万物简史 第518期:丰富多彩的生命(14)

 The intention originally was to use the binomial system for everything — rocks, minerals, diseases, winds, whatever existed in nature. 他本打算把双名体系用于自然界中的一切，如岩石、矿物质、疾病、风等等。

Not everyone embraced the system warmly. 然而，不是人人都热情地赞成那种体系。

Many were disturbed by its tendency toward indelicacy, 许多人为这个体系往往比较粗俗而感到不安。

which was slightly ironic¹ as before Linnaeus the common names of many plants and animals had been heartily² vulgar. 这有点儿讽刺意味，因为在林奈之前，许多植物和动物的俗名也是很低级的。

The dandelion was long popularly known as the "pissabed" because of its supposed diuretic properties, 蒲公英被认为具有利尿作用，因此在很长时间里被从们称做“尿壶”。

and other names in everyday use included mare's fart, naked ladies, twitch-ballock, hound's piss, open arse, and bum-towel. 别的常用的名称包括母马之屁、裸体小姐、抽动的睾丸、猎狗之尿、光屁股和大便巾。

One or two of these earthy appellations³ may unwittingly survive in English yet. 一两个这类粗俗的名称也许在无意中还保留在英语里。

The "maidenhair" in maidenhair moss⁴, for instance, does not refer to the hair on the maiden's head. 比如，少女之发苔藓（即铁线苔藓）中的“少女之发”并不是指少女头上的头发。

At all events, it had long been felt that the natural sciences would be appreciably⁵ dignified⁶ by a dose of classical renaming, 总之，长期以来人们觉得，自然科学里有的名称应当以传统的方式来重新命名，使之更加严肃。

so there was a certain dismay in discovering that the self-appointed Prince of Botany had sprinkled his texts with such designations as Cliforia, Fornicata, and Fulva. 因此，当他们发现那位自封的植物王子竟然在他的作品里不时插入阴蒂属、性交属和外阴属这类名称，大家不免觉得有点儿不快。

Over the years many of these were quietly dropped 在随后的年月里，许多这类名称渐渐地被弃之不用

(though not all: the common slipper⁷ limpet still answers on formal occasions to Crepidula fornicata) （虽然不是全部：普通的笠贝在正式场合仍被称做性交履螺属），

and many other refinements⁸ introduced as the needs of the natural sciences grew more specialized⁹. 为了满足自然科学越来越专门化的需要，又引入了许多别的高雅名称。

In particular the system was bolstered¹⁰ by the gradual introduction of additional hierarchies¹¹. 尤其是，那个体系又渐渐采纳了一批等级名称作为基本架构。

 

1 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

2 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

3 appellations   

n.名称，称号( appellation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The list of odd appellations goes on, and anything goes-just name it. 像这种奇怪的名字还有许多，但一切还在继续-----学一句流行词，想取就取吧。 来自互联网
• In the present Chinese characters teaching, the radicals' appellations cause much confusion. 目前的识字教学中，部首的名称较混乱。 来自互联网

4 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

5 appreciably   

adv.相当大地

参考例句：

• The index adds appreciably to the usefulness of the book. 索引明显地增加了这本书的实用价值。
• Otherwise the daily mean is perturbed appreciably by the lunar constituents. 否则，日平均值就会明显地受到太阳分潮的干扰。

6 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

7 slipper   

n.拖鞋

参考例句：

• I rescued the remains of my slipper from the dog.我从那狗的口中夺回了我拖鞋的残留部分。
• The puppy chewed a hole in the slipper.小狗在拖鞋上啃了一个洞。

8 refinements   

n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作

参考例句：

• The new model has electric windows and other refinements. 新型号有电动窗和其他改良装置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is possible to add a few useful refinements to the basic system. 对基本系统进行一些有益的改良是可能的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

10 bolstered   

v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句

11 hierarchies   

等级制度( hierarchy的名词复数 )； 统治集团； 领导层； 层次体系

参考例句：

• That's a trip of two hierarchies. 那是两个领导层之间的互访。
• Hierarchies of authority, spans of control, long-range plans, and budgets. 等级森严的权力机构，控制范围，长期计划，预算。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦