莎士比亚留给我们的语言遗产

　　许多人都知道现代英语由中古英语演变发展而来；而莎士比亚作为使用早期现代英语的代表，在传承中古英语、促进早期现代英语的形成和发展、丰富现代英语等方面做出了不可磨灭的贡献。正如著名语言学家周海中先生在论文《莎士比亚文学作品的语言特色》中曾经指出“莎士比亚不仅是一位举世闻名的文学大师，更是一位出类拔萃的语言大师；就个人而言，他对英语语言的影响和贡献无人可比。”

　　时至今日，莎翁笔下许多独特的英语表达在全世界仍保持着旺盛的生命力。这位备受爱戴的剧作家不仅写出了包括《哈姆雷特》《奥赛罗》《仲夏夜之梦》和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》在内的至少37部戏剧，更为英语词典贡献了上百个沿用至今的词组。

　　Here are 10 Shakespearean terms that have withstood the test of time:

　　以下10个词组都来自于莎士比亚的作品，并流传至今：

　　"Good Riddance"

　　可喜的逃离

　　Meaning, to happily get rid of anything deemed worthless, this phrase originated in Shakespeare’s 1609 play "Troilus and Cressida." The idiom was so durable¹, it even became the name of a popular Green Day song in 1997.

　　这一说法源自莎翁1609年的作品《特洛伊罗斯与克瑞西达》，表达了对远离毫无价值的人或物的喜悦。因为它实在太常用了，1997年绿日乐队干脆推出了一首以此为名的歌曲。

　　"Break the Ice"

　　破冰

　　Shakespeare wrote this group of words in his 1590 play "The Taming of the Shrew." It means to overcome a socially awkward situation.

　　该词组出自其1590年的作品《驯悍记》，指化解社交场合的窘境。

　　"Wild Goose Chase"

　　徒劳无益的追求

　　First seen in 1597’s "Romeo and Juliet," a person who goes on a "wild goose chase" is searching for something that’s likely not attainable².

　　首次见于1597年的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，指人们寻找那些自己几乎不可能得到的东西。

　　"Love Is Blind"

　　爱情让人盲目

　　Shakespeare created this phrase -- often said as a warning -- from his play "The Merchant of Venice," first performed in 1605. It means that sometimes one’s feelings for their loved ones can obscure reality.

　　莎士比亚在1605年首演的《威尼斯商人》中创造了这个词汇，指人们有时因所爱的人而难以认清现实，通常认为他的目的在于警告世人。

　　"Brave New World"

　　美丽新世界

　　This expression from Shakespeare’s play "The Tempest," believed to have been written between 1610-1611, refers to a prominent moment in societal history.

　　该说法出自《暴风雨》(据信完结于1610至1611年间)，指社会历史的重要时刻。

　　"Naked Truth"

　　原原本本的事实

　　Shakespeare wrote this phrase in his play "Love’s Labour’s Lost," written in the 1590s. It means what you think: the complete and utter truth.

　　首次出现在1590年写就的《爱的徒劳》中，指一件事的本来面目。

　　"Green Eyed Monster"

　　绿眼怪

　　Seen for the first time in 1603’s "Othello," this idiom was Shakespeare’s way of describing how jealousy³ looks.

　　出自1603年的《奥赛罗》，是莎翁对嫉妒的一种独到的描写方式。

　　"Bated Breath"

　　屏息

　　This is another phrase from "The Merchant of Venice," which means to be so excited, anxious or nervous that you’re actually holding your breath.

　　依旧出自《威尼斯商人》，指因过于激动，焦虑或者紧张而屏住呼吸。

　　"[Fight] Fire With Fire"

　　以毒攻毒(或以火攻火)

　　Shakespeare wrote this phrase in his 1623 play "King John." It means to use the same tactics as an opponent to beat them, even if you have to play dirty.

　　1623年的《约翰王》中首次出现了这一说法，说的是采取与对手相同的策略去击败他们，即使手段肮脏也在所不惜。

　　"Laughing Stock"

　　笑柄

　　These two words appear in Shakespeare’s play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," published in 1602. It describes a person or thing that is greatly ridiculed⁴.

　　首见于1602 年出版的《温莎的风流妇人》，指极其荒谬的人或事。

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