在《试谈“零冠词+单形专有名词”结构 (一)》中已经讨论过“零冠词+表一个民族的个别成员的专有名词”结构与“零冠词+带称号的专有名词”结构。
在这里我们愿意谈一谈“零冠词+表称呼语 (address)的专有名词”结构。最为普通的表称呼语的专有名词自然是姓名了。在熟人之间可直呼教名,如:
(1)John , you are wanted on the phone.
(2)Come into the garden, Maud .
(3)Jack , pay attention.
(4)You are a strange man, Arther .
(5)Come, Ruth , give me your hand.
(6)These, Sarah , are very good.
以前直呼姓氏的情况也不罕见,且从一著名英国小说《法国中尉的女人》 (The French Lieutenant's Woman )摘录一二例如下:
(7)Grogan , would you have had me live a lifetime of pretense?
(8)I am a doctor, Smithson .
但现今这样直呼姓氏的情况已不多,只在表军队、学校、监狱等时尚可听到。下面一例中的 Smith 就是一囚犯的姓:
(9)Smith ! ...Hands out of pockets in the cells!
有一些表示家人的名词也应属于专有名词一类,所以这种名词之前亦须用零冠词,现举几例如下:
(10)Dad , Mom has such a load. (亦可说 Daddy)
(11)I just don't know how to do it, mom . (或 Mommy, 皆是美国用语,英国用语为 mum 或 mummy)
(12)Thank you, Uncle .
(13)Take me swimming, Auntie . (或称呼 Aunt; auntie 亦可拼作 aunty)
除上述表家人的称呼语外,还有 mother, mum, grandfather (或 grandpa),grandmother (或 grandma, granny)等。
nurse 等亦可看作家人,用零冠词,如:
(14)Where's Nurse ?
一些表示尊称的名词,如 sir, madam, mister, miss, missus 等,亦须用零冠词,因为它们也应被看作是专有名词,实例如:
(15)Anything else, sir ?
(16)Did you order a taxi, madam ?(请注意 madam 在美国英语中常被缩略为 ma'am)
(17)The doctor's coming, miss .
(18)Whoever pulled that trigger, missus , it was God's hand aimed the gun.
有些表职位的名词也可被当作尊称使用,如:
(19)I'm feeling much better, Doctor .
(20)— Carry on, Sergeant .
— Yes, Colonel .
(21)That's all I know, Inspector .
此外还有 professor, general 等,神职有 father (神父),sister (修女),bishop, vicar 等。表职业的用零冠词的称呼语就更多了。这种称呼语并不是尊称,只可在有关的场合中使用,如:
(22)Waiter , do you serve crabs?
(23)Nurse , I want you. (nurse 在此意指“护士”)
(24)Guard ! (意指“警卫员”)
(25)Baker !
(26)Operator , could you put through a call to New York, please?
常用作称呼语的表职业的名词还有 driver, cabbie, barmaid (英国用语),bartender (美国用语),attendent, conductor, officer 等。
将普通名词用作称呼语,亦可看作专有名词,须用零冠词,如:
(27)Come here, boy !
(28)Hasen took a long gulp of his drink and sighed contentedly. “Man , I needed this,” he said.
(29)Hi, twin .
(30)Here's looking at you, baby . (baby 在此为美俚,意指女人)
此外还有许多,如 brother, sister, girl, lady, mate (英国用语),buddy (美国用语), guy, son 等。注意这些称呼语都是非正式用语,不可用于正式场合,也不可用于不太熟悉的人。
也应注意有不少用作称呼语的普通名词具有褒义,如 dear, darling, dearest, love, honey (主要用于美国),friend, sweetheart 等,实例:
(31)We mustn't be late, dear , must we?
(32)Don't be silly, darling .
(33)Thanks a lot, love .
(34)Gee, honey , that's a swell dress you've got on!
非指人的普通名词用作称呼语时,亦须用零冠词,如:
(35)Hello, Exchange ?
(36)Taxi !
(37)Hoy-a-hoy! Gate !
“零冠词+称呼语”结构还可有修饰语,如:
(38)What would you like, Shirley dear ?
(39)Young man , give me a hand.
最后,请注意:
1. 在美国, miss, ma'am, mister 和 sir 较为普通,而在英国,则用得不那么广泛。
2. teacher 作为称呼语是中国用法,在英美等国是不用的。
3. 在信件中常用“Dear+姓名”结构(如 Dear Jane),但在非正式信件(如便条)中可省去 dear。
4. 对陌生人一般不用称呼语,要交谈时可以用 Excuse me.,美国人也用 I beg your pardon.。说 Hey 则是很不礼貌的。
5. 对 King 的称呼须用 Your Majesty,对具有 duke 等爵位的人须用 Your Grace 或 Sir。对有爵位的贵妇应用 your ladyship。
6. 称呼语还常用作 you 的同位语,如:
(40)You fool ! (亦可说 Fool you!)
(41)You pig !
(42)You idiot ; do you know what peril you stand in?
(43)You, Robert , will have to work harder.
7. 称呼语的位置可在句首、句中或句末。位于句首者如上述例 (1)、(3)等,位于句中者如上述例 (5)、(6)等,位于句末者如上述例 (2)、(4)等。
8. 表家人的称呼语可以变为第三人称,如:
(44)Father says we mustn't.
(45)Give it to Mother .
(46)Please tell cook to make some coffee for me.
9. 感叹语中的呼唤语也常用零冠词,如:
(47)Boy ! what a game!
(48)Fool ! Coward!
(49)Annoying man ! He was arrogant enough already.
10. 下面一句中其后没有逗号的 Mary 不是称呼语,而是祈使句的主语:
(50)Mary come here. (正如 You come here.中的 you 不是称呼语而是祈使句主语一样)
11. 下面一句中的 God 也不是称呼语,注意句中的动词 bless 是虚拟式:
(51)God bless you. (= May God bless you.)
12. 关于称呼语的大小写的问题,一般皆可以从上述例句中得到答案。但请注意有不少称呼语既可大写,亦可小写,如表家人的 father, mother, uncle 等。表职位的称呼语亦如此。但表职业的 waiter, driver, operator 等则应小写。
13. 顺便提一下,表集体的单形或复形称呼语亦须用零冠词,如:
(52)Platoon , attention!
(53)Workers of all countries, unite!
