問:臺灣歌星陳妍希寫的英文歌"Sorry",網上評為英文有誤,先生同意嗎?
答:讀者示下的歌詞和網上評語,可分四段敍述。
(一)Think back those days(回憶從前的日子):網上評論說這一句應作Think back to those days,這改動甚好。另一說法是Think back on those days。
(二)What we had mean so much to me(我們從前所有的一切,對我來說,非常珍貴):網上評論說mean應作means,也是正確的改動。What we had、What I want等,作主詞(subject),應配單數動詞,例如:What I want is some books to read(我想有些書看看)。
答:讀者示下的歌詞和網上評語,可分四段敍述。
(一)Think back those days(回憶從前的日子):網上評論說這一句應作Think back to those days,這改動甚好。另一說法是Think back on those days。
(二)What we had mean so much to me(我們從前所有的一切,對我來說,非常珍貴):網上評論說mean應作means,也是正確的改動。What we had、What I want等,作主詞(subject),應配單數動詞,例如:What I want is some books to read(我想有些書看看)。
(三)I
really am sorry.... You don't need my sorry(我真感抱歉……你不需要我的抱歉):網上評論說第一句最好改為I am really sorry,第二句則是把形容詞sorry誤作名詞用。這兩點我都不同意。第一句的really,置於am前後都可以;第二句把sorry當作名詞,是可 以的,正如英文絕對可以說There
is no "impossible" in my dictionary(我的字典沒有『不可能』一詞):這個impossible也是作名詞用,當然,由於歌詞裏I am sorry、I really am
sorry等句一再出現,陳妍希那一句最好改為You don't need my
"sorry's"。
(四)Bring
you the sorrow you don't need(給你帶來你不需要的哀傷):這一句文法正確,雖然語意可笑,網上論者譏為Chinglish(中式英文),卻連一笑都不值。請問那一句何「中式」之有?