Ⅻ 英語と英語文化と英語辞書
     ―より充実した英語教育のために

                                         山岸 勝榮

英語が分かるということ

  A)   次の英文および英詩の意味がどこまできちんと理解できますか。

例1)If Samuel Nutkin had not dropped his glasses case between the cushions of his seat on the commuter train from Edenbridge to London that morning, none of this would have happened. But he did drop them, slipped his hand between the cushions to retrieve them, and the die was cast.

  例2)Lettice was Mrs Nutkin. She was mainly confined to her bed, she claimed by severe arthritis and a weak heart, while Dr Bulstrode opined it was a severe dose of hypochondria.

例3)He rang the number at lunchtime from a call box in the nearest subway station. A husky woman’s voice said, ‘Hello?’ Mr Nutkin pushed the five-penny into the slot, cleared his throat and said, ‘Er…hello, is that Miss Sally?’ ‘That’s right,’ said the voice, ‘and who is that?’

   例4)Mrs Murgatroyd descended from the rear seat at once. Although she had only twice ventured east of the Thames estuary―they usually holidayed with her sister at Bognor―she at once began to harangue the porters as if, in earlier life, she had had half of the Raj at her personal disposition.

     例5)He dropped his pyjamas silently on the bed and pulled on his underpants. Taking plimsols, shorts and shirt, he went
   quietly out by the door and closed it behind him.
             
       
※例1)~例5)F. Forsyth: Money with Menaces & The Emperorより      

例6)Bed in Summer (YouTubeでの同詩の朗読)
―            ― R.L. Stevenson (1850-94)
  
 
       In winter I get up at night
       And dress by yellow candle-light.
 
       In summer quite the other way, 
       I have to go to bed by day?

       I have to go to bed and see
       The birds still hopping on the tree.  
         Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
         Still going past me in the street.

         And does it not seem hard to you,
         When all the sky is clear and blue,  
         And I should like so much to play,
         To have to go to bed by day         


B
) 次の対話をどこまできちんと理解できますか。

      例1) ”You’ve been coughing all night. Have you taken any medicine?”
         “Yes, I’ve tried all kinds of medicine.”
         “I know what to do. I’ll find a dog. You get some bread and butter.”


    例2)  “Anna, the ceremony is about to begin. Are you ready?”
       “Yes, I’m wearing my grandmother’s necklace and my beautiful wedding gown. Dad’s penny is tied into my bouquet with a blue ribbon. Everything is perfect.”

   
    例3)
”How much longer is your mother going to stay?”
        “I know. When she sits down for dinner, I’ll put some pepper under her chair.”

   例4)”Paul, can you lend me some money?”
       “All I have is two-dollar bill. Do you still want it?”

    例5)”Are you trying to cause trouble?”
      “What did I do?” “You put your shoes on the kitchen table.”

   例6) ”Don’t give me any trouble. Just get ready to go.”
       “OK. Just as soon as I’ve had a cup of coffee.”
       “Oh, no! I want you to get ready now!”
       “Wow, you must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

C) 次の文の各番号の所に強勢を置くことで文意はどのように変化するでしょうか。

    例)  I  think  he  speaks  Japa-nese  very  well. 
       ②   ③  ④   ⑤  ⑥   ⑦  ⑧

D) 次の日本文に対する英訳の問題点を指摘してください。

   例1)昨夜、新幹線を予約した。
       Last night I reserved Shinkansen.

   例2)山田店長はいつも私たちアルバイト店員をフォローしてくれる。
       Manager Yamada always follows us, part-timers.

   例3)彼女が好きならアタックしてみたら? 
       If you like her, why not attack her?

   例4)あなたの部屋は畳、それともカーペット?
       Is your room tatami-mat or carpet?

       例5)うちでは23日に豆まきをする。
       We scatter beans on February 3.

                       例6)戦時中多くの日本人がこの崖から海に飛び込んだ。
           During the war many Japanese jumped into the ocean from this cliff.

         例7)わたしはバネッサ・ウイリアムズ、エンヤなどが好きです。
           
I like Vanessa Williams, Enya, etc.

    
          例8)姉は妊娠4か月です。
           My sister is four months pregnant.