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Spam is an Internet slang for unsolicited email,primarily unsolicited commercial email(UCE).The use of the term “spam” (a trade-marked Hormel meat product) is supposedly derived from a Monty Python sketch in which Spam is included in every dish offered at a restaurant.Recipients of spam often consider it to be an unwanted intrusion in their mailbox.Internet Service Providers (ISPs),such as America Online,consider spam to be a financial drain and an impediment to Internet access because it can clog an ISP’s available bandwidth.

Not all bulk is spam.Some is permission-based,meaning that the recipient has asked to receive it.This occurs when a user at a website voluntarily agrees—for example,at the time of making a purchase—to receive email or a newsletter (known as “opt-in email”).

Spam is rarely sent directly by an advertiser.It’s usually sent by a “spammer”,a company in the business of distributing unsolicited email.An advertiser enters into an agreement with a spammer who generates email advertisements to a group of unsuspecting recipients.

How do spammers find you? Recipient addresses are often obtained by using software programs known as “harvesters” that pluck names from websites,newsgroups or other services in which users identify themselves by e-mail address.

To protect against harvesters of email addresses,some website use software that “poisons”the harvester—for example,generating bogus email addresses of directing the harvester to a nonexistent site.

Defenders of spam claim that it is little different from junk mail and can,in fact,be tossed more easily: simply hit the Delete key.While there is some truth to this position,receiving spam is actually more like receiving a junk fax or sales call on a celluar phone because the cost of distributing the advertisement is borne by the recipient (for the recipient’s ISP),not the sender.This means,unlike direct mailers,who eventually stop if few people respond,spammers who get even a tiny return are motivated to spam forever.

Every ISP pays for the right to operate on the Net by purchasing bandwidth,the “space” it uses to transmit over the internet.As the volume of the spam directed through an ISP increases,the bandwidth becomes crowded,often slowing down the user’s Internet access.To counter this,the ISP must pay for filtering software (which can also slow access) or pay to increase the amount of bandwidth.

Since most legitimate businesses recognize the public’s strong anti-spam sentiment,they avoid using it.You’ve probably noticed that much of the spam you receive involves deceptive practice.For example,spam for X-rated sites may be disguised with a personal subject header“How come you didn’t write back?”or “Here is my new email address” or even as anti-spam(“We Can Help Remove You From Spam Lists!”) And you’re surely aware that most of the spam that comes in your way is attempting to perpetuate some sort of scam-pyramid schemes,bogus stock offerings,pirated software and quack health remedies.

Besides the annoyance and cost of spam,it makes the Web harder and less pleasant to use for all of us.For one,spam can affect access to legitimate email because it can overflow a user’s mailbox,especially in cases where email is not received for a period of days.And for Internet newbies,unaware of the nuances of email,spam can be a confusing and off-putting hurdle in the struggle to communicate online.

Avoiding spam can be a time-consuming and sometimes futile battle.Some ISPs allow users to block incoming email from unknown sources,something that can,unfortunately,also block legitimate messages.Anti-spam groups sometimes suggest replying to spam with a stern message requesting removal from spam lists.This option proves futile if spammers,who often use a dummy return address or supply false information in registering its domain name,are not dissuaded.Sometimes dummy return addresses are even used to collect additional email addresses from disgruntled spam recipients.

The most effective deterrent against spam has been slow in coming-anti-spam legislation.Despite the fact that there have long been law prohibiting junk faxes and unsolicited commercial calls to cell phones (the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991),there is currently no federal anti-spam act.Proposed legislation generally falls into two categories: tough anti-spam laws,favored by Internet privacy groups,that allow ISPs to sue spammers and provide criminal penalties for some deceptive practices; or “opt-out” legislation,favored by spammers,that allows recipients to elect to be removed from junk mail lists.Optout legislation had been criticized because it permits a spammer to have a first unblocked mailing and requires the recipients to take affirmative action to avoid future mailings.If opt-out junk mail laws (for postal junk mail) are any example,similar requirements for spam may not be too effective.(794 words)

spam　n.　滥发邮件

unsolicited　adj.不请自来的；被动接受的

sketch　n.轶事；素描

impediment　n.阻碍

bandwidth　n.电信带宽

clog　v.塞满；阻塞

bulk　n.体积；容积；（大）量

voluntarily　adv.自愿地；故意地

newsletter　n.（公司、学会等刊印的）业务通讯；时事通讯

opt-in　n.选择加入

spammer　n.滥发邮件者

unsuspecting　adj.不怀疑的；不猜疑的；无疑心的

software program　n.软件程序

harvester　n.采集器；收割机

e-mail address　n.电邮地址

bogus　adj.伪造的；虚拟的

junk mail　n.垃圾邮件

delete key　n.“删除”键

junk fax　n.垃圾传真

cellular phone　n.手机

filtering software　n.过滤软件

anti-spam　n.反滥发邮件

sentiment　n.情绪；情感

deceptive　adj.有欺骗性的

x-rated site　n.成人网站；x级网站

header　n.标头；眉头词

stock offering　n.入股投资；股票发行

pirated software　n.盗版软件

quack　n.庸医；江湖骗子

overflow　n.泛滥；满出

Internet newbie　n.网络新人

off-putting　adj.让人心烦的

dummy　adj.虚拟的；假的

return address　n.发信人地址；回信地址

domain name　n.域名

disgruntled　adj.不高兴的

deterrent　n.威慑力量；制止物

legislation　n.立法

criminal penalty　n.刑事处罚

opt-out　n.选择退出

1.Hormel：荷美尔食品公司。总部位于美国明尼苏达州南部的一家公司，因生产Spam（音译为“世棒”）牌午餐肉而出名，为《财富》杂志五百强企业。

2.Monty Python：英国六人戏剧团体，又译“巨蟒”。

3.Internet Service Provider：首字母缩略为ISP，即网络服务商。

4.America Online：美国在线。美国时代华纳的子公司，著名的因特网服务提供商。

5.The Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act：联邦电话消费者保护法。

1.【原文】Spam is an Internet slang for unsolicited email,primarily unsolicited commercial email (UCE).

【译文】滥发邮件是网络俚语，指那些被动接受的电子邮件，尤其是那些不请自来的商务邮件。

【解析】原文的难处是“slang”后面的修饰语，因为“unsolicited email”有一个延伸的进一步说明。如果只有前半句，这里翻译成“滥发邮件是指被动接受的电子邮件的网络俚语”，似乎也能行得通，但修饰语集中排列，让人看来表述不清。译文分开来翻译，先把“spam”的性质说明，然后说它的具体所指，层次上更清晰。此外，“spam”译为“滥发邮件”更为合适，有些译文将其翻译为“垃圾邮件”，容易同“junk mail”混淆。此处UCE没有翻译出来，因为UCE这样的简写并不普遍被接受，因为其还可能有其他的含义，比如University of Central England（中英格兰大学）。

2.【原文】The use of the term “spam” (a trade-marked Hormel meat product) is supposedly derived from a Monty Python sketch in which Spam is included in every dish offered at a restaurant.

【译文】据称，英文中“滥发邮件”（spam）一词来源于一幅英国六人戏剧团体“巨蟒”的画像。在这幅画中，一家餐馆提供的所有菜品中都有荷美尔世棒（Spam）午餐肉。接收滥发邮件者常常很讨厌这样的邮件，把它们看作是对自己邮箱的侵犯。

【解析】本句较长，翻译首先要注意后面which定语从句的所指，其次就是“spam”一词后面括号里的意义如何处理。层次上译者可以先说“spam”的原意，可以把括号里的词提出放到正文中，其后再提它如何给转嫁来比喻“滥发邮件”。这样调整，原意表述的会很清晰。“Supposedly”一词这里同It is supposed that的结构含义，所以译为“据称”。

3.【原文】An advertiser enters into an agreement with a spammer who generates email advertisements to a group of unsuspecting recipients.

【译文】广告商与滥发邮件制造者达成协议，由后者制作电子邮件广告，发送给一群毫无疑心的受众。

【解析】此一句话就把“滥发邮件”从源头到终端的过程叙述了出来，而译文也要清楚地表现这个。这里比较难确定的词是unsuspecting,如果译为“毫不怀疑的”，则与上下文接收者反对此事矛盾，这里译为“毫无疑心的”更容易理解。

4.【原文】Recipient addresses are often obtained by using software programs known as“harvesters” that pluck names from websites,newsgroups or other services in which users identify themselves by e-mail address.

【译文】邮件接受者的地址通常是用一种叫做“收割机”的软件程序获得的，这种软件程序从用户留下电子邮箱地址的网站，业务通讯名单或其他网络服务中随意采集姓名。

【解析】这是一个较复杂的长句，先讲了获取滥发邮件接收者地址的软件程序，进而说明这种软件程序如何运作。句法上有两个定语从句需要译者注意体会如何处理。译文把原句断开为两句，语意连续通过指示代词“这”回指“收割机”实现。其中的“newsgroups”意为“新闻组”，但放在译文中与语境不协调，所以理解为“业务通讯名单”。

5.【原文】While there is some truth to this position,receiving spam is actually more like receiving a junk fax or sales call on a celluar phone because the cost of distributing the advertisement is borne by the recipient (for the recipient’s ISP),not the sender.

【译文】虽然这种观点有些道理，但接收滥发邮件实际上更像是接收垃圾传真或是用手机接听销售电话，因为发布广告的费用是由接收者（因为用的是接收者的ISP）而不是发送者来承担的。

【解析】这个大的让步结构中还有一个原因状语从句，句子翻译时重要的是把这种逻辑关系点出。译文加了“虽然”，“但”，“因为”等连接词，把逻辑关系表明。词汇方面，“position”一词回指“defenders’ claim”，所以翻译成“观点”。

6.【原文】To counter this,the ISP must pay for filtering software (which can also slow access) or pay to increase the amount of bandwidth.

【译文】为了应对这种局面，网络服务供应商要么花钱购买过滤软件（这也会减慢登陆网络的速度），要么花钱增加带宽。

【解析】原文表述的是网络服务供应商面对滥发邮件会采取的两种措施。如果能看到这个，选择“要么……，要么……”就很合理了。原文里透露出的是供应商的无奈，译文用这样的连接也有助于表达这层意思。

7.【原文】And you’re surely aware that most of the spam that comes in your way is attempting to perpetuate some sort of scam-pyramid schemes,bogus stock offerings,pirated software and quack health remedies.

【译文】而你自己肯定清楚大部分找到你地址的邮件一定会试着长久地发送某些金字塔方案骗局、虚假的入股投资、盗版软件以及庸医的健康秘方。

【解析】“comes in your way”翻译为“找到你地址”是对原文动态表述的对应。“quack”翻译为“庸医的”是考虑到译语的表述习惯。

8.【原文】Besides the annoyance and cost of spam,it makes the Web harder and less pleasant to use for all of us.

【译文】除了让人厌恶、给人带来经济损失外，滥发邮件还会使我们大家使用网络变得更困难，更不愉快。

【解析】译文中“besides”处理为“除了”，后面需要有“还”来使其句法结构上完整。“annoyance and cost”主体只能是人，文中即滥发邮件接收者，所以增加“让人”，后面有“harder”与“less pleasant”感受的是“all of us”,因此主语提前解为“我们大家”。

9.【原文】This option proves futile if spammers,who often use a dummy return address or supply false information in registering its domain name,are not dissuaded.

【译文】但如果滥发邮件制造者未被劝阻，这种选择就是徒劳的，因为滥发邮件制造者常常使用虚假的发信人地址或在登记域名时提供错误的信息。

【解析】本句“spammer”后有一个长长的定语，这一部分从逻辑关系上来看是解释为何“this option proves futile”,所以处理为原因放在后面。这样逻辑关系上就比较顺了。

10.【原文】Proposed legislation generally falls into two categories: tough anti-spam laws,favored by Internet privacy groups,that allow ISPs to sue spammers and provide criminal penalties for some deceptive practices; or “opt-out” legislation,favored by spammers,that allows recipients to elect to be removed from junk mail lists.

【译文】这一方面的立法提案通常分为两类：一是严格的反滥发邮件法，这种法律受到网络隐私群体的青睐，因为其允许网络服务商起诉滥发邮件者，并规定有些欺诈行为可获刑；二是“选择退出”法，这种法律受滥发邮件者青睐，其允许滥发邮件接受者可选择从垃圾邮件名单中移除自己的名字。

【解析】原文讲立法提案分为两类，译文为了表述清晰，所以改为“一是……，”“二是……，”。接下来原文的话题转向“选择退出”法，上述表述也有助于读者更清晰地把握话题的转换。

滥发邮件是网络俚语，指那些被动接受的电子邮件，尤其是那些不请自来的商务邮件。据称，英文中“滥发邮件”（spam）一词源自一幅英国六人戏剧团体“巨蟒”的画像。在这幅画中，一家餐馆提供的所有菜品中都有荷美尔世棒（Spam）午餐肉。接收滥发邮件者常常很讨厌这样的邮件，把它们看作是对自己邮箱的侵犯。网络服务提供商，比如美国在线，认为滥发邮件消耗财力，同时它们会妨碍登陆因特网，因为这些邮件会阻塞网络服务提供商可用的带宽。

但并不是所有的大批量发送的邮件都是滥发邮件。这些邮件有些得到了用户的许可，也即是说接收者请求接收这样的邮件。这种情况在某个网站的用户自愿同意接收电子邮件或业务通讯（称为“选择加入邮件”）时，比如在用户购物时，就会发生。

滥发邮件很少由广告商直接发送。它们通常由滥发邮件制造者，即那些发送不请自来的电子邮件的公司来发送。广告商与滥发邮件制造者达成协议，由后者制作电子邮件广告，发送给一群毫无疑心的受众。

那么滥发邮件制造者是如何知道你的邮箱地址的呢？邮件接受者的地址通常是用一种叫做“收割机”的软件程序获得的，这种软件程序从用户留下电子邮箱地址的网站，业务通讯名单或其他网络服务中随意采集姓名。

为了保护用户的电子邮箱地址不受“收割机”软件的影响，有些网站运用软件“毒杀”“收割机”，比如，运用软件生成假的电子邮箱地址，把“收割机”导向一个不存在的网站。

支持滥发邮件的人声称，滥发邮件与垃圾邮件有些不同，并且在事实上能够很轻易地被抛掉，只要点一下“删除”键就好。虽然这种观点有些道理，但接收滥发邮件实际上更像是接收垃圾传真或是用手机接听销售电话，因为发布广告的费用是由接收者（因为用的是接收者的ISP）而不是发送者来承担的。这即是说，滥发邮件与直接发送邮件不同，直接发送邮件如果没有人回应会最终停止，而滥发邮件者只要得到哪怕一点回应就会促使他们把邮件滥发到底。

每一个网络服务供应商都是通过购买带宽，即其用来在网络上传输信息的“空间”，来获得在网络上运营的权利。如果滥发邮件通过某一个网络服务供应商的流量增加，宽带就会变得拥挤，这常常会使用户登陆网络的速度变慢。为了应对这种局面，网络服务供应商要么花钱购买过滤软件（这也会减慢登陆网络的速度），要么花钱增加带宽。

由于大部分合法企业认识到公众对滥发邮件有强烈的抵触情绪，这些企业会避免使用滥发邮件的手段。你也许已经注意到你收到的大部分滥发邮件都有欺诈的嫌疑。比如，成人网站的滥发邮件可能会用一个私人主题标题伪装：“你为什么不回信？”或“这是我的新电子邮件地址”，它们甚至可能用反滥发邮件的手段（“我们可以帮助你把你从滥发邮件单中删除”）。而你自己肯定清楚大部分找到你地址的邮件一定会试着长久地发送某些金字塔方案骗局、虚假的入股投资、盗版软件以及庸医的健康秘方。

除了让人厌恶、给人带来经济损失外，滥发邮件还会使我们大家使用网络变得更困难，更不愉快。就个人而言，滥发邮件会影响你接收合法邮件，因为这些邮件会充溢用户的邮箱，特别是在你有几天没有查看邮件的时候。对网络新手来说，由于他们对电子邮件的细节不清楚，收到滥发邮件会让他们困惑、令他们心烦，让他们在线交流有障碍。

逃避滥发邮件可能是一场耗时而有时徒劳的战斗。有些网络服务供应商允许用户阻止来自未知渠道的电子邮件，而这有时也会很不幸地把合法信息阻于门外。反滥发邮件研究小组有时建议用严厉的措辞回复滥发邮件，请求他们把你的名字从滥发邮件名单中删除。但如果滥发邮件制造者未被劝阻，这种选择就是徒劳的，因为滥发邮件制造者常常使用虚假的发信人地址或在登记域名时提供错误的信息。有时他们甚至使用虚假的发信人地址来收集恼怒的滥发邮件接受者的其他电邮地址。

对滥发邮件最有效的震慑是未来的反滥发邮件立法，而这一方面进展缓慢。虽然事实上一直有法律禁止发送垃圾传真以及非自愿的手机商务电话（1991美国电话消费者保护法），但目前却没有联邦反滥发邮件法。这一方面的立法提案通常分为两类：一是严格的反滥发邮件法，这种法律受到网络隐私群体的青睐，因为其允许网络服务商起诉滥发邮件者，并规定有些欺诈行为可获刑；二是“选择退出”法，这种法律受滥发邮件者青睐，其允许滥发邮件接受者可选择从垃圾邮件名单中移除自己的名字。“选择退出法”一直受到批评，因为它允许滥发邮件者不受阻拦地发邮件，而要求接收邮件者采取行动以避免更多的滥发邮件。如果同选择退出垃圾邮件法一样，对滥发邮件做同样的要求也许不会太有效。