Virtue and Knowledge Produce Good Writing
作者德行、學養(yǎng)深厚,作品的內(nèi)容自然就充實而有氣勢,語言表達也就能夠做到合宜?!皻狻奔嫖恼戮駳赓|(zhì)與作者人格境界而言,“言宜”則是指文辭能夠達意而且聲韻和諧。出自韓愈(768—824)《答李翊書》。韓愈志在“學古道則欲兼通其辭”,認為“氣”與“言”二者不可分割,其內(nèi)在邏輯是:作者德行、學養(yǎng)深厚,即內(nèi)在精神的充實,是作品內(nèi)容充實的前提;作者精神充實和作品內(nèi)容充實又是文章氣勢盛大、文辭合宜的前提。作者德行深厚則無雜念,學養(yǎng)則越發(fā)深厚,思維則活躍而富有激情,在寫文章時就能夠調(diào)動自己的全部學識、生活閱歷及創(chuàng)作經(jīng)驗等,因而寫出的文章也就容易做到既有氣勢又表達合宜。韓愈并不輕視語言形式,“言宜”本身也需要掌握寫作文章的規(guī)范和技巧,不過他的重點一是突出文以貫道、傳道的主張,二是強調(diào)“氣勢盛大”即主體學養(yǎng)、經(jīng)驗、識見、語言經(jīng)驗等各方面積累的重要性。作者的自身修養(yǎng)決定了作品的精神境界和氣勢,這種精神境界和氣勢可以驅(qū)動語言表達自然合宜,而且也讓讀者感覺到合宜。
First used in "A Letter of Response to Li Yi" by Han Yu (768-824), this concept means that when a writer is virtuous and well-educated, his work will be rich in content and have a powerful message with the use of appropriate language and expressions. To make writings expressive, harmoniously rhymed and inspirational, their authors should have a lofty character. Han Yu aimed to learn the ancient thoughts by gaining a full understanding of ancient texts. He believed that a strong inner aspiration and a noble character are as important as linguistic expression. This means that the author's integrity and good education are the prerequisite for writing a good article. If one has moral integrity and is free from distraction, well-educated, passionate, and has an active mind, then he can use all his knowledge, life experience and creative experience to write good articles. But this does not mean that Han Yu ignored the form of language. Appropriate language requires mastery of the rules and techniques of writing. He emphasizes, however, that writing should deliver a good message. He also holds that one should have good education, rich experience, broad knowledge, and language skills. Good self-cultivation creates an appropriate and natural form of linguistic expression, thus enhancing the writing's appeal.
引例 Citations:
◎氣盛則言之短長與聲之高下者皆宜。(韓愈《答李翊書》)
文章的氣勢很強,那么句子長短搭配和音調(diào)的抑揚頓挫自然都會恰當。
If a piece of writing has a vigorous style, the length of the sentences will be well-balanced and the choice of tone and cadence will be appropriate. (Han Yu: A Letter of Response to Li Yi)
◎《上宰相第三書》,雖少作而精心撰結(jié),氣盛言宜。(包世臣《藝舟雙楫·書韓文后上篇》)
《上宰相第三書》這篇文章,雖然篇幅短小但卻是精心撰寫的,作品內(nèi)容充實而氣勢盛大,語言表達合宜。
"The Third Letter to the Prime Minister" is short but well-written. It is rich in content and has a powerful message, and its style is appropriate. (Bao Shichen: Paired Oaks for the Boat of Art)
◎歐陽永叔始宗昌黎,其徒蘇軾、蘇轍益因師說而大其焰,要不出氣盛言宜之一途。(王禮培《小招隱館談藝錄·論歷代文派》)
從歐陽修開始宗法韓愈,到其門徒蘇軾、蘇轍則繼承師說而愈益發(fā)揚光大,其精要之處不外乎“氣盛言宜”這一宗旨。
Ouyang Xiu followed the example of Han Yu. Carrying on his ideas, his followers Su Shi and Su Zhe further developed his teachings, and their writings are all based on the principle that virtue and knowledge produce a good piece of writing. (Wang Lipei: Talks About Writing at the Xiaozhaoyin Studio)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社
責任編輯:錢耐安