Have you ever encountered abbreviations like “vs.” or “a.m.” and thought about their origins or pronunciation? These terms are leftovers of ancient Latin. For centuries, no one has claimed Latin as their mother tongue, yet many of us unknowingly use this language daily. Let’s explore three common Latin terms used in everything from casual chats to formal documents.
Etc.
Short for et cetera, etc. translates to “and the remaining things” and is among the most frequently employed Latin abbreviations. It’s a handy way to shorten a long list in writing or speech. Given that cetera conveys the notion of non-living objects, etc. is typically used for items. You can utilize it when mentioning several examples without completely listing every possibility. For instance, when discussing cooking preferences, one might declare, “I adore pasta, seafood, risotto, etc.”
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P.S.
Postscript, or P.S., adds an afterthought or extra information after a message’s conclusion. It derives from the Latin post scriptum, meaning “written afterward.” This addition is vital for incorporating elements possibly omitted from the principal message. For example, after concluding an e-mail invitation for a road trip, one might add, “P.S. Don’t forget to bring snacks for the journey!”
CV
CV stands for curriculum vitae, which literally means “course of life.” It’s a detailed document of one’s educational and professional experiences and is primarily used when applying for jobs or academic positions and is also called a resume. A student applying for a university scholarship might remark, “I must update my CV to include my recent accomplishments.”
By adopting these classic abbreviations in your language, you can communicate your meaning with a little extra class and give a little more life to a dead language!
你曾經遇過像是「vs.」或「a.m.」這樣的縮寫，並思考它們的起源或發音嗎？這些詞語是古拉丁語的遺留物。幾個世紀以來，已經沒有人把拉丁語當作他們的母語，但我們許多人每天無意中都在使用這種語言。讓我們探討從休閒聊天到正式文件等各種場合中被使用的三個常見拉丁語詞彙。
Etc.
Etc. 是 et cetera 的縮寫，翻譯為「以及其餘的事物」，是最常用的拉丁語縮寫之一。它是在書面或口語中縮短長串清單的便捷方法。鑑於 cetera 傳達了非生命物體的概念，etc. 通常用於列舉物品。你可以在提及幾個範例時使用它，無需完整列出所有可能性。例如，在討論烹飪偏好時，有人可能會說：「我愛義大利麵、海鮮、燉飯之類的。」
P.S.
附筆，或寫作 P.S.，是在訊息結束後添加後續想法或額外資訊。它源自拉丁語 post scriptum，意思是「後來寫的」。這一附加部份對於加入主要訊息中可能省略的元素至關重要。例如，在完成一封關於公路旅行的電子郵件邀請後，人們可能會添加：「附註 別忘了帶旅途中的零食！」
CV
CV 是 curriculum vitae 的縮寫，字面意思是「人生歷程」。它是一份詳細記載個人教育和專業經歷的文件，主要在申請工作或學術職位時使用，也稱為履歷表。一位申請大學獎學金的學生可能會說：「我必須更新我的履歷表，以包含我最近的成就。」
透過在你的語言中採用這些經典縮寫，你可以用更有品味的方式來表達你的意思，同時為一門已逝的語言注入更多生命力！
MORE INFORMATION
abbreviation n. 縮寫；簡稱
leftover n. 殘留物
risotto n. 義式燉飯
postscript n. 附筆；補充說明
afterthought n. 事後想法；後來添加的事物
literally adv. 字面上
KEY VOCABULARY
1. pronunciation n. 發音
How do you say this word? I know what it means, but I don’t know its pronunciation.
這個字要怎麼唸？我知道它的意思，但不知道它的發音。
2. translate v. 翻譯；轉化為
Calvin speaks Spanish really well, so he helped his friend translate some notes from Spanish to English.
卡文非常會講西班牙語，所以他幫他的朋友將一些西班牙文筆記翻成英文。
3. preference n. 喜好；偏愛
Do you have a preference for coffee or tea? We have both.
咖啡和茶你偏好哪一個？我們兩者都有。
4. adore vt. 喜愛；愛慕；崇拜
Jenna adores cats and has several of them; she also wears cat-themed clothing.
珍娜非常愛貓，她有好幾隻貓；她還穿著以貓為主題的衣服。
5. incorporate v. 包含；納入
The artist’s work incorporates elements of European as well as Asian styles.
那位藝術家的作品包含歐洲和亞洲風格的元素。
6. professional adj. 專業的；職業的
The hotel staff is very professional and never gets angry, not even with the bossiest guests.
這家飯店的員工非常專業且從不被激怒，即便遇到最跋扈的賓客也不生氣。
7. resume n. 履歷；摘要
Steve is going to buy a new tie and update his resume because he is pursuing a new job.
史提夫打算買一條新領帶並更新他的履歷，因為他正在尋找一份新工作。
8. remark v. 談論；說
The coach remarked that he was quite satisfied with his team’s performance in the day’s game.
教練說他對球隊今天比賽的表現相當滿意。
9. accomplishment n. 成就；實現；造詣
Finishing your doctoral degree is a big accomplishment; you should be proud!
完成博士學位是一項重大的成就；你應該感到驕傲！
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