倒装句的语篇功能

1、倒装句的语篇功能(Textual Functions of English Inversion)An inverted sentence is a sentence in which the predicate (verb) comes before the subject (noun).An inverted sentence has the following kinds of textual function: 话题导入(topic-introducing)功能、情境设定(situation-setting)功 能、焦点凸 显(focus-highlighting )功能、焦点对 比(f

2、ocus-contrasting ) 功能、语篇的衔接与连贯(textual cohesion and coherence)功能等。 1.话题导入功能话题导入功能就是运用一定的句法手段为语篇提供一个话题，即 语篇将要谈论、说明或叙述的人或事。即将某人或某物作为新信息置 于句末，为语篇导入一个话题，以供下文谈论之用。例如：Three score and nine years old was thered-bearded king, Frederick Barbarossa. He wasby right the master of Germany. He hadsubdued Italy and

3、 had been crowned in theimperial city of Rome. Throughout Europe hisname was known and feared; in his owncountry he was the hero of heroes.(西方传说故事选) 这是一则故事的首段。第一句就使用了一个倒装句。与这一倒装句相 对 应 的 常 式 句 是 Thered-bearded king, Frederick Barbarossa was threescore and nine years old.就信息结构而言，倒装句的信息焦点为 the red-bear

4、ded king, FrederickBarbarossa，而常式句的信息焦点则是 three scoreand nine years old ；再从语篇的建构和发展来看，采用倒装 手段，把 thered-bearded king, Frederick Barbarossa 置于句末，使之成 为信息焦点，不仅为语篇的发展导入了所要谈论的话题，而且使整个 语篇的前后衔接更加紧密。这一点可以从倒装句引出的话题 the red-bearded king, Frederick Barbarossa 同下文的三个 he 和两个 his 之 间所形成的照应关系(anaphora )中得到很好的证明。2情境

5、设定功能倒装句的情境设定功能就是为语篇引入一个时间范围或空间范 围，使其能够在这一情境内叙述将要发生的事件，从而保证语篇的顺 利发展。It was a dark September morning. There was a storm at sea. A ship had beendriven on a low rock off the shores of theFarne Islands. It had been broken in two by thewaves, and half of it had been washed away. The other half lay yet on

6、the rock, and those ofthe crew who were still alive were clinging toit. Could any one save the poor, half-drowned men who were there? On one of the islands was a lighthouse; and there, all through that stormy night, GraceDarling had listened to the storm.In the darkness of the night, above thenoise

7、of the winds, she heard screams and wildcries. When daylight came, she could see thewreck, a mile away, with the angry water allaround it. She could see the men clinging tothe masts. “We must try to save them!” she cried. “Let us goout in the boat at once!”倒装句 On one of the islandswas a lighthouse 的

8、前置成分 on one of theislands 与上文中的 the Farne Islands 具有衔接关系，是已知信息， 而后置的主语a lighthouse则是以信息焦点方式为下文所设定的空间 情境，即地点。这一语篇正是以 a lighthouse 为情境参照而继续展开 的。Grace Darling所听到的、看到的和想要做的等都是在这一空间 情境范围内发生的。3.焦点凸显功能 所谓焦点凸显功能是指在语篇建构中倒装句的运用可以把交际者 想要传递的重要信息置于句末，使之成为信息焦点而得到突出。例如：The beggar made no answer. Hegrasped his staf

9、f with a firmer grip and gazedacross the hall where the lofty stairwaythat led to the queenschambers. Down thestairs came Pennelope, stately and beautiful,with her servants and maids around her.被置于倒装句句首的成分 down the stairs 是可推知已知信息。Down the stairs 可从 the lofty stairway that led to the queenschambers

10、推知；而被置于句末的 Pennelope, stately and beautiful,with her servants and maids around her 则是新信息，是交际者要刻意凸显的信息焦点。4 .焦点对比功能 倒装句的焦点凸显功能是把新信息作为信息焦点突出出来，而倒 装句的焦点对比功能则是使用两个倒装句，把两个成分并置于句末， 使之形成强烈的对比性焦点而突出之。例如：Five, six, seven years passed by, and then strange news were told in Alba Longa. Rhea Silvia, it was said,

11、 had escaped from hertemple prison. She had gone away with anunknown warrior who was never seen exceptwhen dressed in a coat of mail and fully armed. Some said that this warrior was Silvanus, theprotector of all cattle; but most believed that hewas Mars, the mighty lord of war andbattles.Great was t

12、he excitement in Alba Longa, and great was the alarm of the false kingAmulius. All through the land close search wasmade for Rhea; but no sign or trace of hercould be found. “I shall never be safe while she lives,” said Amulius; and he doubled the guardsaround the city.在此例中，Alba Longa的居民和非法的国王Amuliu

13、s听到的是 同一个消息，但反应极不相同，前者异常振奋，而后者则惊慌万状。 后者的惊慌还可从下文他自己的言行得到证实。为了表达他们对这同 一个消息所产生的极其不同的反应，这一语篇使用了两个倒装句，将 the excitement in Alba Longas 和 thealarm of the false king, Amulius 分 别置于句末，使两者形成鲜明的对比，成为对比性焦点而得到凸显。 5 . 语篇衔接与连贯功能倒装句可以用来调整已知信息和新信息的编排顺序、使语篇上下 文在结构上衔接、语义上连贯，从而保证语篇信息流的畅通。例如：He looked around, and not fa

14、r off, behind a clump of bushes, rose a thin columnof smoke.He put the diamond in the pocket, and walked towards the smoke. Soon he saw aqueer little hut, and at the door, upontheground, sat a man without any legs.In front of him was a fire, and over thefire was a spit, and on the spit was a youngkid roasting.(Rouse,The Crocodile and theMonkey)使用了五个倒装句。前置成分均为可以从上文推知的已知信息， 后置成分则都是由前置的已知信息所引