从元语言视角看《京华烟云》中女性形象的塑造_英语论文

An Analysis of Female’s Portrayal in Moment in Peking from the Metalingual Perspective 

摘要

元语言是指用来指称或描写对象语言的语言。在叙事小说中，元语言的应用不可或缺，“元语言评论”是指叙事行为层面的隐含作者的评论。《京华烟云》是林语堂先生的代表作之一，文中塑造了很多鲜明的女性形象。本文以《京华烟云》为例，用定性分析的方法探讨作者如何运用元语言手段塑造小说中的女性形象。元语言手段在叙事小说中具有解释和评价功能，使小说中的人物形象更加生动具体，令读者信服。此外，对元语言评论的分析也有助于读者了解作者对人物形象的态度。

关键词  元语言 元语言评论 叙事 女性形象 

Abstract

Metalanguage is a kind of language used to refer to or describe the object language. It is indispensable in narrative novels. Metalingual comments refer to the implicit author’s comment in narration. “Moment in Peking” is one of the masterpiece written by Mr. Lin Yutang, who creates a lot of vivid female images in it. This paper, taking “Moment in Peking” as an example, discusses how the author uses metalingual devices to shape the female characters by using qualitative analysis. The use of metalanguage which has the function of interpreting and evaluating makes the characters in the novel more vivid, concrete, and convince readers. In addition, in the process of analyzing, readers learn the author’s attitude toward women at that time. 

Keywords  metalanguage   metalingual comment  narration  female character       

Contents

1  Introduction 1

2  Literature Review 3

2.1   Studies on Metalanguage 3

2.1.1 The concept and function of metalanguage 3

2.1.2 Metalanguage and narrative novel 4

2.2  Studies on Moment in Peking 4

2.2.1 Female image in Moment in Peking 4

2.2.2 Views on women in Moment in Peking 5

2.3 Summary 6

3  Research Design 6

3.1   Research Questions 6

3.2   Identification of Metalingual Devices  6

4  Metalingual Analysis of Females’ Image in Moment in Peking 9

4.1   Metalingual Comments in Narration: Implicit Metalanguage vs Explicit Metalanguage 9

4.2   Metalingual Comments on Narration 11

Conclusion 13

Acknowledgements 15

References 16