摘 要: 英語寫作是英語的四大基本語言技能之一,然而高職高專非英語專業(yè)學(xué)生在語篇層面上的寫作能力欠佳。本文通過分析學(xué)生英語寫作中應(yīng)用的主位推進(jìn)模式,研究如何更有效地布局謀篇,提高信息組織能力,從而寫出內(nèi)容統(tǒng)一、語義連貫的英語作文。
關(guān)鍵詞: 主位推進(jìn)模式 非英語專業(yè) 英語寫作
英語寫作是英語的四大基本語言技能之一,同時(shí)也是衡量學(xué)生語言綜合能力的有效手段。然而高職高專非英語專業(yè)學(xué)生在語篇層面上的寫作能力依然欠佳。大部分學(xué)生的作文整體結(jié)構(gòu)散亂無序,文字缺乏連貫性。本文將通過對(duì)學(xué)生英語寫作中主位推進(jìn)模式的分析,研究如何有效地構(gòu)建英語語篇。
1.主位理論概述
主位和述位概念最早由布拉格學(xué)派的創(chuàng)始人Mathesius于1939年提出,他認(rèn)為一個(gè)句子可以劃分為主位和述位。主位位于句首,在交際中引出話題的成分,是已知的信息;述位圍繞主位所說的話,是新信息,往往是話語的核心內(nèi)容。后來系統(tǒng)功能學(xué)派代表人物Halliday(1994)秉承并進(jìn)一步發(fā)展了這一理論,將主位分為單項(xiàng)主位、多項(xiàng)主位和句項(xiàng)主位。
2.主位推進(jìn)模式
最早提出主位推進(jìn)概念的是Danes(1969)。他認(rèn)為在整個(gè)語篇的信息發(fā)展過程中,各句的主位與主位之間、述位與述位之間、主位述位之間按照一定的規(guī)律不斷進(jìn)行動(dòng)態(tài)的變化發(fā)展,從而影響到語篇的信息流程,由已知的信息引發(fā)新信息,信息流聯(lián)系和變化就是所說的主位推進(jìn)模式。這種主位推進(jìn)模式體現(xiàn)出篇章結(jié)構(gòu)的框架,因此在篇章組織中,隨著主位向前推進(jìn),整個(gè)語篇逐步展開,形成一個(gè)意義完整的語篇。隨后徐盛桓,黃衍、黃國文、胡壯麟等中國語言研究家在綜合前人的研究成果基礎(chǔ)上都形成了各自的主位推進(jìn)理論。徐盛恒提出了句子組合的4種模式,黃衍將之歸納為7種,黃國文提出過4種,朱永生總結(jié)4種。
基于Danes和國內(nèi)學(xué)者總結(jié)出的多種主位推進(jìn)模式,本文歸納出以下五種最常見的主位推進(jìn)模式:(1)放射型。前句的述位往往作為后句的主位,常應(yīng)用在記敘文中。例:Once upon a time there was a mountain;on top of the mountain stood a temple;in this temple lived a monk named...(2)聚合型。所有句子以同一個(gè)主位為出發(fā)點(diǎn),即所有的句子圍繞同一個(gè)主題進(jìn)行論述,可用于表述同一事物的不同層面。例如:This watch is very valuable.It is handed down by my great grandfather.It has accompanied my father to go through many hard times.(3)延續(xù)型。所有的句子享有同一個(gè)述位。例:Dogs are animals people regard as friends;cats are animals like friends...(4)主位派生型。段落中后句的主位都是由首句主位派生而來,主位述位在各句中同時(shí)發(fā)展。例:Most college students take part-time jobs in their spare time.Some are working as salesmen in a supermarket;some are trying to deliver milk to their schoolmates;others are teaching children to study different subjects...(5)述位分裂型。首句的述位分裂成兩部分,在下文中作為各小句論述的出發(fā)點(diǎn)。例:The Chinese government is making great effort to regulate its economic policy and medical policy.The economic policy now concentrates on the measures taken to reduce the current high rate of unemployment.The medical policy is to further promote the public health service.
3.主位推進(jìn)模式分析
下面這篇文章,標(biāo)題為Money,TI代表主位1,S1代表句1,以此類推。
(1)Some people think money is all-powerful.(2)In this view,money can buy everything including all materials.(3)They could get the feeling of happiness.(4)They think money makes the mare go.
(5)On the other side,some people think money is not all-powerful.(6)Money is the root of all evils.(7)Money is not all-powerful.(8)There are many things money can’t buy,such as time.(9)There are 24 hours a day.(10)It can’t buy pure love and sincere friends.
?。?1)In my view,money is indeed important,but money can’t buy everything.(12)Money is just a tool that helps us solve problems or enables us to live a comfortable life.(13)What we should do is to use it appropriately and not become misers.(14)This way,all of us can lead a happier life.
此文中每個(gè)小句都有自己的主位,共14句14個(gè)主位,都已標(biāo)注下劃線。
從主位推進(jìn)模式角度來分析,這篇文章主要應(yīng)用了聚合型和放射型兩種主位推進(jìn)模式。例:放射型T1—R1,T2(=R1)—R2;T11—R11,T12(=R11)—R12;聚合型T1—R1,T3(=T1)—R3,T4(=T1)—R4。
此文語義連貫性不夠強(qiáng),學(xué)生雖然無意識(shí)地應(yīng)用了兩種主位推進(jìn)模式,但通過對(duì)全文的仔細(xì)閱讀,會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)學(xué)生缺乏最基本的主位結(jié)構(gòu)理論知識(shí),信息的傳遞沒有遵循由已知信息到新信息這個(gè)原則。在第一段中,首句明確提出一些人的觀點(diǎn):金錢是萬能的,下文應(yīng)該圍繞此主題進(jìn)行論證。S2和S4都圍繞主題進(jìn)行闡述,但S3避開“金錢”這個(gè)主題討論幸福,讓人感覺很突兀。第二段中提出另外一些人的觀點(diǎn):金錢并不是萬能的,但S6沒有對(duì)主題句進(jìn)行任何論證卻引入一個(gè)新話題,而S9簡單地描述時(shí)間,而并未闡述兩者關(guān)系,明顯不連貫,和主題“金錢”脫節(jié)。
學(xué)習(xí)主位推進(jìn)模式后,上面的作文修改如下。
?。?)Some people think money is all-powerful.(2)In their hearts,money can buy everything including all materials.(3)For example,with a large amount of money,they can buy luxurious cars and receive better education in world-famous colleges.(4)To these people, it seems that money makes the mare go.
?。?)However,some other people think money is not that all-powerful.(6)There are many things money can’t buy,such as time.(7)Time is equal to everyone,with no exception to rich people.(8)Even a millionaire can’t call back his lost younger times no matter he offers how much money to exchange for it.(9)In addition,it can’t buy pure love and sincere friends.(10)The lover and friends surrounding the rich people may only attempt to get money from them.
?。?1)In my view,money is indeed important,but money can’t buy everything.(12)And therefore,I just regard money as a tool that helps us solve problems or enables us to live a comfortable life.(13)To serve this purpose,we’d better make use of money appropriately.
修改后,此文共13句13個(gè)主位,具體如下:(T1)Some people;(T2) In their hearts;(T3)For example,with a large amount of money;(T4)To these people;(T5)However,some other people;(T6)There;(T7)Time;(T8)Even a millionaire;(T9)In addition,it;(T10)It;(T11)In my view,money;(T12)And therefore,I;(T13)To serve this purpose
經(jīng)過修改后的作文結(jié)構(gòu)完整,語義更連貫,段落中上下句之間密切關(guān)聯(lián),沒有突兀的信息。全篇各個(gè)段落緊緊圍繞主題展開論述,沒有和主題無關(guān)的信息。應(yīng)用主位推進(jìn)模式的句子數(shù)目增加:聚合型:T1—R1,T3(=T1)—R3,T4(=T1)—R4;放射型:T1—R1(=T2)—R2(=T3)—R3,T6—R6(=T7)—R7(=T8)—R8,T11—R11(=T12)—R12(=T13)—R13。
4.結(jié)語
在語篇構(gòu)建中不能隨心所欲地將傳達(dá)同樣命題意義的句子或信息單位堆砌起來。主位述位結(jié)構(gòu)能表達(dá)作者的語篇思維模式,體現(xiàn)語篇結(jié)構(gòu)的邏輯性和說服力。主位推進(jìn)模式的應(yīng)用可以為當(dāng)前大學(xué)英語寫作教學(xué)提供良好的借鑒。因此,在大學(xué)英語寫作教學(xué)中,在強(qiáng)調(diào)詞匯和語法的同時(shí),應(yīng)加強(qiáng)學(xué)生對(duì)主位推進(jìn)理論的認(rèn)識(shí),教會(huì)學(xué)生如何恰當(dāng)?shù)赜袟l理地安排運(yùn)用主位推進(jìn)模式,提高信息組織能力,從而寫出內(nèi)容統(tǒng)一、語義連貫的英語作文。
參考文獻(xiàn):
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?。?]黃國文.篇章分析的理論與實(shí)踐,上海:上海外語教育出版社,2001(3).
?。?]李燁.主位述位銜接對(duì)英文寫作教學(xué)的指導(dǎo)作用.重慶工學(xué)院學(xué)報(bào),2005(4).
?。?]朱永生.主位推進(jìn)模式與語篇分析.外語教學(xué)與研究,1995(5