When talk or writing is discursive, it moves from one idea or fact to another, and then another, without always heading toward one clear point. It can feel like a walk with no map: you see many things, but you may not know why you are being taken this way. Teachers and reviewers use it when an essay or a talk covers a lot of ground but will not stay on one path.

When talk or writing is discursive當說話或寫作是discursive的時候 it moves from one idea or fact to another它會從一個想法或事實跳到另一個 and then another再跳到下一個 without always heading toward one clear point不一定會走向一個明確的重點 It can feel like a walk with no map感覺可以像一趟沒有地圖的散步 you see many things你會看到很多東西 but you may not know why you are being taken this way但可能不知道為什麼要走這條路 Teachers and reviewers use it老師和評論者會用這個字 when an essay or a talk covers a lot of ground當一篇文章或一場演講談了很多東西 but will not stay on one path卻不肯守著一條路走下去的時候

Though actually, it is not always a scolding. Among friends, thinking aloud is normal; the talk finds its shape as it goes. In a school essay or a work report, the same habit can tire the reader, because those kinds of writing are supposed to have a purpose you can name.

Though actually不過實際上 it is not always a scolding這不一定是責備 Among friends朋友之間 thinking aloud is normal邊想邊說是很正常的 the talk finds its shape as it goes話題會邊聊邊自己成形 In a school essay or a work report但在學校作文或工作報告裡 the same habit can tire the reader同樣的習慣會讓讀者覺得累 because those kinds of writing are supposed to have a purpose you can name因為這類文章應該要有一個說得出來的目的

Everyday English is more likely to say someone is rambling, going off topic, or jumping around; discursive is the more formal, bookish twin.

Everyday English is more likely to say日常英文比較常說 someone is rambling, going off topic, or jumping around某人在rambling(碎碎念)、going off topic(離題)或jumping around(跳來跳去) discursive is the more formal, bookish twindiscursive則是比較正式、書面的說法

One more twist: in philosophy the same word can mean almost the opposite — thinking that moves step by step through reasons, not in a sudden flash. In comments on student writing, it almost always means the piece wanders.

One more twist還有一個轉折 in philosophy the same word can mean almost the opposite在哲學裡這個字的意思幾乎相反 thinking that moves step by step through reasons指的是一步一步靠推理往前的思考 not in a sudden flash而不是靈光一閃 In comments on student writing在學生作文的評語裡 it almost always means the piece wanders它幾乎都是說這篇文章寫得很散、離題