汉语和英语都有大量的谚语。在写作中恰到好处地使用谚语会使你的文章锦上添花,而创造性地活用谚语则体现了作者妙笔生花的高超技能,给读者耳目一新,甚至是拍案叫绝的感觉。Terry Farnsworth 是个幽默的英国作家。他所著的 Managing For Success 一书介绍青年职员如何在公司中从头做起,最终走向成功。在本书中作者对英语谚语活用多达十多处,现摘取几例,让我们共同欣赏。

　　建一座城不易,把一项工作乃至事业干好同样需要时间和耐心。Farnsworth 先生对读者建议,同时也是个人经历的总结:"Like Rome, a new career is not built in a day."(参考原句:Rome was not built in a day.) 任何单位,同事之间,上下级之间都有互相帮助和拆台的现象。那么公司里行政或业务主管会例外吗?请看作者的话:"Can executive leopards really change their spots?"(参考原句:Can leopards change their spots?) 江山易改,本性难移。此处移花接木,真是恰到好处。过去是No man can serve two masters, 作者提醒道:"No man can serve two mistresses equally well." 改编后的话更体现当今社会妇女社会地位提高的特点。在社会上做人最难。忘恩负义之人古今中外皆有。作者有过行政管理的经历,提醒读者提防:"Who are these executive Trojan-horses who are so eager to bite the hand that feeds them?"(参考原句:Don't bite the hand that feeds you.) 。至于要辩证地看问题,对甲不适合的,可能对乙适合,Farnsworth 先生指出:"Once

　　again, as frequently happens in business, one person's problem is another's opportunity." ( 参考原句:One man's meat is another man's poison.) 中国有句谚语,叫"好事不出门,坏事传千里"。英语也有"Bad news travels fast."之说。作者在书中写到:"It is just vital to learn the mistakes of others as it is to perceive the reasons for their successes. Bad news and good news travel equally fast: there is no point in making the wrong sort of headlines."作者认为坏消息也有好的一面,要辩证地看问题。

　　另外,北京大学教授许渊冲在其回忆录Vanished Spring(英文版)中讲述了一次恋爱经历,其中谚语的活用也有异曲同工之妙。作者对钟爱的姑娘Lucy求之却不得。后又与另一女孩邂逅。虽然新结识的人和前女友一样美艳绝伦但作者的感受却大不一样。下面请看作者的描述和感叹。"When she took my arm in our nocturnal promenade, I wished she were Lucy. I found the reality in sharp contrast with my ideal. Alas! One bird in hand may not be worth another in the bush!"(原文:A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.)

　　Farnsworth 先生对谚语的活用体现了他的幽默、诙谐和机智,同时也透露出他对人生的感悟。而许先生妙用后的谚语也真可谓是言尽意未尽,给读者品味和体会情场失意者的心境提供了广阔的空间,让人回味无穷。

　　活用谚语给作品增添了新鲜感,激发了读者的阅读兴趣。谚语如同调味品,用得恰当会使文章更有"味道"。

　　(文/唐建国 范国文；英语辅导报大学教师版2003-2004学年第45期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)