单词辨析记忆——state/declare/announce

一、首先来看一下这三个单词的基本释义：

1. state
   to formally write or say sth, especially in a careful and clear way
   以一种慎重且清晰的方式，正式地写下或者说出某件事。

2. declare
   to say sth officially or publicly 正式或公开地说某事。
   to state sth firmly and clearly 坚定且清晰地宣称某事。

3. announce
   to tell people officially about a decision or plans 把一个决定或计划正式地告诉民众。
   to give information about sth in a public place, especially through a loudspeaker 在公开的场合提供关于某事的信息，尤其是通过扬声器来说。
   to say sth in a loud and/or serious way 以大声和/或严肃的方式说某事。

在词典中，一个英文单词，会配有一个或几个中文词语的解释。这是因为，英文单词适用的语境和中文词语不同。反之亦然。比方说中文的“早点”这个词可以表达的意思，英文解释起来也要用好几个词。因此，我就直接把词的英文释义直译了过来，而没有使用词典中的释义。

从英文释义中我们可以看出，这三个单词都是在说明“某人通过某种方式向其他人传递某种信息”这个过程。而它们的主要区别就在于，说什么、怎么说。

二、我们再从词源上分析一下，看看能有什么发现：

1. state
   有证据表明，“用文字的方式声明(declare in words)”这个解释最早始于17世纪40年代，源自于“把某事记录在案(placing sth on the record)”。要记录在案，那自然就不能随便说说，说了、写了，是要负责任的。

2. declare
   一种说法是在14世纪早期，源自于古法语declarer，意思是“解释(explain)”、“阐释(elucidate)”。另一种说法是源自拉丁语declarare，意思是“弄清楚(make clear)”、“披露(disclose)”、“揭示(reveal)”、“宣告(announce)”。其中“de-”是强调性前缀。既然是强调，那就说明这件事情对于说这话的人是比较重要的。

3. announce
   源自拉丁语annuntiare，字面含义是“带来消息(bing news to)”。从词根上分析，“an-”有“朝、向”的意思，“-nounce”有“说出(speak)”的意思。所以，它最基本的意思就是“某人将一个别人不知道的消息向人们大声地说出来”。

三、小结一下它们之间的区别：

1. state和declare的区别：
   两者都是很正式的表达，但是declare更带有感情色彩和强迫性。所以“官宣”时，一般要用declare。state更倾向于把事说清楚。

2. state和announce的区别：
   state在正式程度上要高于announce。

3. declare和announce的区别：
   declare所说的事情，更强调了说话者的意志，具有单边特性。announce所说的事情，更为客观。

四、最后来几个例句应用一下这三个单词

例句来自《牛津高阶》

1. state

• He has already stated his intention to run for election. 他已声明打算参加竞选。
• The facts are clearly stated in the report. 报道对事实真相作了清楚的说明。
• There is no need to state the obvious (= to say sth that everyone already knows) . 显而易见的事实就不必陈述了。
• State clearly how many tickets you require. 说清楚你需要多少张票。
• He stated categorically that he knew nothing about the deal. 他明确表示他对协议的事一无所知。
• It was stated that standards at the hospital were dropping. 据称，那家医院的医疗水准在不断下降。
• The contract was stated to be invalid. 那份合同宣布作废。

2. declare

• The government has declared a state of emergency. 政府已宣布进入紧急状态。
• Germany declared war on France on 1 August 1914. 德国在1914年8月1日向法国宣战。
• The government has declared war on (= officially stated its intention to stop) illiteracy. 政府已宣布要扫除文盲。
• The court declared that strike action was illegal. 法庭宣判罢工为非法。
• The area has been declared a national park. 该地区已宣布为国家公园。
• The painting was declared to be a forgery. 这幅画被判定为赝品。
• The contract was declared void. 这份合同被宣布无效。
• I declare this bridge open. 我宣布大桥正式启用。
• ‘I'll do it!’ Tom declared. “让我来！”汤姆果断地说。
• He declared that he was in love with her. 他声称他已爱上她。
• Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime. 很少有人敢宣称他们反对这个政权。
• She declared herself extremely hurt by his lack of support. 她说自己非常伤心，因为他没有得到支持。

3. announce

• They haven't formally announced their engagement yet. 他们还没有正式宣布订婚。
• The government yesterday announced to the media plans to create a million new jobs. 政府在昨天向媒体宣布了创造一百万个新工作的计划。
• A ring at the doorbell announced Jack's arrival. 门铃一响就知道杰克驾到。
• We are pleased to announce that all five candidates were successful. 我们高兴地宣布，五位候选人全都当选了。
• It was announced that new speed restrictions would be introduced. 据宣布，将有新的限速规定出台。
• Has our flight been announced yet? 广播通知了我们的航班没有？
• They announced that the flight would be delayed. 广播通知，该航班将误点。
• ‘I've given up smoking,’ she announced. “我戒烟了。”她郑重其事地说。
• She announced that she'd given up smoking. 她宣称她已戒烟。

经过这一圈折腾，你是不是已经记住这三个单词了呢？：）

顺便说一句，state还有作为名词的解释，我会在另一篇中作辨析。