2009 (147)
2014 (97)
有了一個吸睛的標題,有了一段誘人的開篇,作文已經成功了一半。Well begun is half done.
但也僅僅一半而已(Half done,就是夾生飯的意思)。
好的作文,要達到一種流水行雲的通暢,又給人一種字字珠璣的驚喜。
還是回到最基礎:準確用好每一個字。
有個作家曾經誇張其詞地強調準確用字的重要性:每一個動作隻有一個動詞可以準確地形容。
如何找到並使用這個詞,是很考功力的苦差。
舉例:
英語中“走路”(Walk),不同的走路姿態和速度都有不同的用詞:
Cree,patrol,saunter,stride, tread,trudge, strut, shuffle, plod, march, loiter, prowl ,stagger , stroll, run, meander, toddle, tramp, move, ambulate, perambulate, step, pace, tip-toe, roam, ramble, promenade, slide, dash…….
你好好地“看看”(Look at) 人家是怎樣“看東西”的:
Gaze , stare, leer, scan, watch, peep, glance, ……
你會不會好好“說話”(Say),就看你能否善用下列的單詞:
Whisper, murmur, grumble, stutter, declare,, shout, chat , ……
你別光在那裏“傻笑”(grin):
Beam,snicker,giggle,chuckle,grin,sneer,smirk,smile, ……
注意下列段落中的斜體粗字:
It was a wild place. Peter and his wife and his three children were exposed to a furious wind and driving rain. Down below, the sea boiled over the rocks, and above them crouched the huge black shape of the Crag. The wind tore at Peter’s coat and blew his usually immaculate hair over his eyes. There was a sudden clap of thunder and a white flash of lightening directly over their heads. A real storm had begun and Joe, suddenly cold and frightened, began to cry. Peter turned and went back to the car. He lifted Joe in, got in himself and started the engine. Then he put the car into gear and let in the clutch. Nothing happened. The wheels span in the mud and the engine roared, but the car wouldn’t move either forward or backward.
中國唐代詩人賈島初次參加科舉考試,往京城裏。一天他在驢背上想到了兩句詩:“鳥宿池邊樹,僧推月下門。”又想用“敲”字(來替換“推”字),反複思考沒有定下來,便在驢背上(繼續)吟誦,伸出手來做著推和敲的動作。看到的人感到很驚訝。當時韓愈臨時代理京城的地方長官,他正帶車馬出巡,賈島不知不覺,直走到(韓愈儀仗隊的)第三節,還在不停地做(推敲)的手勢。於是一下子就被(韓愈)左右的侍從推 搡到京兆尹的麵前。賈島詳細地回答了他在醞釀的詩句,用“推”字還是用“敲”字沒有確定,思想離開了眼前的事物,不知道要回避。韓愈停下車馬思考了好一 會,對賈島說:“用‘敲’字好,因為月夜訪友,即使友人家門沒有閂,也不能莽撞推門,敲門表示你是一個懂得禮貌的人;更能襯托出月夜的寧靜,讀起來也響亮些。”
古人尚且如此,在互聯網時代,“推敲”並非難事:“推特”到朋友圈問問,或者“敲鍵盤”百度一下,什麽字一下就到眼前來。
寫文章,就是要對文字有一種鍥而不舍的“推敲“ 精神。