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Taka Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
enhance
The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but these are enhanced by a tendency to adopt similar forms of seppch. postures, and facial expressions.
I think 'these' here grammatically refers to inherited physical characrteristics, but my question is, is it practically, or scientifically, really true? Is such a tendency so much strong that it even enhances our 'inherited physical' characteristics?
If it were simply 'characteristics', I would have no problem understanding it. But it's our inherited physical ones. The biological characteristics from DNA, right?
Or 'inherited physical characteristic' here means soemthing different? Or rather 'these' here refers to different things?
I think 'these' here grammatically refers to inherited physical characrteristics, but my question is, is it practically, or scientifically, really true? Is such a tendency so much strong that it even enhances our 'inherited physical' characteristics?
If it were simply 'characteristics', I would have no problem understanding it. But it's our inherited physical ones. The biological characteristics from DNA, right?
Or 'inherited physical characteristic' here means soemthing different? Or rather 'these' here refers to different things?
Top answer
You're right. It's difficult/impossible to enhance (which is a change ) such characteristics. It should be something like: The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but these are spotlighted/made even more visible/apparent by a tendency to adopt similar forms of speech .
- You're right.
- It's difficult/impossible to enhance (which is a change ) such characteristics.
- It should be something like: The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but these are spotlighted/made even more visible/apparent by a tendency to adopt similar forms of speech .
- postures, and facial expressions.
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8 Answers
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You're right. It's difficult/impossible to enhance (which is a change) such characteristics.
It should be something like:
The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but these are spotlighted/made even more visible/apparent by a tendency
It should be something like:
The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but these are spotlighted/made even more visible/apparent by a tendency
00
I don't think enhancing implies changing. You can enhance the appeal of a plate of food by adding a sprig of parsley, for example. That changes hardly anything.
CJ
CJ
00
Parsley is a catalyst in this case. OK, a catalyst for better taste, but a catalyst.
I don't think a catalyst is negligible, in chemistry or elsewhere.
Also, if the components of a mix say of colors in a painting don't change, but become more intense (in the direction which you may call intensity), that's could be seen as an enhancement and it's a change.
Rou
I don't think a catalyst is negligible, in chemistry or elsewhere.
Also, if the components of a mix say of colors in a painting don't change, but become more intense (in the direction which you may call intensity), that's could be seen as an enhancement and it's a change.
Rou
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My first though was that the meaning was supposed to be that the resemblance is enhanced, but the writer used "these" so it's odd.
My daughter does sort of have my face, but when she does this "pout and drop her head" thing (which I'm embarrassed to say I still do) the slighy physical resemblance becomes an uncanny physical resemblance. So the actions do enhance the features.
My daughter does sort of have my face, but when she does this "pout and drop her head" thing (which I'm embarrassed to say I still do) the slighy physical resemblance becomes an uncanny physical resemblance. So the actions do enhance the features.
00
I think it is just poorly written. 'These' does apply to the physical characteristics but clearly she meant that the resemblance is enhanced. If she had used 'this' it would have been less confusing.
00
I'd agree with Nona. It seems to me the passage means:
"The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but (the effects of) these (characteristics) are enhanced by a tendency to adopt similar forms of speech, postures, and facial expressions."
Though the parents' tendency to adopt c
"The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but (the effects of) these (characteristics) are enhanced by a tendency to adopt similar forms of speech, postures, and facial expressions."
Though the parents' tendency to adopt c
00
My take: it is poorly written. It should be either
The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but this is enhanced by a tendency to adopt similar forms of seppch. postures, and facial expressions.
or
The resemblance b
The resemblance between parents and their children is, of course, heavily influenced by inherited physical characteristics, but this is enhanced by a tendency to adopt similar forms of seppch. postures, and facial expressions.
or
The resemblance b
00
Hmm...there seemes to be a broad consensus here that the sentence is poorly written.
I've found the original text, and it seemes to be a college texbook or something, something which I don't think is allowed to be 'poor'.
Maybe you can find something new in the original:
I've found the original text, and it seemes to be a college texbook or something, something which I don't think is allowed to be 'poor'.
Maybe you can find something new in the original:
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