四、本章课文

Passage 1

本文讲述语言的发展历程，文中涉及相关的历史知识，译者平时应该注意对此类知识的积累。

A few hundred years ago to have held an event like this it would have been imperative that we were all fluent in a number of different tongues，for the approach of combating the language barrier was simply to learn many different languages．Of course people back then had an ulterior motive:that was to ensure that different languages held their different societal positions．

Today our approach is somewhat different．Instead of trying to vastly spread our verbal ability across the board，we've chosen rather to focus it，concentrating on our ability to master one particular language，the English language．Time magazine recently suggested that by the turn of the millennium，English will be the Lingua Franca for one quarter of the world's population．Already today sixty percent of the world's television and radio broadcasts are produced and delivered in English．Seventy percent of the world'smail are addressed in English．And it is the language of choice for almost every byte of computer data sent across the globe．

But why English?There are no clear linguistic reasons for its suggested global dominance，certainly the grammar is complicated，the spelling peculiar and the pronunciation eccentric，to say the very least．One would need only look through the dictionary to find the vast list of amusing paradoxes in the English language—quicksand that works slowly，a boxing ring that is in fact square and a guinea pig that's really neither fromGuinea nor is it a pig．Doesn't it seemodd that one can make amends but not one amend?Or go through the annals of history but not one annal．The reason，ladies and gentlemen，is simple．English is strange，but nowhere near as strange as some of our alternatives．

Perhaps I should give you a few idiomatic examples．In English we say“once in a bluemoon”．The Italians choose instead“every death of a Pope”．Yiddish doesn't like our“drop dead”，replacing it rather with the slightly more obscure“you should lie in the earth”And if you wanted to tell someone off in Spanish our relatively obvious“go fly a kite”would be better served by the phrase“go fry asparagus”．English's primary advantage is that of flexibility．On the one hand it has the largest vocabulary of allmodern languages，allowing us，as its users，to say exactly whatwe want in exactly the words we choose to use．On the other，globalization has insured the introduction of a business English，a sort of trimmed down variety of the language we've all come to know and love．

Notes:

1．be fluent in:在……方面流利的。如fluent English in reading and speaking意为流利的英语阅读及口语表达能力。

2．combat the language barrier按照汉语的习惯搭配，应翻译为“克服语言障碍”。

3．Of course people back then had an ulteriormotive在此应灵活翻译为“当然，那时候的人们有一个心照不宣的观念”。

4．the annals of history:历史纪年表

5．once in a blue moon:罕见的，千载难逢的。如:It was an opportunity that comes once in a blue moon．这种机会是千载难逢的。

6．drop dead:倒毙(走开)，去死吧

7．go fly a kite:走开

Passage 2

本文是一篇关于文化产业的介绍，其中出现了不少关于该产业的术语，译者应事先做好相关的知识储备。

中外文化贸易的逆差不仅表现在进出口产品的数量上，而且表现在高端品牌产品的数量上。发达国家在文化贸易过程中对中国的影响是通过品牌产品实现的，所以中国文化贸易要聚焦到品牌产品上。塑造中国为世界所认可的品牌文化产品，对于扩大中国文化的影响力意义重大。

尽管目前全球化趋势日益加剧，但各国文化仍有着相对的独立性和差异性，因此各国文化产品在国际文化贸易过程中会遇到跨文化传播障碍。所以品牌策略要选择合适的切入点，即在主题选择、内容创意、产品形式等方面都要兼顾本土化与国际化，在民族性与国际标准之间保持张力，生产出既有民族特色又能与国际接轨的文化产品。我们在成功制作《时空之旅》这一品牌项目中形成的“中国元素，国际制作;中国故事，国际表述”理念，愿意与朋友们分享。我相信，坚持这一理念，对于创造出更多具有普世价值同时能够赢得国际市场的文化产品将是有助益的。

Notes:

1．“发达国家在文化贸易过程中对中国的影响是通过品牌产品实现的”可以灵活地翻译为Developed countries are penetrating China by using branded products。这里用penetrate形象地表示发达国家深入中国。penetrate［ˊpenitreit］v．穿透，渗透;看穿。例句:The army penetrated the territory of enemy．部队进入敌人的领土。

2．“要兼顾本土化与国际化，在民族性与国际标准之间保持张力，生产出既有民族特色又能与国际接轨的文化产品”可以翻译为:This is to keep the right tone between individualismand international standard and to produce products with both Chinese characteristics and international styles．

3．“中国元素，国际制作;中国故事，国际表述”:Chinese elements，international production;Chinese stories，international expression

4．《时空之旅》:ERA-Intersection of Time

5．“普世价值”:universal value

Passage 3

本文是关于美国文化的介绍，语言难度不大，但对学习美国文化很有用。

The main content of American culture is the emphasize on individual's value，the pursue of democracy and freedom，the promotion of deploitation and competition and the need of realistic and practicality．Its core is individualism:self first，personal need first，pursue of individual benefit and enjoyment，emphasize onachieving individual value by self-strive and self-design．This type of intentionally build up of personality and pursue customized individualismhas its pros and cons，it gives incentives to people and make themexert on their potential and wisdomand as a result accelerate the development of the entire race and nation．On the other hand it is difficult to keep good relationship among people if everyone is egocentric thus make the entire society lack of unity．

American citizens emphasize on achievements and respect heroes．They have great sense in their hearts to praise success and heroes．Personal achievements are one of those with the highest value in Americans mind．Americans have very strong senses of success．Success is the pursuit of most Americans，it is their attractive future and the incentives formoving forward．They believe thatone's personal value is equivalent to his achievements in his career．Some high achievers in their career such as entrepreneurs，scientists，artists and all kinds of super stars became modern heroes．The process and result of how they strived have become the frame of reference of social culture value and the real life text book for parents to educate their children．

American society has greatmovements within itself．Thesemovements are shown in two aspects:movements amongst locations and movements inside the society．The United States are relatively more open and have more freedom．Developed transport and the tradition of adventure and sporty makes a lot of American migrate from countryside to cities，from downtown to uptown;and from north to the southern sunny land，fromone city to another．Unlike European countries，the social classes in America is not so stable．Furthermore，with the advocation of public education，movements upwards along the social ladder have become possible．Many people living in the states，no matter whether they are Native American or immigrants from overseas，have the same dreamof changing their social class and make their lifetime dreamcome true through their own efforts．This is what they often called“American Dream”．

Notes:

1．self-strive and self-design:个人奋斗和个人自我设计

2．pros and cons:正面与反面，利与弊

3．have great sense in sth:在某方面或某事上有很强的意识

4．frame of reference:参照系

5．fromdowntown to uptown:从市中心流向郊区

Passage 4

本文是关于联合国开发计划署的介绍，其中出现了不少国际事务用语，译者应该熟练掌握这些表达。

联合国开发计划署是联合国从事发展的全球网络。我们在166个国家开展发展援助，倡导变革并为各国提供知识、经验和资源，帮助人民创造更美好的生活。

在中国，联合国开发计划署致力于促进人类发展，从而使女性和男性共同创造更美好的生活。通过建立伙伴关系和不断创新，联合国开发计划署注重削减贫困、加强法治、促进环境的可持续性以及防治艾滋病，为实现千年发展目标和公平的小康社会而不懈努力。

联合国开发计划署于1979年9月正式设立驻华代表处。在过去的28年里，成功募集资金约10亿美元用于中国的发展事业，并已完成了900多个促进中国发展的项目，涉及的领域十分广泛，包括农业、工业、能源、公共卫生、减贫、经济重建，以及许多交叉领域。

联合国开发计划署特别致力于使包括少数民族在内的弱势群体能够受益于发展带来的成果。少数民族在特殊的社会、文化和历史环境下，通常保留着自身独特的生活方式。联合国开发计划署寻求利用少数民族群体丰富的技能和文化资源来帮助他们提高生计。我们相信，以文化资产为基础的旅游业和传统手工业是推动少数民族群体发展和消除贫困、促进发展的强大动力。

Notes:

1．“联合国开发计划署”:UNDP(United Nations Development Program)

2．“千年发展目标”:the MillenniumDevelopmentGoals

3．“削减贫困、加强法治”:reducing poverty，strengthening the rule of law类似的说法如“摆脱贫困”shake off poverty，“减贫”poverty alleviation。“加强”的说法还有strengthen，enhance，augment，reinforce，intensify，energize等。

4．“驻华代表处”:offices/operations in China

5．“提高生计”:improve their livelihoods

6．“传统手工业”:the traditional handicraft

Passage 5

本文是关于中国茶文化的介绍，文中用了不少描述性的形容词，在翻译时应注意选用适当的语言对这些词语进行翻译。

The Chinese people，in their drinking of tea，placemuch significance on the act of“savoring”．“Savoring tea”is not only a way to discern good tea frommediocre tea，but also how people take delight in their reverie and in tea-drinking itself．Snatching a bit of leisure from a busy schedule，making a kettle of strong tea，securing a serene space，and serving and drinking tea by yourself can help banish fatigue and frustration，improve your thinking ability and inspire you with enthusiasm．You may also imbibe it slowly in small sips to appreciate the subtle allure of tea-drinking，until your spirits soar up and up into a sublime aesthetic realm．Buildings，gardens，ornaments and tea sets are the elements that form the ambience for savoring tea．A tranquil，refreshing，comfortable and neat locale is certainly desirable for drinking tea．Chinese gardens are well-known in the world and beautiful Chinese landscapes are too numerous to count．Teahouses tucked away in gardens and nestled beside the natural beauty ofmountains and rivers are enchanting places of repose for people to rest and recreate themselves．

China is a country with a time-honored civilization and a land of ceremony and decorum．Whenever guests visit，it is necessary to make and serve tea to them．Before serving tea，you may ask themfor their preferences as to what kind of tea they fancy and serve themthe tea in themostappropriate teacups．In the course of serving tea，the host should take careful note of howmuch water is remaining in the cups and in the kettle．Usually，if the tea ismade in a teacup，boiling water should be added after half of the cup has been consumed;and thus the cup is kept filled so that the tea retains the same bouquet and remains pleasantly warm throughout the entire course of tea-drinking．Snacks，sweets and other dishesmay be served at tea time to complement the fragrance of the tea and to allay one's hunger．

Notes:

1．take delight in:以……为乐，喜欢。例句:He takes delight in reading．他喜欢读书。

2．soar up:高飞，升华

3．tucked away:贮藏，收藏;把……放置在隐蔽的地方，使隐藏。例句:The village is tucked away in the hill．村子隐没在山里。

4．In the course of:在……的过程中

Passage 6

本文是对中华文明的一个概要性的介绍，其中出现了不少古语和谚语，译者在翻译时需灵活处理。

中华文明是世界古代文明中始终没有中断，连续5000多年，发展至今的文明。中华民族在漫长的历史发展过程中形成的独具特色的文化传统，深深影响了古代中国，也深深影响着当代中国。现时代中国强调的以人为本、与时俱进、社会和谐、和平发展，既有着中华文明的深厚根基，又体现了时代发展的进步精神。

——中华文明历来注重以人为本，尊重人的尊严和价值。早在千百年前，中国人就提出“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”、“天地之间，莫贵于人”，强调要利民、裕民、养民、惠民。

——中华文明历来注重自强不息，不断革故鼎新。“天行健，君子以自强不息”。这是中国的一句千年传世格言。中华民族之所以能在5 000多年的历史进程中生生不息、发展壮大，历经挫折而不屈，屡遭坎坷而不馁，靠的就是这样一种发愤图强、坚韧不拔、与时俱进的精神。

——中华文明历来注重社会和谐，强调团结互助。中国人早就提出了“和为贵”的思想，追求天人和谐、人际和谐、身心和谐，向往“人人相亲，人人平等，天下为公”的理想社会。

——中华文明历来注重亲仁善邻，讲求和睦相处。中华民族历来爱好和平。中国人在对外关系中始终秉承“强不执弱”、“富不侮贫”的精神，主张“协和万邦”。中国人提倡“海纳百川，有容乃大”，主张吸纳百家之长、兼集八方精义。

Notes:

1．“独具特色的文化传统”:the distinct cultural tradition

2．“体现”:give expression to。“体现”的表达法还有embody，incarnate，reflect等。

3．“民惟邦本，本固邦宁”:在翻译这类中国古语时，最常用的方法是采用解释的方法，将大意表达出来即可。所以可以翻译为people are the foundation of a country;when the foundation is stable，the country is in peace。

4．“天地之间，莫贵于人”:nothing is more valuable in the universe than human beings

5．“利民、裕民、养民、惠民”:the value of serving the people，enriching them，nourishing them，and benefiting them

6．“天行健，君子以自强不息”:As Heaven keeps vigor through movement，a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-improvement．

7．“和为贵”:harmony ismost valuable

8．“人人相亲，人人平等，天下为公”:everyone loves everyone else，everyone is equal and the whole world is one community

9．“强不执弱”:the strong should not oppress the weak

10．“富不侮贫”:the rich should not bully the poor

11．“协和万邦”:all nations live side by side in perfect harmony

12．“海纳百川，有容乃大”:one should be as inclusive as the ocean，which is vast because it admits hundreds of rivers

Passage 7

本文是关于新闻采访技巧的介绍，所用的语言简单易懂，翻译时应注意保持其风格。

I do a lot of interviews．At least two or three a week—ranging fromCNN to local newspapers．And no matter where the interview is running，there are three things you need to know about doing a good one:

1．Be interesting．The questions people ask you are not really what they want to know．It's what they think will be interesting．They would ask you about the price oftea in China if they thought the answer would be interesting．So your job in an interview is to give an answer that is entertaining and thought-provoking and all the other things that people like．

2．Be short．The world does not have an unlimited attention span to hear how your mind works．So you can not think out loud in an interview and have everyone wait till you get to your point．Your point has to start right away．Also，if you are short then you are more likely to be interesting the whole time．The longer you talk about a given topic the harder it is to keep someone's interest．In the PRworld this is called“sound bite”．But really，you can use the“sound bite”technique everywhere—on radio，in a blog post，on a date．

3．Be conversational．You can not be chatty in a written interview because there's no one there．But on the phone or on TV you can actually make the interview into more of a conversation．In a many cases，the interview becomesmore interesting this way．

First of all，it tells the audience that the person interviewing is interesting in their own right，because you are asking questions back to himor her．And a room with two interesting people is better than a roomwith only one interesting person．

Notes:

1．thought-provoking:adj．令人深思的，发人深省的。例句:Their conversation is thought-provoking．他们的对话发人深省。

2．PR:public relationship的缩写，意为公共关系。

3．sound bite:原声摘要播出(极为简短的广播讲话，如新闻报道中政治家所作的发言)，在这里可翻译为“精悍话语”。

Passage 8

本文是关于中国的传统节日——端午节的介绍，其中出现了不少古籍的名字，译者在平时的学习中应该注意积累此类知识。

端午节是古老的传统节日，至今已有2000多年历史。

有关端午节的传说很多，流传最广的是纪念诗人屈原(公元前340—前278年)的。据《史记》“屈原贾生列传”记载，屈原是春秋时期楚怀王的大臣。他倡导举贤授能、富国强兵，力主联齐抗秦，遭到贵族子兰等人的强烈反对，遭馋去职，被赶出都城，流放到沅、湘流域。他在流放中，写下了忧国忧民的《离骚》、《天问》、《九歌》等不朽诗篇，独具风貌，影响深远。公元前278年，秦军攻破楚国国都。屈原眼看自己的祖国被侵略，心如刀割，但是始终不忍舍弃自己的祖国，于5月5日，在写下了绝笔之作《怀沙》之后，抱石投汨罗江而死，以自己的生命谱写了一曲壮丽的爱国主义乐章。

传说屈原死后，楚国百姓哀痛异常，纷纷涌到汨罗江边去凭吊屈原。渔夫们划起船只，在江上来回打捞他的真身。有位渔夫拿出为屈原准备的粽子、鸡蛋等食物，“扑通、扑通”地丢进江里，说是让鱼龙虾蟹吃饱了，就不会去咬屈大夫的身体了。人们见后纷纷仿效。一位老医师则拿来一坛雄黄酒倒进江里，说是要药晕蛟龙水兽，以免伤害屈大夫。后来逐渐发展成端午节那天划龙舟、吃棕子、喝雄黄酒的民俗。

Notes:

1．《史记》:Shih Chi/the Historical Records

2．“为纪念(为庆祝)”:in commemoration of。例句:In commemoration of this event，the Republic of Austria is issuing this new coin．为了纪念这一历史事件，奥地利共和国发行了这枚新币。

3．“投江”:plunged oneself into．．．River

4．“凭吊”:pay one's respects to

5．“粽子”:zongzi/pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves

6．“雄黄酒”:realgar wine