Sir Alexander Fleming did not, as legend would have it, look at the mold on a piece of cheese and get the idea for penicillin there and then.
这句话怎么理解呢?as引导的是什么句式,怎么翻译呢?
Sir Alexander Fleming did not, as legend would have it, look at the mold on a piece of cheese and get the idea for penicillin there and then.
【翻译】亚历山大·弗莱明爵士并没有像传说中说的那样,看到一块奶酪上的霉菌就立刻想到了青霉素。
1. 按传统语法分析,as legend would have it 是非限制性定语从句。
2. as 是关系代词,指代整个主句:Sir Alexander Fleming did not look at the mold on a piece of cheese and get the idea for penicillin there and then.
3. it 是 as 的形式宾语。
我对该结构和用法作一详细分析。
Legend has it that... 这种结构,说它是一种“固定习语”当然没有问题。不过,从语言研究的角度考虑,这多少有点“搪塞”之意。
我试着从语言结构和语用方面,分析如下:
1. 这类结构的主语一般省略冠词,是典型的口语特征。
2. have 是个多义词,其中有一个意思是:“说;宣称”。但这个词不像say 那样可以跟that从句,它一般只接名词或代词作宾语。所以,不可直接说:...has that...,这时,需要加一个形式宾语it,然后再跟that从句。又如:
Rumour has it that something roars at the night in this house.
据谣传这所房间每天夜里有什么东西吼叫。
Report has it that you are married.
据说你已结婚了。
Rumour has it that we'll have a new manager soon.
据说我们不久就要来一位新经理。
Legend has it that it's been cursed ever since.
传说从那时起这把枪就被诅咒了。
Tradition has it that Bridge of Allan copper was used in the first coinage of halfpennies.
相传,英国艾伦桥镇的铜被用于最早的半便士的铸造。
Online gossip has it that it’s an airbrushed hip.
网络上盛传她的臀部是经过“修饰”的。
3. have 的这种用法,一般限于口语,而且,句子的主语往往是:rumour, report, legend, tradition, gossip,story, tale 等表示“传说类”的词语。这样就赋予了have“说”的语义。
have it that... 结构中,have 表示“说”之意。无独有偶,take 和put 也有这个用法。例如:
I take it that you have been out. 我猜你刚出去回来。
You can put it that it was arranged before. 你可以说这是以前安排的。
通过分析说明, have it that... 结构不是孤立的,而是一种现象了。
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