不同词序的不同语义
在中文里,词序非常重要;两个字的秩序不同,意思也不同。例如东西和西东,前者是things,后者是everywhere 各奔西东。再如女儿和儿女,前者是 daughter(s),后者是children。
英语的词序虽不像中文那样富有语义上的变化,但也很重要,绝对不容忽视。有时,一字一词方位的改变,全句的意思可能牵一发动全身,跟着受影响。
下面便是些好例子:
① Even the government officers admitted that some tax measures were unfair.
② The government officers admitted that even some tax measures were unfair.
第一句的意思是:每个人,包括政府官员,都承认有些税务措施不公平。第二句的意思是:政府官员承认,许多事情,连税务措施在内,都不公平。前者焦点在人;后者则在事。
③ The couple dont have much money to spend on their foreign trip.
④ The couple dont have to spend much money on their foreign trip.
第三句说钱不够用;第四句却说不必多用钱。没有钱可花和有钱不必多花,呈强烈对照,词序的影响,由此可见一斑!
⑤ The committee as a whole pointed out that the world economic situation had improved.
⑥ The committee pointed out that the world economic situation as a whole had improved.
第五句指的是全部的委员;第六句却影射整体的经济局势。同样一个片语,
所指有所不同。
⑦ In vain did David try to prevent the job from being done.
⑧ David tried to prevent the job from being done in vain.
⑦里的in vain(无结果)指的是大卫的行动;⑧里的不是指人的行动,而是指在进行中的工作。
⑨ Approaching the shop, Helen noticed two strangers.
⑩ Helen noticed two strangers approaching the shop.
⑨里讲的是海伦走向银行时,注意到两个陌生人;⑩里指的是两个陌生人走向银行时,引起海伦的注意。
(11) I may visit a sometime lecturer of English language.
(12) I may visit a lecturer of English language sometime.
(11)里的sometime是形容词,意思是以前的;(12)里的 sometime是时间副词,意思是某时候。前者可以改成former 或previous;后者就要变为at a certain time了。
最后,请问下列二词,哪个是防暴警察?哪个是警察暴动?
A: RIOT POLICE
B: POLICE RIOT
Answer: A 防暴警察
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