英語正式文體與非正式文體的區(qū)別

老師在批改學(xué)生作文時，普遍有一種感覺：學(xué)生的作文大多用詞簡單、結(jié)構(gòu)松散，從語體角度分析，正式程度都較低，呈口語化的傾向。很多同學(xué)在寫作時都忽略了大作文對正式文體的要求。正式文體與非正式文體的區(qū)別表現(xiàn)在用詞、語法上。以2009年的大作文為例，該作文為圖畫作文，圖畫是一張蜘蛛網(wǎng)上有很多人上網(wǎng)。圖畫中的中文提示詞為：互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的“遠(yuǎn)與近”，題目給出的要求是考生簡要描述圖畫，闡明其含義，并發(fā)表評論。下面特意選擇了考生大作文中普遍存在的非正式用語，并給出相應(yīng)的正式用語進(jìn)行比較。兩種文體在語言特征上的主要差異首先表現(xiàn)在用詞上，體現(xiàn)在以下幾個方面：1.正式文體常使用正式用語，非正式文體則常使用非正式用語，這兩類不同的用語是在長期的使用過程中被約定俗成地固定下來的。比如以下非正式用語一欄中的詞匯在考生大作文中普遍存在，可修改為右欄正式用語中的表達(dá)：非正式用語正式用語crimeoffensepeopleindividualscutdownreduceserioussevere/graveharmdamage(ordestroy/undermine/jeopardise)jobposition具體而言，源于法語、拉丁語、希臘語的詞語多用于正式文體；源于古英語的詞語則多用于非正式文體。試比較：We should investigate the root cause of the problem.We should look into the root cause of the problem.Investigate源于拉丁語，屬正式文體用語，而look into是古英語詞匯成分，屬非正式文體用語。2.現(xiàn)代英語中的縮略詞及縮約詞多用于非正式文體，其相應(yīng)的非縮略或非縮約形式則常出現(xiàn)在正式文體中。很多考生都忽略了這一區(qū)別，以下非正式用語欄中的表達(dá)都是從考生大作文中選出的，可修改為右欄正式用語中的表達(dá)?？s略詞正式用語縮約詞正式用語adadvertisementshouldntshouldnotphonetelephonewontwillnotTVtelevisiontheresthereise.g。forexampledontdonotpapernewspaperIveIhavePCpersonalcomputertheyretheyareInforml: People cant put up with the alienation brought by the Internet.3. 很多考生使用了很多短語動詞，而這正是非正式文體的一大特征，正式文體則常用與之同義的單個動詞。試比較：Formal: Individuals cannot tolerate the alienation brought by the Internet.Informal: In this day and age, many people can make use of the Internet via computers or mobile phones.Formal: In this day and age, many individuals can utilise the Internet via computers or mobile phones.兩種文體在語言特征上的第二類主要差異體現(xiàn)在語法上，具體包括以下幾個方面：1.在構(gòu)成比較句型時，很多考生選擇使用了人稱代詞的賓格形式，其實使用人稱代詞的主格形式要顯得更正式些。Informal: He spent more time playing computer games than me.Formal: He spent more time playing computer games than I.2.在表達(dá)“讓步”概念時，很多考生選擇使用的but, anyway, all the same, though, although等為非正式文體常用詞語表達(dá)。正式文體則常使用yet, however, nevertheless, in spite of (despite), notwithstanding等詞語，Informal: He tried to overcome his addiction to the Internet, but he failed.Formal: He endeavoured to overcome his addiction to the Internet; however, it turned out to be a failure.3.在構(gòu)成“方式狀語”時，很多考生偏愛使用副詞，而這正是非正式文體常用的表達(dá)方式，正式文體則常用介詞和與該副詞同根的詞構(gòu)成的介詞短語：Informal: Its very important to.Formal: It is of great importance to.4.在表達(dá)“原因”、“后果”等概念時，很多考生由于水平所限，總是使用非正式文體常用的so, because或其他形式的表示原因的從句，正式文體則常用 on account of, accordingly, thus, hence, consequently, owing to (the fact that)等詞或詞組，且比較經(jīng)常地運用分詞短語、獨立主格結(jié)構(gòu)等。Informal: Since computers had proliferated, many people become addicted to the Internet.Formal: Computers having proliferated, many people become addicted to the Internet.5.在構(gòu)成表示“目的”的狀語時，很多考生使用具有非正式文體色彩的so as to；其實，用in order that引導(dǎo)的目的狀語從句常出現(xiàn)于正式文體中：Informal: We should do more outdoor activities so as to enrich our life.Formal: We should do more outdoor activities in order that our life gets enriched.6.很多考生不會使用由引導(dǎo)詞it引導(dǎo)的句子（如it is said that），實際上，這一結(jié)構(gòu)多見于正式文體，不用這一結(jié)構(gòu)而表達(dá)同一意義的句子多見于非正式文體：Informal: The number of students in the classroom has been going down.Formal: It has been noted with concern that the number of students attending class has been declining alarmingly.7.很多考生省略關(guān)系代詞、連詞、介詞，這些情況多見于非正式文體。Informal: He flunked many courses. He had been expelled from the college.Formal: He flunked so many courses that he had been expelled from the college.Informal: He dealt with the problem the way his classmates does.Formal: He dealt with the problem in the way his classmates does.Informal: We should prevent it going from bad to worse.Formal: We should prevent it from going from bad to worse.8.在表達(dá)“請求某人做某事時”，很多考生選擇使用具有非正式文體色彩的主動語態(tài)句式，而沒有使用具有正式文體色彩的被動語態(tài)句式。Informal: Please communicate more with your friends and family.Formal: More communication with your friends and family is needed.9.很多考生未能正確使用某些不定代詞、動名詞的復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)，不太注意句子的主謂一致，未能體現(xiàn)文章的正式文體風(fēng)。Informal: Everybody should look after themselves.Formal: Everybody should look after himself.Informal: Everyone should do their best.Formal: Everyone should do his best.Informal: Im not surprised at him failing the course.Formal: I am not surprised a