首先,我们来理解speech的基本含义。从词源上看,speech源自古英语的“spraec”,与“说话”这一动作密切相关。在现代英语中,它最核心的两个含义是“说话的能力”和“正式的演讲”。前者指的是人类区别于其他生物的一种生理与认知机能,例如“The ability of speech is what makes us human.”(说话的能力使我们成为人类。)而后者则指在公共场合面对听众发表的、有准备的讲话,例如“The president delivered a powerful speech about climate change.”(总统发表了一场关于气候变化的强有力的演讲。)
在考试中,我们尤其要注意speech作为“说话的能力”时,常与动词lose、recover搭配,构成“lose the power of speech”或“recover one‘s speech”。例如:“After the accident, he temporarily lost the power of speech.”(事故后,他暂时丧失了说话能力。)而作为“演讲”时,最常见的动词搭配是deliver、make、give。例如:“She will give a speech at the graduation ceremony.”(她将在毕业典礼上发表演讲。)此外,speech还可以引申为“台词”或者“方言、口音”,但专升本考试中更侧重于前两种含义。
接下来,让我们看看几个经典例句,帮助大家在不同语境中体会这个词的用法。
例句一:Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right.(言论自由是一项基本人权。)这里speech取抽象意义,指“言论”。这是一个非常重要的固定搭配“freedom of speech”。
例句二:His speech was so boring that half the audience fell asleep.(他的演讲太无聊了,一半的听众都睡着了。)这里speech就是“演讲”的意思。
例句三:She has a slight speech impediment, but she is a very eloquent writer.(她有一点言语障碍,但她是一个非常有文采的作家。)“speech impediment”是一个固定短语,意为“言语障碍”。
例句四:After the long silence, his speech seemed strange to everyone.(在长时间的沉默之后,他的说话声对每个人来说都显得很奇怪。)这里speech指具体的说话方式或言语。
除了单数形式,我们还需要了解它的形容词形式“speechless”,意为“说不出话的,哑口无言的”,常用来形容因震惊或感动而无法言语的状态。例如:“I was speechless with anger.”(我气得说不出话来。)另一个重要派生词是“speechify”,这是一个略带贬义的动词,意为“高谈阔论”或“演说”,但在考试中较少出现,大家只需了解即可。
make a speech: 发表演讲
deliver a speech: 发表演讲(更正式)
give a speech: 发表演讲
speech contest: 演讲比赛
speech therapist: 言语治疗师
figure of speech: 修辞手法(这是重点,容易在词汇题中出现)
特别提醒,“figure of speech”并不是“演讲的形象”,而是语言学中的“修辞格”,例如隐喻、明喻、拟人等。例如:“ ’The world is a stage‘ is a common figure of speech.”(“世界是一个舞台”是一个常见的修辞手法。)这个短语在考试中经常作为干扰项出现,请大家务必牢记。
现在,我们进入试题解析部分。让我们看一道自考英语专升本真题中的典型题目。
真题一:选择题
The professor ______ a speech on the importance of lifelong learning at the conference yesterday.
A. told
B. spoke
C. delivered
D. talked
解析:这道题考查固定搭配和动词辨析。四个选项中,只有“delivered”可以与“a speech”构成固定搭配“deliver a speech”。A选项“told”通常用于“tell a story”或“tell somebody something”;B选项“spoke”是不及物动词,后面需要加介词(如spoke about),不能说“spoke a speech”;D选项“talked”同样是不及物动词。因此,正确答案是C。
真题二:完形填空(节选)
Many people feel nervous before they have to make a public ______. However, with practice, they can become confident speakers.
A. conversation
B. speech
C. dialogue
D. discussion
真题四:翻译题(英译汉)
The candidate’s speech was full of figures of speech, which made it more vivid and persuasive.
参考译文:这位候选人的演讲充满了修辞手法,这使其更加生动且富有说服力。
重点解析:这句话中出现了两个考点:“figures of speech”和“persuasive”。“figures of speech”不能直译为“演讲的形象”,而是“修辞手法”。“persuasive”意为“有说服力的”。整句翻译时要注意通顺。
真题五:阅读理解题(节选)
In the article, the author argues that freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to spread false information. He points out that while everyone has the right to express their opinions, this right comes with responsibilities. The case of a news reporter who spread rumors is used as an example to illustrate the limitations of speech.
问题:What is the main idea of this paragraph?
A. Freedom of speech has no limits.
B. False information should be protected.
C. Freedom of speech is not absolute.
D. Reporters can say anything.
解析:段落中心句是第一句“freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to spread false information”,即言论自由并不意味着传播虚假信息的自由。后面又提到“this right comes with responsibilities”以及“limitations”。因此,段落主旨是言论自由是有边界的,并非绝对的。A选项“没有限制”与原文相反;B选项“虚假信息应受保护”错误;D选项“记者可以随意说”过于绝对。正确答案是C。
在备考过程中,建议大家将“speech”及其相关词组整理到一个专门的小本子上。每天花几分钟大声朗读下列例句,形成语感:
I am nervous about giving a speech.
Her speech was interrupted by applause.
He has a speech to prepare for the meeting.
The teacher asked us to write a speech on environmental protection.
最后,我们来做一个综合听力与写作的练习(虽然是读写考试,但理解后输出更重要)。请大家尝试用今天学到的词汇和短语完成一个短段落,主题是“The power of speech”。例如:
“Speech is not just about making sounds. It is a powerful tool that can inspire, persuade, and unite people. A good speech can change the way we think about the world. However, with great power comes great responsibility. We must always use our freedom of speech wisely and avoid spreading harm.”
同学们,单词“speech”的讲解就到这里。它不是一个复杂的词汇,但它的用法非常灵活,且在考试中出现的频率极高。请大家课后认真复习上述例句和真题解析,尤其要牢记“deliver a speech”、“figure of speech”、“speechless”以及“freedom of speech”这四个核心考点。在接下来的学习中,我们会继续为大家剖析其他高频词汇。如果在学习中遇到任何疑问,欢迎在评论区留言或者私信我们的老师。撷墨教育,致力于让每一位自考学子都能轻松过关,我们下期再见。[/md]
该短语是高频考点,也是易错点。请务必记住:它并非“演讲的形象”,而是修辞格。常见的如“simile(明喻)”、“metaphor(隐喻)”、“personification(拟人)”等。在阅读理解中,若作者使用“figure of speech”,往往是为了增强语言的表现力,这常成为修辞手法分析题的考点。
三、关于派生词“speechless”的用法
“speechless”表示“因强烈情绪而说不出话”,通常搭配介词“with”,如“speechless with anger / shock / joy”。注意,它不用于描述生理性失语(后者用“lose the power of speech”)。真题中常将其作为形容词辨析题出现,请务必掌握。
四、真题解析的延伸思考
真题一考查“deliver a speech”,这是最核心的动宾搭配。请同学们自行拓展:除了“deliver”,还可使用“give”、“make”,但“deliver”更正式,常用于书面语。真题五的阅读理解,其主旨是“言论自由有边界”,这与“freedom of speech”的常考内涵一致——它并非绝对权利,而是伴随责任。建议同学们在写作中,也能运用这一辩证思维。
五、课后练习建议
请同学们尝试用“speech”及其相关短语,写一段关于“公共演讲重要性”的短文。注意使用“deliver a speech”、“figure of speech”、“speechless”等词汇,并尝试区分“speech”与“address”的语域差异。完成后,可自行朗读,培养语感。