比较视野中的科学散文及美国科学散文概述

A Comparative Overview of Science Writing and American Science Writing

科学散文是科学和文学的成功联姻,包含自然散文,是科普文的精华。从形式上看,它属于非虚构的散体文学,语言平易明晰、不乏诗意、颇有趣味;从内容上看,它主要述说科学各个领域的知识、科学家做科研的故事,以及与科技运用有关的故事,蕴涵着较为深刻的哲理。美国科学散文是源于17世纪初、形成于20世纪上半叶、繁盛于二战后的文学流派,既有较短的科学随笔(小品),又有较长的大部头科学散文和科学报告文学,创作主体主要包括有文学才华的科学家以及文学素养和科学素养俱佳的新闻记者。美国当代科学散文经典迭出,其作品的语言通俗易懂,样式和风格均不拘一格,达到了较高的文学水准,既向大众展演科学多个领域的知识和科学思维方式,又给人以种种启迪和智慧,体现了美、真、善的完美融合。这些对我国方兴未艾的科学散文的创作具有重要启迪意义。

Science writing, which bridges science and literature, popularizes science with literary charms. As a genre of literary non-fiction, often written in engagingly lucid prose, not necessarily prosaic, it transmits a broad variety of scientific knowledge and tells inspiring stories about scientists at work or the application of science and technology. American science writing, which originated in the early 17 th century, emerged in the first half of the 20 th century, and prospered after the Second World War, covers literary science non-fiction and science journalism, which are comparatively long, as well as science essays, which are relatively short. Major American science writers are either scientists with literary talents or journalists with both literary talents and scientific literacy. After the Second World War, there have emerged in the U. S. a stream of excellent science writings accessible in language and diverse in style. Reaching a higher literary and scientific level, those works provide illuminating examples for the emerging science writing in contemporary China.