摘 要:分析學(xué)生英語寫作的錯誤情況,探討產(chǎn)生錯誤的原因,并提出了一些糾錯辦法,以期對英語教學(xué)與英語寫作有一定的幫助。
關(guān)鍵詞:英語寫作 錯誤類型 錯誤分析
學(xué)習(xí)者在學(xué)習(xí)第二語言過程中出現(xiàn)的錯誤一直受到語言學(xué)家及教師們的關(guān)注,尤其在大學(xué)英語寫作方面,他們在分析預(yù)測和糾正錯誤方面進(jìn)行了大量的調(diào)查研究,希望通過對英語寫作中出現(xiàn)的錯誤進(jìn)行分析,從而對英語寫作教學(xué)和學(xué)習(xí)起到積極的作用。
對于我國大學(xué)英語學(xué)習(xí)者來說,在說和寫的過程中出現(xiàn)錯誤不僅是自然的,而且是不可避免的。早在20世紀(jì)50年代,語言學(xué)家們明確地提出了對學(xué)習(xí)者的母語與目標(biāo)語進(jìn)行對比分析。他們認(rèn)為:二語學(xué)習(xí)者的語言錯誤主要來自母語的干擾,目標(biāo)語與學(xué)習(xí)者的母語越接近,學(xué)習(xí)者的困難就越少;反之,學(xué)習(xí)者的困難就越大。
Riehar把內(nèi)化性錯誤分為以下四種類型:(1)當(dāng)學(xué)習(xí)者在繼續(xù)學(xué)習(xí)目的語的過程中根據(jù)已獲得的目的語知識,創(chuàng)造出一種不正確的結(jié)構(gòu)的時候,就犯了過度概括的錯誤。(2)當(dāng)學(xué)習(xí)者對目的語概念辨識方面存在錯誤的理解,就會出現(xiàn)對概念的錯誤假設(shè)。(3)忽略規(guī)則運用的限制,沒有注意到某些結(jié)構(gòu)上的限制,把曾學(xué)過的規(guī)則套用到不適用的上下文中。(4)規(guī)則的不完整運用,造成不能充分完善一個結(jié)構(gòu)。
在多年的大學(xué)英語教學(xué)中,筆者批閱了大量的英語作文,這些作文中出現(xiàn)的錯誤難以用一個具體的數(shù)字來表達(dá),但是,一些常見的錯誤類型恰好應(yīng)證了Riehar歸納的錯誤類型(3)和(4)。那么,學(xué)生在用英語寫作時為什么會出現(xiàn)這種錯誤,這些錯誤的正確形式又是什么呢?
以下是從筆者任教的學(xué)生作文中歸納出來的主要錯誤類型:
1.用詞錯誤
1.1濫用修飾語
1.1.1名詞
1:We have to promote the living standards for people as soon as possible.
correct form:We have to promote the living standards as soon as possible.
living standards生活水平只適用于人類,這一點是無庸質(zhì)疑的,所以for people用在這里毫無必要。
1:People have taken a series of measures to protect environment.
correct form:People have takenmeasures to protect environment.
measure的復(fù)數(shù)形式已經(jīng)告訴讀者是多項措施,a series of用在這里顯得累贅和多余。
1.1.2動詞
1:He wants to bring about a change to his performance this term.
correct form:He wants to change his performance this term.
1:I should try my best to get success in English study.
correct form:I should try my best to succeed in English study.
以上兩個例子從語法上來說是正確的,但是卻同樣是用詞重復(fù)、不簡潔。在很多學(xué)生的英語作文中,原本用一個動詞就能表達(dá)清楚的意思,學(xué)生們卻要用動詞加名詞的形式來表達(dá)。表面上是增加了作文字?jǐn)?shù),實際上是行文羅嗦、重復(fù)。類似情況常見在make/have+verb結(jié)構(gòu)中:
make an improvement=to improve
make a promotion=to promote
make an examination=to examine
make a decision=to decide
have an influence=to influence
have an increase=to increase
1.1.3形容詞
1:In order to learn English well,we need necessary knowledge about English culture.
correct form:In order to learn English well,we need knowledge about English culture.
knowledge既然是知識,當(dāng)然是有用且必要的,necessary在這里純屬多余。
1:My study methhod is not very good,I need further improvement on it.
correct form:My study method is not very good,I need improvement on it.
improvement有改進(jìn)、提高之意,further在這里純屬多余。
1:We should properly raise money for the Hope Project.
correct form:We should raise money for the Hope Project.
按照常識推斷,為希望工程籌錢的前提便是合適的,所以properly在這里純屬多余。
1:I think he is a certainly clever boy.
correct form:I am certain that he is a clever boy.
1:It’s seriously important to me.
correct form:It’s important to me.
1:The school strongly demanded that students must go to shcool on time.
correct form:The school demanded that students must go to shcool on time.
1:The price totally sums up to 200 yuan.
correct form:The price sums up to 200 yuan.
以上四組例子中,作者都試圖通過在中心詞前加修飾詞來加強語氣。然而,英語中有些詞本身就含有“很,非常,最”的意思,因此,如果沒有弄清楚單詞的意思而盲目使用加強語詞的修飾成分,反而會適得其反。
1.2重復(fù)表達(dá)
In order to protect the environment,we must prontrol environment pollution.
Doing exercise is a good exercise for our health.
Time is precious,we must do the things we must do.
This result is because ofthe heavy fog tonight.
You should not get up late,because it’s a bad thing,not a good thing.
從以上例子可以看出,大學(xué)生作文用詞重復(fù)的原因有三。其一,由于詞匯量有限,在需要反復(fù)表達(dá)同一個意思時,同一個單詞的反復(fù)使用不可避免,如例句一、二;其二,由于漢語表達(dá)習(xí)慣的影響,不符合英語表達(dá)習(xí)慣的中式英語出現(xiàn)了。如例句三、四;其三,同一個意思,正面表述在前,反面表述在后,如例句五。
2.句子結(jié)構(gòu)錯誤
2.1懸垂修飾語
所謂懸垂修飾語是指句首的短語與后面句子的邏輯關(guān)系混亂不清。例如:
1:To do well in college,good grades are essential.
correct form:To do well in college,a student needs good grades.
句中不定式短語“to do well in college”的邏輯主語不清楚。
1:All things considering,I think I should accept the job.
correct form:All things considered,I think I should accept the job.
consider的主語是I,而不是all things,所以此處應(yīng)用被動語態(tài)。
1:The manager sat in the office,with his eyes closing.
correct form:The manager sat in the office,with his eyes closed.
close的主語是eyes,所以此處應(yīng)用過去時,與前句保持一致。
1:Without anyone noticed,I ran out of the window.
correct form:Without anyone noticing,I ran out of the window.
notice的主語是anyone,所以此處用主動語態(tài)。
從以上四個例句可以看出,學(xué)生在寫這種從屬結(jié)構(gòu)的句子時,最常見的問題就是忽略了從句帶有自己的邏輯主語,而從句中動詞的形式正是由它與其邏輯主語的關(guān)系決定的。
2.2平行結(jié)構(gòu)
在大學(xué)英語作文中,被用得最多的表示平行結(jié)構(gòu)的詞有:both...and;either...or;neither...nor;not...but;not only...but also等。
1:They decided to do something useful,both for people’s quality of life and for saving the environment.
correct form:They decided to do something useful,both for promoting people’s quality of life and for saving the environment.
1:This will help the company set prices that are proper not only for their quality but also in relation to prices throughout the country.
correct form:This will help the company set prices that are proper not only in relation to their quality but also in relation to prices throughout the country.
除了這些相對固定的句型外,還有其他的情況也需要用平行結(jié)構(gòu)。
1:What we need immediately are water supply,security,and how to contact with the police.
correct form:What we need immediately are water supply,security,and getting contact with the police.
1:She did not like listening as much as to translating something.
correct form:She did not like listening as much as to translate something.
在各種平行結(jié)構(gòu)中,有一個最基本也是最重要的要求,平行結(jié)構(gòu)中的各個句子成分在語法上應(yīng)該是平行對等的,形式上是相同的。
2.3邏輯連接
1:The city,which has wide streets and a small population,and it is filled with gas stations and laraoke bars.
correct form:The city,which has wide streets and a small population.It is filled with gas stations and laraoke bars.
1:In our system the public sector is the major sector of the economy and there are also other sectors.
correct form:In our system the public sector is the major sector of the economy,but there are also other sectors.
1:My summer’s work proved not only interesting but also I learned much from it.
correct form:My summer’s work proved not only interesting and also I learned much from it.
1:Both Mary will do it and her husband will do it too.
correct form:Mary will do it,and her husband will do it too.
1:Give him an inch,or he’ll take a mile.
correct form:Give him an inch,and he’ll take a mile.
1:Gas is a substance without a definite volume nor with a definite shape.
correct form:Gas is a substance with neither a definite volume nor with a definite shape.
與以上例子相仿的錯誤在學(xué)生的英語作文中舉不勝舉,雖然這些句子沒有語法錯誤,但是卻邏輯混亂。有的僅僅是簡單推論,毫無說服力。如:
Jogging is very helpful for our health,so everyone likes it.
慢跑有利健康就能使所有的人都喜歡嗎?兩者的因果關(guān)系不一定成立。
有的邏輯殘缺,句子的邏輯概念模糊,推理不當(dāng)或不嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)。如:
This company is going to bankrupt.Moreover,the ages of the leaders in this company are ranging from 55 to 60.
第一部分和第二部分沒有必然的聯(lián)系。兩部分被放在一起,使所表達(dá)的意思含混不清。寫作時,如果要轉(zhuǎn)換話題,需要用過渡詞來提示讀者上下文的關(guān)系。
還有的是邏輯悖論,句子表達(dá)的思想不嚴(yán)密,推理混亂不清。如:
Either we will adjust our study methods or teachers will dislike us.
either...or...短語表達(dá)的是不這樣……就那樣……的唯一選擇。根據(jù)常識判斷,句中兩部分所表達(dá)的意思很顯然沒有二者只能取其一的關(guān)系。
1967年,S.P.Corler發(fā)表題為The Significance of Learner’s Errors的論文,形成了錯誤分析理論。他提出了對學(xué)習(xí)者的語言錯誤進(jìn)行分析的三個重要意義:(1)對教師來說,對學(xué)習(xí)者的錯誤進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)分析可發(fā)現(xiàn)學(xué)習(xí)者在向目標(biāo)語接近過程中已達(dá)到哪個階段;(2)對研究者來說,錯誤分析可以為他們提供語言習(xí)得方法的證據(jù);(3)對學(xué)習(xí)者來說,錯誤分析為他們提供了發(fā)現(xiàn)目標(biāo)語的規(guī)則和手段。
希望通過以上寫作中常見錯誤和修改辦法的歸納總結(jié),能對英語學(xué)習(xí)者有所幫助,為教師的英語寫作教學(xué)提供參考和借鑒。
參考文獻(xiàn):
[1]Joan Pinkham.The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish,2005.
[2]馬衰.標(biāo)準(zhǔn)英語寫作——沖中式英語到地道英語[J].北京:北京大學(xué)出版,2002.
[3]郭遂紅.大學(xué)英語寫作常見錯誤分析及糾錯策略.桂林師范高等專科學(xué)校學(xué)報,第17卷第4期,2003.
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