Transcript Symbol-the word

Diction
Why to Learn Diction in Writing?
The difference between the right word
and the almost-right word is as great as
that between lightning and the lightning
bug.
“用词准确与用词几乎准确，这两者之间的差
异就如闪电与萤火虫之间的差异。”
----- Mark Twain
Teaching Objectives
The importance of how to use
suitable words in writing
Understand the levels of words
and the meaning level of words
Distinguish and learn to use
the general and specific words
Learn some Idioms
Reorganization
Teaching Contents
1
Levels
of words
2
3
4
Meaning
levels
of words
General
&
Specific
words
Idioms
Levels of the Words
词的类型
Levels of the Words
daily
conversation
Vivid and
interesting
Informal (Slang)
Frequently
Common
descriptive
used
Formal
clear
exact
For our students, what are
For
students,
the words
weour
should
not what
kind of words do we
use in writing?
often use in writing?
Common words.
slang words, dialectal words and
certain words used
by uneducated speakers
The Meaning of Words
词义
How to Translate “国家” in English?
denotative
connotative
the literal meaning or primary meaning
the feeling or ideas implied by a word
country
state
nation
land
地区, 其人口,政府
国
家
政府及政治组织
人民
比country更广泛
但更文雅更有感情色彩
country neighboring ______
 An island______;
country
 In area China is the third largest country
_____ in




the world.
nation
Chinese people is a peace-loving ______;
nations of Africa
the awakening ______
The modernization has won the support of
the whole _______.
nation
State -owned enterprises
_____
land
China is my native ______.
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
(Symbol-the word)
(what the word stands for)
The Semantic Triangle
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the
word)
(Symbol-the word)
winter
The Semantic Triangle
(what the word
stands for)
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
(Symbol-the word)
winter
(what the word stands
for)
The coldest season of
the year.
The Semantic Triangle
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
desolate, icy, bitter, barren,
snow, cold, white
(Symbol-the word)
winter
(what the word stands
for)
The coldest season of
the year.
The Semantic Triangle
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
(Symbol-the word)
(what the word stands
for)
home
The Semantic Triangle
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
(Symbol-the word)
(what the word stands for)
home
the place where one lives
The Semantic Triangle
Denotation & Connotation
(thoughts about the word)
warmth, shelter, parents,
comfort, safety
(Symbol-the word)
(what the word stands for)
home
the place where one lives
The Semantic Triangle
1. He is a _______
resolute person. Everyone likes to makes
friends with him. (stubborn/ resolute)
resolute 表示“果断的、不屈不挠的”，是褒义;
stubborn 表示“顽固的、执拗的”，是贬义.
2. I felt very sorry that I had to decline
_______his
invitation. (refuse/decline)
refuse 拒绝
decline 婉言谢绝
envious of his
3. All his friends are quite _______
opportunity to study abroad. (jealous/ envious)
jealous 嫉妒
envious 羡慕
little
small
courage
confidence
ability
wisdom
except
besides
big
large
huge
great
family
home
humble
modest
amount of money
number of people
quantity of beer
The Meaning of Words
rich in synonyms
Look up
the dictionary
with English
explanations.
different in
stylistic level,
the degree of emphasis,
emotional coloring,
tone, and
collocation(搭配)
General and Specific Words
一般词汇和 具体词汇
general words
present main idea
specific words
provide details
 I was very happy.
 I was overjoyed.
 I was very scared.
 I was terrified.
 General:
随堂练习
 I met a girl on my first day of college.
 Specific:
my first
colleges
I seatedclass,
myselfI
•Upon
…When
I went
to myclass,
first college
atsat
theinrear
the huge
hall and
theofback
of thelecture
big room
and tried
attempted
avoidBut
being
observed.
not to betoseen.
a slender
girlHowever,
sitting
a just
slim in
girlfront
who of
occupied
the seat
me turned
and immediately
smiled. She
inspoke
front ofsoftly
mine with
twisted
and
grinned.
mearound
several
times
and
She
proceeded
to engage
me inmy
a whispering
smiled.
I decided
to change
seat.
conversation numerous times during the hour.
I made a decision to change my location.
Idioms
习语
natural and idiomatic
自然地道
idioms
informal and colloquial
Do not use slang and cliches(陈词滥调)
Feel like a fish out of water
Be like a fish out of water
Meaning:
Feel uncomfortable because you are in an
unfamiliar situation.
If you feel like a fish out of water, you feel
awkward or uncomfortable because you are in an
unusual or unfamiliar situation.
Example:
I don't like going to the big parties they have.
I always feel like a fish out of water there.
What does this mean really?
Hurry up! Go faster!
And this?
Wait - Don’t give up.
And what about this one?
To discourage or disgust someone
Numbers up
Lots of idioms are about numbers. See if you can fill in the
missing numbers in these says. What do they mean?
 Dressed up to the ______
 Talking ___ to the dozen
 One in a ______
 Playing ______ fiddle
 In _______ heaven
Numbers up
Lots of idioms are about numbers. See if you can fill in the
missing numbers in these says. What do they mean?
 Dressed up to the nines 盛装出席
 At sixes and sevens with you 杂乱无章
 Talking nineteen to the dozen 喋喋不休
 One in a million 独特
 Playing second fiddle 做副手
 In seventh heaven 极快乐
Food for thought. . .
These idioms are all about food.
Can you explain what they really mean?
 piece of cake
easy
 to cook one’s goose
to wreck someone’s plans
 bite off more than one can chew
to take on more than you can handle
 go bananas
go crazy
Animal Crackers . . .
cats and dogs!
 It’s raining ____
heavy rain
 I’ve got a ____
frog in my throat.

dry or sore throat
dogs.
I will go to the_____.
Take sb to ruin/destruction
crocodile
 Those are just _________tears.
fake tears
rat
 I smell a ___.
something is suspicious
Being exact
/exactness
Diction
in a broad sense
Being concise
/conciseness
Being clear
/clearness
1. Being exact/exactness
(1) He is a bad boy.
(2) He is a naughty/spoiled/evil/ill-mannered boy.
2. Being concise (not wordy)/conciseness
(1) It was blue in color.
(2) In my opinion, I think your plan is feasible.
3. Being clear/clearness
(1) Robert Burns was a poet.
(2) Robert Burns was one of the great poets in 18th century.
Self-learning Assignment
1. Group Games：
Brainstorming the following words and try to
think of words that are more specific: good (person),
bad (person), walk, look at, angry. And then make
up a descriptive paragraph according to those
specific words. (present next class)
2. Finish the Task 3 and translate the idioms of P20.
3. Preview: Next Part Figures
of Speech