孫啟春
摘 要: 動(dòng)詞是語(yǔ)言學(xué)習(xí)和研究關(guān)注的焦點(diǎn),有多種分類標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。實(shí)意動(dòng)詞具有實(shí)在意義,英語(yǔ)里實(shí)意動(dòng)詞可以分為動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞(dynamic verbs)和靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞(stative verbs)。中國(guó)人初學(xué)英語(yǔ)對(duì)于延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞和終止性動(dòng)詞的區(qū)分難于理解,因?yàn)闈h語(yǔ)里沒(méi)有這些語(yǔ)義辨析。認(rèn)知語(yǔ)言學(xué)認(rèn)為動(dòng)詞作為象征結(jié)構(gòu)是表示關(guān)系的語(yǔ)法范疇,傳達(dá)出事物之間的關(guān)系與過(guò)程。英語(yǔ)中的延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞和終止性動(dòng)詞是建立在語(yǔ)言使用者的認(rèn)知意象維度基礎(chǔ)之上的,尤其是詳細(xì)度、始解和視角。
關(guān)鍵詞: 動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞 靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞 延續(xù)性 終止性 認(rèn)知意象維度
1.傳統(tǒng)語(yǔ)法里的動(dòng)詞分類
提到動(dòng)詞我們自然就會(huì)想到傳統(tǒng)語(yǔ)法學(xué)里面的術(shù)語(yǔ):助動(dòng)詞(auxiliary)、實(shí)義動(dòng)詞(lexical verb)、聯(lián)系動(dòng)詞(linking verb)、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞(modal verb)、及物動(dòng)詞(transitive verb)和不及物(intransitive verb)動(dòng)詞等許多關(guān)于動(dòng)詞的稱謂。
實(shí)義動(dòng)詞具有實(shí)在意義。有些動(dòng)詞表示動(dòng)作,有些動(dòng)詞表示狀態(tài)的不同,因此動(dòng)詞可以分為動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞(dynamic verbs)和靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞(stative verbs)。靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞表示事物的存在狀態(tài),如be, have, belong to, matter, believe, love等。動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞可分為以下四類:表示持續(xù)的動(dòng)作(live, sleep);表示狀態(tài)的改變(grow, turn); 表示短暫動(dòng)作(fall, arrive, wake);表示位置改變(climb, move, transfer) 。
動(dòng)態(tài)和靜態(tài)的劃分不是絕對(duì)的,如下面的例子,
(1)Tom runs a small shop.
(2)Children often went hungry in the past.
(3)Were having a wonderful time.
(4)Be quiet, Im thinking.
(5)Im hoping youll look after the children for us.
動(dòng)詞run, go一般作為動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞出現(xiàn)在語(yǔ)言里,但是上例為靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞。have, think,hope一般為靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞,但是在上述例句中,它們都具有鮮明的動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞特征。
2.延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞和終止性動(dòng)詞的語(yǔ)義辨析
(6)Sam has died.
#(7)Sam has died for three years.
上例句中的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞前句正確,后句在英語(yǔ)里是錯(cuò)誤的。這是中國(guó)學(xué)生難于理解的一個(gè)問(wèn)題。因?yàn)橛⒄Z(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的使用和特定的認(rèn)知方式是密不可分的。在這一方面,英語(yǔ)的動(dòng)詞有延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞(continual verbs)和終止性動(dòng)詞(terminal verbs)之分。延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞可以是動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞也可以是靜態(tài)動(dòng)詞。終止性動(dòng)詞,又稱為非延續(xù)性動(dòng)詞,一般是動(dòng)態(tài)動(dòng)詞。終止性動(dòng)詞不能和時(shí)間段相連用,因?yàn)樗鼈儼l(fā)生時(shí)間短暫。所以例句(7)要表達(dá)為下面兩句:
(8)Sam has been dead for three years.
(9)Sam has been dead since three years ago.
再如,borrow, buy, arrive, leave, begin, start, marry,等。
#(10)You can borrow the books for three months.
(11)You can keep the books for three months.
在漢語(yǔ)里說(shuō)“這本書你可以借三個(gè)月”是沒(méi)問(wèn)題的,可是在英語(yǔ)中You can borrow the books for three months卻是錯(cuò)誤的,因?yàn)閯?dòng)詞borrow是終止性動(dòng)詞,在圖書館借書是短時(shí)間完成的事情,不可能持續(xù)三個(gè)月。
(12)You can borrow the books from the library.
(13)You can borrow the books on Sunday morning.
(14)You can borrow the books in the library from February 28 to June 30.
英語(yǔ)可以這樣說(shuō),是因?yàn)楸揪渲械腷orrow 沒(méi)有和類似for three months, for five days, since 2006等時(shí)間段相連用。在例句(14)中,from February 28 to June 30強(qiáng)調(diào)的是終止性動(dòng)詞借書(borrow)可能反復(fù)發(fā)生的時(shí)間段,而不是動(dòng)作borrow的持續(xù)進(jìn)行。
下面再看一組英語(yǔ)表達(dá):
(15)Tom did homework until his mother came back home.
(16)Tom didnt do homework until his mother came back home.
#(17)Tom fell asleep until his mother came back home.
(18)Tom didnt fall asleep until his mother came back home.
在例句(15)里,Tom堅(jiān)持寫作業(yè)直到媽媽回來(lái)為止。在例句(16)中,媽媽回來(lái)了,Tom才開(kāi)始寫作業(yè)。例句(17)是錯(cuò)誤表達(dá),因?yàn)閒all asleep 是終止性動(dòng)詞,入睡是瞬間完成的,不能與時(shí)間段連用。