The final episode of the HBO series Game of Thrones was full not only of plot holes but also, apparently, worm holes in the fabric of the space-time continuum. How else could you explain the presence of plastic water bottles by the feet of Samwell Tarly and Ser Davos during the council scene? Of course, it was simply a mistake on the set, an anachronism of plastic bottles in a world closer in technology to Medieval Europe.
The word anachronism (something out of harmony with a specified time) first came into use in English in the 1640s, shortly after the Medieval period came to a close. It comes from the Latin anachronismus, from the Greek word anakhronismos (meaning “referring to the wrong time”), combining the Greek for ana (against) and khronos (time). In English, it originally meant “an error in computing time or finding dates”; it didn’t take on the current meaning until later. This usage was first recorded in 1816.
The Latin affix “chrono” bequeaths us many English words referring to the correct sequence of time. A chronograph (such as a clock or watch), from 1831, means a “precise time-measuring device,” and combines chrono- (time) and -graph (instrument for recording). The phrase “chronological order” (arranged in order by time) was first attested in 1754. A “chronicler” is a person or publication that records time and events.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons 照片：維基共享資源
(Paul Cooper, Taipei Times)
HBO影集《冰與火之歌：權力遊戲》的最後一集，不僅充滿情節漏洞，且顯然還有穿梭時光的蟲洞，打破時空的連貫性。不然該如何解釋在遴選新君王場景中，擺在山姆威爾‧塔利和戴佛斯．席渥斯腳邊的塑膠水瓶？當然，這只是片場犯的錯，在拍片技術建構出的中世紀歐洲，所發生的塑膠瓶的時代錯置。
「anachronism」（時代錯置，與某個時間不一致）一詞，最早在英文中使用是在一六四○年代，也就是中世紀結束後不久。這個字來自拉丁文「anachronismus」，由希臘文「anakhronismos」（意為「所指的是錯誤的時間」）而來，結合了希臘文的「ana」（違反）和「khronos」（時間）。「anachronism」在英文中的原意是「推斷時間或查找日期時出錯」，後來才有了現今「時代錯置」的含義，此用法最早有記錄是在一八一六年。
拉丁詞綴「chrono」演變出許多英文字流傳下來，這些字皆有正確的時間順序之意。「chronograph」（計時器，例如時鐘或錶）一字，自一八三一年起，便意指「精確的時間測度裝置」，是由「chrono」（時間）與「graph」（記錄用的儀器）組合而成。片語「chronological order」（按時間順序排列），首見於一七五四年。「chronicler」（編年史家）一字，則是指記錄時間與事件的人或出版品。
（台北時報林俐凱譯）
A Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel “Shunxin-39” was believed to have caused damage to an undersea cable of Taiwan telecoms operator Chunghwa Telecom on the morning of Jan. 3. It was suspected that the Chinese merchant ship, which was registered with the nationality of another country, deliberately cut off the cable by dragging the anchor over it. While the incident is still under investigation, China has a long history of using maritime tactics to sabotage Taiwan’s infrastructure. In February last year, two cables linking Taiwan to its outlying Matsu Islands were damaged within days of each other by a Chinese fishing
Have you ever dreamed of using an entire city as your training ground, effortlessly moving across walls, buildings, stairs, and obstacles? This is not just a fantasy from the movies. In cities around the world, a group of enthusiasts practice this seemingly impossible sport — “parkour.” The origins of parkour can be traced back to 20th-century France. A military officer named Georges-Hebert witnessed the incredible physical abilities of local residents in Africa, which inspired him to create the Methode Naturelle, or natural method. This training method cleverly combined climbing, running, and swimming with artificial barriers to mimic nature. Later, David Belle
A: The 21st Century is now entering its 25th year. B: So Billboard has released a list: “The 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st Century.” A: Who are the greatest pop singers? B: No. 25 to 16 are: Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Bad Bunny, One Direction, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, BTS, The Weeknd, Shakira and Jay-Z. A: Wow, my favorite K-pop supergroup BTS has made it to the list. A: 21世紀正在邁入第25個年頭了。 B: 《告示牌》雜誌特別公布：「21世紀最偉大的25位流行歌手」。 A: 最偉大的歌手有哪些？ B: 第25至16名是：凱蒂佩芮、紅髮艾德、壞痞兔、1世代、小韋恩、火星人布魯諾、防彈少年團（BTS）、威肯、夏奇拉、Jay-Z。 A: 哇，我最愛的韓流天團BTS也上榜了！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
疫情期間，許多國家的課程改成網路授課，或用直播、或用預錄的方式，考驗老師對科技的熟悉程度。台灣教育部則推動「安心就學」方案，讓無法返校就學的學生，可以利用實時授課或線上課程修課。有讀者詢問，「安心就學」的英語應該怎麼說、怎麼翻譯比較適合。是Study at Ease Project好，還是Project of Reassured Study比較合適？ 我認為「安心就學」方案，可譯為：Stay Home Stay Safe Study Program。「就學」一詞就是study，言簡意賅；而「安心」，則不必試著直翻，而是將此專案的內涵翻譯出來較為恰當，也就是──待在家、安全地學習。此外，六個字中有四個字是S開頭，押頭韻(alliteration)，唸起來比較鏗鏘有力。相關用語也可以在國外見到，比如加拿大有針對偏遠地區原住民有類似的「在家就學」方案(Stay at Home Learning Program)。 Ms. Massie: We have a very active stay-at-home learning program. Some of them are doing long-distance education right in the home. (Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoplessencanada.ca) 至於program和project，中文一般都譯為「計畫」，但有何不同？我們可以在網路上找到以下解釋：project一般是指為達成一項目標的單一的行動／努力過程，而program則是由一系列projects所組成。 A project represents a single, focused endeavor. A program is a collection of projects – together all the projects form a connected package of work. The different projects complement each other to assist the program in achieving its overall objectives. (“What is a Program in Project Management?,” Wrike) 所以，可以視program為project的上位詞，是更複雜的計畫和方案。安心就學包含很多種措施，每個學校也有各自施行的指導細則，可以將每個學校所實施的方案視為單一的project，而教育部統籌的計畫，是這些projects的集合，是以稱之為program。 防疫必備詞彙：疫情因應 暫停或延後大型集會 postpone or suspend mass gatherings 延遲開學 to postpone back to school 確診病例 confirmed case /
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