英语陷阱

英语陷阱(1)He is a bicycle doctor.他是单车修理工.此句不能译作:"他是个骑单车的医生",因句中的doctor是委婉语(euphemism),是对某种职业的美称,故不作"医生"解,而是表示repair man的涵义.委婉语起源于远古,维多利来女王时代中期为其鼎盛时期,在现代英语中,其出现频率依然颇高,因为人们通过委婉语,可以用温顺悦耳的词语去谈论或叙述一些原来令人不快或逆耳之事物.为此,他们用domestic help,day help或live-in help代替mail或servant(佣人); 以custodian或superintendent替代doorkeeper,caretaker或janitor(看门人或管理人);用She has a tile loose或She has a cylinder missing去代替She is crazy或Sh is not right in the head(神经失常). 委婉语多如恒河沙数,不胜枚举,在此略举数例,以见一斑:原称委婉语无线电修理工radio electrician radio doctor理发师barber cosmotologist妓女whore working girl/ street girl家庭妇女housewife household executive收垃圾工人garbage collector sanitary engineer老年old age second childhood老人old people senior citizens假牙false teeth dentures小解piss urinate/ number one最后请看几个委婉类例:Nowadays many weight-watchers would like to go to the gym.如今有不少胖人喜欢到健身房去锻炼.That luster has taken a fancy to Middle Eastern dancing.那个好色之徒现在开始喜欢肚皮舞.They are the culturally deprived.他们是没有学识的人.A libray of teaching materials for preventing teenage suicideswill open for educators in Hong Kong this year.今年香港将为教师开设一家图书馆以提供防止青少年自杀的教学资料.值得注意的是,委婉语虽然是"古已有之,于今为烈",但决不能用得过多过滥.使用时要考虑场合和对象,如用得不得体,反而会使你"欲礼而不达",甚至令人不知所云,一头雾水. 英语陷阱(2)You cannot be too careful.你要特别小心.此句不能按字面译作:"你不能过分小心."因为cannot...too是个固定结构,其义为"无论如何...也不过分".如用英语阐述,上句相当于:You should be as careful as possible. 我们在学习英语的时候,遇到这类实际意义与其字面意义大相径庭的句子,必须小心区别,正确地理解其涵义.下面请看几个类例:We cannot recommend this book too strongly.这本书很好,无论我们如何推荐也不过份.You can't be too care ful in dong this experiment.在做这个实验时,你们愈仔细愈好.One cannot be too careful in matters like that.人们在处理这种事情时必须非常慎重.要注意的是,cannot...too有几个变体结构,我们可以用impossible,difficult等字去代替cannot;以enough,difficulty,sufficiently,exaggerate,to over-等字去替代too.下面的一些句子就是"cannot...too"结构的变体:I couldn't get home fast enough. 我恨不得马上回到家里.You cannot take sufficient care.你要特别小心.The importance of this session cannot be exaggerated. 这次大会极为重要.No man can have too many friends. 朋友愈多愈好.L.G.Alexander编著的"New Concept English"第二册其中一课"Do You Call That a Hat?"中有这么一段风趣的夫妻对话,丈夫和妻子都用了这个句型的变体:"I find it beautiful," I said. "A man can never have too many ties.""And a woman can't have too many hats," she anwered."这条领带很漂亮,"我说道. "男人的领带愈多愈好.""女人的也是愈多愈好啊," 她答道.现在请读者将下面两个句子译成汉语:We cannot too strongly inculcate (or It would be impossible to over-estimate) the importance of more teacher training to deal with student problems and prevent teenage suicides in Hong Kong. The importance of the campaign against dogs in public housing estates inHong Kong cannot be exaggerated.英语陷阱(3)Do you know how to service this new-type machine? 你知道怎樣維修這種新型的機器嗎? 這一句不能譯作:"你知道怎樣使用這台新型的機器嗎?" 如要表達此義,應該說: Do you know how to seve this new-type machine? 在現代英語里,出現了一種用名詞作動詞的傾向.例如:to paper one's room; to bottle the fruit; to bandage up a wound; to oil a machine; to position a factory near the town; to pressure him to do so等等. 然而, 某些名詞作動詞使用時, 與原有動詞的涵義有所不同, 上面所述的to service和to serve的區別就是一個典型的例子.試對比下列各組詞的不同涵義: to power 為...提供動力to empower 為...授與權力to site 為...提供場所to situate 位于; 處于to package 給...打包裝箱(美語) to pack 給...包裝to loan 貸款to lend 出借;出租to decision 根據積分評定to decide 決定;判決應當在此指出, 把名詞作動詞使用時必須要符合一條准則, 那就是在找不到適當的動詞表示涵義時,才能用名詞作動詞, 否則就是濫用. 因此, 以to message代替to send a message to; 用to bill替代to charge to one's account; 以to signature 代替to sign或用to suspicion去替代to suspect老是不妥當的.然而,我們又應該注意到, 在現代英語中, 把名詞作為動詞使用的現象是很普遍的, 而且有日漸增多的傾向. 下面是一些從英美書刊中信手拈來的例子:Tom has his car serviced (=maintained) regularly.Mr. Smith has authored (=written) a book on AIDS.You must pressure (=force) him to do it.Her dress is patterned upon (=made from) a Paris model.Dick is the man who used to partner Mary.Opposition to the war snowballed.We shall book through to Hong Kong.Don't fool away your time, my boy!Mr. Smith noons for half an hour every day.They have husbanded their farms very well.Students in Hong Kong can view a collection ofmore than 100 rare species of goldfish in the Ocean Park.讀者們不難從上面的例子看出,用名詞作動詞可以帶來一種新鮮感, 能喚起人們的注意并給人們留下一個逼真生動的畫面.英语陷阱(4)I couldn't have got to Slough in time unless I'd had a helicopter. 除非我有一架直升飛機, 否則我是不可能在那個時候趕到S地的. 一般的英語語法書和辭典都會談到, 連接詞unless的涵義和if...not相同,它們可以互換使用. 例如: I shan't go unless he asks me. 等于I shan't go if he does not ask me. (Eckersley's A comprehensive English Grammar); You will fail unless you work harder. 等于You will fail if you do not work harder. (A.S. Hornby's The Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English). 其實, 這樣的提法是不夠全面的, 因為存在著這么一個問題: unless和if...not是否在各種場合下都能互換使用呢? 現以上例--I couldn't have got to Slough in time unless I'd had a helicopter. 為例來探討一下這個問題. 此句引自國外報刊. 說話人被控犯了謀殺罪, 在法庭他自辯說:"發生此案時,我并不在S地, 而是在離S地几十里外的另一個小鎮上, 關于這點我可以提供人証......". 接著他說道:"I couldn't have got to Slough in time unless I'd had a helicopter." 如果遵照一般語法書所述的公式: unless=if...not, 將此句改作I couldn't have got to Slough in time if I'd not had a helicopter, 那會產生怎樣的后果呢? 若改作if...not, 其涵義是: I did have a helicopter and I did get to Slough in time to commit the murder.顯而易見, 這并不是衽所想說的話. 國此, unless是在大多數場合下可與if...not互換使用, 但在某些場合里(例如在某些謂語動詞用虛擬語氣的句子里)卻不能相互置換,否則它們會產生截然相反的涵義. 值得注意的是, unless用在虛擬語氣句中時, 存在著兩種可能性. 在某些句子中, 它表示if...not的涵義, 可以和if...not互換使用. 例如: Unless you had lent me a hand, I should not have fulfilled my task. = If you had not lent me a hand, I should not have fulfilled my task. 要不是你們來幫忙, 我是不可能完成任務的. 然而, 在另一些場合里, unless并不是表示if...not的涵義, 而是表示近似于but...if的涵義. 這時候, 可以改寫為but...if, 但決不能用if...not去替代. 例如, 衽在法庭上所說的那一句, 可以改寫為: I could not have got to Slough, but I could have got to Slough if I had had a helicopter. 還有一點應當注意的是, unless句型和if...not句型具有沒的倏色彩和表達風格, 前者是積極的說法, 態度明朗, 語氣有力; 后者是退一步的說法, 態度含糊, 語氣軟弱無力. 現在, 你能否說出下列兩個句子的不同涵義?I should not expect their help unless they were my friends.I Should not expect their help if they were not my friends.英语陷阱(5)He is a good sailor.他不会晕船. 此句不能译作: "他是一个好水手." 如要表达此义,应该说: He is a skilled seaman. He is a good sailor. 的真正涵义是: He is not liable to seasickness. 或He is seldom seasick in rough weather. 因此, a good sailor 的内涵是: "不会晕船". 四十年代出版的一本《英汉四用辞典》把He is a good sailor. 译作:"他是一个好水手,因为它没有把这个句子的真正涵义表达出来. 下面是关于会晕船和不会晕船的两段对话: What kind of sailor are you? I'm a bad sailor.{或I'm not much of a sailor.} 你晕不晕船? 我会晕船的. Are you a good sailor? Yes, I'm a good sailor. 你会晕船吗? 我不会晕船. 从上面的例句可看出, a bad sailor是a goodsailor的相对语, 因此, 它也不能照译作:"一个坏水手", 而应译作:"会晕船"或"容易晕船". 请再看下面几个例句: Lao Li is a bad teacher. (或Lao Li is not much of a teacher.) 老李不善于教书.Hsiao Wang is a good learner. 小王善于学习. John is a good thief. 约翰的偷窃本领很高明. 从上述例句可以看到, good和bad是表示"能力的大小"和"动作的特征", 是用来指"航海", "教书", "学习", "偷窃"的动作特征, 而不是指人的道德品质而言, 因此a good thief的内涵是someone who thieves well; a good learner的内涵是someone who learns well. 其余可以类推. 英语有句名谚: A bad workman always blames his tools. (自己笨,怪刀钝)句中的bad也不是指workman的品德不好, 而是"笨手笨脚"的涵义. a bad workman是"能工巧匠"的反语, 可译作:"技艺差的工匠". 同理, a bad driver是"驾驶技术拙劣的司机"; a bad nurse是"不称职的护士".在其他场合里, "bad"还可能译为:"不胜任的", "令人不满意的", "差劲的". 总之, bad和good的译法必须根据具体的场合和搭配词才能选定.英语陷阱(6)You are being insulting her! 你是在故意侮辱她! 这一句不能译作:"你现在在侮辱她!", 如要表达此意, 应该说: You are insulting her! 为什么are being insulting会表示"故意侮辱"的涵义呢? 在回答这个问题之前, 让我们先对比一下下列两句的不同涵义: 1. She is kind. 2. She is being kind. 从表层的结构持, She is kind的语义是"她是和蔼的", 从深层的结构看, is kind 是说明主语的特性的品质, 其内在涵义是: "她平日待人一向和蔼可亲". She is being kind的表层语义是: "她现在是和蔼的", 从深层结构看, being表示"目前"或"现在"的短暂涵义, 它说明主体有意识进行的一个动作, 故其内在涵义为: "她平日待人并不和蔼, 现在却故意装出一副和蔼可亲的模样".在这种句型里, being的意义相当于"故意地"(purposely or intentionally)下面再举几个类例: They are being friendly. 他们摆出一副友好的姿态.Tom is being polite. 汤姆装出一副彬彬有礼的模样.Mary is being angry with me. 玛丽对我装作发脾气的样子.Dick is being difficult. 狄克故意在找别人的麻烦.They are being difficult. 他们在故意作梗.HE is being naughty, isn't he? 他是在故意捣蛋,是吗?"Mary, you're so pretty today" "You're just being polite." "玛丽,你今天真美." "你真会说话."最后一句的"You're just being polite."是回答别人称赞的用语, 相当于It's nice of you to say so, 故将其译作:"你真会说话." 我們通過She is kind. 和She is being kind.的對比, 可以由此及彼, 舉一反三地想到: She is good (helpful, a fool, an angel, a nuisance...) 不等于She is being good (helpful, a fool, an angel, a nuisance...) 因為She is being good = She is behaving well. 最后還需在此補充一句: 表示狀態的時候, "be"不能用于進行體. 例如, 我們不可以說: The Japanese sumo star Akebono is being fat.(只能說...is fat)英語陷阱(7)I don't know whether they are not here. 我想他們可能會在這里. 乍然看來, 此句不難理解, 似乎是:"我不知道他們是否在這里", 相當于I don't know wherther they are here or not. 實際上, 這個句子并不是表示這個意思, 因為它是個特殊句型, 故不能按照字面去理解和翻譯,其內涵相當于I think that they might be here. 正確的譯文如上. 為什么我們說這是一個特殊的句型呢?在回答之前, 也讓我們先看兩個句子: They are here. 他們在這里.(肯定形式的陳述句)Aren't they here? 他們不在這里嗎?(近乎肯定的疑問句, 說話人的心目中認為他們在這里,這樣問, 只是想証實自己的想法無誤.) I don't know whether they are not here就是表示類似語義的一種句型.句中的I don't know并不是真正的不知道, 而是表示"沒有十足把握"或"未經証實"的意味, 其后的whether they are not here是近乎肯定的猜測內容, 故全句可譯作:"我想他們可能會在這里". "I don't know whether...not"和"I wonder whether ...not"都是同一種類型的特殊句型,老是用以表示說話人主觀看法或猜測的解釋句(a pattern of interpretation). 現在請讀者將現在一段文章譯成漢語, 要注意whether...not所表達的內涵: Dr. Aline Wong, a Singapore Government minister, has made a new pitch for Hong Kong people to migrate there after announcing that the number of Hongkongers who have taken up permanent residence since July 1989 had reached about 4,700. Dr. Wong said Singapore and Hong Konghad much in common. Both had Dynamic economies with modern infrastructures. Therefore, she wonders whether Hongkongers will not migrate to Singapore.英語陷阱(8)We should adopt an effective economy measure. 我們應當采取一項有效的節約措施. 此句不能譯作:"我們應當采取一項有效的經濟措施." 如要表達此義, 應該說: We should adopt an effective economic measure. 在現在英語里, 用名詞代替形容詞或分詡作定語, 以修飾其后的名詞, 這種現象是很普遍的. 例如用a luxury liner替代a luxurious liner(豪華的郵船)以a prestige scholar替代a prestigious scholar(有名望的學者) 用race discrimination替代racial discrimination(種族歧視) 以gold watch替代golden watch(金表) 用lead ship替代leading ship(領艦) 以launch pad替代launching pad(發射台) 這種以名詞替代形容詞,分詞或動名詞的現象雖然已日趨普遍, 但決不能隨意濫用. 因為在某些場合下, 用名詞作定語和用與其相應的形容詞作定語, 在涵義上是大不相同的, economy measure和economic measure就是一例, 前者是"節約措施"; 后者是"經濟措施". 下面例句中的riot picket和riotous picket在涵義上也是大相徑庭. 請看: To put down the strike, the bosses have sent out a troop of riot pickets. 為了鎮壓罷工, 老板們派出一隊防暴糾察. To put down the strike, the bosses have sent out a troop of riotous pickets. 從例句可見, riot pickets和riotous pickets的涵義恰好相反. 請注意, riot的原義是"暴亂", "騷動", 但riot pickets 卻不譯作"暴動糾察", 而是譯為: "防暴糾察". 在英語里, 類似的例詞不少, 例如: gas mask 防毒面具(不譯作"毒氣面具") flu mask 衛生器皿(不譯作"流行性感冒口罩") fire engine 救火車(不譯作"點火機器") fire office 火災保險公司(不譯作"失火辦公室") fire wall 防火牆(不譯作"火牆") skid chain 防滑鏈(不譯作"滑鏈") lightning rod 避雷針(不譯作"閃電針") personnel mine 防步兵地雷(不譯作"人雷") mosquito bomb 滅蚊彈(不譯作"影子炸彈") 順便在此指出, 在英語中還有另一種奇怪的現象, 即某些詞語同時兼有恰好相反的兩個意義. 例如: fireman既可表示"消防隊員"(fire fighter)的意思, 也可表示"伙夫"或"燒火工人"(a man who looks after the fire in a furnace or steam-engine). biweekly既可作"兩周一次"解, 亦可作"一周兩次"解; occasionally既可表示"偶爾"之意, 亦可表示"時而"(now and then)之意. 這時候, 我們只有根據上下文的情況去判定其義下面舉一個例子, 以說明英語中的"同詞反義"現象: It's terrific! 這是美國人常說的口頭禪. 如用上海方言表達, 此語有"嚇壞人"和"瞎嗲"兩個截然相反的詞義. 但在下列的對話中, 我們可以根據具體情景, 一望而知它是近乎上海話的"嗲"或北京話的"帥"和廣東話的"靚". "I'll see if my good suit fits me," said Ralph. "Oh, I expect it will," said Martha. "I'll be terrific!" 在讓我們再回到本題所探討的economy和economic兩個詞. 為了測試讀者是否已掌握這兩個字的區別和用法, 請在閱讀下列一段文章后, 用一個正確的字眼(economy或economic)填入括弧中: In the past week, the US ( ) news could hardly have been better: brisk retail sales, a big jump in factory orders and even a significant decline in the unemployment rate. With all these signs of an ( ) rebound, some might wonder why President Bill Clinton is gong ahead with a program to give the backsliding economy an extra shove -- a move that could add US $ 31 billion or so to a budget deficit already headed into the stratosphere.★Your little daughter was stood in the do orway.有人把你的小女儿放在门口。