滿眼風光
古今中外事，都付笑談中。
西方語言中，名詞不僅要講究單複數，還得分清陰陽性。法語西班牙語裏，人、動物、以及不具自然性的物，都得在語法上分出"公母"，德文裏除了陰陽外，還有中性。這名詞語法的性，雖隻是一種名詞的分類，對詞匯的記憶卻是個考驗。它不僅是我們學習外文時的一個語法難點，有時這種人為約定還違反自然屬性，比如德文中小姐一詞是中性，好好的小姐如花似玉，德文愣要你把她不當女人看。這一是對女性的不尊重，二是殘酷地強迫男人練柳下惠的功夫。
在法文西班牙文裏，一般來講，名詞的結尾會指示出該名詞的性，如氣象學中的厄爾尼諾一詞來自西班牙語的(el) niño，el = the, niño = boy, 是"(那個)男孩"的意思。把"男孩"詞尾"-o"換成"-a"，我們就有了niña, 即"女孩"一詞 (la niña是另一個氣象學術語)。這種以詞尾來分辨名詞的性別，對記憶來說較為容易。但我們學的英文卻不讓人這麽省心，多數情況下，我們需要記住兩個毫不相幹的詞來表達動物的公母，人類的男女。
我們今天說人類的男女，下回講動物的公母。
先從簡單的開始:
男人= man, 女人 = woman;
男孩 = boy, 女孩 = girl;
丈夫 = husband，妻子 = wife;
爹 = father，娘 = mother;
叔/伯/舅 = uncle，姑/姨 = aunt.
難一點的有:
"和尚" = monk，"尼姑" = nun;
新郎 = bridegroom，新娘 = bride;
寡婦 = widow，鰥夫 = widower;
巫婆 = witch，巫師 = warlock;
老光棍 = bachelor，老處女呢?
在這兒賣個關子，請你先讀下麵一段英文(ZT)，相信讀完後，你定會記住英文的"老處女"一詞。
A man was brought to Mercy Hospital, and taken quickly in for coronary surgery. The operation went well and, as the groggy man regained consciousness, he was reassured by a Sister of Mercy (nurse at this church hospital), who was waiting by his bed.
"Mr. Smith, you're going to be just fine," said the nun, gently patting his hand. "We do need to know, however, how you intend to pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?"
"No, I'm not," the man whispered hoarsely.
"Can you pay in cash?" persisted the nun.
"I'm afraid I cannot, Sister."
"Well, do you have any close relatives?" the nun essayed.
"Just my sister in New Mexico," he volunteered. "But she's a humble spinster nun."
"Oh, I must correct you, Mr. Smith. Nuns are not 'spinsters;' they are married to God."
"Wonderful," said Smith. "In that case, please send the bill to my brother-in-law."
現在，由你來完成這個填空: 老處女 = _________?
開眼界。
Thanks for your comments.