2)、形連
行文的邏輯性常常要靠適當?shù)霓D(zhuǎn)換詞語及其他手段來實現(xiàn)。請讀下面這一段文字并找出文中用以承上啟下的詞語:
Walter’s goal in life was to become a successful surgeon. First, though, he had to get through high school, so he concentrated all his efforts on his studies --- in particular, biology, chemistry, and math. Because he worked constantly on these subjects, Walter became proficient in them; however, Walter forgot that he needed to master other subjects besides those he had chosen. As a result, during his junior year of high school, Walter failed both English and Latin. Consequently, he had to repeat these subjects and he was almost unable to graduate on schedule. Finally, on June 6, Walter achieved the first step toward realizing his goal.
本文中起承上啟下的詞語有兩種,一種是轉(zhuǎn)換詞語(transitional words or phrases),另一種是起轉(zhuǎn)換作用的其他連接手段(linking devices)。前者依次有:first, though, so, in particular, and, because, however, besides, as a result, both…and, consequently, and, finally.后者依次是:he, he, his, his, he, these, them, he, those, his, he, these, his. 本段中共有詞匯105個,所使用的轉(zhuǎn)換詞語及其他連接用語共26個詞,約占該段總詞匯量的四分之一。由此可見,掌握好transitions不僅對行文的流(smoothness)有益,而且對于學生在半個小時內(nèi)寫足四級短文所要求的120個詞也是不無好處的。
一個段落里如果沒有transitions也就很難有coherence了。我們看下面一個例子:Speaking and writing are different in many ways. Speech depends on sounds. Writing uses written symbols. Speech developed about 500 000 years ago. Written language is a recent development. It was invented only about six thousand years ago. Speech is usually informal. The word choice of writing is often relatively formal. Pronunciation and accent often tell where the speaker is from. Pronunciation and accent are ignored in writing. A standard diction and spelling system prevails in the written language of most countries. Speech relies on gesture, loudness, and rise and fall of the voice. Writing lacks gesture, loudness and the rise and fall of the voice. Careful speakers and writers are aware of the differences.
本段中除了第6句開頭出現(xiàn)一個起過渡作用的"it"之外,沒有使用其他的過渡詞語。這樣,文中出現(xiàn)許多重復的詞語,全段讀起來也顯得生硬而不自然。如果加上必要的過渡詞語來修飾的話,這一段就成了下面一個流暢連貫的段落:
Speaking and writing are different in many ways. Speech depends on sounds; writing, on the other hand, uses written symbols. Speech was developed about 500 000 years ago, but written language is a recent development, invented only about six thousand years ago. Speech is usually informal, while the word choice of writing, by contrast, is often relatively formal. Although pronunciation and accent often tell where the speaker is from, they are ignored in wiring because a standard diction and spelling system prevails in most countries. Speech relies on gesture, loudness, and the rise and fall of the voice, but writing lacks these features. Careful speakers and writers are aware of the differences.