring wordsslip to a stoptested and treated. the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloth stayed at homeSpeech is silver; silence is golden. 15. Hyperbole (夸张)a device of comparison using exaggeration or obvious overstatement for comic or dramatic effect. takes you .hundreds even thousands of yearsinnumerable lampsincredibly youngwith the dust of centuries:.cruise through eternal boyhood and .endless summer of freedom.The cast of characters- a cosmos.16. Litotes or rhetorical understatement (含蓄表达)the opposite of hyperbole, which contains an understatement for emphasis, frequently with a negative assertion, often used with ironical intentionsI shant be sorry when its over. (I shall be very glad )Its no laughing matter. (Its very serious.)He is no mean scholar. (Hes a good scholar.)We are not unprepared for the war.17. anti-climax (突降法)the sudden appearance of an absurd or trivial idea following a serious significant ideas and suspensions. This device is usu. aimed at creating comic or humorous effects. a town known throughout the world for its-oystersThe duties of a soldier are to protect his country and peel potatoes. 18. Assonance (押尾韵)the use of the same or related, vowel sounds in successive words clanking, heel-clicking,cowing and tying .plodding on like crawling locusts, .smarting from many a British whipping.easier and safer preywhen bigots lighted faggots to burn19. periodic sentence (掉尾句)to leave the most important part at the end of the sentence so as to keep the audience in suspense It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife.When I awoke on.invasion of Russia.If Hitler imagines that. woefully mistaken.Any man or state who fights on against Nazidom will have our aid. Any man or state who marches with Hitler is our foe. 20. Rhetorical question (修辞问句)a question that needs no answer, but used for emphasisWas I not at the scene of the crime?but can you doubt what our policy will be ?21. Onomatopoeia (拟声词)words imitating the sounds associated with the thing concernedThe patient groaned as he was lifted on to the stretcher.The hinge of the door needs oiling, it creaks every time it is opened.The ticking of the clock was the only sound that greeted him, for not a soul remained. with its clanking, heel-clicking, dandified Prussian officers, I am hungry, my stomach is rumbling.22. Pun (双关语)a play on words, or rather a play on the form and meaning of wordsDarwin is right - inside.Seven days without water makes one weak.A: Why are parliamentary reports called “Blue Books”? B: Because they are never red (read).A: What is the most contradictory sign seen in the library? B: To speak aloud is not allowed (aloud).1. 明喻（simile）是用like, as, as.as, as if(though) 或用其他词语指出两个不同事物的相似之处。例如： （1）O my loves like a red, red rose. 我的爱人像一朵红红的玫瑰花。（2）He jumped as if he had been stung.他像被蜇了似的跳了起来。（3）The man cant be trusted. He is as slippery as an eel. 那个人不可信赖。他像鳗鱼一样狡猾。2. 暗喻/隐喻（metaphor）这种比喻不通过比喻词进行，而是直接将用事物当作乙事物来描写，甲乙两事物之间的联系和相似之处是暗含的。 （1）He has a heart of stone. 他有一颗铁石心肠。（2）The world is a stage. 世界是一个大舞台。 （3）The diamond department was the heart and center of the store.钻石部是商店的心脏和核心。3. 提喻（synecdoche）主要特点是局部代表全体，或以全体喻指部分；或以抽象代具体，或以具体代抽象；以特殊代表一般，或用一般代表特殊。例如： （1）The Great Wall was made not only of stones and earth, but of the flesh and blood of millions of men. 长城不仅是用石头和土建造的，而且是用几百万人的血和肉建成的。 句中的“the flesh and blood”喻为“the great sacrifice”（巨大的牺牲） （2）“.saying that it was the most beautiful tongue in the world,.” 他说这是世界上最美的语言。 这里用具体的“tongue”代替抽象的“language”。 （3）Many eyes turned to a tall,20year black girl on the US team. 很多人将眼光投向美国队一个高高的20岁的黑姑娘。 这里的“many eyes”代替了“many persons”。（4）He earns his bread by writing. 他靠写作挣钱谋生。（5）The farms were short of hands during the harvest season. 在收获季节里农场缺乏劳动力。（6）He is the Newton of this century. 他是这个世纪的牛顿。4. 转喻/借代（metonymy）是用某一事物的名称代替另外一个与它关系密切的事物的名称，只要一提到其中一种事物，就会使人联想到另一种。比如用the White House 代替美国政府或者总统， 用the bottle来代替wine 或者alcohol， 用the bar 来代替the legal profession，用 crown代替 king等。 例如：（1）His purse would not allow him that luxury. 他的经济条件不允许他享受那种奢华。（2）The mother did her best to take care of the cradle. 母亲尽最大努力照看孩子。（3）He succeeded to the crown in 1848. 他在1848年继承了王位。（4）Several years later, word came that Napoleon himself was coming to inspect them. 几年以后，他们听说拿破仑要亲自来视察他们。 “word”在这里代替了“news, information”（消息、信息） （5）Al spoke with his eyes,“yes”. 艾尔用眼睛说，“是的”。 “说”应该是嘴的功能，这里实际上是用眼神表达了“说话的意思”。（6）例子Uncle Sam（ 山姆大叔）-the United States（美国） Fleet Street（舰队街）-the British press（英国报界）the Pentagon（五角大楼）-U.S Defence Department （美国国防部） Foggy Bottom（雾谷）-U.S. State Department （美国国务院） Hollywood（好莱坞）-American film-making industry （美国电影制片业，电影界） 10，Downing Street（唐宁街10号）-the residence and office of the British prime minister（英国首相官邸）Ivan（伊万）-the Russian people（俄罗斯人民）5. 换喻/换称（Antonomasia）一个专有名词联系不同背景的共同特征，借助原有的联想，迅速建立新的联想，代换一个普通名词。它和借代（Metonymy）不同之点在于换称中的专有名词通常来自三种渊源：宗教，古代及当代的历史和文学。而借代中的专有名词则无须具有类似的起端。 （1）宗教或神话渊源（biblical or mythological figures） Solomon（所罗门）-awise man（聪明人） Daniel（但尼尔）-awise and fair judge （聪明而公正的法官） Judas（犹大）-a traitor（叛徒） Hercules（赫丘利）-a hero of strength and bravery （大力神） （2）历史渊源（historical figures） the Rubicon（鲁比肯河）-an irrevocable step （破釜沉舟，无可挽回） Nero（尼禄）-a tyrant（暴君） John Wayne（约翰?韦恩）-a modern figure of a tough man（粗旷型男子汉形象） （3）文学渊源（literary figures） Uncle Tom（汤姆大叔）-a Negro who compromises and conforms with the Whites （与白人妥协顺应的黑人）6. 拟人（personification）把人类的特点、特性加于外界事物之上，使之人格化，以物拟人，以达到彼此交融，合二为一。 例如：（1）My heart was singing. 我的心在歌唱。（2）This time fate was smiling to him. 这一次命运朝他微笑了。（3）The flowers nodded to her while she passed. 当她经过的时候花儿向她点头致意。（4）The wind whistled through the trees. 风穿过树丛，树叶哗哗作响。（5）My only worry was that January would find me hunting for a job again. 我唯一担心的是，到了一月份我又得去找工作。 英语里常把“年”“月”“日”人格化，赋以生命，使人们读起来亲切生动。7.委婉 (euphemism) 用温和的、间接的词语代替生硬的、粗俗的词语，以免直接说出不愉快的事实冒犯别人或者造成令人窘迫、沮丧的局面。例如：用to fall asleep; cease thinking; pass away; go to heaven; leave us 代替 to die用senior citizens代替old people用 a slow learner或者an under achiever代替a stupid pupil用weight watcher代替 fat people用mental hospital 代替 madhouse或者 asylum用emotionally disturbed代替mad用washroom, mens / womens room代替 lavatory用 handicapped代替 crippled用low income brackets; underprivileged; disadvantaged 代替 poor people7. 夸张（hyperbole）这是运用丰富的想象，过激的言词，渲染和装饰客观事物，以达到强调的效果。 （1）My blood froze. 我的血液都凝固了。 （2）When I told our father about this,his heart burst. 当我将这件事告诉我们的父亲时，他的心几乎要迸出来。 （3） My heart almost stopped beating when I heard my daughters voice on the phone. 从电话里一听到我女儿的声音，我的心几乎停止跳动。8.反语/讽刺（irony）是指用含蓄的褒义词语来表示其反面的意义，从而达到使本义更加幽默，更加讽刺的效果。（1）Well, of course, I knew that gentlemen like you carry only large notes. 啊，当然，我知道像你这样的先生只带大票子。 店员这句话意在讽刺这位穿破衣的顾客：像你这样的人怎么会有大票子呢？名为“gentlemen”实则“beg gar”而已。9. 双关语（pun）用同音异义或者一词二义来达到诙谐幽默的效果：表面上是一个意思，而实际上却暗含另一个意思，这种暗含的意思才是句子真正的目的所在。（1）A cannonball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms. 一发炮弹打断了他的腿，所以他缴械投降了。(arms可指手臂或者武器)（2）Seven days without water make one weak (week). 七天没有水使一个人虚弱。或者：七天没有水就是一周没有水。10. 叠言（rhetorical repetition）这种修辞法是指在特定的语境中，将相同的结构，相同意义词组成句子重叠使用，以增强语气和力量。 （1）It must be created by the blood and the work of all of us who believe in the future, who believe in man and his glorious manmade destiny. 它必须用我们这些对于未来，对于人类以及人类自己创造的伟大命运具有信心的人的鲜血和汗水去创造。 （2）. Because good technique in medicine and surgery means more quicklycured patients, less pain, less discomfort, less death, less disease and less deformity. 因为优良的医疗技术和外科手术意味着更快地治疗病人，更少痛苦，更少不安，更少死亡，更少疾病，和更少残废。11. 通感（synesthesia）是指在某个感官所产生的感觉，转到另一个感官的心理感受。 （1）Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested. 有些书是应当尝尝滋味的，有些书是应当吞下去的，有少数书是应当咀嚼和消化的。 书是“尝”不出味道的，也是不能“吃”下去将其“消化”掉的。这里把读书中的精读和泛读，阅读欣赏与吸收知识的感受，用味觉功能和消化功能来表示，心理感受是如此逼真和奇特。12. 拟声（onomatopoeia）是摹仿自然界中非语言的声音，其发音和所描写的事物的声音很相似，使语言显得生动，富有表现力。 （1）On the root of the school house some pigeons were softly cooing. 在学校房屋的屋顶上一些鸽子正轻轻地咕咕叫着。 （2）She brought me into touch with everything that could be reached or feltsunlight, the rustling of silk, the noises of insects, the creaking of a door, the voice of a loved one. 她使我接触到所有够得着的或者感觉得到的东西，如阳光呀，丝绸摆动时的沙沙声呀，昆虫的叫声呀，开门的吱嗄声呀，亲人的说话声呀。13. 头韵法（alliteration）两个或者更多的词以相同的音韵或者字母开头就构成头韵。例如：（1）proud as a peacockblind as a batsafe and sound（2）Long and loudly little Lily laughed. 小莉莉长时间地、大声地笑着。（3）The windows waved violently in the wind. 窗户在风中剧烈地摇动。（4）The sun sank slowly. 太阳慢慢地下沉。14. 交错法（chiasmus）属于并列关系。chiasmus结构中的分句之间的地位是平等的，它们不仅具有相同的(平行的)语法结构，而且表示具有同等重要性的(并列的)意义。这种并列关系也同样存在于词组、短语间形成的chiasmus结构。例如： an optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity. 乐观者在灾难中看到机遇；悲观者却在机遇中看到灾难。(这个例子是包含有chiasmus结构的两个平行句，表示并列意义。） knowing something of everything and everything of something. 通百艺而专一长。15. Parody（仿拟）Little John was born with a silver spoon in a mouth, which was rather curly and large. 英语成语to be born with a silver spoon in ones mouth的含义是“出生在富贵之家”。试译：小约翰嘴形弯曲，且大得出奇，好像生下来的时候嘴中含了一把银勺子似的。8. 矛盾修饰 (