前言
許多人學英文多年後,往往發現自己的程度總是停滯不前,說、寫出來的都是中式英文。苦惱的是不知道如何改進,因為文法、用法有書可查,正確、道地英文卻無規則可循。本書搜集近千句常見的中式英文,以分類方式探討其成因,讓讀者迅速掌握訣竅,說、寫出正確而道地的英文。
一提到中式英文,很多人便會聯想到people mountain people sea(人山人海),green oil oil(綠油油),horse horse tiger tiger(馬馬虎虎)等等大家耳熟能詳的例子。但是嚴格來說,這些只是遊戲式的說法,沒有「資格」稱為中式英文,稍具英文知識的人不會這麼用。
所謂中式英文,是指受中文思維影響,也就是語言學家所稱的「母語的干擾」(mother-tongue interference)而使用的不正確的英文。例如把「開燈」說成open the light、「開電視」說成open the TV、「開支票」說成open a check等等,都是典型的中式英文。使用中式英文,輕者會阻礙溝通,重者還可能造成誤會,不可不慎。
在學習英文的過程中,尤其在高中階段,由於缺乏英文文詞彙和文法結構不同的認知,常有犯了中式英文而不自知的現象。這種錯誤如不及早改正,就是上了大學,以至出社會做事仍然會繼續再犯。
作者潛心研究中式英文四十多年,發現在學生習作錯誤中,除了冠詞和副詞之外,幾乎都有中式英文的影子。本書首創以分類方式探討中式英文的成因,舉例說明,並提出解決之道。
全書分成十一章,另加兩篇附錄,完全取材自學生的實際寫作錯誤範例,以正、誤句子呈現,並附以解釋說明。原稿都經加拿大籍英文老師修正,具有相當的準確性。兩位老師文字修養極好,且都擁有英文碩士學位,任教英文數十年。衷心希望本書不僅成為愛好英文人士的參考書,也廣為各級學校採用的翻譯、作文教科書。
誤用文法搭配造成的中式英文
文法搭配指名詞或形容詞與介系詞或其他文法結構的連用關係,包括「名詞+介系詞」、「介系詞+名詞」、「動詞+介系詞」、「形容詞+介系詞」等等,其中以前三項較為重要,茲舉例如下:
a)名詞+介系詞
1)我接到一張五萬美金的支票。
【正】:I received a check for US$50,000.
【誤】:I received a check of US$50,000.
2)他是川普總統的外交政策顧問。
【正】:He is an advisor to President Trump on foreign policy.
【誤】:He is an advisor of President Trump on foreign policy.
3)她是林董事長的祕書。
【正】:She is secretary to Chairman Lin.
【誤】:She is a secretary of Chairman Lin.
【解說】:(1) 以上三句介系詞用of,原因是由「……的……」直譯而來的中式英文。(2) 「當某人秘書」secretary前不用a.
b)介系詞+名詞
1)從你臉上的表情,我可以看得出你有了麻煩。
【正】:I can see by the expression on your face that you are in trouble.
【誤】:I can see from the expression on your face that you are in trouble.
【解說】:【誤】句用from,是受中文「從……」影響。
2)他自願做那件事。
【正】:He did it of his own free will.
【誤】:He did it by his own free will.
C)動詞+介系詞
1)我們恭賀約翰弄璋之喜。
【正】:We congratulated John on the birth of his son.
【誤】:We congratulated John for the birth of his son.
2)老師稱讚他很勤奮。
【正】:The teacher praised him for his diligence.
【誤】:The teacher praised his diligence.
以下是學生習作的錯誤例子:
2-1.父母的行為對子女有深遠的影響。
【正】:Parents’ behavior has a profound influence on their children.
【誤】:Parents’ behavior has a profound influence to their children.
【解說】:influence / effect / impact後均接on,【誤】句用to是由中文「對……影響」的「對」直譯而成的錯誤。
2-2.老師對學生應該要嚴格。
【正】:Teachers should be strict with their students.
【誤】:Teachers should be strict to their students.
【解說】:和上句一樣,看到「對……」,學生一成不變的就用to,不免犯錯。 be strict with是固定搭配。「對……嚴格」還可以說be hard on,例:His parents are hard on him.
2-3.這件處罰對我不公平。
【正】:The punishment is not fair to me.
【誤】:The punishment is not fair for me.
【解說】:「對…...公平/ 不公平」要說be fair / unfair to,介系詞不能用for.
2-4.體育課對於增進學生的身體健康有幫助。
【正】:Physical education is helpful in improving students’ health.
【誤】:Physical education is helpful to improve students’ health.
【解說】:be helpful in是固定搭配。【正】句亦可說:Physical education helps to improve students’ health.
2-5.他出生在富裕家庭。
【正】:He was born into a rich family.
【誤】:He was born in a rich family.
2-6.我今天從學校學到很多東西。
【正】:I learned many things in school today.
【誤】:I learn many things from school today.
【解說】:(1)【誤】句介系詞用from,顯然是受中文「從」的影響造成的錯誤。(2)【誤】句另一個錯誤是learn用現在式。很多人誤以為副詞today時間點還是現在,所以用現在式,這是錯誤的觀念,因為既然已學到了,動作已經過去,就要用過去式。(3) I learned many things from Professor Sun.句中的from是正確的。
2-7.
a) 我們可以從網上下載很多資訊。
【正】:We are able to download a lot of information from the Internet.
【誤】:We are able to download a lot of information on the Internet.
b) 我們可以從網上搜尋很多資訊。
【正】:We are able to search a lot of information on the Internet.
【誤】:We are able to search a lot of information from the Internet.
c) 我們可以從網上獲取很多資訊。
【正】:We are able to acquire/get/obtain a lot of information from the Internet.
【誤】:We are able to acquire/get/obtain a lot of information on the Internet.
【解說】:Internet前的介詞要隨著動詞而變化,亦即:download information from the Internet, search information on the Internet, acquire/get/obtain information from the Internet.
2-8. 竊賊好像是從窗戶爬進來的。
【正一】:The burglar seemed to have entered by the window.
【正二】:The burglar seemed to have entered from the window.
【正三】: The burglar seemed to have entered through the window.
【誤】:The burglar seemed to have entered by means of the window.
【解說】:(1) 介系詞by表「經由……」之意,例:We flew to London by way of Paris.(我們經由巴黎飛往倫敦)。(2) by means of 是「藉由,藉著」之意,例如:He got the job by means of his father’s influence. (他藉著父親的影響力得到那份工作)。 【誤】句…entered by means of the window語意不清。
2-9. 地上蓋滿了雪。
【正】:The ground is covered with snow.
【誤】:The ground is covered by snow.
【解說】:be動詞+過去分詞一般都接by,例如John was fired by his manager.(John被經理開除)。但本句的be covered with是固定搭配,意為「蓋滿……,充滿……」。be covered by 意思不同,例:The house is covered by insurance.(這棟房已保了險)/ Shipping is not covered by the quotation.(報價中不包括運費)。
2-10.幸福不是用金錢可以買得到的。
【正】:Happiness cannot be bought with money.
【誤】:Happiness cannot be bought by money.
【解說】:介系詞with表「手段、工具」之意,例:eat with a knife and fork用刀叉吃/ He caught the ball with his left hand.他用左手接球。