Bush系列之三
這集我們繼續「學習」美國前總統布什的精彩言論:
1. Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.
第一句用so are we是正確的,但第二句用neither do we就是指「我們也一樣不會停止想出新方法傷害自己的國家和人民」。這不是自己人打自己人嗎?正確的說法應是They never stop thinking... and we won't let that happen. (我們不會讓這發生的。)
2. I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That's the reality of the world. And I wish him all the best.
Wish him all the best是指誠心祝他好運,但當敵人要攻擊你的國家和國民時,你又怎可以祝他好運呢?應說And I think he's going to fail. (他們鐵定失敗。)
3. Your Eminence, you're looking good.
這句話是President Bush見教宗本篤十六世(Pope Benedict XVI)時說的,但他用錯了頭銜(title),Your Eminence是對紅衣主教的專稱,而教宗的專稱應是Your Holiness。英女皇也有其專稱,叫Your Majesty;而英國貴族或其他皇室成員就稱作Your Highness/ Your Royal Highness。港英時代,港督(Governor of Hong Kong)就用Your Excellency。不過現在的行政長官(Chief Executive of Hong Kong)就以The Honorable取代。
4. Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness.
講得出,做不到,又怎麼會是「可靠」?■岑皓軒
騎呢領隊
作者簡介:岑皓軒, 畢業於英國Imperial College London, 著有親子育兒書《辣媽潮爸哈哈B》及與馬漪楠合著暢銷書《Slang:屎爛英語1&2》等。
隔星期三見報
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