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《宋氏快译》英汉对照(48)臭嘴大仙遭辞工

(2007-12-09 08:09:57) 下一个
《宋氏快译》英汉对照(48):臭嘴大仙遭辞工

纽约市门卫口臭遭辞工
NYC doorman suspended for bad breath
Fri Dec 7, 9:25 PM ET


宋德利 译自 Yahoo News


NEW YORK - A Manhattan doorman has been suspended for having bad breath. Jonah Seeman, who has been ushering tenants into a four-building complex on East 89th Street for 40 years, was told not to come to work Friday because of halitosis.

纽约 - 曼哈顿一名门卫因喘气气味不佳已被中止工作。乔纳-西门40年来一直在东89街一座四层综合大楼为房客开门引路,但他周五接到通知不要再来上班,原因是口臭。

注释:suspend,中止,望文生义可知是“中间停止”,而不是“最后停止”,注意与“终止”的区别。前者是暂时停止,后者是永久停止。另外,注意“口臭”的读音,其中的“臭”字,记得小时上学,语文老师特意强调应读“秀”。但现在查看《现代汉语词典》,却依然标示着“chou”,即“臭”的基本发音。还是以词典为准,不过知道有这么回事,也不无助益。


Seeman said he has stopped eating garlic, uses mouthwash and takes breath mints on the job.

西门说,他已经停吃大蒜,而且使用漱口水,上班时还吃薄荷洁味片。

注释:breath mints,是那种铁盒包装的薄荷片,功能是消除喘气时发出的臭味。


The Brooklyn resident, who supports his 81-year-old mother, has been suspended twice before for bad breath — one day in May and then again in July.

这位赡养81岁老母的布鲁克林居民,此前已经因为口臭两度被中止工作- 一次在五月的一天,而后就是七月再(遭厄运)。


Apartment dwellers at the Gracie Gardens complex expressed surprise over Seeman's suspension and came to his defense.

Gracie Gardens公寓大楼的住户对西门被辞工深感吃惊,纷纷站出来为他辩护。

注释:came to his defense,其实就是打抱不平,为人说情,说好话。译成“辩护”未尝不可,但略显正式一些,似乎在打官司时说“辩护”比较确切。


"His job, which he does well, is opening the door — not to be opening his mouth," said Adam Reingold.

亚当-雷因戈尔德说: “他表现不错,再说他的工作是开门- 而不是开嘴。”

注释:not to be opening his mouth,当然地道的中文应该是“张嘴”。不过英文中“张”与“开”,都是open,因此一语双关,听起来很风趣。而中文分得太细,如果使用两个不同的字,风趣顿失。因此不妨译得生硬一点,反倒能透出一丝幽默。如果不信,请仔细玩味,说不定会令您忍俊不止,偷着乐一阵子呢。


Officials with Cooper Square Realty, the management company that oversees the property, did not return calls seeking comment. But the company sent the doorman a letter dated Nov. 21, stating: "We can no longer tolerate the fact that you have severe breath odor while on duty."

Cooper Square Realty房产公司,即监管房产的管理公司的行政人员,对寻求评论的咨询电话没有回复。但该公司给这名门卫发出一封日期为11月21日的信,表示: “我们对于你在岗时呼出强烈臭气一事实在忍无可忍了。”


The union that represents Seeman, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, has filed a grievance in the case.

代表西门的工会组织,即雇员服务国际联盟的地方机构32BJ,已就此案提起申诉。

摘自《每日新闻》(Daily News)

文言:

曼哈顿之门卫者,西门氏也。呼气不佳,遭辞工。开门引路,于焉四十载,周五接函,陡令停工,唯因口臭尔。西氏称,大蒜已停食,漱口水常用,上班亦食薄荷。西门,孝子也,八旬老母,一人赡养。口臭停工两度矣。五、七两月各一。住户闻之,无不惊讶,争先辩之。或曰: “此士劬劳,口碑甚佳。其工开门, 而非开口也。”房产公司未复询电,只发一函,曰:“汝在岗呼臭气,洵属忍无可忍。”工会就此已申诉矣。
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