英语比喻的语篇粘合作用

比喻(metaphor隐喻,simile明喻;analogy比拟)不仅是非常重要的修辞手段,也是一种语篇粘合手段(cohesive device)。好的比喻使语言生动形象、活泼新鲜,丰富文章的表达力,增添文笔的光彩。而比喻用得好,又能起到使文章结构严谨、浑然一体的作用。比喻的修辞功能与语篇粘合作用是一个事物的两个方面。人们往往只注意前者,而很少研究后者,修辞著述一般只谈比喻的语句修饰功能,而很少从语篇的角度去探讨和论述比喻的粘合作用。试看英国哲学家罗素(Bertrand Russell)的下面一段话:Some old people are oppressed by thefear of death....The best way toovercome it----so at least it seems to me----is to make your interests graduallywider and more impersonal,until bit by bitthe walls of the ego recede,and your