8. 低调陈述
UNDERSTATEMENT
1. 定义
Understatement: It is a restrained statement in ironic contrast to what might be said, a studied avoidance of explicit emphasis or exaggeration (WED); A statement which fails below the truth or fact (OED).
    Understatement (低调陈述)是恰与Hyperbole (夸张)相对的一种修辞格。其基本用法是，在陈述事物时有意采取低调，抑制措辞，轻描淡写，借含蓄与弱化的语言形式表示强调。因为英国男人喜欢把话说得委婉一些，温和一些，故把Understatement称为男性语言(males speech)，而把Hyperbole称为女性语言 (female speech) 。Understatement的表达形式有Litotes和Meiosis两类。   
2．表达方式
（1）Litotes（间接肯定法）或（曲言法）
  Litotes: A figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negation of its opposite (AHD); Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary. (WED)
  Litotes就是以反说代替正说，即采用否定事物的反面这样一种结构，构成间接肯定。更明确地说，就是在某些词前加一个否定词来达到强烈的间接肯定。间接肯定给人的印象往往比直接肯定更深刻一些，因此，它能广泛地用于文学作品和政论文中。
As lean was his horse as is a rake,
And he was not right fat.
I undertake.                ( G. Chaucer )
  他的马瘦得像钉钯，骨骼清晰，
                          而他也不那么胖
                          我敢担保，真的不胖。
  *此例中，马瘦骨嶙峋，人也骨瘦如柴，但不直接说he was lean而用曲言he was not right fat,文字表述就多一点变换，这样就给读者留下了多一点的想象空间并增加了一点幽默感。
    Who can not rely on such an honest man?
      谁能不信任这样一个正直的人?
  *这句话的意思是Everybody can rely on such an honest man. 谁都能信任这样一个正直的人。用否定的形式来表达肯定的内容，语气就更为强烈。反抑为褒，给人印象深刻。
The face wasn’t a bad one: it had what they called charm.      ( John Galsworthy )
    这张脸不算难看，它有着人们所说的妩媚。
    He is no fool. ( He is wise. )
    他一点也不傻。
He is no more opponent in the coming debate. ( He is a worthy opponent. )
在即将来临的辩论中，他不仅仅是位反对派。
It is not a disagreeable thing to be rich. ( It is agreeable to be rich. )
富有不是一桩不光彩的事情。
    There is never a week without his finding faults with me.sort of there是什么意思
    他从来没有一个星期不我的岔子的。
    There isn’t a weapon he doesn’t know the use of.  ( Lady Gregory )
    ( He knows the use of all weapon. )
    他什么武器都会使用。   
…and after we reached high ground there was no lack of fine scenery. 
( Mark Twain: A Tramp Abroad )
…我们到达高地，这里不乏其美景。
    He has no small (=a great )chance of success.
他的成功机会不小。   
Similar mistakes are not uncommon.
类似的错误并非少见。
There is no rule without exception.
任何规则都有例外。
    We can’t serve the people well without high political consciousness.
    没有很高的政治觉悟，我们就不能很好地为人民服务。
    He was no mean (= a very good ) orator.
    他是一位很出的演说家。
This problem is not above us.
    这个问题难不住我们。
    A book may be compared to your neighbor; if it be good, it cannot last too long; if bad, you cannot get rid of it too early.
    一本书可以比作邻居。如果是好的，结识越久越好；如果是坏的，分手越早越好。
    “Don’t you figure out that I might have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, not without sarcasm, but friendly, as one greets fortune.        ( O. Henry: The Cop and the Anthem )
    “你算不到我同这件事有点关系吧。”苏比说，不无讽刺意味，可是态度和气，像是要交好运的人。
I see myself, with Agnes at my side journeying along the road of life. I see our children and our friends around us; and I hear the roar of many voices, not indifferent to me as I travel on.
( Charles Dickens: David Copperfield )
    我看见我自己与阿格尼丝在人生道路上并肩旅行。我看见我们的孩子和朋友们围绕在我俩身边；我也听见当我前进时许多人对我还不算冷淡的响亮评论。
    In India, not a year passes without a number of people falling victims to the ferocity of the tiger.
    印度每年必有多人死于虎患。
I am not quite too late, I see.
我知道，我来得还不算很晚。
  I couldn’t be more happier. (= I’m very happy.)
    我幸福极了。
  We should choose none but the best.
    我们应该只挑最好的。
None but fools have ever believed it.
只有傻瓜才相信。
She writes rather too often to her mother.
她经常给她母亲写信。
I am not too sure.
我不敢过分肯定。
I have never committed one act that was not in the interests of my people.  ( W. Epton )

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