鳥兒又開始了清脆的鳴叫,綠葉又在徐徐秋風中搖曳舞動,晨光又開始溫柔地撫摸著天籟中的萬事萬物,好一派美麗的晨景!親愛的朋友們,在這美麗的清晨,帶上您的一份美麗的心情走進Juliet的話說地道美語課堂,和Juliet一起來品嘗一下今天的“美味早餐”。那么今天的”美味早餐”是什么呢?一段小小的復習過后,您就知道了。
【課堂熱身】
首先,let's warm up。我們先來做個熱身。現在就進入我們今天的復習環節。在第19課第一講中我們知道了“熬更打夜”的表述法是pull an all-nighter。在第19課第二講中我們知道了“熬更打夜的人”的表述法是night owl。A night owl is a person who pulls an all-nighter. 夜貓子就是熬更打夜的人。
【今日課題】
那么,既然談到夜貓子,夜貓子就是貓頭鷹的別稱。我們就來透視一下中西的文化對貓頭鷹(Night Owl)的看法。這就是我們今天的“美味早餐”。
【課題詳說】
在英語文化中,an owl is thought to be wise(貓頭鷹是智慧、聰明才智的象征。)在希臘和古羅馬神話中,an owl stands beside Athenae(站在智慧女神雅典娜的身邊),因此owl就有智慧的象征。
有個成語叫做as wise as an owl,是“有學問的”“聰明絕頂的”“有才智的”意思。我們來看2個例句。
例句1:Her parents lay stress on her education very much. They are proud to be her parents because of her good grades. When she got a success, they said, " Our daughter is as wise as an owl."她的父母很重視她的教育。由于她的成績好,身為父母,他們也很驕傲。當她取得成功的時候,他們便會說:“我們的女兒真是聰明過人。
注解:Lay a stress on something是重視、注重......的意思。例如:Sure , a man should lay a stress on his career . 誠然,一個男人應當注意事業。
例句2:The child picked up the glasses and put them on. "Now you look as wise as an owl, " said his father affectionately. 那孩子拾起那副眼鏡戴了起來。他的爸爸非常疼愛地說:“瞧,看上去真夠有學問的。”
注解:Pick up是“撿起”“收拾”的意思。例如:My mother gasped as she bent to pick up the object. 母親喘著氣彎腰把它拾起來。I am checking out soon. Could you please pick up my luggage? 我現在要退房。請問可以幫我收拾一下行李嗎? Put sth on是“戴上”“穿上”的意思。例如:Put on your scarf. Go out to play. 戴上圍巾,出去玩吧。Anyway, We'd better put on more warm things. 不管怎么樣,我還是多穿些暖和的衣服。Affectionately是“摯愛地”“親切地”的意思。
Owl是個名詞,其形容詞是在詞尾加上ish,即:owlish,意思是看上去“聰明的”“儒雅的”的意思。For example:Her new glasses make her look rather owlish. 她戴著新眼鏡看上去很文氣。Owlish 詞尾加上ly就是副詞了,owlishly。For example: Her grandmother peers owlishly at us through his glasses. 他的祖母透過他的老花鏡嚴肅而又機智地打量著我們。
注解: Peer at是凝視的意思。例如:He had to peer at his book because the room was dark . 因為房間里很暗,他看書時可費勁了。She peers at him closely , as if not believing it can really be him. 她仔細地打量著他,似乎不相信真會是他。
以上足以說明以英語為母語的人認為貓頭鷹是智慧的象征。然而,在中國,a night owl is regarded as an unlucky bird (被視為一種不吉祥的鳥)。Just because it comes out that often and it squeakes out shrill cries,所以迷信的人就把它的叫聲和死聯系在一起。有句話:“貓頭鷹進宅,好事不會來。”以此預兆厄運的到來。誰要是在樹林里hear a night owl,就預示someone in his family would pass away。It's so horrible. 那么,Juliet在此建議您千萬不要在深夜到在樹林中聽到a night owl的凄厲的叫聲,祝愿您的家人平平安安,健康幸福。
親愛的朋友們,我的手機鬧鈴聲響了,it's time for usto go to work , you and I。May you have a wonderful day! I am Juliet. Thank you! Listeners! See you next time. 若您對本期課程有任何疑問,不妨加入可可口語交流QQ交流群共同討論,群號為:122863543,或者您以郵件形式將你的疑問發送到我的信箱,Juliet的信箱:leinadancingroom@qq.com。我會在第一時間給你解答疑惑。