張忠超
摘要:在高考寫作題中,有些學生認為復雜的長句能夠提升文章的語言質量,并能獲得更高的分數,所以有意將一個簡潔短句拓展為復雜的長句,這反而犧牲了句子的“力度”和“簡潔性”。英語寫作中尊崇“言以簡潔為貴”。本文主要講述如何使文章避繁冗趨簡潔,用最簡潔的文字表達最豐富的內容的五個策略。
關鍵詞:寫作;繁冗;簡潔;策略
中圖分類號:G632.0 文獻標識碼:A 文章編號:1992-7711(2016)10-0063
英語寫作一直尊崇“言以簡潔為貴”,簡潔就是句中無余字,以最少的語言文字表達最多的內容。如“No pains ,no gains”“Easy come ,easy go ”,這些諺語就是很好的說明。同時,高考英語書面表達主要是控制性寫作,它不僅對內容、體裁等有限制,對詞數也作了明確要求,一般是“100-120詞”,詞數多或少都要酌情扣分。因此,在英語寫作中,我們既要考慮內容要點不能丟失,同時還要注意在遣詞造句時要惜墨如金,避免繁冗拖沓。所以,我們使用以下五個策略使文章避繁趨簡,用最簡潔的文字也能表達出最豐富的內容。
策略之一:表達否定意義時,盡量避免使用否定詞“no”或者“not”
高考英語書面表達要求學生具備較強的語言運用能力,能使用復雜高級詞匯。而在英語中有很多高級詞匯也能表達出否定的意思,恰當使用它們,既使文章增色不少,也使文章簡潔流暢。
例:1. It isnt moral to steal other peoples ideas.
→ Its immoral to steal other peoples ideas.
2. The rumor cant be believed.
→ The rumor is beyond belief.
3. College students do not have sufficient financial backing
→ College students lack sufficient financial backing.
策略之二:使用省略
為了使文章簡明扼要、避免重復,更加連接緊密、結構緊湊,我們可以在并列句和定語從句中使用省略,特別在由when ,while 等引導的時間狀語從句和if , unless 等引導的條件狀語從句,以及由although ,even if 等引導的讓步狀語從句中省略尤為普遍。下列括號內容可以省略。
例1. He wants to find a good place (where/that) we can have a picnic during the “golden week ”holiday .
2. Once (he was)a worker ,Pang Long now becomes a famous singer .
3. Work hard when (you are) young ,or you'll regret.
策略之三:使用非謂語動詞
非謂語動詞是高中英語語法學習中的一個重難點,也是學生在文章使用的最容易犯錯的地方。而恰當使用非謂語動詞,在句中充當不同的成分,既體現了學生具備較強的語言運用能力,能使用復雜句子結構,也使文章地道簡潔、自然流暢。
1. 使用動名詞短語代替從句
(1)Our chief worry was that she lacked experience.
→ Our chief worry was her lacking experience.
(2)I suggested we should leave early for the airport.
→ I suggested leaving early for the airport.
2. 使用分詞短語代替從句
(1)When they heard the news ,they jumped with joy.
→ Hearing the news , they jumped with joy.
(2)The young woman who smiles at Lucy is Li Ying.
→ The young woman smiling at Lucy is Li Ying.
(3)After the room was examined carefully ,the room was locked again.
→Having been examined carefully ,the room was locked again
3. 使用不定式代替從句
(1)It is a pity that you cant come to attend our party.
→ It is a pity for you not to come to attend our party.
(2)Now the question is how we can raise enough money.
→ Now the question is how to raise enough money.
(3)He wore a mask so that no one can recognize him.
→He wore a mask so as to not to be recognized.
策略之四:使用介詞或介詞短語
介詞在英語詞匯中所占比例很小,看起來簡單,但它卻是英語中最活躍的詞類,它們往往一詞多義,用法非常靈活,特別復雜。特別是一些常用介詞的搭配力特別強,可以用來表示各種不同的意思。所以,在文章中使用好介詞很不簡單,體現學生較強的語言功底,也會使文章地道簡潔。
1. While they were playing tennis,she started an argument that lasted all morning.
→ During tennis she started an argument that lasted all morning.
2. He went to school in a hurry and he didnt have breakfast.
→ He went to school in a hurry without breakfast.
策略之五:避免單詞語意上重復
例:1. My grandfather has said over and over again.
這里的over and over again就可以改為repeatedly,顯得更為簡潔。
→ My grandfather has said repeatedly.
2. The farm my grandfather grew up on was large in size.
large對一個farm來說就是size方面的large,所以in size可以去掉。
→The farm my grandfather grew up on was large.
在英語中,簡明扼要的短句干脆利落、簡潔明快,用它來表達一個信息,能迅速吸引對方注意力,收到一目了然、立竿見影的效果,且容易組織和表達,隨便自然,能夠體現文章的速度和力度感。當然,長句以復雜的語法結構來表達更為復雜的內容,能夠從容不迫地進行敘述和闡明觀點,讓事實更充分地展現,讓說理更深入透徹。所以,是使用長句好還是使用短句好,筆者認為一要遵從簡潔原則,二要遵從體現作者的思想原則,不搞一刀切。
(作者單位:陜西省商洛市商南縣高級中學 726300)