首页 -> 2006年第5期

运用语用推理 提高英语听力

作者:李俊兰




  例5M:Are you sure you've corrected all the typing errors in this paper?
  W:Perhaps I'd better read it through again.
  Q:What's the woman going to do?
  A)Collect papers for the man.
  B)Check the paper for typing errors.
  C)Do the typing once again.
  D)Read the whole newspaper.
  男士问女士是否已改掉论文中所有的打印错误,女士并未回答“是”或“不是”,只是说她最好再通读一遍。按照奥斯汀的言语行为理论,人们使用语言进行交际是为了做某事、完成一定的行为,显然在这里女士说再通读一遍是有目的的,是要把所有的打印错误都改过来。女士的回答听似随意,实际上是在“read it through again”后面省略了“to check it for typing errors”听者要仔细些就能听出这层潜在的含义。
  例6W:Can you give me a hand, Mike?I want to move a few heavy items into the car.
  M:I'd like to, but I'm already five minutes late for my appointment with Mr.Johnson,and his office is on the other side of the campus.
  Q:What will the man most probably do?
  A)Help the woman move the items.
  B)Hurry to Mr. Johnson's office.
  C)Help move things to Mr.Johnson's office.
  D)Put off his appointment with Mr.Johnson.
  在这段对话中,男士的话语所提供的信息与女士的认知环境中的旧信息发生联系,两者互相显映:
  a.The man is already five minutes late for his appointment with Mr.Johnson.
  b.Mr.Johnson's office is on the other side of the campus.
  c.Moving heavy items into the car will take some time.
  d.……
  以上旧信息与男士的话语所提供的新信息相结合,便产生以下的语境含义:
  The man is not able to help the woman move the heavy items now.He will hurry to Mr.Johnson's office.
  显而易见,正确答案是B)
  通过以上分析,我们可以清楚地看到语用学原理在话语理解过程中的重要作用。掌握和运用他们可以帮助听者发掘隐藏在交际双方话语背后的信息,正确理解交际话语。在英语听力课堂,教师除了从语言因素方面对学生进行听力训练外,有必要将语用推理训练贯穿于听力课堂,引导学生正确理解话语,提高听的能力。(责任编辑刘永庆)
  

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