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Abstract:Hyponymy deals with the relationship of semantic relation. This paper applies hyponymy to English writing to promote an article’s quality from the aspects of word diversity,semantic coherence and structural cohesion.
Keywords:Hyponymy;Structural Cohesion;English Writing
中图分类号:G633.41 文献标识码:A
1 Hyponymy
1.1 Hyponymy in Lexis Level
Hyponymy,a sense relation,deals with the relationship of semantic inclusion. According to Lyons and Jackson,the meaning of a more specific word is included in that of another more general word. These specific words are known as hyponyms. For example,sunny is hyponym of weather. Weather is the superordinate terms while sunny is the subordinate.
1.2 Hyponymy in Sentence Level
Hyponymy also can be employed in sentence level to improve coherence and readability of passages. The general sentences are usually served as the topic sentences while those specific sentences are subordinates to support the topic.
The hyponymy in the sentence level are widely used in the news writing,because almost all the broadcasting news follow the “top-down”or “inverted pyramid” structure which arranges the information according to their diminishing importance.
2 Hyponymy in English Writing
Applying different words wether general or concrete to express similar meanings can achieve vividness. Besides,the use of superordinate terms and the subordinate terms alternately also guarantees the logic and coherence of an article.
2.1 Hyponymy in Vocabulary Acquisition and Variation
Hyponymy can help to enlarge vocabulary. For example,there are various words to describe “cry”,including wail,weep,howling,sob,and shed. Besides,words variation can enhance the readability of text and improve its vividness.
E.g. Red-light running has always been ranked as a minor wrong,and ... When the violation becomes habitual,widespread and incessant ...
The violation in this sentence is the superordinate of the red-light running. Applying hyponymy can avoid the monoton and guarantee concision.
2.2 Hyponymy in the Cohesion of Sentences
The highly generalized sentences are favored to be as the topic sentence of a specific material,while the sentences involving hyponyms are better to be used as expounding sentences.
E.g. President Obama was due to announce fresh targets to cut pollution from power plants by 30% by 2020. America produces more greenhouse gases than any other country in the world... In this example,greenhouse gases is a hyponym of the superordinate word pollution. The application of hyponomy can help to improve the logic and coherence of these sentences.
2.3 Hyponymy in the Cohesion of Paragraphs
In an article,each paragraph has a particular relation with others. Applying hyponymy in the topic sentence and other sentences can help to build a more cohesive relation among all the paragraphs.
E.g. Knowledge is power,especially scientific and technological knowledge. Science and technology are the motive power of the social development. Without them human society could never have developed from primitive society to modern society.
However,social knowledge is also essential. Without it we can not understand society and don’t know the law of the social development. Thus,we are unable to govern society. Therefore,in addition to scientific knowledge,we need to master social science,philosophy,politics,history,aesthetics,etc.,...
In the above example,the first sentence in each paragraph is the topic sentence and others are the supported details. The scientific knowledge,technological knowledge and social knowledge are the hyponyms of knowledge. Social science,philosophy,politics,history and aesthetics are hyponyms of social knowledge. By categorizing the abstract concepts of knowledge into concrete concepts,the arrangement of the whole article is more logical and coherent.
2.4 Hyponymy in the Structural Arrangement
As for the textual structure,Wang Yan adopted the “triangle diagram” and “inverted-triangle diagram” to present the structural relationships between superordinate sentences and supporting sentences,as shown in the following.
Figure 1 Figure 2
The above two kinds of structures can develop the whole passage into a more compact and clearly-organized one.
E.g. One can keep fit in three way. First,pay attention to hygiene. Stay away from viruses. Stay away from had life habits,such as smoking and overworking. Second,do exercise regularly,for it can improve one’s ability to resist diseases. Last,be optimistic. One should learn to treat difficulties objectively and bravely. Healthy guarantees one’s happiness. Without a healthy body,one cannot do what he wants to,not to mentioned accomplishing his goals in life.
In the example,the last two sentences are the topic sentences while the other sentences are supported details describing the methods to keep healthy in order to persue happiness. Therefore,the whole paragragh can be displayed as an upside-down pyramid shape.
3 Conclusion
Hyponymy,a semantic relationship,not only can facilitate the accumulation of vocabulary,but promote the structure arrangement of sentence and paragraph. Moreover,the application of hyponymy can improve the rhetorical effect and the cohesion of the article and enhance its vividness and readability.
References:
[1] 胡壮麟. 语言学教程[M]. 北京:北京大学出版社,2001.
[2] 胡壮麟. 语篇的衔接与连贯[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,1994.
[3] 王寅. 语义理论与语言教学[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,2001.
[4] 张志毅,张庆云. 词汇语义学[M]. 北京:商务印书馆,2001.
Keywords:Hyponymy;Structural Cohesion;English Writing
中图分类号:G633.41 文献标识码:A
1 Hyponymy
1.1 Hyponymy in Lexis Level
Hyponymy,a sense relation,deals with the relationship of semantic inclusion. According to Lyons and Jackson,the meaning of a more specific word is included in that of another more general word. These specific words are known as hyponyms. For example,sunny is hyponym of weather. Weather is the superordinate terms while sunny is the subordinate.
1.2 Hyponymy in Sentence Level
Hyponymy also can be employed in sentence level to improve coherence and readability of passages. The general sentences are usually served as the topic sentences while those specific sentences are subordinates to support the topic.
The hyponymy in the sentence level are widely used in the news writing,because almost all the broadcasting news follow the “top-down”or “inverted pyramid” structure which arranges the information according to their diminishing importance.
2 Hyponymy in English Writing
Applying different words wether general or concrete to express similar meanings can achieve vividness. Besides,the use of superordinate terms and the subordinate terms alternately also guarantees the logic and coherence of an article.
2.1 Hyponymy in Vocabulary Acquisition and Variation
Hyponymy can help to enlarge vocabulary. For example,there are various words to describe “cry”,including wail,weep,howling,sob,and shed. Besides,words variation can enhance the readability of text and improve its vividness.
E.g. Red-light running has always been ranked as a minor wrong,and ... When the violation becomes habitual,widespread and incessant ...
The violation in this sentence is the superordinate of the red-light running. Applying hyponymy can avoid the monoton and guarantee concision.
2.2 Hyponymy in the Cohesion of Sentences
The highly generalized sentences are favored to be as the topic sentence of a specific material,while the sentences involving hyponyms are better to be used as expounding sentences.
E.g. President Obama was due to announce fresh targets to cut pollution from power plants by 30% by 2020. America produces more greenhouse gases than any other country in the world... In this example,greenhouse gases is a hyponym of the superordinate word pollution. The application of hyponomy can help to improve the logic and coherence of these sentences.
2.3 Hyponymy in the Cohesion of Paragraphs
In an article,each paragraph has a particular relation with others. Applying hyponymy in the topic sentence and other sentences can help to build a more cohesive relation among all the paragraphs.
E.g. Knowledge is power,especially scientific and technological knowledge. Science and technology are the motive power of the social development. Without them human society could never have developed from primitive society to modern society.
However,social knowledge is also essential. Without it we can not understand society and don’t know the law of the social development. Thus,we are unable to govern society. Therefore,in addition to scientific knowledge,we need to master social science,philosophy,politics,history,aesthetics,etc.,...
In the above example,the first sentence in each paragraph is the topic sentence and others are the supported details. The scientific knowledge,technological knowledge and social knowledge are the hyponyms of knowledge. Social science,philosophy,politics,history and aesthetics are hyponyms of social knowledge. By categorizing the abstract concepts of knowledge into concrete concepts,the arrangement of the whole article is more logical and coherent.
2.4 Hyponymy in the Structural Arrangement
As for the textual structure,Wang Yan adopted the “triangle diagram” and “inverted-triangle diagram” to present the structural relationships between superordinate sentences and supporting sentences,as shown in the following.
Figure 1 Figure 2
The above two kinds of structures can develop the whole passage into a more compact and clearly-organized one.
E.g. One can keep fit in three way. First,pay attention to hygiene. Stay away from viruses. Stay away from had life habits,such as smoking and overworking. Second,do exercise regularly,for it can improve one’s ability to resist diseases. Last,be optimistic. One should learn to treat difficulties objectively and bravely. Healthy guarantees one’s happiness. Without a healthy body,one cannot do what he wants to,not to mentioned accomplishing his goals in life.
In the example,the last two sentences are the topic sentences while the other sentences are supported details describing the methods to keep healthy in order to persue happiness. Therefore,the whole paragragh can be displayed as an upside-down pyramid shape.
3 Conclusion
Hyponymy,a semantic relationship,not only can facilitate the accumulation of vocabulary,but promote the structure arrangement of sentence and paragraph. Moreover,the application of hyponymy can improve the rhetorical effect and the cohesion of the article and enhance its vividness and readability.
References:
[1] 胡壮麟. 语言学教程[M]. 北京:北京大学出版社,2001.
[2] 胡壮麟. 语篇的衔接与连贯[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,1994.
[3] 王寅. 语义理论与语言教学[M]. 上海:上海外语教育出版社,2001.
[4] 张志毅,张庆云. 词汇语义学[M]. 北京:商务印书馆,2001.