小议when当并列连词的用法

　　when做并列连词的用法所表示的是两个动作接踵而至和同时发生，强调when所引导的动作的突然性，常常带有一种使人意想不到的含义。

　　"when"当并列连词用，其英语释义是"at or during which time; and (just, but) then; just at that moment"。初高中课本中多次出现，由于when连接的前后两个句子形式上是主从复合句，因而学生容易把它理解为状语从句。如：The monkey was feeling a bit scared when suddenly the crocodile dived into the water.应译为"猴子正感到有点害怕，这时鳄鱼突然潜入水下。"而学生常常把它译成"当鳄鱼潜入水下的时候，猴子感到有点害怕。"如何理解这一用法呢？姚善友著的《英语语法学》中把when的这种用法称为"英语句型的混合和交替"。《现代英语惯用法词典》说，when引出追叙的事项时等于but (and, just) then。这时when实际上是并列连词。笔者认为when的这种用法所表示的是两个动作接踵而至和同时发生，强调when所引导的动作的突然性，常常带有一种使人意想不到的含义。这是区别于when引导时间状语从句的主要之处。如：An Arab was walking alone through the desert when he met two men.说明在沙漠中遇到两个人是阿拉伯人意想不到，因而带有一种偶然或突然的含义。课本中出现的这类句子不少，例如：

　　Mustapha was on his way home when two boys stopped him. (JB3, p119)

　　The crocodile was waiting for the monkey to come down again when he heard a voice calling from above: "Hey, crocodile!" (JB4, p30)

　　He was wondering what was going to happen next when the camel said...(JB3, p142)

　　I was wandering through the streets when I caught sight of a tailor's shop. (SB1, p120)

　　I was thinking of this when I heard my name called. (SB2, p120)