第五章 物称与人称

(Impersonal vs．Personal)

英语较常用物称表达法，即不用人称来叙述，而让事物以客观的口气呈现出来，有些英语写作论著称之为“the writer and the reader are out of the picture，hiding themselves behind impersonal language”．G．Leech和J．Svartvik在《英语交际语法》一书中指出：“Formal written language often goes with an impersonal style：i．e．one in which the speaker does not refer directly to himself or his readers，but avoids the pronouns I，you，we． Some of the common features of impersonal language are passives，sentences beginning with introductory it，and abstract nouns．”该书以图书馆的一则通告为例：

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．

近来已注意到本馆存书惊人地减少，此事令人关切。现要求学生不要忘记借书还书规

则，并考虑其他学生的需要。今后凡借书逾期不还者，必将严格按章处罚。

英语写作教科书常常劝告作者不要滥用这种非人称表达法，认为这会使文章缺乏“personal reference and human touch”，失去“people-to-people relationship”，显得“abstract and official”，甚至"cold and inhuman”．上述一例若多用人称表达，则可显得不那么正式：

The number of books in the library has been going down．Please make sure you know the rules for borrowing，and don't forget that the library is for everyone's convenience．So from now on，we're going to enforce the rules strictly．You have been warned!

虽然如此，非人称表达法仍是英语常见的一种文风，尤其常见于书面语，如公文、新闻、科技论著以及散文、小说等文学作品。这种表达法往往使叙述显得客观、公正，结构趋于严密、紧凑，语气较为委婉、间接。

汉语则较注重主体思维，这种思维模式以“万物皆备于我”作主导，往往从自我出发来叙述客观事物，或倾向于描述人及其行为或状态，因而常用人称。当人称可以不言自喻时，又常常隐含人称或省略人称。汉语重人称，英语重物称，这一特点主要表现在如何使用主语和动词这两方面。

一、英语常用非人称主语，汉语常用人称主语

英语可用人称主语表达，也常用非人称主语表达。用非人称主语表达时，往往注重“什么事发生在什么人身上”，而汉语则较常用人称主语表达，往往注重“什么人怎么样了”，如：

1)What has happened to you?

你出了什么事啦?

2)An idea suddenly struck me．

我突然想到了一个主意。

3)A strange peace came over her when she was alone．

她独处时便感到一种特殊的安宁。

4)Not a sound reached our ears．(A．S．Hornby)

我们没有听到任何声音。

5)A great elation overcame them．

他们欣喜若狂。