研究生实用英语写作2-diction

1、Diction Diction Diction is the choice and use of words. Good diction helps one express himself clearly and effectively while poor diction sounds awkward, unidiomatic or chinglish. A certain amount of vocabulary forms the basis of English writing. So, first of all we should have a vocabulary as large

2、 as possible. Then we can have much freedom for selection of the most appropriate words when we write. In selecting the most appropriate words, we should put the following 5 criteria in mind: vAccuracy and exactnessvCulture awarenessvEmotion awarenessvOccasion awarenessvAbundance and diversityvAccur

3、acy and exactness Many errors in writing result from the confusion of word meanings. For example: 1.When he was only 10 years old, he won first reward.2.They can not find an outlet for escaping the burning room.3.Tom shed regrettable tears.4.He derives quick sense from folk music.1.When he was only

4、10 years old, he won first prize.2.They can not find an outlet for fleeing the burning room.3.Tom shed regretful tears.4.He derives delight (sensuous delight) from folk music.Another example: He is soft.He is weak.He lacks strength. 他是柔和的/虚弱的/缺乏力量和勇气的。Other examples:vCountry主要指国土及国民；vNation强调民族，种族；v

5、state多指国家的政府及政府机构；v而land指国家虽不够精确，但更富有文学的色彩，比country一词带有更多的感情。 First ladyfirst wifeFamilyHomeExceptBesides TipsvBasically, to memorize the differences as much as possible.vMore reading can help us understand different usages in different contexts.vWell understanding of the real implication can lead t

6、o appropriate expressions. For example: We enjoy free medical care.我们享受公费医疗。看 Watch TV, see a movie, read a book, visit parents, look at an issue提高 Improve the living standard, deepen our understanding, raise the efficiency.vCultural awareness Countless mistakes arise because of lack of cultural bac

7、kground knowledge. For example: 1.White elephant sports shoes2.Yellow publications3.Hes as quiet as a cat.4.Hes as strong as a cow.vWhite elephant sports shoes something expensive and not useful/practicalvYellow publications pornorgraphic/blue/indecent publicationsvHes as quiet as a cat. mousevHes a

8、s strong as a cow. horseOther examples:vPhoenix vPeacockvBatvDogvDragonvPeachvGreenvEverybody thinks that the dragon is Chinese tradition culture part, we all are descendants of the dragon. The Chinese character龙 should not be translated into dragon. The dragon does not ought to be the Chinese image

9、, cause a dragon is a vicious animal in Occidental eye. There are scholars having suggested that the Chinese character龙 translates into loong, but is not a dragon. Because loong has two oes to resemble dragons eye, and loong is similar to the Chinese pronunciation of 龙.v“龙”不应该翻译成dragon。Dragon的本意是凶残的

10、巨兽、恶魔、悍妇等。中国人在外国人面前自称dragon，是自我妖魔化。“龙”也不应该翻译成long。Long的英文发音不是“龙”，而是“狼”，这不是真正的音译。“龙”应该翻译成loong，它的发音和“龙”相近，在英文中本来就是“龙”字的音译，有些西方人也把龙称为loong，有广泛的使用基础。Loong的两个“O”字母象龙的两只眼睛，loong使人联想到long（长），所以它也是一个象形文字，和汉字特色相通。而long在形象上是独眼龙。 “龙”是中华民族的象征，在中译英时，“龙”被翻译成Dragon。 但是在英文中，dragon是邪恶的怪物，还有“凶暴的人，悍妇”等含义。在图画中，dragon的

11、身躯庞大笨拙，颜色是黑灰色的，长着巨大的翅膀，口中吐火，吞噬人和动物，非常丑陋恐怖，和中国的龙完全两样。 中国人在西方人面前自称“Dragon”或“Descendants of the Dragon”（龙的传人（后裔），西方人当然要把中国人看成是恶魔、坏人了。所以我们再也不能把“龙”翻译成“Dragon”了！ 有人建议把“龙”音译成“Long”。 但是“long”的英文发音和“龙”完全两样，相当于中文的“狼”，并非真正的音译。当西方人指着龙说“long”时，中国人还必须纠正他的发音，不仅增加了交流的困难，还会引起对方的困惑。Long在英文中是一个使用非常普遍的常用词，含义本来就很多，把龙翻译成

12、long也会造成意义上的混乱。所以不能简单地把龙的拼音字母作为龙的英文音译。 既然是把中文“龙”音译成英文，那么在英文中的发音就应该和“龙”相近，否则就不是真正的音译。 英文中对“龙”字的音译是“Loong”，姓氏“龙”和人名中的“龙”字也被翻译成“loong”，例如新加坡总理李显龙的名字被翻译成“Lee Hsien Loong”。在一些涉及龙的文字中，“龙”也的确被称为“loong”。因此，把“龙”翻译成“loong”才是真正的音译，而且它已经有了广泛的使用基础，也符合海外华人的习惯，有利于团结海外华人。 Loong的两个“O”字母，就象龙的两只大眼睛，loong在文字上又和“long”相近

13、，给人“长”的感觉（很多西方人有意把“long long ago”写成“loong loong ago”），因此loong还具有象形文字的特点，和中文汉字有暗合之妙。而long则有“独眼龙”之嫌。 英文中本来没有loong这个单词，因此把“龙”翻译成loong，不会引发歧义。所以，“龙”应该翻译成“loong”。 vEmotion awareness It seems that many English words have similar Chinese meaning, however, quite different implications. Some may be neutral,

14、some may be positive, or negative. v（1） That unemployed man gained great fame as a robber.（2） The commanders obstinacy in the face of the thunderstorm saved all the sailors in the ship.v“Fame”（好名声）和“obstinacy”（固执）的意思适合这两句吗？前者需要的是个贬义词；后者要的是个褒义词。因此1.里的“fame”要改为“notoriety”（坏名声），而2.里的“obstinacy”要变成“pers

15、everance”（毅力/坚持不懈）才贴切。examples:vSlender, slim, thin, underweight, skinnyvPolitician, statesmanvPublicity, propagandavFarmer, peasant, landlord vSlender, slim, thin, skinnyv身材修长的，苗条的，细瘦的，干瘦的vPolitician, statesmanv勾心斗角、图谋私利的政客，正派、有远见的政治家vOccasion awarenessvFrom a stylistic view, words are divided into

16、 three types: formal, common, colloquial.vFormal words may also be called learned words or literary words, which mainly appear in formal writing and are seldom used in daily conversation, but in exams, application, and technical paper.vColloquial words are mainly used in informal or familiar convers

17、ation. They are usually short words of one or two syllables.vBetween the two are common words, which people use every day, and appear in all kinds of writing. colloquial common formal e.g. nag / plug horse home charger / steed domicilevThink, believe, consider, argue, dispute, hold, maintain, claim,

18、 state vThink, believe, consider, argue, dispute, hold, maintain, claim, statev都可以表示“认为”，but the more behind in the sequence, the more frequently used in formal writing, especially in articles involving philosophy, psychology and sociology. vThose who support the “nature” side of the conflict believ

19、e that our personalities and behavior patterns are largely determined by biological and genetic factors, this theory maintains that our behavior is predetermined to such a degree that we are almost completely governed by our instincts. Proponents of the “nurture” theory, or, as they are often called

20、, behaviorists, claimed that our environment is more important than our biologically based instincts in determining how we will act.vIts very important.vIt is of great importance.vNo one noticed this crime.vThis crime went unnoticed.vWe are discussing this question.vThis question is under discussion

21、.vHe seated himself upon the bench beside her, without a suspicion that she might object to his presence. Sat down on the bench Without suspecting that she might dislike his staying therevHe made some routine observations upon the unhealthy effect of the night breeze at that season. Commented onvThe

22、n as his gaze reached out into the darkness, he began to talk. Then as he looked into the darkvAbundance and diversity Readers will be bored if one word or expression has been used repeatedly. 1) Synonyms should be memorized and applied.vApplicable, proper, suitable, appropriatevApproaches, ways, means, methods, solutionsvIncreasingly important, more and more importantvEver wider, wider and widervAdvancement, development, rise, progressionvPour into, flood into, swarm into, enter intovFor my part, from my own perspective, in my opinionvVirtually impossible, nearly impossible2) More