英文釋做中文~~~唔該

「Language is the dress of thought」「語言是思維的外衣」是18世紀詞彙學家 Samuel Johnson (1709- 1784) 的名句。

原文如下：
Language is the dress of thought: and as the noblest mien, or most graceful action, would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to the gross employments of rustics or mechanics, so the most heroic sentiments will lose their efficacy, and the most splendid ideas will drop their magnificence, if they are conveyed by words used commonly upon low and trivial occasions, debased by vulgar mouths, and contaminated by inelegant applications.
-- Samuel Johnson, Life of Cowley

原文的意譯是：
語言是思維的外衣，思維的內容通過語言表達。假若用詞不當、或言者粗俗、舉止不雅，最崇高的感情也會大為失色，上佳的主意也會變得平凡，正如一個高貴的表情，或是一個優美的動作，被一件不配合身份的服飾所貶黜了一樣。

有兩句類似的話：
Expression is the Dress of Thought，Pope, Alexander (1688-1744).
Style is the dress of thoughts, Lord Chesterfield (1694 - 1773)

Examples:
近日有數位政界名人先後失言，可以說是好例子。

dress can be used to present something in a way that makes it seem better or different. 演繹.
language is the dress of thought 可解作語言是思想的演繹 或 語言演譯思想. 要怎樣翻繹還要看全文的上文下理, 不能一概而論.

思想是看不見, 語言是思想的服裝, 表示把看不見的東西, 成為可見的東西.
例如弟弟心想去海洋公園, 他對爸爸說:"爸爸, 可否星期日帶我去海洋公園?"
過程是由思想成為具體的說話.正確的說, 語言是思想的工具.