含而不露的 Metaphor(隐喻) 2、含而不露的 Metaphor(隐喻) Metaphor(汉译名为“隐喻” 或“暗喻” ),也是一种比喻,它不用比喻词,直接把甲事物(喻体)当作乙事物(本体)来描述,其比喻关系隐含在句意中,从而更生动、更深刻地说明事理,增强语言的表现力。 Webster’s New World Dictionary 的解释是:“a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another” 这个解释的意思是说,隐喻是一种隐含着比喻的修辞格,他通常的基本用法是,表述某一事物的词或短语被用来表述另外的一种事物。由于比喻是隐含的,决定了它的本体与喻体的关系必然十分紧密。与 simile 相比较,不但不需要 as, like 之类的比喻词,有时甚至可以连本体也不出现。基于这种情况,有些词典或著作常常对 metaphor和 simile 同时论述,称之为“浓缩的明喻(a compressed or condensed simile)” 。如 A Dictionary of Literary Terms 对 Metaphor 的定义就是如此,“Metaphor: A figure of speech in which one thing is described in terms of another. The basic figure in poetry. A comparison is usually implicit; whereas in simile it is explicit.” 下面用实例对这两种修辞格做一比较: 1a. Life is like an isthmus between two eternities. (simile) 生活像永恒的生死两端之间的峡道。 (明喻) 1b. Life is an isthmus between two eternities. (metaphor) 生活是永恒的生死两端之间的峡道。(隐喻) 2a. Happiness is like sunshine: it is made up of very little beams. (simile) 幸福像阳光,它由非常细小的光速构成。(明喻) 2b. The sunshine of life is made up of very little beams. (metaphor) 幸福的阳光由非常细小的光速构成。(隐喻) Metaphor 在英语里运用极为广泛、频繁。请看下面几例: Police w ork on inner city streets is a domestic Vietnam, a dangerous no-win struggle fought by confused, misdirected and unappreciated troops. ( Gordon Witkin ) 市中心贫民区的治安工作是一场国内的越南战争,有一支思想混乱、指挥失灵、无人赏识的部队进...