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《文体指要( Elements of style) ·法则十六》

翻译:laotan123 | 2010-02-06 23:10:21 | 阅读441

法则十六:互有联系的词要在一起

句中单词的位置是表现它们之间关系的主要方式。因此写作者必须尽可能语义相关联单词或词组,而分割那些不相关的。

依此律,句中主句和谓语之间不应插入本可放于句首的词组或从句,如:

Wordsworth, in the fifth book of The Excursion, gives a minute description of this church.

In the fifth book of The Excursion, Wordsworth gives a minute description of this church.

Cast iron, when treated in a Bessemer converter, is changed into steel.

By treatment in a Bessemer converter, cast iron is changed into steel.

插入语的缺点是可能会打乱句子的自然顺序。但当插入的是个关系从句和同位语时,通常产生麻烦。再者,插入圆周句的插入语是为了引起悬念的话,也不会产生麻烦。(见法则十八所举之例)。

依此律,关系代词应当紧随其先行词。

There was a look in his eye that boded mischief.

In his eye was a look that boded mischief.

He wrote three articles about his adventures in Spain, which were published in Harper's Magazine.

He published in Harper's Magazine three articles about his adventures in Spain.

This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison, who became President in 1889.

This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison. He became President in 1889.

若不引起歧义,那么先行词是词组的话,关系词则应在该词组之后。

The Superintendent of the Chicago Division, who

A proposal to amend the Sherman Act, which has been variously judged

A proposal, which has been variously judged, to amend the Sherman Act

A proposal to amend the much-debated Sherman Act

The grandson of William Henry Harrison, who

William Henry Harrison's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, who

同位语应在先行词和关系词之间,因为这不会引起歧义。

The Duke of York, his brother, who was regarded with hostility by the Whigs

修饰语应尽量紧随被修饰语。如果几个修饰语修饰相同的词,它们应当被恰当安排,以避免产生歧义,如下:

All the members were not present.

Not all the members were present.

He only found two mistakes.

He found only two mistakes.

Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture on Tuesday evening in Bailey Hall, to which the public is invited, on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia" at eight P. M.

On Tuesday evening at eight P. M., Major R. E. Joyce will give in Bailey Hall a lecture on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia." The public is invited.

【本文翻译仅为外语学习及阅读目的,原文作者个人观点与译者及译言网无关】

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