[英语学习]周建平教授 Diction.pptVIP

e.g. Trees surround the water near our summer place. (general and vague) 2) Old elms surround the lake near our summer cabin. (specific and clear) Effects of using “species” nouns and concrete words can roughly be summarized as follows: 1) From general to specific(特定) e.g. ① a. She loves flowers. (general) b. She loves roses and chrysanthemums. (specific) ② a. A few houses were destroyed yesterday. (general) b. Five houses were burnt down yesterday. (specific) ③ It grew dark before five o’clock. The wind was strong and the rain was heavy. b. It grew dark before five o’clock. Wind and rain whipped the house. 2) From abstract to concrete e.g. ① a. He had a misfortune while swimming. (abstract) b. A shell fragment ripped open his right arm while he was swimming. (concrete) ② a. She has been mistreated by her stepmother. (abstract) b. She has been whipped and electrified by her stepmother. (concrete) 3) From vague to definite (明确) There are quite a number of vague adjectives and adverbs (called “lazy adjectives” and “lazy adverbs” by British and American people) in English such as awful, dreadful, fine, frightful, lovely, terrible, terrific, wonderful, and awfully, dreadfully, frightfully, terribly, terrifically, wonderfully, tremendously, etc. These adjectives and adverbs have in many cases lost their vigor or even vitality because their meanings are too broad, too general and too abstract, and they have been excessively used. So we should not use them too often, and should try to replace them with other fresh and vigorous adjectives and adverbs in our English writing. ② ① e.g. a. It was a dreadful journey. b. It was a tiring, tedious and dangerous journey. Although the commander had an awful temper and a terrible voice, he showed wonderful care to his men. b. Although the commander had a fiery temper and a gravelly voice, he showed fatherly care for his men.( 一位个性粗犷，严厉而又慈爱的司令员呼之欲出) ③ a. The little girl is awf