Unit One hit the nail on the head

1、LOGOUnit OneHit the Nail on the HeadContentsPre-reading brainstormingLibrary workOrganization of the textLanguage pointsExercises 0. Pre-reading Questionsv1. Have you ever heard of the English proverb “Hit the nail on the head”? What does it mean?v1. Suggested Answer (SA): It means exactly right in

2、words or action.v2.This is an essay on English style. What do you think the author advises the English student to do in his/her writing?v2. SA: The author advises that the English students should try to get the words, phrases and sentences completely right for their purposes in their writing.0. Pre-

3、reading QuestionsvVariation in a persons speech or writing. Style usually varies from casual to formal according to the type of situation, the person or persons addressed, the location, the topic discussed, etc. a particular style, e.g. a formal style or a colloquial style, is sometimes referred to

4、as a stylistic variety (語(yǔ)體類型). Some linguists use the term “register” for a stylistic variety whilst others differentiate between the two.vStyle can also refer to a particular persons use of speech or writing at all times or to a way of speaking or writing at a particular period of time, e.g. Dicken

5、ss style, the style of Shakespeare, an 18th century style of writing.v vconnotation: (any of) the feeling or ideas that are suggested by a word, rather than the actual meaning of the word 含義，言外之意含義，言外之意vdenotation: the thing that is actually named or described by a word, rather than the feelings or

6、ideas that are suggested by the word 直接意義，特定直接意義，特定意義意義I. Library Workv1. Find out who the following are.v1) Gustave Flaubertv2) Mrs. Malapropv2. Find out where Hindi and Swahili are used.Gustave FlaubertvGustave Flaubert，1821.12.17-1880.5.8 .vNovelist , playwrightvFrench vFictional prosevRealism Ro

7、manticismI. Library Workv vFrench novelist, he was associated with, though not representative of, the movement of naturalism and known as one of the greatest realists of 19th-century France. He devoted his life to long hours spent in heavy toil over his work. His writing is marked by exactness and a

8、ccuracy of observation, extreme impersonality and objectivity of treatment, and precision and expressiveness in style, or the principle of the mot juste.vFlaubert scrupulously avoids the inexact, the abstract, the vaguely inapt expression which is the bane of ordinary methods of composition; he neve

9、r allowed a cliche to pass him. In a letter to George Sand he said that he spends his time “trying to write harmonious sentences, avoiding assonances.”vFlaubert believed in, and pursued, the principle of finding le mot juste (the right word), which he considered as the key mean to achieve quality in

10、 literary art. vHe worked in sullen solitude sometimes occupying a week in the completion of one page never satisfied with what he had composed.vMany critics consider his best works to be exemplary models of style.v“Novelists should thank Flaubert the way poets thank spring; it all begins again with

11、 him. There really is a time before Flaubert and a time after him. Flaubert decisively established what most readers and writers think of as modern realist narration, and his influence is almost too familiar to be visible. We hardly remark of good prose that it favors the telling of brilliant detail

12、; that it privileges a high degree of visual noticing; that it maintains an unsentimental composure（鎮(zhèn)靜） and knows how to withdraw, like a good valet(貼身男仆), from superfluous commentary; that it judges good and bad neutrally; that it seeks out the truth, even at the cost of repelling（擊退，抵制） us; and th

13、at the authors fingerprints on all this are paradoxically, traceable but not visible. You can find some of this in Defoe or Austen or Balzac, but not all of it until Flaubert.”Critic James Wood in How Fiction Works (2008)Flauberts lean and precise writing style has had a large influence on 20th cent

14、ury writers such as Franz Kafka and J. M. Coetzee.vMadame Bovary (1856) is Gustave Flauberts first published novel and is considered by many critics to be a masterpiece. The story focuses on a doctors wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the ban

15、alities （平凡，陳腐） and emptiness of provincial life. Though the basic plot is rather simple, even archetypal, the novels true art lies in its details and hidden patterns. Flaubert was a notorious perfectionist and claimed always to be searching for le mot juste (the right word).v2. Mrs. Malaprop is a f

16、amous character in Sheridans comedy The Rivals (1775). She is noted for her blunders (big mistakes) in the use of words. “As headstrong (stubborn) as an allegory (alligator 短吻鱷) on the banks of the Nile” is one of her grotesque （strange荒唐的荒唐的） misapplications. She also requests that no delusions (欺騙

17、欺騙;迷惑；錯(cuò)覺，幻迷惑；錯(cuò)覺，幻想想；allusions暗示，提及) to the past be made. She has given us the word malapropism （用用詞錯(cuò)誤，尤指誤用發(fā)音相似而意義全非的詞詞錯(cuò)誤，尤指誤用發(fā)音相似而意義全非的詞）as a name for such mistakes.vHindi（印地語(yǔ)）（印地語(yǔ)）is a literary and official language of northern India. vSwahili（斯瓦希里語(yǔ)）（斯瓦希里語(yǔ)）is a Bantu（班圖（班圖) language that is a trade

18、 and governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region. Bantus are people belonging to a group of tribes found in equatorial and southern Africa. II. Organization of the Textv1. An analogy between the unskilled use of the hammer and the improper choice of words (Paragraph 1)v2.

19、The significance of finding the right words (Paragraphs 2 - 3)v3. Semantic differences between words having the same root (Paragraphs 4 - 7)v(1). Example 1 (human vs. humane) (Paragraph 4)v(2). Example 2 (anxiety vs. eagerness) (Paragraph 5)v(3). Example 3 (singularity vs. singleness) (Paragraphs 6

20、7)II. Organization of the Textv4. Wrong choice of words caused by failure to recognize their connotations (Paragraph 8)vExamples: imprison, contain, sum up, epitomize and distillv5. Stylistic differences between synonyms (Paragraph 9)vExamples: in my childhood vs. when I was a child; love to watch v

21、s. love watching; die vs. expire; poor vs. in indigent circum-stancesII. Organization of the Textv6. The abundance of specific words in English for general notions (Paragraph 10)v7. Conclusion (Paragraph 11): the importance of a good control and command over known words (A good writer is not measure

22、d by the extent of his vocabulary, but by his skill in finding the word that will hit the nail cleanly on the head. ) III. Key Points of the TextvParagraph 1vknock over: hit to fall 捶翻捶翻vdrive something home: force (the nail) into the right place; make something unmistakably clear 把（釘子等）打入；使把（釘子等）打入

23、；使明確無(wú)誤明確無(wú)誤vE.g. (1). He slammed the door and drove the bolt home. 他砰地關(guān)上門，把門閂插好。他砰地關(guān)上門，把門閂插好。III. Key Points of the Textv(2). drive ones point home 講清楚自己的講清楚自己的觀點(diǎn)觀點(diǎn)v(3). a voice that drives home each word 字字字清晰的說(shuō)話聲字清晰的說(shuō)話聲v(4). To drive home his policy, the president wrote his second letter. 為了闡為了闡明他的

24、政策，總統(tǒng)又寫了第二封信。明他的政策，總統(tǒng)又寫了第二封信。v(5). You must drive it home to John that we dont have enough money. 你必須使約你必須使約翰明白我們錢確實(shí)不夠。翰明白我們錢確實(shí)不夠。 Paragraph 1vdeft: effortlessly skillful 熟練的熟練的vhit it squarely on the head: hitting it directly on the head. Also hit the (right) nail on the head: (informal) be exactly

25、 right in words or action 正正中要害；猜中；說(shuō)得好，做得好中要害；猜中；說(shuō)得好，做得好vE.g. : (1). Your criticism really hit the nail on the head. 你的批評(píng)確是一針見血。你的批評(píng)確是一針見血。 v(2). In so saying, you hit the right nail on the head. 你這樣說(shuō)確是擊中要害。你這樣說(shuō)確是擊中要害。 vsquarely: meaning “directly”, may be used both literally and figuratively.vE.g.

26、: (1). The boxer hit his opponent squarely on the jaw.v(2). We must face the difficulty squarely. Paragraph 1vclean English: English that is exact (precise) and clearva word that is more or less right: a word that is almost right, but not completely right 差不多恰當(dāng)?shù)脑~語(yǔ)差不多恰當(dāng)?shù)脑~語(yǔ)vParaphrase: A word that is

27、more or less right, a loose phrase, an ambiguous expression, a vague adjective, will not satisfy a writer who aims at clean English.Paragraph 1v A writer who is particular about the exactness of an expression in English will never feel happy with a word which fails to express an idea accurately.vQue

28、stion 1: Which phrase in this paragraph marks a contrast between a clumsy man and a skillful carpenter?vSA: On the other hand.Paragraph 1vQuestion 2: Which sentence in Paragraph 1 establishes the link between the driving of a nail and the choice of a word?vSA: So with language; the good craftsman wi

29、ll choose words that drive home his point firmly and exactly.Paragraph 2v Question 1: What does the word “this” in Sentence 1 refer to?vSA: “This” here is anaphoric, referring back to) “get the word that is completely right for the writers purpose”.vscrupulous writers: writers who are thorough, exac

30、t, and who pay careful attention to details 一絲不茍的作家一絲不茍的作家vscrupulous: correct even in the smallest detail; exact; painstaking; meticulous 嚴(yán)嚴(yán)格認(rèn)真的格認(rèn)真的, 審慎的審慎的Paragraph 2vunscrupulous: 不擇手段的不擇手段的, 肆無(wú)忌憚的肆無(wú)忌憚的, the opposite of scrupulous, seems to be more often used to describe people who do not care ab

31、out honesty and fairness in getting what they want, or who are completely without principles. vAlso by hook or (by) crook: to win by hook or crookParagraph 2vQuestion 2: What is the significance of finding the right words?vSA: Words are many and various; they are subtle and delicate in their differe

32、nt shades of meaning. The exact use of language gives us mastery over the material we are dealing with.Paragraph 2vRealization: manifestationvAs for traffic lights, the red is the realization of “stop”. SystemParagraph 2vIn language, sound is the realization of grammar, which is the realization of m

33、eaning.vThere is a famous saying is Systemic Functional Linguistics “Form is the realization of meaning.” SystemParagraph 2vParaphrase: Choosing words is part of realization, of defining our thought and feelings for ourselves, as well as for those who hear or read our words.vTo a certain extent, the

34、 process of finding the right words to use is a process of perfection where you try to search for words that may most accurately make your thoughts and feelings, and words that may most effectively make your listeners and readers understand your thoughts and feelings.Paragraph 2v“How can I know what

35、 I think till I see what I say? ”This sounds stupid, but there is a great deal of truth in it.vIt sounds irrational that a person does not know what he himself thinks before he sees what he says. But as a matter of fact, it is quite true that unless we have found the exact words to verbalize our own

36、 thoughts we can never be very sure of what our thoughts are; without words, our thoughts cannot be defined or stated in a clear and precise manner.Paragraph 2vQuestion 3: Do you agree with the author that there is a great deal of truth in the seemingly stupid question “How can I know what I think t

37、ill I see what I say”? Why or why not?vSA: Yes, I do. It sounds irrational that a person does not know what he himself thinks before he sees what he says, but, as a matter of fact, it is quite true that unless we have found the exact words to verbalize our own thoughts we can never be very sure of w

38、hat our thoughts are, without words, our thoughts cannot be defined or stated in a clear and precise manner.Paragraph 3v1. Paraphrase: It is hard work choosing the right words, but we shall be rewarded by the satisfaction that finding them brings.vFinding the most suitable word to use is no case eas

39、y. But there is nothing like the delight we shall experience when such a word is located.v2. Paraphrase: The exact use of language gives us mastery over the material we are dealing with.vOnce we are able to use language accurately, we are in a position to fully understand our subject matter.Paragrap

40、h 3v that constitutes his limitation: that makes or forms his shortcoming or inability in certain respectsvconcept vs. conception:vA concept is an idea of a category or kind that has been generalized from particular instances. Thus, the concept of “cat” arises form the many cats we see. Concept also

41、 refers to a widely held idea of what something is or should be: The concept of government of many small nations has been influenced by the legislative and judicial institutions of Britain. Paragraph 3vThe meaning of conception is much like this second sense of concept, but differs in that the idea

42、of what a thing is or should be is here held by an individual or small group and is often colored by imagination and feeling: A childs conception of the universe is formed by his limited experience and his own fancies.vyour conception of the man is clearer and sharper: your idea of the man is cleare

43、r and more distinctParagraph 3vsharp: a word that has a variety of meaningsvE.g.: a sharp (thrill) voice 刺耳的語(yǔ)聲刺耳的語(yǔ)聲v sharp (harsh) wordsv a sharp (severe) painParagraph 4v human vs. humane: vhuman: relating to or characteristic of humankind or peoplevE.g.: human action: action taken by man 人的行為人的行為v

44、 To err is human; to forgive, divine. 犯犯錯(cuò)人皆難免；寬恕則屬超凡。錯(cuò)人皆難免；寬恕則屬超凡。vhuman killer: a person or a machine that kills humans 殺人兇手；殺人機(jī)器殺人兇手；殺人機(jī)器Paragraph 4vhumane: having or showing compassion or benevolence; characterized by kindness, mercy, sympathyvE.g.: humane action: merciful action 人道人道的行為的行為vhuman

45、e killer: that which kills but causes little pain; instrument for painless slaughter of animals 牲口無(wú)痛屠牲口無(wú)痛屠宰機(jī)，牲口麻醉屠宰機(jī)宰機(jī)，牲口麻醉屠宰機(jī)Paragraph 5vfar afield: far away from home; to or at a great distance; very far away 向遠(yuǎn)處向遠(yuǎn)處, 遠(yuǎn)離遠(yuǎn)離vContextvthe context of situation: registervthe context of culture: genrevthe

46、 context of textFig. Stratification (Halliday and Matthiessen 2004: 25)vSFL characterizes the contextualization of language in use, and there is a tradition of contextual theory that traces back to “British contextualism”. vInfluenced by the anthropologist Malinowskis enormous contributions to ident

47、ifying the fundamental semantic role of the context of situation and the context of culture from functional perspective, Firth extends Malinowskis context of situation to what we refer to as linguistic predictability (cf. Eggins 1994: 51-52). ContextFig. Functional diversification of language and so

48、cial context (Martin 1997: 5)RegisterParagraph 6vcowardice: lack of courage 怯懦怯懦, 膽小膽小vrife: widespread, common（流行的，普遍的）（流行的，普遍的）. Rife is an adjective used with something negative.vE.g.: (1). Crime and violence were rife in this city before liberation.v(2). Typhoid fever (Poultry flu) is rife. 目前傷寒

49、目前傷寒（禽流感）流行。（禽流感）流行。 v(3). Corruption (Unemployment) is still rife in that country. 那個(gè)國(guó)家依然貪污成風(fēng)（失業(yè)遍地）。那個(gè)國(guó)家依然貪污成風(fēng)（失業(yè)遍地）。 Paragraph 6v(4). The whole city is rife with rumors. 滿城謠諑滿城謠諑紛紛。紛紛。 v(5). This article is rife with error. 這篇文章錯(cuò)誤百這篇文章錯(cuò)誤百出。出。 v(6). The country was rife with disease and violence. 那

50、個(gè)國(guó)家當(dāng)時(shí)疾病和暴力橫行。那個(gè)國(guó)家當(dāng)時(shí)疾病和暴力橫行。 v(7). Diseases used to be rife in that country.vsingularity vs. singleness:vsingularity: strangeness, oddity, peculiarity 奇奇特特, 特性特性, 非凡非凡vE.g.: singularity of mind 思想奇特；標(biāo)新立異思想奇特；標(biāo)新立異Paragraph 7vhold to: (cause to) follow exactly, keep to (something such as a promise); ad

51、here to堅(jiān)持，堅(jiān)持，遵守，忠于遵守，忠于 vE.g.: (1). Whatever your argument, I shall hold to my decision. v(2). The priest held to his beliefs in spite of cruel treatment.v(3). He holds to a simple life. 他堅(jiān)持過(guò)著簡(jiǎn)樸的他堅(jiān)持過(guò)著簡(jiǎn)樸的生活。生活。 v(4). He held to his own counsel. 他按照自己的意他按照自己的意見行事。見行事。 v(5). I hold to my promise. 我格守諾言

52、。我格守諾言。 Paragraph 7vdraw aside: (cause to) move to one sidevE.g.: (1). Drawing the curtain aside, he looked down into the street. v(2). The crowd drew aside to let the prisoner pass.Paragraph 8vMalapropism: the unintentional misuse of a word by confusing it with one that resembles it, such as human

53、for humane, singularity for singleness.（音近詞的滑稽（音近詞的滑稽誤用）誤用）vimprison: put into prison or keep in a place or state which one is not free to leave 監(jiān)禁監(jiān)禁, 關(guān)押關(guān)押; 限制限制, 束縛束縛Paragraph 8vcoercion: pressure, compulsion; government by force 強(qiáng)迫，壓制；高壓統(tǒng)治強(qiáng)迫，壓制；高壓統(tǒng)治vE.g.: the coercion of public opinion輿論的壓力輿論的壓力vc

54、oerce v.t.: 強(qiáng)制；脅迫；迫使強(qiáng)制；脅迫；迫使vE.g.: coerce somebody into doing something 迫迫使某人做謀事使某人做謀事vcoerce uniformity 強(qiáng)求一致強(qiáng)求一致vcoercive adj. = coercionary adj.: serving or intended to coercevE.g.: coercive methods (measures) 強(qiáng)制的方法強(qiáng)制的方法（手段）（手段） Paragraph 8vcoercible adj.vepitomize: be typical of; serve as the typ

55、ical example of 代表，象征，體現(xiàn)，代表，象征，體現(xiàn)，寫寫 的梗概，作的梗概，作 的綱要的綱要vE.g.: (1). He was the man who epitomized black resistance to the colonial government. 他代表著黑人對(duì)殖民地政府的他代表著黑人對(duì)殖民地政府的反抗。反抗。v(2). His political creed was epitomized in this report. 他的政治信念就概括在這篇報(bào)告他的政治信念就概括在這篇報(bào)告中。中。Paragraph 8vepitome n.: a thing or per

56、son that shows, to a very great degree, a quality or set of qualities (especially in the phrase the epitome of) 典型，象征；縮影典型，象征；縮影v a short account of a book or speech 梗概；縮寫，節(jié)錄梗概；縮寫，節(jié)錄vE.g.: (1). She is the epitome of arrogance. 她是傲慢的典型。她是傲慢的典型。v(2). My cat is the epitome of laziness (= My cat is very

57、 lazy.).Paragraph 8vQuestion: Explain why the word “imprison” in the example given in this paragraph, though not a malapropism, is still not the right word for the writers purpose.Paragraph 8 S A : “ M a l a p r o p i s m ” m e a n s t h e unintentional misuse of a word by confusing it with one that

58、 resembles it, such as human for humane, singularity for singleness. But the misuse of “imprison” is a different case. It is wrongly chosen because the user has failed to recognize its connotation（內(nèi)（內(nèi)涵）涵）.Paragraph 8vdistill: take and separate the most important parts of (a book, a subject, etc.) 提煉

59、提煉vE.g.: distill the essence of 提取提取的精華的精華valive: sensitive; alertParagraph 9vdisprove vs. disapprove: vdisprove: prove to be contrary; refute 反反駁，證明有誤駁，證明有誤vE.g.: (1). find a charge hard to disprove 發(fā)現(xiàn)推翻某項(xiàng)罪名有困難發(fā)現(xiàn)推翻某項(xiàng)罪名有困難v(2). He could not disprove the major contention of his opponents. 他駁不倒對(duì)他駁不倒對(duì)方

60、的主要論點(diǎn)。方的主要論點(diǎn)。Paragraph 9vdisapprove: have a bad opinion for moral reasons (of) 不贊成；不同意；不準(zhǔn)許；否決；不贊成；不同意；不準(zhǔn)許；否決；不贊同；不喜歡不贊同；不喜歡(of)vE.g. (1). She disapproved the arrangements for the wedding.v(2). The court disapproved the verdict. 法院否法院否定了陪審團(tuán)的裁決。定了陪審團(tuán)的裁決。v(3). Jims father disapproved of his marriage to