There is
something to be said for being a generalist, even if you
are a specialist. Knowing a little about a lot of things that interest you can
add to the richness of a whole, well-lived life.
这是2021年高考英语天津卷1的阅读理解D的第一段。参见网友前面的一个问题:pure specialist 是什么意思
我这里的疑问是:There is something to be said for…是什么意思?老师在解答前面的问题时,将There is something to be said for being a generalist 翻译成:成为一个通才是有好处的。那There is something to be said for…的意思就是“……有好处”,对吗?
是的,There is something to be said for…的意思就是“……有好处(有理由、有必要、有道理等)”。《牛津高阶英语词典》(第10版)将 there’s something, not much, etc. to be said for something/doing something用黑体字列出,作为句式处理,所给解释是:there are/are not good reasons for doing something, believing something or agreeing with something,意思是“有(或没有太多等)理由去做(或相信、同意)某事”。具体翻译时可灵活处理:
There is something to be said for that. 为此有一些话需要说一下。
There is something to be said for small weddings. 有必要考虑一下小规模的婚礼。
It is not necessary, but there is something to be said for traveling abroad to learn a language. 虽然不是必需的,不过出国旅行学习一种语言是有必要的。
There’s something to be said for his approach to the problem. 他处理这问题的方法有一些道理。