Lecture Three Communicative Rhetoric

1、 English Rhetoric Foreign Languages School Yunnan Normal University Lecturer: Yin Shaodong Lecture Three Communicative Rhetoric Connotation and Equivalency1.1 Two levels of connotationpolysemy: deep meaning, surface meaning Deep meaning: etymology, word roots, affix, suffix An Example: subject subje

2、ct-subjectus (Latin) sub=under ject=throw subject=throwunder (authority) Surface meanings of “subject”:Surface meanings of “subject”:“subject” as a verbArmed resistance showed that a minority at least was not prepared to be subjected to foreign rule. （武装反抗表明至少有少数人不准备屈从于外国（武装反抗表明至少有少数人不准备屈从于外国的统治。）的统

3、治。）On this test-track, the manufacturers deliberately subject standard production cars to rough treatment. （制造商们有意使按标准生产的汽车在（制造商们有意使按标准生产的汽车在测试台上经受破坏性实验。）测试台上经受破坏性实验。）This plan will be subjected to approval. （这个计划将呈请批准。）（这个计划将呈请批准。）Our exports in this line are subjected to a tariff rate of 50% in Ca

4、nada. （我们的此类出口商品在加拿大应征的关税率为（我们的此类出口商品在加拿大应征的关税率为50%。）。）(2) “subject” as an adjective a. Human affairs are all subject to changes and disasters. (Daniel Defoe) （人世间，事不由己，变迁灾祸，难以预料。）（人世间，事不由己，变迁灾祸，难以预料。） b. Civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. (John F. Kennedy)

5、 （谦虚不是软弱的表现，（谦虚不是软弱的表现，诚意总是有待证明。）诚意总是有待证明。） c. He who is subject to temptations tends to err. （不能抗拒诱惑的人，往往要犯错误。）（不能抗拒诱惑的人，往往要犯错误。） (3) “subject” as a noun a. This is a subject for discussion.（这是一个要讨论的题目。）（这是一个要讨论的题目。） b. English is one of the main subjects on the curriculum. （英语是课程设置中的主要学科之一。）（英语是课程

6、设置中的主要学科之一。）c. He is a subject of the United Kingdom. （他是联合王国的臣民。）（他是联合王国的臣民。） d. What is the subject of the sentence?*The word “subject” has different meanings, but the core meaning of it is “throw/thrown under”.More words from the root “ject”: conjecture= together+throw n. 推想，估计，猜测推想，估计，猜测 interje

7、ct=between+throw v. 插入插入 object=against+throw v. 反对，反对，n. 事物事物 project=forward+throw v. 投射，投射，n. 项目项目 projector n. 投影仪投影仪 projectile n. 抛射体抛射体 reject=back+throw v. 拒绝拒绝 abject=away+throw a. 被抛弃的，绝望无助的被抛弃的，绝望无助的 deject=down+throw v. 扔下，使情绪低落扔下，使情绪低落 eject=out+throw v. 逐出，排斥逐出，排斥 trajectory=across+thr

8、ow v. 轨迹，弹道，轨迹线轨迹，弹道，轨迹线 Relationship between these two levels: The deep meaning decides the nature of a word, whereas the surface meaning decides a words specific explanations in specific situations. 1.2 Equivalency between English and Chinese (1) completely equivalent crab-螃蟹螃蟹 plastic-塑料塑料 desk-书

9、桌书桌 rose-玫瑰玫瑰 stone-石头石头 sun-太阳太阳 (2) partially equivalent A concept, in both languages, is partially equivalent to each other in a certain plane, while mostly, they are not on the same plane.An exampleAn example: “introduce” & “介绍介绍”Let me introduce myself: My name is George. (请让我自我请让我自我介绍介绍：我叫

10、乔治。：我叫乔治。) “介绍介绍”-从中沟通，使双方相识从中沟通，使双方相识 “introduce”-cause to be acquaintedb. 市、县官员向他市、县官员向他介绍介绍了他们的机构对塌方事件了他们的机构对塌方事件进行联合调查的进展情况。进行联合调查的进展情况。 He was briefed by city and county officials on the progress of the joint investigation by their agencies into the cave-in. c. 服务员服务员介绍介绍菜单上最美味的佳肴是炸鸡。菜单上最美味的佳肴是

11、炸鸡。 The waiter recommended fried chicken as the best dish on the menu.d. 请你请你介绍介绍一下经验好吗？一下经验好吗？ Would you pass on your experience? e. He introduced me to his parents. 他把我介绍给他的父母。他把我介绍给他的父母。 f. He is apt to introduce new ideas into the business. 他敏于在企业中引进新的思想。他敏于在企业中引进新的思想。 g. They have introduced a

12、new job-contract system into the factorys reform project. 他们在工厂的改革方案中采用了一种新的承包责任制。他们在工厂的改革方案中采用了一种新的承包责任制。 h. Tobacco was introduced into Europe from America. 烟草是由美洲传入欧洲的。烟草是由美洲传入欧洲的。i. Dressing designers introduce new fashions each year. 服装设计师每年都推出新的款式。服装设计师每年都推出新的款式。 j. The doctor introduced a lon

13、g tube into the sick mans throat so he could breathe. 医生在病人的喉头插入一根长管使他能呼吸。医生在病人的喉头插入一根长管使他能呼吸。 k. Television and space travel are introducing many new words into our language. 电视和宇宙飞行正把许多新词引入我们的语言。电视和宇宙飞行正把许多新词引入我们的语言。 l. I introduced my country cousin to the big city by showing him the sights. 我带乡下

14、来的表弟四处观光，让他见识一下这个大城市。我带乡下来的表弟四处观光，让他见识一下这个大城市。3. no equivalency “老师老师”-？ deeply affected with painful recollectionsstir up painful memoriesstart a train of melancholy thoughtscall forth painful memoriesbe full of sad reflections on life “感慨感慨-？”“感时伤怀感时伤怀”： a. Something from the dim recesses of the m

15、ind gnaws at me b. He looked far-away and lost, probably sunk in a shadowy review of the past. c. The dark clouds at the back of my mind loomed up again, raw-edged and disturbing. d. I cannot say why I felt wretched; it must have been connected with my reminiscence. e. It was a memory too bitter to

16、be borne, yet it returned with a medley of feelings rising up to confuse me. Former Panamanian dictator suspected of drug-running and brought to the bar of justice after the United States invaded his country, Manuel Noriega is now left to languish in a Miami jail.(2) Former Defense Minister and Tory

17、 conference crowd pleaser Michael Heseltine bolted from the cabinet in 1985 after an unusual disagreement with the Prime Minister. The ambitious and highly popular M. P. has languished on the backbenches ever since. Thatcher will do her level best to keep him there.languish: (1) suffer under unfavor

18、able conditions and become weak or weary (2) lose vigor and vitality; become dull and low-spirited (3) pine with desire or longing (4) assume an expression of grief or emotion, appealing for sympathy“向向学习学习”: learn from: study ones mistakes, etc., and those of others to ensure that they are not repe

19、ated eg. Why dont you learn from my mistakes?emulate: to imitate or copy with a view to equaling or surpassing to try to be like someone else, because you admire thema. Paris itself is the epitome of civilized city life, so humane in the scale of its architecture, so enchanting in its mix of style a

20、nd history and hedonism. Would that other cities of the world could emulate Paris.b. I. M. Pei has set a standard for other architects to emulate.Other Examples:I:Having come to the conclusion, we began to plan for the worst possible scenario. If you can handle the worst, then you can handle anythin

21、g. 得出结论后，我们便开始为应付最坏的情况制定计划。如果你对付得了最坏的局面，别的得出结论后，我们便开始为应付最坏的情况制定计划。如果你对付得了最坏的局面，别的就什么也不怕了。就什么也不怕了。It is difficult to find jobs during a boom time. This syndrome is having a terrible impact on the morale of the minority community. 在经济繁荣时期也难找到工作。这种情况对少数民族社区的情绪，有一种极坏的影响。在经济繁荣时期也难找到工作。这种情况对少数民族社区的情绪，有一种极

22、坏的影响。Almost singlehandedly, she changed the parameters of British politics, ending the free-lunch mentality that had prevailed since 1945 and replacing it with an unyielding commitment to free markets and individual responsibility. Lets discuss some of the parameters of the problem. e. Its a new pla

23、ying field. II: “Death of a Salesman” is by no means my most produced play. “The Crucible” is. In part, thats because you need big actors to play Willy Loman, and a lot of small groups dont have anybody of that caliber. We need a man of your caliber. Faculty members now worry about the caliber of st

24、udents.d. An engineer of his caliber cannot be easily found.e. His character was of the highest caliber.III: The motive for matrimony among the well-to-do, Swedlund concluded, may have had less to do with affection than the desire to keep their money in their social set. He used to be with a very smart set.