论英语被动语态的语用功能

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论英语被动语态的语用功能

作者：关瑾

来源：《科教导刊》2015年第14期

论英语被动语态的语用功能
On Pragmatic Functions of English Passive Voice
GUAN Jin
（Guangdong University of Foreign Studies， Guangzhou， Guangdong 510420）
Abstract Passive voice is used when the doer of an action is unknown or when the target of an
action should be highlighted. The present study will analyze the pragmatic functions of passive voice
through the selected examples from authentic discourse.
Key words grammar; passive voice; pragmatic functions
中图分类号：H315 文献标识码：A DOI：.2015.05.060
1 Introduction
Literature on the studies concerning passive voice demonstrates that passive voice has been
investigated from different angles with different focuses in traditional grammar and functional
grammar. Traditional grammar examines the passive voice mostly from a syntactic perspective while
functional grammar concentrates on the information flow of active and passive voice. The present
study will analyze the pragmatic functions of passive voice through the selected examples from
authentic discourse.
2 Functions of passive voice
2.1 To put the information focus on actions and processes
By using the passive voice， the information focus can be shifted from the actor of an action in
the active voice to the action itself. The shift， as a consequence， augments the objectivity of the
information conveyed. Therefore， the passive voice is universally used in scientific or technical
writings， where the vital information is the procedures or principles rather than the doer of an
action.？For example，
“Blood was drawn？from the subject using an 18 gauge Vacutainer needle taken from the
antecubital space （inside of elbow） into 10 mL vacuum vials. The Vacutainer vials contained
sodium heparin as an anticoagulant. The 10 mL of blood was diluted by addition of 40 mL of DI water