ecstasy这个词的意思是狂喜， 它的形容词是
ecstatic
分类：感悟 随想 译文
在我身边, 看到越来越多的美国人在学习中文; 而国人则如火如荼地学习英文. 这是好事, 地球村的概念就快实现. 对英文有兴趣的朋友, 读下面的文章会比较有意义.
先考大家一个词: Technopropisms. 不知道没关系. 这个词汇并不被广泛使用, 而且是1996年才诞生, 也许很多字典里都没有. 它源于另一个词: Malapropism. 这个词就有出处了. 爱尔兰剧作家Richard Sheridan 在1775年写了他第一个喜剧 -- "The Rivals", 其中有个幽默角色叫Mrs. Malaprop. 这个名字是从法文mal à propos来, 意思是inappropriate/不合适. Mrs. Malaprop没受过多少教育(自学成才). 她经常用发音类似的一个错误词语代替另一个正确的词语, 以至出现很多非常滑稽, 不知所云的语句. 英文中本来就有malapropos这个词汇. 而Malapropism则指任何句子, 一个词汇被另一个不正确的词汇所代替. Malapropism又分: 1. classical malapropisms, in which the mistakes are due to ignorance (as in the case of Mrs. Malaprop), 即无知导致的错误. 2. temporary slips of the tongue, in which the intended word is known by the speaker, but has been inadvertently replaced by another, 即说漏嘴, 说话的人知道要说什么, 只是不小心讲错了.
下面是Mrs. Malaprop讲的一些话:
"...promise to forget this fellow - to illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory."
[obliterate]
"O, he will dissolve my mystery!"
[resolve]
"He is the very pine-apple of politeness!"
[pinnacle]
"I have since laid Sir Anthony's preposition before her;"
[proposition]
"Oh! it gives me the hydrostatics to such a degree."
[hysterics]
"I hope you will represent her to the captain as an object not altogether illegible."
[eligible]
"...she might reprehend the true meaning of what she is saying."
[comprehend]
"...she's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of Nile."
[alligator]
"I am sorry to say, Sir Anthony, that my affluence over my niece is very small."
[influence]
"Nay, no delusions to the past - Lydia is convinced;"
[allusions]
"...behold, this very day, I have interceded another letter from the fellow;"
[intercepted]
"His physiognomy so grammatical!"
[phraseology]
"I am sure I have done everything in my power since I exploded the affair;"
[exposed]
"...if ever you betray what you are entrusted with... you forfeit my malevolence for ever..."
[benevolence]
"Your being Sir Anthony's son, captain, would itself be a sufficient accommodation;"
[recommendation]
"Sure, if I reprehend any thing in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!"
[apprehend, vernacular, arrangement, epithets]
搞清楚了什么是Malapropism, 我们再看Technopropisms. 现代人过多地倚赖电子媒体(科技, techo), 导致英语语言中很多词汇因为音似而造成普遍的使用错误. 当人们只是从电话, 电视, 收音机, 及对话中听到词语, 而不是从编辑良好的书本和杂志中阅读词语的时候, 词汇本身可能被corrupt(讹用). 而因为这些被讹用的词汇本身并没有拼写错误, (只是用错了地方), spellchecker无法查出使用的不当. 而被讹用的词再从电邮, 论坛, 博客中散播出去, 以讹传讹, 造成滥用词汇的普及. 很多时候, 看似正确的用法实际上是错误的.
下面是一些题, 有兴趣可以做一做. 有些相当容易, 有些不. 还有些是美过口语, 不见得所有学英语的人都知道. 请选择正确的语句. 朋友们也可以去在此网站做，可以立即知道得分及答案．
1.
the police officer patted him down
the police officer padded him down
2.
he has a full proof method for that
he has a foolproof method for that
3.
in his hay day he was a big star
in his heyday he was a big star
4.
a big effort was put forth by
a big effort was put fourth by
5.
his uncle was a good role model
his uncle was a good roll model
6.
the runner was seated first in his heat
the runner was seeded first in his heat
7.
that's just my two cents' worth
that's just my too sense worth
8.
had a cookie just to tie me over
had a cookie just to tide me over
9.
he was chopping at the bit
he was champing at the bit
10.
give me a brake!
give me a break!
11.
would leave me to expect
would lead me to expect
12.
please visit my web sight
please visit my web site
13.
I dawned my coat and hat
I donned my coat and hat
14.
his concentration never waivered
his concentration never wavered
15.
he was quick; in other words, he was fast
He was quick; another words, he was fast
16.
the crook was on the lam
the crook was on the lamb
17.
the destroyed vehicle was a complete write-off
the destroyed vehicle was a complete right off
18.
wreak havoc
reap havoc
19.
the device has coarse and fine adjustments
the device has course and fine adjustments
20.
sashayed out of the room
sacheted out of the room
21.
he seemed a mite peculiar
he seemed a might peculiar
22.
I waved my rights
I waived my rights
23.
and then, voila!...a rabbit appeared
and then, wah lah!...a rabbit appeared
24.
have an averse reaction to the medicine
have an adverse reaction to the medicine
25.
sew the seeds of discontent
sow the seeds of discontent
26.
the ride was a pseudo-race
the ride was a sudo-race
27.
the plan supposedly provides for that
the plan supposively provides for that
28.
for all intensive purposes
for all intents and purposes
29.
I would just as soon not do that
I would just assume not do that
30.
it's a moot point now, since...
it's a mute point now, since...
31.
with the utmost care
with the upmost care
32.
please bear with me
please bare with me
33.
a prospective candidate
a perspective candidate
34.
it's commonly accepted that grass is green
it's commonly excepted that grass is green
35.
she was just ecstatic about the outcome
she was just estatic about the outcome
36.
the disruptive kids were raising Cain
the disruptive kids were raising cane
37.
he didn't fair as well
he didn't fare as well
38.
the cautious investor was weary of the claims the broker made
the cautious investor was wary of the claims the broker made
39.
I'm not adverse to strenuous exercise
I'm not averse to strenuous exercise
40.
his career is at its peak
his career is at its peek
41.
cut off his nose despite his face
cut off his nose to spite his face
42.
site that as a reason for...
cite that as a reason for...
43.
he waved to me
he waived to me
44.
it's just an optical allusion
it's just an optical illusion
45.
a top finish in this race has always alluded me
a top finish in this race has always eluded me
46.
it just doesn't cut the mustard
it just doesn't cut the muster
47.
hear, hear, I agree!
here, here, I agree!
48.
I would of done it
I would have done it
49.
he must have known it wouldn't work
He must of known it wouldn't work
50.
they are one and the same
they are one in the same
51.
the horse was raring to go
the horse was rearing to go
52.
I tried, but it was all for not
I tried, but it was all for naught
53.
on a pro capita basis
on a per capita basis
54.
he alluded to his connection with the mafia
he eluded to his connection with the mafia
55.
he acted in a manor that indicated
he acted in a manner that indicated
56.
and, in the same vein
and, in the same vain
57.
I was waiting with baited breath
I was waiting with bated breath
58.
he cited this incident as an example
he sighted this incident as an example
59.
the mere presents of the lawyer intimidated him
the mere presence of the lawyer intimidated him
60.
the story was purely antidotal in nature
the story was purely anecdotal in nature
61.
one of my favorite past times is to...
one of my favorite pastimes is to...
62.
the machine did nothing except record the numbers
the machine did nothing accept record the numbers
63.
case in point
case and point
64.
it wasn't an argument per say
it wasn't an argument per se
65.
he was poring over documents
he was pouring over documents
66.
he was not use to the feel of the new shoes
he was not used to the feel of the new shoes
67.
the boxer was wailing on his opponent
the boxer was whaling his opponent
68.
the ship was in for some fowl weather
the ship was in for some foul weather
69.
the sulphur mine wreaked of rotten eggs
the sulphur mine reeked of rotten eggs
70.
the boat changed coarse
the boat changed course
71.
wreaking havoc
reeking havoc
72.
he's a a real no-nothing
he's a real know-nothing
73.
they had a low per capital income
they had a low per capita income
74.
those are all just bold-faced lies
those are all just bare-faced lies
75.
I hold them in high estimation
I hold them in high esteem
76.
He was ready to dual it out with him
He was ready to duel it out with him
77.
the item piqued my interest
the item peaked my interest
78.
the state seceded from the union
the state succeeded from the union
79.
an athlete of that caliper
an athlete of that caliber
80.
one criterium we have for that is
one criterion we have for that is
81.
I don't subscribe to that theory
I don't prescribe to that theory
82.
out of site, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind
83.
we live in a track home
we live in a tract home
84.
all of the sudden he stopped and turned around
all of a sudden he stopped and turned around
85.
she was the splitting image of her mother
she was the spitting image of her mother
86.
he likes roll playing games
he likes role-playing games
87.
there were 12 of them all told
there were 12 of them all tolled
88.
the mounds were geographically disbursed around the region
the mounds were geographically dispersed around the region:
89.
he won the prize
he one the prize
90.
they raced on a 1.5 mile dirt coarse
they raced on a 1.5 mile dirt course
91.
the horse was very skittish
the horse was very skiddish
92.
he cited this incident as an example
he sited this incident as an example
93.
Santa gave a hearty chuckle
Santa gave a hardy chuckle
94.
please bare in mind
please bear in mind
95.
the case against him was cut and dried
the case against him was cut and dry
96.
I heartily agree
I hardily agree
97.
the miners hit the mother lode
the miners hit the mother load
98.
those who don't tow the line will be dismissed
those who don't toe the line will be dismissed
99.
when tempers flare
when tempers flair
100.
on the eve of that special day
on the eave of that special day
101.
the snack may wet my appetite
the snack may whet my appetite
102.
give you some inside as to the reasoning
give you some insight as to the reasoning
103.
he related a few humorous anticdotes
he related a few humorous anecdotes
104.
they accept it as a fact that grass is green
they except it as a fact that grass is green
105.
try to find a happy medium between the two extremes:
try to find a happy median between the two extremes
106.
the rumors spread like wildflowers
the rumors spread like wildfire
107.
this quiz is a waist of time
this quiz is a waste of time
108.
the cabin was off the beating path
the cabin was off the beaten path
109.
the results were fair to middlin'
the results were fair to midland
110.
this quiz will really test your metal
this quiz will really test your mettle
111.
a top score is an elusive goal
a top score is an illusive goal