在各个英语学习论坛上,经常可以看到有关Chinglish(中式英语)的文章,但一般都是中国人写的。不过,有一篇由浙江大学的美国外教Chuck Allanson写的文章很有意思,这篇长文的标题是Chinglish 2 English(从中式英语到标准英语),内容则是Chuck在中国五年任教期间所听到、所看到的各种Chinglish说法。如Chuck第一次来中国,下飞机后,负责接待他的东北某大学英语系陈老师说:您刚到,我们吃点饭吧。我们要点Chinesedumpling(饺子)和Chinesebeancurd(豆腐),您看可以吗?Chuck以前从未听说过这两种东西,但出于好奇,就说可以,结果饭菜端上来一看,原来就是ravioli(饺子,来自意大利语)和tofu(豆腐,来自日语)。Chuck当时心里暗想,这两种东西,国际上早已经有通用的说法(ravioli和tofu),他们中国人为什么还要用那种生僻的说法呢?以后Chuck跟陈先生混熟了,就问他,当初你为什么不说ravioli和tofu呢?陈先生听了大吃一惊,连忙解释说,我真的不知道这两个词,而且我们的《英汉词典》上也没有这两个词。于是Chuck开始意识到,中国的英语教师、英语课本、甚至英语词典肯定存在问题,否则不可能发生这种事情。在中国五年的任教期间,Chuck收集了大量的Chinglish说法,从中挑选出一组最常见的,编写了上面提到的那篇长文。下面就是这些Chinglish说法,其中每行第一部分是汉语说法,第二部分是Chinglish说法,第三部分则是英语的标准说法。 ①欢迎你到... ② welcome you to ... ③ welcometo ... ①永远记住你② remember you forever ③ always remember you(没有人能活到forever) ①祝你有个... ② wish you have a ... ③ I wish you a... ①给你② give you ③ here you are ①很喜欢... ② very like ... ③ like ... very much ①黄头发② yellow hair ③ blond/blonde(西方人没有yellowhair的说法) ①厕所② WC ③ men's room/women's room/restroom ①真遗憾② it's a pity ③ that's too bad/it's a shame(it's apity说法太老) ①裤子② trousers ③ pants/slacks/jeans ①出口② way out ③ exit(way out在口语中是crazy的意思) ①勤奋② diligent ③hardworking/studious/conscientious ①火锅② chafing dish ③ hot pot ①大厦② mansion ③ center/plaza ①马马虎虎② so-so ③ average/fair/all right/not toobad/OK(西方人很少使用so-so) ①好吃② delicious ③good/nice/tasty/appetizing(delicious在中国被滥用) ①尽我最大努力② try my best ③ try/strive(try的本意就是try mybest) ①有名② famous ③well-known/renowned/legendary/popular(famous在中国被滥用) ①滑稽② humorous ③funny/witty/amusing/entertaining ①欺骗② to cheat ③ to trick/to play a joke on/to con/todeceive/to rip off ①车门② the door of the car ③ the car's door ①怎么拼? ② how to spell? ③how do you spell? ①再见② bye-bye ③ bye/see you/see youlater/later(bye-bye有些孩子气) ①玩② play ③ go to/do(play在中国被滥用) ①面条② noodles ③ pasta(noodles有些孩子气) ①据说② it is said ③ I heard/I read/I was told ①等等② and so on ③ etc. etcetera ①直到现在② till now ③ recently/lately/thus far ①宣传② propaganda ③ information 误:The price is very suitable for me. 提示:suitable(合适的、相配的)最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知上,如:下列节目儿童不宜。Thefollowing programme is not suitable for children.这句话用后面的说法会更合适。 正:Are you working at the moment? What kind of work are you? 提示:what's yourjob这种说法难道也有毛病吗?是的。因为如果您的谈话对象刚刚失业,如此直接的问法会让对方有失面子,所以您要问:目前您是在上班吗?Areyou working at the moment?接下来您才问:目前您在哪儿工作呢?Where are you workingthese days?或者您从事哪个行业呢?What line of work are you in? 正:How do you say this in English? 提示:How tosay是在中国最为泛滥成灾的中国式英语之一,这绝不是地道的英语说法。同样的句子有:请问这个词如何拼写?How do you spellthat please?请问这个单词怎么读?How do you pronounce this word? 误:I have something to do tomorrow. 正:I am tied up all day tomorrow. 提示:用I have something todo来表示您很忙,这也完全是中国式的说法。因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大觉也是事情。所以您可以说我很忙,脱不开身:I'mtied up.还有其他的说法:I can't make it at that time. I'd love to, but Ican't, I have to stay at home. 误:I haven't English name. 正:I don't have an English name. 提示:许多人讲英语犯这样的错误,从语法角度来分析,可能是语法功底欠缺,因为have在这里是实义动词,而并不是在现在完成时里面那个没有意义的助动词。所以,这句话由肯定句变成否定句要加助动词。明白道理是一回事,习惯是另一回事,请您再说几话:我没有钱;Idon't have any money.我没有兄弟姐妹;I don't have any brothers orsisters.我没有车。I don't have a car. 提示:汉语里说“我想我不会”的时候,英语里面总是说“我不认为我会”。以后您在说类似的英语句子的时候,只要留心,也会习惯英语的表达习惯的。 误:I don't dance well too. 正:I am not a very good dancer either. 提示:当我们说不擅长做什么事情的时候,英语里面通常用not good atsomething,英语的思维甚至直接踊跃到:我不是一个好的舞者。 正:What time is it, please? 提示:What time is itnow是一个直接从汉语翻译过的句子,讲英语的时候没有必要说now,因为您不可能问what time was it yesterday,或者what time is it tommorow?所以符合英语习惯的说法是:请问现在几点了?还有一种说法是:How are wedoing for time?这句话在有时间限制的时候特别合适。 正:I am not 100% fluent, but at least I amimproving. 提示:有人开玩笑说,全中国人最擅长的一句英文是:My English is poor.外国人遇到自己外语不好的情况,他们会说: I am still having a few problem, but I amgetting better. 误:Would you like to join our party onFriday? 正:Would you like to come to our party on Fridaynight? 提示:join往往是指参加俱乐部或者协会,如:join a health club; join theCommunist Party.事实上,常常与party搭配的动词是come 或者go。如go a wild party,或者cometo a Christmas Party。 正:I don't know much about that. 提示:I have noexperience这句话听起来古里古怪,因为您只需要说那方面我懂得不多,或者这方面我不在行,就行了。I am not reallyan expert in this area. --Will you be going back home for the SpringFestival?提示:以英语为母语的人使用of course的频率要比中国的学生低得多,只有在回答一些众所周知的问题时才说ofcourse。因为of course后面隐含的一句话是“我当然知道啦!难道我是一个傻瓜吗?”因此,ofcourse带有挑衅的意味。在交谈时,用sure或certainly效果会好得多。同时,of coursenot也具挑衅的意味。正常情况下语气温和的说法是certainly not。
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