続 今日の英語

はてなダイアリーで地味に続けていた「今日の英語」の続き。日常出会った気になる英語表現を、オンライン辞書の例文などとともにメモしています。

In the very unlikely event of an emergency landing, your inflatable safety jacket is under your seat – and that is precisely where I recommend it stay, given that the largest body of water between here and Luton is an open-air swimming pool in Daventry.

In the very unlikely event of an emergency landing, your inflatable safety jacket is under your seat – and that is precisely where I recommend it stay, given that the largest body of water between here and Luton is an open-air swimming pool in Daventry.
(万一の緊急着陸時に備えて、救命胴衣は座席の下にございます。ここからルートンまでの間の最大水域がダベントリーの屋外プールであることを考えれば、そここそがお勧めの置き場所だと言えますけれど。)
 ベネディクト・カンバーバッチ出演のラジオドラマ「Cabin Pressure」S1E2 Boston 冒頭キャロリンの機内放送より。何度も聞き込んでるお話だけど、ここで出てくるgive that...という言い方について今まで流していて、今回初めてちゃんと調べたのでメモ。

  • given that...で「もし...(that以下)ならば/...(that以下)だということを考えれば」という意味になる。givenだけで同じような使い方ができるようだけど、thatを伴って使われることが多い、ということみたい。(used to indicate something that is being assumed or considered/knowing about or considering a particular thing)類語としてconsidering。
    • Given the circumstances, you’ve done really well.(Longman
    • Given his age, he's a remarkably fast runner.(Cambridge)
    • Even given that the house is not in perfect condition, it's still a great buy!(Merriam)
    • Given that the patients have some disabilities, we still try to enable them to be as independent as possible.(Longman
    • It was surprising the government was re-elected, given that they had raised taxes so much.(Oxford)
    • Given (the fact) that he's had six months to do this, he hasn't made much progress.(Cambridge)

 ついでにここで出てくる "the very unlikely event of..." という部分、私は聞いていて、キャロリンらしい、「そんなことはありえないんだけど」を強調した言い方のように受け止めていたけれど、このキャロリンらしい(?)veryをはずした "the unlikely event of..." 「万が一〜だった場合に備えて」という表現は一般的によく使われる言い回しのよう。

    • In the unlikely event of my getting the job, I'll have to buy a car to get there every day.(free dictionary.com)
    • In the unlikely event of a fire, please walk quickly to an exit.(free dictionary.com)
    • In the unlikely event of a fire, passengers should move to the top deck.(Longman
    • In the unlikely event of a problem arising, please contact the hotel manager.(Oxford)