Paul Robert在《英语句子结构》(English Sentence Structure一书中指出:“据多数情况来看,歧义的产生并非故意的。它是由运用句子结构时的疏忽造成的,以致没有能够将可以使意义清晰的标记包罗到句子中去。(周立人,1997∶6”于是忽视使用表明句子结构的句法代号就引起了语法歧义。伍谦光(1995∶199认为:“‘语法歧义’是指由于对句子中的句法结构有不同理解而产生的歧义。”语法歧义最常见,也最复杂。下面是一些具有代表性的类例:
1.1词性
一个句子往往由于无法确定某个词的词性而变得无法理解。
(1College demands change.
很明显,例句中的demands既可理解为动词,也可理解为名词。change同样如此。于是此句就产生了两个不同的意思:(1大学要求改革。demands是动词,change是名词。(2大学的要求改变了。demands是名词,change是动词。
1.2名词(修饰语+名词
1.2.1复合名词或名词短语
(2an English teacher
此例在书面语中易引起歧义:(1一位教英语的老师。English teacher是一个复合名词。(2一位来自英国的老师。English作为修饰语加在名词前构成名词短语。
1.2.2-ing+名词
(3Flying planes can be dangerous.
此句也产生了两种意思:(1驾驶飞机会是危险的。Flying是动名词。(2正在驾驶的飞机会有危险。Fling是现在分词,作形容词用。
1.3带有’s的名词所有格
(4This is his teacher’s book.
句子中teacher’s book可以是一个整体,即“教师用书”。但his teacher也可以是一个整体,即“他的老师”。所以此句产生了两个意思:(1这是他的教师用书。(2这是他老师的书。
1.4不定式动词短语
(5The tiger is too small to kill.
此例也有两种含义:(1这只老虎太小以致于不能伤人。此意对tiger来说,是主动的动作。(2这只老虎太小了,还不能被。此意对tiger来说,是被动的动作。
1.5“及物动词+宾语”结构
(6I found Jim an experienced teacher.
及物动词found后面接了两个名词Jim和an experienced teacher。这句话有两个意思:(1我发现吉姆原来是一位有的老师。(2我为吉姆找到了一位有经验的老师。
1.6并列连词and
(7Tom and Lucy are married.
此句可理解为:(1汤姆和露西两个成了亲。其中and连接两个名词,构成一个简单句。(2汤姆和露西两个都已结婚。该句可看作一个并列句。
1.7悬挂式否定词not
(8His object is not to eat.
此句产生的两种意思为:(1他的目的不是吃。作此意讲时,is和not的关系紧密,可写作isn’t。(2他的目的是绝食。作此意讲时,not与to eat的关系紧密,形成“绝食”的含义。因此not是悬挂式的(即可以自由摆动。
1.8悬挂式代词
(9The man informed his brother that he should lose weight.
人称代词he位于两个名词the man和his brother之后,句意变得模糊:(1这个男的告诉他的哥哥他自己应该减肥。人称代词he代指the man。(2这个男的告诉他的哥哥他应该减肥。这时人称代词he代指his brother。
1.9悬挂式状语修饰成分
(10The people who saw the play frequently praised it.
这里的frequently很难说是修饰saw the play还是praised的,因为状语修饰成分是“悬挂的”,所以产生了两个意思:(1经常看戏的人们称赞了它。(2看了这出戏的人们频繁地称赞它。
1.10悬挂式定语修饰成分
(11Lily likes the vase on the table which she bought yesterday.
此句中的which she bought yesterday是定语从句,这个定语从句可认为是修饰vase,也可以认为是修饰table。也引起了歧义:(1莉莉喜欢放在桌子上的那个昨天买的花瓶。(2莉莉喜欢放在昨天买的桌子上的那个花瓶。
好的文章动静结合、张弛有度有节奏感。句式也是一样,要有变化性,这不仅能使文章更生动,也是语言表达方式的需要和表达能力的体现。句式的`变化,主要是要注意两点:
● 不要从头至尾使用一种句型。
● 长短句结合。
由于语言功底的欠缺和惯用思维,很多人写的文章一种句式到头,如:
I think …
I hope…
He does it.
He will take it
这样的文章虽然意思表达出来了,却显得呆板,欠生动。解决的办法是:
1.间或使用主从复句。
Because he is very much determined, he will carry it out this time. (原因
比较:He is very much determined. He will carry it out this time.
2.使用分词结构句。
The weather being fine, a large number of people went sightseeing.
比较:The weather is fine. A large number of people went sightseeing.
Africa is the second largest continent, its size being about three times that of China.
比较:Africa is the second largest continent. Its size is about three times that of China.
3.使用不定式句。
To be or not to be, that is a question. (莎士比亚
To study or not to study, that is much different.(引申
To do it well, you must plan it well.
比较:You want to do it well. And you must plan it well.
4.倒装句
Only when we fully recognize its importance can we have control of its essence.
比较:After we fully recognize its importance, we can have control of its essence.
No sooner had he arrived home than it began to rain.
比较:He arrived home. And it began to rain.
5.失衡句
whether or not he will come is still unknown to all the people present.
比较:No one present knows whether he will come or not.
That he has done it all by himself is known to everyone.
比较:Everyone knows that he has done it all by himself.
当然,句子并不是越长越好,也不是越复杂水平就越高。凡事皆有度。太多长句的堆砌让人觉得是买弄。有时侯,一个短小精辟的句子可以起到画龙点睛的作用。特别是在文末段尾。比如:
●As a creature, every one knows.
●Actions speak louder than words.
●Practice makes perfect.
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