许多研究语言中的歧义现象的学者都认为,我们说话和写文章都应力求“准确、简明、生动”,避免歧义。不过歧义也并不只有消极的作用。在我们的日常生活中,歧义同样也产生了积极的作用,如在商业广告、政治宣传中,歧义都达到了很好的幽默诙谐的效果。本文从语法、词汇和语音的角度分析了英语中的歧义类型。当然,有些提法还有待商榷(比如因“完全同形同音异义词”引起的词汇歧义,由“意义不同、但某些语法形式相同的词”引起的语音歧义等,以便进一步探讨。
Paul Robert在《英语句子结构》(English Sentence Structure一书中指出:“据多数情况来看,歧义的产生并非故意的。它是由运用句子结构时的疏忽造成的,以致没有能够将可以使意义清晰的标记包罗到句子中去。(周立人,1997∶6”于是忽视使用表明句子结构的句法代号就引起了语法歧义。伍谦光(1995∶199认为:“‘语法歧义’是指由于对句子中的句法结构有不同理解而产生的歧义。”语法歧义最常见,也最复杂。下面是一些具有代表性的类例:
1.1词性
一个句子往往由于无法确定某个词的词性而变得无法理解。
(1College demands change.
很明显,例句中的demands既可理解为动词,也可理解为名词。change同样如此。于是此句就产生了两个不同的意思:(1大学要求改革。demands是动词,change是名词。(2大学的要求改变了。demands是名词,change是动词。
1.2名词(修饰语+名词
1.2.1复合名词或名词短语
(2an English teacher
此例在书面语中易引起歧义:(1一位教英语的老师。English teacher是一个复合名词。(2一位来自英国的老师。English作为修饰语加在名词前构成名词短语。
1.2.2-ing+名词
(3Flying planes can be dangerous.
此句也产生了两种意思:(1驾驶飞机会是危险的。Flying是动名词。(2正在驾驶的飞机会有危险。Fling是现在分词,作形容词用。
1.3带有’s的名词所有格
(4This is his teacher’s book.
句子中teacher’s book可以是一个整体,即“教师用书”。但his teacher也可以是一个整体,即“他的老师”。所以此句产生了两个意思:(1这是他的教师用书。(2这是他老师的书。
1.4不定式动词短语
(5The tiger is too small to kill.
此例也有两种含义:(1这只老虎太小以致于不能伤人。此意对tiger来说,是主动的动作。(2这只老虎太小了,还不能被***。此意对tiger来说,是被动的动作。
1.5“及物动词+宾语”结构
(6I found Jim an experienced teacher.
及物动词found后面接了两个名词Jim和an experienced teacher。这句话有两个意思:(1我发现吉姆原来是一位有的老师。(2我为吉姆找到了一位有经验的老师。
1.6并列连词and
(7Tom and Lucy are married.
此句可理解为:(1汤姆和露西两个成了亲。其中and连接两个名词,构成一个简单句。(2汤姆和露西两个都已结婚。该句可看作一个并列句。
1.7悬挂式否定词not
(8His object is not to eat.
此句产生的两种意思为:(1他的目的不是吃。作此意讲时,is和not的关系紧密,可写作isn’t。(2他的目的是绝食。作此意讲时,not与to eat的关系紧密,形成“绝食”的含义。因此not是悬挂式的(即可以自由摆动。
1.8悬挂式代词
(9The man informed his brother that he should lose weight.
人称代词he位于两个名词the man和his brother之后,句意变得模糊:(1这个男的告诉他的哥哥他自己应该减肥。人称代词he代指the man。(2这个男的告诉他的哥哥他应该减肥。这时人称代词he代指his brother。
1.9悬挂式状语修饰成分
(10The people who saw the play frequently praised it.
这里的frequently很难说是修饰saw the play还是praised的,因为状语修饰成分是“悬挂的”,所以产生了两个意思:(1经常看戏的人们称赞了它。(2看了这出戏的人们频繁地称赞它。
1.10悬挂式定语修饰成分
(11Lily likes the vase on the table which she bought yesterday.
此句中的which she bought yesterday是定语从句,这个定语从句可认为是修饰vase,也可以认为是修饰table。也引起了歧义:(1莉莉喜欢放在桌子上的那个昨天买的花瓶。(2莉莉喜欢放在昨天买的桌子上的那个花瓶。
1。thereof
以”there”为前缀加上介词构成的词,如thereafter, thereby, therein, thereinafter, thereinbefore, thereon, thereof, thereunder, thereupon, therewith等,在文中具体指什么,需要读者依照合同的上下文来判断,因而理解起来比较复杂,请看下例:
This Agreement is written in the English language。 In case of any discrepancy between the English version and any translation thereof, the English text shall govern。 句中”the English version and any translation thereof”从上下文判断意为 “the English version and any translation of the English version”,即thereof一词代替of the English version。与以here开头的词如hereof的理解方法类似。
2。therein
该词意为in that, in that particular
context, in that respect,“在那里”,“在那点上”,“在那方面”,表示上文已提及的“合同中的”“工程中的”。如:the contract or any part thereof意为the contract or any part of the contract,合同或合同的任何部分。
3。thereto
该词意为:to that,“随附”,“附之”,如:“Contract Products” means the products specified in Appendix 2 to this Contract, together with all improvements and modifications thereof or developments with respect thereto。 句中or developments with respect thereto 意为:or developments with respect to the developments。
4。thereunder
该词意为:under that, “在其下”,“依照”,如:The Borrower fails to pay any amount payable thereunder as and when such amount shall become payable。 句中any amount payable thereunder意为any amount payable under the contract。
During the national day holiday, my mother took me to my aunt's house to play, i found a small aunt's dog gave birth to three puppies dog.
The dog's fur are very beautiful, they are diversiform fur, has a lovely little face; these puppies different personalities, some quiet; some fun; some like fighting.
There is a dog in a white transparent yellow fur with a piece of black hair, more fun is the corner edge has a black hair. because it looks like a little dog, so i call it. there is a dog looks very strange, black dog rounded rounded tail, in addition to white, whole body black, black eyes, black nose, without notice, thought that it has no eyes! because it looks out of the ordinary, i call it "the little dark monster".
I looked at the little guy, happy singing:" dog dog barking, don't let me feed you, become a dog to keep house, to protect my family into the thief.
1。hereby
该词意为by means of , by reason of this, by this agreement,“特此”,“因此”,“兹”,“在此”。此词常用作法律、经贸文件、合同、协议书等正式文件的开头语,在合同条款中需特别强调时也可用,表示当事人借此合约,要宣示某种具有法律效力的“意思表示”,如保证、同意、放弃权利等,一般放于主语后,紧邻主语。如:The Company hereby covenants and warrants that…… 意为:By this agreement the Company covenants and warrants that……即:公司在此保证……再如:Both parties hereby agree that……意为:By this agreement both parties agree that……即:双方当事人在此同意……
2。hereof
该词意为:of this agreement,“关于此点”;“在本文件中”,表示上文已提及的“本合同的、本文件的……”,一般置于要修饰的名词的后面,与之紧邻。如:to take effect on the date hereof 意为:to take effect on the date of this agreement 即:于本合约之日期生效。再如:the headings of the sections hereof 意为:the headings of the sections of this agreement 即:本合约各条款之标题。
3。hereto
该词意为:to this agreement,“至此”,“在此”,表示上文已提及的“本合同的……本文件的……”,一般置于要修饰的`名词的后面,与之紧邻。如:both parties hereto 意为both parties to this agreement,即本合约之当事人双方;items specified in Attachment I and hereto 意为:items specified in Attachment I to this agreement 即:本合约之附件I所列之各项。
4。herein
该词意为:in this agreement,“此中”,“于此”,表示上文已提及的“本合同(中)的……,本法(中)的……”等,一般置于所修饰词后,紧邻所修饰词。如:to file a suit in the court agreed to herein 意为:to file a suit in the court agreed to in this agreement 即:向当事人于本合约中同意管辖的法院提起诉讼;再如:to follow the terms and conditions herein 意为:to follow the terms and conditions in this agreement,即:遵守本合约所规定的条件。
5。hereinafter
该词意为:later in the same Contract,“以下”,“在下文”,一般与to be referred to as, referred to as, called 等词组连用,以避免重复。
6。hereunder
该词意为:under this agreement,“在本合约内”、“依据本合约”。如:obligations hereunder,意为obligations under this agreement,即“本合约内的义务”。再如:rights granted hereunder,意为rights granted under this agreement,即“依本合约所赋予的权利”。
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1。Whereas
该词意为:considering that, “鉴于”,“就(而论”,常用于合同协议书的开头段落以引出合同双方订立合同的理由或依据。如:Whereas Party A desires to use the Patented Technology of Party B to manufacture and sell the Contract Products……鉴于甲方希望利用乙方的专利技术制造并销售合同产品。
2。Whereby
该词意为:by the agreement, by the following terms and conditions,“凭此协议”,“凭此条款”,常用于合同协议书中以引出合同当事人应承担的主要合同义务。如:
A sales contract refers to a contract whereby the seller transfers the ownership of an object to the buyer and the buyer pays the price for the object。 句中a contract whereby the seller transfers……意为:a contract by which the seller transfers……
以上是对外经贸合同英语中几个典型旧体词用词方面的重要的特点,笔者希望初涉外经贸合同的教师和学生予以留意,有针对性地学习,达到事半功倍的效果;也希望进行外贸合同写作时也能把握住这几个特点,写出好的外经贸合同,顺利地进行外贸业务往来。
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