| In the Oxford University dining hall (the setting reminded me of Harry Potter movies), I sat next to John Oliver, an English professor. I said I didn’t know such a family name until meeting you now. He smiled.
“English family names often named after their professionals. Carpenter for woodworkers, Potter for porcelain workers, Smith for iron shops, etc. As for my family name, my ancestors grew olive as a way of making a living, so they called them Oliver.” He explained and then asked about my name.
“Trinity,” I said.
“Not an English name, but your Chinese name. What does it mean?” He was curious, looking locked-up at my eyes, to know genuinely.
“Aha. That’s a long story!” I got through all of these below: 趙元任、周有光,改革漢字用26個英文字母拚音簡化, 用26個英文字母拚音而非取代方塊漢字一字形具義寓意。香港人的神翻譯: "黃豆腐" for wonderful, "蛇佬" for sir (policeman), 脫囗秀 for talk show, Good morning 古的貓鈴 (早安) Good evening 古的衣服鈴 (晚安) How are you? 好阿油 (你好) wonderful 黃豆腐 (很好) Thank You 三九 (謝謝你) just a moment 傑士的摸悶特 (等一等) I am sorry, I can only speak a little English (對不起，我隻能講簡單的英語) 俺麽搔瑞，挨坎翁累絲鼻科額累偷 ... |
