Skip to main content

Some fun news on Pommesfritesland! 娛人節特稿——薯條國

People of Pommesfritesland started a Pommes Frites revolution back in February to demand the political parties of that country to work together to form a government. However, things have since then taken a turn for the worse and the political parties plunged deeper and deeper into disagreement. The only thing that they could agree on was to split the country into two along the ethnic and cultural boundary.
薯條國國民發動「薯條革命」,原意是促使各政黨儘快組成聯合政府,但事與願違,政治談判不但無成果,各黨反而愈吵愈烈,最終決定於4月1日把國家按民族和語言分界一分為二。

The news took the world by surprise, and many Pommesfritesland citizens only found out when they were denied entry upon arrival in a foreign country because their country was no longer existent. Those already abroad faced the problem of being stranded because their passports and nationality were no longer recognised. They would have to stay put until the arrangements for the separation of Pommesfritesland are finalised and new passports can be issued. The United Nations described it as the largest peace-time refugee crisis for any developed countries.
由於事出突然,不少出國的薯條國國民待抵達外國被拒入境時才知道國家已不存在,要原機折回出發地,已身處外國的薯條國國民則因證件失效、失去國籍而頓時成為難民,要暫時滯留外國,直至薯條國分裂的細節敲定後,簽發新證件後才能出境。聯合國形容,這是已發展國家在和平時代發生的最大規模難民事故。

Despite the abrupt separation, neighbouring countries have actually braced themselves for this eventuality as Pommesfritesland has been in political limbo for such a long time. Tulipland announced that it could assume sovereignty over the Tuplispeak region of Pommesfritesland, while the Tulipland Post is ready to extend its service into Pommesfritesland at any time. While everyone knows that the 4-digit postcodes of Tulipland start from 1000, Tulipland Post said that it has always reserved 0000 to 0999 for Pommesfritesland and issue those postcodes to Pommesfritesland immediately. On the other side of Pommesfritesland, Champagneland was working out the logistics of accepting the 4 million people from the Champagnespeak region of Pommesfritesland. But this should not be too onerous a task for Champagneland as the 4 million intake was relatively minor in proportion to its 60 million population, and Champagneland has a long history of expanding its borders and ruling over increasing numbers of people from all over the world.
薯條國分裂雖然來得突然,但鄰國因為薯條國長期無政府兼政治膠著狀態而一早作好準備,其中鬱金香國表示可隨時接管薯條國鬱金香語區,鬱金香國郵政亦準備好可以把薯條國郵政馬上納入其服務範圍,大家一向都不知,鬱金香國的4位數字郵政編碼,一直由1000開始,0000至0999原來是預留給薯條國的,薯條國可即日使用鬱金香國郵編。薯條國另一邊的鄰居香檳國,對於要收容四百多萬薯條國香檳語區的居民也作好部署,對於有六千萬人口的香檳國,歷史上曾大舉擴張版圖、吸納或收容五湖四海的人,現在增收四百多萬人不是個太大的數目,應駕輕就熟。

Pommesfritesland products also faced an identity crisis as they were no longer allowed to be labelled as such. Vendors were frantically searching for alternate means of labelling, but they need not look too hard. After all, the national food of Pommesfritesland provides a good example to follow. Many people may not know that potato chips actually originate from Pommesfritesland not Champagneland (so much for the misnomer from America …) but the proper name for potato chips in Pommesfritesland can also be called ‘Vlaamse Frites’ (i.e. chips from the Tulipspeak region) alongside ‘Pommesfriteslandse Frites’ (i.e. chips from Pommesfritesland). So vendors would only need to find out whether the product originated from the Tulipspeak or Champagnespeak region of Pommesfritesland and amend the labelling accordingly.
薯條國出口產品也面對類似的「身份危機」,由於已經國不成國,那些貨品再不能標明是「薯條國產品」,一眾商家都煩惱如何改掉商品標示,不過其實有例可循:很多人未必知道,薯條國其實是薯條的發源地,但薯條在薯條國的正式名稱,除「薯條國薯條」外亦可稱為「弗拉芒薯條」(即鬱金香語區薯條),商家祇要查出商品的出產地屬於鬱金香語區抑或香檳語區,然後改名便可。

Pommesfritesland citizens were probably the least surprised of all and have even become insensitive to this turn of events since the issue has simply lasted for too long. Many from the Pommesfritesland capital described it as a divorce of a couple who were forcibly married but just could not get on with each other, and considered that it may lead to a happier, more normal life and relationship between the two. Others viewed Pommesfritesland as the microcosm of the hotchpotch of 27 countries which were squabbling over all things big and small in its capital city all the time, and what has happened to Pommesfritesland may forestall the future of this union. Everyone in Pommesfritesland hoped that the separation of their ‘country’ would be resolved cleanly and looked forward to new lives with new identities.
薯條國國民對事態發展不感意外,甚至有點麻林,畢竟事件擾攘太久,正如不少薯條國首都居民所說,該國一直就像一對被迫撮合的男女,但勉強無幸福,分手對雙方都可能更合適、更幸福。也有當地居民認為,在薯條國首都每天都在上演27國為不同大小事吵吵鬧鬧的鬧劇,薯條國的遭遇祇是那27國的縮影,也預視著那27國的未來。薯條國舉國都希望,這次分裂能妥妥當當的解決,好讓大家都有個新身份過新生活。

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

正字正確

廣州最近掀起保衛廣東話運動,早前星期日明報副刊一篇 文章 ,已對此作了精譬分析,我也不必插嘴了。 不過我想談談另一個相連的問題,相信久不久也會困擾好些港人,就是怎樣才算「正確」、「正統」的書面語。 我們自少便被老師耳提面命,廣東話絕不可用於寫作(雖然現在大行其道,我在網上留言甚至偶而寫電郵都會用廣東話),粵語和港式詞彙應以書面語(以普通話為標準的用語)取代,於是把雪櫃寫成冰箱、櫃桶寫成抽屜,諸如此類,從小已習慣,我也沒異議。 但香港實在很多獨有的或跟國內有差別的詞彙,應用於主要給香港人看的場合當然沒問題,但國內或其他華人就可能覺得蹩腳甚至不一定明白。同樣國內的好些用詞,港人看到也會覺得有點不自然甚至礙眼。我寫網誌不時都會掙扎,究竟用國內的用詞好(我想一般來說應該是比較「正規」的,而且近幾年跟來自國內的人多了交往,或多或少都學到一點他們的用語),還是香港的說法好(始終不少讀者都是香港人,用上國內的詞語他們或許會覺得有點怪怪的),所以我盡可能兩者兼用,港式說法通常以括號並列,但我有時祇會用國內的用詞,也有時祇用香港的說法,可見我也往往拿不定主意。 問題是應該怎樣劃界線,區別「正確」和「不正確」的書面用語呢?我們應該遵從甚麼的「標準」?比方說在香港,學生寫了一句「我的志願是太空人」,公認是沒有問題的,老師一般也不會勉強學生寫「我的志願是航天員」,好了,這樣便是承認了香港和國內的用語確有區別,但既然如此,為甚麼把該句寫成「我嘅志願係太空人」時,老師便一定不會容許?又或者為甚麼寫作時硬要把雪櫃寫成冰箱、櫃桶寫成抽屜?這道界線是誰定的,定立時又有甚麼理據?香港可不像很多國家般,有一個高高在上的法定語文機構(例如法國的Académie française),又或有權威性的詞典(例如英國的牛津字典,和國內的辭海),對語文作出一定規範,難免令人寫作時感到無所適從,甚麼香港和粵語詞彙可以用於書面、哪些不可。 用語的取向,也涉及文化取態的問題,我像一般港人一樣也認同寫作時要用書面語,盡量跟隨普通話的「標準」,但不會全盤用國內的詞彙和行文,一來不習慣,二來不免總有種維護本土文化的潛意識,特別是香港和國內社會制度上和文化上始終有點隔閡,這種矛盾不一定輕易化解。 究竟甚麼才算是「標準」、「正確」的書面中文,我想大概沒有「標準答案」,往往靠個人的見識和學養才可作出定奪,但隨著香港跟國內交往越來越...

Newborn, new experiences (1) 新生兒,新體會(1)

The birth of our daughter at the end of September marks a new chapter and brings about new life experiences for me and my wife. 小女9月底出生,為我和太太揭開人生新一章,也帶來新的體驗。 Mum was admitted to a nearby public hospital for the birth. The maternity ward is a lifely and buzzling place, subdivided into many rooms occupied by up to 4 mums and their babies at a time. Visiting hours is from 08:00 to 20:00, and up to one person can visit at one time and two different people each day. These limitations are part of the hospital's covid policies when the rest of the society has moved on as if nothing had happened - apparently there used to be no limit to visitations before covid, so a dad could in fact accompany the mum and baby all night long. One long-lasting impression from the maternity ward was the symphony of baby cries in which all babies took their turns to join including mine. Calming down the baby was almost impossible in this ambience and was very tough on mum especially when she was battling her...

吉隆坡(2)——離不開食

到吉隆坡旅遊,有什麼好做? 當然是入鄉隨俗,吃個飽!當你見到宜家家具店餐廳佔用兩層樓面,你也不禁懷疑,馬來西亞的宜家主要賣家具還是食物! 就算是到宗教的地方遊覽,食也是重要的一環! 其中一天我們到市邊錘的黑風洞(Batu Caves),那裡的重點是272級七彩階梯和梯頂的山洞。走進山洞,地面的嘈音和熱力頓然被清幽和清涼取代,很是洗滌心靈。不過到走回到山下時,看到很多人都輪着買新鮮椰子水,我也覺得,滿足心靈後也應滿足口福,給自己買一個即場砍開的椰子喝。 另一天的行程是到一小時車程外的雲頂高原作一天遊,除了山上的花花世界,山腰的岩水寺也同樣可以讓人暫時拋離現實世界,都是值得參觀。坐長途巴前往的雲頂高原要轉乘吊車登頂,但正值新的登山吊車年度維修,不可以直接搭吊車到岩水寺,唯有搭舊吊車到山頂後雇計程車前往。一口氣登頂,愈靠近山頂愈見到更多的雲霧飄過,雲頂此名果然起得沒錯! 下山時霧更濃 建岩水寺的人,真懂得選址,在山腰,背靠雲頂,面向山下,盡收大地精華以及四周山色。寺廟之地,有齋菜吃絕不為奇,但此地還可容下其他小食、 星巴克咖啡甚至榴槤攤檔,我也把握機會買一個新鮮榴槤現場吃,在寺的安寧中盡享榴槤香濃又香滑的精華! 回到雲頂高原,食的選擇則更豐富。不過我這次做資料搜集可算失策,查看多個英文網頁皆寫雲頂美食匱乏,甚至應該在山腳搭吊車的鎮填肚才上山,所以根本不知雲頂有什麼非嚐不可的食肆,而且我們剛上到山沒多久便覺肚餓,但因相信資料,連美式炸雞也光顧(雖也點了些有當地特色的食物),真令我們後悔。我不禁懷疑,那些評論是誰寫的,這麼離譜! 雲頂眾多食肆之一 雲頂除了吃,玩樂選擇也非常豐富,全集中在纜車站的大樓。我小時候已聽到什麼歌手到雲頂登台表演,所以那天也看到好幾張演唱會海報。喜歡碰運氣的,那裡有賭場,我們坐長途巴士時也聽得出有兩個上年紀的正有打算進賭場玩一下。此外,大樓有一個敞大的室內遊樂場,商場內名店琳琅滿目,消磨一整天甚至兩三天也沒問題。要住宿的話,雲頂有家號稱最世界最大、有最多客房的酒店,正反映旅遊業有多發達了。 ...