文字的不同“叙事运动中的意义”一种被忽略的文学表意现象

Same words generating dual or multiple meanings in different narrative movements:An overlooked aspect of literary signification

长期以来,中外学界均聚焦于叙事作品中的情节发展。然而,在不少叙事作品中,情节发展的背后还存在隐性进程,两者的内部还可能含有并列前行的分支。这些不同的叙事运动构成不同的表意轨道,文字在其中可能会表达两种或多种字面、隐含和象征意义。我们不妨将此类意义称为"叙事运动中的意义"。文字的不同"叙事运动中的意义"相互冲突、相互制衡又相互补充,产生文学作品特有的矛盾张力和语义密度,联手表达出作品丰富的主题内涵,塑造出双重甚或多重人物形象,邀请读者做出复杂的反应。本文以所选四则短篇小说的标题和正文中的相关文字为例,来说明这种被前人忽略的文学表意现象,指出这种现象对文体学的挑战,并提出相关应对措施。

Ever since Aristotle,in investigating narrative fiction,critics have focused on the plot development.But in many works,there exists a covert progression behind the plot development,each sometimes containing its own parallel branches.These different narrative movements constitute different trajectories of signification,in which words tend to take on dual or even multiple literal,implied,or symbolic meanings.We may call such meanings 'meanings generated in narrative movement.'The different meanings generated in the different narrative movements contradict,condition,and complement each other,giving rise to much tension and semantic density.They join hands in conveying the rich thematic significance of the work and in presenting the complex images of the characters,which invite complicated response from the readers.Taking four short stories as examples,the present study investigates this previously neglected aspect of literary signification,and points out the challenge it presents to stylistic analysis as well as ways to meet the challenge.