第三十四单元 转换词语Transitional Words and Phrases

    34.1 Introduction

    In the writing of English compositions，we have to use transitional words or phrases in order to make logical connections between individual sentences and paragraphs as well as enhance the overall coherence of an essay.Otnerwise，the paragraph or the essaywill be loosely connected.To see the difference，let's compare the following two versions of a paragraph：

    （1）

    Speaking and writing are different in many ways.Speech depends on sounds.Writing uses written symbols.Speech developed about 500，000 years ago.Written language is a comparatively recent development.It was invented only about six thousand years ago.Speech is usually Informal.The word choice in writing is often relatively formal.Pronunciation and accent are ignored in writing.A standard diction and spelling system prevails in the writtenlanguage of most countries.Speech relies on gesture，loudness，and the rise and fall of the voice.Writing lacks gesture，loudness，and the rise and fall of the voice.Careful speakers and writers are aware of the difference.

    （2）

    Speaking and writing are different in many ways.Speech depends on sounds；writing，on the other hand，uses written symbols. Speech was developed about 500，000 years ago，but written language is a comparatively recent development，invented only about six thousand years ago.Speech is usually informal，while the word choice of writing，by contrast，is often relatively formal.Although pronunciation and accent are ignored in writing，a standard diction and spelling system prevails in the written language of most countries.Speech relies on gesture，loudness，and the rise and fall of the voice，but writing lacks these features.Careful speakers and writers are aware of the differences.

    34.2 Analysis of the above two versions

    In paragraph（1），almost all connections are missing.Therefore，it is rather difficult for us to tell in how many ways speaking and writing are different.In paragraph（2），however，by using the six comparsion and contrast transitions，“on the other hand”，“but”，“while”，“by contrast”and“although”，we can easily identify that speaking and writing are different in six aspects.

    34.3 常用的转换词语类型（Types of Commonly Used Transitional Words or Phrases）

    1）Listing列举

    first，second，third

    firstly，secondly，thirdly

    first，furthermore，finally

    in the first place，in the second place，finally

    last but not least

    first and most important

    to begin with，next，then，finally

    the former…the latter the first step，the second step，the

    next step

    2）Illustrating（giving examples）说明（举例）

    for example（f.e.）                           including

    for instance（i.d.）                            mainly

    namely                                                 such as

    3）Emphasizing强调

    obviously                                    certainly

    undoubtedly                                especially

    surely                                         above     all

    indeed                                        most      important of    all

    in                                               fact most       importantly

    very                                           likely

    4）Paralleling并列

    or            that is，that's to say           not only…but（also）

    and          in other words                    both…and                     as well as

    neither…nor                                      either…or

    5）Adding补充

    also（too）           gain                      furthermore

    further                  moreover              what is more

    then                      in addition             besides

    as                         well（as）