英语文体与修辞讲义

Lecture 1 Introduction Step I Introduction to the course 1. The importance of this course To sharpen our sense of style in English To help us with their systematic study of English rhetoric so that they will be able to read and write better To raise our levels of attainment in English To facilitate students‟ understanding of the history of rhetoric in human history To make a comparison of English and Chinese rhetoric 2. Requirements Class attendance is required, not optional. Study should not be confined to the teaching material. 3. Reference books 《英语修辞大全》，冯翠华，外语教学与研究出版社 《英语文体学引论》，王佐良、丁往道，外语教学与研究出版社 《文体学概论》，刘世生、朱瑞青，北京大学出版社

Step II What is stylistics? 王宗炎，《英汉教学语言学词典》 Stylistics

Different definitions of “style” Style as rhetoric Style as form Style as eloquence Style as proper words in proper places Style as personal idiosyncrasy Style as technique of exposition Style as the highest achievement of literature Style as saying the right thing in the most effective Style as a shell surrounding a pre-existing core of thought or expression Style as the choice between alternative expressions Style as a set of collective characteristics Style as equivalence Style as function Style as foregrounding突出 Style as deviation变异 Style as transformation Style as meaning potential Style as expressiveness General speaking Stylistics is the "study of the use of language in literature" Stylistics is a "meeting-ground of linguistics and literary study" Stylistics is an area of study which straddles two disciplines: literary criticism and linguistics. It takes literary discourse (text) as its object of study and uses linguistics as a means to that end. How to understand “style as rhetoric”? In China: 1973年，陈望道《修辞学发凡》是中国现代文体学的开端。 1980年，中国修辞学会成立，标志着中国文体学研究进入了新阶段。 90年代童庆炳主编的《文体学丛书》，展示中国文体学论注重向西方文体论借鉴。 In western countries, Stylistic study originates from rhetoric in ancient Greece [ Plato (427-347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC)] and Roman [Cicero (106-43 BC) ]. Attention: In ancient China, rhetoric dates back to the Chinese philosopher, Confucius (551-479 BC), and continued with later followers. The tradition of Confucianism emphasized the use of eloquence in speaking.

Step III What is rhetoric? Etymology of rhetoric Rhetoric: derived from Greek “rhetorike”, through Old French and medieval Latin. It refers to “that which is said or spoken, word, saying.” In its broadest sense, rhetoric concerns human discourse. The definition of rhetoric Early rhetoricians offered the following definitions: Aristotle: Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. This is not a function of any other art. Wayne Booth (1921-2005): The art of changing one‟s minds. Francis Bacon: Rhetoric is a technique making it possible to apply reason to imagination, for the better moving of will. Cicero: …eloquence to persuade their fellows of the truth of what they had discovered by reason. Dictionary definitions of rhetoric Longman Modern English Dictionary: The art or science of communication in words; this art or science practiced or taught as a formal discipline, esp. the doctrine formulated by Aristotle and taught throughout the Middle Ages; overornate or ostentatious language. The Oxford English Dictionary, 1933: The art of using language so as to persuade or influence others; the body of rules to be observed by a speaker or writer in order that he may express himself with eloquence. The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1982: The art of persuasive or impressive speaking or writing; language designed to persuade or impress (but perhaps insincere or exaggerated).

From all the definitions above, we find that: --In Aristotle‟s time, rhetoric was considered to be the science of oratory and the art of persuasion. --Today, rhetoric is regarded as a science of heightening linguistic effective expressions, and the art of effective communication. Classification of Rhetoric Communicative Rhetoric 交际修辞 (Negative Rhetoric 消极修辞) -- To add to people‟s knowledge; accurate, plain; Aesthetic Rhetoric 美学修辞 (Positive Rhetoric 积极修辞) -- To get people affected, or moved; vivid, brilliant, colorful. Division of Rhetoric Phonological rhetoric （语音修辞） Graphology rhetoric（语相修辞） Lexical rhetoric（词汇修辞） Sentence rhetoric（句子修辞） Semantic rhetoric（语义修辞） Paragraph rhetoric（段落修辞） Textual rhetoric（语篇修辞） …

Step IV Rhetoric study from stylistic view Three views on style: Style as choice Style as deviance Style as foregrounding 1. Choice Comments about choice Coleridge (English poet and literary critics): “文体只能是清晰而确切地传达意蕴的艺术，不问这个意蕴是什么，作为文体的一个标准就是它不能在不伤害意蕴的情况下用另外的语言加以复述。” 莫泊桑 （France）： 一个好的文体家“无论所描写的东西是什么，只有一词可供他使用，用一个动词要使对象生动，一个形容词要使对象性质鲜明。因此就得去寻找，直到找到这个动词和形容词，而决不要满足于„差不多‟”。 Example 1： 《圣安格尼斯前夜》第二十七章（ John Keats ）： 原稿 Blinded alike from sunshine and from rain As though a rose should close and be a bud again Close, rose assonance 现稿 Blinded alike from sunshine and from rain As though a rose should shut and be a bud again shut, should alliteration shut, bud assonance close shut Example 2 王安石 春风又绿江南岸 VS 到，过， 入，满