摘 要:非英語專業(yè)本科生在英語寫作時經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)各種各樣的常見錯誤,在本文中,作者根據(jù)多年的教學(xué)經(jīng)驗,從英語寫作標(biāo)題的規(guī)范性、語言使用以及行文的方面進行了分析。
關(guān)鍵詞:非英語專業(yè) 英語 寫作 錯誤 分析
英語寫作是英語學(xué)習(xí)的重要組成部分,學(xué)習(xí)者英語寫作水平的高低是衡量其英語綜合能力的重要標(biāo)準(zhǔn)之一。按照教育部頒發(fā)的《大學(xué)英語課程要求》(試行)對非英語專業(yè)本科生的寫作水平有三種要求,即:一般要求,較高要求和更高要求。對大多數(shù)非英語專業(yè)本科生來說較適合一般要求,即:能完成一般性的寫作任務(wù),能描述個人經(jīng)歷、觀感、和發(fā)生事件等,能寫常見的應(yīng)用文,能就一般性話題或提綱在半小時內(nèi)寫出120詞的短文,內(nèi)容基本完整,用詞恰當(dāng),語意連貫。能掌握基本的寫作技巧。
按照上述要求,本人在教學(xué)中進行大量訓(xùn)練,發(fā)現(xiàn)許多學(xué)生在語言使用和行文等方面存在問題較多。
一、標(biāo)題的規(guī)范性
標(biāo)題應(yīng)寫在第一行的中間。標(biāo)題的第一個詞的首字母應(yīng)大寫,其余的詞的首字母也都應(yīng)大寫,但冠詞、并列連詞(and, or, but, nor, for )、簡短的介詞和不定式的to除外,如:
My First Visit to the Palace Museum
The People Without a Country
Rules to Abide By
Dickens and David Copperfield
What Can the Artist Do in the World of Today?
What Reform Means to China
The Myth of a“Negro Literature”
The English-Speaking People in Quebec
標(biāo)題后不加句號。如標(biāo)題是疑問句,應(yīng)加問號。標(biāo)題中引用的詞語或其他文章的標(biāo)題,應(yīng)加引號;書名則在下面畫線或用斜體標(biāo)明。
Different cultures,different ways Of thinking(wrong)
Different Cultures,Different Ways of Thinking(right)
Dad,I want To say...to you(wrong)
Dad,I Wang to Say...to You(right)
但現(xiàn)在有更多的人只將標(biāo)題的第一個詞的首字母大寫,其余一律小寫。
二、語言使用方面
眾所周知,英語和漢語在詞匯、語法存在著很大的差異,因而導(dǎo)致表達形式上的不同。
(一)時態(tài)與語態(tài)錯誤
時態(tài)是動詞作謂語時的一種形式,它指示動作是何時發(fā)生、進行、完成的,以及發(fā)生、進行的方式等。寫作時應(yīng)根據(jù)所寫作的內(nèi)容確定出主時性時態(tài)(leading tense),即全篇文章應(yīng)以哪種時態(tài)為主,是一般現(xiàn)在時,還是一般過去時等。如:描述或敘述過去發(fā)生的事,其主導(dǎo)時態(tài)為過去時。寫作時應(yīng)注意同一敘述里不得隨意轉(zhuǎn)換謂語動詞的時態(tài),要保持時態(tài)的一致性。英語的兩種語態(tài),即主動語態(tài)和被動語態(tài),寫作時不要混淆動作的發(fā)出者和承受者而誤用語態(tài),更不要在同一句中并用兩種語態(tài)。列如:
(a)When I was young,I always want to play with you.(wrong)
(b)When I was young,I always wanted to play with you.(right)
(a)In my childhood,my family is very poor.(wrong)
(b)In my childhood,my family was very poor.(right)
(a)Between 40 and 50 parents said they will like their children to take part.(wrong)
(b)Between 40 and 50 parents said they would like their children to take part.(right)
這個句子中的錯句(a)主句中的謂語使用了過去時形式,而賓語從句的謂語卻使用了一般現(xiàn)在時,前后時態(tài)不一致。應(yīng)調(diào)整為(b)句。
(a)We are often glad to have a hearty conversation and heated discussion among ourselves after the lecture finished.(wrong)
(b)We are often glad to have a hearty conversation and heated discussion among ourselves after we finish the class.(right)
這個句子的中的錯句(a)從句部分使用了被動語態(tài)形式,這會使句子產(chǎn)生歧義。從句的主語應(yīng)盡量同主句的主語語態(tài)相一致。應(yīng)調(diào)整為(b)句。
(二)用詞或詞匯搭配不當(dāng)
中國學(xué)生在英語寫作時經(jīng)常在詞匯選擇上或詞匯搭配上出現(xiàn)問題。英語的同義詞數(shù)量很大,學(xué)會和掌握同義詞的語義和用法并非易事,只有進行大量練習(xí),才能逐漸掌握。此外,英語中有些動詞和形容詞要求與固定的介詞或副詞搭配使用。寫作時一定注意其規(guī)律。
這個句子中house應(yīng)換成housework
(a)She goes to work everyday except Sunday.(wrong)
(b)She goes to work every day except Sunday.(right)
這個句子中everyday應(yīng)換成every day.
(a)My driving license has been overdue.(wrong)
(b)My driving license has expired.(right)
這個句子要表達的意思是“我的駕駛執(zhí)照過期了”。如果不知道此處“過期”一詞該用expire,而誤用了overdue一詞,那么錯誤就在所難免。overdue一詞在漢語中雖然也有“過期”或“逾期”的含義,但該詞只適用于帳單、應(yīng)支付款項、圖書館所借書刊等的過期。而執(zhí)照、合同、圖書館借書證的“過期”則要用expire一詞,而不用overdue。
(a)The Social Party won the election for next term.(wrong)
(b)The Socialist Party won the election for next term.(right)
這個句子要表達的意思是“社會黨贏得了下一界選舉的勝利”。應(yīng)該知道“社會黨”這一概念的準(zhǔn)確的含義,它是社會主義黨的縮寫形式,因此,應(yīng)使用Socialist一詞,而不是social一詞。
(a)Do just like I do,and you will have little difficulty.(wrong)
(b)Do just as I do,and you will have little difficulty.(right)
這個句子中l(wèi)ike應(yīng)換成as。like側(cè)重比較,不意味著比較的東西屬于同一類或完全相似。而as側(cè)重同一性,意味著所比較的事物屬于同一類或完全相同。同時,as既可作介詞(通常用來引導(dǎo)同位語、表語、補語),又可作連接詞(引導(dǎo)從句)。但like通常只能用作介詞。列如:
My brother isn’t much like me.
He is a dancer,as his father used to do.
(a)My doctor told me there was nothing wrong of me physically;the illness was pure psychological.(wrong)
(b)My doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me physically;the illness was pure psychological.(right)
這個句子中of應(yīng)換成with,因為be nothing wrong with是固定搭配。
a)The Smiths decided to travel by the train.(wrong)
b)The Smiths decided to travel by train.(right)
這個句子中應(yīng)將the去掉,因在表示交通工具或通訊手段的短語中,不能使用定冠詞。
(a)Since 1978 it has taken place great changes in China.(wrong)
(b)Since 1978 great changes have taken place in China.(ringt)
這個句子中take place是不及物動詞詞組,不能當(dāng)作及物動詞詞組使用。
三、行文方面
(一)句型單一,缺少變換
多數(shù)學(xué)生在英語寫作時經(jīng)常使用相同的、單一的句型,句子單調(diào),缺乏色彩。“to be”句型使用過多,“to do”句型使用過少。應(yīng)盡量多使用后者,靈活運用不同的句型、非謂語動詞、被動語態(tài)等,而使文章生動、有趣吸引讀者。列如:
(1)My father is a worker.He is tall.He is old.He enjoys music very much.
My father,a worker,tall and old,enjoys music very much.(better)
(2)When he is introduced to somebody,a British person often shakes hands.
On being introduced to somebody,a British person often shakes hands.(better)
(3)Li Shiguang was a very famous scientist.He set a very good example for us.
Li Shiguang,a very famous scientist,set a very good example for us.(better)
(4)My father’s great-grandfather was an early settler in America.He helped to establish the tobacco industry in America.
My father’s great-grandfather,an early settler in America,helped to establish the tobacco industry in America.(better)
(5)The Great Wall is one of the world wonders.More and more visitors visit it each year.
The Great Wall,one of the world wonders,attract more and more tourists each year.(better)
(二)中文式英語
漢語和英語是兩種完全不同的語言,無論詞匯的運用還是句子結(jié)構(gòu)等方面都有很大差異。中國學(xué)生因受其母語影響,在英文寫作時經(jīng)常用漢語思維,常常按漢語的語序逐詞、逐句地譯成英文,寫出一些中文式的英語,例如:
(1)我非常感謝你。
I very thank you. (wrong)(按漢語逐字譯成英文。)
I thank you very much.(right)
(2)你一定要作一名好丈夫。
You must do a good husband.(wrong)(這里“作”應(yīng)該是“成為”的意思。)
You must be a good husband.(right)
(3)我仍然沒有在經(jīng)濟上獨立。
I still not independent in finance.(wrong)(按漢語逐字譯成英文)
I haven’t been independent in finance/economically.(right)
(4)火藥是在12世紀發(fā)明的,但是200年后才用于戰(zhàn)爭。
Gunpowder was discovered in the twelfth century,but after two hundred years it was used in war.(wrong)(按漢語順序逐字譯成英文,不符合英文的表達習(xí)慣。)
Gunpowder was discovered in the twelfth century,but was used in war until two hundred years later.(right)
(4)他胸懷和大海一樣寬廣。
His chest is as vast as sea. (wrong)(英語中的“胸懷”應(yīng)該用mind,且英語的sea前,要用定冠詞the。)
His mind is as vast as the sea.(right)
總之,非英語專業(yè)本科生在英語寫作時可能出現(xiàn)各種各樣的錯誤,限于篇幅,僅舉上述幾種。大家只要勤加練習(xí),注意總結(jié),英語寫作水平一定會有很大的提高。
參考文獻:
[1]徐覃蓀,何昌邑等.英語實用文體寫作詳解.云南大學(xué)出版社,2001年3月.
[2]丁往道,吳冰等.英語寫作手冊.外語教學(xué)與研究出版社(A Handbook of Writing),1994年6月.
[3]艾景堂.英語寫作技巧與模式吉林大學(xué)出版社,1994年2月.
[4]Theodore A.Sherman.Modern Technical Writing(現(xiàn)代技術(shù)寫作).Inc,Englewood Cliffs.