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Why do they always say can? 他們時常說的can 是所為何事？
Singlish and Manglish speakers always say 'can', which is very confusing for many foreigners. In proper English, it means 'sure', 'okay', 'it works', 'alright'. 星馬英語講者常常說can，外國人常常聽得一頭霧水。以正確英語來說，那個意思是 sure、okay、it works、alright. The expression of 'can' can be traced...
What does ‘one’ mean in Singlish and Manglish? 星馬英語說的 one 是什麼意思？
Singlish and Manglish have been confusing for many foreigners. In particular, the usage of 'one' among many Singaporean and Malaysian English speakers, who tend to add 'one' at the end of many sentences. This could be a direct translation from de (的) of Mandarin, ge3...
Best timing for proofreading 校稿最佳時機
翻譯或者寫文案總是需要校稿。文字功力若發揮得比較好，則第二天校稿祇需要將稿件讀一次就好了。若第一稿不是很有把握，則之後的校稿會比較辛苦，二校、三校亦不出奇。 校稿亦講究時機。若是檢查文件，我最佳的時機是上午時段。由於睡醒之後的思路比較清晰，這個時候校訂自己前一天譯或寫的文字，總是比較容易找到錯誤並且選用比較好的文字。有些急件必須早上寫完，中午、下午時間交稿，則可以趁午睡之後審稿。 當然，有些文件譯完就馬上交，則必須確保譯和審都頭腦清晰，才能應付十萬火急的商業文案。 Translation and copywriting...
Listen more and write better 聽得多自然寫得好
We are readers before we can become writers. Reading is the best way to learn how other writers express their ideas, and it allows us to gain knowledge and wisdom of good writers. Given the change of modern time, writing is presented in many forms. Other than printed...
Writing ABC doesn’t make yours an English copy 寫ABC不代表你會寫英文文案
看過很多招牌或產品名稱寫漢語拼音，而不是實實在在地寫相對應的英文名稱或字詞，我看了常常覺得一頭霧水。如果祇寫漢語拼音而祇有懂得華語又精通漢語拼音的人才能夠明白，那寫來又有何意義？ 就品牌的意義來說，這是不是意味著你的品牌與產品祇跟懂得華語又精通漢語拼音的人溝通？其他不知道你寫什麼的人，就不值得理解你是賣什麼東西？遇上不知道你寫什麼的人，你每次都要費勁一直解釋自己在賣什麼？...
Anecdotes of a novelist 小說家逸事
I have been listening to Conversations of ABC Radio since 2014. And I happened to come across this interview of writer Lee Child, whose Jack Reacher series remained untouched from my side because I have been busy reading Jeffrey Archer's works. Having lost his job as...
Explore Taiwanese Hokkien Language (II): Lonely Tree, Lonely Bird by Wubai 臺語探究（貳）：伍佰〈樹枝孤鳥〉
在（佇）：在 (tī): At, in. 佗位：哪裡 (tó-uī): Where 批信：書信、信件 (phue-sìn): Letter 親像：好像 (tshin-tshiūnn): As if 風在透：風在吹 (hong teh thàu): Wind blowing 針在偎（揻）：針在刺 (tsiam teh ui): Needle pinching 無路用：沒有用，不中用 (bô lōo iōng): Useless, of no use. 無代念我情：沒想過我的感受 (bô tāi liām guá tsîng):...
Explore Taiwanese Hokkien Language (I): Tearful Night Train by Wubai 臺語探究（壹）：伍佰〈熱淚暗班車〉
臺語的表達非常豐富，我個人閩南語說得不好，但還是常常從臺語歌學習這個語言獨有的表達方式與詞彙。我以我個人理解嘗試將伍佰的〈熱淚暗班車〉一些詞句寫成華語和英語，有志於臺語研究的朋友請多多指教。 Taiwanese Hokkien has a great variety when it comes to expression. Despite the fact that I can't speak the language well, I still learn the unique expression and terms of...
Explore Cantonese Language (II): Expressions of water 粵語探究（貳）：「水」的表達方式
粵語中「水」字的應用非常靈活，除了跟錢財相關的用法之外，生活中其他表達方式亦是非常生動敏銳。 The usage of the word ‘water’ is very flexible in Cantonese language. It is widely used for expressions related to money, as well as some very lively and apt descriptions of some situations of our daily life. 睇水：觀察形勢、以防萬一...