浅谈英语中的插入语

Question

如题所述

Answer 1

我一直很留意象形文字思维与拉丁字母思维表现在文字上的差异。象形文字思维好像呈连续直线型，而拉丁字母思维则呈扩散点状型。最典型的例子，就是英语句子中经常会出现插入语(Parenthesis)，把本来很连贯的句子意群切断，例如：

The first thing a right-minded girl must do, if only for a second, is take a look around her.

Seedpods are furtively placed into our bedrooms while we sleep, and the next thing we know, we’re craving feminine-hygiene deodorant and Hamburger helper.

在中文里，这种现象比较罕见。汉语也有插入语，但大多出现在句首或句末，不会把完整的句子拦腰切断。例如：

不好意思，我来晚了。

你的确来晚了，我必须说。

当然，这种出现在句首的插入语，也经常出现在英语句子中：

Before we know it, acquaintances will shun us on the street.

To some extent, the selection of the quotations represents the personal opinions of the compiler.

但更经常出现的，还是那种切断句子的插入语：

But things, as they will, went sour.

We cannot, as much as I think it is right and just that we should, have our cakes and eat them too.

I really was, unbeknown to myself, deeply despondent.

She accused me, in no uncertain terms, of chewing her ear off.

You, and you alone, know that he is the most intriguing man on earth.

Some girls are, no kidding around, sophisticated.

Colombo’s All-Time Great Canadian Quotations is, as its title states, the compiler’s selection of the great or essential quotations connected with Canada.

英语这种插入语的应用，显示了一种思维的点状跳跃，作为言犹未尽的一种补充，让本来的句子无法表达的额外意思借机表达出来。有意思的是，它不仅没有破坏原句子的思路，反而显出一种活跃灵动的脑力活动。

反之，汉语句子的表达趋向一气呵成首尾连贯，比较不习惯在表达一个内容的句子同时，突然半路杀出个程咬金，把话题扯开，再拉回来。

了解中英文插入语的使用习惯，不仅有助于英语复杂句式的阅读理解，若使用得当，这种插入语可以让你的英文显得更为地道。