familiar to
問：We’re familiar to the name. (我們熟悉這個名字), 請問這個句子有錯誤嗎?
答：見familiar with/ to。
familiar with/ to
問：我熟知familiar with 的用法, 但不知它與familiar to 有何區別。下面譯文中familiar to 的譯法是否妥當?
Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.
[原譯] 那些從天花板上吊下來, 隨著陣陣狂風擺動的奇怪造型對每個人都是很熟悉的。(中譯本)
答：首先應該明確, 是“每個人都熟悉造型”, 還是“造型熟悉每個人”? 後一說法在中文裡是不合事理的。造成誤譯的原因, 可能是譯者把familiar to 和familiar with 的用法和意義弄混了。be familiar with 一般是指人熟悉某人、某物, 例如:
The reader might be familiar with the notion of chain reaction.
讀者或許已熟悉連鎖反應的概念。
be familiar to 則是指某物(某事) 為某人所熟悉。
- The name seems familiar to me. = I seem familiar with the name.
這個名字我似乎是很熟悉的。 - French was as familiar to him as English
他像熟悉英語那樣熟悉法語。
familiarity
問：A thorough study of mythology requires familiarity for the properties of plants and tress, and the habits of wild birds and beasts.
請分析此道試題中的錯誤。
答：英語有許多名詞, 它們跟同義的形容詞使用相同的介係詞。familiarity 也是如此, 它跟familiar 使用相同的介係詞:
- …his familiarity with the system gave him a considerable advantage.
他熟悉這個系統, 這是他的一大優勢。 - His familiarity with many languages surprised us all.
他熟悉許多語言, 這使我們大家感到很驚奇。