Moved to Google+ Page：Avery's Vida Loca
See you there!
相較於社群網站，傳統部落格的介面實在太麻煩了，所以開了Google+的專頁：Avery的異想世界。
雖然大部分的人比較習慣用臉書，但臉書的隱私權設定實在不方便。咱們G+見！
- May 17 Mon 2010 23:11
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搬家囉～～留言前請閱讀本篇。感謝！
- Aug 09 Tue 2011 20:49
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別讓直覺騙了你
「想像有個致命疾病，已感染了總人口的5%。有項方法可以檢驗你是否感染疾病，準確率也很高：如果受驗者已遭感染，有90%的機率驗出正確的『陽性』結果，有10%的機率誤判為『陰性』；如果是未感染的人接受檢驗，有90%的機率驗出正確的『陰性』，有10%的機會誤判為『陽性』。假設你接受檢驗，結果呈現陽性反應，請問你實際患病的機率有多大？」
答案「不」是90％。為什麼？
在開始翻《別讓直覺騙了你》之前，多少也看過腦筋急轉彎的書，或玩過推理益智的小遊戲；不過，翻譯這本書時還是開了眼界。原本以為自己是個飽讀詩書、思路清晰的文青，沒想到書中提到的思考障礙，我幾乎一個都跑不掉，看來我也不過是個自命清高的凡夫俗子。（汗）
書中提到很多我們平常不自覺的思考障礙，因為心中已有定見，反而看不出原來答案其實近在眼前。不過翻這本書最可怕的地方在於……作者介紹了增加記憶的方法，而且其中運用到諧音與雙關！
這樣一來，原書舉的英文例子就不能直翻，小弟我只好認真地上網查，看中文裡數字的「一」到「三十」可以聯想成什麼，這一章的英文人名也通通代換成中文人名（我還出賣自己的同學，用她們的中文名字當成記憶法的例子），實在折煞我也！書中的英文腦筋急轉彎也讓我想了好久，希望翻成中文後這些問題與答案還算對得起來。
- Jul 13 Wed 2011 19:58
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When Lovers Get High
英語是強勢語言。就算母語不是英語，許多人也會在說話時不知不覺用到英文單字（不只台灣這樣，而是舉世皆然）。舉例來說，「OK」跟「hi」大概是台灣最常用的單字，常用到我們根本不覺得這是英文。
只是，這些外來語進到台灣，意思也難免產生變化。譬如：
「他是我的lover。」
在英文裡，「lover」的意思近乎「砲友」。雖然「lover」在某些情況下也可以指「情人」，但兩者聽起來還是很不一樣。
一位美國朋友就說：「 我每次聽到台灣人說lover，都會想原來台灣這麼的開放喔！」
- Jul 09 Sat 2011 15:04
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搞買賣與搞藝術的差別/Between Business and Art
口譯員像生意人，出手要準，收手要快，講究的是「時機」。筆譯員是藝術家，一字一句雕到海枯石爛，作品從來沒有完成的一天－－畢竟，搞的是「藝術」嘛。
What’s the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
An interpreter is a businessman:
despite his effort to produce decent output, the key to his success is getting in and out--as quickly as possible--at the right TIMING. he makes more money and makes it quicker, but he seldom gets appreciated for his quality products, which are meant to be consumed right away.
A translator is an artist:
What’s the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
An interpreter is a businessman:
despite his effort to produce decent output, the key to his success is getting in and out--as quickly as possible--at the right TIMING. he makes more money and makes it quicker, but he seldom gets appreciated for his quality products, which are meant to be consumed right away.
A translator is an artist:
- Jul 02 Sat 2011 16:13
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The Waking Hours
The other night, I was woken up by mosquitoes at 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep.
I walked into a FamilyMart and had an early breakfast. The man behind the counter was subbing for the night shift. An old gentleman came in and sat down two seats away from me, reading his newspapers. A lady walked in and the clerk immediately recognized her. On my way home, I saw a man delivering papers on a motorcycle. The day was just about to break.
Then it occurred to me that there are so many people who live in the same neighborhood, go to the same shop, even eat at the same table. But we've never come across each other. Not because we do different things. Because we wake up at different hours.
Then it occurred to me that there are so many people who live in the same neighborhood, go to the same shop, even eat at the same table. But we've never come across each other. Not because we do different things. Because we wake up at different hours.
- Jun 09 Thu 2011 20:48
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魅惑力七大因子
魅惑力是什麼？跟「魅力」不一樣嗎？
開始翻譯這本書以來，我就為「fascinate」這個字困擾不已。「fascination」、「to fascinate someone」、「to be fascinated by someone」、「to be fascinating」、「to get fascinated」在中文的語境裡都各有說法。不管再怎麼想，就是想不到像原文那樣一個字根變化出好多個用法。
要把「fascination」翻成「魅力」嗎？似乎太正面了。書的一開頭就提到，在某些文化，「fascination」是巫術的同義詞。要翻成「吸引力」嗎？味道又顯得不足。最後，決定用「魅惑力」，代表更廣義、更令人無法自拔的吸引力。也許不是最好的翻譯，不過的確是小弟絞盡腦汁想出來的。
至於「fascinate」其他的詞性變化，最後還是決定不陪作者玩文字遊戲。雖然有些地方似乎可以把「魅惑」當動詞用，但頻率一高就顯得刻意而不自然。
要把「fascination」翻成「魅力」嗎？似乎太正面了。書的一開頭就提到，在某些文化，「fascination」是巫術的同義詞。要翻成「吸引力」嗎？味道又顯得不足。最後，決定用「魅惑力」，代表更廣義、更令人無法自拔的吸引力。也許不是最好的翻譯，不過的確是小弟絞盡腦汁想出來的。
至於「fascinate」其他的詞性變化，最後還是決定不陪作者玩文字遊戲。雖然有些地方似乎可以把「魅惑」當動詞用，但頻率一高就顯得刻意而不自然。
- Apr 04 Mon 2011 17:23
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The Nederland - Chapter 2
The first person Jerry met after moving in was Paolo, an young Italian man who was doing his master's in the same school.
Jerry woke up with a headache, a running nose, and tears--signs of an allergy possibly caused by lack of sleep. That was his very first jet lag. Not a very pleasant experience.
The smell woke him up. The room was filled with sensual smells of coffee and toast. He got up, walked to the kitchen, and saw Paolo preparing breakfast.
“Good morrrning, my friend,” the curly-haired Italian greeted him with a smile and came over to kiss him on the cheek. “My name is Paolo. Nice to meet you!”
Jerry was shocked by this very intimate gesture--he barely knew this man! Paolo looked at him like he was waiting for something.
- Mar 08 Tue 2011 19:35
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你願意接受嗎？
編輯回信了，也很客氣，說是自己能力不足，才沒能讓我信任他們公司。雖然事情已成定局，但有些東西還是不吐不快，於是又手賤地回了一封：
XX：
我這兩天會將原本未簽署的合約寄回；沒記錯的話，裡頭附的回郵信封應該是寄給財務部的。
我這兩天會將原本未簽署的合約寄回；沒記錯的話，裡頭附的回郵信封應該是寄給財務部的。
- Mar 07 Mon 2011 22:51
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小譯者的堅持
新的合作編輯表示無法在合約註明「稿費最遲會在X個月內付清」。也就是說，合約只說剩下的二分之一稿費會在出版後一個月內付清，但沒說萬一書沒出或拖很久才出版怎麼辦。想了又想，我回信給編輯：
XX：
謝謝妳的即時回覆。我瞭解很多事不是小編自己可以決定的。尤其在大公司裡，上面的規定如何，底下的人也只能照辦。
但我想了又想，如果連最晚付清尾款的期限都不能寫明，這樣的合約又有什麼意義？就像妳說的，既然不可能拖欠稿費，為什麼不能註明最晚會在交稿後六個月、一年甚至一年半之內付清？
謝謝妳的即時回覆。我瞭解很多事不是小編自己可以決定的。尤其在大公司裡，上面的規定如何，底下的人也只能照辦。
但我想了又想，如果連最晚付清尾款的期限都不能寫明，這樣的合約又有什麼意義？就像妳說的，既然不可能拖欠稿費，為什麼不能註明最晚會在交稿後六個月、一年甚至一年半之內付清？
- Feb 28 Mon 2011 09:16
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A Privileged Life
Saturday noon, I just left a study group meeting. Planned to go home but changed my mind immediately when I stepped out of the MOS Burger on Gongyuan Rd. It was such a beautiful day. I was in no rush to do anything.
So I walked to 228 Peace Park. After taking a few pictures and a walk in the sun, I sat down in the park. Took out my laptop and started translating because I felt like it. 10 minutes later, I finished a page. I got up and walked a bit more. There was a giant building. It was National Taiwan Museum.
I entered the museum. Soon afterwards, I learned that I just walked into a building of a 100 years’ history. It was set up by the Japanese colonial governor in 1908.
I joined a tour on amphibians and reptiles. I saw more of its collection on dispaly as the tour went on, and suddenly it occurred to me: this was exactly what I did when I traveled in Europe. One museum after another. Tours. Paintings. Sculptures. Just really taking my time. How come I never did this in my homeland?
I left the museum and sat down on the front stairs. Leaned against a giant column and looked at things happening around me. Took a few more pictures and just waited for the next thought of action. Hey, this is what I did in Europe, I thought to myself. This is vacation. I’m traveling now.
So I walked to 228 Peace Park. After taking a few pictures and a walk in the sun, I sat down in the park. Took out my laptop and started translating because I felt like it. 10 minutes later, I finished a page. I got up and walked a bit more. There was a giant building. It was National Taiwan Museum.
I entered the museum. Soon afterwards, I learned that I just walked into a building of a 100 years’ history. It was set up by the Japanese colonial governor in 1908.
I joined a tour on amphibians and reptiles. I saw more of its collection on dispaly as the tour went on, and suddenly it occurred to me: this was exactly what I did when I traveled in Europe. One museum after another. Tours. Paintings. Sculptures. Just really taking my time. How come I never did this in my homeland?
I left the museum and sat down on the front stairs. Leaned against a giant column and looked at things happening around me. Took a few more pictures and just waited for the next thought of action. Hey, this is what I did in Europe, I thought to myself. This is vacation. I’m traveling now.
- Jan 27 Thu 2011 09:02
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Locked Out
I returned his keys. All three of them. I locked myself out of his castle.
So I couldn’t sneak in any more. Couldn’t leave a rose on his bed and sneak out before he comes back. Couldn’t leave a note saying, “Je t’aime.” Nothing.
I knew I would regret.
I knew I would regret.
- Jan 26 Wed 2011 20:47
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The Penny Dropped
Every time I passed by a beggar, I struggled.
Should I give him/her some money? He/she looks poor/old/physically challenged. I’m the lucky one. I should help.
But wait. They could be faking it. Begging, news headlines warn us, has become an organized crime--a mastermind makes handicapped people beg and take the money away at the end of the day. If not, it's a new profession for those who are too lazy to find a job.
Or maybe they have tried? It’s not a fair world. We don’t live in a fairy tale where hard work and kindness always pay off.
I recalled that a begging old lady tried to pick my pocket in Barcelona. She was very skillful. She only failed because I had my wallet chained.
Should I give him/her some money? He/she looks poor/old/physically challenged. I’m the lucky one. I should help.
But wait. They could be faking it. Begging, news headlines warn us, has become an organized crime--a mastermind makes handicapped people beg and take the money away at the end of the day. If not, it's a new profession for those who are too lazy to find a job.
Or maybe they have tried? It’s not a fair world. We don’t live in a fairy tale where hard work and kindness always pay off.
I recalled that a begging old lady tried to pick my pocket in Barcelona. She was very skillful. She only failed because I had my wallet chained.
