主位与语篇的衔接和理解探微

On the Role of Theme in Textual Cohesion and Interpretation

衔接是一种语义关系,同时也是语篇发展的有力手段。主位,作为信息的起点,承载着重要的语篇功能;主位的不同选择在很大程度上决定了语篇的几个基本衔接方式:话题同一型,话题发展型,话题转换型,话题突出型,进而达到语篇的连贯。此外,主位的不同选择也会影响到读者对语篇的理解:合适的主位,有利于读者掌握作者所要表达的真正意图;反之,则会误导读者,甚至让读者不知所云。

Cohesion is a semantic relationship and a powerful approach to textual development. Theme, as the starting point of a message, is the carrier of several textual functions. Different choice of theme can create four basic modes of textual cohesion： topic maintenance, topic progression, topic transference and topic protruding, all of which can greatly contribute to textual coherence. In addition, different choice of theme can affect the reader＇s interpretation of a text in that an appropriate theme can help him/her understand what the writer really wants to convey, otherwise the reader may be either misled or confused.