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每年1至3月就是全球各大电影颁奖典礼的盛宴,从有力的提名者评估到最后尘埃落定的得奖感言,各大媒体和万千粉丝的目光都没办法离开那一张张星光闪烁的红地毯。纵观2009年众影视作品的表现,小编们也有各自的“心水”号码了哦,纷纷摩拳擦掌等待最后结果!你们的心头好又如何呢?
这期“口语角”为大家带来的两部动画,都在各自的领域以其独特的创意征服了观众的心,大有和
皮克斯(Pixar)一比高下的势头——可见科技发展永远不是创意枯竭的借口,有点子的人自然知道怎样利用3D动画的特点打造出每一刻都充满童趣和惊喜的美味作品;也有眼光独到者偏偏不肯赶潮流,反其道而行地用看似粗糙的粘土动画讲述了一个感人至深的友情故事……
美食从天而降
剧情梗概:弗林特从小热爱发明,但作品一直没有成功,被周围的人当笑话看待。一次实验意外让他的食品制造机升上天空,竟然开始降下食物!“美食天气”让这个平凡小镇焕发生机,弗林特也成了名人,但随着人们的欲望不断膨胀,超负荷的机器酝酿出大危机……
一起吃饭时,蒂姆意识到唾手可得的美食让人们异常狂热,对儿子提出规劝……
Tim: So…no roof?
Flint: Yep. You just hold out your plate. And I even made it rain your favorite: meat! Okay, so you know how the grand reopening of the town is tomorrow? Well, the mayor has asked me to cut the ribbon. He said my invention saved the town. Aren’t you proud of me?
Tim: Well…doesn’t this steak look a little big to you?
Flint: Yeah, it’s, it’s a big steak. I mean, every steak is not exactly the same size. Did you even hear what I just said?
Tim: Son, look, look around. I’m not sure this is good for…for people. Maybe you should think about turning this thing off.
Flint: It’s making everybody happy. Everybody except you. When are you gonna accept that this is who I am instead of trying to get me to work in some boring tackle[器具] shop?
Tim: Well, you seem like you know what you’re doing
then. I guess I’ll just get out of your way.
蒂姆:也就是说……这里没有屋顶?
弗林特:没错。你只要将碟子伸出去就行了。我甚至让机器降下你的最爱——肉!言归正传,你也知道明天是咱们镇再次对外开放的大日子吧?市长请我去剪彩。他说我的发明拯救了这个小镇。你不为我感到骄傲吗?
蒂姆:呃……这块牛排对你来说是不是太大了点儿?
弗林特:是啊,这……这确实是一块大牛排。我的意思是,每块牛排的大小都不一样。你到底听清楚我刚才说什么了吗?
蒂姆:儿子,你瞧,看看周围。我觉得这……对大家来说不见得是件好事。也许你该考虑把那机器关掉。
弗林特:有了它,大家都高兴起来——除了你以外的所有人。你老是想把我留在无聊的钓具店干活,到底什么时候才肯接受真实的我呢?
蒂姆:噢,看来你知道自己到底在干嘛。我想我还是不要挡你的路为好。
弗林特发现热狗变成了庞然大物,回到实验室查找问题,却遇到市长……
Flint: How did you get in here?
Mayor: Tomorrow’s the big day, Flint. The entire town’s
fate is resting on your food weather. I’m thinking
pasta[面食]. I know you won’t let us down.
Flint: Well, Mr. Mayor, I…I think there’s something you should see.
Mayor: What?
Flint: This is the molecular structure[分子结构] of a hot dog that fell last week. And this is the molecular
structure of a hot dog that fell today. The machine uses microwave radiation[辐射] to mutate[变异] the genetic
recipe of the food. The more we ask it to make, the more clouds it takes in, the more radiation it emits, the more these food molecules could over-mutate. I think that’s why the food is getting bigger.
Mayor: Here’s what I heard, “Blah, blah, blah. Science, science, science. Bigger.” And bigger is better.
Everyone’s gonna love these new portion sizes. (swallowing down a hot dog) I know I do.
Flint: My dad thinks I should turn it off.
Mayor: Geniuses like us are never understood by their fathers, Flint.
Flint: But what if things go…
Mayor: Who needs the approval of one family member
when you can have it from millions of acquain-
tances[熟人]? Not to mention that little cutlet注1, Sam Sparks. And me. I’ve always felt that you were like a son to me, Flint. And I’m gonna be so proud of you tomorrow
when you cut that ribbon, save the town, and prove to everybody what a great inventor you are.
So here’s the cheese: you can keep it going, get everything you’ve ever wanted, and be the great man I know you can be; or you can turn it off, ruin everything, and no one will ever like you. It’s your choice…
弗林特:您怎么进来的?
市长:明天可是大日子,弗林特。整个小镇的命运就指望你的美食天气了。我想来点儿面条。我知道你一定不会让我们失望的。
弗林特:呃,市长先生,我……现在有个情况,您得看一下。
市长:怎么啦?
弗林特:这是上星期落下来的热狗的分子结构,而今天降下的热狗分子结构却是这样。这台机器利用微波辐射改变食物的基因谱。我们让它制造越多食物,它就会吸入越多云,产生越多辐射,也就越容易导致食物分子过度突变。我想这就是食物越来越大的原因。
市长:在我听来就是——“这样,那样,这样。科学、科学,还是科学。越来越大。”越来越大再好不过了。所有人都会喜欢这个新分量。(吞下一条热狗)我就很喜欢。
弗林特:我爸爸认为我应该把机器关掉。
市长:父辈永远无法理解我们这样的天才,弗林特。
弗林特:但万一出了……
市长:当你得到无数人的肯定时,区区一个家人的意见何足挂齿?别忘了还有那个小可爱——萨姆·斯帕克斯的青睐。还有我呢。我一直把你当儿子看待,弗林特。明天我一定会为你感到无比自豪,看着你剪彩,拯救小镇,让所有人见识到你是多么伟大的
发明家。
问题来了——你要么勇往直前,得到自己一直以来渴望的一切,成就一番我坚信你能做到的伟业;要么你把机器关了,让一切毁于一旦,从此再也不会有人喜欢你。你自己看着办吧……
口语锦囊
在英语影视当中,动画片是非常重要的语言学习素材——不仅因为这些作品一般比较浅显易懂,能调动观众的情绪;还因为它们常常采用夸张的手法,从语音语调到神态感情的变化都比一般作品大,更易于模仿。这两段对话很好地体现出这两点。模仿熟练之后,和你的搭档进行role-play吧!
另外,我们经常会听见别人说“blah, blah, blah”。“blah”本身作为名词使用时表示“废话”,作形容词用时表示“乏味的”,所以这个词组的意思就是“等等,以及其他”,表示别人说了一些无聊话题,例如:
He talked about boats and sailing blah, blah, blah. (他讲了一些船啊、航行啊之类的无聊话。)
注1:市长嗜吃如命,在说话时也会不时用一些食物来替代,比如“cutlet”的意思是“肉排、肉饼”,在这里指萨姆秀色可餐。下文的“here’s the cheese”也是如此。
玛丽和马克思
剧情梗概:没有朋友的小玛丽在邮局找到一个美国名字和地址,突发奇想地寄了一封信过去——没有朋友的老马克思收到这封澳大利亚的来信,两人的书信友谊由此诞生……
玛丽第一次收到马克思的回信,兴奋极了……
Mary: Dear Max,
Do you get The Noblets in America? Well, my
favorite Noblet is Vanity Noblet. He wants to be
everyone’s friend, even the boys’!
In your letter, you said you had no friends. Well, neither do I. Yesterday at school, Bernie Clifford weed on my spam[火腿肉] sandwich and called me “poo face”
’cause of my birthmark. I wish I could peel[剥] it off like a Band-Aid. He also laughed ’cause I had no buttons. Ethel pecked[啄] them off and Mum couldn’t thread a needle ’cause she’d been testing the sherry, so she used pegs[衣夹] instead.
My teacher, Mrs. Pendergast, says I should smile more. I told my Mum and so she drawed a big smile on me. I don’t think Mrs. Pendergast likes me anymore.
I better go now. My tears are smudgling my words.
Your friend in Australia,
Mary Daisy Dinkle
PS Have you ever been teased[取笑]? Can you help me?
玛丽:亲爱的马克思:
在美国有《诺布偶一家》吗?我最喜欢的诺布偶是虚荣诺布偶。他想和每个人交朋友,甚至包括男孩子!
你在信里说自己没有朋友,其实我也没有。昨天在学校,伯尼·克利福德在我的火腿三明治上尿尿,还因为我的胎记形状叫我“便便脸”。我真希望像揭“邦迪”创可贴那样把胎记弄掉。他还笑我没有纽扣。埃塞尔把它们啄了下来。妈妈因为一直在用雪利酒试做食物,穿不进针,所以她用夹子
代替了事。
我的老师彭德格斯特夫人说我应该多微笑。我把这话转告妈妈,她就在我的脸上画了一个大大的笑脸。我想彭德格斯特夫人再也不会喜欢我了。
我还是不写了,眼泪都把字泡糊了。
你的澳大利亚朋友
玛丽·黛西·丁克尔
又及:你被人嘲笑过吗?你能帮帮我吗?
玛丽的信件让马克思陷入童年阴影的回忆,他好不容易才想好如何回信……
Max: Dear Mary Daisy Dinkle,
Thank you for your letter, chocolate bar,
lamington[林明顿蛋糕] and pompom[小绒球]. The chocolate got crushed, so I blended the bits with milk and ice cream, and now I am drinking it right now.
After much thought, I think I have a solution to your teasing.
Tell Bernie Clifford your birthmark is made of
chocolate, which means when you get to Heaven, you will be in charge of all the chocolate. This of course is a lie. I do not like lies, but in this case, I think it will be a benefit. I wish I could be in charge of all the chocolate but, of course, I cannot, because of my atheism[无神论].
People often think I am tactless[不圆滑的] and rude. I cannot understand how being honest can be...improper? Maybe this is why I don’t have any friends. Of course, except for you.
A real friend has been one of my three goals in life. The other two are to own every Noblet and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff says it is good to have goals, but not stupid ones like mine.
I have now run out of things to tell you. Please, write soon.
Your friend in America,
Max Jerry Horowitz
PS Do not worry about not smiling. My mouth hardly ever smiles but it does not mean I am not smiling inside my brain.
马克思:亲爱的玛丽·黛西·丁克尔:
谢谢你的来信、巧克力条、林明顿蛋糕和小绒球。巧克力碎了,我就把碎块和牛奶还有雪糕混合在一起,现在正享受着呢。
经过多番思考,我想我有办法让你不再遭人取笑。
告诉伯尼·克利福德,你的胎记其实是巧克力做的,这意味着等你上天堂了,你就会掌管所有的巧克力。这当然是谎话。我不喜欢谎话,不过在这种情况下,它应该对你有帮助。我也希望我能掌管所有的巧克力,但这当然是不可能的,因为我是一个无神论者。
人们总觉得我不善交际,行为粗鲁。我不明白诚实怎么会变成……不合时宜?也许就是因为这样,我交不到朋友。当然,你是例外。
交一个真正的朋友是我的人生三大目标之一。另外两个分别是拥有每一个诺布偶玩具以及够我享用一辈子的巧克力。伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生说有目标是好事,但不是像我这么愚蠢的目标。
我要说的就是这些。请尽快回信。
你的美国朋友
马克思·杰里·霍罗威茨
又及:别为不会笑而发愁。我的嘴巴没怎么笑过,可这并不意味着我没有在内心微笑。
玛丽在友谊的滋养下渐渐长大,并和心上人喜结良缘。新婚生活让她抛开了自卑情结,一切都美好起来……
Narrator: Mary was bursting with self-esteem[自尊], and her confidence was almost unbearable[无法忍受的]. At
university, she shone, and took it upon herself to cure the world of mental illness. She did her thesis on Aspergers
Syndrome注2 and used Max as her case study. Her
professors were thoroughly[彻底地] impressed and her
writing praised far and wide. Soon, publishers queued to print her unique insight. And by her 25th birthday,
thousands of copies were ready to be shipped.
Mary: Dear Max,
I am very proud to give you the very first copy of my book about your disability, and the hopes that we have to one day cure it.
Even more exciting is that I am finally coming to meet and celebrate with you in one week’s time. I’m also going to give you half the royalties[版税].
Your loving friend,
Mary
PS Please find enclosed some chocolate-coated Swiss almonds.
Narrator: Max didn’t take the news very well – not very well at all.
Max: Dear Mary Daisy Dinkle,
I cannot express myself very clearly at this moment and so I will list my emotions in the order they feel most intense: hurt, confuzzledness, betrayal, discomfort, distress[悲痛], and wheeziness[呼哧呼哧的喘气声]! This last one is not really an emotion, but I thought you should know about it anyway!
旁白:玛丽的自尊心空前膨胀,自信得不得了。她在大学里非常出众,以治愈世界上的精神疾病为己任。她就阿斯伯格综合症写成学位论文,把马克思作为研究案例。她的教授们被彻底打动了,她的论著广受好评。很快,出版商争相要将她的独特见解出版成书。到她25岁生日的时候,成千上万本书即将运往
世界各地。
玛丽:亲爱的马克思:
我很自豪地给你送上我的初版著作,主题是研究你的残障。希望终有
一天,我们能治愈这种疾病。
更叫人激动的是,一周以后,我终于可以与你见面,一同庆祝。我还会把一半的版税送给你。
爱你的朋友
玛丽
又及:随信附上一些外裹巧克力的瑞士杏仁。
旁白:马克思不能接受这个消息,一点也不。
马克思:亲爱的玛丽·黛西·丁克尔:
我现在无法表达清楚,所以把自己的感受按强度列了出来:很受伤、混乱迷惑、遭到背叛、不舒服、伤心和气喘如牛!最后一个词并不算是情绪,但我想也该让你知道!
注2:阿斯伯格综合症可能来自遗传基因、生物化学、过滤性病毒以及妊娠期出现的问题,新生儿患病率为0.7%。临床症状主要表现为:缺乏对他人情感的理解力;缺少建立友谊的能力从而导致社会隔离;语言呆板单调;动作笨拙不协调;有非正常发音
现象。
一天,马克思突然明白过来,便给绝交已久的玛丽寄去了一封信——这封信拯救了玛丽濒临崩溃的心灵……
Max: Dear Mary,
Please find enclosed my entire Noblet collection as a sign that I forgive you.
When I received your book, the emotions inside my brain felt like they were in a tumble dryer[滚筒式干衣机],
smashing into each other. The hurt felt like when I
accidentally stapled[用订书钉订] my lips together.
The reason I forgive you is because you are not perfect. You are imperfect, and so am I. All humans are imperfect, even the man outside my apartment who litters[乱丢垃圾].
When I was young, I wanted to be anybody but
myself. Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff said, if I was on a desert
island, then I would have to get used to my own
company – just me and the coconuts. He said I would have to accept myself – my warts and all[不掩盖缺点] – and that we don’t get to choose our warts. They are a part of us, and we have to live with them. We can, however, choose our friends. And I am glad I have chosen you.
Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff also said that everyone’s lives are like a very long sidewalk. Some are well-paved.
Others, like mine, have cracks[裂缝], banana skins, and cigarette butts[烟头]. Your sidewalk is like mine, but probably
not as many cracks. Hopefully one day our sidewalks will meet, and we can share a can of condensed milk[炼乳].
You are my best friend.
You are my only friend.
Your American pen pal[笔友],
Max Jerry Horowitz
PS I have recently found the perfect job with a survey company. All I have to do is eat things and tick boxes.
马克思:亲爱的玛丽:
随信附上我的全套诺布偶玩具,以示我对你的原谅。
收到你的书时,我的内心五味杂陈,仿佛在滚筒式干衣机里似的,互相撞在一起。那种感觉就像我过去不小心把自己的嘴唇订在一块儿那么难受。
我原谅你,是因为你并非完人。你是不完美的,我也是。人无完人,即便那个在我公寓外乱丢垃圾的人亦如是。
小时候,我希望成为自己以外的其他人。伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生说,如果我流落到一个荒岛,就必须学会与自己和平共处——因为那里只有我和椰子。他说我必须接受自己——不论好坏——我们无法选择自己的缺点。它们是我们的一部分,我们必须忍受下去。但是,我们可以选择自己的朋友。我很高兴自己选择了你。
伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生还说,每个人的人生就像一条长长的人行道。有些人的道路平整漂亮,还有一些就像我的那样,到处是裂缝、香蕉皮和烟头。你的人行道和我的差不多,可能没有这么多裂缝吧。但愿有一天,我们的人行道相会相交,我们可以分享一罐炼乳。
你是我最好的朋友。
你是我唯一的朋友。
你的美国笔友
马克思·杰里·霍罗威茨
又及:我最近在一家调查公司找到一份完美的工作——要做的事情就是吃东西和勾选产品。
口语锦囊
不同人写出来的信也是不一样的。玛丽小时候的信里出现了不少儿童用语,如“wee”(也写作wee-wee,撒尿)和“poo”(大便),也有语法和拼写错误,如“drawed”应为“drew”,“smudgling”应为“smudging”(变脏)。马克思的爱好则是自己创造词汇,例如“confuzzledness”
来自“confuzzle”,是“confuse”和“puzzle”的合成词,而且疾病也令他在语言运用上有许多不规范的地方,如不少地方出现单复数混乱等。仔细再读一遍,看看电影如何将这些人物特点在书信中体现出来。
另外,选段中出现了不少信件英语常用的句型,大家不妨整理下来,利用假期给朋友写一封英文信,将这些表达活用上去,说不定还会发现朋友和平时不太一样的一面哦!
这期“口语角”为大家带来的两部动画,都在各自的领域以其独特的创意征服了观众的心,大有和
皮克斯(Pixar)一比高下的势头——可见科技发展永远不是创意枯竭的借口,有点子的人自然知道怎样利用3D动画的特点打造出每一刻都充满童趣和惊喜的美味作品;也有眼光独到者偏偏不肯赶潮流,反其道而行地用看似粗糙的粘土动画讲述了一个感人至深的友情故事……
美食从天而降
剧情梗概:弗林特从小热爱发明,但作品一直没有成功,被周围的人当笑话看待。一次实验意外让他的食品制造机升上天空,竟然开始降下食物!“美食天气”让这个平凡小镇焕发生机,弗林特也成了名人,但随着人们的欲望不断膨胀,超负荷的机器酝酿出大危机……
一起吃饭时,蒂姆意识到唾手可得的美食让人们异常狂热,对儿子提出规劝……
Tim: So…no roof?
Flint: Yep. You just hold out your plate. And I even made it rain your favorite: meat! Okay, so you know how the grand reopening of the town is tomorrow? Well, the mayor has asked me to cut the ribbon. He said my invention saved the town. Aren’t you proud of me?
Tim: Well…doesn’t this steak look a little big to you?
Flint: Yeah, it’s, it’s a big steak. I mean, every steak is not exactly the same size. Did you even hear what I just said?
Tim: Son, look, look around. I’m not sure this is good for…for people. Maybe you should think about turning this thing off.
Flint: It’s making everybody happy. Everybody except you. When are you gonna accept that this is who I am instead of trying to get me to work in some boring tackle[器具] shop?
Tim: Well, you seem like you know what you’re doing
then. I guess I’ll just get out of your way.
蒂姆:也就是说……这里没有屋顶?
弗林特:没错。你只要将碟子伸出去就行了。我甚至让机器降下你的最爱——肉!言归正传,你也知道明天是咱们镇再次对外开放的大日子吧?市长请我去剪彩。他说我的发明拯救了这个小镇。你不为我感到骄傲吗?
蒂姆:呃……这块牛排对你来说是不是太大了点儿?
弗林特:是啊,这……这确实是一块大牛排。我的意思是,每块牛排的大小都不一样。你到底听清楚我刚才说什么了吗?
蒂姆:儿子,你瞧,看看周围。我觉得这……对大家来说不见得是件好事。也许你该考虑把那机器关掉。
弗林特:有了它,大家都高兴起来——除了你以外的所有人。你老是想把我留在无聊的钓具店干活,到底什么时候才肯接受真实的我呢?
蒂姆:噢,看来你知道自己到底在干嘛。我想我还是不要挡你的路为好。
弗林特发现热狗变成了庞然大物,回到实验室查找问题,却遇到市长……
Flint: How did you get in here?
Mayor: Tomorrow’s the big day, Flint. The entire town’s
fate is resting on your food weather. I’m thinking
pasta[面食]. I know you won’t let us down.
Flint: Well, Mr. Mayor, I…I think there’s something you should see.
Mayor: What?
Flint: This is the molecular structure[分子结构] of a hot dog that fell last week. And this is the molecular
structure of a hot dog that fell today. The machine uses microwave radiation[辐射] to mutate[变异] the genetic
recipe of the food. The more we ask it to make, the more clouds it takes in, the more radiation it emits, the more these food molecules could over-mutate. I think that’s why the food is getting bigger.
Mayor: Here’s what I heard, “Blah, blah, blah. Science, science, science. Bigger.” And bigger is better.
Everyone’s gonna love these new portion sizes. (swallowing down a hot dog) I know I do.
Flint: My dad thinks I should turn it off.
Mayor: Geniuses like us are never understood by their fathers, Flint.
Flint: But what if things go…
Mayor: Who needs the approval of one family member
when you can have it from millions of acquain-
tances[熟人]? Not to mention that little cutlet注1, Sam Sparks. And me. I’ve always felt that you were like a son to me, Flint. And I’m gonna be so proud of you tomorrow
when you cut that ribbon, save the town, and prove to everybody what a great inventor you are.
So here’s the cheese: you can keep it going, get everything you’ve ever wanted, and be the great man I know you can be; or you can turn it off, ruin everything, and no one will ever like you. It’s your choice…
弗林特:您怎么进来的?
市长:明天可是大日子,弗林特。整个小镇的命运就指望你的美食天气了。我想来点儿面条。我知道你一定不会让我们失望的。
弗林特:呃,市长先生,我……现在有个情况,您得看一下。
市长:怎么啦?
弗林特:这是上星期落下来的热狗的分子结构,而今天降下的热狗分子结构却是这样。这台机器利用微波辐射改变食物的基因谱。我们让它制造越多食物,它就会吸入越多云,产生越多辐射,也就越容易导致食物分子过度突变。我想这就是食物越来越大的原因。
市长:在我听来就是——“这样,那样,这样。科学、科学,还是科学。越来越大。”越来越大再好不过了。所有人都会喜欢这个新分量。(吞下一条热狗)我就很喜欢。
弗林特:我爸爸认为我应该把机器关掉。
市长:父辈永远无法理解我们这样的天才,弗林特。
弗林特:但万一出了……
市长:当你得到无数人的肯定时,区区一个家人的意见何足挂齿?别忘了还有那个小可爱——萨姆·斯帕克斯的青睐。还有我呢。我一直把你当儿子看待,弗林特。明天我一定会为你感到无比自豪,看着你剪彩,拯救小镇,让所有人见识到你是多么伟大的
发明家。
问题来了——你要么勇往直前,得到自己一直以来渴望的一切,成就一番我坚信你能做到的伟业;要么你把机器关了,让一切毁于一旦,从此再也不会有人喜欢你。你自己看着办吧……
口语锦囊
在英语影视当中,动画片是非常重要的语言学习素材——不仅因为这些作品一般比较浅显易懂,能调动观众的情绪;还因为它们常常采用夸张的手法,从语音语调到神态感情的变化都比一般作品大,更易于模仿。这两段对话很好地体现出这两点。模仿熟练之后,和你的搭档进行role-play吧!
另外,我们经常会听见别人说“blah, blah, blah”。“blah”本身作为名词使用时表示“废话”,作形容词用时表示“乏味的”,所以这个词组的意思就是“等等,以及其他”,表示别人说了一些无聊话题,例如:
He talked about boats and sailing blah, blah, blah. (他讲了一些船啊、航行啊之类的无聊话。)
注1:市长嗜吃如命,在说话时也会不时用一些食物来替代,比如“cutlet”的意思是“肉排、肉饼”,在这里指萨姆秀色可餐。下文的“here’s the cheese”也是如此。
玛丽和马克思
剧情梗概:没有朋友的小玛丽在邮局找到一个美国名字和地址,突发奇想地寄了一封信过去——没有朋友的老马克思收到这封澳大利亚的来信,两人的书信友谊由此诞生……
玛丽第一次收到马克思的回信,兴奋极了……
Mary: Dear Max,
Do you get The Noblets in America? Well, my
favorite Noblet is Vanity Noblet. He wants to be
everyone’s friend, even the boys’!
In your letter, you said you had no friends. Well, neither do I. Yesterday at school, Bernie Clifford weed on my spam[火腿肉] sandwich and called me “poo face”
’cause of my birthmark. I wish I could peel[剥] it off like a Band-Aid. He also laughed ’cause I had no buttons. Ethel pecked[啄] them off and Mum couldn’t thread a needle ’cause she’d been testing the sherry, so she used pegs[衣夹] instead.
My teacher, Mrs. Pendergast, says I should smile more. I told my Mum and so she drawed a big smile on me. I don’t think Mrs. Pendergast likes me anymore.
I better go now. My tears are smudgling my words.
Your friend in Australia,
Mary Daisy Dinkle
PS Have you ever been teased[取笑]? Can you help me?
玛丽:亲爱的马克思:
在美国有《诺布偶一家》吗?我最喜欢的诺布偶是虚荣诺布偶。他想和每个人交朋友,甚至包括男孩子!
你在信里说自己没有朋友,其实我也没有。昨天在学校,伯尼·克利福德在我的火腿三明治上尿尿,还因为我的胎记形状叫我“便便脸”。我真希望像揭“邦迪”创可贴那样把胎记弄掉。他还笑我没有纽扣。埃塞尔把它们啄了下来。妈妈因为一直在用雪利酒试做食物,穿不进针,所以她用夹子
代替了事。
我的老师彭德格斯特夫人说我应该多微笑。我把这话转告妈妈,她就在我的脸上画了一个大大的笑脸。我想彭德格斯特夫人再也不会喜欢我了。
我还是不写了,眼泪都把字泡糊了。
你的澳大利亚朋友
玛丽·黛西·丁克尔
又及:你被人嘲笑过吗?你能帮帮我吗?
玛丽的信件让马克思陷入童年阴影的回忆,他好不容易才想好如何回信……
Max: Dear Mary Daisy Dinkle,
Thank you for your letter, chocolate bar,
lamington[林明顿蛋糕] and pompom[小绒球]. The chocolate got crushed, so I blended the bits with milk and ice cream, and now I am drinking it right now.
After much thought, I think I have a solution to your teasing.
Tell Bernie Clifford your birthmark is made of
chocolate, which means when you get to Heaven, you will be in charge of all the chocolate. This of course is a lie. I do not like lies, but in this case, I think it will be a benefit. I wish I could be in charge of all the chocolate but, of course, I cannot, because of my atheism[无神论].
People often think I am tactless[不圆滑的] and rude. I cannot understand how being honest can be...improper? Maybe this is why I don’t have any friends. Of course, except for you.
A real friend has been one of my three goals in life. The other two are to own every Noblet and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff says it is good to have goals, but not stupid ones like mine.
I have now run out of things to tell you. Please, write soon.
Your friend in America,
Max Jerry Horowitz
PS Do not worry about not smiling. My mouth hardly ever smiles but it does not mean I am not smiling inside my brain.
马克思:亲爱的玛丽·黛西·丁克尔:
谢谢你的来信、巧克力条、林明顿蛋糕和小绒球。巧克力碎了,我就把碎块和牛奶还有雪糕混合在一起,现在正享受着呢。
经过多番思考,我想我有办法让你不再遭人取笑。
告诉伯尼·克利福德,你的胎记其实是巧克力做的,这意味着等你上天堂了,你就会掌管所有的巧克力。这当然是谎话。我不喜欢谎话,不过在这种情况下,它应该对你有帮助。我也希望我能掌管所有的巧克力,但这当然是不可能的,因为我是一个无神论者。
人们总觉得我不善交际,行为粗鲁。我不明白诚实怎么会变成……不合时宜?也许就是因为这样,我交不到朋友。当然,你是例外。
交一个真正的朋友是我的人生三大目标之一。另外两个分别是拥有每一个诺布偶玩具以及够我享用一辈子的巧克力。伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生说有目标是好事,但不是像我这么愚蠢的目标。
我要说的就是这些。请尽快回信。
你的美国朋友
马克思·杰里·霍罗威茨
又及:别为不会笑而发愁。我的嘴巴没怎么笑过,可这并不意味着我没有在内心微笑。
玛丽在友谊的滋养下渐渐长大,并和心上人喜结良缘。新婚生活让她抛开了自卑情结,一切都美好起来……
Narrator: Mary was bursting with self-esteem[自尊], and her confidence was almost unbearable[无法忍受的]. At
university, she shone, and took it upon herself to cure the world of mental illness. She did her thesis on Aspergers
Syndrome注2 and used Max as her case study. Her
professors were thoroughly[彻底地] impressed and her
writing praised far and wide. Soon, publishers queued to print her unique insight. And by her 25th birthday,
thousands of copies were ready to be shipped.
Mary: Dear Max,
I am very proud to give you the very first copy of my book about your disability, and the hopes that we have to one day cure it.
Even more exciting is that I am finally coming to meet and celebrate with you in one week’s time. I’m also going to give you half the royalties[版税].
Your loving friend,
Mary
PS Please find enclosed some chocolate-coated Swiss almonds.
Narrator: Max didn’t take the news very well – not very well at all.
Max: Dear Mary Daisy Dinkle,
I cannot express myself very clearly at this moment and so I will list my emotions in the order they feel most intense: hurt, confuzzledness, betrayal, discomfort, distress[悲痛], and wheeziness[呼哧呼哧的喘气声]! This last one is not really an emotion, but I thought you should know about it anyway!
旁白:玛丽的自尊心空前膨胀,自信得不得了。她在大学里非常出众,以治愈世界上的精神疾病为己任。她就阿斯伯格综合症写成学位论文,把马克思作为研究案例。她的教授们被彻底打动了,她的论著广受好评。很快,出版商争相要将她的独特见解出版成书。到她25岁生日的时候,成千上万本书即将运往
世界各地。
玛丽:亲爱的马克思:
我很自豪地给你送上我的初版著作,主题是研究你的残障。希望终有
一天,我们能治愈这种疾病。
更叫人激动的是,一周以后,我终于可以与你见面,一同庆祝。我还会把一半的版税送给你。
爱你的朋友
玛丽
又及:随信附上一些外裹巧克力的瑞士杏仁。
旁白:马克思不能接受这个消息,一点也不。
马克思:亲爱的玛丽·黛西·丁克尔:
我现在无法表达清楚,所以把自己的感受按强度列了出来:很受伤、混乱迷惑、遭到背叛、不舒服、伤心和气喘如牛!最后一个词并不算是情绪,但我想也该让你知道!
注2:阿斯伯格综合症可能来自遗传基因、生物化学、过滤性病毒以及妊娠期出现的问题,新生儿患病率为0.7%。临床症状主要表现为:缺乏对他人情感的理解力;缺少建立友谊的能力从而导致社会隔离;语言呆板单调;动作笨拙不协调;有非正常发音
现象。
一天,马克思突然明白过来,便给绝交已久的玛丽寄去了一封信——这封信拯救了玛丽濒临崩溃的心灵……
Max: Dear Mary,
Please find enclosed my entire Noblet collection as a sign that I forgive you.
When I received your book, the emotions inside my brain felt like they were in a tumble dryer[滚筒式干衣机],
smashing into each other. The hurt felt like when I
accidentally stapled[用订书钉订] my lips together.
The reason I forgive you is because you are not perfect. You are imperfect, and so am I. All humans are imperfect, even the man outside my apartment who litters[乱丢垃圾].
When I was young, I wanted to be anybody but
myself. Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff said, if I was on a desert
island, then I would have to get used to my own
company – just me and the coconuts. He said I would have to accept myself – my warts and all[不掩盖缺点] – and that we don’t get to choose our warts. They are a part of us, and we have to live with them. We can, however, choose our friends. And I am glad I have chosen you.
Dr. Bernard Hazelhoff also said that everyone’s lives are like a very long sidewalk. Some are well-paved.
Others, like mine, have cracks[裂缝], banana skins, and cigarette butts[烟头]. Your sidewalk is like mine, but probably
not as many cracks. Hopefully one day our sidewalks will meet, and we can share a can of condensed milk[炼乳].
You are my best friend.
You are my only friend.
Your American pen pal[笔友],
Max Jerry Horowitz
PS I have recently found the perfect job with a survey company. All I have to do is eat things and tick boxes.
马克思:亲爱的玛丽:
随信附上我的全套诺布偶玩具,以示我对你的原谅。
收到你的书时,我的内心五味杂陈,仿佛在滚筒式干衣机里似的,互相撞在一起。那种感觉就像我过去不小心把自己的嘴唇订在一块儿那么难受。
我原谅你,是因为你并非完人。你是不完美的,我也是。人无完人,即便那个在我公寓外乱丢垃圾的人亦如是。
小时候,我希望成为自己以外的其他人。伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生说,如果我流落到一个荒岛,就必须学会与自己和平共处——因为那里只有我和椰子。他说我必须接受自己——不论好坏——我们无法选择自己的缺点。它们是我们的一部分,我们必须忍受下去。但是,我们可以选择自己的朋友。我很高兴自己选择了你。
伯纳德·黑兹尔霍夫医生还说,每个人的人生就像一条长长的人行道。有些人的道路平整漂亮,还有一些就像我的那样,到处是裂缝、香蕉皮和烟头。你的人行道和我的差不多,可能没有这么多裂缝吧。但愿有一天,我们的人行道相会相交,我们可以分享一罐炼乳。
你是我最好的朋友。
你是我唯一的朋友。
你的美国笔友
马克思·杰里·霍罗威茨
又及:我最近在一家调查公司找到一份完美的工作——要做的事情就是吃东西和勾选产品。
口语锦囊
不同人写出来的信也是不一样的。玛丽小时候的信里出现了不少儿童用语,如“wee”(也写作wee-wee,撒尿)和“poo”(大便),也有语法和拼写错误,如“drawed”应为“drew”,“smudgling”应为“smudging”(变脏)。马克思的爱好则是自己创造词汇,例如“confuzzledness”
来自“confuzzle”,是“confuse”和“puzzle”的合成词,而且疾病也令他在语言运用上有许多不规范的地方,如不少地方出现单复数混乱等。仔细再读一遍,看看电影如何将这些人物特点在书信中体现出来。
另外,选段中出现了不少信件英语常用的句型,大家不妨整理下来,利用假期给朋友写一封英文信,将这些表达活用上去,说不定还会发现朋友和平时不太一样的一面哦!