What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
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 word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The river gorge cuts so deeply through South China that tourist boat passengers experience vertigo if they let their eyes race to the top of the canyon walls.”
「蜿流過中國南方的河谷切割甚深，讓搭乘觀光船的旅客猛地看向峭壁頂端時，會感到暈眩不已。」
“Race” used as a verb has only one essential meaning: to move rapidly. Cars race around tracks. Children race to the ice cream wagon. Commuters race home at the end of the day. Sometimes the racing is competitive, with one racer trying to cross a finish line before another racer. Sometimes the race is non-competitive and illustrates the generally rapid pace of a moving person or vehicle. In every instance, speed is the essence of the meaning. To race slowly is an oxymoron.
「Race」當動詞使用時，代表的意思為「迅速移動」。譬如賽車繞著軌道競速、孩子衝向冰淇淋車、或是通勤人士下班後趕著要搭車回家。這類迅速移動有時會帶有競賽意味，像是跑者奮力衝過終點線，打敗對手。反之，「race」也可能不具競賽意味，用來描寫移動中的人物快速的步伐。
In saying the eyes of the tourists “race” to the top, the writer obviously is not speaking literally. The tourists are not visually racing to see who can spot the top of the wall first, nor have their eyes somehow grown wings to fly up the canyon walls. Rather, their eye (and head) movement suddenly is heavenward. The single word “race” describes this movement. This act of abrupt vertical scanning, with heads thrown back, can unsettle the senses and bring on dizziness.
文中提到旅客的目光「猛地（race）」看向峭壁頂端，很顯然地並不是字面上的意思。旅客們並非在比賽，看誰能先看到峭壁頂上；他們也不是眼睛插了翅，能飛向頂端。相反地，「race」則是描述了旅客們的動作，說明他們的眼睛（和頭）突然向上望。而這種頭向後仰、猛然向上看的動作，造成一股混亂感，令人覺得暈眩。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The river gorge cuts so deeply through South China that tourist boat passengers experience vertigo if they let their eyes race to the top of the canyon walls.”
「蜿流過中國南方的河谷切割甚深，讓搭乘觀光船的旅客猛地看向峭壁頂端時，會感到暈眩不已。」
“Race” used as a verb has only one essential meaning: to move rapidly. Cars race around tracks. Children race to the ice cream wagon. Commuters race home at the end of the day. Sometimes the racing is competitive, with one racer trying to cross a finish line before another racer. Sometimes the race is non-competitive and illustrates the generally rapid pace of a moving person or vehicle. In every instance, speed is the essence of the meaning. To race slowly is an oxymoron.
「Race」當動詞使用時，代表的意思為「迅速移動」。譬如賽車繞著軌道競速、孩子衝向冰淇淋車、或是通勤人士下班後趕著要搭車回家。這類迅速移動有時會帶有競賽意味，像是跑者奮力衝過終點線，打敗對手。反之，「race」也可能不具競賽意味，用來描寫移動中的人物快速的步伐。
In saying the eyes of the tourists “race” to the top, the writer obviously is not speaking literally. The tourists are not visually racing to see who can spot the top of the wall first, nor have their eyes somehow grown wings to fly up the canyon walls. Rather, their eye (and head) movement suddenly is heavenward. The single word “race” describes this movement. This act of abrupt vertical scanning, with heads thrown back, can unsettle the senses and bring on dizziness.
文中提到旅客的目光「猛地（race）」看向峭壁頂端，很顯然地並不是字面上的意思。旅客們並非在比賽，看誰能先看到峭壁頂上；他們也不是眼睛插了翅，能飛向頂端。相反地，「race」則是描述了旅客們的動作，說明他們的眼睛（和頭）突然向上望。而這種頭向後仰、猛然向上看的動作，造成一股混亂感，令人覺得暈眩。
Posted at 2012-12-14 14:31:37
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