一句六解的启示

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歧义句通常指一句两解，而Jacobs和Rosenbaum合著的English Transformational Grammar一书为我们提供了一句六解的例句，可谓创歧义句之最高记录。原句是：
  The seniors were told to slop demonstrating on campus.
其可能含义有：
  A. The seniors were demonstrating and were asked, on campus to desist.
高年级学生在示威，上级在校园里要求他们停止示威。
B. The seniors were demonstrating and were asked to desist on campus, (although they could demonstrate elsewhere).
  高年级学生在示威，上级要求他们停止在校园中示威。（但可在他处示威）
C. The seniors were demonstrating on campus and were asked to desist.
  高年级学生在校园中示威，上级叫他们停止示威。
D. People were demonstrating on campus and seniors were asked to stop them.
  人们在校园中示威，高年级的学生被要求去制止他们。
E. People were demonstrating and seniors were asked, on campus, to stop them.
  人们正在示威，高年级的学生在校园中被要求去制止他们。
F. People were demonstrating and seniors were asked to stop them from doing so on campus,  (although they could do it elsewhere)
  人们正在示威，高年级的学生被要求去制止他们到校园中来示威。（可在他处示威）
  一句六解的根源何在？
  一是demonstrating前省略了表明所属对象的人称代词；二是句末介词短语on campus在其修饰对象问题上具有较大的游离性，它分别可以与句中were told, demonstrating及stop发生关系。两者相比，第二个原因显得更重要。
  一句六解，近乎一种文字游戏。
  但是，它给我们的启示是：英语句末修饰成分的修饰对象具有一定的游离性。彼此未必“形影相随”。这样，句末种种成分就成了一个常常导致歧义的不可忽视的因素。请看例句及译文。
  There is a line at the post office wailing for the window to open af瑃er the noon break.
中午刚过，邮局前就排起了长长的队伍，等待开门营业。
  上句译文有误，误在将句末的after the noon break视作全句的时间状语。译者漏译了break（即interval ）一词。after the noon break的完整译文应是：午休之后。若将“午休之后”当作全句的状语，那么译文的内涵意义之一将是：邮局前排队的众人都经过了“午休”，而人们在“午休”之后，邮局尚未开门营业。显然，这一点有悖常情。其实，句末的after the noon break同时也可以修饰不定式( for the window)to open，这样的理解是否更“顺理成章”一些？如译：邮局前排起了长长的队伍，等候邮局在午休之后开门营业。