What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
2012-03-29
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思，字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法，我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻，作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“As Fran walked to the front of the room to receive the coveted and hard-earned prize, the atmosphere in the hall was electric.”
「當法蘭走向大廳前端，領取令人欽羨、得來不易的獎項，廳內氣氛熱烈激動。」
The air around the planet is its atmosphere, which in the case of earth is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. When the mix of gases and water vapor reaches a certain mass, an electrostatic discharge called lightning can dramatically occur. Less dramatic discharges include static electricity and electric current. Whether manmade or naturally occurring, the exhibitions of electric discharge are marked by ionization, sparks, or other indicators of a “charge” that induces attraction in matter or creates visual evidence of electrical transfer.
行星周圍由大氣環繞，地球的大氣主要由氮與氧組成。大氣與水蒸氣混和，質量達到一定程度時，將產生靜電放電作用，可能是驚天動地的閃電，或較不戲劇化的靜電與電流。無論放電是人為或自然形成，都伴隨了電離作用、電光，或其他「帶電」的指標，或吸引物質，或產生可觀察的電荷轉移。
The phenomenon is used symbolically when speaking of the human emotional environment. In “electric” moments, sparks do not literally fly between the individuals in a room, nor is there an actual electromagnetic pull between bodies. Rather, the “atmosphere” in such a setting is likened to a physically “charged” one. Instead of hair literally rising on arms, such moments of tense or tender emotion have hearts beating faster and sensitized nerves being overwhelmed with sensory overload. Writing that moves between physical and emotional descriptions enlivens each world.
描述人類感情時，放電成為一種象徵。在 “electric”（帶電的；緊張激動的）時刻，大廳中的群眾彼此間並沒有真的傳送電光火花，人體也沒有產生電磁吸力，但在這樣的情境下，大廳的 “atmosphere”（大氣；氣氛）就好像物理上 “charged”（帶電）的大氣一樣。雖然人手臂的汗毛並未真的豎起，但在緊張激動的情緒下，人的心跳加速，敏感的神經淹沒在過度強烈的感覺中。這種筆法結合物理與情感世界，讓兩個世界更加生動。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“As Fran walked to the front of the room to receive the coveted and hard-earned prize, the atmosphere in the hall was electric.”
「當法蘭走向大廳前端，領取令人欽羨、得來不易的獎項，廳內氣氛熱烈激動。」
The air around the planet is its atmosphere, which in the case of earth is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. When the mix of gases and water vapor reaches a certain mass, an electrostatic discharge called lightning can dramatically occur. Less dramatic discharges include static electricity and electric current. Whether manmade or naturally occurring, the exhibitions of electric discharge are marked by ionization, sparks, or other indicators of a “charge” that induces attraction in matter or creates visual evidence of electrical transfer.
行星周圍由大氣環繞，地球的大氣主要由氮與氧組成。大氣與水蒸氣混和，質量達到一定程度時，將產生靜電放電作用，可能是驚天動地的閃電，或較不戲劇化的靜電與電流。無論放電是人為或自然形成，都伴隨了電離作用、電光，或其他「帶電」的指標，或吸引物質，或產生可觀察的電荷轉移。
The phenomenon is used symbolically when speaking of the human emotional environment. In “electric” moments, sparks do not literally fly between the individuals in a room, nor is there an actual electromagnetic pull between bodies. Rather, the “atmosphere” in such a setting is likened to a physically “charged” one. Instead of hair literally rising on arms, such moments of tense or tender emotion have hearts beating faster and sensitized nerves being overwhelmed with sensory overload. Writing that moves between physical and emotional descriptions enlivens each world.
描述人類感情時，放電成為一種象徵。在 “electric”（帶電的；緊張激動的）時刻，大廳中的群眾彼此間並沒有真的傳送電光火花，人體也沒有產生電磁吸力，但在這樣的情境下，大廳的 “atmosphere”（大氣；氣氛）就好像物理上 “charged”（帶電）的大氣一樣。雖然人手臂的汗毛並未真的豎起，但在緊張激動的情緒下，人的心跳加速，敏感的神經淹沒在過度強烈的感覺中。這種筆法結合物理與情感世界，讓兩個世界更加生動。
Last Update at 2012-03-30 AM 10:23 | 0 Comments
0326 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Answer and Explanation你是接龍的高手嗎? 正確解答!
2012-03-27
Answer: We believe the sentence is best completed this way:
“The biographical speech on child abuse was quietly delivered and, in the awkward silence that followed, the listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage.”
The subject of the sentence is the almost unspeakable act of child abuse, especially parental child abuse. The sentence is couched in terms of a long-suffering victim revealing the layers of anguish one painful slice at a time. The response of the audience was uncomfortable and disquieting silence. In saying “listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage,” the writer indicates their actions spoke at least as loud as words. They demonstrated a state of mind somewhere between deep embarrassment and seething anger. Academic writers should not be afraid to turn word usage upside down if it conveys a thought better than it would right side up.
本句主題為令人髮指的虐兒事件，特別是父母虐待兒女的事件。句子描述長期受虐的當事人緩緩道出一件件令人痛苦不堪的往事。聽眾坐立不安，陷入一片尷尬的沉默。句子描述 “listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage”（聽眾無聲地吶喊出共同的憤怒），可見行為能表達的意涵不下於言語，傳達出聽眾介於極為困窘與深惡痛絕的心境。寫作學術文章時，若轉變詞彙的用法，能更貼切傳達訊息，就無需猶豫，可以放心使用。
“The biographical speech on child abuse was quietly delivered and, in the awkward silence that followed, the listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage.”
The subject of the sentence is the almost unspeakable act of child abuse, especially parental child abuse. The sentence is couched in terms of a long-suffering victim revealing the layers of anguish one painful slice at a time. The response of the audience was uncomfortable and disquieting silence. In saying “listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage,” the writer indicates their actions spoke at least as loud as words. They demonstrated a state of mind somewhere between deep embarrassment and seething anger. Academic writers should not be afraid to turn word usage upside down if it conveys a thought better than it would right side up.
本句主題為令人髮指的虐兒事件，特別是父母虐待兒女的事件。句子描述長期受虐的當事人緩緩道出一件件令人痛苦不堪的往事。聽眾坐立不安，陷入一片尷尬的沉默。句子描述 “listeners mutely shouted their shared outrage”（聽眾無聲地吶喊出共同的憤怒），可見行為能表達的意涵不下於言語，傳達出聽眾介於極為困窘與深惡痛絕的心境。寫作學術文章時，若轉變詞彙的用法，能更貼切傳達訊息，就無需猶豫，可以放心使用。
Last Update at 2012-03-27 AM 10:29 | 0 Comments
0326 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你是接龍的高手嗎? 有機會獲得價值200元7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2012-03-26
No formula exists for the writing of a superior sentence, but this much is known: The best sentence has no weak part. The following sentence is incomplete. In 5 or fewer words, complete the sentence in a way that strengthens the whole of it. The first TPS Fan to complete the sentence as we believe it is best completed will win a NTD200 7-11 / Starbucks Gift Certificate. Another Starbucks certificate will be awarded to the first Fan to complete it in an alternate way that, in our estimation, also is effective. The explanation and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page.
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案，不過起碼我們知道，優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子，請用五個字以內完成句子接龍，寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子，並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲，將獲得兩百元7-11／星巴克禮券；另增設特別獎一名，頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快！
題目Contest Sentence:
“The biographical speech on child abuse was quietly delivered and, in the awkward silence that followed, the listeners mutely ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.”
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案，不過起碼我們知道，優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子，請用五個字以內完成句子接龍，寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子，並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲，將獲得兩百元7-11／星巴克禮券；另增設特別獎一名，頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快！
題目Contest Sentence:
“The biographical speech on child abuse was quietly delivered and, in the awkward silence that followed, the listeners mutely ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.”
Last Update at 2012-03-27 AM 10:27 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2012-03-22
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章，就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容，分析常見的寫作錯誤，並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The painter’s stubbon pride, which had put him ahead of his peers, kept him from acknowledging a chronic condition that threatened to end his colorful career. His eyes were failing—“around the edges,” as he complained to an assistant. While submitting to a neurology doctor’s scrutiny seemed to him a big deal, to anyone with less ego, it was a ho-hum decision. Now his nervous system would be looked at as closely as the artist had scrutinized his own masterpieces. To the sick artist, the doctor’s opinion was the only one that mattered to him.”
The gist of this passage about an artist with a threatening physical condition is that he has been humbled by the condition. The passage is intrinsically interesting. But its appeal is lessened by deadening words. His pride is said to be “stubborn,” a tired phrase. The pride is said to “put” him ahead of fellow artists. “Put” is such a flat verb. A “chronic” condition threatens to “end” his career, but chronic by definition is unending. “Big deal?” Big cliché. “Ho-hum?” Conversational. “Looked at?” Grammatically awkward. This writer’s sin is dullness.
這段文章談論一位藝術家，因為身體狀況而受挫。文章內容本身很有趣，卻因用詞單調而失色不少。以 “stubborn”（頑強）形容畫家的自負太了無新意，說這股自負 “put”（造成）畫家領先其他畫家又太平淡。文章說一種 “chronic”（慢性）病症很可能 “end”（終結）畫家事業，但 “chronic” 本身有無止盡的意思。“Big deal” 太老套，“Ho-hum” 太口語，“Looked at” 文法有問題，整篇文章的毛病就是用詞沉悶。
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The painter’s overweening pride, which had vaulted him ahead of his artistic peers, kept him from acknowledging a physical condition that threatened to end his career: His eyesight was failing—“around the edges,” as he complained to his studio assistant. While submitting to neurological scrutiny seemed to him a Herculean concession, to anyone of lesser ego, it was routine. His nervous system would be examined as closely as the artist had scrutinized his own brushwork. To the ailing artist, the doctor’s opinion now was the only one that mattered.”
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The painter’s stubbon pride, which had put him ahead of his peers, kept him from acknowledging a chronic condition that threatened to end his colorful career. His eyes were failing—“around the edges,” as he complained to an assistant. While submitting to a neurology doctor’s scrutiny seemed to him a big deal, to anyone with less ego, it was a ho-hum decision. Now his nervous system would be looked at as closely as the artist had scrutinized his own masterpieces. To the sick artist, the doctor’s opinion was the only one that mattered to him.”
The gist of this passage about an artist with a threatening physical condition is that he has been humbled by the condition. The passage is intrinsically interesting. But its appeal is lessened by deadening words. His pride is said to be “stubborn,” a tired phrase. The pride is said to “put” him ahead of fellow artists. “Put” is such a flat verb. A “chronic” condition threatens to “end” his career, but chronic by definition is unending. “Big deal?” Big cliché. “Ho-hum?” Conversational. “Looked at?” Grammatically awkward. This writer’s sin is dullness.
這段文章談論一位藝術家，因為身體狀況而受挫。文章內容本身很有趣，卻因用詞單調而失色不少。以 “stubborn”（頑強）形容畫家的自負太了無新意，說這股自負 “put”（造成）畫家領先其他畫家又太平淡。文章說一種 “chronic”（慢性）病症很可能 “end”（終結）畫家事業，但 “chronic” 本身有無止盡的意思。“Big deal” 太老套，“Ho-hum” 太口語，“Looked at” 文法有問題，整篇文章的毛病就是用詞沉悶。
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The painter’s overweening pride, which had vaulted him ahead of his artistic peers, kept him from acknowledging a physical condition that threatened to end his career: His eyesight was failing—“around the edges,” as he complained to his studio assistant. While submitting to neurological scrutiny seemed to him a Herculean concession, to anyone of lesser ego, it was routine. His nervous system would be examined as closely as the artist had scrutinized his own brushwork. To the ailing artist, the doctor’s opinion now was the only one that mattered.”
Last Update at 2012-03-23 AM 10:25 | 0 Comments
0319 TPS Verbalize Contest－Answer and Explanation你能找出關鍵的動詞嗎？ 正確解答!
2012-03-20
Suggested answer: “Because auto traffic swelled in the campus neighborhood, an officer was stationed at the busiest intersection to order the chaos.”
Uniformed people who have sworn authority to command civilians—or other uniformed people—can interrupt public behavior for the public good. Thus, they have an edge in a chaotic situation. They can at least moderate disorder simply by ordering it. Using “order” in this sentence has the double meaning of a traffic officer ordering a maelstrom of drivers to proceed in a more orderly way. Some other “o” verbs that might have been used—such as organize, orchestrate, overcome—lack the authoritative voice implicit in “order.”
穿制服的員警有職權指揮市民，或其他穿制服的人，為公眾利益干涉公眾行為，因此在混亂的情況中能發揮優勢，只要指揮下令，至少便能調解混亂的交通。句中使用 “order” 這個字有雙重意義，交通警察整頓 (order) 混亂交通，讓交通更有秩序 (orderly)。其他 “o” 開頭的動詞還有 organize（組織）、orchestrate（協調一致）、overcome（克服），不過都缺乏 “order” 隱含的權威感。
Uniformed people who have sworn authority to command civilians—or other uniformed people—can interrupt public behavior for the public good. Thus, they have an edge in a chaotic situation. They can at least moderate disorder simply by ordering it. Using “order” in this sentence has the double meaning of a traffic officer ordering a maelstrom of drivers to proceed in a more orderly way. Some other “o” verbs that might have been used—such as organize, orchestrate, overcome—lack the authoritative voice implicit in “order.”
穿制服的員警有職權指揮市民，或其他穿制服的人，為公眾利益干涉公眾行為，因此在混亂的情況中能發揮優勢，只要指揮下令，至少便能調解混亂的交通。句中使用 “order” 這個字有雙重意義，交通警察整頓 (order) 混亂交通，讓交通更有秩序 (orderly)。其他 “o” 開頭的動詞還有 organize（組織）、orchestrate（協調一致）、overcome（克服），不過都缺乏 “order” 隱含的權威感。
Last Update at 2012-03-20 AM 11:20 | 0 Comments
0319 TPS Verbalize Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你能找出關鍵的動詞嗎？有機會獲得200元 7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2012-03-19
The sentence below is missing a verb. However, the first letter of the verb is provided. Insert a word that starts with the given first letter and best fits the tenor of the sentence, and then defend your word choice in five or fewer words. The first TPS Fan to respond with the judge’s choice of verb—or the most effective alternate verb— will win a ¬¬¬NTD 200 Starbucks Gift Certificate. The name of the winner will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page. Good luck!
以下句子缺少動詞，請加入一個最符合句子意思且符合空格開頭字母的動詞，以及五個字以內的理由，我們將提供7-11／星巴克咖啡禮券兩百元，頒給第一位想出最佳解答或是最佳替代字的第1位粉絲。解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁。請將答案寫在下方，幸運兒可能就是你！
題目Contest Sentence:
“Because auto traffic swelled in the campus neighborhood, an officer was stationed at the busiest intersection to o______the chaos.”
以下句子缺少動詞，請加入一個最符合句子意思且符合空格開頭字母的動詞，以及五個字以內的理由，我們將提供7-11／星巴克咖啡禮券兩百元，頒給第一位想出最佳解答或是最佳替代字的第1位粉絲。解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁。請將答案寫在下方，幸運兒可能就是你！
題目Contest Sentence:
“Because auto traffic swelled in the campus neighborhood, an officer was stationed at the busiest intersection to o______the chaos.”
Last Update at 2012-03-20 AM 11:18 | 0 Comments
What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
2012-03-15
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思，字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法，我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻，作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The young idealist, stunned by the slush fund revelations about the president, felt his idealism evaporating in a fetid swirl of disgust.”
「總統賄款遭到揭露，年輕的理想主義者得知後非常震驚，覺得理想在一池令人厭惡的腐臭漩渦裡蒸發消失。」
A “slush fund” is a term rooted in nautical lore. It refers to the fat skimmed from the top of a vat of meat boiled by the ship’s cook. The slushy fat was emptied into a cask and allowed to accumulate. When a ship reached port, the fatty refuse was sold as cooking oil. Any money derived from the sale usually was spent on the crew. Because it was a byproduct of an ongoing activity—cooking—the slush and the money derived from its sale was a benefit that didn’t appear on the books as an expense and, therefore, was deemed to be legitimate bonus pay.
“Slush fund”（油水、福利金、賄款）一詞源自航海的傳聞，是指船上廚師每次做飯時，從大鍋肉表面撇取的油脂，這些油水收集起來放到大桶中，等船靠港就拿去販賣，作為烹調用油，所得通常歸船員所有。因為這些油渣是每天煮飯的附加收益，不會記在帳簿上，所以被視為正當的額外福利。
The modern usage of the term, as in the example sentence, has taken on the more rancid characteristics of the fat-cooking residue. A slush fund now connotes something furtively collected, money misdirected and set aside for personal use from a larger fund. Unlike the original fat-skimming aboard ship, it suggests a sly dipping into a pool of money for corruptive purposes. So the idealist in question had his eyes opened. That his idealism disappeared in “a fetid swirl of disgust” nicely recreates the smelly nature of the original meat-boiling activity.
這個詞組的現代用法，如本句所示範，更為強調油渣腐敗酸臭的特色。如今，”slush fund”與船上所撇取脂肪的原意不同，而是暗指私下搜括的物資，從大筆金額中私自挪用的款項，指為了貪腐賄賂，暗中對一大筆錢上下其手。句中理想主義者驚訝之餘，理想主義消失在 “a fetid swirl of disgust”（令人厭惡的腐臭漩渦）中，巧妙重現了原意中煮肉的腐臭。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The young idealist, stunned by the slush fund revelations about the president, felt his idealism evaporating in a fetid swirl of disgust.”
「總統賄款遭到揭露，年輕的理想主義者得知後非常震驚，覺得理想在一池令人厭惡的腐臭漩渦裡蒸發消失。」
A “slush fund” is a term rooted in nautical lore. It refers to the fat skimmed from the top of a vat of meat boiled by the ship’s cook. The slushy fat was emptied into a cask and allowed to accumulate. When a ship reached port, the fatty refuse was sold as cooking oil. Any money derived from the sale usually was spent on the crew. Because it was a byproduct of an ongoing activity—cooking—the slush and the money derived from its sale was a benefit that didn’t appear on the books as an expense and, therefore, was deemed to be legitimate bonus pay.
“Slush fund”（油水、福利金、賄款）一詞源自航海的傳聞，是指船上廚師每次做飯時，從大鍋肉表面撇取的油脂，這些油水收集起來放到大桶中，等船靠港就拿去販賣，作為烹調用油，所得通常歸船員所有。因為這些油渣是每天煮飯的附加收益，不會記在帳簿上，所以被視為正當的額外福利。
The modern usage of the term, as in the example sentence, has taken on the more rancid characteristics of the fat-cooking residue. A slush fund now connotes something furtively collected, money misdirected and set aside for personal use from a larger fund. Unlike the original fat-skimming aboard ship, it suggests a sly dipping into a pool of money for corruptive purposes. So the idealist in question had his eyes opened. That his idealism disappeared in “a fetid swirl of disgust” nicely recreates the smelly nature of the original meat-boiling activity.
這個詞組的現代用法，如本句所示範，更為強調油渣腐敗酸臭的特色。如今，”slush fund”與船上所撇取脂肪的原意不同，而是暗指私下搜括的物資，從大筆金額中私自挪用的款項，指為了貪腐賄賂，暗中對一大筆錢上下其手。句中理想主義者驚訝之餘，理想主義消失在 “a fetid swirl of disgust”（令人厭惡的腐臭漩渦）中，巧妙重現了原意中煮肉的腐臭。
Last Update at 2012-03-16 AM 10:22 | 0 Comments
0312 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Answer and Explanation你是接龍的高手嗎? 正確解答!
2012-03-13
Answer: We believe the sentence is best completed this way:
“The shiniest star in our solar system is a hundred and fifty million kilometers from my front door, but its power to warm me is as close as my window.”
Distance is a relative thing. Actual distance between one object and another can be measured in miles, or years, or emotions. Even unpoetic observers know how the sun can seem comfortingly close on a cloudless day. This sentence juxtaposes the sun’s great distance with the personal space of “me.” The conjunction “but” suggests the comparison should be contrasting, such as … the sun is far away, but it feels close to me. Had the sentence’s conjunction been “and,” the sentence could have conveyed an entirely different meaning. The parts of a good sentence work in harmony.
距離是相對的，兩物體間實際的距離可以用英哩、年歲或情緒衡量。即使是最死板的觀察也知道，萬里無雲的日子裡，太陽看起來離我們不遠。本句以太陽遙遠的距離，對照「我」的個人空間，連接詞 “but” 暗示兩者應該形成反差，例如太陽很遙遠，但感覺很接近。若連接詞是 “and”，則本句就會傳達完全不同的意義。好句子每個部分都應該搭配得宜。
“The shiniest star in our solar system is a hundred and fifty million kilometers from my front door, but its power to warm me is as close as my window.”
Distance is a relative thing. Actual distance between one object and another can be measured in miles, or years, or emotions. Even unpoetic observers know how the sun can seem comfortingly close on a cloudless day. This sentence juxtaposes the sun’s great distance with the personal space of “me.” The conjunction “but” suggests the comparison should be contrasting, such as … the sun is far away, but it feels close to me. Had the sentence’s conjunction been “and,” the sentence could have conveyed an entirely different meaning. The parts of a good sentence work in harmony.
距離是相對的，兩物體間實際的距離可以用英哩、年歲或情緒衡量。即使是最死板的觀察也知道，萬里無雲的日子裡，太陽看起來離我們不遠。本句以太陽遙遠的距離，對照「我」的個人空間，連接詞 “but” 暗示兩者應該形成反差，例如太陽很遙遠，但感覺很接近。若連接詞是 “and”，則本句就會傳達完全不同的意義。好句子每個部分都應該搭配得宜。
Last Update at 2012-03-13 AM 10:44 | 0 Comments
0312 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你是接龍的高手嗎? 有機會獲得價值200元7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2012-03-12
No formula exists for the writing of a superior sentence, but this much is known: The best sentence has no weak part. The following sentence is incomplete. In 5 or fewer words, complete the sentence in a way that strengthens the whole of it. The first TPS Fan to complete the sentence as we believe it is best completed will win a NTD200 7-11 / Starbucks Gift Certificate. Another Starbucks certificate will be awarded to the first Fan to complete it in an alternate way that, in our estimation, also is effective. The explanation and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page.
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案，不過起碼我們知道，優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子，請用五個字以內完成句子接龍，寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子，並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲，將獲得兩百元7-11／星巴克禮券；另增設特別獎一名，頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快！
題目Contest Sentence:
“The shiniest star in our solar system is a hundred and fifty million kilometers from my front door, but its power to warm me is __ __ __ __ __.”
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案，不過起碼我們知道，優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子，請用五個字以內完成句子接龍，寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子，並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲，將獲得兩百元7-11／星巴克禮券；另增設特別獎一名，頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快！
題目Contest Sentence:
“The shiniest star in our solar system is a hundred and fifty million kilometers from my front door, but its power to warm me is __ __ __ __ __.”
Last Update at 2012-03-13 AM 10:43 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2012-03-08
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章，就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容，分析常見的寫作錯誤，並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The modern Olympic Games kicked off in 1896. They have been run every four years since in the summer months, except for three times when world wars interfered with them, in 1916, 1940, and 1944. Political rivalries spoiled others in the form of boycotts and terrorism. Probably the most spectacular Olympic extravaganza was the 2008 Games in Beijing. The host country won the most gold medals – 51 – and 43 other world records were set by the best of 11,000 athletic competitors. A measure of the Beijing Games success was yet another world record: It boasted the largest TV audience in Olympic history.”
This excerpt from a paper on the international Olympic Games reaches too far and falls short in its word choices. The writer declares that the Games “kicked off” and are “run” every four years. What next, a “finish line” at Games end? Sports terminology has its place; this isn’t it. Saying political “rivalries spoiled” some Games trivializes international relations. The Beijing event was declared to be a “spectacular” “extravaganza,” which is a subjective assertion. The writer further asserts “the best” athletes set world records, when arguably some truly superior athletes won events in which no record was set. What else unacceptable do you see?
本段文章討論國際奧林匹克運動會，用詞有點過頭，不太恰當。文章說奧運會每四年 “kicked off”（揭幕；開球）、“run”（舉辦；跑步）一次，接下來是不是要說奧運結束，抵達 “finish line”（終點線）？運動詞彙有適合的地方，用在這裡並不恰當。說 “political rivalries spoiled”（政治鬥爭破壞）了幾次奧會，未免把國際關係看得太簡單。說北京奧會是 “spectacular” “extravaganza”（壯觀的盛會），則是主觀評斷。文章甚至宣稱 “the best”（最出色的）運動員創了世界紀錄，但或許有些更優秀的運動員贏了比賽，只是沒有創紀錄。你還看到哪些不恰當的用法？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The modern Olympic Games began in 1896. They have been staged in the summer every four years since, except for three times when major wars precluded them, in 1916, 1940, and 1944. World politics marred others in the form of boycotts and terrorism. None of the Olympic gatherings were more successful than the 2008 Games in Beijing. The host country won more gold medals – 51 – than any other and 43 world records were set by some of the 11,000 athletes. One measure of success was another world record: the largest TV audience in Olympic history.”
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The modern Olympic Games kicked off in 1896. They have been run every four years since in the summer months, except for three times when world wars interfered with them, in 1916, 1940, and 1944. Political rivalries spoiled others in the form of boycotts and terrorism. Probably the most spectacular Olympic extravaganza was the 2008 Games in Beijing. The host country won the most gold medals – 51 – and 43 other world records were set by the best of 11,000 athletic competitors. A measure of the Beijing Games success was yet another world record: It boasted the largest TV audience in Olympic history.”
This excerpt from a paper on the international Olympic Games reaches too far and falls short in its word choices. The writer declares that the Games “kicked off” and are “run” every four years. What next, a “finish line” at Games end? Sports terminology has its place; this isn’t it. Saying political “rivalries spoiled” some Games trivializes international relations. The Beijing event was declared to be a “spectacular” “extravaganza,” which is a subjective assertion. The writer further asserts “the best” athletes set world records, when arguably some truly superior athletes won events in which no record was set. What else unacceptable do you see?
本段文章討論國際奧林匹克運動會，用詞有點過頭，不太恰當。文章說奧運會每四年 “kicked off”（揭幕；開球）、“run”（舉辦；跑步）一次，接下來是不是要說奧運結束，抵達 “finish line”（終點線）？運動詞彙有適合的地方，用在這裡並不恰當。說 “political rivalries spoiled”（政治鬥爭破壞）了幾次奧會，未免把國際關係看得太簡單。說北京奧會是 “spectacular” “extravaganza”（壯觀的盛會），則是主觀評斷。文章甚至宣稱 “the best”（最出色的）運動員創了世界紀錄，但或許有些更優秀的運動員贏了比賽，只是沒有創紀錄。你還看到哪些不恰當的用法？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The modern Olympic Games began in 1896. They have been staged in the summer every four years since, except for three times when major wars precluded them, in 1916, 1940, and 1944. World politics marred others in the form of boycotts and terrorism. None of the Olympic gatherings were more successful than the 2008 Games in Beijing. The host country won more gold medals – 51 – than any other and 43 world records were set by some of the 11,000 athletes. One measure of success was another world record: the largest TV audience in Olympic history.”
Last Update at 2012-03-09 AM 10:34 | 0 Comments
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