六、本章练习

Passage 1

本篇内容为演讲者讲述个人经历，语言较为平实、简洁，翻译时应注意保留演讲者的风格。

I amhonored to be with you today at your commencement fromone of the finest universities in the world．I never graduated fromcollege．Truth be told，this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation．Today I want to tell you three stories frommy life．That's it．No big deal．Just three stories．The first story is about connecting the dots．

I dropped outof Reed College after the first6 months，but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit．So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born．My biological mother was a young，unwed college graduate student，and she decided to putme up for adoption．She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates，so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife．Except that when I popped out they decided at the lastminute that they really wanted a girl．So my parents，who were on a waiting list，got a call in the middle of the night asking:“We have an unexpected baby boy;do you want him?”They said:“Of course．”My biological mother laterfound out that my mother had never graduated fromcollege and that my father had never graduated fromhigh school．She refused to sign the final adoption papers．She only relented a fewmonths later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college．

And 17 years later I did go to college．But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford，and all of my working-class parents'savings were being spent on my college tuition．After six months，I couldn't see the value in it．I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure itout．And here I was spending all of themoneymy parents had saved their entire life．So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work outOK．It was pretty scary at the time，but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made．The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interestme，and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting．

Passage 2

本篇讲话涉及中老两国的外交关系，出现了大量的外交用语，要求译者熟悉相关词汇。

尊敬的老挝国家计划和投资委员会主任苏里冯·达拉冯阁下，

各位来宾，女士们、先生们:

今天，我们怀着喜悦的心情，与老挝各界朋友一起，在这里举办中国云南—老挝贸易投资洽谈会。首先，我谨代表中国云南省人民政府和代表团全体成员，向莅临洽谈会的各位嘉宾表示热烈的欢迎!对老挝政府有关方面及万象市给予我们的热情接待和周到安排表示诚挚的感谢!

中国和老挝是山水相连的友好邻邦，两国之间的友谊源远流长。在两国领导人的重视和推动下，两国友好关系不断深化，各领域的交流合作日益深入。云南是中国与老挝接壤的唯一省份，双边经贸交流发展迅速。目前，云南与老挝贸易额接近中老贸易比重的三分之一，我们建立了中国云南—老挝北部合作机制，双方的一批经济技术合作项目推进顺利，万荣水泥厂等项目成为了中老友好合作的典范。

进一步深化云南与老挝的互利合作关系，既是我们双方的美好愿望，也是我们的共同利益所在。随着中国—东盟自由贸易区建设的不断推进和大湄公河次区域合作的深入发展，云南与老挝扩大互利合作面临着良好的机遇和条件。这次我们云南省组织政府和经贸代表团访问老挝，就是要落实两国领导人达成的“长期稳定、睦邻友好、彼此信赖、全面合作”的共识。我们希望通过此次活动，进一步推进双边互利合作，丰富合作内涵，拓宽合作领域，提升合作水平，共同谋求新的、更大的发展。

Passage 3

本篇是美国前总统乔治·W.布什的退职演说，注意文章的语气和措词。

For eight years，it has been my honor to serve as your President．The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence—a time set apart．Tonight，with a thankful heart，I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey we have traveled together and the future of our Nation．

Five days fromnow，the world will witness the vitality of American democracy．In a tradition dating back to our founding，the presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you，the American people．Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land．This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole Nation．And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President—elect Obama，his wife Michelle，and their two beautiful girls．

Tonight I amfilled with gratitude—to Vice PresidentCheney and members of the Administration;to Laura，who brought joy to this house and love to my life;to our wonderful daughters，Barbara and Jenna;to my parents，whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime．And above all，I thank the American people for the trust you have given me．I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits．And I thank you for the countless acts of courage，generosity，and grace that I have witnessed these past eight years．

This evening，my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house—September 11，2001．Thatmorning，terrorists took nearly 3，000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor．I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later，surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock．I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smokefilled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved ones becameheroes aboard Flight 93．I remember Arlene Howard，who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost．And I still carry his badge．

Passage 4

本篇讲话涉及对云南省省情的介绍，其中既有各行各业的概况介绍，又出现了不少数字，对译者是一个不小的挑战。尊敬的柬埔寨王国政府索安副首相阁下，尊敬的柬埔寨王国商业部大臣占蒲拉西阁下，各位来宾，女士们、先生们:

今天，我们从彩云之南来到美丽的柬埔寨王国，围绕“搭建交流平台、扩大经贸合作”这个主题，举办中国云南—柬埔寨贸易投资洽谈会。首先，我谨代表中国云南省人民政府和代表团全体成员，向莅临洽谈会的各位来宾表示热烈的欢迎!对柬埔寨王国政府有关方面及金边市给予我们的热情接待和周到安排表示诚挚的感谢!

借此机会，请允许我向各位朋友介绍一下云南经济发展情况和共同推动滇柬经贸合作的一些设想。

云南是中国一个美丽、富饶、神奇的省份，面积39.4万平方公里，人口4 400多万，有26个民族，水能、生物、矿产、旅游和气候资源丰富，民族文化丰富多彩。中国改革开放20多年来，云南依托资源优势，培育特色经济，不断加快发展，各方面都取得了显著进步。2006年，云南国内生产总值达到510亿美元，人均超过1 000美元。今天，云南已形成了以烟草、电力、化工、矿产、旅游和生物资源开发等为重点的特色经济，成为中国烟草产业第一大省，年发电量750多亿千瓦时，鲜切花产量居中国首位，接待海内外游客7 721万人次，实现旅游总收入近64亿美元。

Passage 5

本篇讲话涉及应对国际金融危机的有关用语，这就要求译者平时关心时事，注意对最新短语和表达的积累。

尊敬的布朗首相，

各位同事:

很高兴在春暖花开的时节来到伦敦，同各位同事共商应对国际金融危机、恢复世界经济增长之策。首先，我对布朗首相的盛情邀请和周到安排表示衷心的感谢!

4个多月前，我们在华盛顿出席金融市场和世界经济峰会，就合作应对国际金融危机、加强金融监管、推进国际金融体系改革等问题达成一系列共识。华盛顿峰会以来，各国纷纷推出稳定金融、刺激经济发展的政策举措并取得初步成效，国际金融体系改革前期工作正在展开。当前，国际金融危机仍在蔓延和深化，对全球实体经济的冲击日益显现，世界经济金融形势依然复杂严峻，不少国家经济陷入衰退，社会稳定面临巨大挑战。

当前，最紧迫的任务是全力恢复世界经济增长，防止其陷入严重衰退;反对各种形式的保护主义，维护开放自由的贸易投资环境;加快推进相关改革，重建国际金融秩序。我们应该进一步落实国际社会达成的共识，树立更坚定的信心，采取更有效的措施，开展更广泛的合作，实施更合理的改革，努力取得实质性成果。

Passage 6

本篇是美国前总统乔治·W.布什的新年祝词，所用词语较为正式。在翻译过程中，应该注意选用符合语境的词语。

The past year has been a time of accomplishment and progress．Working together，our citizens have made America a safer，more prosperous，and better country．In the New Year，we will build on these successes，embracing the challenges and opportunities ahead．

We have seen our bravemen and women in uniformdefend America and liberate the oppressed．We pray for their safety，and we are grateful for their service and the support of their families．

In the past year，millions of people have answered the call to serve their neighbors in need．Americans from every walk of life are building a culture of compassion by devoting their time and talents to help others．In the NewYear，I ask all Americans to answer the call to bring hope to those who are less fortunate．

I encourage every American to give thanks to God for Hismany blessings and to reaffirmour commitment to peace and freedomaround the world．Laura joins me inwishing all Americans a Happy New Year．May God bless you，and may God continue to bless the United States of America．

GEORGEW．BUSH

Passage 7

本篇讲话是一篇典型的中国领导发言稿，其中运用了不少四字词语，译者在翻译时应学会如何正确处理这些词语。

尊敬的老挝副总理沙瓦·凌沙瓦阁下，

各位来宾，女士们、先生们:

今天，我们在万木葱郁、四季花飞的美丽城市万象，隆重举行老挝东南亚运动会场馆建设项目开工仪式。我代表中国云南省人民政府，对项目开工表示热烈的祝贺!对各位来宾表示诚挚的欢迎!

实施好老挝东南亚运动会场馆合作项目的建设，对保障东南亚运动会的顺利召开、深化滇老经贸往来和友好合作意义重大。云南建工集团作为项目承建单位，要继续发扬团结协作、无私奉献、开拓创新、锐意进取的优良传统和作风，扎实推进项目建设，确保工程建设质量，努力为发展中老友谊作出新贡献。我们相信，在中老有关方面的大力支持和指导帮助下，老挝东南亚运动会场馆建设项目一定能顺利实施、如期完成，真正成为象征中老友谊的又一精品工程。

最后，祝老挝东南亚运动会场馆建设项目圆满成功!

祝各位来宾身体健康、万事如意!

Passage 8

本篇讲话是前联合国秘书长安南对大学生们的一篇发言稿，其中充满了鼓励和赞美之情，翻译时应注意选择适当的词汇进行表达。

That iswhy I amso glad to be in Beijing today，and to have the chance to speak not only to your government but also to you here，in one of China's great centers of innovation and creative thought．You young educated people have so much to contribute to development，and to meeting the global challenges that I have spoken about safeguarding world peace and security，developing friendly relations amongpeoples of different faith or culture，and achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals．

You already have a well-developed network of solidarity between richer and poorer regions within China，and I knowmany of you will be serving in poor areas，after you graduate．I hope some of you will think also about serving in other parts of the world，where your skillsmay be even more desperately needed．

I urge you all and your contemporaries throughoutChina to commit yourselves to finding answers to our century's great challenges of poverty，disease，and environmental degradation．I say to you，as I have said to students in the United States，and many other countries，go out and make the world better!

But I have spoken long enough．Now it's your turn．If you have questions，I will try to answer them．But I hope youmay also have comments，so that I can learn from you．

Thank you very much．