【大家说英语】习俗与文化(2)

October 23

 

10月23日

Read it!

读读看！

Lois Language is a translator¹.

萝伊斯小姐是位翻译员。

Translators² have an important job.

翻译员有个很重要的工作，

They help people understand one another.

他们帮助人们了解彼此，

They translate written materials from one language into another.

他们把书面数据从一个语言翻译成另一个语言。

They translate books, magazine articles, business letters and more.

他们翻译书籍、杂志文章、商用书信，以及其他数据，

Translators usually translate from a second language into their native³ language.

翻译员通常是从第二语言翻译成他们的母语。

They can work in many places.

他们可以在很多地方工作，

They can work at home, in a school or in an office!

他们可以在家、在学校或在办公室工作！

Conversation A

 

会话A

Welcome to the show, Lois.

萝伊斯，欢迎来上节目。

You know several languages, right?

你懂好几种语言，对吗？

I do. I know three languages: English, Spanish⁴ and French.

是，我懂三种语言：英文、西班牙文和法文。

What is your first language?

什么是你的母语？

It's English. I know that language the best!

英文， 我的英文最好！

And you're a translator?

而你是位翻译员？

That's right.

没错。

What do translators do?

翻译员做什么？

Translators translate things from one language into another.

翻译员从一个语言翻译成另一个语言。

It's a fun job, but it's not easy.

这是个很好玩的工作，但是不容易。

翻译员

 

Conversation B

 

会话B

Why isn't it easy?

为什么不容易？

I can't just translate the words.

我不能只翻译字，

I have to think about the meaning of a sentence, too.

我也必须思考整句的意思。

I see.

我了解。

I speak some Chinese.

我说一些中文，

Can I work as a translator?

我可以当翻译吗？

Maybe. But you need to know Chinese really well.

或许可以，但是你的中文必须要很好。

Oh. Well, I need to learn more Chinese then!

哦。这样，那我得把中文学得更好才行！

Translators usually translate from a second language into their native language.

翻译员通常把第二语言翻译成他的母语。

Conversation C

 

会话C

Do you enjoy your job?

你喜欢你的工作吗？

I do. I translate all kinds of written materials.

喜欢。 我翻译各种书面的资料。

Like what?

好比什么？

I work on books, magazine articles, business letters and more.

我翻译书、杂志文章、商业书信和其他数据。

Sometimes I even translate movies!

有时候我甚至翻译电影！

That sounds like fun.

听起来很有趣。

It is. I'm always learning⁵ new things.

真的很有趣。 我总是在学新的东西，

No two languages are the same!

没有任何两种语言是一样的！

Translators are important.

翻译员很重要。

We are. We help people understand one another.

是这样， 我们帮助人们了解彼此。

1 translator   

n.翻译者，翻译机

参考例句：

• He used to be a translator.他从前是一位翻译员。
• His uncle is a writer and translator.他的叔叔是个作家兼翻译家。

2 translators   

n.译员( translator的名词复数 )；翻译者；翻译家；翻译机

参考例句：

• Translators can now work from home, via electronic mail systems. 翻译人员现在可以利用电子邮件系统在家里工作了。 来自辞典例句
• Translators should not foist their own opinions into the original book. 译者不应把自己的意见偷偷地插入原著中。 来自辞典例句

3 native   

adj.本国的，本地的；n.本地人，本国人

参考例句：

• No government shall take away the rights of the native people.任何政府也不能剥夺土著人的权利。
• This is my native land and I'll defend it with my life!这是我的祖国，我将用生命保卫她！

4 Spanish   

adj.西班牙人的，西班牙的，西班牙语的；n.西班牙语

参考例句：

• She grew up in Spain,so her first language is Spanish.她在西班牙长大，第一语言是西班牙语。
• I can read Spanish but can't translate into it.我能阅读西班牙语，但不能翻译成西班牙语。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。