Better late than the late !
<p>原文：<span word="Better">Better</span> <span word="late">late</span> <span word="than">than</span> <span word="the">the</span> <span word="late">late</span>.译文：迟到总比最后到好。辨误：这是美国高速公路上的一条宣传安全的标语，提醒司机不要开快车，尤其不要抢行。从文字上看，使用了叫<span word="parody">parody</span>（仿词，也译仿拟）的修辞手法，是由家喻户晓的谚语<span word="Better">Better</span> <span word="late">late</span> <span word="than">than</span> <span word="never">never</span>（迟到总比不到好。/迟做胜过不做。）改动而成，以达到幽默而令人难忘的效果。</p><p><span word="Late">Late</span>是个常用词，有很多意思，主要指时间上的晚或迟，如<span word="latespring">latespring</span>（暮春），<span word="ones">ones</span> <span word="late">late</span> <span word="years">years</span>（晚年），<span word="of">of</span> <span word="late">late</span>（近来），<span word="the">the</span> <span word="latest">latest</span> <span word="issue">issue</span>（指期刊的最新一期）等。但原句中<span word="the">the</span> <span word="late">late</span>的含义不是晚到，而是已故的，如<span word="the">the</span> <span word="late">late</span> <span word="premier">premier</span>（已故总理），<span word="ones">ones</span> <span word="late">late</span> <span word="residence">residence</span>（故居），所以全句可译成：晚了总比完了好。/迟到总比丧命好。</p><p>我想起美国一首歌中的<span word="parody">parody</span>：<span word="Music">Music</span> <span word="speaks">speaks</span> <span word="louder">louder</span> <span word="than">than</span> <span word="words">words</span>. 此句显然脱胎于谚语<span word="Facts">Facts</span> <span word="speak">speak</span> <span word="louder">louder</span> <span word="than">than</span> <span word="words">words</span>.后者一般译为事实胜于雄辩，于是有人将前者译成音乐胜于雄辩。这样恐怕不确切，音乐不是为和某人辩论，现实中不可能大家都成刘三姐，通过唱歌去斗地主老财。人们说，音乐是一种语言，而且是国际通用、无需翻译。那么，全句不妨译成音乐（歌声）比言辞更能传情。</p>
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