一、問題與分析
學生論文“致謝”寫作時存在的問題主要表現在以下三個方面。
1.對象不明。例如:
i am grateful tomy parents, without their support, i cannotfinish my thesis. i am also thankful to all my classmates andteachers, without their encouragement, i cannotgetdown towri瞭ing the thesis. and finally iwant to thank the foreign languagesdepartmentofxxx university forprovidingme a computer to typeand print outmy thesis.
從對象分析,該“致謝”儘管提到了父母、同學和老師,但排名先後順序不當,而對導師(supervisor)的指導卻隻字不提。
看來,學生還不清楚“致謝”的主要對象應該是誰。
2.文體混亂。例如:
itwas really a laborious task to accomplishmy thesis. manypeople gaveme support and help in the process ofwriting the pa瞤er. i’d like first to givemy gratitude tomy dear teacher, pro.fxxx who generously gaveme her kind help and instructions dur瞚ng thewhole process ofmy paper-writing. then i’d like to givemymany thanks tomy classmateswho helpedme a lotwithmy in瞗ormation collecting and paper-polishing.
從文體上分析,此“致謝”混用了正式文體和非正式文體。
如laborious, gratitude屬正式文體語言,短語a lot和縮合詞i’d屬非正式文體語言。另外在此用dear teacher來表示“導師”也不當或欠妥。可見學生尚未掌握“致謝”寫作的文體。
3.內容牽強。例如:
iwould like to thankmy supervisor, mrs. xxx who helpedme draw an outline of the thesis and correctmy mistakes in thethesis. also iwant to thank allmy teachers. i learned a lot fromthem, notonly the knowledge butalso theworking attitude. more瞣ver, i thankmy classmates aswel.l during the studywe becamegood friends, and spenthappy time. and finally i am grateful tomy parents, without their support, i cannotaccomplishmy study.
從內容來看,本“致謝”除第一句外,其他句子都與撰寫論文無關,這表明學生不知道“致謝”內容實質是什麼。
二、解決對策
在對以上所存在問題的分析過程中,筆者對論文“致謝”的寫作也進行了一些研究。《英語科研論文寫作概要》一書中這樣指出:“in western academic circles, there are strict con瞯entions aboutwhat should be put in such an acknowledgement,and theway in which it should be written.”[1]由此可見,“致謝”寫作是有一定規定的,因循慣例是關鍵,也是解決“致謝”寫作問題的對策。具體對策有以下三點:
1. 明確“致謝”的對象
《英語科研論文寫作概要》一書中還指出:”generallyspeaking, thanks are rendered only to those who have helped thewriter academically….”[2]。具體說來,“致謝的對象是在研究過程以及在論文的寫作過程中、對作者的研究和成文起了一定的指導、幫助、支持和鼓勵作用的人員。”[3]由此看來,英語專業學士學位論文“致謝”的對象應主要是對論文進行指導的導師,同時包括對論文提出過建議或意見的教師、同學和朋友,以及對論文寫作提供具體幫助的機構和關心論文的作者家人等。
2. 採用“致謝”寫作的文體
“畢業論文或學士論文是一種研究性論文( research pa瞤er)。它的語氣、格調和格式不同於非正式文體……畢業論文是一種正規作文,必須遵循正規作文的規範。”[4]英語畢業論文屬研究性論文,在寫作上理應採用正式文體,“致謝”的文體也在其中,包括宜用學術性辭彙、採用單個動詞、使用單詞的全拼形式、多用平行句子。例如:i also extend my sincere gratitude to professorxxx for hisconstant support throughoutmywork on this thesis and forhis in瞗ormed guidance and advice.
本句中使用的學術性辭彙有extend, sincere gratitude和informed guidance,這些辭彙的使用可使“致謝”嚴謹、莊重。
i am most grateful to my supervisor professor xxx withoutwhose support and patience this thesiswould not have been com瞤leted.