2014年2月27日 星期四

頭條日報 頭條網 - Please don't swear by Michael Chugani

My friend Tao Kit always tells people I am very good at swearing (using bad language) in Cantonese. Actually, he swears far better than me. But I have to admit I sometimes use bad language. When I first started my TV shows in English and Cantonese, I was reminded by my bosses to make sure I don't swear. Even Tao Kit told me to be careful when I first went to his radio show. I told them all I know how to control myself. But being able to control myself on TV and radio is very different from being able to control myself when I argue with a policeman.

        T hat is why I am so worried about the new police rules, which do not allow people to insult policemen. Anyone who continues to use foul language (bad language) at policemen after being warned to stop could be arrested. What if I get angry with a policeman who takes a long time writing out a penalty ticket for me for jaywalking (crossing the road during a red light)? Would I be arrested if I tell him to hurry up and "delay no more", which sounds like a frequently used Cantonese swear word against a person's mother? I think a good way to swear at a policeman and still avoid arrest is to say "Dalai Lama", which also sounds like the same Cantonese swear word against a person's mother.

        The best way to swear at a policeman and still avoid arrest is to use the Spanish or Italian words for the word "love". The words "de un amor" in Spanish mean "of love". The words "un amore" in Italian mean "a love". When correctly pronounced, both sound even more like the Cantonese swear word against a person's mother than "delay no more" or "Dalai Lama". If you don't believe me, you can use the Google translate feature to listen to the pronunciation. The next time I get angry at a policeman I'll say "de un amor". If he arrests me I'll say I only said "love" in Spanish because I love the Hong Kong Police Force.

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        我朋友陶傑常常跟人說,我精於說廣東話粗口(swearing)。事實上,他說粗口(swears)要比我好得多了。但我得承認,我有時會說粗言穢語。當我第一次錄影英語和粵語電視節目時,我的老闆也都提醒我,確保我不會說髒話(swear)。即使我第一次上陶傑的節目,他也着我留神一點。我都跟他們說,我懂得怎樣控制自己。但在電視和電台上能夠控制自己,和跟警察吵架時,是否能夠控制自己,是兩碼子的事。

        因此我很擔心那條不讓人辱罵警察的新規例。任何人若被警告後仍然繼續向警員罵髒話(foul language),就會被拘捕。要是有警員抓到我衝紅燈(jaywalking),而用很長的時間寫告票,令我很惱怒呢?若我着他寫快點,再加句很像廣東話問候人母親的「delay no more」,我會否被捕?我認為,要向警員爆粗(swear),同時免被拘捕,大可說「達賴喇嘛」,這跟廣東話中問候人母親的粗口(swear)發音很相像。

        不過, 向警員爆粗(swear)而免於被捕的最佳方法,是說西班牙語或意大利語的「愛」。「de un amor」在西文中解作「of love」,「un amore」在意大利語中解作「a love」。若發音正確,兩者皆會比「delay no more」或「達賴喇嘛」更像廣東話問候人母親的粗口(swear)。你不信,可上Google翻譯網,聽聽那發音。下次我惱怒於警員時,我會說「de un amor」,若他拘捕我,我會說我不過是用西文說愛,因為我很愛香港警隊。mickchug@gmail.com

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧

Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=275905§ion_name=wtt&kw=126