問:「由於陳先生已經確認為人事部經理,並於二月十八日正式生效……」這一句,英文可不可以譯做Owing to Mr Chan has confirmed the manager of
Personnel Department and effective on 18 February ...?
答:看這兩句中英文,意思似是「由於陳先生已確定獲委任為人事部經理,並將於二月十八日履新……」英文可說As Mr Chan's appointment as Personnel Manager has been
confirmed and is effective from 18 February...。
讀者那句中文,和英文一樣,沒有說明「二月十八日生效」的是什麼;而「生效」也不應冠以「正式」兩字:難道任命還有「非正式生效」日期?至於英文,owing to之後,應用名詞或名詞子句(noun
clause),不能用Mr Chan's appointment has been confirmed這樣的子句,所以我不用owing to而用as。當然,用名詞子句說Owing to the fact that Mr Chan's appointment as
Personnel Manager has been confirmed等等也可以,只是略嫌累贅。
問:以下一句,哪個選擇正確?──What do you do in / on / at Chinese New Year?(農曆新年,你會做什麼?)
答:這一句的Chinese New Year是指農曆新年這節日,而節日自然應用at帶出,和Christmas(聖誕節)、Easter(復活節)等一樣。但請注意,假如要說「新的一年」而不是新年這節日,則應用in,例如:Will
the economy improve in the new year?(新的一年,經濟會改善嗎?)