Meaning of "Nervous." -- Will any of your correspondents kindly oblige me, by stating what is the actual meaning of the word nervous? On reference to Johnson, I find it expressed as follows: --
"Nervy, sinewy, vigorous; also having diseased or weak nerves."
Now, by this definition, I am led to believe that the word has two meanings, directly opposed to each other. Is this so? K. BANNEL. Liverpool.
nervousという単語には、Johnsonの辞書で正反対の定義があるのではないか、という質問だった。1851年7月5日の Notes and Queries から。
「くも本」3回目にしてその方針から逸脱する。
『Web 英語青年』第1号で諏訪部浩一氏の「『マルタの鷹』講義」が始まるが、この本の著作権がまだ切れていないので全文へのリンクを貼ることはできない。だが、『マルタの鷹』映画版(1941年)の予告編は Internet Archive で見られる。これから諏訪部氏と一緒に本を読もうと思う方は、まずその予告編を見たらいかがでしょうか。
ご参考までに、サウンドトラックのトランスクリプトを作ってみた。
Come closer. I want to talk to you. I'm going to tell you an astounding story, the story of the Maltese Falcon. For six hundred years, the Falcon has carried the mystery of fabulous wealth under its grotesque wings. I could you tell a thousand tales of the men and women who have hunted this evil bird. But every story has the same ending: murder! Listen to these incredible people, all consumed by their passionate greed for the Maltese Falcon.
"What have you ever given me beside money? Have you ever given me any of your confidence, any of the truth? Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty with money and nothing else?"
"What else is there I can buy you with?"
"I don't care who loves who. I won't play the sap for you." [play the sap for you = あなたのカモになる]
"I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad, worse than you can know."
We were talking about a lot more money than this."
"There are more of us to be taken care of now."
"That may be, but I've got the Falcon."
"You may have the Falcon, but we certainly have you.""I've taken all the riding from you I'm going to take. Get up and shoot it out." [riding = いじめ]
"Stop it! The police are going to be here any minute. Now talk!"
"Oh, how can you accuse me of such a terrible...."
"This isn't the time for that schoolgirl act. We're both of us sitting under the gallows."
作文を教える人にとっては、テーマの選択が悩みの種になる。「私の家族」や "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" なら小学校などでは良いのだが、大学生に対しては自分以外のことをトピックに選択させるのが望ましい場合が多い。
本日の「くも本」は、Freshman Rhetoric という大学教科書。1922年の第2版では、当時の一年生がすでに知っているのであろう Subjects for Simple Exposition のリストがある(pp. 16-19)。以下はその抜粋。
Planning a Small Summer Cottage for Economy and Comfort (経済性と快適さを目的として小さな夏別荘を計画する)
Advantages of the Bungalow Type for Suburban Residences (郊外住宅としてのバンガローのメリット)
The Ideal Living Room (理想の居間)
A Model Kitchen (模範となる台所)
The Lighting of Residences (住宅の照明)
...The Care of a Piano (ピアノの手入れ)
The Problem of Domestic Service (家事手伝いの問題)
Vacant Lot Gardening (空き地での造園)
Spraying Fruit (果物への殺虫剤噴霧)
The Best-Paying Variety of Apples (利益率が最も高いリンゴの品種)
...Duck Shooting (カモ射撃)
Teaching a Boy to Swim (男の子に水泳を教える)
Training for Distance Running (長距離走のために訓練する)
The Equipment and Management of a Small Playground (小規模の運動場の装備と管理)
First Aid to the Injured (負傷者への応急手当)
...Social Welfare Work in Local Factories (地元工場での社会福祉関連事業)
The Duties of a Department Store Salesman (デパート販売員の職務)
Effective Advertising of a Certain Class of Goods (ある商品類の効果的な宣伝)
Present Status of the Boy Scout Movement (ボーイ・スカウト活動の現状)
The Work of the Local Y. M. C. A. (or Y. W. C. A.) (地元のYMCA(またはYWCA)の役割)
...The Importance of Good English in a Certain Vocation (for engineers, for chemists, for physicians, etc.) (エンジニア、化学者、医者など)特定の職業にとっての正しい英語の重要性