131英语语法应用(十八)

                                               

131英语语法应用(十八)   如何写篇章  How to write a theme                  6/22/2015

希望写好的英语篇章，必须掌握前次发出的帖子中所列的基本要点和对风格的一些原则.  可是, 认識理論是一回事,  要能实行得彻底却是另外一回事.  毕竟，勤于練习写作才是真正提升英语篇章写作品质的秘诀. 

一般来说, 篇章内每段的主题句要幺是点明论题, 要幺是有助于篇章的过渡.  就段落本身而言,  其与前段的关系,  或其作为篇章整体的一部分,  都应该表达清楚.  因此,  只要在一段的主题句加上一个转变单词(transitional words)或转变短语(transitional phrases)就可以达到目的.  例如,  again，therefore，for the some reason…等转变语.  然而,  有时候最好还是用一两句引导性的或过渡性的句子,  逐步进入篇章写作的意图.

兹将常用的转变单词和转变短语列出, 以供参考.

1.      用于段落扩展的转变词. 如, again, furthermore, also, in addition, besides, 

     one. . .another, first. . . second. . . third, too 等.

  2.  有关顺序的转变词.  如, afterward, later,  meanwhile, next, now, soon,
     subsequently, then, until, as soon as, at first, at the same time, before, earlier,
     finally, in the meantime.

  3.  用在比较的转变词.  如,  Also, by the same token, likewise, in comparison,
     similarly.

  4.  用作对比的转变词有.  如 Although, but, despite, even though, however,
     in contrast, instead, Meanwhile, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary,
     on the one hand. . . on the other hand, still, whereas, yet.

  5. 用来举例的转变词. 如,  for example, for instance, namely, specifically, thus.

  6.  收敛时用的转变词. 如,  after all, in particular, indeed, specifically, in fact,
     that is, in other words, in particular.

7.      用于末段的转变词. 如,  as a result(结果),  in summary(整体来说), 

    consequently(结果),  therefore(因此).

篇章写作的 “分段” 必须既要符合逻辑又要赏心悦目.  一大段一大段组成的篇章使人望而却步, 甚至不想去读; 即或勉强去读, 也往往不知所云.  因此, 把一长段分为两小段, 即或在意义或逻辑的发展上没有这个必要,  但是使用它常常能达到一目了然的作用.  可是要留意, 一连写出许多短小的段落会分散读者的注意力.  更不要为了分段而分段, 因为这样做会影响到篇章简洁的效果.  写作篇章的分段主要的考虑是段落的适度(moderation)和有计划的顺序.

赵丽莲老师从台湾大学外交系退休时, 向学生作告别演说一文, 是很恰当的范例. (请留意句与句和段与段之间的连接)

I want to say something to you today which I feel would not be appropriate to say at tomorrow’s dinner that you are going to give in honor of us teachers.  Today’s word are not congratulatory, but words of advice and warning.

The time has come for me to retire, not only because I have come to the age of retirement, but also, after forty-five years of teaching, I am physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. You are probably the last class I shall ever teach.  My hopes for you are high, and it is my fervent prayer that you will unhappy to see many of my students forget the warmth and enthusiasm of their student days only a few years after leaving school.  They have become immersed in the sloughs of society and have lost the values and ideals of their youth.  What has done this?  The pursuit of money and power which has taken hold of their minds and souls.

Truly, money is important, but it does not deserve to be pursued with the best of your abilities. From the history of mankind, we well know that selfish wealth is something which ruins all that is good and beautiful in life.  The pursuit of money for yourself will never satisfy you.  The more you get, the more you will want.  You will never get enough, and you won’t pursuit stop money to the day you draw your last breath.

[注]:  此段与下段都讲金钱的问题.  作者为了使读者醒目, 且能深思强调金钱所造成的罪恶, 故分别写成两小段, 并以个人生活的经验加强下段的描述.

Experience has taught me that money brings vice and bitterness, not contentment and happiness.  Take myself for instance.  I was born in a rich family, and when I grew up.  I married into an even richer family.  But unfortunately, it was wealth that divided my family and lengthened the distance between me and those near and dear to me.  Money deprived me of all the happiness in my life.  Money brought me nothing but sorrow and bitter regrets.  That is why I hope not one of you will become a millionaire, and lose the true blessing of life, for money can easily bring you misfortune.

Money is usually accompanies by power and can buy power.  Power is often a great temptation to young people.  Perhaps you are still too young to realize how terrible power is.  I have seen many promising youths who sought power and were destroyed by power.  It is my hope that each one of you will carry out his own responsibilities and the obligations of his own work to the best of his abilities. Our nation is now going through a life and death struggle; it is the duty of each one of us to do the work best fitted for us, and do it to the utmost of our ability.  There is an old proverb which says, “A great river is made up of myriads of drops of water.”  Each one of you is like a drop of water.  Alone you are nothing, together you can form a mighty body of water that will be strong enough to turn the wheels of time and circumstance.

Like young birds, you are soon to leave this nest and fly alone.  My hope is that you will not fly too dangerously high, but will fly smoothly and safely through all the storms of life.

The last point I wish to impress upon you is never to depend upon anyone but yourself.  Never be lax or careless because you have kind parents, loving friends or powerful relatives to depend upon.  Experience has taught me that all these will pass away.  In this world of change and uncertainty, what have you to depend on?  Nothing, nothing but yourself.  You must have strong confidence in yourself, bred from what you have studies and from the experiences gained from your teachers.  No one can be by your side always throughout your life.  Even tough you have a strong family background and influential relatives and friends, they cannot add to or detract from what is truly you.  Drink always from the fountain of knowledge, and never be afraid to learn.

Remember that all love is sacrifice.  Your life is not your own, but belongs to
your country.  If you love your country, you must devote yourself to it.

My sight becomes more and more blurred as I go farther and farther away from the center of this world , but you are now approaching that which I am now leaving.  I do not feel downhearted or unhappy, for what is taken place is a law of great, mysterious nature.  There is always some life growing old and fading away while new life is coming into being and growing and becoming stronger and stronger.

I have no gift to give to you for your graduation.  But my little store of knowledge and experience I now pass on to you.  There is one parting thought I wish to leave with you.  Wherever you go, and whatever you do, act as a true Chinese should, and be very proud of being a Chinese.  Being a Chinese and acting as a true Chinese have been the mainspring of my life.

I am proud, not of my meager knowledge, but of the chance that I have had to pass it on, small as it is to you, the younger generation.  Please make the best use of what I have taught you.  I desire that you should devote all your knowledge and ability to your country throughout your lives.

Maybe we shall never meet again in the future, but even so, let whatever I have given you during your school years be used by you in your lives, and thus we will never be parted.  A part of me will always be with you and the generations that follow you.

麦克阿瑟元帅为儿子祷告译文(上次博客谈到其英文)

主啊！求祢塑造我的儿子，使他够坚强到能认识自己的软弱；够勇敢到能面对惧怕；在诚实的失败中，毫不气馁； 在胜利中，仍保持谦逊温和。

恳求塑造我的儿子，不至空有幻想而缺乏行动；引导他认识祢，同时又知道，认识自己乃是真知识的基石。

我祈祷，愿祢引导他不求安逸、舒适，相反的，经过压力、艰难和挑战，学习在风暴中挺身站立，学会怜恤那些在重压之下失败的人。

求祢塑造我的儿子，心地清洁，目标远大；使他在指挥别人之前，先懂得驾驭自己；永不忘记过去的教训，又能伸展入未来的理想。

当他拥有以上的一切，我还要祷求，赐他足够的幽默感，使他能认真严肃，却不致过分苛求自己。恳求赐他谦卑，使他永远记牢，真伟大中的平凡，真智能中的开明，真勇力中的柔顺。

如此，我这作父亲的，才敢低声说：「我没有虚度此生。」

[注] : 编辑者读此文的感受.  生命的意义在延续继起的生命.  不是只顾自己的….  .

                        李顺长　译  (注;  译者毕业于台湾大学土木系, 现为牧师)