問:以下一句,哪個選擇正確?──Considerationshouldbetakentodo/Considerationshouldbegiventodoingwhateverisneededtostrengthensecurity(加強保安須做的事,都應該顧及)。
答:「我會慎重考慮這件事」英文可以這樣翻譯:(1)Iwillgivethismattercarefulconsideration/Thismatterwillbegivencarefulconsideration。(2)Iwillgivecarefulconsiderationtothismatter/Carefulconsiderationwillbegiventothismatter。讀者示下那一句,Considerationshouldbegiventodoingwhateverisneeded這說法,即上文例句(2)的被動語態(passivevoice)。
至於Considerationshouldbetakentodowhateverisneeded的說法,文法同樣正確,意思和Considerationshouldbegiventodoingwhateverisneeded也沒有分別。主動語態(activevoice)則是Weshouldtakeconsiderationtodowhateverisneeded。不過,無論是主動還是被動語態,這說法都較為少見。
問:最近香港政府經常宣傳「無縫清關」,以「無縫」譯seamless正不正確?
答:Seamless原義是「無縫的」,常引伸解作「由此到彼了無窒礙的」,例如:(1)Shewaswearingapairofseamlessstockings(她穿着無縫的長襪)。(2)Taiwanunderwentaseamlesstransitionfromenlighteneddictatorshiptodemocracy(台灣順利由開明的獨裁統治轉為民主)。Seamlesscustomsclearance即「順暢結關」,直譯做「無縫清關」,則是典型現代漢語。你要做中共國民,就不要質疑。