問:今天常說的「(政改)袋住先」,英文怎樣翻譯才好?
答:「袋住先」直譯當然是to pocket it first。不過,pocket作動詞,一般是指「放入口袋」或「以不正當手段據為己有」,和梁振英騙子集團所謂「袋住先」含義不同,例如:(1)He pocketed his handkerchief(他把手帕放進袋裏)。(2)He pocketed some of the money collected for charity(他私吞了部分籌得的善款)。
一七八八年,美國憲法擬就,交紐約州表決,反聯邦派主將梅蘭克頓.史密斯(Melancton Smith)主張修訂,撰文說:To the Federalists who now say, "Adopt it first, and then amend it," I ask, "Why not amend, and then adopt it?"(聯邦派現在說:「先採納,後修訂吧。」我要問他們:「為什麼不先修訂,後採納?」)當時聯邦派所謂adopt it first,自然就是「袋住先」的意思。
問:政府新聞公報有以下一句:Departments will continue to keep in view the situation and consider any necessary follow-up actions(政府部門會繼續留意情況,有必要時會再處理)。查字典,不見keep in view一詞,是否正確英文?又actions的s要刪去嗎?
答:Keep in view是常用語,指「不讓……離開視線」,當然是正確英文,例如:The detective kept the suspect in view(偵探緊盯着疑犯)。至於action,做不可數(uncountable)或可數(countable)動詞都可以,所以,any follow-up action / actions兩個說法都正確。