试论英语学习中关联理论对隐喻理解的指导作用

1 / 7试论英语学习中关联理论对隐喻理解的指导作用【论文关键词】关联理论隐喻隐喻理解非字面语言 【论文摘要】文章借助关联理论的明示-推理交际模式，从词汇型隐喻、句子型隐喻、超句子型隐喻三个层次的多方面来具体阐释隐喻理解，借以希望对英语学习者理解非字面语言有所裨益。 一、引言 高职院校学生的英语语用能力普遍不强，尤其是在理解隐喻等非字面语言形式上表现得力不从心。Sperber 和 Wilson 提出的关联理论是有关交际的理论，阐释了话语理解过程，但未涉及隐喻的理解。用关联理论来阐释隐喻理解，期望能对理解非字面表达带来一定的启发。 从认知功能看，明喻、借喻与隐喻都是认知方式，因而把它们都作为隐喻表达进行分析。 2 / 7二、隐喻的理解 以下从三个层次具体阐述如何借助关联理论来理解隐喻。 1、词汇型隐喻 此类隐喻的喻体由词或词组充当，根据喻体有无修饰词分为两类。修饰词可缩小喻体的语域，减少听者为寻找语境假设与话语的最佳关联而付出的努力。 Beauty is summer fruit, and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance 喻体 fruit 为读者提供了认知环境。修饰词 summer加强了 fruit 的含义，把认知语境缩小为 Fruit is not easy to store in summer; Fruit in summer is fresh. 并作为进一步推理的语境假设。明示中的 youth 和 age 暗含时间的流逝，与语境假设 fruit is not easy to store.具有最佳关联，进而推理出 Beauty does not last long. 3 / 7喻体无修饰词的词汇型隐喻也可借助这一模式来理解。 Hed been a pig about money. 听者会在认知语境中构建假设：The pig is lazy; The pig is greedy句中的 money 使读者获得语境信息It is about his attitude to money.，结合之前的语境假设作为推理前提，进而得出语境暗含 He is greedy for money. 2、句子型隐喻 此类隐喻是指整个句子为隐喻表达。 I bet John will spend all his money in a few days, because the money burns a hole in his pocket. 前句的信息使读者获得语境假设: John does not live a frugal life. 若把隐喻表达直译为“钱在他口袋里烧了一个洞”会让人费解。听者需在之前的语境假设上进行推理，可获得 Johns pocket can not hold money. 4 / 7进而推出暗含意义 John could not save money. 此类隐喻中，习语、谚语出现的频率较高，常被用来描述相关情形。由于其意义是约定俗成的，我们很少会注意到这些隐喻用法。其意义的规约性也增加了理解的难度。 John hasnt got a mind of his own on any matter of importance; he just goes with the tide. 在句中新信息相关性的作用下，可得出语境假设： a. John does not decide important matters by himself. b. The tide has more power to force people to follow. 读者会在新信息 go with 与语境假设的关联中获得信息意图 John just follows other people. 取得语境效果 John is easily influenced by others. 3、超句子型隐喻 5 / 7说者会用整个句群作为一个隐喻来传达交际意图，此类句群即为超句子型隐喻。例如： 考试时，Ann 因不适影响了正常发挥，而 Paul 却嘲笑她。Jessie 给 Paul 讲了一个故事： Some dogs found the skin of a lion and began to tear it to pieces with their teeth. A fox, seeing them, said “If this lion were alive, you would soon find out that the claws were stronger than your teeth.” Jessie 用故事包含的道理来映射 Paul 的行为。从故事提供的认知语境中, 可获得下面的语境假设及暗含前提： a. Ann didnt get a good mark because she was ill. b. It is easy to knock down any being that is not in good condition. 6 / 7语境假设和暗含前提经过推理，最后得出暗含结论。It is not acceptable to laugh at Ann. 在清楚 Jessie 的意图后，Paul 会意识到自己行为不妥。如果 Jessie 直接示意，会使 Paul 感到尴尬。相反，此隐喻表达能在避免 Paul 尴尬的前提下起到劝诫效果。 三、结语 隐喻的理解是一种抽象的思维活动，是复杂多变的。用关联理论的明示-推