一 words and expressions
1. Language is a fabric that changes from one week to another, adding new strands and dropping old ones.
strand这个词常见的意思是线、绳、毛发等的〕股,缕。文中的意思是:the parts of a story, idea, plan etc〔故事、观点、计划等的〕部分。
strand of thought /opinion / argument
2. “Usage Panel” to help them appraise the new words and dubious constructions that had come knocking at the door.
dubious:probably not honest, true, right etc可疑的,靠不住的
3. It adds a tinge of sarcasm that otherwise wouldn’t be there.
tinge:a very small amount of a color, emotion, or quality淡淡的色调; 些许,一点,一丝〔颜色、情绪或品质
4. under Richard Nixon “launder” became a dirty word.
launder:to put money which has been obtained illegally into legal businesses and bank accounts, so that you can hide it or use it洗〔钱〕〔即把非法得来的钱注入合法的生意中或存入银行,以便隐藏或使用〕:
5. Travel writing is a conspicuous example.
conspicuous:very noticeable or attracting attention, often in a way that is not wanted显眼的;醒目的;显著的
6. One can ride the picturesque ferry from Kowloon
picturesque:〔地方〕美丽的,古雅的,风景如画的
7. Involved? Detached? Judgmental? Ironic? Amused?
Detached:not reacting to or becoming involved in something in an emotional way冷静的,不动感情的,客观的。它的反义词是Involved
8. Writing is no respecter of blueprints.
respecter:be no respecter of sth
■to treat or affect everyone in the same way尊重;遵奉;礼待
•God is no respecter of persons.上帝对众人一视同仁。
二 thoughts
第七章讲的是usage,也是最后一个principle。作者讲到了哪些词的usage是可接受的。并且列举了一些新的usage的来源,非常有趣。并且在最后指出:好的usage就是用一些实际存在的好词去清楚的表达自己的观点。
从第八章进入method的章节。讲的是unity。其中包括人称,时态,语态等等的unity。我觉得这点也十分适用于中文写作,我常常在表达一件事时突兀的引入不同的人称,导致文章很混乱。作者提供的方法是think more,叙事一件事就从一件事的各个细节开始,不要写着这个想着那个。
Just remember that all unities must be fitted into the edifice you finally put together.