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!