写作,措辞.ppt

1、1,Chapter One Diction - Choice and Use of Words,2,1.1 Abstract Words vs. Concrete words; General Words vs. Specific Words,1. Abstract words and concrete words,3,Concrete words identify persons and things that can be perceived by the five senses - seen, heard, tasted, felt, smelled. E.g table, boy, t

2、ree Abstract words denote qualities, concepts, relationships, acts, conditions, ideas. They have no physical referent. E.g. freedom, democracy, love, success, responsibility; -ism words as communism, realism, romanticism, socialism, racism, capitalism,4,Generally, abstract words will change meaning

3、with time and circumstances. Concrete words stay the same. Abstract words are essential in making analysis, classification, inference and conclusion. Concrete words are useful in giving details.,Features:,5,Practice Study the following sentences and point out why they can achieve the humorous effect

4、s. 1) Happiness is a cancelled 8:00 class on a cold, stormy morning. 2) Panic is learning that next Thursdays quiz is this Thursday. Ponder: Why do politicians prefer abstract words to concrete words ?,6,2. General words and specific words,Concrete words and abstracts words are opposite, but general

5、 and specific words are not opposite. They form a relationship of meaning inclusion.,7,General words refer to groups, categories. Specific words refer to individuals in a group. They are also a matter of relativity.,8,E.g. General word: livestock Specific words: horse, ox, pig, sheep,cock, duck Gene

6、ral word: flower Specific words: rose, tulip, violet, Jasmine,9,Practice: Rearrange the following group of three words from the most general to the most specific. 1) chemist professional biochemist 2) rocking chair Furniture chair 3) Cucumber food vegetable 4) to look happy to beam to smile 5) to st

7、roll to move to walk,10,3. Generalization:,Writing that contains too many abstractions can be hard to understand and scares the readers. Writing that is nothing but specifics give readers little guidance, and they will not grasp the main point.,11,Exercise: For each of the following abstract words,

8、give at least four concrete or specific words/ expressions related to it. 1) Smile/ laugh 2) Good food 3) Good man,12,1) Smile/ laugh giggle, chuckle, grin, titter snigger, guffaw beam, snicker, smirk, chortle, jeer, 2) Good food tasty, delicious, nourishing, rich, abundant, fresh, nutritious, fresh

9、, appetizing 3) Good man warm-hearted, generous, just, honest, sympathetic, selfless, brave, honorable, considerate, righteous, upright, integrity, gentle,13,1.2 Choice and Use of Words in Conciseness,1. What is conciseness? Conciseness means being direct and to the point. Vigorous writing is concis

10、e. A concise sentence contains no unnecessary words.,2. How to achieve conciseness?,1) Rewrite or eliminate redundant pairs or redundant categories.,15,What are redundant pairs?,- That means many pairs of words imply each other E.g. completely finished each individual final outcome past history terr

11、ible tragedy future plans,16,What are redundant categories? - That means specific words imply their general categories . E.g. red in color large in size period in time heavy in weight honest in character young in age often times,17,Compare:,Wordy: During that time period, many car buyers preferred c

12、ars that were pink in color and shiny in appearance. More Concise: During that period, many car buyers preferred pink, shiny cars.,18,2) Eliminate unnecessary intensifiers (determiners and modifiers),Actually, these intensifiers dont add to the new meaning of the sentence, because the words they mod

13、ify are strong enough. E.g. carefully examine without some kind of extra help any particular kind of bread,19,3) Avoid overusing the noun forms of verbs or nominalization,Nouns denote entity, or thing; verbs denote action, or doing. Sometimes, an action is expressed in the form of a noun. Compare: W

14、ordy: The students achieved the completion of the project by the deadline. More Concise: The students completed the project by the deadline.,20,4) Reduce clauses and phrases,That means a phrase can be replaced by single words and a clause can be replaced by a phrase.,21,Compare:,(1) Wordy: a man wit

15、h ambition More Concise: an ambitious man (2) Wordy: the class showing the best performance More Concise: the bestperforming class (3) Wordy: the person who owns the store More Concise: the store owner,22,(4) Wordy: the report which was released recently More Concise: the recently released report (5

16、) Wordy: the magazine is designed for women who are from 25 to 50 More Concise: the magazine is designed for women aged 25-50,23,5) Avoid overusing expletives at the beginning of sentences, e.g. the structure of “ it + be/ verb” the structure of “ there + be/ verb”,24,Compare:,1) Wordy: It is the go

17、vernor who signs or vetoes bills. More Concise: The governor signs or vetoes bills. 2) Wordy: There are four rules that should be observed. More Concise: Four rules should be observed.,Sentence fragments,Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences to make them more concise. 1) We will have no knowledg

18、e of the results until the completion of this contest. 2) There are trees on all sides of the house, and the trees hide the house. People can hardly see the house from the outside. 3) All members were in agreement that a meeting was necessary. 4) Mrs. Johnson gave her approval of my idea for the red

19、uction of the homework load. 5) The revision of the teaching plan took two months.,26,Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences to make them more concise.,1) We will have no knowledge of the results until the completion of this contest. Rewritten: We will not know the results until we complete this

20、contest. 2) There are trees on all sides of the house, and the trees hide the house. People can hardly see the house from the outside. Rewritten: Surrounded by the tree, the house can hardly be seen from the outside.,27,3) All members were in agreement that a meeting was necessary. Rewritten: All me

21、mbers agreed that a meeting was necessary. 4) Mrs. Johnson gave her approval of my idea for the reduction of the homework load. Rewritten: Mrs. Johnson approved of my idea to reduce the homework load. 5) The revision of the teaching plan took two months. Rewritten: The teaching plan took two months

22、to revise.,28,1.3 Choice and Use of Words in Formality,1. Level of formality Formality: refers to the state of being formal. The level of formality is determined by the writing purpose, the audience and the type of writing.,29,Three categories of the level of formality,the formal - to use big words

23、and elegant words the medium-level (neutral) the informal - to use colloquial words and slang,Compare:,1) Formal: Our attendance to class is required to be punctual. Informal: We re wanted to come to class on time. 2) Formal: In my opinion he is not of the individual who we desire. Neutral: I believ

24、e that he is not the man we want. Informal: I dont think that hes the man were looking for.,3) Formal: My beloved parent has just perished from the earth to his heavenly reward 吾之先考猝然逾越红尘往受上苍之嘉奖。 Neutral: My dad has just died. 我爸爸刚死。 Informal: My old man has just kicked the bucket. 我那老头子刚才蹬腿了。,32,In

25、formal formal words brainy intelligent pal friend flunk fail job position kid child knock off stop working sloppy untidy guy man blow up explode cut down reduce fire dismiss leave depart same identical tired fatigued,33,Writing situation- in which kinds of writing?,formal academic paper, official le

26、tter or some business letter, formal speech, political and legal documents, law or official writing informal diary, private letters/ notes, some literary works (novels,),34,1.4 Choice and Use of Words in Exactness,1. Exact words Using appropriate and exact words is essential to writing, for your cho

27、ice of words affects the impact of the message you want to convey.,35,2. Paying attention to synonyms,Synonyms refer to words with the same meanings. But the pure synonyms are rare. They may differ from each other in the following aspects:,36,1) In the shade of meaning,eagle hawk Eagle is a bird tha

28、t soars high and thus see far, to have an eagle eye (to have excellent vision) Hawk is a bird of pray, symbolizes harshness, thus people call the hard line politician “the hawk” 国家 Country emphasizes the territory. Nation emphasizes the people. State emphasizes political organization. Land is often

29、used to connote certain feeling.,37,2) In emotional color (derogatory meaning vs. appreciative meaning),Compare: politician vs. statesman (people engaged in political activities) collaborator vs. accomplice (people who help others or work with others) Collaborator: refers to people who help others f

30、or the common benefits of each other. Accomplice: refers to people who help others to do evil things.,38,Compare: economical frugal thrifty mean miserly stingy (from appreciative to derogatory meaning),39,3) In collocation,Collocation refers to the words that can be used together. E.g. accuseof char

31、gewith. reproachwith. rebukefor.,40,4) In style,Generally, Latin words are more bookish than early English and French. E.g. Early English: ask time rise French: question age mount Latin: interrogate epoch ascend,41,E.g. 1) My father purchased a large automobile. My dad bought a big car. 2) The conce

32、rt concluded with a performance of Beethovens 5th symphony. They ended the concert with Beethovens 5th symphony.,42,1.5 What Language to Avoid,1. Avoid offensive language Offensive language usually doesnt convince readers. Instead, it makes them hostile and uncomfortable, arouses their opposition to the writer.,43,Usually, it includes such kinds: biased words and expressions; over-emotionall