Literal and Figurative · 字面意义与比喻意义
The distinction is a starting point, not an answer
- The objective is to distinguish between the literal and figurative meanings of words and phrases.
- Distinguishing is the skill; deciding which one applies is often not the point.
- In poetry both frequently apply at once, and that is where the analysis lives.
In a poem, “cold” may report the weather and the welcome at the same time.
这一区分是起点,不是答案
- 本目标是区分词语与短语的字面义与比喻义。
- 区分是这项技能;而判定适用哪一个,往往并不是要点。
- 在诗中,两者常常同时适用,而分析就住在那里。
诗里的“冷”，可能既在报天气，也在说主人待客的态度。
Multiple meanings add complexity
- Words with multiple meanings or connotations add nuance or complexity that can contribute to interpretations of a text.
- So a word that could mean two things is not a problem to solve.
- It is a resource, and the poem usually put it there deliberately.
多重含义带来复杂性
- 具有多重含义或多重联想的词,增添了细微之处或复杂性,这可以参与构成对文本的阐释。
- 因此一个可能有两种含义的词,不是一个需要解决的问题。
- 它是一种资源,而诗通常是有意把它放在那里的。
A word with two possible meanings in a poem is... · 一首诗中具有两种可能含义的词是……
The poem usually put it there deliberately. · 诗人通常故意将其置于此处。
Denotation and connotation
- A word's literal meaning is what it denotes; its connotations are what it brings with it.
- Slender and scrawny denote nearly the same thing and connote opposite judgements.
- The CED's phrase is meanings or connotations — both count as evidence.
本义与联想义
- 一个词的字面义是它所指称的东西;它的联想义是它所携带的东西。
- 清瘦与干瘪所指称的几乎是同一件事,却带有相反的评判。
- CED 的措辞是"含义或联想"——两者都算作证据。
Denotation, connotation, or both meanings at once? · 指称义、内涵义，还是两者同时具备？
Sort each observation about word choice. · 根据对选词的看法对每一项进行分类。
"Slender" and "scrawny" denote nearly the same thing but connote opposite judgements. · “纤细”与“瘦弱”指代几乎相同的事物，但带有截然相反的评判色彩。
The CED counts both meanings and connotations as contributing to interpretation. · CED将含义和内涵都视为影响解读的因素。
Do not leap over the literal. A line often has a plain sense that is doing real work, and a symbolic reading that ignores it is usually weaker, not deeper. Establish what the words denote first; the figurative reading is strongest when it sits on top of the literal one.
不要跳过字面义。一行诗往往有一个正在起真实作用的平实含义,而无视它的象征式解读通常更弱,而不是更深。先确定这些词指称什么;比喻义的解读在建立于字面义之上时最有力。
Before reading a phrase figuratively, say what it means ____. · 在字面理解短语之前，先说明它的____意思。
The figurative reading is strongest built on top of the literal one. · 比喻性解读建立在字面意义之上最为稳固。
Start literal, always
- Before reading a phrase figuratively, say what it means literally.
- Many wrong readings come from leaping to symbolism over a sentence that had a plain sense.
- The figurative reading is stronger when it is built on top of the literal one, not instead of it.
永远从字面开始
- 在把一个短语作比喻义解读之前,先说出它字面上是什么意思。
- 许多错误的解读,来自越过一个本有平实含义的句子直接跳向象征。
- 比喻义的解读若是建立在字面义之上、而不是取而代之,就会更有力。
Select all · 所有 the questions in the two-meaning pass. · 在双义段落中，选择所有相关问题。
Frequency is not a source of meaning. · 频率并非意义的来源。
Match each reading of "she kept the house" to its type. · 将“she kept the house”的每种解读与其类型匹配。
The poem uses all three, and the ambiguity is the point. · 这首诗使用了这三种手法，其歧义正是诗歌的要点所在。
A two-meaning pass
- For each key word: what does it denote, and what does it connote?
- Could it be read literally here? Could it be read figuratively?
- If both, say so — that is the nuance the CED is pointing at.
双重含义检查
- 对每个关键词:它指称什么,又带有什么联想?
- 在这里它能作字面解读吗?能作比喻解读吗?
- 如果两者皆可,就把这一点说出来——那正是 CED 所指的细微之处。
"She kept the house." Literally: she did the housework, or she retained ownership after a death. Figuratively: she maintained something the family had. The poem uses all three, and the ambiguity is the point — a reading that picks one has thrown away two-thirds of the evidence.
*"她守着这所房子。"*字面上:她操持家务,或在一场死亡之后保住了产权。比喻上:她维系着这个家曾拥有的某样东西。这首诗三种都用上了,而这层歧义正是要点——只挑一种的解读,已经扔掉了三分之二的证据。
Distinguish literal from figurative — but in poetry both often apply at once. Words with multiple meanings or connotations add nuance or complexity that contributes to interpretation. Establish the literal sense first; the figurative reading is strongest built on top of it.
区分字面义与比喻义——但在诗中两者常常同时适用。具有多重含义或联想的词,增添了参与构成阐释的细微之处或复杂性。 先确定字面义;比喻义的解读建立在它之上时最有力。