陳南燕
(遵義師范學(xué)院外語系,貴州遵義563002)
在語言交際中,修辭一直起著十分重要的作用??捎靡躁U明思想,加強(qiáng)語氣,節(jié)省篇幅,激發(fā)聯(lián)想,表達(dá)激情或獲取韻律。同時(shí),修辭還具有一個(gè)基本的美學(xué)效果——擴(kuò)大和加深感覺的范圍,以及對(duì)物體和思想世界的反應(yīng)的范圍。在我們的語言表達(dá)過程中,修辭的運(yùn)用無處不在。索緒爾在論述語言符號(hào)的任意性時(shí)指出,英語語言的使用在某種程度上存在其任意性和約定俗成的模仿,英語仿擬正好從某種程度上說明了語言表達(dá)的這一特點(diǎn),說明了語言表達(dá)過程中人類豐富的想象力及聯(lián)想力,也說明了語言表意功能的可滋生性。
任何語言均具有表意功能,世間萬物為人類語言提供了生成基礎(chǔ),而人類豐富的聯(lián)想力又使語言表達(dá)具有一定的任意性及靈活性。英語語言表達(dá)式豐富多彩,從詞句、段落到諺語格言,尤其是圣經(jīng)給英語語言提供了用之不竭,取之不盡的語料資源。這一切均為英語仿擬提供了一定的語義生成基礎(chǔ)。在語言交際過程中正確而恰當(dāng)?shù)厥褂梅聰M,有助于揭示所表達(dá)的事物內(nèi)在的矛盾,增強(qiáng)說服力,使語言表達(dá)生動(dòng)活潑,幽默詼諧,富有一定的諷刺色彩。
根據(jù)不同的語義生成基礎(chǔ),英語仿擬可以分為以下三個(gè)類別。
即把其中的某詞換成意義相近或相反的詞,或以其它方式,臨時(shí)仿造出一個(gè)新的短語。也就是由原有詞項(xiàng)類比出新的詞相,從本質(zhì)上來說,這種類比其實(shí)就是人類的隱喻思維,也被視為人類造詞的重要語義理據(jù)(Semantic Motivation)之一。其中相似類比是最為普遍的一種類比,即利用新事物與原有事物之間的相似點(diǎn),由此及彼,類推出新事物的名稱。例如:由原有的“Water pollution”(水污染)可以滋生出諸如“air pollution”,“environmemtal pollution”,“noise/sound pollution”,“visual/eye pollution”,“cultural pollution”and“graffiti pollution”等一系列的仿詞;再如英語“gap”(裂口/間隙/差距)一詞最早與(導(dǎo)彈)搭配,產(chǎn)生于美國(guó)1960年大選期間,指美國(guó)與蘇聯(lián)在導(dǎo)彈發(fā)展上的差距。隨后一系列的仿詞由此而生:“production gap,development gap,credibility gapand generation gap”。與相似類比相對(duì)應(yīng)的是相反類比:這種類比就是利用原有詞項(xiàng)仿造出反義詞。這種反義類比不僅體現(xiàn)了人類的隱喻思維,同時(shí)也反映了人類共有的對(duì)比聯(lián)想(Association by contrast)能力。如:由原有的“hot war”仿造出20世紀(jì)50-60年代東、西方的冷戰(zhàn)時(shí)代(cold war);同樣地:hot line—cold line(熱線—冷線);high-rise—low-rise(高層建筑—低層建筑);overproduction—underproduction.(生產(chǎn)過剩—生產(chǎn)不足)。
諺語是一個(gè)國(guó)家的人民的智慧和才華的結(jié)晶,它在語言上具有精辟、生動(dòng)、形象、優(yōu)美和通俗等特點(diǎn);它往往通過飛禽走獸、花草樹木等具體事物,來說明具有深?yuàn)W道理的抽象事物。它經(jīng)常被引用在小說、戲劇、寓言等各種形式的文學(xué)作品中。同時(shí)也為英語仿擬的主要語義生成基礎(chǔ)之一。如下的例子均說明了這一點(diǎn):A.Wine was thicker than blood to the Mondavi brothers,who feuded bitterly over control of the family business.(仿造于諺語“Blood is thicker than water.”間接地諷刺了為了爭(zhēng)奪家業(yè)而忘了兄弟間手足情誼的蒙特維兄弟兩,揭露了他們見利忘義,結(jié)怨成仇的丑惡臉嘴。B.“Like son,like father,”said his mother.(仿造于諺語“Like father,like son.”母親借兒子之行為諷勸了父親。)由此在語言交際中可產(chǎn)生相似的仿擬語言句:“Like mother,like daughter.”“Like daughter,like mother.”這一仿擬語言表達(dá)式生動(dòng)地說明了現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中,父子間與母女間在行為舉止上的相互影響,說明了他們之間有著十分重要的潛移默化作用,同時(shí)也成功地揭示了一個(gè)普遍存在的社會(huì)現(xiàn)象。C.In economics all roads lead to socialism.___by George Bernard Shaw(是根據(jù)諺語“All roads lead to Rome.”仿造而成。說明了現(xiàn)實(shí)中所存在的異曲同工的道理。D.All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.→All work and no play makes a dull stay.這樣的例子不勝枚舉。E.A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.→“A husband/wife in the hand is worth two in the bush..”she grinned.F.A stitch in time saves nine.→A word in time saves nine.G.You may take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink.→You can take a child to Euclid but you can’t make him think.H.Where there is a will,there is a way.→Where there is water,there is wealth.I.He who laughslas tlaughs best.→The lass who lassos the lad laughs last.
Do in Rome as the Romans do.入鄉(xiāng)隨俗。
Do in America as the Americans do.
Do in China as the Chinese do.
When in his territory,do as he does.
All roads lead to Rome.條條大路通羅馬。
All roads lead to success.
All roads lead to Beijing.
All roads lead to heaven.
Time lost cannot be won again.時(shí)光流逝,不可復(fù)得。
Friend lost cannot be won again.
Opportunity lost cannot be won again.
Look before you leap.(三思而后行。)
Plan before you do.
Think before you do.
No pain,no gain.(沒有付出就沒有收獲。表達(dá)一種條件。)
No sweat,no sweet.
No water,no life.
No trees,no life.
和諺語相似,成語也是文化發(fā)展的過程中逐漸沉淀下來的,它們的構(gòu)成與一個(gè)文化中人們的生存環(huán)境和習(xí)俗有緊密的關(guān)系,俗語通常都是人們?cè)谌粘I钪行攀帜閬淼恼Z言,因此更是家喻戶曉。名言、歷史人物所說的話、一本名著中的話語或古詩(shī)中的詩(shī)句、某一戲劇、電影中的臺(tái)詞,只要是廣為人知,傳播甚久甚廣的話語,都隨時(shí)可能成為仿擬的語義生成基礎(chǔ)。
A.nine days’wonder(轟動(dòng)一時(shí)的事物)→seven-day wonder(曇花一現(xiàn)的新聞);B.salt of the earth(社會(huì)中堅(jiān))→the salt of the labouring man(勞動(dòng)者的血汗);C.born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth(出生富貴)→born with a Cadillac in one’s mouth;D.worth one’s weight in gold(非常有價(jià)值的)→worth their weight in diamonds;E.bite off more than one can chew(不自量力)→married a bit more than he could chew;F.fall between two stools(兩頭落空)→fall between three/four stools;G.keep one’s head above water(勉強(qiáng)度日)→keep one’s nose above water;H.sit on the fence(觀望態(tài)度)→reside on the fence;
to be or not to be,that is a question.就常常被改編以適應(yīng)各種面臨選擇的場(chǎng)景,如to age or not to age...,to buy or not to buy...,to know or not to know...等,如某香煙廣告就將之改為To smoke or not to smoke,that is a question.Sense and Sensibility.→Sense and simplicity.To err is human;to forgive,divine.(人會(huì)犯錯(cuò),神會(huì)原諒。也就是中文中的人孰無過,過而能改,善莫大焉。出自馬克·吐溫)
To eat is human;to digest,divine.
To learn is human;to digest divine.(學(xué)習(xí)貴在消化吸收)
Life is a stage.(William Shakespre)→life is a long journey.
If winter comes,can spring be far behind?(Percey Shelly)→If today has come,can tommorrow be far behind?
…to rise like Lions after slumber…Shake your chanins to earth like dew.(Percey Shelly)→to rise like lions after slumber and shake off their chains like dew.
Don't part with your illusions.When they are gone you may still exist,but you have ceased to live.(Mark Twain,American writer)
不要放棄你的幻想。當(dāng)幻想沒有了以后,你還可以生存,但是你雖生猶死。(美國(guó)作家馬克·吐溫)→Don't part with your dreams/wishes/hope/pursuit.
Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass.
Alexander Dumas(Davy de La Pailleterie,French Writer)
生活沒有目標(biāo)就像航海沒有指南針。(法國(guó)作家大仲馬.A.)→Living without love/friendship/learning is like living without sunshine.
Genius only means hard-working all one's life.(Mendeleyer,Russian Chemist)
天才只意味著終身不懈的努力。(俄國(guó)化學(xué)家門捷列耶夫)→Achievement/successs only means hard-working all one's life.
Our destiny offers not the cup of despair,but the chalice of opportunity.(Richard Nixon,American President)
命運(yùn)給予我們的不是失望之酒,而是機(jī)會(huì)之杯。(美國(guó)總統(tǒng)尼克松.R.)→Our fate offers not the glass of disappointmen,but the chance of hope.
The man who has made up his mind to win will never say"impossible".
(Bonaparte Napoleon,French emperor)
凡是決心取得勝利的人是從來不說“不可能的”。(法國(guó)皇帝拿破侖.B.)→The man who is determined to win will never say“giving up”.
Where there is a will,there is a way.(Thomas Edison,American inventor)
有志者,事竟成。(美國(guó)發(fā)明家愛迪生.T.)→Where there is life,there is hope.
All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.(Voltaire,French thinker)
人世間所有的榮華富貴不如一個(gè)好朋友。(法國(guó)思想家伏爾泰)→All the splendor in the world is not worth a good wife/husband/father/mother.
Happiness is form courage.(H.Jackson,British writer)
幸福是勇氣的一種形式。(英國(guó)作家杰克遜.H.)→Happiness is form success/achievement/work/study.
Activity is the only road to knowledge.
(George Bernard Shaw,British dramatist)
行動(dòng)是通往知識(shí)的唯一道路。(英國(guó)劇作家肖伯納.G.)→Integrity/honesty is the only road to happiness.
If you want to understand today,you have to search yesterday.(
Pearl Buck,American female writer)
想要懂得今天,就必須研究昨天。(美國(guó)女作家賽珍珠)→If you want to predict tomorrow,you have to know today.
Three Passions I have Lived For
by Bertrand Russell
Threepassions,simplebut over whel mingly strong,have governed my life:the longing for love,the search for knowledge,and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.These passions,like great winds,have blown me hither and thither,in a wayward course over a deep ocean of anguish,reaching to the very verge of despair.
吾之三愿
貝特蘭·羅素
吾生三愿,純樸卻激越:一曰渴望愛情,二曰求索知識(shí),三曰悲憫吾類之無盡苦難。此三愿,如疾風(fēng),迫吾無助飄零于苦水深海之上,直達(dá)絕望之彼岸?!鶷hree wishes,simpple but overwhelmingly puisant,have dominated my life:the desire for happiness,the pursuit for wisdom and the never-ending longing for freedom.…
O my luve is like a red,red rose,
啊,我的愛人象紅紅的玫瑰,
That?s newly sprung in June;
在六月里苞放;
O my luve is like the melodie,
啊,我的愛人象一支樂曲,
That?s sweetly played in tune.
樂聲美妙、悠揚(yáng)。
As fair thou art,my bonie lass,
你那么美,漂亮的姑娘;
So deep in luve am I;
我愛你那么深切;
And I will luve thee still,my dear,
我會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)愛你,親愛的,
Till a?the seas gang dry.→O my sweet-heart is
like a beautiful flower,
That’s newly blossomed in July;
O my sweet-heart is like a song,
That?s sweetly played in July.
As pretty you are,my sweet-heart,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love you still,my darling,
Till the seas will go dry.
My friend
My friend must be a Bird—
Because it flies!
Mortal,my friend must be,
Because it dies!
Barbs has it,like a Bee!
Ah,curious friend!
Thou puzzlest me!
我的朋友
我的朋友肯定是只鳥—
因?yàn)樗w翔!
我的朋友肯定是個(gè)人,
因它會(huì)死亡!
它有倒刺,象蜜蜂一樣!
哦,古怪的朋友啊!
你使我迷茫!→My lover must be a bird,
Because it flies!
Mortal,my lover must be,
Because she passes away!
Wings has she,like a bird!
Ah,mysterious lover!
You bewilder me!
語言交際中的仿擬之所以能夠別具一番意境,是因?yàn)樗乖究菰锎舭宓恼Z言變得活潑俏皮起來,在某種程度上迎合了交際雙方的審美心理。因?yàn)閷徝佬睦硎侨巳司哂械母惺苊?、享受美并從中獲得愉悅和快適的情感心理活動(dòng),也是發(fā)現(xiàn)美、表現(xiàn)美、創(chuàng)造美的認(rèn)識(shí)活動(dòng)。語言交際中的仿擬充分利用了被仿擬對(duì)象原有的美感因素,并在此基礎(chǔ)上加以演繹,引導(dǎo)人們?cè)谑煜さ恼Z句、語境和文本中發(fā)現(xiàn)新的審美要素,同時(shí)使其身心得到愉悅。英語仿擬在語言交際中的恰當(dāng)使用能夠帶來如下幾方面的美感享受。
語感美是審美感知的一種。審美感知又包含感覺和知覺,前者指通過五官感受,反映事物的個(gè)別屬性,而后者則對(duì)感覺所得進(jìn)行整合,反映事物的整體狀貌。由于英語仿擬的語義生成基礎(chǔ)是諺語、成語、名言及詩(shī)歌這些特殊語言表達(dá)形式,因此它們?cè)谡Z言上具有精辟、生動(dòng)、形象、優(yōu)美和通俗等特點(diǎn);體現(xiàn)在英語仿擬中的語感美主要是指通過這些獨(dú)特的語言表達(dá)形式所創(chuàng)造的音律、節(jié)奏、音調(diào)等方面的美感,使人感到鏗鏘有力,錯(cuò)落有致來達(dá)到語感上的流暢,從而獲取語感美的享受。
由于仿擬的語句和篇章與人們所熟知的仿擬本體有著千絲萬縷的聯(lián)系,同時(shí)又根據(jù)語言交際的語境附帶了很多新意,所以英語仿擬的生成與使用表明了人類所具有的聯(lián)想空間,同時(shí)也從某種程度上說明了語言的滋生性以及任意性,說明了語言的聯(lián)想性及靈活性;“審美聯(lián)想是由當(dāng)前感知的事物回憶起或想起與它相關(guān)的另一件事物...即由審美感知所獲取的沉淀在人記憶中的印象,由審美對(duì)象引發(fā)出來的表象的聯(lián)系和運(yùn)動(dòng)?!庇⒄Z仿擬的生成與使用能在原有的語言基礎(chǔ)上賦予人聯(lián)想的翅膀,在美麗的語言表達(dá)空間里翱翔,盡享語言應(yīng)有的聯(lián)想美。
在語言交際中英語仿擬還能夠?qū)⑷藥胍环N意境,使其產(chǎn)生身臨其境的感覺。雖然仿擬語句中所描繪的場(chǎng)景或氛圍不能給人直接的經(jīng)驗(yàn)感受,但是人們通過審美想象,可以在腦海里形成并感受某種意境,從而獲取意境美的享受。如一句簡(jiǎn)單的仿擬句“Where there is life/water/health,there is wealth/hope/happiness.”僅通過兩個(gè)字的修改,就不知不覺地讓人進(jìn)入了一種富有哲理性的現(xiàn)實(shí)意境美;同樣地一句簡(jiǎn)單的名言警句“to be or not to be,that is a question.”→“to do or not to do;to love or not to love;”就將人帶入了一種間接的人生境界,通過審美想象讓人直接感受了人生面臨選擇時(shí)而產(chǎn)生的一種意境美。
英語的仿擬修辭格在英語文學(xué)作品及仿擬成語、諺語、名言、警句等的表達(dá)形式中,都是一種巧妙、機(jī)智而有趣的修辭格,其運(yùn)用形式主要有三種:仿擬詞語、仿擬諺語、成語、名言佳句、仿擬篇章。仿擬在語言交際中的運(yùn)用中具有明顯的易辨性、臨時(shí)性和生動(dòng)性的特點(diǎn),它對(duì)人們所熟知的英語語言要素加以修改或演繹,衍生出新的內(nèi)涵和形式,讓人能迅速地領(lǐng)悟新的語言意境和獲取美感享受。仿擬是一種神奇的修辭手法,它在賦予原有語言生機(jī)的同時(shí),也將人帶入豐富多彩,美不勝收的意境,帶給人們歡愉和快樂,使他們?cè)诼?lián)想中體會(huì),在想象中創(chuàng)造意境,著實(shí)地感受仿擬無可抗拒的美感魅力。
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