「第一次出國,看到Mango這個字,心裡直翻以為是Man go:男人去的地方。」一個世界公民學生提到她的海外經驗,周遭的老外、老中都笑翻了。
不管是英文到中文,或是中文到英文,逐字翻譯都會鬧笑話。逐字翻譯,常會講出文法沒有錯,但是中文味很重的英語。
例如,借廁所用「May I borrow your toilet?(正確:May I use the bathroom?)」;全身酸痛就:「I’m painful.(正確I ache all over.)。」
今天幫大家整理10句最常見的直翻英語錯誤和解決策略。
解決策略→掌握意思,不要管單字。
把中文結構照搬到英中,是造成失誤的主要原因之一。例如接到電話,要回答對方說:
- 他不在座位上。
(X) He is not on her seat. 這樣表達很拗口,直接說: (O) He is not in right now.(他現在不在) (O) He is not available.
- 對不起,沒有座位了。
(X) Sorry, Sir, we have no seat now. (O) Sorry, we have no seat available.
- 我遇到了很多困難。
(X) I am having many difficulties. (O) I am having a few problems / lots of problems.
- 請快點走,否則我們會遲到的。
(X) Please hurry to walk or we'll be late. (O) Please hurry up or we'll be late.
- 別理他。
(X) Don't pay attention to her. (O) Leave her alone.
解決策略→搞清楚主詞是誰,抓住主詞+動詞的基本句型。
- 我工作很忙。
(X)My job is busy. 很忙的是人,不是工作,要說成: (O)I’m busy with work. …busy with是一個好用的句型,忙於功課,就用busy with studies;忙於家事,就用busy with housework。
- 我的工作是老師。
(X) My job is a teacher. (O) I am a teacher. 或是 My job is teaching.
- 他身體很健康。
(X) His body is healthy. (O) He is in good health. / He’s healthy. 真正健康的是"he",不是"body"。
- 價格太貴/便宜了。
(X) The price is too expensive/cheap. (O) The price is too high/ rather low. / It is too expensive/cheap. 價格是高低,東西才是貴或便宜。
- 車速太快了。
(X) The speed of the car is fast. (O) The car is speeding. / The car is going too fast.
除了這兩大問題之外,選字策略和風俗習慣也是造成我們英語不夠自然的原因,有機會再談! |