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试析语篇的意向性及其作用(2)

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  二、意向性在语篇分析中的作用
  由于每一个称其为语篇的东西,都带有一定的意向性,那么把握好意向性能为我们更好的分析语篇的意义做出指导。例如:
  1、A PrisonerPlansH isEscape Rocky slow ly gotup from the mat,planning hisescape.He hesitated a moment and thought. Things were not going wel1.W hat bothered him mostwasbeing held,especiallysincethechargea—gainsthim hadbeenweak.H econsidered hispres—entsituation.Thelock thatheld him was strong,buthe thoughthe could break it.
 2、A W restlerin aTightCorner  Rocky slowly gotup from the mat,planninghis escape.H e hesitated a mom entand thought.Things were notgoing wel1.W hat bothered him mostas being held,especially since the chargea—gainsthim had been weak.Heconsideredhispres—entsituation.The lock thatheld him wasstrong,buthethoughthecould break it.
  这两段的内容完全相同,但是标题不同。在阅读文字之前,我们首先看到的是标题先为内容界定了一个意图假设。接下来再读具体内容时,由于对意向性预测的不同,对两段相同的文字便有了不同的理解。例1中我们会认为Rocky被警察逮捕了,现在他独自一个人呆在囚室中,但他不愿意呆在里面,谋划着打开门锁逃走。而在例2中,我们则认为Rocky不是独自一人呆在囚室中,与警察毫不相干,他是一个摔跤手,正在比赛,现在他被对方擒住,正在谋划挣脱出来。
  为了实现说话者的意图,语篇在形式和意义上应该具有一定的连贯性。但是有时看似不很连贯的语篇,由于其意向性的一致性,也可以为我们所接受。例如:”Well,sir,”saidtheconstable,”heS them an wewerein search of,thafstrue;andyet he’snottheman wewereinsearchof.Fortheman we werein search ofwasnotthem an we wanted,sir,ifyou understand my everyday way.”
  在这里,该位警长之所以表达出似乎前后矛盾的篇章,主要是表现了他想抓又抓不到,抓抓放放,左右为难的尴尬境地。
  语篇中语言的运用是与意向性密切相关的。试比较下面两个语篇:
  1、A tthe edge ofthe ribbed levelof sidings squatted a low cottage.A largebony vine clutchedatthehouse.Round the bricked yard grew a fewwintry prim roses.Beyond,thelong garden slopeddown.Thereweresom etwiggy appletrees.Beside thepath hungdisheveled pink chrysanthemums.A wom an cam eoutofthefowl—house.Sheclosedandpadlocked thedoor.
  2、Attheedgeofthe ribbed levelofsidings squatted alow cottage,threestepsdown from the cider track.A large bony vine clutched at the house,asifto claw down thetiledroof.Round the bricked yard grew afew wintry primroses.Beyond the long garden sloped down to a bush-covered brook course.There were some twiggy apple trees,winter—crack trees,and ragged cabbages. Beside the path hung disheveled pink chrysanthe—m um s,like pink clothes hung on bushes.A woman camestooping outofthefelt-covered fowl-house,halfway down thegarden.She closed and padlocked thedoor,then drew herselferect,hav-ing brushed som ebitsfrom herwhiteapron.
  第一段是D.H.Lawrence的OdourofChrys-anthemums中的一段描写,而后一语篇是根据第一段改写的。第二段虽然与第一段主要信息是相同的,但是进行了更丰富、细致的描写,使用了许多的修饰语。这样的语篇给读者的印象和效果是不同作者写作的意图要通过他独特的语言表达出如果修改了语言势必将影响作者写作意图的理不利于我们更好地把握文章内容。
  语篇的意向性不仅体现在书面语中,还体现在日常口语中。Austin在How toDoThingswithWords中把交际语言划分为三种行为,根据这一理论我们把发话人意图分为行事行为意图和取效行为意图。在书中Austin给出如下的例子:
  (E.1)Act(A)orLocution  Hesaid tom e Shoother!meaning by shoot shootand referring by her"to her.
  Act(B)orIllocution Heurged(oradvised,ordered,&C.)metoshoother.
  Act(c)orPerlocution 
  Hepersuadedm eto shoother.
  (E.2)Act(A)orLocution
  He saidto me,You can’tdo that Act(B)orIllocution
  Heprotested againstmy doing it
  Act(c)orPerlocution
  Hepulled m eup,checked m e.
  从这两个例子中我们可以看到同一句话在意向性上也可以分为不同的层次。例1中行事行为意图是他命令我向她开枪,取效行为意图是他说服我开枪打她,我做出了这样的动作。例2中行事行为意图是他阻止我去做,取效行为意图是他把我拉开,制止了我去做。
  在上下文或语境的帮助下我们可以更好地理解语篇的意向性,例如;
  Beatie:YougonnaheyanotherJenny?
  Jenny:W ell,course Iam.W hat you on a—bout?ThinkJimmydon’twantnoneofhisown?
  Beatie:He’sgoodmanJenny.
  Jenny:Yearp.
  Beatie:Notmany men would marry you after you had ababy.
  Jenny:No.
  Beatie:Youhevn’ttoldnoonehevyouJenny?
  Jenny:No,thatIhevn’t.
  Beatie:W ell,thatS itgal,dontyou tellmethen!
  孤立地看,这段话可以表明Jenny为在婚前有一私生子而非常羞愧,但随着对话的进行,逐渐表明她的反应实际上是诺福克人对隐私的宽容与满不在乎的态度。
  三、结束语
  意向性作为Beaugrande和Dressler提出的篇章性的七个标准之一,在语篇的解读和作者意图的理解上都有着指导性作用。本文只是强调了意向性在语篇中的体现,但是仍会有许多遗漏和不足之处,有待更多的学者补充和完善。
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