英語口譯教程(第二版)--中級 UNIT 7-9

Unit seven ;
Interpreting Persuasive Speeches English-Chinese Interpretation ;
7-1 The Examination- oriented Education ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
Mr.Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen, ;
The greatest wish of every caring responsible society is ;
to do something important and meaningful ;
to improve the lives of its children. ;
The most obvious way of doing this is to free childhood from ;
the unacceptable burden of examinations ;
and selection created by our educational system. ;
At the lender age of 13 or 14,children are selected and pushed into ;
examination classes which will effectively decide their futures. ;
Then, at the age in their lives when most of them are least receptive to learning, ;
they are forced to sit exams ;
where the penalties for failure are as final as death sentence. ;
The lives of secondary school children are ruled by these exams in this country. ;
Some schools do offer a wide range of interesting subjects, ;
but only for those who have already been labeled as failures. ;
So parents continue to push,pull,threaten and force their children through exams, ;
or search anxiously for schools with "high standards" to do the pushing ;
and forcing for them, because this is what our universities demand. ;
But is there any need for all that?Why do we put such pressure on our young people ;
at a time when the brain is biologically at its least receptive? ;
And we know that if children took the wrong course at the age of 14. ;
then their lives could be ruined. ;
So why do we choose this period in their lives as the time to make or break them? ;
If the pressures of selection at 16 were removed, ;
secondary education could become a different process altogether. ;
From about 13 onwards children could be free to study if they choose; ;
or they could choose to study for part of the lime only. ;
They could spend exactly as long as they wanted doing the subjects ;
they wanted to do.If they wanted to spend half the day ;
in the art rooms or doing drama,that would be their decision. ;
Children complain that their classes are boring, ;
their textbooks are boring,and their teachers are boring. ;
However,the voice of the children is rarely beard; ;
and all too often,when they have to write, ;
they simply write what they know the teacher wants to read. ;
I am deeply convinced that children under a less compulsory system ;
would actually learn more and be more cooperative with adults ;
and authority in general.1 am sure they would be happier and more creative, ;
and therefore more useful to the society. ;
We shouldn't have to spend so much time threatening 13 and 14 year-olds ;
that if they don't study all day,every day, ;
they will end up as failures for the rest of their lives. ;
Therefore,ladies and gentlemen.I'm sure you ;
will agree that you have no choice but to agree with today's motion. ;
The system that exists today is certainly harmful to our children ;
and therefore must be changed.Thank vou. ;
7-2 The Effects of Misleading Advertising ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
I'm speaking to denounce a disease with our modern society, ;
that is,the sex role of misleading advertisements and commercials. ;
Advertising affects all of us throughout our lives. ;
Adolescents,especially female adolescents,are particularly vulnerable, ;
however,because they are new and inexperienced consumers ;
and are the prime targets of many advertisements. ;
Advertisers are fully aware of their role and do not hesitate ;
to take advantage of the insecurities and anxieties of young people, ;
in the guise of offering solutions. ;
A cigarette provides a symbol of independence. ;
A pair of designer jeans or sneakers conveys status. ;
The right perfume or beer resolves doubts about femininity or masculinity. ;
No politician or educator is more pervasive or persuasive ;
than advertising.It teaches us to he consumers, ;
to value material things above all else, to feel that happiness can be bought, ;
that there are instant solutions to life's complex problems, ;
and that products ran fulfill us and meet our deepest human needs. ;
The value of a person, especially the value of a young woman, ;
depends upon the products used. ;
For a woman, conventional beauty is her only attribute. ;
She is supposed to have no lines or wrinkles,no scars or blemishes. ;
She is thin,generally tall and long legged, and above all young. ;
All "beautiful" women in television commercials conform to this norm. ;
The image is artificial and can only be achieved artificially. ;
Desperate to conform to an ideal and impossible standard, ;
many women go to great lengths to manipulate and change their faces and bodies. ;
More than a million dollars is spent every hour on cosmetics in this country. ;
A woman is conditioned to view her face as a mask and her body as an object, ;
as things separate from and more important than her real self. ;
She is constantly in need of alteration, improvement, and disguise. ;
She is made to feel dissatisfied with and ashamed of herself, ;
whether she tries to achieve "the look" or not. ;
Ironically,the heavily advertised products, ;
such as cosmetics and weight-reduction drinks, ;
are even detrimental to physical attractiveness. ;
There is very little emphasis in the media on nutrition and ;
exercise and other important aspects of health and vitality. ;
Adolescent females are also discouraged from growing up and becoming adults. ;
Growing older is the great taboo.Although boys are allowed and ;
encouraged to become mature adults,girls are encouraged to ;
remain little girls, to be passive and dependent, never to mature. ;
Somehow placed in a double bind,they are supposed to be sexy and virginal, ;
experienced and naive, seductive and pure. ;
Misleading advertisements and commercials depict a world in which love ;
and passion are reserved solely for products, ;
in which sexuality becomes a commodity, ;
and in which young women are the worst victims. ;
7-3 The Future Is Ours to Build ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
Indies and gentlemen, History beckons again. ;
We have begun to write a new chapter for peace and progress in our histories, ;
with America and China going forward hand in-hand. ;
We must always he realistic about our relationship, ;
frankly acknowledging the fundamental differences in ideology ;
and institutions between our two societies. ;
Yes,let us acknowledge those differences; let us never minimize them; ;
but let us not be dominated by them. ;
I have not come to China to hold forth on what divides us, ;
but to build on what binds us,1 have not come to dwell on a closed-door past, ;
but to urge that Americans and Chinese look to the beautiful future. ;
I am firmly convinced that,together,we can and will make tomorrow a better day. ;
We may live at nearly opposite ends of the world. ;
We may be distinctly different in language, customs,and political beliefs; ;
but on many vital questions of our time there is little distance ;
between the American and Chinese people. Indeed. ;
I believe if we were to ask citizens all over this world ;
what they desire most for their children, and for their children's children, ;
their answer, in English,Chinese,or any language would likely be the same: ;
We want peace.We want freedom.We want a belter life. ;
Their dreams,so simply stated,represent mankind's deepest aspirations ;
for security and personal fulfillment. ;
And helping them make their dreams come true is what our jobs are all about. ;
We have always believed the heritage of our past is ;
the seed that brings forth the harvest of our future. ;
And from our roots, we have drawn tremendous power from faith and freedom. ;
Our passion for freedom led to the American Revolution. ;
We know each of us could not enjoy liberty for ourselves ;
unless we were willing to share it with everyone else. ;
And we knew our freedom could not be truly safe, ;
unless all of us were protected by a body of laws that treated us equally. ;
Trust the people these three words are not only the heart and ;
soul of American history, ;
but the most powerful force for human progress in the world today. ;
Like China,our people see the future in the eyes of our children. ;
And,like China,we revere our elders. ;
To be as good as our fathers and mothers, we must he better. ;
Over a century ago. Grant,who was then a former president, ;
visited your country and saw China's great potential. ;
"I see dawning," Grant wrote,"the beginning of a change. When it does come, ;
China will rapidly become a powerful and rich nation ... ;
The population is industrious,frugal, intelligent,and quick to learn. " ;
Today,China's economy crackles with the dynamics of change. ;
Unlike some governments,which fear change and fear the future, ;
China is beginning to reach out toward new horizons,and we salute your courage. ;
We Americans have always considered ourselves pioneers, ;
so we appreciate such vitality and optimism. Today, ;
I bring you a message from my countrymen: As China moves forward on this new path. ;
America welcomes the opportunity to walk by your side. ;
I see America and our Pacific neighbors going forward ;
in a mighty enterprise to build strong economies and a safer world. ;
For our part,we welcome this new Pacific tide. ;
Let it roll peacefully on ,carrying a two-way flow of people and ideas ;
that can break down barriers of suspicion and mistrust, ;
and build up bonds of cooperation and shared optimism.The future is ours to build. ;
7-4 The New Beginning of an Old Story ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
Distinguished guests and my fellow citizens, ;
the peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history,yet common in our country. ;
With a simple oath,we affirm old tradition and make new beginnings. ;
I am honored and humbled to stand here, ;
where so many of America's leaders have come before me, ;
and so many will follow.We have a place,all of us,in a long story-- ;
a story we continue, but whose end we will not see. ;
It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old, ;
a story of a slave- holding society that became a servant of freedom, ;
the story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess, ;
to defend but not to conquer.It is the American story — ;
a story of flawed and fallible people, ;
united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals. ;
The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American promise that everyone belongs, ;
that everyone deserves a chance,that no insignificant person was ever born. ;
Americans are called to enact this promise in our lives and in our laws. ;
And though our nation has sometimes halted, and sometimes delayed, ;
we must follow no other course. ;
While many of our citizens prosper, others doubt the promise. ;
even the justice, of our own country. ;
The ambitions of some Americans are limited by failing schools and ;
hidden prejudice and the circumstances of their birth. ;
And sometimes our differences run so deep,it seems we share a continent, ;
but not a country. We do not accept this, and we will not allow it. ;
Our unity, our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation. ;
America,at its best, is a place ;
where personal responsibility is valued and expected. ;
Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats; ;
it is a call to conscience.And though it requires sacrifice, ;
it brings a deeper fulfillment.We find the fullness of life not only in options, ;
but in commitments. And we find that children and community ;
are the commitments that set us free. ;
Our public interest depends on private character, ;
on civic duty and family bonds and basic fairness,on uncounted, ;
unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom. ;
Sometimes in life we are called to do great things.But as a saint of our times has said, ;
every day we are called to do small things with great love. ;
The most important tasks of a democracy are done by everyone. ;
What you do is as important as anything government does. ;
I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; ;
to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; ;
to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. ;
I ask you to be citizens,not subjects; responsible citizens, ;
building communities of service and a nation of character. ;
Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, ;
but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. ;
When this spirit of citizenship is missing, ;
no government program can replace it.When this spirit is present, ;
no wrong can stand against it. Never tiring,never yielding, ;
never finishing,we renew that purpose today, ;
to make our country more just and generous, ;
to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life. ;
Sentences in Focus ;
Interpret the following sentences from English into Chinese: ;
1.With a simple oath, we affirm old tradition and make new beginnings. ;
2.I'm speaking to denounce a disease with our modern society, ;
that is,the sex role of misleading advertisements and commercials. ;
3.A caring and responsible society should do something important ;
and meaningful to improve the lives of its children, ;
rather than create heavy academic and psychological hurdens for the children ;
at their tender age of 12，and force them to sit exams where the penalties ;
for failure are as final as death sentence. ;
4.I am deeply convinced that ;
children under a less compulsory system would actually learn more; ;
they would be more creative and cooperative with ;
adults and authority in general. ;
5.In the world today, no political speech or academic lecture ;
is more pervasive or persuasive than advertising. ;
6.Female adolescents are particularly vulnerable to. ;
and have been the prime targets of,many advertisements and commercials. ;
7.Advertisers are fully aware of their role ;
and do not hesitate to take advantage of the insecurities and ;
anxieties of young people,in the guise of offering them ;
solutions to any problems conceivable. ;
8.A consequence of advertising is that it conveys the message ;
that the value of a person is dependent upon the value of products used, ;
and that it makes us feel that happiness can be bought, ;
that there are instant solutions to life's complex problems, ;
and that products can fulfill us and meet our deepest human needs. ;
9.All "beautiful"women in television commercials conform ;
to the norm by which one is supposed to bo thin,generally tall and long legged, ;
and have no lines or wrinkles,and no scars or blemishes. ;
10.Desperate to conform to an ideal and impossible standard,many women, ;
under the influence of advertising,go to great lengths to manipulate ;
and alter their faces and bodies,as if they were things separable ;
from and more important than their real selves. ;
11.Ironically,the heavily advertised products, ;
such as cosmetics and weight-reduction drinks, ;
are even detrimental to physical attractiveness. ;
12.Misleading advertisements and commercials depict a world in which love ;
and passion are reserved solely for products, ;
in which sexuality becomes a commodity, ;
and in which young women are the worst victim. ;
13.We must frankly acknowledge the fundamental differences ;
in ideology and institutions between our two societies. ;
14.I have come to China not to hold forth on what divides us. ;
but to build on what binds us.not to dwell on a closed-door past, ;
but to urge us look to the beautiful future. ;
15.I have always believed the heritage of our past is the ;
seed that brings forth the harvest of our future, ;
16.Today,China's economy crackles with the dynamics of change, ;
and you are beginning to reach out toward new horizons,and we salute your courage. ;
17.Let the Pacific tide roll peacefully on. ;
carrying a two-way flow of people and ideas that can break down barriers of ;
suspicion and mistrust,and build up bonds of cooperation and shared optimism. ;
18.We find the fullness of life not only in options, but in commitments. ;
19.Our public interest depends on private character, ;
on civic duty and family bonds and basic fairness,on uncounted, ;
unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom. ;
Unit 8 說服性口譯 ;
Interpreting Persuasive Speeches Chinese-English Interpretation ;
8-1 Acquiring a Second Culture ;
Text for Interpretations ;
Interpret the following passage from Chinese into English: ;
文化是指一個民族的整體 生活方式。這一簡單定義 的含義使文化包括了這樣 一些內容， ;
即一個民族的風俗， 傳統(tǒng)，社會習慣，價值 觀，信仰，語言、 思維方式以及日?；顒?。 ;
文化還包含了文明史。 從廣義上說，有兩種文 化，即物質文化和精神 文化。 ;
物質文化是具體的、 可見的，而精神文化則 比較蘊蓄、比較抽象。 ;
由于人類語言是文化的 直接表現(xiàn)，所以第二語言 的學習涉及了第二文化的 學習。 ;
第二語言教師應該引導 學生注意并了解他們所 學語言的文化內容。包括 理解外族文化的價值觀， ;
掌握外族文化的禮儀， 了解外族文化與本族文化 之間的差異。 ;
隨著學生外語學習的深 化，他們會增進對所學語 言民族的文化特征的認 識。 ;
這種開闊了的文化認識 可以涉及文化的所有方 面：外族人的生活方式， 以及外族社會的地理、 ;
歷史、經(jīng)濟、藝術和科學 等。我們知道，每個民族 的文化有不同于其他民族 文化的禮儀規(guī)范。 ;
因此，學生在上外語課時 應該學習操目標語的民族 那些恰當?shù)皿w的禮儀規(guī) 范， ;
學習如何理解陌生的文化 習俗，學習在與外族人 交際時應有的言談舉止。 ;
8-2 Environmental Protection ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from Chinese into English: ;
女士們、先生們： 中國作為一個發(fā)展中國 家，面臨著發(fā)展經(jīng)濟與 保護環(huán)境的雙重任務。 ;
從國情出發(fā)，中國在全面 推進現(xiàn)代化的過程中， 將環(huán)境保護視為一項基本 國策， ;
將實現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟持續(xù)發(fā)展視 為一項重要戰(zhàn)略, ;
同時在全國范圍內開展污 染防治工作和生態(tài)環(huán)境 保護活動。 ;
自改革開放以來，中國國 民生產總值的年均增長 率為10%左右， ;
同時環(huán)境惡化的狀況已基 本得到了控制，在許多地 區(qū)還得到了改善。 ;
實踐證明，我們協(xié)調經(jīng)濟 發(fā)展與環(huán)境保護兩者之 間關系的做法是行之 有效的。 ;
中國作為國際社會中的 成員，在努力保護自己 環(huán)境的同時，還積極參與 國際環(huán)保事務. ;
促進國際環(huán)保合作，并認 真履行了國際義務。 ;
所有這些都充分表明了中 國政府和人們保護全球 環(huán)境的誠意和決心。 ;
中國為保護自己的環(huán)境作 了哪些努力呢?中國環(huán)境 保護的形勢又如何呢? ;
概括說來，我們做了以下 幾件事： ;
——選擇持續(xù)發(fā)展的實施 戰(zhàn)略; 一逐步改進法律和行政 制度; ;
一預防與控制工業(yè)污染， 綜合整治城市環(huán)境; 一大規(guī)模地進行國土控管 和農村環(huán)保; ;
一保護生態(tài)環(huán)境，保護 植被，退耕還林，退耕 還草，封山綠化： ;
——加速環(huán)境科技的開發(fā) ， 一在人民中宣傳環(huán)保知 識，提高人們對環(huán)保道德 與行為準則的認識; ;
一采取強有力的措施促進 環(huán)保工作的國際合作。 ;
女士們，先生們，人類在 解決環(huán)境與發(fā)展問題中 仍面臨著大量的難題. 任重而道遠。 ;
中國將一如既往，與其他 國家合作，為保護我們 的生存環(huán)境， ;
為人類的幸福和繁榮， 為造福下一代而努力。 謝謝! ;
8-3 Meeting the Challenge ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from Chinese into English: ;
這個世界每天都在變化。 世界正在不斷地調整自 己。變化是當今最流行 的字眼。 ;
我們正處在一個從工業(yè) 化社會向服務和信息社會 的轉軌過程之中。 ;
同樣，中國也在發(fā)生變 化，也在調整自己。 ;
中國正處在建立和完善 社會主義市場經(jīng)濟體制 的改革進程中。 ;
中國社會正在改革中變 化，在變化中進行改革。 中國社會的變化， 使許多問題得到解決， ;
同時也產生了一些新的 問題。其中有四個問題對 人民的現(xiàn)在甚至未來的 影響作用最大。 ;
1.人口老齡化。老人和 高齡老人的數(shù)量在增加， 兒童的比例—尤其是在 城市中在減少。 ;
這將影響我國的經(jīng)濟發(fā) 展，威脅我國保健制度、 退休制度以及其他一些 福利制度的健康發(fā)展。 ;
2.就業(yè)問題。不斷推進 的產業(yè)結構調整限制了 就業(yè)。服務性行業(yè)的增 多， ;
對高技術勞動力需求的 不斷增長，國際國內日益 激烈的競爭壓力， 農村人口大量流人城市， ;
這些對現(xiàn)階段以及未來的 就業(yè)，對全面提高生活水 平的可能性，都構成了 嚴重的威脅。 ;
3.對家庭和兒童構成的 威脅。我國離婚率相對 增長， ;
整整一代青年人在獨生子 女家庭的環(huán)境中成長， 人們頻繁的職業(yè)和居住 地的變動等等， ;
這些都給家庭和兒童造成 了威脅。 4.對傳統(tǒng)社會價值觀的 挑戰(zhàn)。 ;
中國社會中的拜金主義， 對自我的日益關注以及對 公益事業(yè)的淡漠使中國的 許多傳統(tǒng)美德受到?jīng)_擊。 ;
這些問題的存在值得我們 每個人重視.因為它們 會影響到我們每個人的 生活質量。 ;
這些問題淵源于經(jīng)濟和社 會條件的變化，它們是全 國性、甚至是世界性的 問題。 ;
這些問題伴隨著都市化和 現(xiàn)代化的進程而產生。 ;
我們無法回避這些問題， 惟一的出路在于學會如 何處理它們。 ;
然而，不斷變化著的社會 不僅給我們帶來了問題， 也給我們帶來了機會。 ;
變化可以被認為是不斷產 生的挑戰(zhàn)和危機，而挑戰(zhàn) 在我們看來則是建設更好 社會的機遇。 ;
漢語中“危機”這個詞由 兩 個字組成——“危”和“ 機”。 因此，“危機”也孕育著 機會。 ;
中國的社會變更給社會帶 來了許多問題，同時也給 人們帶來了更多的機遇。 ;
在世界經(jīng)濟日趨一體化 的今天，讓我們迎接挑 戰(zhàn)，擁抱機遇.承擔 責任， ;
共同建設更美好的明天。 ;
8-4 Practicing Martial Art for Your Health ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from Chinese into English: ;
歡迎各位來北京武術館習 武健身。我可不想勸說 任何人，也不打算說服 任何人， ;
因為健身是每個人自己的 事，是為將來作投資。 ;
當然，如果您在尋找可 以健身、減肥、結交朋友 以及了解中國文化的場 所， ;
您找對了地方。您只需在 這里填寫一張登記表， 再拿一張會員卡即可。 ;
這些事只需幾分鐘即 可辦完。您在這里可以 欣賞古代格斗術，您也可 以在這里習武。 ;
由中國武術協(xié)會創(chuàng)立的 武術館為您準備了精彩 的、扣人心弦的表演節(jié)目 ;
——您除了可以觀賞武術 家 的表演外，還可以觀賞京 劇節(jié)目和雜技表演。 ;
倘若您想有一種身人其境 的體驗，中國武術協(xié)會將 隨時派出最好的教學人 員， ;
我們這里有中國頂尖的武 林高手、身懷絕技的優(yōu)秀 教頭和無懈可擊的武術 表演家。 ;
無論您身居何處，您若想 在自家門前學習武術， 中國武術協(xié)會都可派出 一流教員， ;
指導個人或團體皆可。 如果您在市場上尋購武術 工具或資料、中國武術協(xié) 會也為您準備好了一切， ;
價格從優(yōu)。我們還有貨物 齊全的書店，出售您感 興趣的一切有關中華武術 的圖書資料、 ;
錄像帶和DVD激光視盤。 女士們，先生們，這里是 您的理想之地，我們愿 為您效勞。 ;
Sentences in Focus ;
Interpret the following sentences from Chinese into English ;
1.文化是指一個民族的 整個生活方式，即一個民 族的風俗、傳統(tǒng)、社會 習慣、價值觀、信仰、 ;
語言、思維方式以及 日?；顒?。 ;
2.每個民族的文化有不 同于其他民族文化的禮 儀規(guī)范。 ;
3.由于人類語言是文化 的直接表現(xiàn)，所以可以 說， ;
第二語言學習涉及對 所學語言的民族文化特征 的認識和理解。 ;
4.中國作為一個發(fā)展中 國家，面臨著發(fā)展經(jīng)濟與 保護環(huán)境的雙重任務。 ;
5.中國在全面推進現(xiàn)代 化的過程中，不僅將實現(xiàn) 經(jīng)濟持續(xù)發(fā)展視為一項重 要戰(zhàn)略， ;
同時也將生態(tài)環(huán)境的保護 視為一項基本國策。 ;
6.中國作為國際社會中 的一員，認真履行國際義 務，積極參與國際環(huán)保事 務，促進國際環(huán)保合作。 ;
7.我們必須在人民中宣 傳環(huán)保知識，提高人們對 環(huán)保道德與行為準則的 認識。 ;
8.我們在解決環(huán)境與發(fā) 展問題中仍面臨著大量的 難題，任重而道遠。 ;
9.中國將一如既往，與 其他國家合作，為保護 我們的生存環(huán)境，為人類 的幸福和繁榮， ;
為造福下一代而奮斗。 ;
10.我們正處在一個由 工業(yè)化社會向服務與信 息社會轉軌的過程中。 ;
11.中國正處在一個擺脫 僵硬的計劃經(jīng)濟體制， 建立和完善社會主義市場 經(jīng)濟體制的改革進程中。 ;
12.人口老齡化將影響我 國的經(jīng)濟發(fā)展，威脅我國 的保健制度、 ;
退休制度以及其他一些福 利制度的健康發(fā)展。 ;
13.不斷推進的產業(yè)結構 調整使服務性行業(yè)增多， 使高科技以及熟練 勞動力的需求增長。 ;
14.拜金主義、對自我的 日益關注以及對公益事業(yè) 的淡漠使中國許多傳統(tǒng) 美德受到?jīng)_擊。 ;
15.這些問題淵源于經(jīng)濟 和社會條件的變化，是都 市化和現(xiàn)代化所帶來的 問題。 ;
16.不斷變化著的社會 不僅給我們帶來了問題， 也給我們帶來了機會。 ;
17.在世界經(jīng)濟日趨一 體化的今天， ;
讓我們迎接挑戰(zhàn)，擁抱 機遇，承擔責任，共同 建設更美好的未來。 ;
18.您在這里可以欣賞 精彩的、扣人心弦的武術 表演，也可以觀賞京劇 節(jié)目和雜技表演。 ;
19.我不想說服任何人去 習武健身，因為這是個人 的事，是人們?yōu)閷硭?的投資。 ;
Unit 9 Interpreting Academic Speeches English- Chinese Interpretation ;
9-1 The Linguistic System Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
There are as many as three thousand languages which are spoken today. ;
These languages are very different one from another. ;
Indeed,it is primarily the fact that they are ;
so different as to be mutually unintelligible ;
that allows us to call them separate languages. ;
A speaker of one of them, no matter how skillful and fluent, ;
cannot communicate with a speaker of another unless one of them, ;
as we say."learns the other's language." Yet these differences, great as they are, ;
are differences of detail —of the kinds of sounds used ;
and the ways of putting them together. In their broad outlines, ;
in their basic principles,and even in the way they approach ;
certain specific problems of communication, ;
languages have a great deal in common. We are all intimately familiar with ;
at least one language, yet few of us ever stop to consider what we know about it. ;
The words of a language can be listed in a dictionary, ;
but not all the sentences, ;
and a language consists of these sentences as well as words. ;
Speakers use a finite set of rules to produce and understand ;
an infinite set of sentences.These rules comprise the grammar of a language, ;
which is learned when you acquire the language. ;
The grammar of a language includes the sound system, ;
how words may be combined into phrases and sentences, ;
and the way in which sounds and meanings are related. ;
The sounds and meaning of words are related in an arbitrary fashion. ;
That is,if you had never heard the word "grammar", you would not. ;
by its sounds,know what it meant. Language,then, ;
is a system that relates sounds with meanings, ;
and when you know a language,you know this system. ;
This linguistic knowledge, or linguistic competence, ;
is different from linguistic behavior, known as linguistic performance. ;
If you woke up one morning and decided to stop talking, ;
you would still have the knowledge of your language. ;
If you do not know the language,you cannot speak it; ;
but if you know the language,you may choose not to speak. ;
Language is a tool of communication. ;
But if language is defined merely as a system of communication, ;
then language is not unique to humans. ;
We know birds,bees, crabs,spiders,whales, ;
and most other creatures communicate in some way. ;
However,there are certain characteristics of human language ;
not found in the communication.systems of any other species. ;
A basic property of human language is its creative aspect— ;
a speaker's ability to combine the basic linguistic units to ;
form an infinite set of "well-formed",or grammatical, sentences, ;
most of which are novel,never before produced or heard. ;
The grammar of human language can generate infinite messages, ;
a property unique to the human species. ;
9-2 Two Kinds of Brain Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
Good afternoon,ladies and gentlemen.I would like to thank you for ;
inviting me to talk about the subject of ;
the difference between a brain and a computer. ;
The difference between a brain and a computer can be expressed in a single word: ;
complexity. The large mammalian brain is the most complicated thing, ;
for its size,known to us.The human brain weighs three pounds, ;
but in that three pounds are ten billion neurons and a hundred billion smaller cells. ;
These many billions of cells are interconnected in a vastly complicated ;
network that we can't begin to interpret as yet. ;
Even the most complicated computer man has yet built can't compare ;
in intricacy with the brain.Computer switches and components number ;
in the thousands rather than in the billions.What's more, ;
the computer switch is just an on off device- whereas the brain cell is itself possessed of ;
a tremendously complex inner structure. Can a computer think? ;
That depends on what you mean by "think." ;
If solving a mathematical problem is "thinking." ;
then a computer can "think" and do so much faster than a man. ;
Of course,most mathematical problems can be solved quite mechanically ;
by repealing certain straightforward processes over and over again. ;
It is frequently said thai computers solve problems only ;
because they are "programmed" to do so. They can only do what men have them do. ;
One must remember that human beings also can only do what they are "programmed" to do. ;
Our genes "program" us and our potentialities are limited by that "program. " ;
Our "program" is so much more enormously complex,though, ;
that we might like to define "thinking" ;
in terms of our creativity in literature,art.science and technology. ;
In that sense. computers certainly can't think. ;
Surely,though,if a computer can be made complex enough, ;
it can be as creative as we.If it could be made as complex as a human brain, ;
it could be the equivalent of a human brain and do whatever a human brain can do. ;
But how longs will it take to build a computer complex ;
enough to duplicate the human brain? ;
Perhaps not as long as some think. ;
Long before we approach a computer as complex as our brain, ;
we will perhaps build a computer that is at least complex enough ;
to design another computer more complex than itself. ;
This more complex computer could design one still more complex. ;
The point of concern is that mankind is not only creating a servant, ;
but also a threatening rival. ;
9-3 The Biological Revolution ;
Text for Interpretation ;
Interpret the following passage from English into Chinese: ;
Respected Mr. President,Dear faculty and students, ;
Thank you for inviting me to talk about the emerging biological revolution. ;
In his book Brave New World,published in 1932, ;
Aldous Huxley predicted a big biolechnological revolution ;
about to take place; the hatching of people not in wombs but in test tube; ;
the drug which gave people instant happiness; ;
the sensation which was simulated by implanted electrodes; ;
and modification of behavior through the administration of ;
various artificial hormones.With 70 years ;
separating us from the publication of this book, ;
we can see that Huxley's technological predictions ;
are startlingly accurate.Many of the technologies that Huxley envisioned are ;
already here or just over the horizon. But this revolution has only just begun. ;
New breakthroughs in biomedical technology are announced daily; ;
achievements such as the completion of the human genome project ;
portend much more serious changes to come. ;
According to Huxley, the most significant threat posed by ;
contemporary biotechnology is the possibility ;
that it will alter human nature and ;
thereby move us into a "posthuman" stage of history. ;
This is important because human nature exists and defines us as a species ;
with a stable continuity.It is what defines our most basic values. ;
Medical technology offers us in many cases a devil's bargain; ;
longer life,but with reduced mental capacity; ;
freedom from depression,together with freedom from creativity or spirit. ;
It will blur the lino between what we achieve on our own and what we achieve ;
because of the levels of various chemicals in our brains. ;
Consider the following three scenarios,all of which are distinct possibilities ;
that may unfold over the next generation or two. ;
The first has to do with new drugs.We know human personality is plastic. ;
Psychotropic drugs can affect traits like self-esteem ;
and the ability to concentrate.Stolid people can become vivacious; ;
introspective ones extroverts;you can adopt one personality on Wednesday ;
and another for the weekend. In the second scenario, ;
advances in stem cell research allow scientists to ;
regenerate virtually any tissue in the body, ;
so that lift: expectancies are pushed well above 100 years. ;
If you need a new heart or liver, ;
you just grow one inside the chest cavity of a pig or cow; ;
brain damage from Alzheimer's and stroke can be reversed. ;
The only problem is that there are many subtle aspects of human aging ;
that the biotech industry hasn't quite figured out how to fix: ;
people grow mentally rigid and increasingly fixed in their views as they age. ;
Worst of all,they just refuse to gut out of the way.not just of their children, ;
but their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ;
In a third scenario, people will screen embryos ;
before implantation so as to optimize the kind of children they have. ;
If someone doesn't live up to social expectations, ;
he tends to blame bad genetic choices by his parents rather than himself. ;
Human genes have been transferred to animals and even to plants to ;
produce new medical products;and animal genes have been added to certain embryos to ;
increase their physical endurance or resistance to disease. ;
These will have serious and unexpected consequences. ;
We don't have to await the arrival of human genetic engineering to ;
foresee a time when we will be able to enhance intelligence. ;
memory,emotional sensitivity,and sexuality,as well as reduce ;
aggressiveness and manipulate behavior in a host of other ways. ;
The medical profession is dedicated to the proposition ;
that anything that can defeat disease and prolong life is ;
unequivocally a good thing.The fear of death is one of the deepest ;
and most abiding human passions,so it is understandable ;
that we should celebrate any advance in medical technology ;
that appears to put death off.But people worry about ;
the quality of their lives as well — not just the quantity. ;
Ideally,one would like not merely to live longer ;
but also to have one's different faculties fail as close as possible to ;
when death finally comes,so that one does not ;
have to pass through a period of debility at the end of life. ;
While many medical advances have increased the quality of life ;
for older people,many have had the opposite effect ;
by prolonging only one aspect of life and increasing dependency. ;
Alzheimer's disease — in which certain parts of the brain waste away, ;
leading to loss of memory and eventually dementia — is a good example of this, ;
because the likelihood of getting it rises proportionately with age. ;
At age 65,only one person in a hundred is likely to come down with Alzheimer's; ;
at 85,it is one in six.The rapid growth in the population suffering from ;
Alzheimer's in developed countries is thus a direct result of ;
increased life expectancies,which have prolonged the health of the body ;
without prolonging resistance to this terrible neurological disease. ;
We could find ways to preserve bodily health but would fail ;
to put off age-related mental deterioration. ;
Stem cell research might yield ways to grow new body pans. ;
But without a parallel curer for Alzheimer's, ;
this wonderful new technology would do no more than allow more ;
people to persist in vegetative stales for years longer than is currently possible. ;
The consequences of medical advances might be the world in which ;
people routinely live to be 120,or even up to 150,but the last ;
decades of life in a state of childlike dependence on caretakers. ;
We're still trying to make sense of what is happening. ;
Thank you again for my privilege of speaking at this famous university. ;