12/18/2007

有sense沒道理

Personal Finance in Jane Austen: Percents and Sensibility
(12.20.2005, The Economist)

丁丁在「珍.奧斯汀的年代──歷史就在我們身旁 」亂談過一些十九世紀初奧斯汀社會的文化背景,本篇《經濟學人》文章更直指核心,借用奧斯汀名著《理性與感性》(Sense and Sensibility)書名,介紹起奧斯汀時代的「理財」,這可是奧式小說社會婚姻觀與婚姻制度的基石。《傲慢與偏見》開宗明義就指出:「單身漢而多金,必定缺個老婆」──這豈止是「舉世公認的真理」,根本就是「常識」(common sense),而常識,就是理性(snese)囉。《經濟學人》編輯妙手標題,把 sense 換成近同音字(Per)cents*。percents 是公債代稱,英式用法。文中說啦,當時英國政府以一定利率發行公債,是1801年新開張的股票交易場上唯一證券,而且一唯一就唯一了廿多年。英國投資大眾便是通過這些公債,參與、分享、助成了帝國一步步擴張的事業。

可是這個 sense,卻是最沒有 sense 的 sense。你說它是「理性」吧,它其實卻百分百的「生理性」,包辦了我們視、聽、嗅、味、觸五覺(senses)。好,你說它是「生理性」吧,它卻又兼職照顧你的「心理性」:罪惡感(sense of guilt)、責任感(sense of duty)、方向感(sense of direction)、時尚感(sense of fashion),無感不 sense。你說它是「感性」(sensibility)?對不起,sensibility 的「貌似同形」形容詞 sensible,卻表示「明智、有判斷力」──真正豈有此「理」(nonsense, no sense at all)!

從sense區區一字分衍生出來的大小字眼,更是糾纏不清,由「肉感」、「官感」、到「感性」、「理性」,甚至「機械性」...包山包海,真正是「百變 sense」一族!丁丁初學英文,簡直couldn't make any sense out of all these "s.e.n.s.e.s"。光是「Sense and Sensibility」這個書名,就記了老半天,攪不清楚到底誰是「理性」,誰是「感性」?

隨手例舉一下Sense宗親:

機械系:sensor
肉感系:sensual、sensuous
理性智性系:sensible、sensitive
生理感覺系:sensory、sensorial、sensation、sensitive、sensuous
心理感情系:sensation、sensational、sensibility、sensitive

如上所示,這些 sense 表親,有時還一詞身兼數職、交錯使用,簡直一派 nonsense,像我們這種不容一絲廢話、乾脆俐落的 no-nonsense明理人,遇上這種一點也不 sensible 的 nonsense,怎能不跟自己的 senses 說拜拜(taking leave of one's senses),開始胡言亂語(talking nonsense),不知何時才能再恢復神智講道理(come to one's senses)呢!

* Percents尾音發/ts/,sense發/s/, 還是有些微不同--再補上一點兒丁丁的 two sense,噢不!two cents...

11/20/2007

「即使中英夾雜也要正確」運動

如今看來中英夾雜已成全民運動,即使連不識英文的老先生老太太也說「我覺得 OK 啊。」
既如此,何不在夾著英文說話寫字時也藉機使用正確的時態與語態,習慣成自然,真正說寫英文時也就更能趨向正確了。

比方,常聽人說「我好 shock」,但這裡明明是個形容詞的意思,卻用上名詞形或動詞形的shock ,實在太奇怪了。
說錯的原因之一,是沒聽到那末尾的 t 音:shock"ed"。

隨手做了一下 「好shock」的調查,google 立即回報:

約有2,740項符合"好shock"的查詢結果!!!
這...實在...太 shocking 了!!!
丁丁好 shocked!

值得安慰的是:
約有1,420項符合"好shocked"的查詢結果
約有409項符合"好shocking"的查詢結果
可惜兩項加起來還是不及"好shock"多。
而且,可也千萬別說成「我好shocking」,到底是你嚇人,還是你被嚇到?

全民飆英語~~請支持「即使中英夾雜也要正確」運動!!

《傲慢與偏見》第二章:母女們喜出望外...

Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,

其實,賓奈特先生是最早去造訪彬禮先生的人之一。他本來就就打算著要去看他,可是直到最後一刻還是跟妻子說絕對不去。甚至到了去過之後當天晚間,賓奈特太太依然毫不知情。然後消息才以下面這個方式透露出來:

看著二女兒在修飾一頂帽子,賓奈特先生忽然對她說:

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy."
"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."
"But you forget, mama," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

「我希望彬禮先生會欣賞這帽子,莉莎。」
「我們那能知道彬禮欣賞什麼啊,」她母親憤憤地說:「反正我們又不會去看他。」
「可是妳忘了,媽媽,」伊莉莎白說:「我們會在晚會上見到他呀,而且郎太太答應了,要介紹他給我們呢。」

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."
"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

「我才不信郎太太會這麼做呢。她自家就有兩姪女。 這女人又自私又虛偽,我對她,可沒什麼好感。」
「我也是呢,」賓奈特先生說:「而且我真欣慰,原來你並不靠她出力。」

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters. "Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

賓奈特太太懶得答腔,可又按捺不住,於是開始嘀咕她另一個女兒:「別老是這樣咳,凱蒂,幫幫忙!可憐可憐我的神經吧,都被妳給撕裂了。」

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."
"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.
"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"
"To-morrow fortnight."

「凱蒂這咳嗽,真是不識大體,」她父親說:「時辰選得太差。」
「我又不是為了自己好玩在咳,」凱蒂委屈地說。
「妳下次舞會是什麼時候,莉莎?」
「下下禮拜的明天。」

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."
"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."
"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?"

「啊,下下禮拜啊,」她母親叫了起來:「郎太太卻要到前一天才會回來;所以她根本不可能出面介紹了,她自己都還來不及認識他呢。」
「這麼說,我親愛的,那妳可比妳朋友占優勢了,可以反過來把彬禮先生介紹給她呢。」
「怎麼可能,賓大老爺,不可能,我自己都還不認識他; 你怎麼可以這樣取笑人?」

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."

「我真敬佩妳行事這麼審慎。才認識兩個禮拜,當然是非常不夠。區區兩禮拜,那能讓人真正知道一個人呢。可是就算我們不肯冒這種風險,別人卻可能肯呢;而且說起來,總得讓郎太太和她姪女試試運氣吧;所以她一定會覺得妳是好意──要是妳不肯效勞,我就自告奮勇吧。」

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense, nonsense!"
"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? for you are a young lady of deep reflection I know, and read great books, and make extracts."

女孩子睜大眼瞪看她們父親。賓奈特太太只說:「無聊!荒唐!」
「這麼用力強調,請問是何用意?」 他拉高聲調:「難道妳認為介紹這種形式,而且如此鄭重其事地介紹,都只是荒唐無聊?這我可不大苟同。妳怎麼說,瑪麗?我知道妳可是位見解深刻的年輕女士;而且還飽讀詩書,又能引經據典。」

Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.
"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley."
"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.

瑪麗很想開口說兩句有學問的話,卻說不出來。
「趁瑪麗還在整理她的思緒,」他繼續表示:「讓我們再回到彬禮先生。」
「我再聽什麼彬禮先生就犯噁心,」他妻子叫了起來。

"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now."

「聽妳這麼說,我還真遺憾;可妳早先怎麼不告訴我?要是我今早就知道,哪還會去拜訪他呢。真是太糟糕了,可既然見也見了,大家就相識了,現在是躲不掉了。」

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.

太太小姐們的驚愕,正是他所希望的反應;賓奈特太太的反應恐怕尤在眾人之上,雖然一開始的欣喜騷動過去之後,她卻又開口聲明其實自己原先就一直這樣預期。

"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved our girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning, and never said a word about it till now."

「你心地真好,我親愛的老爺啊!可是我早就曉得一定可以說得動你。我就知道,你這麼疼我們的女兒,怎麼可能放這樣一個人不去認識。啊,我實在太高興了!這玩笑太妙了,你竟然今天早上都已經去過,卻一直到現在都沒透露半個字。」

"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you chuse," said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.

「好了,凱蒂,妳現在可以儘情咳了,」賓奈特先生邊說,邊走出房間,被他妻子那份欣喜若狂的德性弄得精疲力竭。

"What an excellent father you have, girls," said she, when the door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me either, for that matter. At our time of life, it is not so pleasant I can tell you, to be making new acquaintance every day; but for your sakes, we would do any thing. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

「妳們有個多棒的爹啊,女兒啊,」門一關上,她便說:「我真不知道妳們該怎樣報答他才好;說起來,也怎麼報答我呢。我可以告訴妳們,到我們這個年紀,每天還去新結識什麼人可不是什麼有意思的事;但是為了妳們,我們什麼都肯。莉狄亞我的寶貝,雖然妳年紀最小,我敢說,下次舞會上彬禮先生一定會邀妳的舞呢。」

"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest."
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

「哦!」莉狄亞非常肯定地答道:「我才不怕;雖然我最小,可個子最高呢。」
於是餘下的整個晚上,便用在揣測彬禮先生多快會來回拜,並商定何時可以邀他前來晚餐了。

文化小補帖
修飾帽子: 當時仕女時尚講究戴帽,帽上堆飾花鳥蟲魚,每季有每季的流行,有錢人家年年買新帽,不特別有錢的有時就只能自己重新修飾過季舊帽。賓家屬中等之家,稍有資產,也如當時一般鄉紳之家用得起幫手,但畢竟女兒眾多,不是那麼寬裕,伊莉莎白修飾帽子一節便暗示此中背景。身份、階級、財富的差異,正是本書情節發展與人物心態的關鍵因素。賓母的愛財、彬禮姐妹的勢利、伊莉莎白的偏見、達西的傲慢,俱都由此中而來。

11/08/2007

丁丁喜歡的雙關名言

這個專題會不時更新:

Many thanks; I shall lose no time in reading it. (Benjamin Disraeli)

Golf is a game where the ball lies poorly, and the players well. (Anonymous)

似非而是

大家都知道,「討厭!」其實是「不討厭!」,中華「大敗」日本其實是中華「大勝」日本,「那可不!」其實是「那可正是!」,「可不是」其實是「可就是!」...

中外語文似乎都有一種奇妙現象,喜歡用雙重否定以強調,更用否定以示肯定、以負面傳達正面。(如果中文托福由丁丁出考題,一定要出幾個這類負不是負,負即是正的題目來考死老外!!)

英文的否定或負意語法,有時同樣令人抓狂頭腦打結,得倒轉上好幾圈才能解套。還有一些奇怪的套詞表述法,更是步步陷阱,因此不管它們在句中的位置被如何拉扯分離、變形,都務要眼明手快,見招拆招,立即認出正身拉上關係。Mine to Lose, Yours to Gain 即是一例,再試舉一二:

「不鳴則已,一鳴驚人」型:
It does not rain but it pours. (這個大家耳熟能詳了)

「不見/不做也難」型:
It's so obvious; I cannot but see it.

看似否定實則肯定的「好家在」型:
You could do worse (than do…) = You'd better do it; it is a quite good thing to do.

看似肯定實則否定的「多一事不如少一事」型:
He wanted to protest, but then he thought better of it =
He decided not to do it because he realized it would not be sensible.

明明可以直接說卻偏要反過來說的「莫此為甚」、「正是時候」、「恰到好處」、「就應如此」型:
You can't begin too soon = You ought to begin now.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly.
I cannot repeat this too often.
You cannot be too careful. (小心沒有過頭的)
It couldn't be better. (再好也沒有了)

莫名其妙型:
the worse for drink(爛醉)、the worse for wear(老舊、用舊、不堪、爛醉)、the worse for the long journey(累慘)
as often as not = more often than not = fairly frequently
as likely as not = more likely than not = fairly likely

氣死人型:
Everything is not perfect = Not everything is perfect.
Everything is non-perfect / imperfect = Nothing is perfect = All is non-perfect.
All that glitters is not gold = Some is while some is not.

大敗就是大勝型:
I couldn't care less =(!!!)I could care less = Thank you. I'm NOT interested at all.

模稜兩可型:
Once in the White House, Bush lost no time in putting an air base in Uzbekistan.

lose no time (in doing something):依習語正解,是指hasten、快馬加鞭、立刻去行。
lose no time: 依字面解...呵呵請君自行體會,丁丁就不廢言了...

最後送眾編輯一句好康:輔佐歐洲阿媽的英國名相狄斯累利(Disraeli),常有作者不請自來寄上文稿請他過目,相國大人一律回以:

Many thanks; I shall lose no time in reading it.

10/28/2007

珍.奧斯汀的年代──歷史就在我們身旁

高腰直筒的女裝,穿在修長苗條的仕女身上固然飄逸優雅,但對多數人而言卻可能不甚討好,反易曝露缺點,愈顯粗短臃腫。然而看過李安導演的《理性與感性》以及珍.奧斯汀 (Jane Austen, 1775-1817) 作品改編的其餘同名電影《傲慢與偏見》、《艾瑪》的觀眾,也許會注意到一件事...

劇中女性都穿著一種高腰服飾,腰線以下直線到底,有點像孕婦裝,又彷彿睡袍;而且設計素樸簡單,完全不似一般習見印象裡那種華麗繁複、蜂腰突臀蓬裙,我們統稱的所謂西洋「古裝」。事實上中世紀以後的歐洲女裝,也唯有這段時期不講究「曲線美」,與之前文藝復興、巴洛克、洛可可等時期,以及之後的維多利亞年代,完全大異其趣。為什麼會忽然有此審美趣味上的轉變?

奧斯汀所生活的那個時代,歐洲先後發生了法國大革命其後出現拿破崙。鄉紳淑女玩著姻緣配的同時,大西洋那一端的新大陸已經有了共和制的民主總統。她的筆下,卻如史家霍布斯邦所言:「拿破崙四處征伐歐洲的年代裡,珍.奧斯汀可以安坐家中寫她的小說。對不清楚時代背景的讀者來說,肯定猜不出當時這樣一個烽火連天的時代,我們從她的小說裡嗅不出一絲戰爭的氣息。但在事實上,出現在奧斯汀筆下的年輕男子,某些位一定參與了當時的戰事。」

奧斯汀一生,都在喬治三世 (1760–1820) 治下。從喬治一世到四世四位喬治統治期間 (1714-1830) ,史上稱為大不列顛的喬治時期 (Georgian) 。不知是否是美國獨立宣言中對喬治三世的指控言詞太過毒辣所致,喬治三世在位的最後十年精神失常,由其子亦即後來的喬治四世 (1820-1830) 依據攝政法代父攝政。擔任攝政的這位王儲威爾斯王子,早年生活不羈,有一群孤群狗黨尋歡作樂,豔史不斷,又大興土木,重新設計改造倫敦的都市風貌,打造了攝政公園,還專門開了一條大路攝政街直達王府,方便他前往遊賞。不過攝政王卻在關鍵時刻,決定繼續任用其父的首相,而非自家的玩伴──那群打算放棄與拿破崙對抗的惠格黨──因為堅持,英國和其同盟終能在1815年打敗拿氏。這位攝政王子,也是其子民奧斯汀的書迷。

喬治時期的時期建築風格,已開始對歐陸的洛可可風反動,重返文藝復興人本主義以及古典的希臘、羅馬尋找靈感與美學元素,史上稱之為「新古典時期」,建築線條莊重而不沉重,簡潔而不呆滯,至今在英美兩地仍然可見。珍.奧斯汀所處的年代,以及她筆下的背景,正處於這段「哈」希臘、崇古風再起的十八世紀後期與十九世紀初期;而她書中女性所著的服裝則屬「新古典」式,以希臘造型為師。服裝之為物,做為一種符號,亦如建築、藝術、文學,同浸淫於時代風潮,反映時代脈動。

從文學的、美學的觀念來看,人都在追求一個永恆的固定的打動人心的東西,或許,奧斯汀不同意什麼美學、文學那麼沉重的玩意兒,她只是用一個慧黠的眼光觀看她所處的世界,輕巧地把它寫下來。這卻也正是奧斯汀作品的迷人之處,亦如溫馨派 (cozy)推理小說,一切都發生在一個封閉的社會空間裡,進行永遠不變的人性遊戲。但是,人也不可能脫離她所處的時代,《理性與感性》劇中人穿著的新古典式孕婦裝束,正是那個時空情景下新古典審美觀的產物。

世間品味思潮的流變,往往正反合不斷循迴,難怪有人借莎翁語造出 「品味如走馬如陀螺」 (The whirligig of the taste) 的形容。奧斯汀生於1775年,是法王路易十六即位次年,富麗奢靡達於顛峰的洛洛可時期。物極必反,此時回歸簡單、自然的趨勢已在暗湧。可是在此之前,歐洲人所知的「希臘」,主要係透過羅馬代理的二手知識,從羅馬時期留下的文物、文字而認識推想。不似我們今天所知的希臘文化與文明面貌,皆受惠於十九世紀中期以後的考古挖掘。回到珍.奧斯汀年代,對於特洛伊到底存不存在,是否真有其城其戰其人其事,以及克里特、邁錫尼等等更早文化,都還懞然不知。其時新風氣新品味雖已開始反動,正逐步蘊釀漸成氣候,卻尚未蔚為滔滔主流。歷史的發展在漸不在驟,讓人注目的事物,往往卻是推動潮流幡然轉變的臨門那一擊。推動新古典審美趣味的的力量,沖刷之下令服飾風尚都徹底改換者,便是一堆石頭──額爾金大理石雕 (the Elgin Marbles)。

額爾金何許人也?蘇格蘭第七世額爾金伯爵,不列顛帝國派駐鄂圖曼土耳其帝國的外交官。大理石雕何所指也?希臘雅典衛城有名的帕得嫩神廟 (Parthenon,又譯巴特農) 門楣山形牆上的浮雕像塑。紀元前五世紀的神廟石雕,為何會冠上紀元後十九世紀初大英帝國的爵銜之名?原來此時的希臘,在土耳其管轄之下,根據英國官方的說法,這位額爾金伯爵 (電影英雄本色那位蘇格蘭王布魯斯的後裔) 為免衛城石雕殘破毀損,向土國購得權利,僱工裁割,將浮雕面硬生生切離了神廟母體,1806年運載回國,旋踵售予大英博物館,永為鎮館之寶。這仍是火車客運尚未出現,交通不發達的年代 (鐵路與火車首次出現在1825年,奧斯汀逝於1817年,只得四十二歲,若能再多活二三十年,她筆下的男女人物就會坐火車來去城鄉與海濱勝地了) ,一般人很少能親訪希臘親炙古典,何況偏居海隅西陲的英國佬。如今希臘被送到英國,古典實物來到眼前,立時風靡,眾人傾倒。那衣袂飄飄,那簡鍊莊重,高貴與美的字眼,遂與古典派永結一體。

而被毀去面容的神廟,兩百來宛如一張無臉的美女,身臉異處,剛健妸娜的身姿默默矗立在她已駐守千百年的南國蔚藍天空下,姣好的臉容卻被鎖在萬里之外寒冷北國的密室中。即使連同時代英國自己的詩人拜倫,也反對這種毀容之舉,寫詩悲嘆神廟不幸的遭遇:

那必屬魯鈍的眼啊,若見此竟不致哀泣
見你外牆遭毀,見你傾頹的神龕被移
不列顛人的手所為,他們最好
用心守護,那再也無法恢復原貌的遺物
咀咒那一刻啊,當遺物離了遺址,去島失所
再一次啊,你不幸的胸口遭戮,
你已凋萎的諸神被虜去,前往那令人憎恨的北地!

Dull is the eye that will not weep to see
Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed
By British hands, which it had best behoved
To guard those relics ne'er to be restored.
Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved,
And once again thy hapless bosom gored,
And snatch'd thy shrinking gods to northern climes abhorred!

(Lord Byron, "Childe Harold")

希臘人自然不稱這批石雕為額爾金石雕,他們稱之為帕得嫩石雕。多年來希臘政府與民間極力要索回這項國寶,無論從「民族」感情觀之,以及就古蹟應保存在原文化脈胳與原建築體內的現代觀念而言,希臘似乎都站在理字上,英國國內與國際間也有多人聲援。可是大英博物館當然不答應,他們說這是人類共同遺產,他們說當年購割行為是合法交易,他們說幸虧有他們保管,否則這批寶貝早在自然與人為摧殘下凋零了。

額爾金家族「奪寶」行為頗有家傳風格,他的兒子八世伯爵,就是領著英法聯軍毀掠了圓明園的英國公使額爾金。《火燒圓明園》 (秋實著)中記載:  

額爾金寫道,他曾經考慮過幾種懲罰辦法:「若是單要求賠款,在這種擾亂的情形中,中國政府,除了搜刮民脂民膏以外,也付不出大筆款項。其次,若是要求清政府交出那班苛待英人,和破壞和約的人們,一些可憐的屬員,也許要被呈獻出來,作為替身了。假若要求僧格林沁本人,中國政府大約不能答應,更決不能實行。尋思推繹的結果,只有毀壞圓明園,似乎是唯一的辦法,而這種懲罰,僅降在清帝一人身上,與人民無關。」

所以他與他爹一樣,都是出於慈悲為懷的好心呢,不得不為也。九龍繼香港之後割離中國的母體,亦屬額爾金八世的作為。一東一西,父子兩代,前人的一舉一動,至今仍影響今人。歷史其實離我們很近,過去離現在不遠。

10/25/2007

歐洲帝王--哈布斯堡集團企業

故宮推出「華麗巴洛克大展」(雖然展出作品其實不僅限於巴洛克時期或巴洛克畫風),為了解這批來自維也納歷史藝術博物館的精品背景,不免又翻箱倒櫃,好好地把哈布斯堡家族、奧地利、神聖羅馬帝國的多角關係複習研究一番,終於釐清了這個以前從來沒弄懂過的觀念。

原來神聖羅馬帝國果如伏爾泰所言:既不神聖,亦非羅馬,也無帝國!!

它充其量只是當時歐洲眾國之一國而已,前身為查理曼帝國分出來的東法蘭克王國(疆域疆域主要在今天的德意志、奧地利,亦即當時的日耳曼地區),因此不過就只是個日耳曼人的王國,由日耳曼地的大小公國、候國、伯國組成而已,根本不是幅員廣大、橫跨眾域意義下的統一大帝國。只是自己臉上貼金,號稱上承羅馬帝國一脈。而那位由日耳曼地選帝候選出來的「共主」,其實也就是這個日耳曼「王國」的「國王」(但他們喜歡自稱是「羅馬人」的國王)。只是既自稱帝國,當然也要上襲凱撒,號為皇帝,並為求正名,特請教宗加冕認證──雖然到後來這道手續也免了,以致很多所謂「皇帝」,只是皇帝當選人而已。

而真正堪稱幅員廣大者,其實是「選舉」之下「世襲」神聖羅馬帝國帝位多年的哈布斯堡家族。哈布斯堡家源出今瑞士,後來勢力及於奧地利(奧地利人是日耳曼人),他家男子遂世為奧地利大公,並以大公身份屢屢獲選為日耳曼人的國王,並晉封皇帝稱號。有趣的是,當上皇帝之後,他們依然保有奧地利大公稱號及奧地利領地。就如同集團企業下某公司總經理當選了集團董事長,卻依然兼任原公司總經理,因為這是「他的」公司。

所以這個帝國,其實是個空殼,沒有真正的直接國土(除了一些直屬帝權的自由市),也沒有真正的國都,因為國境內的公國、候國、伯國等等,都是那些公爵、候爵、伯爵領主自家的封地私產。而這個皇帝,也只是虛銜。真正的「王畿」與實力來源,還是在皇帝自家也有的領地,而且皇帝本人往往便是坐在自家領地,統領他所謂的帝國。皇帝的私產可多了,哈布斯堡一家最擅長透過聯姻開疆闢土,娶進來、嫁出去,然後憑著內孫、外孫的身分,承襲東一塊西一塊、分散各處的領土。然後近親聯姻不斷,同輩、差輩,舅舅娶外甥,表姑嫁姪子,各國公主、王子都是他們的cousins,最後弄了個厚道大下巴成為家族遺傳,咬合不良,皇帝吃飯都成了問題。

重點就在這裡了,皇帝家靠聯姻賺到的領地,不表示就屬於神聖羅馬帝國(日耳曼王國)。哈布斯堡的家產不等於帝國的產業,卻只是兩個有所相交的圓圈。所以當統一了西班牙的費迪南國王與伊莎貝拉女王先後去世,他們的外孫,遠在奧地利的哈布斯堡查理入承大統,千里迢迢來到西班牙坐上寶座,成為查理一世。於是西班牙進了哈布斯堡家的口袋,卻不是神聖羅馬帝國的領土。幾年後查理的爸爸去世,查理又繼承一籮筐的領土及頭銜,成為帝國的查理五世。所以他既是西班牙國王查理一世,又是神聖羅馬帝國皇帝查理五世,同時是奧地利大公、勃艮地公爵、那不勒斯西西里國王...領土、頭銜,不可勝數。而這些封建領土,也多數永遠公是公、侯是侯、伯是伯,不會因領主當了皇帝而昇級,也不因共有一個領主而統一成為一「國」。

最妙的是,西班牙王國根本不屬神聖羅馬帝國(勃艮地、那不勒斯、西西里也不是),此時這位西班牙國王卻當了日耳曼的皇帝,而且在十萬八千里外的西班牙遙領帝國與他的老根子封地奧地利。連法王路易十四,也在帝國境內擁有封建領地,所以說起來也具備參選帝座的資格。十八世紀英國漢諾威王室的系列國王亦然,根本是來自日耳曼境內的漢諾威選帝侯,及至歐洲的阿媽十九世紀維多利亞女王登基,條件便是女王不得承繼選帝侯身分。歐洲這種雙重、多重的帝權、王權、諸侯身份,不同領地共有一位領主,領土卻各自獨立不予統一的多軌並行,實在非常特殊。

再回到哈布斯堡、奧地利、神聖羅馬帝國的三重關係:

結構鬆散的日耳曼國號稱神聖羅馬帝國,奧地利是其境內一個公國。哈布斯堡家族是奧地利大公,十五世紀開始,一直由此家族奧地利大公「連任」帝國皇帝(只有一次例外,由他家女婿爭任)。哈家領土滿天下,有的在帝國境內,有的在帝國境外。帝國境內的大小封國,則有的屬於哈家,有的屬於別家,還有的更屬於帝國境外的王侯所有。要了解這種複雜關係,最好的類比就是先前用過的企業集團與私人公司關係。集團A之下有許多公司,各有負責人,其中一家公司B的負責人總是世襲「當選」集團董事長之職。而董事長自己在集團之外,因為聯婚、投資、吞併,又擁有許多事業。這些「境外事業」的所有權,屬於他個人或家族,與集團A或公司B都沒有從屬或權利關係。在此同時,集團A之外別家企業的負責人,同時也是集團A內某些小公司的負責人。錯綜複雜,和台灣企業集團的盤根錯節真是很有的比呢!

神聖羅馬帝國最後被拿破崙解散,哈布斯堡家守著舊家園奧地利,另起爐灶,號稱奧地利帝國。而奧地利之外的日耳曼地,則在新興的日耳曼勢力普魯士之下,統一為德意志帝國。一奧、一德,分別挑起了一次與二次大戰,深深影響了全世界的國家與人民。神聖羅馬帝國,真可謂百足之蟲,餘震蕩漾哩!!

笑問 cousin 何處來

上回談歐洲的阿媽,曾提到 cousin 的奇怪用法。英文人親屬關係「簡單」,起碼在稱謂上遠遠不及我中文人族繁一一備載,什麼brother、sister、uncle、aunt、nephew、niece,不分婆家岳家、亦不見長幼之別。最最豈有洋理的,竟是這cousin一詞,甚至連男女、輩份都不分了!且聽丁丁道來。

大家都知道,cousin一銜大哉用,涵蓋了堂、表、兄、弟、姐、妹(你說這像話嗎,遇上His cousin came to visit him...這不識 cousin 真面目,cousin 相見不相識,請問可憐的中文譯者怎麼譯吶?)其實,cousin之用還不止此,丁丁在網上抄一張現成表,請大家看看這英文親屬稱謂之缺乏想像力與「科學化」:


最上面和最左邊各一行的關係不用介紹了,共有一位祖父彼此互為cousin也很清楚。麻煩的是直系親屬之外,所有三親等關係一律以cousin稱之,而且不分同輩、差輩。同祖父者互為first cousins,同曾祖父為second cousins,同高祖父為third cousin。若A的祖父是B的曾祖父,中文稱姨婆、姑婆、叔公、伯祖、姪孫、甥孫者,英文全成了cousins,只是在後面掛個尾巴:once removed。removed指示輩分差,差一輩就一次removed,差兩輩就二次removed。當然他們也有grand uncle、grand nephew等比較「人性化」的稱呼,不過有時會把grand去掉,還是很難看出彼此的關係。總之,看見英文裡出現cousin,可不能自動設定為同一輩的堂表兄弟姐妹(單單這同一輩的cousin就很難用中文拆解釐清了)。丁丁就上過這種當。

不過世人都在少胎化,大陸更推動一胎化政策。若人人服膺,徹底執行,依照馬爾薩斯人口論的反向作用,以及丁丁的簡單化算術,世界人口每一代就會依次減半,親屬關係就只剩下父子孫一脈單線與夫妻關係。所有其他旁系或姻親關係不管它幾級幾輩,都不再存在,上表作廢,最多只要再記住 in-law 一字即可,便可將三親六戚一網打盡,直至世上只剩最後一人。不過在那時發生之前, cloning 技術想來早臻成熟,大家都可以 in my own image 再造一個我,就不知該發明什麼親屬新稱謂,來稱呼那另一個或多個的我,以及「他/她(們)」沿生出來的三親六戚了!

10/22/2007

新聞標題文法及Taiwan Touch Your Heart

這一兩個禮拜因為 UN for Taiwan 引發的討論,又看見許多人說英文新聞標題或標語好像是不太受文法拘束的,不禁想再度呼籲:親愛的全國同胞們,英文新聞標題或標語雖然強調簡潔,但是仍然是遵循文法的(Making Sense of Headline Grammar)!! 只是使用了一些簡化原則,但並不表示它可以不顧文法!!除非在特意玩文字遊戲,或標新立異以引起注意,比方 Campbell Soup 的經典廣告:Soup, Souper.

連同這個話題又再度炒起來的疑問,Taiwan Touch Your Heart 的問題出在哪裡?

這句話的錯誤要從幾個層次來看:

1. 如果台灣是當第三人稱主詞,當然要加 es 成完全句,或用 touching 做分詞表現:Taiwan(,) Touching Your Heart

2. 如果如有些人所言,那,加個逗號好了: Taiwan, Touch Your Heart。還是不行,Taiwan 變成第二人稱主詞,正如 John, do your homework 一樣,變成叫台灣 touch 台灣自己的心了。

3. 如果又如另外有些人主張,Taiwan 和 Touch Your Heart 是分開兩行,Taiwan是上面一行,Touch Your Heart 在下一行獨立成句。唉,還是不行啦,變成以我們讀這句標語的人為 implied 的第二人稱主詞,變成叫我們這些讀者 Touch Our Heart了,正如 come in,其實是 (you) come in. Stand up,其實是 (you) stand up.

之所以發生這種夾纏不清的病句,原因可能出在學英文時未能確切掌握陳述句、祈使句(命令句)、虛擬句的語氣要義。

或許,唯一勉強可以用的解釋是,把台灣當神,如同 May God bless you 略為 God bless you,句首有個May給省掉了!!但丁丁實在不知道是否有這種用法。

10/20/2007

寫給兒童的英格蘭史(1-2)

古不列顛人的作戰場面,大文豪筆下果然不凡。可以借助電影〈英雄本色〉(braveheart)的情景想像,雖然年代上差了很遠...

他們以編織方式做成船隻,覆以動物毛皮,可是鮮少鮮少,既使有的話,冒險遠離岸邊。他們鑄劍,用的是銅錫混合;可是這些劍器模樣笨拙,而且不夠堅硬,重重一擊就會變彎。他們也製作輕型的盾牌,銳利的匕首,還有矛叉──扔向敵人後還可以猛拉收回,因為矛身上緊拴有一根長長皮條。尾端則是個會嗄嗄叫的響尾(或響角?待查),用來驚嚇敵人的座騎。古不列顛人,共分成三四十族之多,每個部族都有自己的小部主,彼此之間不斷打來打去,野蠻人通常就是這樣。他們打仗時用的就是這些武器。

他們很喜歡馬。肯特的部旗就畫著一匹白馬。他們很會馴馬,把它們管得非常良好。真的,他們把馬兒教得這麼好(他們的馬非常多,雖然個頭兒極小),以致從那時起,說起來,馬兒就簡直不再需要有任何進步了呢;雖然我們人倒是長進許多。馬兒聽得懂話,服從每句命令,儘管戰場上轟亂呼囂,主人又下馬步行廝殺,它們卻可以自個兒乖乖站著紋風不動。若沒有這懂事又可靠的牲口,不列顛人根本不可能完成他們最了不起的巧技。這巧技,我是指戰車的建造與管理,歷史上對他們這項成就始終讚不絕口。這些雙輪戰車裡頭最棒的一種,前面的高度不及胸,後頭大敞開,每輛都由一人駕駛,外帶兩三名負責作戰──全部都是站著。拉車的馬兒訓練如此精良,可以在最多石的崎嶇路面放足疾馳,甚至全速穿越林野;把主人的對敵衝倒在它們的蹄下,車輪上綁著的刀劍利刃把他們砍成碎片,這些利器在車身兩邊向外張出,為的就是這殘忍的目的。然後剎那間,明明還在高速前進,駕駛一聲令下,馬兒可以立時停步。車上的人一躍而下,出劍如冰雹落擊,再一跳上馬,借桿之力,總之想辦法彈回車中;然後一等大夥兒都安全了,馬兒又放足狂奔而去。

上一篇

寫給兒童的英格蘭史(1-1)

丁丁喜歡讀史。看前人寫史,趣味更不止一端,重點不只在他們筆下追述的史,卻在他們本身與所處時代的史觀、世界觀,以及從中反映的社會價值觀、知識觀。這也算是另一種「比較」歷史或「雙重文本」閱讀吧?!

尤其是寫給兒童的歷史故事,更可看出成人想灌輸給下一代的國民與國家意識型態。以下是一位丁丁喜愛崇敬的大文豪之作,讀來既富知識樂趣,又可一窺文豪心態。丁丁打算邊讀邊譯,以饗同好(如果有的話?^^ )。有興趣的也不妨猜猜這是誰人之作...

第一章 古英格蘭與羅馬人

如果你看一下世界地圖,會見到在東半球的左上角兒,有兩個島躺在海裡。這就是英格蘭與蘇格蘭,還有愛爾蘭。英格蘭、蘇格蘭組成了這些島嶼的絕大部分,再下來就要數愛蘭爾最大。附近還有一些小島,小到在地圖上只成了星點子,主要都是從蘇格蘭跑出來的碎渣──我敢說,是在很長的一段時間裡面,被澎湃不息的海水用力打裂而成的。古早的時候,很久、很久以前,在我們的救主降生世上、安睡馬槽之前,這些大小島嶼就已經在這同一個地方了,洶湧的海水圍著它們怒吼,和今天沒有兩樣。可是那時的海面上,卻沒有巨大的船隻與英勇的水手活躍著,來回航行於世界各個角落。當時這片海域非常寂寞。島嶼也孤單地矗立大片水上。泡沬般的波浪沖打著它們的懸壁,陰沉的寒風吹越它們的森林。可是風與浪卻不曾把冒險家送到島上登岸,野蠻的島民對外面世界一無所知,其餘世界也完全不知道他們。

聽說腓尼基人開船來到此地,這是一支古代民族,以貿易聞名。他們發現島上產錫和鉛;你也知道,兩樣都是很有用的東西,一直到今天,沿海都還出產。康沃耳地方最有名的錫礦,現在還是貼近著海。其中有一處,我親眼見過,這麼近海,根本就是從海底下掏挖出來的。礦工們還說,遇上狂風暴雨的天氣,他們若在那深深的底下幹活,會聽到海浪在他們頭頂打雷作吼。因此嘛,那些腓尼基人,沿著海岸航行,就可以不費什麼力氣地來到錫、鉛的產處。

腓尼基人和島民交易,用其它有用的東西換取這些金屬。島民嘛,本來都只是些野蠻人,幾乎全裸,最多只裹著原始粗糙的獸皮,還用有色土和植物汁液把身上抹得五顏六色,就和其他野人一樣。可是這些腓尼基人,又把船開到對岸的法蘭西和比利時,告訴那裡的人說,「我們到過海那頭的白色絕壁,天氣好的時候你也可以望見。那個國度,叫做不列顛,我們就是從那裡拿來這些錫和鉛。」引得有些法蘭西佬和比利時佬也跑過來了。這些人在英格蘭南部海岸住下來,現在叫肯特的地方。雖然他們自己也是粗人,卻傳授了野蠻的不列顛人一些有用的技藝,這區島上因著他們有了改善。另外可能也有人從西班牙到了愛爾蘭,在那裡定居下來。

於是就這樣,一點一點地,外來人和島民逐漸混合,野蠻的不列顛人長成一支野性、大膽的民族;幾乎還是個蠻族,尤其在外來移民很少深入的離海內地;可是他們很耐勞、又勇敢、強壯。

當時整個國度覆滿了森林,還有沼澤。大部分地區都霧氣又重、又冷。沒有道路、沒有橋樑、沒有街巷,也沒有任何讓你覺得可以稱做房舍的東西。所謂城鎮,不過就是一堆茅草搭蓋的小屋,隱在密密的林子裡,四周挖了道溝,還築有矮牆,泥巴砌的,或是用樹幹一個個堆起來的。那些人幾乎不耕種,更沒有五穀,只靠養牧牛羊牲畜過活。他們不造貨幣,把金屬環當錢使用。他們編籃子的手藝很巧,通常蠻番民族都是如此;他們還會製造一種粗布,和一些很差的陶器。不過蓋起要塞堡壘,他們倒是能幹多了。

丁丁註:什麼法蘭西、西班牙...當時都還沒有這些國家,狄大文豪只是用這些名詞幫助小朋友了解地理位置。此時無論不列顛還是對岸大陸,都屬於一支稱作Celtic的民族。

下一篇

Gaskell的《南與北》

Elizabeth Gaskell是與狄更斯同時代的知名女作家,作品曾在狄更斯首創的雜誌連載刊出。她是《簡愛》作者布朗特的密友,為後者寫過一部傳記。小說《南與北》描寫十九世紀變動時代的英格蘭,以下抽譯一段(是篇舊譯,有時間再修改):

'I beg your pardon, ma'am. The gentleman was gone so quickly, I had no time to tell him. Mr. Thornton called almost directly after you left; and, as I understood from what the gentleman said, you would be back in an hour, I told him so, and he came again about five minutes ago, and said he would wait for Mr. Hale. He is in your room now, ma'am.' 'Thank you. My father will return soon, and then you can tell him.'

「對不起,小姐。老先生出去得這麼快,我還來不及告訴他,剛才你們才走,宋騰先生就正好來了。我因為聽老先生說,以為你們一個鐘頭之內就會回來,所以也這麼跟宋騰先生說了。結果他五分鐘前又轉回來,說是等赫爾先生。現在就在你們房裡,小姐。」「謝謝,我爹一會兒就回來,到時你再跟他說。」

Margaret opened the door and went in with the straight, fearless, dignified presence habitual to her. She felt no awkwardness; she had too much the habits of society for that. Here was a person come on business to her father; and, as he was one who had shown himself obliging, she was disposed to treat him with a full measure of civility. Mr. Thornton was a good deal more surprised and discomfited than she. Instead of a quiet, middle-aged clergyman, a young lady came forward with frank dignity,--a young lady of a different type to most of those he was in the habit of seeing.

瑪格麗特打開門,用她一向坦然無懼的矜貴神態走進房內,一點也不覺得彆扭。她見過的場面多了,不會為這點小事感到拘促不安。人家是來找父親談正事,而且已經上門恭候,她自然要好好地以禮接待。宋騰先生反而大大嚇了一跳,比瑪格麗特尷尬多了。進門來的,不是個沉靜安祥的中年牧師||卻是位年輕小姐,坦然大方,矜貴自持||跟他平常常見的年輕小姐完全不同典型。

Her dress was very plain: a close straw bonnet of the best material and shape, trimmed with white ribbon; a dark silk gown, without any trimming or flounce; a large Indian shawl, which hung about her in long heavy folds, and which she wore as an empress wears her drapery. He did not understand who she was, as he caught the simple, straight, unabashed look, which showed that his being there was of no concern to the beautiful countenance, and called up no flush of surprise to the pale ivory of the complexion. He had heard that Mr. Hale had a daughter, but he had imagined that she was a little girl.

她的穿著也很簡單:緊貼的草帽,鑲著白色緞帶,質料和樣式都是最講究的;深色的絲質長裙,不帶任何裝飾或花樣;一襲印度披肩,層層厚褶長長地垂裹著她,她披著它宛如女皇襲著她的王袍。他不知道她是誰,卻看見她臉上自然大方的神情,沒有半點羞澀,顯然他的出現絲毫不會驚動這張泰然自容的美麗面孔,也未令雪白的皮膚泛起一點受驚的紅潮。他聽說赫爾先生有個女兒,可是一直以為只是個小女孩。

'Mr. Thornton, I believe!' said Margaret, after a half-instant's pause, during which his unready words would not come. 'Will you sit down. My father brought me to the door, not a minute ago, but unfortunately he was not told that you were here, and he has gone away on some business. But he will come back almost directly. I am sorry you have had the trouble of calling twice.' Mr. Thornton was in habits of authority himself, but she seemed to assume some kind of rule over him at once. He had been getting impatient at the loss of his time on a market-day, the moment before she appeared, yet now he calmly took a seat at her bidding.

瑪格麗特頓了半秒,他則說不出任何話來,她開口招呼:「我想,您一定是宋騰先生!請坐。家父剛送我回來,還不到一分鐘前。不巧還來不及知道您在這兒,就又出去辦別的事了。不過他馬上就回來。抱歉讓您跑了兩趟。」宋騰先生一向習慣由自己發號施令,可是她似乎立刻對他產生某種掌控力。就在她露面的前一刻,他本來已經有點不耐煩了,今天原是市集日,卻浪費時間在這裡乾等。可是現在她一聲令下,他馬上鎮靜地坐下來。

'Do you know where it is that Mr. Hale has gone to? Perhaps I might be able to find him.' 'He has gone to a Mr. Donkin's in Canute Street. He is the land-lord of the house my father wishes to take in Crampton.' Mr. Thornton knew the house. He had seen the advertisement, and been to look at it, in compliance with a request of Mr. Bell's that he would assist Mr. Hale to the best of his power: and also instigated by his own interest in the case of a clergyman who had given up his living under circumstances such as those of Mr. Hale. Mr. Thornton had thought that the house in Crampton was really just the thing; but now that he saw Margaret, with her superb ways of moving and looking, he began to feel ashamed of having imagined that it would do very well for the Hales, in spite of a certain vulgarity in it which had struck him at the time of his looking it over.

「妳知道赫爾先生上那兒去了嗎?也許我可以找著他。」「他去克努街一位當肯先生家。家父想租下他在克瑞普頓的房子。」宋騰知道那戶房子。他見過招租廣告,也去親自看過,是應貝爾先生之托,儘可能幫幫赫爾先生。事實上,也因為他自己好奇,天下竟有人如赫爾先生,就這樣放棄好好的牧師俸祿。宋騰先生本來覺得克瑞普頓的房子蠻合用;可是現在見了瑪格麗特,看見她出色的模樣舉止,他忽然覺得很慚愧,當初竟會認為赫爾一家住那戶房子夠好了。當初去看的時候,明明覺得那地方有幾分鄙俗。

Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, full of a soft feminine defiance, always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness. She was tired now, and would rather have remained silent, and taken the rest her father had planned for her; but, of course, she owed it to herself to be a gentlewoman, and to speak courteously from time to time to this stranger; not over-brushed, nor over-polished, it must be confessed, after his rough encounter with Milton streets and crowds. She wished that he would go, as he had once spoken of doing, instead of sitting there, answering with curt sentences all the remarks she made.

瑪格麗特不是故意,她長的就是這個樣子,又有什麼辦法。可是她小巧微噘的上唇,厚實圓翹的下巴,頭部的姿態,舉手投足之間,處處流露出屬於柔軟的女性傲然氣息,總令陌生人產生一種不把人放在眼裡的高傲印象。此刻的她很疲累,真想安安靜靜,照父親的吩咐好好歇息一下。可是她當然不能任自己如此,她是好人家有教養的女兒,因此不時必須和這位陌生人客氣地寒喧兩句。實在說起來,看他衣著,不很挺括,鞋履,有些塵土,這是在彌爾頓街頭那粗糙世界走動的必然結果。她希望他起身告辭,先前他不也這樣表示過嗎,為什麼,卻一直坐著不動呢,只簡潔地回應她每句話。

She had taken off her shawl, and hung it over the back of her chair. She sat facing him and facing the light; her full beauty met his eye; her round white flexile throat rising out of the full, yet lithe figure; her lips, moving so slightly as she spoke, not breaking the cold serene look of her face with any variation from the one lovely haughty curve; her eyes, with their soft gloom, meeting his with quiet maiden freedom. He almost said to himself that he did not like her, before their conversation ended; he tried so to compensate himself for the mortified feeling, that while he looked upon her with an admiration he could not repress, she looked at him with proud indifference, taking him, he thought, for what, in his irritation, he told himself he was--a great rough fellow, with not a grace or a refinement about him. Her quiet coldness of demeanour he interpreted into contemptuousness, and resented it in his heart to the pitch of almost inclining him to get up and go away, and have nothing more to do with these Hales, and their superciliousness.

她已經把披肩取下,搭在椅背上,面朝他坐著,臉向著光;她整個的美,在他眼前一覽無遺:圓潤雪白的頸項,頎長嬝嫋地起於豐盈柔軟的身軀。當她說話的時候,櫻唇輕啟是那麼地細微,決計不讓美妙高傲弧線的任何移動,打破寧靜嬌容的淡然神情。她的眼眸,柔和深邃,靜靜地帶著一種處女純潔的直率,迎看他的目光。他們交談未了,他幾乎就要告訴自己,他不喜歡她。他很想這樣做,因為他有受創的感覺,想要補平這份傷害。他是這麼不能自已地仰慕望她,她卻這麼高傲,這麼毫不在乎地回望他,把他當做──他心想,雖然老大不快,卻也只有自承自己確是如此──道地的大老粗,全身不帶半點風度儀表。她的靜持淡漠,他解讀成輕蔑不屑,心頭被忿怒咬囓已極,幾乎想立刻起身離去,再也不要和這赫爾一家人,和他們的神氣臭架子,有任何牽扯關連。

中英一家

真有趣,原來中英文是一家,今天發現,在倉頡之下:

shoe,就是...履!!
而且也是屐!!

希望陸續還有意外驚喜。

10/05/2007

Mine to Lose, Yours to Gain

友人相詢:

The American presidency is Hillary Clinton's to lose 是什麼意思?

這個句型有趣!!

中文裡的「中華大勝日本」、「中華大敗日本」,都是我勝,這裡的 lose 同樣奧妙,也是她贏。

是你的,或穩是你的,才談得到失去。所以 it's someone's to lose,表示如在囊中,探手可得,勝算極高,等於已是其人之物,幾乎就只等此人去贏,除非忽然陰溝裡翻了船。反之,someone's to gain,就是人人有希望,個個沒把握,說不準是不是你的,所以必須去努力贏得。

如果你應徵工作,對方竟買機票,提供住宿,大老遠接你去面談,
Well, it seems the job is yours to lose.
十拿九穩對方很中意你,等著上任吧。

如果林志玲競選名模,Well, the champion is hers to lose.
反過來說,如果林志玲的小喬去提名金馬獎,但是輸了,
她可以這樣漂亮地回答媒體:Well, it was never mine to lose.

9/25/2007

話說不列顛(一):歐洲的阿媽──維多利亞女王的系譜

Victorian!一個奇特的字眼。同時代表了古板嚴謹、浪漫綺麗、繁飾雕瑣。這個形容詞可以用來描述建築與室內佈置的風格,也可以代表拘謹的道德風俗習氣。廿世紀人所經歷、所看見的今日世界,都源自維多利亞時期,狄更斯、達爾文、馬克思、愛迪生、印象派、共產主義、現代消費主義、鐵路客運、漫遊仙境的艾麗絲,都成於或生於那個居於過去與現代接壤轉型的年代。那也是大英帝國叱吒風雲最盛的歲月,而坐在帝國寶座上承襲這日不落帝國一切榮光的君王,卻是位表情嚴肅帶著幾分哀容的矮胖小婦人,她是英國在位最長的國君之一,十八歲即位,八十二歲謝世,六十四年光陰有三分之二時間穿著黑衣,紀念她英年早逝的夫君。

Queen Victoria (她是大不列顛與愛爾蘭的女「王」,印度的女「皇」)除了統領當時世上最大的帝國,並為世人留下無數以她名字為印記、稱呼的事物與觀念之外,還有一項他人趕不上的記錄與封號:歐洲的祖奶奶。她與王夫亞伯特王子共生了四男五女,婚配遍及歐洲各國王室,她的子孫婿媳親家,直接間接主導、影響、改變了世界的歷史與走向,俄國革命、一次大戰、二次大戰,都可見他們或明或暗的身影;交錯複雜的血緣關係,一再演出歐洲王室同胤操戈的糾葛矛盾。甚至在廿一世紀的今天,歐洲碩果僅存的幾家王座上依然坐著她的子孫,甚至夫妻同為她的後嗣,包括現任英國女王與王夫,西班牙國王及王后。

她的長女遠嫁德國皇子,兵臨巴黎完成日耳曼統一大業的德皇威廉一世遂成為她的親家,發動一次世界大戰的威廉二世是她的外孫,外孫女是希臘王后。三個外曾孫先後接任希臘國王,外玄孫還是當今希臘國王。

她的長子愛德華七世,等到白頭耳順之年終於繼承了母親的王位。她的親孫子英王喬治五世和她的親外孫女婿俄國沙皇尼古拉二世聯手,與她的親外孫德皇威廉二世對敵打了一場世界大戰,結果是德國外孫與俄國外孫女兩家悲劇下台,世界也從此改了面貌。她的曾孫愛德華八世上演了一齣感動全球不愛江山愛美人的愛情悲喜劇,只好由另一名曾孫弟弟喬治六世匆匆紫袍加身上陣,又打了一場世界大戰,隨後王位又傳給了玄孫女伊麗沙白二世。另一位孫女是挪威國王Haakon七世的王后,外曾孫是前任挪威國王,外玄孫是當今挪威國王。

她的次女嫁給了日耳曼王子,四外孫女嫁給了沙皇尼古拉二世,把帶著外祖母維多利亞血友病遺傳基因的染色體,傳給了獨子俄國王位繼承人,直接間接造成了羅曼諾夫王朝的崩亡。大外孫女也嫁給日耳曼王子,次外曾女是瑞典王后***,小外曾孫是大名鼎鼎、戰功顯赫的蒙巴頓伯頓。大外曾孫女則嫁給希臘王子,外玄孫又「嫁」了回來與她的玄孫女伊麗莎白結為夫婦,這位外玄孫就是當今英國王夫愛丁堡公爵。他的祖父是希臘國王,他的曾祖父是丹麥國王Christian九世*,他的姑婆嫁給了英王愛德華七世,所以他和伊麗莎白女王是親上加親再加親,父系母系兩頭的「遠房」表兄妹。就他的母系而言,他和女王是third cousins,從他的父系來說,他們是second cousins once removed**。

她的次子娶了俄國沙皇亞歷山大二世的公主,尼古拉二世的姑姑。孫女是羅馬尼亞王后,外曾孫是羅馬尼亞國王,被納粹勢力逐出在海外流亡以終。外玄孫是最後一任羅馬尼亞國王,在共產黨壓力之下退位。

她的三子娶了普魯士公主,孫女是瑞典王后***,玄孫現在還是瑞典國王。

她的三女、四女、小兒子、小女兒「子孫成就」比較不那麼輝煌,不過當然也分別嫁娶王孫貴冑。

所以當今歐洲王室一家親,左算過來右算過來,父系、母系都離不了同一位:維多利女王太上老佛爺。

* 說起維多利亞這位丹麥國王親家的繁衍力,比之維多利亞女王更有過而無不及,外號歐洲的祖爺爺、又稱歐洲的老丈人,後嗣包括外孫俄國沙皇尼古拉二世、外孫英王喬治五世(尼古拉和喬治兩姨表兄弟長得真是好像!)、丹麥國王、希臘國王、挪威國王。當今歐洲所有依然奉行君主制的國家,都仍是由他的子孫擔任君王。

如果你有耐心讀到這裡,而且頭還沒昏,丁丁恭喜你!

** 奇怪的親屬稱謂,這裡分解
*** 這對親表姨甥,先後嫁給了同一位瑞典國王,看來王室婚姻顧不了是否錯輩岔輩了。

交融謂之淡

李安色戒得獎,媒體新聞不斷,今天在Ettoday看到一則妙聞(原英文訪問稿見此):

牛仔皇后Lureen 和心中另有所愛的傑克,在酒吧邂逅後上演車震戲碼,看對眼的兩個人在老車上,一開始還是很羞澀,Lureen 主動脫掉襯衫,讓傑克兩眼直瞪,人類原始本能一觸即發,這是【斷背山】的經典橋段之一。

傑克透露,李安在導這場戲的時候,竟然連成語「水乳交融」都拿出來,要他們揣摩,水和牛奶混合在一起的時候,感覺有多好。

Jake Gyllenhaal指出,「李安說,你們就表現出像是水和牛奶混在一起的感覺,安(安海瑟薇)馬上附和說,對!我懂,太美好了,真是太棒了,我則是丈二金剛摸不著頭緒,完全不知道他在說什麼?」

中西語意背道而馳,此為一例。「水+乳」其實在英文裡也是「成語」,但意思另有所指,而且是負面的。milk-and-water意指「淡而無味」,牛奶(不是奶粉噢)沖了水,交後融則融矣,但想想看那滋味好不好喝?因此milk-and-water又引申為「軟弱無力」。要兩位演員揣摩水和牛奶混合在一起,來表現一觸即發的力道,難怪傑克領會不來,悟性確是比安海瑟薇差了一些。:-)

不過這段報導中最有趣的是傑克「自道」:我則是「丈二金剛」摸不著頭緒。

完全不知道「水乳交融」中文成語意義的傑克,竟然會出口成章,來一句中文歇後語...

傑克,這真是太神奇了!!

9/12/2007

All Clear

It was a clear day yesterday. After so many days of downpours and drizzle, the weather finally cleared up. So I went to my bank to deposit a check. The pretty clerk with a set of clear blue eyes told me the check would clear within one day. Clearly it was a pleasant surprise. I had not expected it to be cleared this quick. She said because nowadays they use the electornic Automated Clearing House process.

So it was clear that I would be able to use the money for today's clearance sale at an out-of-town shopping mall. But first I needed to clear up and out my closet to clear the way for my new incoming wardrobe. I also want to make one thing clear that I am not a shopaholic. And my conscience is clear, and my mind is clear since I'm very clear about what I'm doing. And that was what I did, a clearance of my closet before a clearance of the shop's clearance closets. Ha Ha Ha.

And so it happened that this morning after the breakfast I immedialy cleared away the cups and plates. As soon as the early mist had cleared, I drove clear over to the mall. But alas, there was a bomb scare and police cars were all over the place. You would need a top top security clearance to get into the shops as the police was conducting the operations on searching and clearance of the bombs. They shouted at us, "stay clear!"

So no more clearance sale shopping today. We were all told to clear out of the place, not to wait for the all clear sign. And everyone was clear-sighted enough to follow the order. The traffic was forced to detour through an unfamiliar neighborhood which clear as day was recently developed after a widespread clearance of jungle land. And alas again, a huge 18-wheeler in front of us couldn't get past the clearance of an overpass bridge there and stuck for an hour, which of course caused more police action and detouring. The whole situation was clear-cut hopeless.

After much patience and waiting, finally the coast was clear. We were cleared for passing underneath the damaged bridge. As soon as I was clear of the dangerously-looking havoc and made sure that I was in the clear, I made a clear mental note to myself that I would forever stay clear of this particular area. I cleared my throat and started my clear as a bell whistling, going home for a clear soup for lunch. That was when I heard a thud and it was crystal clear that I had a flat tire. My mind went clear as mud.

That was when I felt like having a glass of clear and strong you-know-what substance, to clear my mind.

Did I make myself clear, dear clear-headed reader?

9/10/2007

捷運大話英文

很多人都對捷運電扶梯上的英文標誌好奇:

Beware loose clothing. Keep your trousers clear.

第一句 beware 後面掉了個 of,第二句 clear 後面應該說明 of something。
難怪大家看不懂,其實可以明明白白地這樣說:

Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.

或更強調:

Safety Hazard!! Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.

clear 的意思,就是以前公車後面常見的標誌:「保持距離,以策安全」--不要碰到。
clearance 即指可通過的安全距離,隧道、高架橋可見 Clearance: nn ft,超過這高度的車子不得通過。

8/23/2007

Making Sense of Headline Grammar

現在全民都在英語運動,首要之法是多看英文報章,看報第一件事是看標題。咦,可有人就說啦,怎麼這些標題好像不太合文法;或有人用錯誤的「中文法」解讀這些標題,或以為標題「無法」。其實英文新聞標題的寫作,有一些基本規則體例(style)。以下就以紐約時報(2/13/2007)電子版舉例說明:

1. 已經發生的事情,多用現在簡單式也就是所謂「歷史事實」的時態表示:

  • North Korea Agrees to Wind Down Nuclear Program
  • Skeptics Doubt U.S. Evidence on Iran Action in Iraq
這種「完全句」也是最常使用的標題句構,因為「新」聞其實不都是「舊」聞嗎。

2. 仍在進行或持續中的事情,用現在分詞表示:

  • Teenagers Misbehaving, for All Online to Watch
  • Irish Rep Buying Home
  • Recasting the Word Processor for a Connected World
  • Littering the Stage With Bodies
句首尤其不可用原形動詞 Recast或Litter,否則就如同滑稽的 Taiwan, Touch Your Heart ,變成指使第二人稱的命令語氣 (imperative mood)。因此本文標題是 Making Sense of, 而非 Make Sense。因為前者表示本文在試著弄懂標題文法,後者卻變成叫本文的讀者也就是各位弄搞懂標題文法了!!

3. 將要發生的事情,用不定詞(to + 原形動詞)表示: 

  • Electronics Retailer to Close 70 Stores
  • Tiger Woods to Skip Nissan Open
以上二與三兩例,都是用片語而不是完全句來寫作標題。

事實上以片語形態寫作標題,變化不只如此:

4. 以過去分詞片語表示被動語態:

  • A Familiar and Prescient Voice, Brought to Life
  • Ex-Westar Executive Released From Prison Pending Appeal 
這裡的 brought 和 released,都省略了做為主動詞的be動詞,成為過去分語片語。因為標題基本上是一種電報式語言,以最少的字數,在有限的標題空間內表達並突顯最完整的概念,所以非必要字都予以省略,包括冠詞在內。但省略雖省略,依然要遵守文法規則,不可亂省或亂讀。

5. 多種時態、語態合用:

  • Stuck in Asia, Dreaming of Hollywood 
這個標題若「還原」成一般的完全句構,如下所示: (Somebody is) stuck in Asia, (and is) dreaming of Hollywood.  

6. 有時甚至一個動詞也沒有,完全使用介系詞/形容詞/副詞(片語)表達:

  • States and U.S. at Odds on Aid for Uninsured
  • Faces, Faces Everywhere
  • The No-Name Brand Behind the Latest Flat-Panel Price War
其實這裡的 be 動詞 (is / are / was / were) 都省略了

7. 或乾脆是名詞(片語): 

  1. Doctors and Drug Makers: A Move to End Cozy Ties
  2. Iraq Then, Iran Now: A Rising Chorus of Skeptics
  3. Books of The Times: Hollywood Decameron, Without All the Fun

8. 定冠詞與不定冠詞: 

  1. 原則上可省略
  2. 但有必要釐清語意或特意強調時,則不予省略

9. 標題中每個字,原則上第一個字母都要大寫,不過冠詞、四個字母以下的 連接詞與介詞除外。當然句首第一個字的第一個字母一律大寫。但進入網路時代,最 in 的寫法則是通通不大寫,老一輩行之有年的文字行業規矩,現在也漸漸一一打破了。

新聞寫作,有其共通法則,每家報紙也多有其內規(style guide),容或大同小異。做為讀者的我們,新聞標題的閱讀,有其「密碼」,按碼解讀,始知其意。最好的方法,就是多看實例,最糟糕的做法,則是看見實例卻自己想當然耳。

大鳴大放吧,女士們請儘量端出來!

Maureen Dowd 是紐約時報女性專欄政論作家,向以見解犀利、文筆趣辣見長。從文章欣賞與語文學習的角度而言,讀她的文章更是一種樂趣。英國文學背景出身的她,筆下涉典豐富,文字機趣尤多。用心精讀一篇 Maureen,隨時活用,英文功力絕對可以顯著增加,而且還能旁及文化知識,實在痛快!

有篇專文標題為《Dish It Out, Ladies》更是她現身說法,道出男性獨霸的政論圈中,身為女性政論家之難為。試取首段析之。

原文:When I need to work up my nerve to write a tough column, I try to think of myself as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit, giving a kung fu kick to any diabolical mastermind who merits it.

譯文:每逢我需要鼓勇,在專欄裡寫篇「悍」文,就試想自己是皮爾夫人,一襲黑色緊身皮裝,一記功夫踢,踢向任何活該吃我一記的大惡主謀。

(丁丁的翻譯原則是儘量亦步步趨,保存原形與原意與原風,同時力求符合原生中文語構。不以形害意,也不以意昧形。當然這是可望不可及的目標,但取法乎上,俾能得乎中已足矣。)

dish out:這個是慣語動詞(phrasal verb*),望文生義就是:

(1)分菜,西餐是分食,在餐廳裡各點各食,在家中也是一道道菜由眾人在桌上傳送自行舀出所需,或由某人負責將一份份分到各人碟中。這位某人,多由母親或家中女性或僕人侍者擔任。
(2)引申為分送分配給予任何東西:dish out advice、dish the money out to specifc projects。
(3)再引申為提出批評,給予強烈批評:dish it out to somebody、dish out criticism to someone。Maureen在此似有一語雙關妙義,呼籲女性評論者勇敢出來,不要客氣,好好批評,把傳統多屬女性任務的家中分菜任務,轉而在公領域評論天下事。丁丁姑譯之為「大鳴大放吧,女士們請儘量端出來!」

* phrasal verb:動詞加副詞或介係詞的慣語表達,如dish out、work up、shut up、look out·

work up:一個極好用與常用的慣語動詞,目標對象可以是

(1)人:弄得很激動、生氣:Don't work yourself up over such small stuff ;逐漸增強速度、能力、效率、進度:Start off lightly, then work yourself up.
(2)物:鼓起、激起、引起:work up the enthusiasm, courage, a sweat, an appetite.
(3)物:花時間與力氣做出寫出畫出:work up a plan, charts, an article.

nerve:可以多利用的生動好字。通常
(1)複數形nerves是指應付困難、壓力、危險、憂慮的能力毅力:My nerves are worn out. 或
(2)直指焦慮憂心的感覺 ,等同nervousness:an attack of nerves. It was just nerves.
(3)如果有人或有事gets on your nerves,表示他/它惹你不快,惹到你了
(4)單數形則指面對難事所需的勇氣,也就是Maureen所用:work up my nerve, hold/keep your nerve, lose my nerve. 亦可做動詞:Nerve yourself to face the challenge.
(5)has a/the nerve意義又不同了,是負面口吻,表示豈有此理,竟敢如此:He really had the nerve to tell me this! (6)敏感處,敏感話題 touchs a (raw) nerve,不小心題到別人敏感或感覺強烈的話題。哪壺不開提哪壺。

tough
(1)形容人:意志強烈,吃苦耐勞不畏難:a tough businessman
(2)難搞又暴力的人:a tough guy
(3)直接當名詞:a tough = a tough person
(4)犯罪猖獗地區:a tough neighborhood
(5)苦難人生:a tough childhood、a tough day
(7)難題或難事:a tough decision、a tough job
(8)強硬立場、路線、政策、手段:a tough line on security、tough measures
(9)硬綁綁、堅硬難破之物:a tough coating、The steak was tough。

一個類似但不完全相似的字是rough
(1)粗暴:a rough game、rough treatment
(2)同樣表示危險多事多犯罪之地:a rough area、 the rough part of the town
(3)不平坦、多浪:rough hands、rough surface、rough seas。此外還有很多意義與用法,可參考字典例句。

Emma Peel
六十年代的英國經典電視劇集〈復仇者〉(The Avengers)劇中女主角皮爾夫人,經常一襲連身的緊身皮衣,婀娜窈窕,身手不凡,由英國名女星Diana Rigg擔綱演出。這位美麗動人、演技精湛、影視劇多棲的演員,1994年因其演藝貢獻受英女王封爵,成為有封號的Dame Diana Rigg,和Sir 艾爾頓.強、Sir 史恩.康納萊都成了爵士(knight)。此劇衍生的1998年電影版〈復仇者〉皮爾夫人,則由塢瑪舒曼 (Uma Thurman) 飾演

diabolical
(1)邪惡,壞到極點
(2)要命,糟糕已極(口語用法):a diabolical mistake.·

mastermind:複雜、艱難計劃背後一手導演策劃之人,也可當動詞使用。

merit:這個字也可以多多套用。它的名詞是正面的優點,可是當動詞用時卻不限正負。比 deserve 更屬「正式」用詞,譯成「活該」,其實有點兒輕佻了。

句型結構
When…., I…, giving…who…整整一小段,從英文文法觀念論只有「一句」,主動詞是主要子句的「try」,卻包括了When 時間子句做副詞 ,I try to 主要子句,再加上 giving 分詞子句述情況,以及who 關係代名詞子句形容受詞 mastermind。

時態
全句為現在式,表示一種常態。若以過去式出之,就表示 Dowd 可能已經收山罷筆,在回憶當初寫作心情。·

介係詞的妙用

When I need to work up my nerve to write a tough column, I try to think of myself as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit, giving a kung fu kick to any diabolical mastermind who merits it.

丁丁一直很喜歡介係詞,小小的它,像食物中的鹽,缺之不可,像點點繁星,令黝暗的天幕生動熠耀起來。介係詞扮演著起承轉合的奇妙角色,除了構成慣語動詞外,更可以增加動詞的強度、亮度、色彩,使動詞描述的動作更強烈、更明亮、更具動感,比方 Speak up! 就比單單 Speak 有力。介係詞還指出動作的目標、方向,人事物的所在、關係、情境,妙的是它更可不斷串用後接下去,卻不必另外動用子句或動詞,便能增補、變化句意,使一則「簡單句」傳載更多訊息。

(主要參考資料:Collins Cobuild)

出版--不啻出賣心靈

艾蜜莉的.狄金遜的詩,多數隱晦難解,因為她往往將具象與抽象互易,推到極限,發揮得淋灕盡致。而且還常常特意偏離「正常」文法,使得我們一般非英語原生族原本就很難看懂的英詩,更形難上加難。

艾蜜莉寫了近1800首詩,可是終其一生卻出版了大約七首。下面這首詩可以一窺她對出版一事的看法。

Emily Dickinson
#709

Publication -- is the Auction
Of the Mind of Man --
Poverty -- be justifying
For so foul a thing

Possibly -- but We -- would rather
From Our Garret go
White -- Unto
the White Creator --
Than invest -- Our Snow --

Thought belong to Him who gave it --
Then -- to Him Who bear
Its Corporeal illustration -- Sell
The Royal Air --

In the Parcel -- Be the Merchant
Of the Heavenly Grace --
But reduce no Human Spirit
To Disgrace of Price --

這一首詩,先不論其意象之豐之難,乍看也是文法上的難詩,不過透過重組成「白話散文」,似乎可以看出幾分端倪,也顯示起碼在這首詩中,艾蜜莉基本上還算恪遵了文法規則:

Publication is the auction of the mind of man,
poverty possibly be justifying for so foul a thing.

But we would rather go white from our garret
unto the white creator than invest our snow.

(May) Thought belong to Him who gave it,
then belong to Him who bear its corporeal illustration.

Sell the royal air in the parcel;
Be the merchant of the heavenly grace.
But reduce no human spirit to disgrace of price.

以下試就原詩「直」譯成中文,韻腳就先不管了:

出版 -- 不啻拍賣
人的心靈所有 --
貧困 -- 才合去做
如此不堪之事

或許吧 -- 然而我們 -- 寧自
我們的閣樓,以雪
之白 -- 向那白色的造主
卻不投注 -- 我們的雪花 --

讓思維歸於那賜下思維者 --
然後 -- 再歸於那具現
思維肉身形貌者 -- 去販售
那尊貴的氣息吧 --

整批包裝地販售 -- 去做買賣人吧
買賣那神聖的恩賜 --
但請不要,貶損人的靈性
蒙受標價污辱 --

狄更斯的義大利

一八四四年,已是成名作家的狄更斯舉家赴義大利渡假一年。此時的他三十二歲,此時的義大利猶是一個四分五裂的地區。下面三小段是他作別翡冷翠,離開義大利的心情文字。

Beyond the walls, the whole sweet Valley of the Arno, the convent at Fiesole, the Tower of Galileo, BOCCACCIO'S house, old villas and retreats; innumerable spots of interest, all glowing in a landscapeof surpassing beauty steeped in the richest light; are spread before us. Returning from so much brightness, how solemn and how grand the streets again, with their great, dark, mournful palaces, and many legends: not of siege, and war, and might, and Iron Hand alone, but of the triumphant growth of peaceful Arts and Sciences.

越過牆外,一望無際展現在我們眼前,是阿諾河美麗河谷的全貌,還有座落於費葉索里的修院、伽利略的高塔、薄伽丘的寓所、古老的別院別莊、數不清的勝地,千嬌百媚,都在這一片浸浴無限光華的景緻中綻放光芒。從如此耀目的視野回來,這些街道愈顯得肅穆莊嚴,它們那高大沉雄蒼涼的宮室,以及背後多少傳奇舊事:不但是慘烈激昂的圍城與戰事、權勢與鐵腕的高壓統治,更有藝術、科學祥寧的成長凱歌。

What light is shed upon the world, at this day, from amidst these rugged Palaces of Florence! Here, open to all comers, in their beautiful and calm retreats, the ancient Sculptors are immortal, side by side with Michael Angelo, Canova, Titian, Rembrandt, Raphael, Poets, Historians, Philosophers - those illustrious men ofhistory, beside whom its crowned heads and harnessed warriors show so poor and small, and are so soon forgotten. Here, the imperishable part of noble minds survives, placid and equal, when strongholds of assault and defence are overthrown; when the tyranny of the many, or the few, or both, is but a tale; when Pride and Power are so much cloistered dust. The fire within the stern streets, and among the massive Palaces and Towers, kindled by rays from Heaven, is still burning brightly, when the flickering of waris extinguished and the household fires of generations have decayed; as thousands upon thousands of faces, rigid with the strife and passion of the hour, have faded out of the old Squares and public haunts, while the nameless Florentine Lady, preserved from oblivion by a Painter's hand, yet lives on, in enduring grace and youth.

翡冷翠的宮室已舊,可是即使今天,何等的光耀仍在熠照世界!上古的雕刻家,在美麗沉靜的別莊內向所有的人開放,永垂不朽,與米開朗基羅、卡諾瓦、提香、林布蘭、拉斐爾、詩人、史家、哲人比肩併立──和這些史上的輝煌巨人比起來,那些側身一旁的戴冠的君侯、披甲的戰士,顯得多麼渺小、貧乏,多麼快便被歷史湮忘。在此,高貴心靈那不滅的一線馨香,嬝嬝長存,平和、沉靜。攻防的堅固堡壘,卻都已傾頹潰散。暴民、暴君,徒留故事在人間;驕矜、權勢,也封隱盡成塵灰。面目嚴峻的街道內、高大的宮室樓塔間,火燄依然燦亮焚照,是上天降下的光芒點燃,搖曳的兵燹卻已滅盡,幾世的爐火俱已敗熄;千張萬張來去的臉容,為一時的傾軋、激動而嚴峻,都已從舊日的門庭、公眾的廣場消失、淡褪。只有那不知名的翡冷翠仕女,因畫家手從湮滅保存下來,永遠年輕、永遠雍容、永遠地活著。

Let us look back on Florence while we may, and when its shining Dome is seen no more, go travelling through cheerful Tuscany, with a bright remembrance of it; for Italy will be the fairer for therecollection. The summer-time being come: and Genoa, and Milan, and the Lake of Como lying far behind us: and we resting at Faido, a Swiss village, near the awful rocks and mountains, theeverlasting snows and roaring cataracts, of the Great Saint Gothard: hearing the Italian tongue for the last time on this journey: let us part from Italy, with all its miseries and wrongs, affectionately, in our admiration of the beauties, natural and artificial, of which it is full to overflowing, and in our tenderness towards a people, naturally well-disposed, and patient, and sweet-tempered. Years of neglect, oppression, and misrule,have been at work, to change their nature and reduce their spirit; miserable jealousies, fomented by petty Princes to whom union was destruction, and division strength, have been a canker at their root of nationality, and have barbarized their language; but the good that was in them ever, is in them yet, and a noble people may be, one day, raised up from these ashes. Let us entertain that hope! And let us not remember Italy the less regardfully, because, in every fragment of her fallen Temples, and every stone of her deserted palaces and prisons, she helps to inculcate the lesson that the wheel of Time is rolling for an end, and that the worldis, in all great essentials, better, gentler, more forbearing, and more hopeful, as it rolls!

啊趁我們猶能之際,回首再望一眼翡冷翠,當視線再也不能望及那輝熠的圓頂,便向入目愉悅的塔斯坎尼繼續前行,帶著它明亮燦爛的記憶在心頭。因為心中有它,回想之際義大利將變得更為美好。夏日的腳步近了,熱那亞、米蘭、科摩湖,都已遠遠拋在我們身後,我們在瑞士一處小村Faido過夜,聖哥達山脈的崇石峻嶺、終年不化的積雪、怒吼奔流的飛瀑,就在左近拔起雄峙。這是我們在旅途上最後一回聽見義大利語了。就在此作別義大利吧,縱有它各種的不是與不幸,卻在它千種風情、萬般姿態,在它人為的、自然的、流溢滿洩的美麗裡,懷著溫柔不捨的心情,向原本天生和氣、甜蜜、善良、堅忍的義大利民告別了。多年的疏忽、迫害、失政、混亂、蹂躪,破壞了他們的本性,墮落了他們的精神。那些視統一、聯合為仇讎的小公小爵,為不幸的忌恨搧火加溫,再加上分裂的勢力,俱都像癰毒般啃嚙著他們民族的根、使他們的語言日趨下作野蠻。但是他們心中良善的本質,過去在,今天依然也在;一支高貴的民族,有一天,或將再度從這些灰燼之中重生,崛起。讓我們懷抱著這份光明的希望!讓我們對義大利的回憶,不因此減低半分敬意。因為在每座倒塌神廟的殘破之中,在每一塊廢棄宮室與監獄的石塊之上,它都為人類記載了永恒的教訓:那就是時間之輪,並非隨意漫轉,乃是向一個目標滾動。隨著它的滾動,人世間那所有最偉大的精華,都不斷變為更美好、更溫柔、更容忍、更有希望!

8/22/2007

《傲慢與偏見》第一章

奧斯汀膾炙人口的名作《傲慢與偏見》,中譯不知凡幾,卻始終漏略刪減,未見全譯。丁丁也來嘗試一下,務求得窺中英對照全貌,次方及於辭順文美。

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

有件事實,舉世皆知:單身漢而多金,必定缺個老婆。

初來乍到,儘管他本人的態度、想法,大家都所知有限,這項事實在四鄰人家心裡卻已如此根深蒂固,不免便把他視為自家某個女兒的當然資產。

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.

「我親愛的賓老爺,」有一天他家太座對他說:「你可聽說低地園終於租出去了嗎?」
賓奈特先生應道他沒聽說。
「確是租出去了,」她回道:「郎太太才來過,她都告訴我了。」
賓奈特先生沒接腔。
「你不想知道誰租去了嗎?」他妻子不耐地拉高嗓門。
「妳想告訴我,我也不介意聽。」
這請說的意味就很充分了。

"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."

「嗐真是的,我親愛的,你非聽聽這個不可。郎太太說,低地園是給位年輕人租去了,非常富有,英格蘭北邊來的;又說他這禮拜一才下來看過,坐著輛四馬二輪車,看了非常中意,馬上就和莫瑞斯先生談妥了。郎太太還說他米迦勒節前就要住進去,他家一些夥計下禮拜底前就會先進來了。」

"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so? how can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"Design! nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."
"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party."

「他叫什麼名字?」
「彬禮。」
「已婚還是單身?」
「噢!單身,我親愛的,可不是嗎!單身漢,又富有,一年四五千鎊。多好的事啊,對我們女兒來說!」
「怎麼呢?這干她們什麼事?」
「我親愛的賓老爺,」他妻子答道:「你怎能這麼不通氣!你一定知道,我是在想著他娶她們當中哪一個啊。」
「他搬到這兒住下,就是為這打算?」
「打算!胡說,你怎能這樣說話!不過很可能,他也許會愛上她們哪一個啊,所以他一到,你得立刻去拜訪他不可。」
「我看沒這必要罷。妳和女兒可以去,或者,妳不如就讓她們自己去,說不定還更好些,因為,妳長得這麼俊,不輸她們任可一個,說不定這當中,彬禮先生還會最喜歡妳呢。」

"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know they visit no new comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not."

「我親愛的,你可真讓我開心。我當然也有過我那份美,但現在就不必再自以為還有什麼了不得了。一個女人有五個女兒都長大了,不能再把心思放在自家的美貌上頭。」
「這種情況下,通常那女人也沒啥美貌可去想了。」
「可是我親愛的,一等他搬進我們這區,你一定得去拜望彬禮先生。」
「這實在超出我能效勞的呢,真的。」
「可是替你女兒著想一下。只要想想,她們當中一個會何等風光啊。路卡斯爵士爺夫婦都打定主意要去了,不就是只為這個嗎,你也知道他們通常都不去拜望新鄰居的。你非去不可,你要不去,我們根本沒法子去看他。」

"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying which ever he chuses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy."
"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference."
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves."
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least."

「妳太過於拘禮了,真的。我敢說彬禮先生會很高興見妳;我還會請妳帶兩句話給他,叫他放心,我很樂意讓他娶我女兒,看上哪一個都成。雖然我得替我的小莉莎多美言兩句。」
「我拜託你千萬別做這種事。莉莎又不比其他幾個好上半點。我敢說,論模樣沒有珍一半俊,論脾氣也不及莉狄亞一半好。可你總偏她。」
「她們那幾個,實在沒什麼可誇的,」他回道:「全是些沒見識的蠢丫頭,就跟其他女孩兒一樣;可是莉莎卻比她姊姊妹妹都敏慧些。」
「賓大老爺,你怎麼能這樣糟蹋自己的孩子?你就喜歡惹我難受。一點兒也不同情我可憐的神經。」
「妳可誤會我了,我親愛的。我對妳的神經擁有高度敬意。它們是我老朋友了。我都是帶著關心體諒來聽妳提起貴神經,至少有這廿年了。」

"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."
"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
"It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."
"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all."

「嗐!你根本不知道我的苦。」
「可是我希望妳能苦盡甘來,活著見到許多一年四千鎊的年輕人住到我們這兒來。」
「就算有廿個這樣的人來,對我們也沒有用,反正你又不去看他們。」
「一等有廿個這樣的來,我親愛的,我會上門去把他們全部看遍。」

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

賓奈特先生的性子就是這樣古怪的組合:機敏、辛辣、含蓄、多變,相處了廿三個年頭,還是不足以令其妻看透他的性情。她的心智可沒這麼難揣模。這女人心眼淺,見識窄,情緒又不穩定。一有什麼不痛快,就幻想自己神經衰弱。她的人生大事,就是把女兒都嫁出去;她的人生慰藉,就是走訪四鄰,打探消息。

文化小補帖

為什麼 Sir William and Lady Lucas 要譯成路卡斯爵士爺夫婦?

這位爵爺全名是 William Lucas,威廉其名,路卡斯其姓。英國爵位系統,貴族品秩分 duke、marquis、earl、viscount、baron(公侯伯子男),此五級均尊稱「Lord」。至於低階榮銜 Baronet、Knight(從男爵或准男爵,爵士),專以封賜有貢獻或有成就的平民,只屬本人終身銜,不世襲,非屬正式貴族(Peer)之列,如名演員史恩康納萊,推理女王克莉絲蒂即是,則敬呼「Sir」(男)、「Dame」(女)。所以這位路卡斯爵爺是個「非貴族」的小爵士,地位比一般仕紳鄉紳又高一些。稱呼有爵有銜者,爵銜或榮銜後接其名,所以是 Sir William,其妻則稱 Lady,後接夫姓,所以是 Lady Lucas。

誰是賓奈特小姐?

一般人家女兒稱謂,未嫁之長以姓,如賓家長女珍為賓奈特小姐,老二老三以後各以其名稱之,如伊莉莎白小姐(莉莎為其暱稱)、莉狄亞小姐。珍出嫁後,成為某太太某夫人,就輪到次長之未嫁女接收賓奈特小姐之銜了。

8/21/2007

不是文法家的文法常談

A Non-grammarian's Grammar Talk

英文這玩意就構造來說的確比中文嚴格與結構化,對我們外人而言,幾個看似討厭的文法規定,卻需時時記於心,提醒自己:

建立敏感度,一些常犯的毛病,要像長針眼,嘴上帶飯或吃到砂子一樣,立刻覺不順眼,把它剔掉,把它挑出來,每寫一個句子,說句話,就用下列幾項檢查過濾。久之成習慣,變成基本動作,就不會給它有差太遠啦。至於其他什麼修辭美麗,或俚語習語等,就看各人興趣時間慢慢琢磨、比記性,永遠學不完…

1. 每句限一個動詞,其他動詞一律視需要或加 to,或以 ing、ed 分詞,或改成子句,或加連接詞。

2. 時態不是故意來找我們麻煩的可惡東西,它具有充分精準的定位功能,無需時間副詞即可表達重要意義,必須仔細體會。比方 :

- I "was" going to tell you──>我「本來」、我「剛才」、我「正要」告訴你,卻因為某種原因還沒說出口。
- You should have done that──>你該做而未做(你在已發生的時間內該已做而未做)。
- You should do that──>你該「去」做。

一般而言,現在式原形動詞多表示一種概括性的「常態」,而非「動作」,所以 I eat 和 I'm eating 意義很不同。因此在店裡看東西,

- 店員問:May I help you?
- 不宜回答:I just look,
- 卻該說:I'm just looking,
- 或說 I'm looking for such and such…
- 而不是說:I look for such and such…

這類語感之別,慢慢可體會出來。

3. 語態:何謂被動主動?把握一個原則即可。被動就是「被動到」、「被引起」、「被影響」,主動就「主動去動到對方」、「去引起、影響」...所以

- It's exciting 指某事很能 excite us,令人excited。
- I'm excited 才是我感到很興奮,也就是「縮寫」成中文所謂「我很興奮」。

因此下面兩句意思相同卻有技術上的小小不同:

- I feel excited to join this group──>我(覺得)很興奮能參加這個討論小組
- I feel it exciting to join this group (it 指 to join this group)──>我覺得能參加這個討論小組這件事很令人興奮

但凡表示「感到」、「覺得」,就用過去分詞表被動。若「使人或事或物」如何如何,就用現在分詞表主動。

- It's embarrassing. I'm embarrassed. Am I embarrassing you?
- Am I confusing you? You're confusing (me). I'm confused.
- It's surprising. I'm surprised.
- It's impressive. It's impressing. I'm impressed.
- He's pretty impressive. I'm impressed by him.
- I'm pretty impressive──>未免太臭美了吧?

4. 單複數:只要記住凡可數之物,決不能孤零零單獨成立,前面必須有定冠詞或不定冠詞,否則得用多數。但是冠詞的選用也有講究:

比方去店裡若問:你們賣書架嗎?
- Do you carry bookcase? (冠詞!冠詞)
- Do you carry a bookcase? (店員會奇怪地看你一眼,我們又不是只賣「一座」書架。)
- Do you carry the bookcase?(店員還是會奇怪地看你一眼,你是指哪一座「特定」書架?)
- Do you carry bookcases? (Now you're talking.)

5. 冠詞:這個問題很複雜,永遠學不盡。但有一個概則,就是不知道是誰,或無所謂是誰時,可用不定冠詞或無冠詞的複數形。反之若有特定所指的對象,則用定冠詞 (包括單複數)。

- I'm looking for "a bookcase"/"bookcases" with "three adjustable shelves" and…
- Are these "the ones" you are looking for?
- Is this "the one" you are looking for?
- Yes, this is exactly "the kind" I was talking about.
- Bring me a pencil. (Any pencil will do).
- Bring me the pencil (You and I both know there is one lying right there on the desk).

6. 詞性:名詞、動詞、形容詞、副詞,各「性」涇渭分明(大多數時候),各有規則,各有其用。

7. 介詞 (以及某些長得很像介詞的副詞): 介詞之用大妙哉,除了許多片語式動詞(phrasal verbs)係由同一動詞加不同介詞而成(如 knock out、knock off),介詞片語還可以連串後掛,綿綿無盡,表達或增補多層意思:時間點、時間長度、地點、位置、方向、狀態、對象、目標、動作、強調等等,而無需動用複雜的子句結構。

- The former Shanghai mayor was picked to lead the Communist Party "in" 1989, after it was thrown "into" tumult "over" the bloody military crackdown "on" pro-democracy protests "around" Beijing's Tiananmen Square. (The Associated Press)

- I will wait "for" you "at" the bus stop "around" the corner "across" the street "from" the park "over" there.
- I'm off ──>我(要)「走」了。
- 亦可用來加強語氣,增加色彩:Speak up!(請把你說話的音量調大)

8. 此外如 she、he 不分,缺乏agreement in (gender, tense, number…everything),也是中文人說英語時必須克服的英語「障」。

9. 平常說話寫文章時最好儘量避免中英夾雜,但若非不得已或忍不住想秀時,最好儘量使用合乎以上原則的「正確」時態、語態、詞性、單複數等…可幫助建立敏感性,養成正確的基本動作習慣。比方:

我昨天 went to see him(而不說我昨天go to see him)
我非常地 impressed(千萬別說我非常地 impressive 或 impressing)
他真令人 exciting
我們需要多多地 communicate(而不說我們需要多多地communication)
我們需要更多的 communication(而不說我們需要更多的communicate)
我想買一個 bookcase,我想買三個 bookcases

8/18/2007

3 「居」手機

買了3G新手機,跑了幾家店,發現一個有趣現象。

不同的店,但幾乎所有店員都把 G 發成噘嘴音:3 居,
好一點的,發出了捲舌音,但也是 3 ㄓㄩ,

不禁莞爾,是巧合還是普遍現象?好像都是同一個師傅教出來的。

談到三「居」,想到二「居」,不由又想到現在大家好像都不太會發「二」這個音了。

紅樓夢裡史湘雲有點咬舌,老把「二」說成「愛」。黛玉笑她:「偏是咬舌子愛說話,連個『二哥哥』也叫不出來,只是『愛哥哥』『愛哥哥』的。回來趕圍棋兒,又該你鬧『ㄠ愛三四五』了。」

但史姑娘若在今天,應該是說「ㄚˋ」哥哥,或是「餓哥哥」。

現在「餓居」手機已經不管用了,得用「三居」。

8/14/2007

English Made in Japan

日本人真是個奇妙的民族,語言上尤其擅長外來內借,不但有借自中文的「漢詞新用」、「日製漢詞」、「和製漢字」,日製英文也是他們拿手絕活,而且往往「截頭去尾」,再配以和式發音,創出「雙拼新字」,琳琅滿目,令人嘆為觀止。

這類「貌似英文」往往一嗅就有和風,有的還隨日本流行文化反向輸出,不過英語世界使用這些日式英語,往往專限於相關的日式情境,並未內化普及於他們本身的人事物,比方 anime 只專指日式卡通,office lady 也只在日本情境之下使用(OL 這個觀念本身,就很「東洋」,很不「西洋」)。

隨手摘記幾則:

anime (animation)
bookoff (日本某二手書書店集團)
cosplay (costume play)
famikon (family computer)
mook (magazine book)
office lady (OL)
pokemon (pocket monster)
salaryman

歲次丁亥

雖說是飆英文,這記年卻要用老古董,何況今年歲次起首又是個「丁」,干支用定了。

「丁」亥年,也就是西元2007年,若有與任何特定貼文無關的話要告訴丁丁,都請留言於此。

忽然想到,也許「丁丁」應該改成「白丁」...好歹還有個「丁」...

8/12/2007

Every Dog Has Its Year

這是狗年的舊文。

新年快樂!!新年快樂!狗年旺旺大家都在相互恭喜祝福祈願。可是千萬別說:

I wish (that) you have a wonderful year.
I wish (that) you will have a wonderful year.

因為...
這種表達在英文裡不存在!應該說:

I hope (that) you have a wonderful year.
I wish you a wonderful year.

Wish + that 子句時,表示事實已經發生,而且與所願相反,所以that 後面的時態,要在時間點上向後倒退一步:

Desire: I wish that he had a dog.
Fact: He doesn't have a dog.

Desire: I wish that he had had a dog.
Fact: He didn't have a dog.

Desire: I wish that he could have a dog.
Fact: He can't have a dog.

如果更進一步要強調事與願違的失望、生氣、憂慮的情緒,可以再配上would:

Desire: I wish he would have a dog.
Fact: He doesn't have a dog and it seems he doesn't want one and I'm so ~@#$%^!

Hope + that子句時,那可就希望無窮啦,因為事實結果尚未定論,仍然有希望:

Desire: I hope that he has a dog.
Fact: I don't know if he has a dog or not, but I just hope so.

Desire: I hope that he had a dog.
Fact: I don't know if he had a dog or not, but I just hope so.

Desire: I hope that he can/will have a dog.
Fact: He can't/doesn't have one now, but I just hope so and it might become true.

So for every underdog who didn't have a good year,
I wish you had had a good year,
I hope you will become a top dog, and
I wish you a very 旺derful year!

「老」趣

Growing old can be "fun"--網上看到幾則「老」笑話,分享一下。

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

我覺得自己的身材已經完全走樣了,所以經醫生批准,到健身房報名,決定參加老人有氧運動班。我彎身、扭腰、轉動、上下跳躍,足足流了一小時的汗。可是啊,等到我好不容易終於把運動緊身衣穿上,人家已經下課了...

**************************************************************************************

Mary decided to go to the retirement home to see Susan, her high-school classmate. Mary, who hadn't seen Susan in 40 years, was delighted to find her in the lobby and said,
"Susan, do you know who I am?"
"No," Susan demurred, "but if you go to the desk, they'll tell you!"

瑪麗決定去老人中心去看老同學蘇珊,她倆已經四十年沒見面了。一進門就看見蘇珊在大廳裡,瑪麗高興地叫道:

「嗨!蘇珊,記得我是誰嗎?」
「不記得。」蘇珊搖搖頭:「不過,妳可以去問櫃台,他們會告訴妳妳是誰。」

**************************************************************************************

My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

我的記性沒有以前那麼好了;而且,我的記性沒有以前那麼好了。

表示感謝的說法

今天聽到一個很好笑的笑話~~

有個人申請房屋貸款,幾經波折,終於貸到。
簽完字後,對銀行承辦人員千恩萬謝:

Thank you so very much for this loan.
I don't know how I can ever repay you.
I'll forever be in your debt.

這輩子都還不起,永遠無法償還,永遠欠對方這份債。
原來中外說法俱同呀。好好記住這兩句說法,尤其是向借你錢的銀行~~

Table Talk

Desks 和 Tables 有何不同,人人皆知,只是有時不免弄混。丁丁今天就來多此一舉分辨一下。

Desk 通常是指書寫用的桌子, 多半帶有抽屜。Table 則是一張桌面加上腿腳。所以除非你確定這是一張書桌、寫字台,絕大多數時候不論是小圓桌、大方桌、獨腳桌、多腳桌、咖啡桌、會議桌、長桌、短桌、餐桌、牌桌、賭桌,叫它 table 準沒錯。Desk 算是 table 之一種,所以指著 desk 叫 table 勉強可以接受,但指著table叫desk,一板一眼的英文人可能就丈二金髮不知你在說啥了。

Desk 亦指詢問台、接待處:information desk、front desk、reception desk──即使有時接待人員面前擺的明明是張 table。報社雜誌不同版面部門(編輯台)亦稱desk:sports desk、news desk、city desk,廣播電視公司往往也延用這種稱法。

伏案桌前、在位子上:at (one's) desk,千萬別說成 on (one's) desk,那應該是你的貓的專利。你若 under the desk,八成是在找掉落的東西。若 under the table 就不大妙,不是醉得不省人事,就是進行暗盤。當然,有時候用餐半途、開會之中,也的確需要 under the table 揀揀金筷子、找找萬寶龍筆,那倒是可以理解的。

語尾助詞說

有人講,部落格應該經常登新文章...

但也有人寫,就是心有餘力不足。

丁丁看了就覺得,心有戚戚焉...

忽然又想到,天下無難事,

但又想,何必那麼累,

何況,寫了也不定沒有人看到......

不知道在什麼~...

很想知道、好奇到底這「」,是在何時成了中文的語助詞?

發現,不分老少,都在這樣...

所以,應該不是網路時代才的世新語吧?

「所以」,「就是嘛」,好像歷史就蠻悠久的,

還有「我告訴他」,也行之久矣,雖然這個有沒有都一樣

而像,在句末故意加個「」,就可能是網路語言

但像「寫」,「想」等等...難道,也是古已有此

不注意則已,一注意,就發現幾乎每個人每句話都在,聽廣播節目尤其明顯

還好,只有想、寫、講等等,還沒聽到有人說說」!!

話「被」

一向以來,最受詬病的病譯除了每 when 必「當」之外,就是每見原文被動語態譯文就被被被不停。記得余光中先生還特地做文章,指出中文本身原就有很多表現被動語氣的方式。 沒想到曾幾何時,連原生中文也被來被去。

李清照詞「眼波才動被人猜」,大膽採用顯性的被動式白話入詩,這個「被」字用的突兀出格,卻是破格的生動。丁丁不知道古詩詞裡直用「被」字者有多少,隨手唐詩宋詞裡姑姑一下,找出這些例子:

被字經典範例:

眼波才動被人猜
那堪更被明月,隔牆送過秋千影
無奈被些名利縛,無奈被他情擔擱
尋郎去處,又還被鶯呼起
又恐被西風驚綠
舞榭歌台,風流總被雨打風吹去
春初早被相思染
煙蓑散響驚詩思,還被亂鷗飛去
被驅不異犬與雞
早被嬋娟誤
妝成每被秋娘妒
因此若依千古詩家前例,被字不是不可用,但是 poetic license 畢竟不同。有人慨嘆今天我們中文的「被」字成災,丁丁頗有同感。

其實有些說法,過去並不作興以被動表達,而通常在「被」與「動詞」之間,會有一個「動作者」。中文特有的「隱性被動」顯性化,應該是近十年來才出現的現象,很可能是受到翻譯書翻譯腔的影響,某些譯者要負責任。此外不斷搬移歐美論述進口的新派學者也難辭其咎,他們在引介新名詞新論述的同時,夾帶了許多未加思索的「被」動表述,再經課堂、媒體傳布,蔚為流行再成習慣,被注視、被觀看、被聆聽、被解構、被書寫...需求不能「被」滿足,公權力不能「被」執行,遂「被」一發而不可「被」收拾。

又如當今屢見不鮮的「被告知」,久之大家也見怪不怪了。當初「被保險人」一詞初初問世,想來也不乏人覺得蹩扭吧。另有些情況,則是隱性的被動,比如曾在網上看到有人貼文:「聽說某某作品/史實要「被」拍成了電影了!」另有人指出這個「被」字是贅字。原貼文者不以為然,答道:難道這故事會自己拍成電影?

唉以此類推,魚也得「被」燒焦了,衣服也得「被」洗好了,車子該「被」送廠維修了,功課「被」做好沒?你我也「被」生於某時某地了!

語文是活的,本會廣納四方,隨時代社會演變,衍生出新的表現形式與辭彙。古文如此,今文亦然。五四以來,白話中文也歷經許多變化,其妙不在一端。可是在不必「被」處莫名其妙多生出來的「被」,丁丁實在「被」它打倒了!

這篇閒話「被」寫就,「被」貼出,「被」修正,然後系統告訴丁丁:你的文章已「被」更新成功!

真是「被繁不及被載」啊!

(updated: 12/30/2010)

小飛機,太不該...

2005年際,曾有架小飛機誤闖飛航禁區,進入離白宮三英哩方圓上空,白宮紅色警戒(red alert),全員疏散,戰鬥機昇空攔截。搞了半天原來是賓州一處飛航俱樂部的教練機。最擅長搞笑嘲諷的漫畫家自然不放過機會,丁丁轉載的這幅漫畫標題 (The Little Airplane That Shouldn't Have ) 可有意思了,可以分成兩部分來藉題發揮。

先從 The little something that … 說起,此題是從一九三○年出版的一本童書《The Little Engine That Could》蛻變而來。Could 後面的主動詞是隱性的(implied),若寫出來應該就是 The Little Engine That Could Do It。小小引擎志氣高,爬越高山,不屈不撓,終將滿載玩具送到眾多乖孩子手中。小引擎的「I think I can」積極態度,激勵了七十年來許多小小讀者,也成為兒童勵志書的祖師爺。The Little ...that could 更成為極受歡迎的句型,大引擎、小引撆、各式引擎、能的、不能的,變化之妙,各在一心,應用例子捬手即是:

在此漫畫家用否定式:小小飛機本不該(shouldn't have done this),不該闖禁區。大家都知道,英文文法告訴我們,與現在相反的事實要用過去式,與過去相反則用完成式。小小飛機不該闖,但是它闖了,所以 should 後面用完成式說它不該做了這件事:
  • You shouldn't have done this / You should have done that──木已成舟。
  • I wouldn't have done this / I would have done that──馬後炮。
  • I couldn't have done this / I could have done that──不是我要做 / 不做呀。
通常這話後面有個條件子句,if this or that had (happened)… 因為這先決條件發生的時間更早,所以用的是過去完成式,一路往前溯源去:
  • I wouldn't have done this if I had known that──我要早知道,哪會這樣幹啊?
有一本不新的書,就是專講這種事後懊悔、早知道、要不是、真可惜的性格分析《Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda : Overcoming Regrets, Mistakes, and Missed Opportunities》。da、da、da 則是 would have, could have, should have 簡化成 would've, could've, should've 的混音。

曾幾何時,The Little Island That Could 卻竟變成了 The Little Island That Should Have/Shouldn't Have…da, da, da…Oh, well, nobody could have foreseen this, even if you had told me so…Yes? No? I really don't know…

神「句」見首不見尾

英文裡火常見「半句表情」:

Are you happy? Yes, I'm (happy).
Did he go? No, he didn't (go).

但他們多是上半句。中文也有「半句表情」,但我們是下半句:

你高興嗎?(我)高興。
他去了嗎?(他)沒去。

I am, I don't, he hasn't,是標準的半句表情,不稀奇。前些時曾談過「The Little Engine That Could」,今天則在這裡看到一篇關中國經濟的文章,標題「China, the Dragon that Isn't」,這兩種半句戛然而止的句型就較堪玩味了。而且正好湊成一對,前者積極激勵,後者反語暗諷,都恰到好處藏而不露。

丁丁見獵心喜,這兩句俏皮話趕緊背誦下來,又「駕古狗,踏破網路山缺」,獵出各式套用這「The something that …n't」句型的實例,以便現買現賣──哦不!活學活用。忠實的古狗果不我欺,一下子就嗅出一缸子來,略舉一二,以彰其用:

先從大名鼎鼎的艾西莫夫(Isaac Asimov)開始:

  • The Planet That Wasn't
  • Afghanistan: The Liberation That Isn't
  • Election Law: "The Reform that Isn't"
  • Microsoft - The Settlement That Isn't
  • The "Ism" That Isn't (Why Social Determinism Cannot Mean What it Says)
  • IRAQ: The War That Isn't
  • The Jobs That Aren't
  • The Victories That Weren't
  • The Weapons That Weren't
至於省下的半句,究竟是什麼呢,丁丁設想了一些候選,首先當然就是上半句「它」本人:
  • The whatever that isn't (whatever).
  • The liberation that isn't (liberation).
另外可能也含下列語意(每句第二個liberation也可用 it 替代):
  • The liberation that isn't (what liberation is).
  • The liberation that isn't (what liberation is supposed to be).
  • The liberation that isn't (what liberation seems to be).
這種句型似乎特別適用於政治,比方:
  • The International Airport That Isn't
  • The Bullets That (Were or) Weren't
或八卦:
  • The Super-Rich That Aren't
再來點有氣質的哲思...
  • The I That Ain't…

最後,再來個...實用的:

  • For regular people who sometimes aren't (Ex-Lax 廣告詞)

此處 regular 字義, 是指 Having bowel movements with normal or healthy frequency. (American Heritage Dictionary) ,就是那個「大 X 正常化」啦!!這句廣告真是太妙啦!

8/10/2007

史地分了家--時光錯序的地理知識

中國時報(08/02/2007)報導,三位在台灣區國家地理知識競賽中奪標的國中生,將參加「美國國家地理學會在聖地牙哥舉辦的國家地理知識世界錦標賽,與另外十七國家選手一較高下。」

報導中卻出現下面這麼一段文字,不知是否記者(或「手民」)之誤:

回教國家現是全球矚目焦點,他們有何特色?林XX及張XX說,回教國家國旗都有月亮及星星,很容易辨別。信奉回教的拜占庭(現今土耳其伊斯坦堡)遭受馬其頓帝國腓力二世攻擊時,藉新月微光發現悄悄挖掘城牆準備入侵的馬其頓大軍,而成功守住城池。之後回教國家國旗都有月亮及星星。
中時編輯為這則新聞下的標題是:「世界奇妙我知道」。

世界歷史在這段「生花妙筆」下變得的確有點太奇妙。

先不論「新月傳奇」的來歷,當西元前339年馬斯頓的腓力普攻打拜占庭時,不要說離回教問世還有千年,離耶穌基督誕生都還有三百多年呢。那個時候的拜占庭,不知信的什麼教,但是待此城於西元四世紀成為東羅馬帝國(亦稱拜占庭帝國)的君士堡丁堡之際,信的可是基督教。等到最後終於被土耳其人攻下,落入回教之手,已經是西元1453年的事了。這時再從時光機裡請出腓力普來攻打「信奉回教的拜占庭」,光陰似箭,時差已經長達近一千八百年了!

哲學非哲

濟慈長詩 Lamia 有此一句:

Do not all charms fly
At the mere touch of cold philosophy?

濟慈在怪罪冰冷的哲學?非也...
哲學頂多太「玄」,怎麼擔得起詩中所言的罪名:冰冷無趣,害得一切迷人魅力想像全都遠走高飛?且看全詩如下:

Do not all charms fly
At the mere touch of cold philosophy?
There was an awful rainbow once in heaven;
We know her woof, her texture; she is given
In the dull catalogue of common things.
Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings,
Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,
Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine --
Unweave a rainbow.

解這首詩,關鍵字在「philosophy」,在濟慈那個時代,philosophy 一詞的字義包括 natural philosophy(自然哲學),何謂自然哲學?其實就是今謂「(自然/物理)科學」的舊稱,因此只要把 science 代入這詩裡的 philosophy,詩旨就很明白,豁然開朗了。

詩中的 touch 意象, 頗有逆向操作之趣,神話裡的 magical wand 魔棒一揮一點,或如 midas 觸物點石成金,平凡事物幻化成奇,多少瑰麗想像,如天使之翼自由無拘。可是科學這枝解魔棒、破法指,一觸卻解了迷穴,uncharm,化奇成凡。天上那道曾經是神與人立約、是妖精藏寶、是天使橋樑、是女蝸五色石光耀的浪漫彩虹,立遭翦翼,被科學手術刀分門別類,解剖成毫無神奇意味的自然物質與成分。神話芳名錄,成了自然元素表與現象:「彩虹是氣象中的一種光學現象。當陽光照射到半空中的水珠,光線被折射及反射,在天空上形成拱形的七彩的光譜」(中文維基)。無趣、無味、無奇。

當年老美登月,老中多少年的嫦娥仙跡頓滅,不就是被科學破除了美感浪漫與幻想嗎?再美的人事物,都「經不起」科學的分析、透視,都成了乾巴巴沒「營養」的尋常與無趣。

濟慈,果然是浪漫主義大師!