《史记》中说客的言语策略及特色

文章选取《史记》十篇列传中的十六个案例,以Searle (1976)的言语行为理论为框架,旨在研究中国古代的说客在劝说君主时的语用策略及特点。对文中的君主进一步划分为本国君主及异邦君主两类。研究表明,当说客试图劝说本国君主时,用语多是描述性的,重在陈述客观事实,主要采用隐喻、类比、例证等策略,方式较为隐晦谦恭。而当说客以使节的身份劝说异邦君主时则更为直接,用语多具表达性与指令性,论辩语篇结构更加复杂,所用策略更为丰富,甚至在特定场合下不惜伤害君主的面子来增强劝说用语的语势,以保劝说行为得以成功。 

Strategies and Features of Lobbyists' Speeches in Shiji

This paper intends to explore the strategies and features of ancient lobbyists＇ persuasive speeches in Shift. Ten biographies from this masterpiece were selected as data. The persuasive speeches in them were divided into two occasions, domestic and foreign, based on the nationalities of the superior. Analyses reveal that metaphor, analogy, exemplification and logical reasoning were dominant persuasive strategies when the subordinate was persuading a domestic superior. Such persuasion tended to be indirect and humble, concentrating mainly on expressing the persuader＇s own viewpoints. In contrast, directives and commissives came to accompany representatives when the subordinate persuaded a foreign superior. Persuasive speeches in such context were more structurally-complex and strategically-rich. Certain face-threatening acts would be employed in an ingenious manner to enhance the persuasive power of utterances as long as the context allowed. Therefore, persuasion in foreign context demonstrated a strong sense of imposition and was relatively straightforward.