Irony, climax and anticlimax

– 你可以一时欺骗所有的人，也可以永远欺骗一部分人，但决不可 能永远欺骗所有的人。
按时间的先后顺序排列
• I came. I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)
– 我来了，我扫视一切，我征服一切。
• Threaten him, imprison him, torture him, kill him: you will not induce him to betray his country.
因语出有典
Allusion
Irony 反语
• A figure of speech in which the intended meaning is the opposite of that expressed by the words used; usually taking the form of sarcasm or ridicule in which laudatory expressions are used to imply condemnation or contempt. --- Oxford English Dictionary
• Irony的最大特点是：用正面的话表达反面 的意思，即反义正说，贬话褒说。 • 反语可以用于讽刺，但并非是讽刺都属反 语，也并非所有的反语都有讽刺意味。 • 在一定的语言环境中，反语比正说、直说 更有力量，更带强烈的感情色彩。
反语的应用
• The virtuous, dignified bishop has four illegitimate children.
– 英迪拉· 甘地总理从一开始就决定采用强硬手段……这场危机绝不 会发展成为印度的水ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้事件。
• What will it be when the increase of yearly production is brought to a complete stop? Here is the vulnerable place, the heel of Achilles, for capitalistic production.
– 失去财产的人损失很大，失去朋友的人损失更大，失去勇气的人 损失一切。
• You can fool all the people some of the time; and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. (Abraham Lincoln)
– 那个品德高尚、威严的主教有四个私生子。
• What a noble illustration of the tender laws of his favored country! --- they let the paupers go to sleep.
– 他亲爱的祖国有着多么温柔体贴的法律，其高 尚仁慈的例证是他们让穷人睡觉。
– 威胁他，监禁他，拷打他，处死他：这些都不能使他 背叛自己的国家。
• I was born an American: I live an American; I shall die an American. （Daniel Webster）
• We are lucky. It’ s the other side on the thirteenth of December. That makes us feel real good.
– 我们很幸运。12月13日到彼岸。那使我们觉得 真愉快。
• He was such a marvellous teacher that whenever he recognized a spark of genius you could be sure he’ d water it.
– 此人被过往的出租车撞倒。很明显，他为了绕过梯子，离开了人 行道才上车道的。
• ― You want your pound of flesh, don’ t you? ‖
– ―你要逼债，是吗？”
• Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to go heavyhanded from the outset…This crisis would never grow into an Indian Watergate.
Allusion 引喻/典故
• 作为一种常用辞格，Allusion指人们在口头 或书面表达时引用出自神话、童话、传说、 寓言、民俗、宗教、文学名著的带典故性 的词语，并使之与叙述或论说融为一体、 适当运用Allusion可做到事出有典，言之有 据，使表达简洁、凝练、精辟、生动，从 而增强说服力与感染力。
– 他是一个了不起的教师，如果他发现了一点天 才的火花，你可以相信他一定会把它浇灭。
• The public is wonderfully tolerant—it forgives everything except genius. (Oscar Wilde)
– 世人是宽容得惊人的——除天才之外，他们宽 恕一切。
• He is one of those wise philanthropists who, in a time of famine, would vote for nothing but a supply of toothpicks.
– 他是当饥荒之际只会建议供应牙签的那一类聪 明的慈善家之一。
Irony与innuendo, sarcasm的异同
• Book is a vehicle of learning and enlightenment, an open sesame to countless joys and sorrows.
– 书籍是传播知识、启迪智慧的工具，是开启无穷的欢乐与悲愁之 门的秘诀。
• Research, from being the Cinderella of industry, would become its favoured child.
– 她妹妹挑了一块最大的蛋糕，她就讽刺地说： “你是何等的不自私哟？”
• Magnus: Frankly, I have been accustomed to regard your President as a statesman whose mouth was the most efficient part of his head. He cannot have thought of it (the idea) himself. who suggested it to him?
• Laws are like cobwebs, which catch small flies, but let wasp and hornets break through.
– 法律像蜘蛛网一样，能捉住小苍蝇，却让胡蜂、 黄蜂钻过去了。
• “How unselfish you are!‖ She said in sarcasm as her sister took the biggest piece of cake.
– 要是每年的生产完全停止增长，情形又将怎样呢？这正是资本主 义生产易受伤害的地方，它的阿基里斯之踵。
Allusion & antonomasia
• Antonomasia 换称
– 普通名词代替专有名词：The Big Apple (a popular name for New York City) – 专有名词代替普通名词： Romeo (a devoted lover)
– If people keep telling you to quit smoking cigarettes, don’t listen … They’re probably trying to trick you into living.
• Sarcasm是指用尖酸刻薄的讥讽话，即可用 反语、比喻，也可用直叙法对个人的缺点， 过失或社会的丑恶现象和黑暗面进行讽刺、 挖苦，常是有意伤害他人的感情，所以含 有相当强的贬义。
– It’s rather cold today, isn’t it? – But the weatherman said it would be warm. He must take his readings in a bathroom!
– I hear he makes rather long speeches. – Yes, he likes to hear his own voice.
Oxymoron, paradox, syllepsis or zeugma?
1. This suspense is terrible ,I hope it will last. 2. There was a audible stillness in which the common voice sounded strange. 3. The newly-elected leader took the oath and his seat. 4. Would you have the cruel kindness to give me a quick death? 5. Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust. 6. His fearful cries filled the room and the hearts of those who watched. 7. A lover of peace emerged as a magnificent leader of war.
按语意的轻重顺序排列
• To acquire wealth is difficult, to preserve it more difficult, but to spend it wisely most difficult.