上义词和下义词

上义词和下义词-兼谈笼统和具体在英语学习中我们需要注意的第三对矛盾是笼统(general)和具体(specific)。在语义研究中有一对概念是上义词(superordinate)和下义词(subordinate)。如“花”这个概念下有“玫瑰花”、“百合花”、“荷花”、“菊花”等等。这里，“花”就是一个上义词，而其他各种花则是下义词。同时，我们可以根据颜色的不同将“玫瑰花”分为“红玫瑰”、“白玫瑰”、“黄玫瑰”等。这样，“玫瑰”这个概念又成了上义词，不同色彩的玫瑰成了下义词。上义词的语义内容要比下义词的语义内容更概括、更笼统。这对矛盾的作用是：在语篇主题的保持、发展和转换过程中，我们可以通过使用上义词和下义词保持语篇中的语义逻辑关系，使语篇成为一个有机的整体。比如说，我们在英文写作中要写主题句，主题句除了其他要素之外，还必须包括一个乃至多个上义词，这是因为，主题句是全段或全文中语义内容最为概括的句子。它的语义内容必须涵盖全段获全篇。例如：Life in CavesMost large caves have three distinct zones, and each zone is home to a different kinds of natural life. In the innermost part of the cave, the darkness is complete and the temperature never varies. Without light no green plants can live, and animals have no need for eyes. The next zone, although still dark and moist, has a variable temperature. Animals that otherwise live outside inhabit this zone seasonally. The third zone, called the twilight zone, begins wherever light from the cave entrance can first be seen. A few green plants can grow in this zone. Most animals in this zone use the cave as shelter from the outdoors. In each zone the plant and animal life adapts to the meager resources of its home.这一段的第一句话是全段的主题句。它包括了三个上义词：most (large) caves, three, 和natural life。Most large caves肯定包括大多数较大的洞穴，“三”显然涵盖了“二”或“一”；natural life（自然生命）在语义逻辑上当然包括了洞穴中的动植物。这些上义词为段落的展开留下了充分的余地，于是随后的段落主体部分就能够从容地根据离洞口的距离将洞穴分成