Caffè Carpediem # Predicative Dative in Latin [表述與格]
來自專欄 Carpe Diem
鏘鏘鏘鏘~ 今天我的Caffè Carpediem正式開張~
本咖啡廳作為提供語法知識講座的小沙龍,一來解答此前練習里出現過的(比較令人困惑的)語法,二來為大家進行相關知識點的整理回顧。每個語法點後面附有小練習,可以配合語法知識來鞏固複習。習題答案在文末,做題的時候不可以偷看。
另外,由於本店主目前手頭沒有中文教材,所以有一些專業用詞就用英文替代了,在第一次出現時會標註(可能不太準確的)中文翻譯,如果專業用詞的翻譯上有誤,還請大家幫我多多指正~ 有什麼疑問或者想法也可以在下面留言~
【PREDICATIVE DATIVE】
在之前的練習「Latin AS-Level Practice Passages 4 The Assassination of Dion」中,開頭第一句的分析曾被眼尖的讀者批評不夠準確:Dion, tyrannus Syracusarum, antea laudatus, iam magno odio erat et populo et militibus. 當時沒有意識到其中包含著一個重要的語法點,現在單獨拿出來給大家做一個講解。沒有做過本篇練習的同學也可將其作為新語法知識來學習。本句的主幹部分:Dion magno odio erat. 「迪翁非常遭人恨」,為什麼magno odio是與格呢?這就是今天的主題:predicative dative (表述與格)。
通常而言,在拉丁文中,我們說「A是B」,那麼A和B都應該用主格:前一個是主語,後一個是主語的補足語。但在一個更加特殊和表示強調的用法之下,尤其是對於那些比較抽象的名詞,通常會讓B變為與格(dative)形式,這就是所謂的表述與格(因為它對A進行了描述或斷定,或者提供了新的信息)。
在舊式英文中也有相對應的表述,比如
[1] He was a soldier.
[2] He went for a soldier.
這兩句在意思上相差不大,前一句中,He和soldier在拉丁語中都對應主格形式,由動詞be連接。在第二句中,He為主格,但 for a soldier 就是拉丁文中的與格了。
- Q1: 拉丁文中的predicative dative是如何使用的呢?
通常它會跟在be動詞後面出現,也就是開頭提到的那句一樣,而且同時一般還會有另外一個與格相伴出現(以表明其描述行為施予的對象)。來看例子:
- socii nobis auxilio erant. The allies were a help (lit. for a help) to us.
本句中,主幹是socii auxilio erant. 直譯為「盟友是援助」,但socii 和auxilio 無論在格位還是單複數上都不一致,socii是主格複數,auxilio 是與格單數,但中間用複數be動詞連接,乍看之下顯得很奇怪。這時就要想到predicative dative的情況: auxilio 是作為pre.dat.出現的。而nobis表示auxilio(援助)的對象,"給(對)我們",也同樣為與格。同樣地,
2. libros liberis dono dedi. I gave the children books as a gift (lit. for a gift).
本句主幹是libros dedi. 「我給書」,liberis是謂語動詞「給予」的對象,「給孩子們」。而 dono [dat.sing.n.] 在性數格上似乎既不和 libros [acc.pl.m. of [liber, libri, m. book]]關聯,也沒有和liberis [dat.pl.m. of liber, liberi, m. pl. children]關聯,這時就要想到dono是作為pre.dat.使用,英文直譯為for a gift, 意譯為 as a gift. 」作為禮物「。
一般來說,作為表述與格的名詞有時還有加上一個形容詞來修飾它,比如第一句裡面的auxilio, 可以擴展為magno auxilio (a great help).
- Q2: 有哪些名詞經常作為pre.dat.使用呢?以下列舉出最常用的幾個:
argumento, be a proof
auxilio, be a help
bono, benefit
curae, be a matter of concern
dolori, be a cause of grief
dono, as a gift
exemplo, as an example
exitio, bring destruction
honori, be an honour
laudi, be a credit
malo, harm
muneri, as a service
odio, be an object of hatred (to, +dat.) (「be hated by」)【 就是這貨!】
oneri, be a burden
periculo, be a source of danger
praesidio, be a means of protection
pudori, be a source of shame
saluti, be the salvation of
usui, be of use
【練習1】
- hi milites civibus praesidio erunt.
- tempestas nautis periculo erat.
- hic liber mihi magno usui est.
- pueri magistro oneri sunt.
- illa femina duci nostro exitio erat.
- scelera filii curae erant matri.
- qui suos produnt nobis odio sunt.
【練習2】
- All the allies were a help to the Romans.
- That senator was an object of hatred to his own citizens.
- The victory is an honour to our men.
- This money will be of great use to the old man and his wife.
- My brothers crime is a matter of concern to me.
【參考答案】
【練習1】
1 These soldiers will be a means of protection for the citizens.
2 The storm was a source of danger to the sailors. 3 This book is of great use to me. 4 The boys are a burden to the teacher. 5 That woman brought destruction to our leader. 6 The crimes of the daughter were a matter of concern to her mother. 7 Those who betray their own men are hated by us.【練習2】1 omnes socii auxilio erant Romanis.
2 ille senator civibus suis odio erat. 3 victoria honori est nostris. 4 haec pecunia seni et uxori magno usui erit. 5 scelus fratris mihi curae est.(本文改編和譯自Taylor, J. (2017) Latin Beyond GCSE. Bloomsbury. )
(今天的圖片部分不來源於網路)
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