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英语完形填空语篇解读之(一)文体分析研究

2016-05-14江媛萍

中学课程辅导·教学研究 2016年5期
关键词:说明文语篇记叙文

江媛萍

摘要:完形填空是学生认为最棘手的题型之一,它既考查对语法、词汇、习语、句型、搭配等基础知识的综合运用能力,又考查对短文的阅读理解能力。其中又包括在具体的语境中灵活运用语言知识的能力。根据试题内容进行正确的逻辑推理,综合判断和分析概括的能力。本文从文本分析研究的角度进行了探究,希望能给英语教学带来帮助。

关键词:语篇;文体;记叙文;说明文;议论文

中图分类号:G632.0 文献标识码:A 文章编号:1992-7711(2016)03-0126

一、概说

完形测验(cloze test)这一测试方法自1953年由威尔逊·泰勒(Wilson Taylor)提出的。最初此类型是用于测试母语文章可读性的方法。到七十年代,由于奥勒(Oller)等人的大力提倡,这一形式引起了广大外语测试专家的注意与兴趣,并作为一种综合考试的形式用于测量个人的外语水平。完形填空被认为是一种测试语言综合能力和阅读理解的快捷而经济的方式。(徐强,1992)。根据Cohen1880年的定义,完形填空就是题目设计者将一篇由一个或者数个段落组成的段落中的一些单词或者短语删掉。要求受试者利用语言知识、语篇知识及社会知识将删除的词复原的一种测试方式。删除某些单词的短文看上去形体不整,通过填空使其回复形体完整。故称之为完形填空。其以格式塔心理学中的完形概念为基础,强调语言综合运用能力的考查。(Alderson,2000)。

完形填空是学生认为最棘手的题型之一,它既考查对语法、词汇、习语、句型、搭配等基础知识的综合运用能力,又考查对短文的阅读理解能力。其中又包括在具体的语境中灵活运用语言知识的能力。根据试题内容进行正确的逻辑推理、综合判断和分析概括的能力。

二、学生得分现状

一直以来,学生的英语高考完形填空得分率都较低。就贵州省这样的新课改省份而言,30分的总分,学生的高考均分不到14分。这是一个让人惊心的数字。基于这种现象及近几年高考出题以语篇为背景的大环境,笔者阅读了许多相关文献及实践探索之后,颇有小感。

三、语篇

Language doesnt occur in stray words or sentences,but in connected

discourse.(Harris,1952:357,cited in Windowsson,1974/1981:54)For instance,In A New English Grammar,Zhang(1983:684;2003:70)pointed out that tests,either spoken or written,are sentences meaning-related and connected by certain devices and a semantic whole with cohension in structure and cohenrence in meaning;In other words,texts,either spoken or written,are generally formed by sentences and sentences groups/clusters.Therefore,sentences are the basic units to forming texts.According to Online Etymology Dictionary(“the word discourse referred to the conversation in Late Latin,the literary Latin language as spoken and written and had the sense of format speech or writing”first recorded 1580s.

简言之,句子是语言关联的存在,是有结构与语义上起承接作用的连词连在一起的语义单位,而语篇小到单词、大到著作,语义表达的背景、服务的目的和承接的方式,不是孤立存在的、无生命的词汇。

四、语篇分析

语篇分析就是以语篇为基本单位,掌握语篇背景,从语义、语法和语用几个方面分析文本,研究语篇的结构、句子的排列、句际的关系、会话结构、语句的指向性、信息度、句子之间的语句衔接和语义上的连贯等内容,强调为题的一致性和连贯性。文体分析、语域分析、体裁分析、衔接构成了语篇分析的常见四大途径。下面,笔者就文体(体裁分析方面)做简单的分析。

1. 语言表达的背景

语言都是在一定的环境中存在的,离开环境的语言没有表义功能。请看下面对话:A:Where is my cake?B:Oh,Sally seems full.如果脱离语境看这个对话中的两个句子,似乎答非所问的搞笑场面。但如若增加两者的生活环境即是增加其对话存在的背景(就是我们所说的语篇环境)。A、B两人为夫妻关系,Sally是家里一只爱偷吃蛋糕的猫。这个时候,结果就不言而喻了。The cat ate the cake.

2. 文体分析

首先什么是文体

文体,是指独立成篇的文本体栽(或样式、体制),是文本构成的规格和模式,是一种独特的文化现象,是某种历史内容长期积淀的产物。它反映了文本从内容到形式的整体特点,属于形式范畴。文体的构成包括表层的文本因素,如表达手法、题材性质、结构类型、语言体式、形态格式,以及深层的社会因素,如时代精神、民族传统、阶级印记、作家风格、交际境域、读者经验等。文体的特征及其划分,往往取决于其层面结构中某些因素的强化、突出或变异。文体的客观存在是一种社会文化的需求,但更重要的是依赖于自身的独特的功能。德国姚斯在《走向接受美学》中认为:“文学的形式类型既不是作家主观的创造,也不仅是反思性的有序概念,而主要是一种社会现象。类型与形式的存在依赖于它们在现实世界中的功能。”文体在某种意义上也可以说就是表达,就是选择,就是风格,甚至也可以说是一种强调。每种文体都具有某种对现实社会内容的表达功能,这是文体的本质特征,也是它产生和存在的前提。文体是内容和形式的统一。文本内容决定体裁形式,选择、运用哪种文体,取决于表现对象的特点以及作者反映的具体方式。而文体与体裁这两个概念在某些文化背景下可以互换,比较通俗的文学概念为体裁。对于高考完形填空而言,影响力非同小可。

毛延生(2006)对影响完形填空难度的文本文体因素做了实证研究,揭示了不同文本文体在不同的完形填空生成方式小对完形测试难度产生的不同影响;Braley(1994)指出语篇本身的难度(text difficulty)会影响完形测试的难度,太难的语篇会影响学生答题的表现。而语篇难度又受制于文体形式。纵观近几年的高考,各考点完形填空试题不外乎集中于记叙文、(纯记叙、夹叙夹议)说明文、议论文。

(1)记叙文类完形填空语篇分析

记叙文是一种常见的写作体裁,它具有目的性、程序性等特征。正确的认识和把握其体裁特征有利于培养学生的语篇意识。对逐步培养学生的阅读鉴赏能力和写作能力也有积极的意义。它是以描写叙述为主。主要描写人物、事件、地点或者过程。其特点是:其主题往往潜伏在字里行间,没有直接地表露出来。文章主要透过体察所揭示的人物、事件来进行提炼。描写手法大多按时间跨度、空间顺序、上下顺序来展开。阅读时应采用略读与扫读的方法。因此,在我们拿到一篇完形填空后。以2014年高考新课标卷的完形填空(与全国卷2一样)

完形填空(共20小题;每题1. 5分,满分30分)

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A, B, C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Joe Simpson and Simon Yates were the first people to climb the West Face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains. They reached the top 41 , but on their way back conditions were very

42 . Joe fell and broke his leg. They both knew that if Simon

43 alone, he would probably get back 44 . But Simon decided to risk his 45 and try to lower Joe down the mountain on a rope(绳).

As they 46 down, the weather got worse. Then another 47

occurred. They couldnt see or hear each other and, 48 , Simon lowered his friend over the edge of a precipice(峭壁). It was 49

for Joe to climb back or for Simon to pull him up. Joes 50 was pulling Simon slowly towards the precipice. 51 , after more than an hour in the dark and the icy cold, Simon had to 52 . In tears, he cut the rope. Joe 53 into a huge crevasse(裂缝)in the ice below. He had no food or water and he was in terrible pain. He couldnt walk, but he 54 to get out of the crevasse and started to 55 towards their camp, nearly ten kilometers 56 .

Simon had 57 the camp at the foot of the mountain. He thought that Joe must be 58 , but he didnt want to leave 59 . Three days later, in the middle of the night, he heard Joes voice. He couldnt 60 it. Joe was there, a few meters from their tent, still alive.

41. A. hurriedly B. carefully C. successfully D. early

42. A. difficult B. similar C. specia D. normal

43. A. climbed B. worked C. rested D. continued

44. A. unwillingly B. safely C. slowly D. regretfully

45. A. fortune B. time C. health D. life

46. A. lay B. settled C. went D. looked

47. A. damage B. storm C. change D. trouble

48. A. by mistake B. by chance C. by choice D. by luck

49. A. unnecessary B. practical C. important D. impossible

50. A. height B. weight C. strength D. equipment

51. A. Finally B. take a rest C. make a decision D. hold on

53. A. jumped B. fel C. escaped D. backed

54. A. managed B. planned C. waited D. hoped

55. A. run B. skate C. move D. march

56. A. around B. away C. above D. along

57. A. headed for B. travelled to C. left for D. returned to

58. A. dead B. hurt C. weak D. late

59. A. secretly B. tiredly C. immediately D. anxiously

60. A. find B. believe C. make D. accept

第一步:快速扫读文章,对于文章中是否存在多次人名、地名、人称代词做出敏捷反应,如果具有上述特征,基本可以确定其体裁为记叙文。

如该篇短文的第一句就透露出的人文信息:Joe Simpson and Simon Yates;地点信息:The west face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains.短文中,Joe Simpson and Simon Yates的名字又多次出现,因此为体裁的决定提供了必然必要又强有力的依据。

第二步:扫读短文,弄清文章的写作脉络。

通过扫读,学生会发现,这篇短文按照时间的先后顺序讲述了一个生命奇迹的故事,Joe Simpson and Simon Yates一起攀登安第斯山脉的Siula Grande,在快到山顶的时候,Joe摔断了腿,在Simon冒着生命危险想要通过用绳子把他放到山下的过程中,由于失误,Joe跌入了冰裂缝中,最后Simon不得不砍掉绳索,含泪放弃。而奇迹般地,Joe在三天后顽强地爬到了近10英里之外的营地,找到了一直不愿离开的朋友Simon。这是生命的奇迹,告诉我们只要不放弃,一切皆有可能:Everything is possible.与此同时,从内心也搞定了本篇记叙文的六要素:

时间:winter;地点:The west face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains;人物:Joe Simpson and Simon Yates;起因:Climb the Joe Simpson and Simon Yates

经过:Joe hurt his leg and Simon risked his life to help Joe to go down the mountain by catching a rope,but they met greater trouble and Samon had to give up and Joe fell into a crevasse.;结果:Jeo survived because he didnt give up.

当短文的体裁被弄清楚了,学生再又有了长时间量的积累,就能够通过以上步骤快速反应出短文的写作脉络、六要素。这样,短文的structure就自然而然地呈现出来。也就避免了做完形的最大障碍——只见树木不见森林。这样就能做到心中有数、有的放矢、初战告捷,对学生能产生很大的正面心理引导,让他们有很强的信心来面对接下来的选项的抉择。

(2)说明文体

说明文是以说明为主要表达方式来阅读事物、阐明事理,从而给人知识的文章体裁。它是通过揭示概念来说明事物的特点、本质及其规律,实用性强、涵盖面广。说明文的说明一定要有条理,说明的顺序是按照事物本身的条理和人的认识规律来安排的:由表及里、有实到虚、由分到合、由远及近、由浅入深、逐步阐述。通常有两种模式:(一)总分式:总——分;总——分——总;分——总;(二)递进式:事理说明文。英语完形填空多采用该模式,一层层地剖析事理。具有条理性,常遵循空间顺序、时间顺序、逻辑顺序。

如2014年广东卷

Parents feel that it is difficult to live with teenagers. Then again, teenagers have 1 feelings about their parents, saying that it is not easy living with them. According to a recent research, the most common 2 between parents and teenagers is that regarding untidiness and daily routine tasks. On the one hand, parents go mad over 3 rooms, clothes thrown on the floor and their childrens refusal to help with the 4 . On the other hand, teenagers lose their patience continually when parents blame them for 5 the towel in the bathroom, not cleaning up their room or refusing to do the shopping at the supermarket.

The research, conducted by St. George University, shows that different parents have different 6 to these problems. However, some approaches are more 7 than others. For example, those parents who yell at their children for their untidiness, but 8 clean the room for them, have fewer chances of changing their childrens 9 . On the contrary, those who let teenagers experience the 10 of their actions can do better. For example, when teenagers who dont help their parents with the shopping dont find their favorite drink in the refrigerator, they are forced to 11 their actions.

Psychologists say that 12 is the most important thing in parent-child relationships. Parents should 13 to their children but at the same time they should lend an ear to what they have to say. Parents may 14 their children when they are untidy but they should also understand that their room is their own private space. Communication is a two-way process. It is only by listening to and

15 each other that problems between parents and children can be settled.

1. A. natural B. strong C. guilty D. similar

2. A. interest B. argument C. link D. knowledge

3. A. noisy B. crowded C. messy D. locked

4. A. homework B. housework C. problem D. research

5. A. washing B. using C. dropping D. replacing

6. A. approaches B. contributions C. introductions D. attitudes

7. A. complex B. popular C. scientific D. successful

8. A. later B. deliberately C. seldom D. thoroughly

9. A. behavior B. taste C. future D. nature

10. A. failures B. changes C. consequences D. thrills

11. A. defend B. delay C. repeat D. reconsider

12. A. communication B. bond C. friendship D. trust

13. A. reply B. attend C. attach D. talk

14. A. hate B. scold C. frighten D. stop

15. A. loving B. observing C. understanding D. praising

语篇解读建议:

①快速扫读短文,弄清文体

通过扫读,不难发现短文里有这样的标志性句式:According to a recent research...The research,conducted by St George University shows...从而快速弄清这是一篇说明文,说明对象是一个研究结果。

②弄清短文结构

学生通过扫读(即读每一段的第一句)会很快确定该篇短文的结构为总(提出问题——父母与孩子之间相处困难)——分(分析问题——分析相处困难的原因)——总(解决问题——多沟通)

③弄清作者意图

④看主人公是喜是怒,正确把握反应作者情感的关键词,弄清作者是否一直用某种态度叙述某事件。

如2014广东卷,作者通过首段提出父母与青少年子女之间住在一起彼此都会感到交往很困难的现象。用On the one hand,one the other hand 两个短语分别道出了父母对待孩子存在的问题的不同态度。再引出St.George University 的研究,展示具体的不同父母处理问题的不同方式,其间运用for example举例,but,on the contrary 引出的转折对比了不同的方法。最后一段用Psychologists的观点说明交流是父母与孩子关系中最重要的因素。父母应该在照顾孩子生活的同时,学会去倾听孩子的想法,。侧重说明交流是双向的过程。只有通过交流,父母与孩子之间的问题才能得到解决。通过以上大方向上的语篇分析的过程,学生对接下来的选择能做到胸有成竹、有的放矢。

(3)议论文体

议论文是一种通过剖析事物、论述事理、提出主张、发表见解的问题。其完形填空分两种,一种是夹叙夹议;另一种是纯议论型。第一种的基本模式是叙述事件、提出感悟、做出结论(更偏向于被归类为记叙文)。第二种的基本模式:提出论点、列举论据、提出作者观点。这就是2014年全国卷1的特点。

As a general rule, all forms of activity lead to boredom when they are performed on a routine(常规)basis. As a matter of fact, we can see this 41 at work in people of all 42 . For example, on Christmas morning, children are excited about 43 with their new toys. But their 44 soon wears off and by January those 45 toys can be found put away in the basement. The world is full of 46 stamp albums and unfinished models, each standing as a monument to someones 47 interest. When parents bring home a pet, their child

48 bathes it and brushes its fur. Within a short time, however, the

49 of caring for the animal is handed over to the parents. Adolescents enter high school with great 50 but are soon looking forward to 51 . The same is true of the young adults going to college. And then, how many 52 , who now complain (抱怨) about the long drives to work, 53 drove for hours at a time when they first 54 their drivers license (执照)? Before people retire, they usually 55 to do a lot of 56 things, which they never had 57 to do while working. But

58 after retirement , the golfing, the fishing, the reading and all of the other pastimes become as boring as the jobs they 59 . And , like the child in January, they go searching for new 60 .

41. A. principle B. habit C. weaker D. power

42. A. parties B. races C. countries D. ages

43. A. working B. living C. playing D. going

44. A. confidence B. interest C. anxiety D. sorrow

45. A. same B. extra C. funny D. expensive

46. A. well-organized B. colorfully-printed

C. newly- collected D. half-filled

47. A. broad B. passing C. different D. main

48. A. silently B. impatiently C. gladly D. worriedly

49. A. promise B. burden C. right D. game

50. A. courage B. calmness C. confusion D. excitement

51. A. graduation B. independence C. responsibility D. success

52. A. children B. students C. adults D. retirees

53. A. carefully B. eagerly C. nervously D. bravely

54. A. required B. obtained C. noticed D.discovered

55. A. need B. learn C. start D. plan

56. A. great B. strong C. difficult D. correct

57. A. time B. money C. skills D. knowledge

58. A. only B. well C. even D. soon.

59. A. lost B. chose C. left D. quit

60. A. pets B. toys C. friends D. colleagues

2014年高考全国卷1一改前几年高考完形填空均属于夹叙夹议、小故事、大道理型的文章风格,变成了一篇介绍“人的兴趣和关注度随着时间的推移而变化”的议论文。试题覆盖面广,但更科学、更能强调语篇分析与理解的连贯性。那么,怎样解读议论文类的完形填空呢?

①迅速扫读,确定文体

就2014全国卷1的完形填空而言,第一句很明显地透露了文章的体裁为议论文。也就是说可以首句制胜,明确论点:通常,各种形式的活动按照常规去做都会只感到厌倦。

②挖掘结构

该篇短文结构清晰、脉络有序。它的论点、论据和论证有序地安排在引子、正文结论这一议论文的结构中。能说明论据的答案,可以在论点里得到印证,而论点的答案也可以与论据结合起来。这样论点、论据形成一体,相互印证。有时,作者为了使文章脉络清楚、逻辑流畅,都会使用一些连词,如:on the contrary,as a matter of fact,all in all, in short,generally speaking,worse still,for example,on the other hand,in conclusion等。在本篇文章中,只用了as a matter of fact提出事实论据;for example进行举例,通过例子,有力支撑论点。而全文也遵循了:论点——论据的结构,文章脉络清楚,解读好能扫清学生理解上很大的障碍,为有效完成选择提供基本保证。

③弄清论证方法

议论文型完形填空都按照一定的论证方法来论证的,常见的论证方法有:归纳法(分析个别事物达到共同点,得出结论);推理法(从原理出发,个别说明,得出结论);对照法(正反对照,分析说明,的出结论);驳论法(阐述错误观点、逐条批驳、阐明观点)。而2014年全国卷1的这篇短文采用的就是推理法,先提出原理:各种形式的活动按照常规去做都会导致厌倦。再个别分析,从幼年——中年——老年不同年龄段的举例分析。最后用举例得出结论:人们就像元月份的孩子一样,很快就会扔掉旧玩具找到新的玩具,即寻找新的让自己感兴趣的东西。

总而言之,语篇分析中的文体分析教学,对于学生有效完成英语完形填空有着积极重要的作用。正确有效、持之以恒地在教学过程中关注文体语篇分析,对学生完形填空能力的提升有着不可低估的作用。

参考文献:

[1] 《Teachers-initiated Text-based Questions and Questioning in EF2classroom Theory and Practice》(刘炜/2011)

[2] 《Cohension in English》(M.AK Halliday Ruqaiya Hanson,2012)

《走向接受美学》(姚斯,德国)

注:“本文为2013年贵州省教育科学规划课题立项重点课题《高中英语语篇教学实验研究》(课题编号:2013A010)的阶段性成果”之下子课题《高中英语语篇分析教学在高三复习阶段语法填空中的探究》(校本课题编号:2014B011)。

(作者单位:贵州省毕节市民族中学 551700)

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