《宋氏快譯》英漢對照(48)臭嘴大仙遭辭工
(2007-12-09 08:09:57)
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《宋氏快譯》英漢對照(48):臭嘴大仙遭辭工
紐約市門衛口臭遭辭工
NYC doorman suspended for bad breath
Fri Dec 7, 9:25 PM ET
宋德利 譯自 Yahoo News
NEW YORK - A Manhattan doorman has been suspended for having bad breath. Jonah Seeman, who has been ushering tenants into a four-building complex on East 89th Street for 40 years, was told not to come to work Friday because of halitosis.
紐約 - 曼哈頓一名門衛因喘氣氣味不佳已被中止工作。喬納-西門40年來一直在東89街一座四層綜合大樓為房客開門引路,但他周五接到通知不要再來上班,原因是口臭。
注釋:suspend,中止,望文生義可知是“中間停止”,而不是“最後停止”,注意與“終止”的區別。前者是暫時停止,後者是永久停止。另外,注意“口臭”的讀音,其中的“臭”字,記得小時上學,語文老師特意強調應讀“秀”。但現在查看《現代漢語詞典》,卻依然標示著“chou”,即“臭”的基本發音。還是以詞典為準,不過知道有這麽回事,也不無助益。
Seeman said he has stopped eating garlic, uses mouthwash and takes breath mints on the job.
西門說,他已經停吃大蒜,而且使用漱口水,上班時還吃薄荷潔味片。
注釋:breath mints,是那種鐵盒包裝的薄荷片,功能是消除喘氣時發出的臭味。
The Brooklyn resident, who supports his 81-year-old mother, has been suspended twice before for bad breath — one day in May and then again in July.
這位贍養81歲老母的布魯克林居民,此前已經因為口臭兩度被中止工作- 一次在五月的一天,而後就是七月再(遭厄運)。
Apartment dwellers at the Gracie Gardens complex expressed surprise over Seeman's suspension and came to his defense.
Gracie Gardens公寓大樓的住戶對西門被辭工深感吃驚,紛紛站出來為他辯護。
注釋:came to his defense,其實就是打抱不平,為人說情,說好話。譯成“辯護”未嚐不可,但略顯正式一些,似乎在打官司時說“辯護”比較確切。
"His job, which he does well, is opening the door — not to be opening his mouth," said Adam Reingold.
亞當-雷因戈爾德說: “他表現不錯,再說他的工作是開門- 而不是開嘴。”
注釋:not to be opening his mouth,當然地道的中文應該是“張嘴”。不過英文中“張”與“開”,都是open,因此一語雙關,聽起來很風趣。而中文分得太細,如果使用兩個不同的字,風趣頓失。因此不妨譯得生硬一點,反倒能透出一絲幽默。如果不信,請仔細玩味,說不定會令您忍俊不止,偷著樂一陣子呢。
Officials with Cooper Square Realty, the management company that oversees the property, did not return calls seeking comment. But the company sent the doorman a letter dated Nov. 21, stating: "We can no longer tolerate the fact that you have severe breath odor while on duty."
Cooper Square Realty房產公司,即監管房產的管理公司的行政人員,對尋求評論的谘詢電話沒有回複。但該公司給這名門衛發出一封日期為11月21日的信,表示: “我們對於你在崗時呼出強烈臭氣一事實在忍無可忍了。”
The union that represents Seeman, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, has filed a grievance in the case.
代表西門的工會組織,即雇員服務國際聯盟的地方機構32BJ,已就此案提起申訴。
摘自《每日新聞》(Daily News)
文言:
曼哈頓之門衛者,西門氏也。呼氣不佳,遭辭工。開門引路,於焉四十載,周五接函,陡令停工,唯因口臭爾。西氏稱,大蒜已停食,漱口水常用,上班亦食薄荷。西門,孝子也,八旬老母,一人贍養。口臭停工兩度矣。五、七兩月各一。住戶聞之,無不驚訝,爭先辯之。或曰: “此士劬勞,口碑甚佳。其工開門, 而非開口也。”房產公司未複詢電,隻發一函,曰:“汝在崗呼臭氣,洵屬忍無可忍。”工會就此已申訴矣。