《中英對照讀新聞》Harrods told to put its apostrophe back 哈洛茲百貨被要求把名稱中的撇號放回去

◎俞智敏

Some of the biggest names on Britain’s high streets are being condemned for deliberately contributing to the demise of the apostrophe.

英國主要商店街上數家最知名的公司行號現正遭到譴責，指責他們故意造成撇號的消失。

Campaigners for the correct use of English grammar have singled out for criticism the corporations behind a list of household names. They include Harrods, Selfridges and Currys, who have all excised the apostrophe from their brand names.

推動英文文法正確用法的人士，把批評矛頭指向數個家喻戶曉商標背後的公司。這些公司包括哈洛茲百貨、塞弗里吉斯百貨及家電商柯瑞斯，他們都拿掉了品牌名中原有的撇號。

The companies were started or associated with individuals and long operated with the apostrophe： Harrod’s, Selfridge’s, Curry’s. Each of these corporate giants has adopted a trend to "simplify" its corporate logo by dropping the apostrophe.

這些公司原本都是由個人所創辦或與個人有關，長期以來一直在品牌名中使用（表示所有格的）撇號：如 Harrod’s、Selfridge’s和Curry’s。但這幾家企業龍頭近來都順應潮流，把撇號拿掉，以求「簡化」企業商標。

The Apostrophe Protection Society, established to defend the punctuation mark’s place in the English language, is calling on them to mend their ways.

為捍衛標點符號在英文中的地位而設立的「撇號保護協會」，呼籲這些公司應改過自新。

John Richards, chairman and founder of the society, said： "Many corporations have started to drop the apostrophe arguing that it looks better that way. It amounts to a deliberate abuse of the English language and sets a very bad example to schoolchildren."

該協會會長兼創辦人理查茲說，「許多公司近來開始捨棄撇號，聲稱此舉能讓商標更好看。但這形同故意濫用英文，並為學童設下惡例。」

新聞辭典

high street：主要用於英國，指重要商店與商業活動集中的主要街道，如︰There’s a new Italian restaurant opening on the high street.（商店街上新開了一家義大利餐廳。） the hight street則可指在商店街上的生意，如︰There are signs of economic recovery in the high street.（商店街出現經濟復甦的跡象。）

household：形容詞，指普通的、為人所熟知的，如︰He is a household legendary figure.（他是家喻戶曉的傳奇人物。）

mend one’s ways：改善行為，如︰He pledged that he would mend his ways.（他保證會改過自新。）