| 词组 | respective, respectively |
| 释义 | respective, respectively There is quite a bit of opinion about respective and respectively in print, and except for the early and unheeded recommendation of Bierce 1909 that several replace respective, it all concerns the familiar use of the two words in matching sets of things in the correct order. • ... we will continue to use the conventional symbols NP, VP, AP, and PP for the maximal projections of N, V, A, and P, respectively —Noam Chomsky, Knowledge of Language, 1986 Respective and respectively also have a distributive function that assigns separate things to members of a group referred to by a plural noun: • ... blows up an atomic energy plant during dedication ceremonies, respectively killing and injuring the daughters of two Supreme Court justices —Publishers Weekly, 17 June 1983 The gist of the commentary is that respective and respectively are often used where not strictly necessary (does Chomsky really need respectively to help you match NP with TV, etc.?) and, even when correctly used, should be avoided because they tend to slow down the progress of the reader. The points made by the critics are worth remembering, but so is the point that there are times when a writer wants to slow readers down to make sure they are paying attention. Chomsky's material does not look like easy going, and he may be inserting the respectively to remind readers not to let their eyes glaze over in the midst of a bunch of symbolic representations. "Pay attention," he seems to say, "I'll be asking questions later." (Chomsky probably does need to prod; our excerpt above omits such additional symbols as X, X, and X".) The uses in the three examples that follow are all of the kind that would be called unnecessary by the commentators. The first two are harmless, mere reminders of individuality. The third is surely otiose, a classic example of omissible respectively. • ... the ... result of this arrangement is, that such men as have female companions with them pass their time in prowling about the precincts of the "ladies' apartment"; while their respective ladies pop their heads first out of one door and then out of another —Fanny Kemble, Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839, 1863 • She analyzes CDs, stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, U.S. Savings Bonds, tax-free investments, collectibles, and partnerships as to their suitability in an IRA She also "forecasts" their respective suitability should the new tax law affect them —Steven J. Mayover, Library Jour., August 1986 • ... a harshly funny and effective study of Nazi self-delusion and atrocity respectively, presenting them in terms of elaborate fantasy —Times Literary Supp., 14 Nov. 1968 |
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