醫學英語文章段落寫作模式新探索

張 琦 解宏甲

大連醫科大學中山學院 遼寧大連 116085

醫學英語文章的寫作作為正式英語文章寫作極其重要的一部分,已經越來越引起跨學科探索研究和專業人士的重視。而對于這方面研究和探索的材料卻并不常見。本文本著從基本段落的結構寫法出發,結合正式書面英語文章的寫作方法特點與專業的醫學英語知識相結合,著重從段落構成的主題句,展開說明句群,及結論句三大方面著手分析并揭示醫學英語文章段落寫作的方法和途徑。

1 段首的主題句

什么是主題句呢?主題句指的是概括說明了本段中心和主旨的句子。在正式的醫學英語文章中通常位于每個段落的段首。起到提示本段主題,概括本段大意的作用。

例如:

Cell differentiation is the process whereby cells are transformed into different and more specialized cell typesas they proliferate.Cell differentiation determines what a cell looks like,how it functions,and how long it will live.For example,a red blood cell is programmed to develop into a concave disk that functions as a vehicle for oxygen transport and lives 120 days.

在本段中,第一句話即為主題句。其含義為細胞分化是細胞增值時轉化為不同的,更具專職性的細胞類型的過程。此句位于本段段首第一句的位置,其充分概括了這一段的中心含義。即本段意在說明什么是細胞分化以及其相關過程特點并在本段后面加以舉例說明。

例如:

A third type of cell,called a stem cell,remain incompletely differentiated throughout life.Stem cells are reserve cells that remain quiescent until there is a need for cell replenishment,and then they divide to replenish or increase the progenitor cell population.Stem cells are the main ingredient of bone marrow transplantation;the stem cells in the transplanted marrow reestablish the recipient’s blood production and immune system.

在本段中,段首句即第一句話為本段主題句,其含義為第三類細胞被稱作干細胞,它們在整個生命過程中都保持不完全分化的狀態。其提示出本段內容即圍繞干細胞這個主題展開。先提示了干細胞的特點特性,之后在本段后面再展開說明并結合實際情況舉例。

2 段中的展開及解釋說明句

展開和解釋說明句指的是什么呢?在醫學英語這類正式文章的每一個段落內部,段首句即為主題句起到概括說明中心的作用,那么緊隨其后的一到兩句話即為展開句群,意在進一步解釋說明主題句的含義或所指,或把概括性強的主題句換一種更加具象的句群加以解釋和解構,因此,解釋說明的展開句群多數起到承上啟下過渡段落內部語境含義的作用。

例如:

All of the different cell types of the body originate from a single cell-the fertilized ovum.As the embryonic cell increase in number,they engage in an orderly process of differentiation that is necessary for the development of all the various organs of the body.What makes the cells of one organ different from those of another organ is the type of gene that is expressed.Although all cells have the same complement of genes,only a small number of these genes are expressed in postnatal(生后的)life.When cells,such as those of the developing embryo,differentiate and give rise to committed cells of a particular tissue type,the appropriate genes are maintained in an active state whereas the rest become inactive.Normally,the rate of cell reproduction and the process of cell differentiation are precisely controlled in both prenatal and postnatal life so that both of these mechanisms cease once the appropriate numbers and types of cells are formed.

在本段中,第二句為解釋說明句,其含義為,隨著胚胎細胞數目的不斷增長,它們進行著形成各種不同器官所必需的有條不紊的分化過程。此句是對段首主題句,所有不同的細胞類型來源于唯一的細胞——受精卵,這句的進一步解釋說明。之后的第三四五句話構成的句群是對第二句解釋說明句的進一步展開和舉例說明使本段要闡釋的主題更加形象具體。

例如:

3 段末結論句

所謂段尾的結論句又是指什么呢?通常結論句位于每一段的最后一句,其作用起到總結本段大意的作用,和主題句是首次提出并概括每段的中心不同的是,結論句是在每段中再次總結段落主旨并通常會是主題句的另一種表達和重申。但在每一段的段落結構中,段首主題句一般是一定會出現的,而段末的結論句偶爾也有省略的情況。

例如:But even in the continuously renewing cell populations,there are highly specialized cells that are similarly unable to divide.An alternative mechanism provides for their replacement.In this case,......The progenitor cells,however,have limited capacity for self-renewal and they become restricted to producing a single type of cell.

在本段中,最后一句為全段的總結句。其含義為,母細胞的自我更新能力有限,只能產生單一類型的細胞。而與此同時,本段段首主題句的含義為,在不斷更新的細胞群體中,也有一些同樣不能分裂的高度專業化的細胞。所以,可以看出段首和段尾句的含義是彼此呼應的。這就構成了正式醫學英語文章寫作的完整段落體系。

同時,也有省略結論句的段落結構。例如:

Inflammation is the reaction of vascularized tissue to local injury.Although the effects of inflammation are often viewed as undesirable because they are unpleasant and cause discomfort,the process is essentially a beneficial one that allows a person to live with the effects of everyday stress.Without the inflammatory response,wounds would not heal,and minor infections would become overwhelming.However,inflammation also produces undesirable effects.The crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis,for example,result from inflammation.

在本段中,省略了段尾的結論句。這種情況也是可以的。因為縱觀整個段落的結構,開頭第一句主題句的含義是炎癥是供血豐富的組織對局部損傷的反應。緊隨其后展開說明句群用讓步解釋的方式進一步闡釋炎癥反應雖然讓人不悅,但總體是一個有益的過程,最后用舉例子的方式具體形象闡釋了主題句的含義。在這樣豐富和完整的論據之后是可以適當省略結論句的。因為段落本身的語義論述已經非常完整的得到了闡釋。