首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
考研
Language exists to communicate whatever it can communicate. Some things it communicates so badly that we never attempt to commun
Language exists to communicate whatever it can communicate. Some things it communicates so badly that we never attempt to commun
admin
2019-07-30
76
问题
Language exists to communicate whatever it can communicate. Some things it communicates so badly that we never attempt to communicate them by words if any other medium is available. Those who think they are testing a boy’ s "elementary" command of English by asking him to describe in words how one ties one’ s tie or what a pair of scissors is like, are far astray. For precisely what language can hardly do at all, and never does well, is to inform us about complex physical shapes and movements. Hence descriptions of such things in the ancient writers are nearly always unintelligible. Hence we never in real life voluntarily use language for this purpose; we draw a diagram or go through pantomimic gestures. The exercises which such examiners set are no more a test of "elementary" linguistic competence than the most difficult bit of trick—riding from the circus ring is a test of elementary horsemanship.
Another grave limitation of language is that it cannot, like music or gesture, do more than one thing at once. However the words in a great poet’ s phrase interanimate one other and strike the mind as quasi-instantaneous chord, yet, strictly speaking, each word must be read or heard before the next. That way, language is as unilinear as time. Hence, in narrative, the great difficulty of presenting a very complicated change which happens suddenly. If we do justice to the complexity, the time the reader must take over the passage will destroy the feeling of suddenness. If we get in the suddenness we shall not be able to get in the complexity.
One of the most important and effective uses of language is the emotional. It is also, of course, wholly legitimate. We do not talk only in order to reason or to inform. We have to make love and quarrel, to propitiate and pardon, to rebuke, to console, intercede, and a rouse. " He that complains ," said Johnson, " acts like a man, like a social being. " The real objection lies not against the language of emotion as such, but against language which, being in reality emotional, masquerades—whether by plain hypocrisy or subtle self-deceit—as being something else.
选项
答案
语言的存在就是用来表达它所能表达的一切。有些事情用语言表达效果太糟,所以如果有其他的媒介,我们从不用语言去表达。有人认为,让小孩用语言描述怎样系领带,或者描述一把剪刀的样子,就能测出他语言的“基本”水平,这种看法是完全错误的。语言做不到,也从来做不好的事,恰恰就是描述复杂的物体形状和动作。因此,古代作家对这类事情的描述,几乎总是让人看不懂。因此,我们在现实生活中,从来不会主动用语言来做这些事;我们会画一个图,或者用手势表示。这种语言测试设计,考的不是语言的“基本”能力,这就像用马戏团花样骑马表演中最难的部分,去考一个人的基本骑术。 语言的另一大局限就是它无法像音乐或手势那样,一次能做不止一件事。一个伟大的诗人,即使他的词句那样相互辉映,一瞬间好像和弦一样打动了我们,但是,严格来说,每一个字都是一个接一个地读到或听到的。这么说,语言就和时间一样,是单线前进的。因此,在叙事时,要描述瞬间发生的复杂变化,就十分困难。如果我们要把复杂性适当描述出来,读者阅读这一段语言所花的时间就会破坏瞬间感。如果我们要体现这件事的瞬间感,我们就无法表现其复杂性。 语言最重要、最有效的一种用途就是表达感情。这当然也完全是合情合理的。我们说话不止是为了讲道理、说事情。我们还要表达爱情、与人争吵、劝解抚慰、宽恕原谅,还要指责、安慰、调解、激发他人。约翰逊说过:“会抱怨的人行动起来才像一个人,才像一个社会的人。”我们真正要反对的并不是这种表达感情的语言,而是那种实质是表达感情,但却通过十足的虚伪或者是巧妙的自欺,伪装成别的东西的语言。
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/qb5a777K
本试题收录于:
翻译硕士(英语翻译基础)题库专业硕士分类
0
翻译硕士(英语翻译基础)
专业硕士
相关试题推荐
Globalizationistransformingtheworld.Whileitbringsgreatbenefitstosomecountriesandindividuals—abacklashhasarisen
I’veneverbeenmoreawareofthelimitationsoflanguagethanwhenItrytodescribebeauty.Languagecancreateitsownloveli
China-BritainBusinessCouncil(CBBC)
AreportconsistentlybroughtbackbyvisitorstotheUSishowfriendly,courteous,andhelpfulmostAmericansweretothem.To
Whileassemblinganewnationalsecurityteam,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushisconfrontingwhatcouldbecomethebiggestchallengeo
Globalizationistransformingtheworld.Whileitbringsgreatbenefitstosomecountriesandindividuals—abacklashhasarisen
UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil
multi-lateralinternationalconventions
TheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugeesismandatedtoleadacoordinatedinternationalactiontoprotec
Populationageinghasbecomeaworld-widephenomenon.Moreover,ithasnotonlycometostaybut,especiallyinthedevelopingc
随机试题
简述广告媒介选择应考虑的因素。
质量手册属于
女,32岁。尿频尿急尿痛1年半,有米汤样尿及终末血尿。尿检:脓细胞(+++),红细胞(++)。IVU:双肾破坏样改变,上下盏均有虫蚀样改变,左肾上盏颈部狭窄,血Cr108μmol/L,其最佳治疗是()
下列幂级数中,收敛半径为R=3的幂级数是()。
根据《中华人民共和国测绘成果管理条例》,应当向国家测绘地理信息局汇交测绘成果副本的有()。
阅读下面录像题的情景叙述,找出情景叙述中秘书行为及工作环境中正确或错误的地方(应至少找出15处正误点)。人物:秘书钟苗、同事周伟、张总(声音)、李经理(声音)物品:印章、带存根的介绍信、用印申请单、电话场景:秘书办公室
二胡演奏家胡某,在其晚年的演奏表演中,并没有像其青年时代那样严格遵守曲目的节律,而是融入了其毕生演奏形成的精微而细致的体验。最近,市面上出现了一部她演奏的作品,经其粉丝倾听鉴别,发现此作品与其早年演奏的一样,严格遵守曲目的节律。因此断定此作品是其早年的作品
一、注意事项1.申论考试,与传统作文考试不同,是对分析驾驭材料的能力与对表达能力并重的考试。2.作答参考时限:阅读资料40分钟,作答110分钟。3.仔细阅读给定的资料,按照后面提出的“申论要求”依次作答。二、给定资料1.2
=________.
TheLondon2012sustainabilitywatchdogembroiledinarowoverthesponsorshipoftheOlympicStadiumbyDowChemicalistopus
最新回复
(
0
)