6.2　英語的物稱傾向

物稱表達(dá)法是英語常見的一種文風(fēng)，尤其常見于書面語，如公文、新聞、科技論著以及散文、小說等文學(xué)作品。這種表達(dá)法往往使敘述顯得客觀、公正，結(jié)構(gòu)趨于嚴(yán)密、緊湊，語氣較為委婉、間接。

例21. It has been noted with concern that the stock of books in the library has been declining alarmingly. Students are asked to remind themselves of the rules for the borrowing and return of books, and to bear in mind the needs of other students. Penalties for overdue books will in the future be strictly enforced.

近來已注意到本館存書驚人地減少，此事令人關(guān)切。現(xiàn)要求學(xué)生不要忘記借書還書規(guī)則，并考慮其他學(xué)生的需要，今后凡借書逾期不還者，必將嚴(yán)格按章處罰。

例21中有兩個物稱主語: it作先行詞，替代后面的邏輯主語that the stock of books in the library has been declining alarmingly, penalties for overdue books。

例22. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously.

當(dāng)倫敦動物園接到報(bào)告說，在倫敦以南45英里處發(fā)現(xiàn)一只美洲獅時(shí)，這些報(bào)告并沒有受到重視。

此例中，物稱主語reports跟有靈動詞came搭配在一起使用。

例23. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

人們公認(rèn)這樣一個事實(shí)，一個有錢的單身男子一定想要娶個妻子。

此例中it作先行詞，替代后面的邏輯主語that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife。

英語的物稱傾向主要有以下表現(xiàn)形式：“無靈主語”和“有靈動詞”搭配；非人稱代詞“it”、被動句、there be句型的廣泛使用。下面將分別舉例說明：

6.2.1 　“無靈主語”（inanimate subject）和“有靈動詞”（animate verb）搭配

這種“無靈主語”可以是事物名稱、抽象概念、心理感覺、時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)、外因、工具等。而謂語動詞則是通常用來說明人或社會團(tuán)體的動詞，如:see, find, bring, give, escape, surround, kill, deprive, seize, send, know, tell, permit, invite, take, drive, prevent... .from等等。“無靈主語”與“有靈動詞”連用，這樣的句子往往帶有“擬人”或“擬物”的修辭色彩。

1.主語是事物的名稱或抽象概念：

例24.面對著滿院子燦爛的花，不說一句話，心中的怨恨已全消失。

The blooming flowersof the yard presenting of color before my eyes quietly dispelled all my grudges.

例25.他沒有遵守安全規(guī)程，使機(jī)器發(fā)生意外。

His failureto observe the safety regulations brought an accident to the machine.

例26.恕我孤陋寡聞，對此關(guān)系一無所知。

My total ignoranceof the connection must plead my apology.

例27.他總共獲得4 404美元，在獎金名單上居第160位。

His winnings, a total of $4 404, put him in 160th place on the money list.

從上面幾個例子中，我們可以看到，譯文中主語是無靈主語flowers, garlic, ignorance, winnings，搭配了有靈動詞dispelled, kills, plead, put，這樣的搭配給原來無生命的事物賦予了生命特征，使語言表達(dá)栩栩如生。

2.主語是表意識、感覺、心理感覺的詞：

例28.他嚇得驚恐萬狀，動都不敢動一下。

Fearpossessed him and prevented him from moving.

例29.如果你真正意識到這一點(diǎn)，你就會明白最重要的是活出自己的風(fēng)采與滋味來。

A　full awarenessof this will point out to you that the most important thing in your existence is your distinctive individuality or something special of yours.

例30.發(fā)怒之后，我不難過，也不后悔。

Neither sorrow nor regret　followed my passionate outburst.

例31.我感到很餓，又發(fā)現(xiàn)日影移動，這是我明白：自從我睡著以后，太陽一走了很長的路了。

My hunger and the shadowstogether tell me that the sun has done much travel since I fell asleep.

3.表見聞的the sight, the thought等構(gòu)成的物稱：

例32.見到那個孤兒，他總是想起了他的父母。

The sight ofthe orphan always reminds him of the orphan’s parents.

例33.想起辛酸的往事，奶奶就悲傷不已。

The thought ofbitter past overwhelmed my grandma with grief.

4.可以是時(shí)間、具體地點(diǎn)、人生階段：

例34. 1940年3月，我在一家小型建筑公司工作。

March 1940found me working in a small construction firm.

例35.進(jìn)入青年期，他工作了，他戀愛了。

Youthsees him on a job and in love.

例36.他在古玩店呆了大約三個小時(shí)，因而耽擱了。

The curiosity shopdetained him for almost three hours

例37.那個寒冷的下午，他獨(dú)自在雪地里跋涉。

The chilly afternoonfound him trudging the snow.

這里的幾個例句均采用表示時(shí)間、人生階段、地點(diǎn)的名詞作主語，而謂語則是有靈動詞found, saw, detained，有擬人的感覺，使得整個句子更加生動形象。

5.表示外因（external cause）和工具（instrument）的詞：

例38. The electric shock killed him.

他被電死了。

主語是表示具體的客觀事物the electric shock，突出了物稱主語對“他”造成的結(jié)果。

例39.因?yàn)樵谑兄行漠?dāng)了十年交通警察，他的聽力受到了損傷。

Adecade of the traffic police job in the city center has hurt his hearing.

此例中譯文用a decade of the traffic police job in the city center這樣一個表示外因的無靈物稱主語來強(qiáng)調(diào)“他聽力受損”的原因。

例40. The thick carpet killed the sound of my footsteps.

我走在厚厚的地毯上，一點(diǎn)腳步聲也沒有。

6.2.2　非人稱代詞“it”的廣泛使用

代詞“it”有人稱和非人稱之分。作為人稱代詞，“it”用來指動植物、無生命物、事物、抽象概念等。作為非人稱代詞、“it”有幾種不同的用法：

1.作先行詞，用來替代邏輯主語或邏輯賓語：

例41. It never occurs to me that she is so dishonest.

我從來沒想過他有這么不老實(shí)。

例42. It has been known for a long time that there is a first relationship between the heart and the liver.

大家早就知道，心與肝的關(guān)系至為密切。

2.用來構(gòu)成強(qiáng)調(diào)句型：

例43. It is not our view that the substance or the tone of his remarks this morning will contribute to creating a lasting peace in the Middle East.

我們認(rèn)為他今天上午發(fā)言的內(nèi)容和口氣都無助于在中東建立持久的和平。

例44. It is a good horse that never stumbles.（proverb）

人有失誤，馬有失蹄。

3.用來指時(shí)間、距離、自然現(xiàn)象或虛指情況：

例45.離下一站有60英里。

It is sixty miles to the next station.

例46. It’s only half an hour’s walk to the ferry.

只要走半個鐘頭就可以到輪渡。

4.慣用法：

例47. How is it with the sick man?

那病人怎么樣了?

6.2.3　被動句的使用

被動句的使用和英語的物稱傾向有密切的關(guān)系。“被動句促成了物稱傾向，物稱傾向也滋長了被動句?！保ㄟB淑能1993）一方面，物稱主語往往是受事，必須和被動式的謂語搭配；另一方面，被動句本身是一種客觀、間接的敘述，與物稱主語的客觀色彩相得益彰。

例48. The challenge from the Third World has always been foreseen by our shipping companies.

本航海運(yùn)輸公司總能預(yù)見來自第三世界的挑戰(zhàn)。

例49. The murderer was caught yesterday, and it is said that he will be hanged.

兇手已于昨天被捕，據(jù)說他將會被絞死。

例50. Lulled by the gentle motion and soothed by the rippling music of the waves, the babies soon fell asleep.

船兒在輕輕搖蕩，波聲潺潺悅耳，孩子們不久就睡著了。

這種不提及行為者的被動式最常見于公文文體、科技文體及新聞文體：

例51. A current search of the files indicates that the letter is no longer in this Bureau’s possession. It is noted that the letter was received two months ago, and after study, returned to your office. In view of the foregoing, it is regretted that your office has no record of its receipt. If the letter is found, it would be appreciated if this Bureau was notified at once.

我們最近查找了卷宗，發(fā)現(xiàn)本局并無此信?？梢钥隙ǖ氖?，我們于兩個月前收到此信，經(jīng)研究后，已寄還貴處。鑒于以上情況，貴處仍無收信的記錄，我們感到遺憾。如果你們找到此信，請即通知本局，不勝感謝。

此例里，英文中出現(xiàn)了七個動詞被動式，而中文里卻一個“被”字也沒有，翻譯時(shí)還添加了多個“我們”、“你們”等人稱詞。

英語的被動式，尤其是用it作為主語的非人稱被動式（impersonal passive），如it is believed, it is felt, it is thought等，往往不說出施動者（doer或agent）。這是為了讓所敘述的事實(shí)或觀點(diǎn)以客觀、間接和婉轉(zhuǎn)的方式表達(dá)出來.

例52. It is said that the rhythm of tides is affected by the moon.

據(jù)說潮汐的漲落受月亮的影響。

例53.據(jù)報(bào)道，那個著名的球員將對該城作一次訪問。

It is reported that the famous player will pay a visit to the city.

漢語沒有像英語那樣的多重被動式，沒有用“it”作為主語的非人稱被動式，一般也少用被動式，而較多用主動形式表達(dá)被動意義。漢語若要表達(dá)類似英語那種被動式的客觀口氣，則常常采用無主句、主語省略句、祈使句或無形式標(biāo)志的被動句：

例54.發(fā)現(xiàn)了錯誤，一定要改正。（祈使句）

Wrongs must be righted when they are discovered.

例55.看樹看果實(shí)，看人看作為。（無主句）

Atree is known by its fruit, and a man is known by his deeds.

例56.必須調(diào)整高等院校的專業(yè)設(shè)置，改進(jìn)教學(xué)方法。（主語省略，祈使句）

Specialties in colleges and universities should be adjusted and teaching methods improved.

6.2.4there be句型的使用

這是英語中一種特殊而常見的句型，也是一種冷靜客觀的敘述方式，具有明顯的物稱傾向。漢語表達(dá)同樣的意思往往直接用人、事物作主語，或用無主句：

例57. In 1958, there was a strike participated in by five thousand workers.

1958年，五千個工人參加了一次罷工。