語言偽術、港版《1984》﹖

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02/10/2012

語言偽術、港版《1984》﹖ 毛孟靜

網上流傳這樣一段對答,是語言「偽」術的範例:

問: 「在德國,德國公民能了解德國總理的子女及其財產狀况,在中國能嗎?」

答: 「當然能,中國公民也能了解德國總理的子女和財產情况。」

會有人覺得這個答案exceedingly ( 非常地) clever, incredibly ( 難以置信地)smart,總之好「醒」。但最後的感覺,卻因為答得缺乏誠意, 到底不過是cheapsmugness、廉價的「得戚」;口語形容就是a smart-ass reply。Smart-ass,解洋洋自得,「自以為好醒」。亦可用做名詞:

That smart-ass thinks he is the know-it-all here. 譯做我們的白話,是「嗰條友懶醒,自覺好有料到」。

語言偽術,實實在在不過是耍嘴皮子,just playing with words。

You find him credible? But he is just playing with words!

你認為他信得過?但他不過在玩字!It is nothing but a game of words. It is only a word game.

只不過是文字遊戲罷了。

留意word game 的word,成了形容詞,就沒有s,維持單數。另一例子︰This is a group of 12 members → This is a12-member (無s) group.

回說沒有誠意地玩字, 喬治? 歐威爾(George Orwell) 的經典諷刺小說《1984》,香港有哪間學校用作教科書? 裏頭的newspeak(新款說話),就是語言偽術的一種,例子有:

(1) Joy camp (歡樂營) : forced-labour camp(勞役營)

(2) Black white(黑白):名詞,指對黨的一份忠心,loyal willingness,黨說黑是白,會乖乖跟着說黑是白。更重要的, 是代表theability to believe that black is white, and more,to know that black is white,不但「相信」黑確就是白,而且從來「知道」黑本就是白。

(3) Belly feel (肚子感覺) : Blind,enthusiastic acceptance of a concept. 盲目又熱誠地接受一套理念。這個字,或可作本市洗腦教材、升旗感動指引。

因為這本書,歐威爾的姓Orwell 給改做形容詞,Orwellian、歐威爾式的;其中一個解釋,是official deception,官方瞞騙。Let’s hope Hong Kong won’t turn into an Orwellian city. 希望香港不會成為奥維爾筆下的城市。

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