胡姬原是旧相识 最近,对于著名花卉“胡姬”之称是否应该正名为“兰花”的问题,再一次在新加坡引起若干讨论。 《联合早报》先后刊出有关的正名建议,言词剀切,学理亦丰。然而,“胡姬”之异于传统的“兰花”让人联想到“四君子”的“梅、兰、菊、竹”,那么,“胡姬”一语,一般无法令用语者有同样的联想。“胡姬”二字,的确是从英语“orchid”音译而来,而关于这种花卉的专著并不难觅;较常见的如AlbertoFanfani和Walter Rossi合编的《Guide to Orchids》,材料充足,图文并茂。 事实上,施香沱先生 (1906-1990)说过,“胡姬”二字,乃新加坡南洋美术专科学校(后改称“美专”,即今天的“南洋艺术学院”的前身)校长林学大先生(也是“美专”创办人)偶然取用的译名。关于这段掌故,施先生曾经具体地在《我在美专三十一年》一文中予以记 The original acquaintance of Orchids. Recently, the issue of whether or not the famous flower “Orchid” should be called “orchid” once again raised some discussions in Singapore. The “Lianhe Zaobao” published relevant rectification proposals one after another. However, the different “Orchid” of “Hu Ji” reminds one of the “plum, blue, chrysanthemum and bamboo” of the “Four Gentlemen”. Therefore, the word “Orchid” can not generally make the same association with the speaker . The word “Orchid” is indeed transliterated from the English “orchid” and the monograph on such flowers is not hard to find. The more common “Guide to Orchids” edited by AlbertoFanfani and Walter Rossi, Illustrated. In fact, Shih-tuo (1906-1990) said that the word “Hu Ji” was invented by Principal Lin Xue-da, the predecessor of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore (later renamed as “The Academy of Fine Arts” Is also “founder”) Accidental use of the translation. On this anecdote, Mr. Shi has specifically been in the “I am in the United States for 31 years,” a text to be recorded