实用英语写作技巧转换词语

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

实用英语写作技巧转换词语

　　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）