什么是低调陈述(understatement).doc

什么是低调陈述Understatement is a form of speech which contains an expression of less strength than would be expected. This is not to be confused with euphemism, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression.低调陈述英语解释为understatementUnderstatement is the opposite of overstatement in that it misrepresents the truth by deliberately understating it as opposed to exaggerating it.简单来说，低调陈述与夸张正好相反。如：the face wasnt a bad one; it had what they called charm.这个句子中，the face wasnt a bad one就是采用了低调陈述的手法，实际意思就是：the face was a very good one. 就像中文中有人问起自己妻子的相貌，丈夫会谦虚的说：不丑。而这个“不丑”也隐含了一层意思就是：很漂亮。这就是低调陈述。明抑暗扬的understatement （低调陈述）先看大学英语精读第四册七单元课文中有这样一句话：We are none of us getting any younger.我们都不年轻啦。这个句子通过对younger 的否定来表示对该词的反义词older的肯定，其本意是：We are both of us getting much old. 这是英语中常见的一种修辞方法，称之为understatement（低调陈述）。Understatement 的意思是： a statement that is not strong enough to express facts or feelings with full force（语气不够强，不足以表达事实或感情的陈述）。A Dictionary of Literary Terms所给的解释是：A figure of speech which contains an understatement of emphasis, and therefore the opposite of hyperbole. Often used in everyday speech and usually with laconic or ironic intentions.也就是说，这种修辞格是故意使用有节制的措辞来陈述事实，故意轻描淡写，借低调与弱化语言形式来表示强调。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；而Understatement则故意采取“低调”，化大为小，是deliberately minimize the importance和 play down。一般说来，英语Understatement并无固定的格式，通常可以通过词汇和语法手段来体现。1、用词汇手段来体现Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse. (Johathan Swift)上星期我看见一个女人被剥了皮，而你几乎不会相信这把她的身体改变得多么更不好了。作者用altered一词，轻描淡写地陈述了剥女人皮这一毛骨悚然的事件。there was a loud cry from a number of voices, and the horses reared and plunged. But for the latter inconvenience, the carriage probably would not have stopped; carriages were often known to drive on, and leave their wounded behind, and why not? （Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities）从许多声音之中发出一种绝叫，马提起前腿跳了一下。单是为了这点不方便，马车是不会停止的；照例，可以照常驰骋，把受伤者弃置在后面，为什么不可以呢？马车停下来竟不是因为撞死了人，而是因为马受了惊这点不便，作者用But for the latter inconvenience这一短语，虽是轻描淡写，反而有力地揭露了当时封建贵族横行霸道、视黎民为草芥的丑恶本质。Those of us are quitting are the impatient ones who lack the imagination to believe that the bright dream will glow again. (Caskie Stinnett: Farewell, My Unlovely)我们这些里（纽约）而去者没有耐性，缺乏想象力，不相信往日的辉煌之梦还会重放异彩。此句中的lack the imagination实际上是do not (believe that).2、用语法手段来体现No one was more willing to do a favour for friend neighbour than he. 他最愿意帮朋友或邻居的忙。此例是用比较结构表达understatement。I know he is honest, and I wish I could add he were capable.我知道他是诚实的，我还希望我能说他是能干的。此句也是用虚拟语气来体现understatement，I could add he were capable其实是在说“但他不够能干”。“Dont you figure out that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, not without sarcasm, but friendly, as one greets good fortune. (O. Henry: The Cop and the Anthem)“难道你看不出我可能跟这事有关吗？”苏比说，口气不是没有讥讽，但态度却友好，仿佛一个要交好运的人。此例是以双重否定体现understatement，not without sarcasm就是with sarcasm（语带讥讽）。简而言之，Understatement（低调陈述）的要点，就是轻描淡写地陈述一种想法。然而要达到这样的“轻描淡写”的修辞效果并非易事。要在表现手法上下功夫。根据笔者的归纳，understatement常用的表现方法有以下几种：1、用反说代替正说所谓“反说”，即从另一角度来衡量一件事物，比如用 not bad来表达very good 的意思。用反说代替正说，可以减轻说话者的语气和对事物的评价，避免绝对化。这种方法是用否定词（词缀）加上与本意相反的词。如，It is good是一个 statement，它的 understatement由 not加 good的反义词 bad构成： It is not bad。类例：The face wasnt a bad one; it had what they called charm. (John Galsworthy)面孔不算难看，有一般人所称的妩媚。此句不是冲淡她的魅力，而是采用低调渲染，意即The face was sweet; her charm conquered everybody. 明似贬抑，实则褒扬。If Saddam Hussein goes out of power, no tear is to be shed. 如果萨达姆侯赛因下台，我们不会为之落泪。直言是希望他下台，但用外交辞令，就得低调处理，于是说不会流泪，不会痛悼。这就是用understatement修辞方法表示否定的态度。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. (Kyuk-Ho Shin: Time, June 24, 1999)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实际是否定之否定，表示肯定，说明这可是一件“了不起的大事”。A final agreement to set up trade offices with consular functions came after high-profile maneuvering by Seoul at last months Asian Games in Beijing. A generous Korean contribution to the cash-short event didnt hurt. Now analysts expect last years $3.1billion in indirect two-way trade to leap quickly to a $5-billion-a year clip. （Gerson Yalowitz）上个月在北京亚运会上，汉城机动灵活，姿态很高，对现金短缺的竞赛慷慨解囊。北京方面认为接受这笔赞助款项也无伤脾胃。随后达成了最后协议，双方建立贸易代办处，附带领事馆职能。现在分析家预期去年双方间接贸易的实绩31亿美元将高速跃进到50