综合英语教程InaMannerofSpeaking译文.docVIP

In a Manner of Speaking 不妨这么讲 One of the most startling surprises for many Americans when they first arrive in Britain is the discovery that their mother tongue, which has been serving them faithfully all these years, is suddenly not up to dealing with the intricacies of the English language as practiced in the British Isles. 对于第一次到英国的许多美国人而言 ，最让他们惊讶的事情之一就是多年来 他们运用自如的母语在应对大不列颠岛屿上使用的纷繁复杂的英语时 ，突然显 得力不从心 。 It is an unsettling experience to arrive in the UK and find oneself uttering vocal noises -- speech is probably too strong a word for it -- that are received nearly everywhere as at best quaint and imprecise, at worst as misleading and noisy. Even the most innocuous encounters suddenly become charged with the possibility of confusion. 到了英国之后 ，你会发现自己所发出的有声噪音 （或许用言语这一词过重了 些）在任何地方 ，往好处讲被看作是优雅而又精确的 ，往坏处讲成了喧闹的骗 人的鬼话 。即使最平淡无奇的遭遇也会顿时使人迷惑不解 。 I recall once, when I was still new to the country, arriving at a country pub at lunchtime and asking what sandwiches they had, We have roast beef, said the man behind the bar, bending over to consult a small glass case full of sandwiches, and we have ham and cheese. 当我初到这个国家时 ，记得有一次 ，午饭时间我到了一家乡村酒吧 ，我问他 们有什么样的三明治 ，“我们这儿有烧牛肉 。”吧台后的人一边回答 ，一边弯着 腰去看一个盛满各式各样三明治的玻璃盒子 ，“还有火腿和奶酪 。” I11 have ham and cheese, I decided. “我就要火腿和奶酪 ”我说。 The man looked at me as if I had misunderstood him. We have roast beef and we have ham and cheese, he repeated, but more slowly. 那个人看着我 ，好像是我误解了他的意思 ：“我们有烧牛肉 、火腿和奶酪 ”他 用更慢的速度重复了一遍 。 Yes, I agreed. I was with him this far. “是的 ”。我回答，他的话我都能理解 。 So which will it be? “那么你要点什么 ？” Ham and cheese, I replied with a small sense of foreboding. “我就要火腿和奶酪 。”我预感到我们之间有些误解 。 He looked at me as if wondering if I was a wise guy. You want one of each? 他盯着我 ，好像在思量我是不是在故意找麻烦 ，“你一样要一个 ？” No, just the one. “不，只要一个 。” His face, I noticed, was growing slightly red around the edges. Yes, but which one? “好的，但是哪一个呢 ？”我发现他的脸颊有些泛红 。 The one I just said, I replied with the uneasy steadiness of someone forced unexpectedly to stand his groun