[英语学习]Modern English Rhetoric 1st语言学版.ppt

《[英语学习]Modern English Rhetoric 1st语言学版.ppt》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《[英语学习]Modern English Rhetoric 1st语言学版.ppt（46页珍藏版）》请在三一办公上搜索。

1、Modern English Rhetoric,By Li Danqian,A figure of speech(such as simile,metaphor,personification,);An effective and artistic device in expression;Can we say the choice of words is rhetoric?Can we say the choice of sentences is rhetoric?,Broadly speaking,all these are in the scope of rhetoric.,What i

2、s rhetoric?,1.Definitions of Rhetoric,1)The art of 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.-Longman Modern English Dictionary,2)

3、Speech or writing which is intended to be effective and persuasive,or(specialized)the study of the ways of using language effectively.-Cambridge International Dictionary of English(1995),1.Definitions of Rhetoric,3)The study of how effective writing achieves its goals.The term rhetoric in this sense

4、 is common in North American college and university courses in rhetoric or rhetorical communication,which typically focus on how to express oneself correctly and effectively in relation to the topic of writing or speech,the audience,and the purpose of communication.-Longman Dictionary of Language Te

5、aching and Applied Linguistics,1.Definitions of Rhetoric,In addition,other miscellaneous definitions of rhetoric are listed below:The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.(by Aristotle)The art of effectively joining words together.(from Encyclopedia of English,197

6、8)Traditionally a discipline concerned with the effective use of language,to persuade,give pleasure,and so on.(from Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics,1997),What are the difference of the Definitions of Rhetoric in the Aristotles time and today?,From all the definitions above,we find that in A

7、ristotles 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.Furthermore,rhetoric tends to be connected more with writing than with speech.,

8、2.Purpose of Rhetoric,To express oneself well;To communicate effectively in order to secure a desired result.Rhetoric involves choices of words,sentence patterns,figures of speech,organization of paragraphs and composition.This process can be broken down into three basic levels.Level One:words and p

9、hrasesLevel Two:sentence varietyLevel Three:organizing paragraphs into a complete text.,3.Contents of modern rhetoric,1).There are two main rhetorical trends:Stylistics(文体修辞),which is associated with two aspects of writing:First,the various registers,i.e.ways of speaking or writing which depends on

10、the situation you are in.e.g.scientific and technical writing,business writing and journalism.Second,the stylistic variant-literary language and style,including personal style,and styles of different times and schools.,Examples:1.As regards the man I deem him an unreliable one.论及此人，鄙人以为难以信赖2.In my o

11、pinion he is not of the individual who we desire 以我之见，他并非我们期望之人。3.I believe that he is not the man we want.我认为他不是我们需要的人4.I dont think hes the man were looking for.我看他不是我们要找的人5.Fraid hes not our man恐怕他不是我们要的那号人,These five sentences share the similar meaning,but they form 5 different stylistic variant

12、s.1 is the hyperformal one,because it adopts the phrase as regards deem sb.and the adjective unreliable.2 is formal as well because it uses in my opinion,the sentence pattern of be of,individual and desire.3 is normal/neutral based on the adoption of believe and that.4 is informal because it uses th

13、e abbreviation like dont,hes and were.5 is hyperinformal for the use of Fraid,which might by used in oral English.,b.Rhetoric,which is chiefly concerned with techniques of how to influence the audience:the functions and effects of different language symbols in communication activities;measures to pr

14、omote mutual understanding and to affect the emotions of the audience;skills to handle persuasion and arguments.,2).Rhetoric is also classified,by some linguists,as communicative rhetoric and aesthetic rhetoric:Communicative Rhetoric is also called passive rhetoric in China,which emphasizes the choi

15、ce of words and phrases,and selection of sentence patterns,organizing paragraphs and whole pieces of writing in such a way that ideas are expressed most clearly,most accurately and most appropriately and the best results are achieved in communication.,b.Aesthetic Rhetoric is termed as active rhetori

16、c,dealing with figures of speech.It stresses the vividness and gracefulness in expressing ones ideas by artistic approaches like the use of figures of speech so as to increase the emotional appeal of ones speech or writing.,Broadly speaking,rhetoric covers all the elements of oral and written things

17、,including structure,diction,rhythm,tone,style,and anything related to the effective use of language.,At present,our rhetorical research activities are centered mainly in the following three aspects:Go on studying the traditional and modern rhetorical schools and carry forward the fine traditions wh

18、ile assimilating new concepts,new ideas and new methodologies so as to improve the research and teaching of English rhetoric.,At present,our rhetorical research activities are centered mainly in the following three aspects:Make a comparative study of English and Chinese rhetoric,which will not only

19、promote international exchanges but also further our studies of English rhetoric by special attention being paid to our mother tongue.,At present,our rhetorical research activities are centered mainly in the following three aspects:3)Combine the study of English rhetoric with a study of other aspect

20、s of English and even other branches of learning.For example,rhetoric in discourse,rhetorical translation,pragmatic rhetoric,rhetoric in journalism,etc.,4.Object of studying rhetoric,To make a choice in these different expressions.In other words,the object of studying rhetoric is the choice of synon

21、ymous expressions,which is actually known as rhetorical operation.It is also the choice of linguistic codes.Lets observe the following example:,As no one objected,the notion was passed.The notion was passed because no one objected.The notion was passed,for no one objected.No one having objected,the

22、notion was passed.The notion,not being objected to,was passed.In this example,the first two versions each have different emphasis on the notion was passed and because no one objected,while the third one has little emphasis.The last two are relatively formal and used in written English for seriousnes

23、s.,4.Object of studying rhetoric,To be more specific,there are two goals to achieve by studying rhetoric:1)To be effective in communication is of primary importance.The basic requirement of being effective is to use fewer words to accomplish the best communicative purpose.Compare the following two s

24、entences which is more effective:,The sports event began its commencement with the fine performance of 1000 children.The sports event started with the splendid group calisthenics of 1000 children.*As the two sentences refer to the same thing,it is obvious that the second sentence is more effective b

25、ecause it is concise and specific:One word(started)is used for three(began its commencement),and specific reference(group calisthenics)for the more abstract reference(performance).Besides,the adjective fine in the first sentence is not so impressive as splendid in the second.,2)Rhetoric is closely r

26、elated to grammar and also based on grammar.To be grammatically correct is fundamental to writing,but that is not enough.Basic rhetorical requirements must also be met.Now examine the following sentences and figure out which sentence is the most satisfactory in both grammar and rhetoric.,Compare the

27、 following pairs of sentences,and determine which sentence in each pair is more effective.1.A)They,at last,know what they are seeing.B)They know what they are seeing at last.A is more effective,for the adverbial phrase at last is shifted to the front and placed in a separate position.,2.A)The curtai

28、n comes down as soon as the last boat has gone.B)As soon as the last boat has gone,down comes the curtain.B is more effective,because the time clause,which usually appears at the end of a sentence,is pre-positioned and,inversion is used in the main clause.3.A)The boy said that he was thirsty and cou

29、ld drink a big bottle of water.B)The boy said that he was dying of thirst and could drink up the whole sea.B is more effective,because the figure of speech of exaggeration is used in this sentence.,5.The middle-class American growing up in the United States feels he has a right to have his own room,

30、or at least part of room.The middle-class American growing up in the United States feels he has a right to have his own room,or at least he has a right to have part of a room.The middle-class American growing up in the United States feels he has a right to have his own room,or at least using part of

31、 a room.The middle-class American growing up in the United States feels he has a right to have his own room,or at least part of a room.,5.Significance of Rhetoric,The significance of rhetoric lies in the following aspects:To improve our ability to polish our writing,for example,At the end of this ce

32、ntury there will still be a wide gap between supply and demand of energy resources.This paper lays equal stress on both exploitation and economization of energy resources,and puts forward several approaches to the economizing of them.The end of this century will witness a wide gap between supply of

33、and demand for energy resources.This paper lays stress on both exploitation and economization of energy resources,and puts forward several approaches to their economy.,5.Significance of Rhetoric,The significance of rhetoric lies in the following aspects:To improve our ability to polish our writing,f

34、or example,某单本月你们不能按时装船，如何向客户说明？a.We wont be able to effect the shipment this month.b.We will secure your shipment next month.客户未在信函中附上价格表，如何提醒。You didnt enclose the price list in your letter.The price list was not enclosed in your letter.,5.Significance of Rhetoric,To improve our ability of analysi

35、s and appreciation,for example,Sir-I write these few lines to say that my daughter is away from me at present I do not feel at liberty to tell you where she is temperly biding.I should say that me and my family have left Marlott,for some time.,temperly-temporarily.,5.Significance of Rhetoric,3)To im

36、prove our ability of comprehension and translation,for example,a.Edison conceived of his phonograph as a business machine that would help people in distant places communicate His competitors envisioned the great potential for entertainment and art.Where he saw internal memos,someone else saw Beethov

37、en.b.Indeed,intelligent agents could be a gold mine of information.,The first example maybe translated as 爱迪生从留声机看到了备忘记事本，别人却从中发现了贝多芬；The second example is put into 的确，智能助手可以源源不断地为你提供宝贵的信息，成为信息金矿。,5.Significance of Rhetoric,Apparently,memo means note made for future use,esp.to help oneself remember

38、sth.That is why it is translated as 备忘记事本.And Beethoven is put into 贝多芬，referring to the great German composer.The phrase gold mine is translated as 金矿，meaning a place where gold is taken from the rock.Rhetorically,memos,Beethoven and gold mine are all used figuratively.The first two are in the case

39、 of metonymy,standing for communication and music or entertainment;the last one is the metaphor,implying valuable source.Hence we have revised translations:*爱迪生将留声机用于内部通讯，别人则将它用于娱乐。*的确，智能助手可以给人提供信息，成为宝贵的信息源。,6.The three elements influencing rhetoric,The Rhetorical Triangle,Message,Writer or Speaker,

40、Reader or audience,The highest principles of Rhetoric isAdaptability or Appropriateness.,6.The three elements influencing rhetoric,1)The information and the context The context should be borne in mind when we use any one of the rhetorical principles and techniques.For example,figures of speech(修辞手段)

41、form a useful device to achieve good effects in communication,but if a figure does not fit a specific context,it will only result in a negative effect.The following example is a joke about the inappropriate use of simile:,Language and context,An understanding of how language functions in context is

42、central to an understanding of the relationship between what is said and what is understood in spoken and written discourse.The context of situation is crucial to understanding and interpreting the meaning of what is being said.This includes the physical context,the social context and mental world a

43、nd roles of the people involved in the interaction（Brian Paltridge,2002),Jacks house was destroyed by fire,Jim went to comfort him and asked him to contact the insurance company.“Cheer up,my friend,he said,your insurance claim will be proceeding like a house on fire,Im sure.”*The phrase like a house

44、 on fire is a proper figure of speech to mean something urgent,immediate action,or simply means fast,quickly,but it doesnt suit the context here,for it will only make Jack think of his own house and feel worse.,Observe which situation these sentences can be used1）I hope you wont mind shutting the wi

45、ndowI know you are busy,but could you possibly take the time to shut that window?These two sentences can be used in formal occasions.Because the speaker is very courteous and feel sorry to make a request by saying you wont mind,possibly;,3）Shut that window4)From now on,I expect that window to be kep

46、t closed Not very polite and it seems that the speaker has a higher social status than the listener.,5）That window needs to be shut,doesnt it?6)Youve been leaving the window open a little too much,dont you think?It is an indirect expression,e.g.between strangers.,7）Windows are to be kept closed.,Win

47、dows are to be kept closed,8）-Its quite cold in here,Jeeves.-Ill shut the window,madam.The speaker doesnt make a request,but the listener can understand him clearly.Indirect speech act:Often we do say something indirectly.That is,we often intend something that is quite different from the literal mea

48、ning of what we say.,2)The information and the audience,In order to achieve the best results in communication,one has to understand the person or people being written or spoken to,and do what is appropriate for that particular occasion.Lets take the promotional strategy of Akai company as an example

49、.P8,The advertisement on Newsweek(新闻周刊),Audience:common people Features of expression:Set up the image of the company by the saying of known world-wide for quality sound and state-of-the-art features.General description about GX heads,The advertisement on Stereo Review(音像评论),Audience:audiophiles Fea

50、tures of expression:Using persuasive sentence,such as Good Sound Is in Your Hand,What youre looking at is AKAIs exclusive GX Head.Humorous expression:Its a head that many audiophiles feel has set the industrys performance and durability standards.The display of technical advantage The adoption of te