有助于英語閱讀理解的信號詞

摘要: 本文通過對信號詞的分類講解，說明在閱讀時學習者如果能抓住語言信號詞就能加快、加深對每篇文章的理解，就能顯著提高閱讀速度和理解能力。

關鍵詞: 信號詞英語閱讀理解閱讀速度

每篇文章的主題思想都是借助各段落、句子所包含的具體內容而表現出來的。為使主題思想體現得更加充分明顯，作者會通過一定的思維形式和語言手段，把分散、復雜的材料組織在一起，使之形成一個結構嚴謹、層次分明、形式與內容相一致的語言整體。這種語言手段就是通過語言信號詞來實現的。語言信號詞能使文章前后邏輯清晰，段落與段落之間、句子與句子之間結構緊湊、語意連貫。所以，如果學習者在閱讀時能抓住這些信號詞就能加快加深對文章的理解，從而提高閱讀速度和理解能力。下面我們對五種語言信號詞分別進行說明。

一、順序信號詞(signal words of process)

順序信號詞就是用于連接段落與段落之間、句子與句子之間事物發展先后過程。這種先后順序一般不可隨便更動，否則會使邏輯混亂或語義不清。例如:

Once you encounter a person who has stopped breathing，you should begin immediately to do mouth-to-breathing first，place the victim on his back and remove anything from his mouth with fingers.Then tilt his head backwards，so that his chin is pointing up.Next，pull his mouth open and his jaw forward pinch his nostrils shut to prevent the air which you blow into his mouth from escaping through his nose.Then place your mouth tightly over the victims.Blow into his mouth until you see his chest rise.Then turn your head to the side and listen for the out rush of air which indicates an air exchange，repeat the process.

這一段落用了三個順序信號詞，敘述了做人工呼吸的五個步驟，使讀者看了一目了然。搞清楚順序信號詞，讀者會對文章有更清晰明了的理解。常見的信號詞有:one，two，...three...;first，...second，...third...;firstly，...secondly，...thirdly;(in)the first(second...)stage/step)等。

二、例證信號詞(signal words of examples)

例證顧名思義就是通過具體實例來說明問題。了解例證信號詞有助于學習者在閱讀時加深對文章主題思想的理解。例證是對概括而言的。含有例證信號詞的段落一開始往往出現一個概括句，即主題句，而后用實例加以說明。例如:

This term several useful and interesting course have been offered.An Introduction to European Culture，for instance，gives us a lot of background knowledge of the history of European philosophy，literature and arts.American Society and Culture is another course that attracts a large audience.

本段第一句是概括句，提出這學期增設了幾門有用并令人感興趣的課程。然后，以兩門課作例子(“歐洲文化介紹”和“美國的社會與文化”)對概括句進行具體的說明。一個概括句有時需用幾個例子來說明。有時一個例子用了信號詞其它就沒有必要再用。常見的例證信號詞大致有:for instance，for example，(to take)another example，such as等。

三、空間位置信號詞(signal words of spatial order)

空間位置信號詞就是用于描寫或者陳述由遠而近、由上到下、由前及后、由里及外、由中心向四周的事物、景物等空間位置。其目的在于使上下文渾然一體、結構緊湊、有條不紊。例如:

In the middle of the rectangular-shaped court-yard stood three magnolia trees，all in full bloom.A little girl was hopping among them under one of the trees stood her mother，who，while keeping an eye on her，was examining the milk-white blossoms with great interest and admiration.In front of another tree a young couple were posing for a picture.At one end of the courtyard，a group of youngsters had gathered behind an artist painting a flourishing limb.At the opposite end，a few elderly men and women stood admiring the leafless flowering tress.

這一段文章用了五個由表示空間位置的信號詞所組成的詞組生動地描述了一個長方形庭院，院內呈現出一派生機盎然的景象，使讀者猶如親臨其境。因此，熟悉空間位置信號詞有助于讀者加深理解文章的內容，在腦海中留下清晰的印象。常見的空間信號詞有:

介詞:above，across，against，around，beneath，behind，beside，in，in front of，in the center，inside，outside，near等。

名詞或形容詞:back，base，bottom，center，corner，diameter，edge，east，south，west，north等。

四、因果信號詞(signal words of cause and effect)

在文章中，表示因果關系的段落屢見不鮮。在閱讀因果型段落時，我們要注意兩點，即它的兩個結構形式:從因到果和從果到因。例如:

Farm production in the United States increases each year.A century ago，one farmer produced enough food for five people.Today one farmer produces enough for nearly fifty people.Therefore，termers must lower their prices in order to sell more of their produces.

本例是因果式，以therefore這個表示結果的信號詞為界限，之前表示的是原因;之后闡述的是結果。常見的引導結果的信號詞有:so，therefore，thus，as a result of，consequently，accordingly，for this reason等。

五、時間信號詞(signal words of time or chronological sequencing)

在講故事或敘述一件事時，最明了的辦法就是按照時間先后順序去講。例如:

Pager was born in Great Yarmouth on 11 January 1814.He went to school in Yarmouth，but had to leave at the age of 13 when his father’s business ran into hard times， In1834，his elder brother George paid for him to go to a hospital in London.At the age of 33，he became a surgeon...He died on 30 December 1899...

這一段敘述的是一個人的生平，是按照時間的先后順序寫的。表示時間的語言信號詞很多，人們也不陌生。常見的介詞有by，from，during，in，on at，after，before，since等;

副詞有afterwards，first，then，next，later，finally，subsequently，soon，immediately等;

形容詞有following，next等;

從屬連詞有after，before，when，while等。

以上對五種語言信號詞的分析，希望能對學習者提高英文閱讀速度與理解力有所幫助。

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