英语修辞学材料

补充材料:重复(Repetition)(英汉对比)

*一声梧桐一声愁,一点芭蕉一点愁,三更归梦三更后。(元,徐再思)

*一叫一回肠一断,三春三月忆三巴。(李白) * (天将黑) 式微,

式微,

胡不归?

(要不是为了主人的事) 微君之故,

胡为乎中露?(中露:露水)

有意重复使用同一词、语甚至句、段,用来强调作者的意思,加强语气和情感,以取得更好的表达效果,这在修辞学上称为“反复”(repetition或reiteration)。反复可分为连续反复和间隔反复,英语还再分为首语反复(anaphora)和尾语反复(epiphora)。从用词方面看,反复、联珠(anadiplosis)、回环(chiasmus)、对照(antithesis)、部分对偶和排比(parallelism)都有重复的现象。这些方面的重复,汉英大体是相同的。如:

1) 沉默呵,沉默呵!不在沉默中爆发,就在沉默中灭亡。(鲁迅:《纪念刘和珍君》)

(连续反复与间隔反复) 式微, 式微, 胡不归? 微君之躬,(为了主人的身体而干活) 胡为乎泥中? (《诗经·国风》)

Silence,silence!Unless we burst out,we shall perish in this silence!

2) 吃饭防噎,行路防跌。(对偶)

When eating take heed that you do not choke,when walking take heed that you do not fall.

3) 我为人人,人人为我。(回环) One for all and a11 for one.

4) 大处着眼,小处着手。(对照)

Keep the general goal in sight while taking hold of daily tasks.

5) 我们一定要坚持下去,一定要不断地工作,我们也会感动上帝的。这个上帝不是别人,就是全中国的人民大众。全国人民大众一齐起来 和我们一道挖这两座山,有什么挖不平呢?(毛泽东:《愚公移山》) (联珠)

We must persevere and work unceasingly,and we,too,will touch God’s heart.Our God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people.If they stand up and dig together with us,why can’t these two mountains be cleared away?

汉语这类修辞方式,英语也有,例如:

1) Scrooge went to bed again,and thought and thought and thought it over and over.(Charles Dickens) (连续反复)

斯克鲁吉又上床去了,他想来想去,想呀想,想个没完。

2) She stood by the window and looked out sadly at a gray cat walking a1ong a gray fence in a gray backyard.(O. Henry:The Gifts) (间隔反复)

她站在窗子跟前,闷闷不乐地瞅着外面灰蒙蒙的后院,一只灰色的猫正在灰色的篱笆上行走。

3) A smile would come into Mr Pickwick’s face;the smile extended into a laugh, the laugh into a roar, and the roar became general. (Charles Dickens:Pickwick Paper) (联珠)

皮克威克先生的脸上会浮现出一丝微笑,微笑逐渐变成大笑,大笑变成狂笑,狂笑勾起一阵哄堂大笑。

4) Crafty men contemn studies;Simple men admire them; and wise men use them. (F.Bacon) (对照)

狡猾的人轻视学问;愚味的人羡慕学问;聪明的人利用学问。

5)The jail might have been the infirmary,the infirmary might have been the jail. (Charles Dickens) (回环)

监狱可以成为病房,病房也可以成为监狱。

6) Men perish,but man shall endure;lives die but the life is not dead.(A. Swinburne:Hymn of Man) (排偶)

人要死亡而人类永存,寿命有限而生命不绝。

然而,汉语的重复现象远比英语普遍。英语的重复一般是修辞性的(rhetorical),而汉语的重复除了修辞的需要之外,还往往出自语法的要求。重复可分为两大类:词语的重复和意义的重复。汉语的“词复”现象大体可以归纳为八种:

1.主语与表语重复,即主语与判断语重复,其格式是“甲是甲”或“甲是甲,乙是乙”,表示对于别的判断的排斥,如:

1) 不懂就是不懂,不要装懂。

We must not pretend to know when we do not know

2) 我的头发没了,可我还是我呀!My hair is gone,but I’m just the same.

3) 敌是敌,友是友,必须分清敌我的界限。

A friend is a friend,a foe is a foe, one must be clearly distinguished from the other.

4) 有缺点的战士终竟是战士,完美的苍蝇也终竟是苍蝇。(鲁迅:《战士和苍蝇》)

The fighter for a11 his blemishes is a fighter,while the most perfect flies are only flies. 其他例如:“一是一,二是二,不能弄虚作假”,“假的总是假的,谬误终究还是谬误”,“他的是他的,我送的是我送的”等等。英语也有这类重复,但不如汉语常见,如:

1) East is East,and West is West.(R. Kipling)东方是东方,西方是西方。

2) NOW is now,and then was then.

此一时也,彼一时也。/现在是现在,当时是当时。

2.主语与宾语重复,即宾语就是主语加“的”字,表示互不相干,类似英语you’re your own part”,如;

1) 他说他的,我干我的。

Let him say what he likes;I'1l just get on with my work.

2) 你们讨论你们的,我不参加了。

You just go on with your discussion. I won’t take part.

其他例如:“我死我的,与你何干?”,“他睡他的,别叫醒他”,“咱们只管乐咱们的”等等。

3.主语与谓语重复,即主语就是谓语加“的”字。这种格式连用两个(以上)相同的结构,有列举的性质,如:

1) 火车上看书的看书,聊天的聊天。

On the train some were reading and some chatting.

2) 这几双鞋,大的大,小的小,我都不能穿。

Some of these shoes are too big and others too small. None of them fits me.

3) 我们一些旧衣服和旧家具,当的当了,卖的卖了。(吴敬梓:《儒林外史》)

Our old clothes and few sticks of furniture have been pawned or sold.

其他例如:“陪过来一共四个,死的死,嫁的嫁”,“走的走,跑的跑,还顾主子的死活吗?”,“她们姐妹们病的病,弱的弱”等等。英语较常是用替代和省略来回避重复。

4.主语与宾语的修饰语重复,一般表示评估。如:

1) 穷也有穷的好处。 Poverty has its advantage.

2) 要知道大国有大国的策略,小国也有小国的路线,各取所好而行。

We should know that big powers have their strategies while small countries also have their own lines. And each follows the policy to its liking.

其他例如:“大家庭有大家庭的难处”,“不大说话的又有不大说话的可疼之处”等等。英语一般用替代来避免重复。

5.重复谓语,这种格式可分为三小类:

a) 含“虽”、“虽然”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“是”、“却”等字:

1) 去是去,但是得晚一点儿去。 I’m certainly going,but I'1l be a little 1ate.

2) 忙是忙,可大家很愉快。We are busy to be sure,but everyone is very happy.

b) 含“即使”、“甚至”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“也”、“都”等字:

1) 你是个大人物,平素请也请不到。

You’re a big shot and won’t come at ordinary times even if you’re invited.

2) 这个我连想都没想过。I haven’t even thought of it.

3) 她连吃都不吃了,我还有什么办法?

She even won’t eat anything at all,what can I do for her?

c) 含“容忍”、“无所谓”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“就”字:

1) 丢了就丢了吧,以后小心点。

If it’s lost, it’s lost. Just be more carefu1 from now on.

2) 想喝就喝,想吃就吃,别客气了。

Drink or eat as you 1ike.P1ease make yourself at home.

6.重复带宾语的及物动词。这是因为及物动词与补语之间不能被宾语隔开而必须重复这个及物动词,如不能说“他踢足球得很好”,而须说“他踢足球踢得很好”,又如:

1) 他读书读得很多。He has read a lot.

2) 他这场病呀,准是洗冷水澡洗出来的。

His i11ness this time was caused by a cold bath.

若不重复动词,必须把宾语置于动词或主语之前,如“他书读得很多”或“书他读得很多”。英语没有这类重复。

7.重复“也好”、“也罢”之类,置于并列的谓语形式之后,表示假设或选择:

1) 写信也好,打电话也好,打电报也好,反正你得通知他。

You must let him know somehow, whether by letter, by telephone or by telegram.

2) 刮风也罢,下雨也罢,他都坚持跑步。

He keeps up running whether it’s windy or rainy.

8.重复“各”或“自己”,英语则往往使用代词以回避重复:

1) 各吹各的号,各唱各的调。

Each blows his own bugle and signs his own tune. / Each does things in his own way.

2) 他自己打自己。 He beat himself.

汉语词语的重复现象还不止上例几类。汉语讲究音节文字的整体、匀称,常常运用相反相成、对立

并联等表达形式,因而词语的重复几乎俯拾即是:

1)不是你去,就是我去。

Either you or I am to go.

2)我不会游泳,也不会滑冰。

I can’t swim or stake.

3) 什么难学不难学,我保证学会。

No matter how hard it is, I’ll learn how to do it.

4) 人家的果实归人家,咱们无论如何也不能要。

Let others enjoy the fruit of their own labour; anyway we won’t take it from them.

5) 他们几乎爱讲什么就讲什么,全然不顾什么谨慎不谨慎。

Their language was almost unrestrained by any motive of prudence.

6) 去就去,怕什么?

I’ll go, what do I have to be afraid of?

7)饱汉不知饿汉饥。

The well-fed don’t know how the starving suffer.

除了词语的重复之外,汉语还常常运用相似、相对或不同的词语来重复同一意义。汉语“意复”的现象尤其常见于四字成语和谚语,如:

成语的意复:

称心如意satisfactory 发号施令issue orders

惊天动地 earth-shaking 穷凶极恶nefarious

唉声叹气moan and groan 胡言乱语talk nonsense

奇装异服outlandish clothes 南腔北调a mixed accent

日新月异ever changing 粗制滥造crudely made

深仇大恨deep hatred 奇谈怪论strange tale

千方百计by hook or crook 街谈巷论street gossip

谚语的意复:

1) 单丝不成线,独木不成林。

One strand of silk does not make a thread; one tree does not make a forest.

2) 人以类聚,物以群分。

Birds of a feather flock together. / Like attracts like.

3)看菜吃饭,量体裁衣。

Fit the appetite to the dishes and the dress to the figure.

Act according to actual circumstances.

汉语意复的现象还常见于运用由两个意义相同或相近的词根构成的合成词,如:观看(watch)、使用(use)、古老(ancient)、树木(trees)、衣裳(clothing)、道路(road)、孤独(1onely)、善良(kind-hearted)、略微(slightly)等。汉语一些连接词或副词的连用也常有意义的重复,英语则不习惯于相应的重复,如:

1)问题虽然小,但很典型。

The question is small but typical.

2) 只有依靠群众,才能做好工作,

Only by relying on the masses can you do your work well.

3) 除了水稻以外,我们还种棉花和小麦。

Besides rice,we grow cotton and wheat。

4) 这种态度是非常有害的,特别是对于干部,害处更大。

Such an attitude does a great deal of harm,particularly among the cadres.

英语的“词复”和“意复”现象通常见于一种惯用语,称为“成对词”(words in pairs),H.W.Fowler则把它比作“连体双胎”(Siamese twins)。这种词组用and或or把两个形式相同或意义相同、相近、相关或相反的词连接起来,表示一个完整的概念。如:

同词重复,一般表示过程或加重语气,有些词义即为原有词义的引申:

on and on连续不断地 by and by不久

out and out彻底的/地 over and over反复地,再三地

again and again再三地,重复地 neck and neck并驾齐驱,不分上下

such and such某某,这样那样的 through and through彻头彻尾地

by little and little逐渐地,一点一点地

同义重复,通常起强调作用,也可以使概念较为准确:

each and every每个 aches and pains各种疼痛

toss and turn翻来复去 kith and kin亲戚朋友

lord and master主宰者 rack and ruin毁灭,荒废

pick and choose挑挑捡捡 toil and moil辛辛苦苦地干

puff and blow喘气,气急 chop and change反复无常

fair and square光明正大 rags and tatters衣衫褴褛

此外,英语还有一些词复的格式,如:day after day,arm in arm,face to face,side by side,word for word等。

英语成对词除了“同词重复”和“同意重复”的格式外,还有“相关合成”和“反义合成”的格式,如:

相关合成,由两个意思相关的词构成,表示某种连接关系,有时有引申义:

knife and fork 刀叉 fur and feather 鸟兽

bed and board 膳宿 bow and arrow 弓箭

cut and thrust 扭斗 hum and haw 支吾其辞

null and void 无效 slow and steady 稳扎稳打

wear and tear 磨损 Jack and Jill 少男少女

反义合成,两部分词义相对,往往表示列举或整体的意思,有时有引伸义:

on and off 断断续续 to and fro 来回、往返

past and present 古今 first and last 始终,总共

far and near 四面八方 Alpha and Omega 全部,始终

sink or swim 不论好歹 rain or shine 无论如何

make or break 成之或毁之 hit or miss 不论成功与否

四字成语:AABB ABAC ABAB(很少)

以上英汉的词复和意复都属于正常的语言现象。这类重复一般都可归入构词法、惯用法、语法或修辞等范畴之内。

汉语的意复还常常产生一些赘余的现象,即把包含在词语里的意思用另外的词语复说一遍。有些说法虽已司空见惯,但若细加推敲,就会发现其中有的词语是多余的。如:

从小出生was born 他所担任的工作his work

非常酷似be exactly like 另外还有in addition

脑子里想了想think over 用鼻子闻了一下take a smell of

嘴里异口同声地谴责condemn with one voice

不切实际的幻想illusion;fancy;fantasy

毫无根据的诽谤slander;calumniate;1ibel

万分危急的紧要关头at this moment when everything hung by a thread;at this very critical moment 广泛地普及教育popularize education

要善于把理论与实践很好地结合起来Be good at integrating theory with practice。

从前有人写过一首打油诗,就是用来讽刺这种叠床架屋的语言现象的:

一个孤僧独自归, 关门闭户掩柴扉,半夜三更子时分,杜鹃谢豹子规啼。

这类意复现象,除了在特定的语境里,为了加重语气或对照对比,可以这么用,如“心里想的,眼里看的,嘴上说的,手上干的,要结合起来”,在一般情况下,都属语多赘余。汉语赘余现象似乎比英语多些,英译时往往要采用省略或融合的方法加以调整。

叠床架屋是一种不良的语言现象,英汉皆然。英语的意复(tautology)也有赘余(re-definers或

三、对偶与排比 (Parallelism)

汉语讲究音节匀称和词句整齐的倾向集中地表现在修辞上的对偶和排比。

对偶,是把结构相似、字数相等、意义相类、相对或相反的两个语句对称地排在一起,使之互相补充、互相映衬、互相对照,以提高表达效果。对偶综合了汉语语音、文字、词汇和语法诸因素所形成的特点,是富有中国气派的一种修辞方式,其应用范围相当广泛,对联、诗词、成语、谚语、广告、标题、散文、小说甚至公文,都可见到这类形式,如:

1)墙上芦苇,头重脚轻根底浅;山间竹笋,嘴尖皮厚腹中空。(明朝 . 解缙)

The reed growing on the wall — top-heavy, thin-stemmed and shallow of root;

The bamboo shoot in the hills — sharp-tongued, thick-skinned and hollow inside.

2)横眉冷对千夫指,俯首甘为孺子牛。(鲁迅:《集外集·自嘲》)

Fierce-browed,I coolly defy a thousand pointing fingers,

Head-bowed,like a willing ox I serve the youngsters.

3)画虎画皮难画骨,知人知面不知心。(施耐庵:《水浒》)

In drawing a tiger,you show its skin,but not its bones; while watching a man,you can see his face,but not his inmost feelings. -

4) 少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲。(《汉乐府民歌·长歌行》)

Laziness in youth spells regret in old age.

5) 下笔千言,离题万里。

A thousand words from the pen in a stream,but ten thousand li away from the theme.

6) 良药苦口利于病,忠言逆耳利于行。

Bitter medicine cures sickness,unpalatable advice benefits conduct.

汉语的许多四字成语常常采用对偶的形式,如:

能工巧匠skillful craftsman/deft hand

天涯海角the remotest corners of the earth

花言巧语fine words/sweet words/blandishments

东倒西歪leaning/unsteady/tottering

厚今薄古stress the present,not the past

南辕北辙act in a way that defeats one’s purpose

亲痛仇快sadden one’s own folk and gladden the enemy

求同存异seek common ground while reserving differences

·排比,是把三个以上结构相似、意思相关、语气一致的词组或句子排列成串的修辞方式。排比结构在汉语里也十分常见,政论文、科技文、文艺及其他文体都有这类表达形式,如:

1) 啊,我思念那洞庭湖,我思念那长江,我思念那东海,那浩浩荡荡的无边无际的波澜呀!那浩浩荡荡的无边无际的伟大的力呀! 那是自由,是跳舞,是音乐,是诗。(郭沫若:《屈原》)

Ah,I long for the Dongting Lake,I long for the Yangtze River,I long for the Eastern Sea,that mighty and boundless expanse of waves,that mighty and boundless expanse of strength! That is liberty,dancing,music,poetry!

2) 这里叫洋八股废止,有些同志却还在提倡。这里叫空洞抽象的调头少唱,有些同志却硬要多唱。这里叫教条主义休息,有些同志却叫它起床。(毛泽东:《反对党八股》)

The abolition of foreign stereotype was demanded in that report, yet some comrades are still promoting them. Less sing of empty, abstract tunes was demanded,yet some comrades are obstinately singing more. The demand was made that dogmatism be 1aid to rest, yet some comrades are telling it to get out of bed.

3) 他暗暗地使天地变异,却不敢毁灭这个地球;暗暗地使生物衰亡,却不敢长存一切尸体;暗暗地使人类流血,却不敢使血色永远鲜浓;暗暗地使人类受苦,却不敢叫人类永远记得。(鲁迅:《淡淡的血痕中》)

In secret,he causes heaven and earth to change,but dare not destroy this world.In secret,he causes living creatures to die, but dare not preserve their dead bodies.In secret,he causes mankind to shed blood,but dare not keep the blood stains fresh for ever.In secret,he causes mankind to suffer pain,but dare not let them remember it for ever.

英语也有类似汉语对偶的平行结构(parallelism),如:

1) Penny wise,pound foolish. 小处精明,大处浪费。小事聪明,大事糊涂

2)Grasp a11,lose a11. 样样都要,样样失掉。/贪多必失。

3)Nothing ventured,nothing gained. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。

4) No bees,no honey;no work,no money.

没有蜂就没有蜜,不做工就没有钱。

5) Long absent,soon forgotten. 别久情疏。

英语这类平行结构虽类似汉语的对偶,但很难实现象汉语严式对偶那样整齐匀称:严式对偶不但要求字数相等、结构相同,而且要求语音平仄协调、字面对应而不重复。英语的平行结构有时近似汉语的宽式对偶 (即不求平仄协调,允许字面重复),有时相当于汉语的排比如:

1) It was the best of times,it was the worst of times;it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness;it was the epoch of belief,it was the epoch of incredulity;it was the season of Light,it was the season of Darkness;it was the spring of hope,it was the winter of despair;we had everything before us,we had nothing before us;we were all going direct to Heaven,we were all going direct the other way. (Charles Dickens:A Tale of Two Cities)

这是最美好的时光,这也是最恶劣的时光;这是智慧的年代,这也是愚蠢的年代;这是有信仰的时

期,这也是抱怀疑的时期;这是光明的季节,这也是黑暗的季节;这是富有希望的春天,这也是充满绝望的冬天;我们面前万物皆有,我们面前也一无所有;我们都径直走向天堂,我们也都径直走向地狱。

2) This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South.With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautifu1 symphony of brotherhood.With this faith we will be able to work together,to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. (Martin Luther King:I Have a Dream)

这就是我们的希望。这就是我带回南方的信念。怀着这个信念,我们能够把绝望的大山凿成希望的磐石。怀着这个信念,我们能够将我国种族不和的喧嚣变为一曲友爱的乐章。怀着这个信念,我们能够一同工作,一向祈祷,一同奋斗,一同入狱,一同为争取自由而斗争,因为我们知道我们终将得到自由。

3) We find ourselves rich in goods,but ragged in spirit;reaching with magnificent precision for the moon,but falling into raucous discord on earth.

We are caught in war,wanting peace.We’re torn by division,wanting unity. We see around us empty lives,wanting fulfillment.We see tasks that need doing, wanting for hands to do them. (R.Nixon:Inaugural Address)

我们物质丰富,但精神贫乏;我们以超卓的准确程度登上了月球,但却陷入了地球上的一片混乱。 我们卷入了战争,没有和平。我们四分五裂,没有团结。我们看到周围的人生活空虚,没有充实的内容。我们看到许多工作需要完成,但却没有人手去做。

英语词的音节参差不齐,语句的结构长短不一,比较忌讳重复,因而很难获得汉语式的对偶和排比;汉语讲究音节文字的整齐、匀称,又习惯于字、词、语、句的反复,因而对偶和排比的结构十分常见。在很多情况下,英语采用替代、省略、变换、融合、归纳、引申和其他变通的方法来回避象汉语那样的对偶、排比和反复。试比较:

1) 人急造反,狗急跳墙。

Desperation drives men to rebel and a dog to jump over a wall.

2) 人有失误,马有失蹄。 It is a good horse that never stumbles.

3)人多力量大,柴多火焰高。

There is strength in numbers: more logs make a bigger fire.

4)壶小易热,量小易怒。 A little pot is soon hot.

5)取之不尽,用之不竭。 Exhaustible

6)沉鱼落雁之容,闭月羞花之貌。

be lovely enough to outshine the moon and put the flowers to shame/ the beauty would put the flowers to shame

7)龙生龙,凤生凤,老鼠生儿打地洞。

Like father, like son. / Like begets like.

8)用点划成线,用线划成平面,用平面划成立体。

With points you can make a line; with lines, planes; with planes, solids.

9)一个地方有一个地方的全局,一个国家有一个国家的全局,一个地球有一个地球的全局。 A locality has its own over-all interest, a nation has another and the earth yet another.

汉语有大量结构对偶的四字词组,前后意义重复,词语对称,英语一般没有相应的表达形式,因而英译时往往采用省略或融合的方法,如:

1) 他嘴里一时甜言蜜语,一时有天没日,疯疯傻傻。(曹雪芹:《红楼梦》)

He can be all sweet words one minute and ranting and raving the next.

2) 下面看的人提心吊胆,心惊肉跳。

The people watching below are tense and trembling with their hearts in their mouths. 汉语中的回环/回文可以算作一种特殊的重复结构:

1)边干边学,边学边干。

2) 诗中有画,画中有诗。

补充材料:重复(Repetition)(英汉对比)

*一声梧桐一声愁,一点芭蕉一点愁,三更归梦三更后。(元,徐再思)

*一叫一回肠一断,三春三月忆三巴。(李白) * (天将黑) 式微,

式微,

胡不归?

(要不是为了主人的事) 微君之故,

胡为乎中露?(中露:露水)

有意重复使用同一词、语甚至句、段,用来强调作者的意思,加强语气和情感,以取得更好的表达效果,这在修辞学上称为“反复”(repetition或reiteration)。反复可分为连续反复和间隔反复,英语还再分为首语反复(anaphora)和尾语反复(epiphora)。从用词方面看,反复、联珠(anadiplosis)、回环(chiasmus)、对照(antithesis)、部分对偶和排比(parallelism)都有重复的现象。这些方面的重复,汉英大体是相同的。如:

1) 沉默呵,沉默呵!不在沉默中爆发,就在沉默中灭亡。(鲁迅:《纪念刘和珍君》)

(连续反复与间隔反复) 式微, 式微, 胡不归? 微君之躬,(为了主人的身体而干活) 胡为乎泥中? (《诗经·国风》)

Silence,silence!Unless we burst out,we shall perish in this silence!

2) 吃饭防噎,行路防跌。(对偶)

When eating take heed that you do not choke,when walking take heed that you do not fall.

3) 我为人人,人人为我。(回环) One for all and a11 for one.

4) 大处着眼,小处着手。(对照)

Keep the general goal in sight while taking hold of daily tasks.

5) 我们一定要坚持下去,一定要不断地工作,我们也会感动上帝的。这个上帝不是别人,就是全中国的人民大众。全国人民大众一齐起来 和我们一道挖这两座山,有什么挖不平呢?(毛泽东:《愚公移山》) (联珠)

We must persevere and work unceasingly,and we,too,will touch God’s heart.Our God is none other than the masses of the Chinese people.If they stand up and dig together with us,why can’t these two mountains be cleared away?

汉语这类修辞方式,英语也有,例如:

1) Scrooge went to bed again,and thought and thought and thought it over and over.(Charles Dickens) (连续反复)

斯克鲁吉又上床去了,他想来想去,想呀想,想个没完。

2) She stood by the window and looked out sadly at a gray cat walking a1ong a gray fence in a gray backyard.(O. Henry:The Gifts) (间隔反复)

她站在窗子跟前,闷闷不乐地瞅着外面灰蒙蒙的后院,一只灰色的猫正在灰色的篱笆上行走。

3) A smile would come into Mr Pickwick’s face;the smile extended into a laugh, the laugh into a roar, and the roar became general. (Charles Dickens:Pickwick Paper) (联珠)

皮克威克先生的脸上会浮现出一丝微笑,微笑逐渐变成大笑,大笑变成狂笑,狂笑勾起一阵哄堂大笑。

4) Crafty men contemn studies;Simple men admire them; and wise men use them. (F.Bacon) (对照)

狡猾的人轻视学问;愚味的人羡慕学问;聪明的人利用学问。

5)The jail might have been the infirmary,the infirmary might have been the jail. (Charles Dickens) (回环)

监狱可以成为病房,病房也可以成为监狱。

6) Men perish,but man shall endure;lives die but the life is not dead.(A. Swinburne:Hymn of Man) (排偶)

人要死亡而人类永存,寿命有限而生命不绝。

然而,汉语的重复现象远比英语普遍。英语的重复一般是修辞性的(rhetorical),而汉语的重复除了修辞的需要之外,还往往出自语法的要求。重复可分为两大类:词语的重复和意义的重复。汉语的“词复”现象大体可以归纳为八种:

1.主语与表语重复,即主语与判断语重复,其格式是“甲是甲”或“甲是甲,乙是乙”,表示对于别的判断的排斥,如:

1) 不懂就是不懂,不要装懂。

We must not pretend to know when we do not know

2) 我的头发没了,可我还是我呀!My hair is gone,but I’m just the same.

3) 敌是敌,友是友,必须分清敌我的界限。

A friend is a friend,a foe is a foe, one must be clearly distinguished from the other.

4) 有缺点的战士终竟是战士,完美的苍蝇也终竟是苍蝇。(鲁迅:《战士和苍蝇》)

The fighter for a11 his blemishes is a fighter,while the most perfect flies are only flies. 其他例如:“一是一,二是二,不能弄虚作假”,“假的总是假的,谬误终究还是谬误”,“他的是他的,我送的是我送的”等等。英语也有这类重复,但不如汉语常见,如:

1) East is East,and West is West.(R. Kipling)东方是东方,西方是西方。

2) NOW is now,and then was then.

此一时也,彼一时也。/现在是现在,当时是当时。

2.主语与宾语重复,即宾语就是主语加“的”字,表示互不相干,类似英语you’re your own part”,如;

1) 他说他的,我干我的。

Let him say what he likes;I'1l just get on with my work.

2) 你们讨论你们的,我不参加了。

You just go on with your discussion. I won’t take part.

其他例如:“我死我的,与你何干?”,“他睡他的,别叫醒他”,“咱们只管乐咱们的”等等。

3.主语与谓语重复,即主语就是谓语加“的”字。这种格式连用两个(以上)相同的结构,有列举的性质,如:

1) 火车上看书的看书,聊天的聊天。

On the train some were reading and some chatting.

2) 这几双鞋,大的大,小的小,我都不能穿。

Some of these shoes are too big and others too small. None of them fits me.

3) 我们一些旧衣服和旧家具,当的当了,卖的卖了。(吴敬梓:《儒林外史》)

Our old clothes and few sticks of furniture have been pawned or sold.

其他例如:“陪过来一共四个,死的死,嫁的嫁”,“走的走,跑的跑,还顾主子的死活吗?”,“她们姐妹们病的病,弱的弱”等等。英语较常是用替代和省略来回避重复。

4.主语与宾语的修饰语重复,一般表示评估。如:

1) 穷也有穷的好处。 Poverty has its advantage.

2) 要知道大国有大国的策略,小国也有小国的路线,各取所好而行。

We should know that big powers have their strategies while small countries also have their own lines. And each follows the policy to its liking.

其他例如:“大家庭有大家庭的难处”,“不大说话的又有不大说话的可疼之处”等等。英语一般用替代来避免重复。

5.重复谓语,这种格式可分为三小类:

a) 含“虽”、“虽然”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“是”、“却”等字:

1) 去是去,但是得晚一点儿去。 I’m certainly going,but I'1l be a little 1ate.

2) 忙是忙,可大家很愉快。We are busy to be sure,but everyone is very happy.

b) 含“即使”、“甚至”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“也”、“都”等字:

1) 你是个大人物,平素请也请不到。

You’re a big shot and won’t come at ordinary times even if you’re invited.

2) 这个我连想都没想过。I haven’t even thought of it.

3) 她连吃都不吃了,我还有什么办法?

She even won’t eat anything at all,what can I do for her?

c) 含“容忍”、“无所谓”的意思,重复的谓语之间插入“就”字:

1) 丢了就丢了吧,以后小心点。

If it’s lost, it’s lost. Just be more carefu1 from now on.

2) 想喝就喝,想吃就吃,别客气了。

Drink or eat as you 1ike.P1ease make yourself at home.

6.重复带宾语的及物动词。这是因为及物动词与补语之间不能被宾语隔开而必须重复这个及物动词,如不能说“他踢足球得很好”,而须说“他踢足球踢得很好”,又如:

1) 他读书读得很多。He has read a lot.

2) 他这场病呀,准是洗冷水澡洗出来的。

His i11ness this time was caused by a cold bath.

若不重复动词,必须把宾语置于动词或主语之前,如“他书读得很多”或“书他读得很多”。英语没有这类重复。

7.重复“也好”、“也罢”之类,置于并列的谓语形式之后,表示假设或选择:

1) 写信也好,打电话也好,打电报也好,反正你得通知他。

You must let him know somehow, whether by letter, by telephone or by telegram.

2) 刮风也罢,下雨也罢,他都坚持跑步。

He keeps up running whether it’s windy or rainy.

8.重复“各”或“自己”,英语则往往使用代词以回避重复:

1) 各吹各的号,各唱各的调。

Each blows his own bugle and signs his own tune. / Each does things in his own way.

2) 他自己打自己。 He beat himself.

汉语词语的重复现象还不止上例几类。汉语讲究音节文字的整体、匀称,常常运用相反相成、对立

并联等表达形式,因而词语的重复几乎俯拾即是:

1)不是你去,就是我去。

Either you or I am to go.

2)我不会游泳,也不会滑冰。

I can’t swim or stake.

3) 什么难学不难学,我保证学会。

No matter how hard it is, I’ll learn how to do it.

4) 人家的果实归人家,咱们无论如何也不能要。

Let others enjoy the fruit of their own labour; anyway we won’t take it from them.

5) 他们几乎爱讲什么就讲什么,全然不顾什么谨慎不谨慎。

Their language was almost unrestrained by any motive of prudence.

6) 去就去,怕什么?

I’ll go, what do I have to be afraid of?

7)饱汉不知饿汉饥。

The well-fed don’t know how the starving suffer.

除了词语的重复之外,汉语还常常运用相似、相对或不同的词语来重复同一意义。汉语“意复”的现象尤其常见于四字成语和谚语,如:

成语的意复:

称心如意satisfactory 发号施令issue orders

惊天动地 earth-shaking 穷凶极恶nefarious

唉声叹气moan and groan 胡言乱语talk nonsense

奇装异服outlandish clothes 南腔北调a mixed accent

日新月异ever changing 粗制滥造crudely made

深仇大恨deep hatred 奇谈怪论strange tale

千方百计by hook or crook 街谈巷论street gossip

谚语的意复:

1) 单丝不成线,独木不成林。

One strand of silk does not make a thread; one tree does not make a forest.

2) 人以类聚,物以群分。

Birds of a feather flock together. / Like attracts like.

3)看菜吃饭,量体裁衣。

Fit the appetite to the dishes and the dress to the figure.

Act according to actual circumstances.

汉语意复的现象还常见于运用由两个意义相同或相近的词根构成的合成词,如:观看(watch)、使用(use)、古老(ancient)、树木(trees)、衣裳(clothing)、道路(road)、孤独(1onely)、善良(kind-hearted)、略微(slightly)等。汉语一些连接词或副词的连用也常有意义的重复,英语则不习惯于相应的重复,如:

1)问题虽然小,但很典型。

The question is small but typical.

2) 只有依靠群众,才能做好工作,

Only by relying on the masses can you do your work well.

3) 除了水稻以外,我们还种棉花和小麦。

Besides rice,we grow cotton and wheat。

4) 这种态度是非常有害的,特别是对于干部,害处更大。

Such an attitude does a great deal of harm,particularly among the cadres.

英语的“词复”和“意复”现象通常见于一种惯用语,称为“成对词”(words in pairs),H.W.Fowler则把它比作“连体双胎”(Siamese twins)。这种词组用and或or把两个形式相同或意义相同、相近、相关或相反的词连接起来,表示一个完整的概念。如:

同词重复,一般表示过程或加重语气,有些词义即为原有词义的引申:

on and on连续不断地 by and by不久

out and out彻底的/地 over and over反复地,再三地

again and again再三地,重复地 neck and neck并驾齐驱,不分上下

such and such某某,这样那样的 through and through彻头彻尾地

by little and little逐渐地,一点一点地

同义重复,通常起强调作用,也可以使概念较为准确:

each and every每个 aches and pains各种疼痛

toss and turn翻来复去 kith and kin亲戚朋友

lord and master主宰者 rack and ruin毁灭,荒废

pick and choose挑挑捡捡 toil and moil辛辛苦苦地干

puff and blow喘气,气急 chop and change反复无常

fair and square光明正大 rags and tatters衣衫褴褛

此外,英语还有一些词复的格式,如:day after day,arm in arm,face to face,side by side,word for word等。

英语成对词除了“同词重复”和“同意重复”的格式外,还有“相关合成”和“反义合成”的格式,如:

相关合成,由两个意思相关的词构成,表示某种连接关系,有时有引申义:

knife and fork 刀叉 fur and feather 鸟兽

bed and board 膳宿 bow and arrow 弓箭

cut and thrust 扭斗 hum and haw 支吾其辞

null and void 无效 slow and steady 稳扎稳打

wear and tear 磨损 Jack and Jill 少男少女

反义合成,两部分词义相对,往往表示列举或整体的意思,有时有引伸义:

on and off 断断续续 to and fro 来回、往返

past and present 古今 first and last 始终,总共

far and near 四面八方 Alpha and Omega 全部,始终

sink or swim 不论好歹 rain or shine 无论如何

make or break 成之或毁之 hit or miss 不论成功与否

四字成语:AABB ABAC ABAB(很少)

以上英汉的词复和意复都属于正常的语言现象。这类重复一般都可归入构词法、惯用法、语法或修辞等范畴之内。

汉语的意复还常常产生一些赘余的现象,即把包含在词语里的意思用另外的词语复说一遍。有些说法虽已司空见惯,但若细加推敲,就会发现其中有的词语是多余的。如:

从小出生was born 他所担任的工作his work

非常酷似be exactly like 另外还有in addition

脑子里想了想think over 用鼻子闻了一下take a smell of

嘴里异口同声地谴责condemn with one voice

不切实际的幻想illusion;fancy;fantasy

毫无根据的诽谤slander;calumniate;1ibel

万分危急的紧要关头at this moment when everything hung by a thread;at this very critical moment 广泛地普及教育popularize education

要善于把理论与实践很好地结合起来Be good at integrating theory with practice。

从前有人写过一首打油诗,就是用来讽刺这种叠床架屋的语言现象的:

一个孤僧独自归, 关门闭户掩柴扉,半夜三更子时分,杜鹃谢豹子规啼。

这类意复现象,除了在特定的语境里,为了加重语气或对照对比,可以这么用,如“心里想的,眼里看的,嘴上说的,手上干的,要结合起来”,在一般情况下,都属语多赘余。汉语赘余现象似乎比英语多些,英译时往往要采用省略或融合的方法加以调整。

叠床架屋是一种不良的语言现象,英汉皆然。英语的意复(tautology)也有赘余(re-definers或

三、对偶与排比 (Parallelism)

汉语讲究音节匀称和词句整齐的倾向集中地表现在修辞上的对偶和排比。

对偶,是把结构相似、字数相等、意义相类、相对或相反的两个语句对称地排在一起,使之互相补充、互相映衬、互相对照,以提高表达效果。对偶综合了汉语语音、文字、词汇和语法诸因素所形成的特点,是富有中国气派的一种修辞方式,其应用范围相当广泛,对联、诗词、成语、谚语、广告、标题、散文、小说甚至公文,都可见到这类形式,如:

1)墙上芦苇,头重脚轻根底浅;山间竹笋,嘴尖皮厚腹中空。(明朝 . 解缙)

The reed growing on the wall — top-heavy, thin-stemmed and shallow of root;

The bamboo shoot in the hills — sharp-tongued, thick-skinned and hollow inside.

2)横眉冷对千夫指,俯首甘为孺子牛。(鲁迅:《集外集·自嘲》)

Fierce-browed,I coolly defy a thousand pointing fingers,

Head-bowed,like a willing ox I serve the youngsters.

3)画虎画皮难画骨,知人知面不知心。(施耐庵:《水浒》)

In drawing a tiger,you show its skin,but not its bones; while watching a man,you can see his face,but not his inmost feelings. -

4) 少壮不努力,老大徒伤悲。(《汉乐府民歌·长歌行》)

Laziness in youth spells regret in old age.

5) 下笔千言,离题万里。

A thousand words from the pen in a stream,but ten thousand li away from the theme.

6) 良药苦口利于病,忠言逆耳利于行。

Bitter medicine cures sickness,unpalatable advice benefits conduct.

汉语的许多四字成语常常采用对偶的形式,如:

能工巧匠skillful craftsman/deft hand

天涯海角the remotest corners of the earth

花言巧语fine words/sweet words/blandishments

东倒西歪leaning/unsteady/tottering

厚今薄古stress the present,not the past

南辕北辙act in a way that defeats one’s purpose

亲痛仇快sadden one’s own folk and gladden the enemy

求同存异seek common ground while reserving differences

·排比,是把三个以上结构相似、意思相关、语气一致的词组或句子排列成串的修辞方式。排比结构在汉语里也十分常见,政论文、科技文、文艺及其他文体都有这类表达形式,如:

1) 啊,我思念那洞庭湖,我思念那长江,我思念那东海,那浩浩荡荡的无边无际的波澜呀!那浩浩荡荡的无边无际的伟大的力呀! 那是自由,是跳舞,是音乐,是诗。(郭沫若:《屈原》)

Ah,I long for the Dongting Lake,I long for the Yangtze River,I long for the Eastern Sea,that mighty and boundless expanse of waves,that mighty and boundless expanse of strength! That is liberty,dancing,music,poetry!

2) 这里叫洋八股废止,有些同志却还在提倡。这里叫空洞抽象的调头少唱,有些同志却硬要多唱。这里叫教条主义休息,有些同志却叫它起床。(毛泽东:《反对党八股》)

The abolition of foreign stereotype was demanded in that report, yet some comrades are still promoting them. Less sing of empty, abstract tunes was demanded,yet some comrades are obstinately singing more. The demand was made that dogmatism be 1aid to rest, yet some comrades are telling it to get out of bed.

3) 他暗暗地使天地变异,却不敢毁灭这个地球;暗暗地使生物衰亡,却不敢长存一切尸体;暗暗地使人类流血,却不敢使血色永远鲜浓;暗暗地使人类受苦,却不敢叫人类永远记得。(鲁迅:《淡淡的血痕中》)

In secret,he causes heaven and earth to change,but dare not destroy this world.In secret,he causes living creatures to die, but dare not preserve their dead bodies.In secret,he causes mankind to shed blood,but dare not keep the blood stains fresh for ever.In secret,he causes mankind to suffer pain,but dare not let them remember it for ever.

英语也有类似汉语对偶的平行结构(parallelism),如:

1) Penny wise,pound foolish. 小处精明,大处浪费。小事聪明,大事糊涂

2)Grasp a11,lose a11. 样样都要,样样失掉。/贪多必失。

3)Nothing ventured,nothing gained. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。

4) No bees,no honey;no work,no money.

没有蜂就没有蜜,不做工就没有钱。

5) Long absent,soon forgotten. 别久情疏。

英语这类平行结构虽类似汉语的对偶,但很难实现象汉语严式对偶那样整齐匀称:严式对偶不但要求字数相等、结构相同,而且要求语音平仄协调、字面对应而不重复。英语的平行结构有时近似汉语的宽式对偶 (即不求平仄协调,允许字面重复),有时相当于汉语的排比如:

1) It was the best of times,it was the worst of times;it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness;it was the epoch of belief,it was the epoch of incredulity;it was the season of Light,it was the season of Darkness;it was the spring of hope,it was the winter of despair;we had everything before us,we had nothing before us;we were all going direct to Heaven,we were all going direct the other way. (Charles Dickens:A Tale of Two Cities)

这是最美好的时光,这也是最恶劣的时光;这是智慧的年代,这也是愚蠢的年代;这是有信仰的时

期,这也是抱怀疑的时期;这是光明的季节,这也是黑暗的季节;这是富有希望的春天,这也是充满绝望的冬天;我们面前万物皆有,我们面前也一无所有;我们都径直走向天堂,我们也都径直走向地狱。

2) This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South.With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautifu1 symphony of brotherhood.With this faith we will be able to work together,to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. (Martin Luther King:I Have a Dream)

这就是我们的希望。这就是我带回南方的信念。怀着这个信念,我们能够把绝望的大山凿成希望的磐石。怀着这个信念,我们能够将我国种族不和的喧嚣变为一曲友爱的乐章。怀着这个信念,我们能够一同工作,一向祈祷,一同奋斗,一同入狱,一同为争取自由而斗争,因为我们知道我们终将得到自由。

3) We find ourselves rich in goods,but ragged in spirit;reaching with magnificent precision for the moon,but falling into raucous discord on earth.

We are caught in war,wanting peace.We’re torn by division,wanting unity. We see around us empty lives,wanting fulfillment.We see tasks that need doing, wanting for hands to do them. (R.Nixon:Inaugural Address)

我们物质丰富,但精神贫乏;我们以超卓的准确程度登上了月球,但却陷入了地球上的一片混乱。 我们卷入了战争,没有和平。我们四分五裂,没有团结。我们看到周围的人生活空虚,没有充实的内容。我们看到许多工作需要完成,但却没有人手去做。

英语词的音节参差不齐,语句的结构长短不一,比较忌讳重复,因而很难获得汉语式的对偶和排比;汉语讲究音节文字的整齐、匀称,又习惯于字、词、语、句的反复,因而对偶和排比的结构十分常见。在很多情况下,英语采用替代、省略、变换、融合、归纳、引申和其他变通的方法来回避象汉语那样的对偶、排比和反复。试比较:

1) 人急造反,狗急跳墙。

Desperation drives men to rebel and a dog to jump over a wall.

2) 人有失误,马有失蹄。 It is a good horse that never stumbles.

3)人多力量大,柴多火焰高。

There is strength in numbers: more logs make a bigger fire.

4)壶小易热,量小易怒。 A little pot is soon hot.

5)取之不尽,用之不竭。 Exhaustible

6)沉鱼落雁之容,闭月羞花之貌。

be lovely enough to outshine the moon and put the flowers to shame/ the beauty would put the flowers to shame

7)龙生龙,凤生凤,老鼠生儿打地洞。

Like father, like son. / Like begets like.

8)用点划成线,用线划成平面,用平面划成立体。

With points you can make a line; with lines, planes; with planes, solids.

9)一个地方有一个地方的全局,一个国家有一个国家的全局,一个地球有一个地球的全局。 A locality has its own over-all interest, a nation has another and the earth yet another.

汉语有大量结构对偶的四字词组,前后意义重复,词语对称,英语一般没有相应的表达形式,因而英译时往往采用省略或融合的方法,如:

1) 他嘴里一时甜言蜜语,一时有天没日,疯疯傻傻。(曹雪芹:《红楼梦》)

He can be all sweet words one minute and ranting and raving the next.

2) 下面看的人提心吊胆,心惊肉跳。

The people watching below are tense and trembling with their hearts in their mouths. 汉语中的回环/回文可以算作一种特殊的重复结构:

1)边干边学,边学边干。

2) 诗中有画,画中有诗。


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