我们说英语或者写英语时,大致有三个维度需要考虑:
1. 文化维度
我不会说话,对不起。
这个句子似乎很简单,但如果不考虑文化差异,就会导致理解上的偏差。
首先,可以理解为我的语言不得体:
I am sorry for what I said.
I shouldn’t have said that, so I am sorry.
其次,可以理解为我真的不会操控语言:
I can’t talk, so I am sorry.
I am sorry for not being able to talk.
2. 词汇维度
英语中,嫁和娶是一个词,但汉语中则不同:
Jane嫁给了Tom。
Jane married Tom.
Tom娶了Jane。
Tom married Jane.
一说到相信,人们总会想到believe,但请看下句却用了be convinced of:
The buyer was convinced of the salesman’s integrity.
3. 句子维度
以下几个句子哪里错了呢?
You are taller than me.
应该是:You are taller than I (am).
---I love music. ---Me, too.
应该是:---I love music. ---I do, too.
My brother and I want to be a scientist.
应该是:My brother and I want to be scientists.
