有趣的英语歧义现象(一)

• 作 者: 陈晨
• 出 处: 英语沙龙
• 发表日期: 1997年02期
• 关键词: 英语歧义 transporting catch 不及物动词 emotional again 指一 sheep 去问 理语

歧义是自然语言的一种普遍现象,它指一种语言形式有两种或更多种解释。引起歧义的原因是多种多样的,但归纳起来主要有两个方面:一是词汇方面(见例1、2),二是结构方面引起的歧义(见例3、4)。例如: 1.一块告示牌上写着“Fine for Fishing”到底指“Is one likelyto catch fish there?”或“May he be fined if he tries?” 2.“It was another moving day for Allen family”可以指“Allen family was again transporting its belongings” 或“The day was a highly emotional one.”

Ambiguity is a universal phenomenon of natural language. It refers to a linguistic form with two or more interpretations. The causes of ambiguity are various, but they can be summed up in two main ways: one is lexical aspects (see examples 1 and 2), and the other is structural ambiguity (see examples 3 and 4). For example: 1. A bulletin board with “Fine for Fishing” indicates “Is one likely to catch fish there?” or “May he be fined if he tries?” 2.“It was another Moving day for Allen family”You can refer to the “Allen family was again transporting its belongings” or “The day was a highly emotional one.”