推介 : 英文由F字學起

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星期六趕上課時，在尖咀地鐵站見到這個新樓盤的連環廣告板。第一張是樓盤名和 slogan「Live the New Life」；雖算不上創意爆棚，語法上卻是可以的。

第二張寫著單字「Space」，背景是還未被（包括此樓盤的）屏風樓遮蔽的藍天，雖然有點諷刺，但都無問題。

第三張寫著「Connectivity」，大概是指該樓盤交通便利，四通八達吧，仍然 okay。

最後一張寫著「Individual」，問題就來了。

頭兩幅海報中的「Space (n.)」和「Connectivity (n.)」都是名詞，大家自然會 expect 第三幅也是名詞，否則看上去會很奇怪。

這是文法上的 consistency，在列點寫作時尤其重要。舉個例，扒房要誇口自家牛扒肉汁豐富、鮮嫩過人、味道濃郁，可以寫：

Succulent (adj.)

Tender (adj.)

Flavourful (adj.)

以上三個都是形容詞，文法上 consistent，看上去也舒服。但假如廣告人英文麻麻，把最後的 Flavourful (adj.) 改寫成名詞 Flavour (n.)，就會奇怪得很。

又例如銀行賣廣告：

Professionalism (n.)

Innovation (n.)

Reliability (n.)

都是名詞，雖然字義虛無飄渺，文法上卻非常工整。假如最後 item 改寫成形容詞 reliable (adj.)，就不妥當了。要改就三個一齊改：

Professional (adj.)

Innovative (adj.)

Reliable (adj.)

這樣三個都是形容詞，問題解決了。

好了，講返 YOHO Midtown 的廣告。廣告人大概是要說樓盤具「獨特格調」，或適合有「獨特個性」的人居住。「Individual」的確能表達這個意思，但這是形容詞；名詞版是 「Individuality」（「Individual」也能作名詞用，但意思很不一樣，請參看註腳）。所以，這樣寫會好得多：

Space

Connectivity

Individual ---> Individuality

這算不算「錯」見仁見智；但肯定是 bad style。

蕭愷一

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

參考資料：

Oxford English Dictionary, the entries for "individual (adjective & noun)", and "individuality (noun)"

Individual adjective & noun

A. adjective

1. One in substance or essence; indivisible.
2. That cannot be separated; inseparable.
3. Existing as a separate indivisible identity; numerically one single, as distinct from others of the same kind; particular
4. Of, pertaining, or peculiar to a single person or thing, rather than a group; characteristic of an individual. Intended to serve one person; designed to contain one portion.
5. Distinguished from others by qualities of its own; marked by a peculiar or striking character.

B. noun

1. A single thing or a group of things regarded as a unit; a single member of a class or group. A thing which is determined by properties peculiar itself and cannot be subdivided into others of the same kind.
2. A single human being, as opposed to a group. A human being, a person.
3. One's individual person, self.

individuality noun

1. The sum of the attributes which distinguish one person or thing from others of the same kind; strongly marked individual character; in plural, individual characteristics.
2. Indivisibility, inseparability; an indivisible or inseparable thing. Now rare or obsolete.
3. The fact or condition of existing as an individual; separate and continuous existence; the action or position of individual members of a society.
4. An individual thing or personality.