高中英語(舊版)第一冊 第三課 Names and Nicknames (完整篇)

Chris Father, I want to ask you something.

Mr. White: Yes? What’s that?

Chris: I want to know the origin of “nickname,”
because it seems funny word.

Mr. White: Well then, listen carefully.  Do yon
Know the meaning of the old English word “eke”
e-k-e?

Christ: No Never heard of it in my life.

Mr.  White: Well, it means “also”.  And if you
say “an eke name” quickly, it sounds like “a nick-
name”.

Chris:  So it does.  So a nickname is another
Name, or an additional name?

    Mr.  White: You’re right.  Now, at first people
Had only one name, Thomas, John. Richard, etc. and
These names were very numerous in England.  So to
tell one John from another, for instance, an additional
name was necessary.  Sometimes the other name
was a place name.  John who lived by the church
hill was called John Hill.  that is how we get the
common English names of Church, Hill Field, Wood
etc.  They are quite common in England and
America.  Some men were given their fathers’names.
Thomas the son of Richard was called Thomas
Richardson.  Many English family names end in
“son”

    C hris: What about the name Smith, which is
by far the commonest of English names?
Mr.  White:  Of course, Smith means a black-
smith, and blacksmiths were very numerous in old
times, far more numerous than they are now.  Very
often the second name was given according to the
work or occupation of the person.  That’s, and
Clerk.  Sometimes a man was called after some
characteristic.  For instance, the first John Long was
certainly a tall man; just as the first Mr.  Small was
undoubtedly a short man.

Chris: But such names ary not nicknames, they
Are family names.
    Mr.  White:  You’re quite right, but they were
Nicknames once.  Now the word has changed its
meaning:  it means a special name, not a real familiar
acquaintances.  Many nicknames are shortened
forms of the real names.  General montgomery’s
soldier always called him Month.

    Chris:  Then that’s why you generally call me
Chris?
    Mr. White:  That’s right.  Christopher is too big
a word for everyday use.  But there is one peculiar
clss of nicknames that are generally given to men
who have certain family names.

    Chris:  What you mean?
    Mr. White: Well, if a man’s name is Miller, he
is nearly always nicknamed Dusty.  

    Chris:  Why?
    Mr. White:  Well, it is because a miller is generally
covered with dusty flour.

    Chris:  I see. Father.
    Mr. White:  White:  Well?

    Chris:  Some of the boy at school are beginning
To call me Inky.  And I don’t like it.  
    Mr. White:  Well, if you keep your fingers clean
From ink, you won’t get a nickname you don’t like.
 
第三課 終結