中文版:
Look at her, a prisoner of the gutters. Condemned by every syllable she utters.
看看她, 街头囚徒。 被她自己所发出的每一个音节所摧毁着。
By right she should be taken out and hung. For the cold-blooded murder of the English tongue.
按理她应该被带走绞死,因为她对英语语言的冷血谋杀。
Heavens, what a sound! 天哪,这是什么声音!
This is what the British population calls an elementary education.
这就是英国大众所声称的基础教育。
(Come, sir, I think you've picked a poor example.外音:先生,我认为你捡了一个极端的例子)
Did l? Hear them down in Soho Square dropping H's everywhere,speaking English any way they like.
是吗?听听Soho广场那里的人们把H音随处丢掉,以他们想说的任何方式说英语。
Hey, you, sir, did you go to school? 嘿,你,先生,你上过学吗?
(What ya tike me for, a fool?) 外音;你把我当什么,傻子吗?
No one taught him 'take' instead of 'tike'. 没人教过他说‘take’而不是‘tike’。
Hear a Yorkshire man, or worse,hear a Cornishman converse,l'd rather hear a choir singing flat.
听一个约克郡人,或者更糟些,听一个康沃尔郡人谈话,我倒宁可去听一个走调的唱诗班。
Chickens cackling in a barn Just like this one. 母鸡在谷仓里咯咯哒就是(她)这个样子的。
Garn! l ask you, sir, what sort of word is that? 扛- 我问你,先生,那是种什么词汇呀?
lt's 'aoow' and 'garn' that keep her in her place,not her wretched clothes and dirty face.
是‘啊呜’和‘杠’(这些声音)使她待在她现在的地方,而不是她可怜的衣裳和肮脏的脸。
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak?为什么英国人不能教他们的孩子如何说话呢?
This verbal class distinction by now should be antique.这种言语上的阶级差别到现在早就应该过时了才对。
lf you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do, why, you might be selling flowers, too!
如果你说话像她那样,先生,而不是你现在这样说,那么,你也许也在卖花了!
(I beg your pardon.)外音:您说什么?
An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him. 一个英国人的讲话方式完全可以把他归类。
The moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him.
在他开口那一瞬间,他已经使一些其他的英国人瞧不起他。
One common language I'm afraid we'll never get. 一种共同的语言,我恐怕我们永远也达不到。
Oh, why can't the English learn to set a good example to people whose English is painful to your ears.
哦,为什么英国人们不学着,给那些英语英语差到让你耳朵疼的人,树立一个好榜样呢?
The Scotch and the lrish leave you close to tears.苏格兰人和爱尔兰人(的英语)能让你哭出来。
There even are places where English completely disappears. 甚至还有些地方英语彻底消失了。
Why, in America they haven't used it for years! 哎哟,在美国,他们已经多年不用(英语)了!
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak?为什么英国人不教他们的孩子如何说话呢?
Norwegians learn Norwegian, the Greeks are taught their Greek. 挪威人学挪威语,希腊人被传授他们的希腊语。
ln France every Frenchman knows his language from 'A' to 'Z'.
The French don't care what they do actually, as long as they pronounce it properly.
在法国每一个法国人对他们的语言了如指掌。法国人对做什么无所谓,只要他们能正确发音就可以了。
Arabians learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning.阿拉伯人学阿拉伯语,以夏日闪电的速度。
The Hebrews learn it backwards which is absolutely frightening.希伯来人倒着学(从右向左),还真是吓人!
Use proper English, you're regarded as a freak.正正当当说英语,你反被看成是怪人。
Oh, why can't the English. Why can't the English learn to speak?
哦,为什么英国人就不能,为什么英国人就不能,学习如何说话呢?