日本推出多语言电话翻译服务吸引外国游客

 　　Tourists who encounter a language barrier while visiting Japan can now access 24-hour, multilingual phone assistance, it's reported.

　　有报道称，如今，在日旅游遇到语言障碍的外国游客，可以通过24小时多语言电话翻译服务获得帮助了。

　　Local authorities have started offering the translation services after a boom in foreign visitors, many of whom have little knowledge of Japanese, The Japan Times website reports. In some areas the hotlines are accessed by staff in hotels, car rental¹ companies or restaurants to decipher tourists' queries², but others enable visitors to contact a call centre directly.

　　据《日本时报》网站（Japan Times website）报道：随着赴日旅游的外国游客人数的激增，日本地方政府开始为他们提供翻译服务，因为大部分游客对日语一窍不通。在某些地区，酒店、汽车租赁公司或饭店员工接听翻译热线，负责解答游客的问题。但在其他地区，游客还是直接与热线中心联络。

　　日本推出多语言电话<a href=http://www.hxen.com/interpretation/ target=_blank class=infotextkey>翻译</a>服务吸引外国游客

　　The number of international visitors arriving in Japan has soared in recent months. In August, an estimated 1.82 million foreign tourists entered the country, a 64% increase on the previous year, according to figures from the Japan National Tourism Organisation³.

　　近几个月来，赴日旅游的国际游客数量飙升。日本国家旅游局（Japan National Tourism Organisation）数据显示：8月约有182万外国游客到日本旅游，较前一年增长了64%。

　　Local authorities have partnered with private companies which run the call centres, and staff can help people with everything from finding a doctor who speaks a particular language, to negotiating a deal in a souvenir shop. One company has 13 languages available, including Russian and Indonesian. "In the case of hotels, guests often ask simple questions such as what time is breakfast or dinner," says Toshiharu Kimura, a spokesman for Shiga Prefecture. They also often ask how to send baggage home, he says.

　　日本地方当局与经营电话服务的私人公司合作，工作人员可以为游客提供他们所需的一切帮助，无论是寻找会说特定语言的医生，还是在纪念品商店讨价还价。有一家公司能为游客提供俄语、印尼语等13种语言服务。滋贺县（日本地名）发言人木村寿治说：“就酒店方面的服务而言，游客经常会问些简单的问题，如什么时间供应早餐或晚餐。”他们还经常会询问如何把行李寄回家，木村说。

　　In the southern Saga⁴ Prefecture, the government has launched a smartphone app to connect tourists directly to an operator, who can answer queries or contact local services on a tourist's behalf. A spokeswoman for the Saga Tourism Federation⁵ says: "We've gotten the fire department and the police on board as well, so you can use the service for help if you are involved in a traffic accident in a rented car or you need urgent medical help."|在日本南部的佐贺县，政府推出了一款智能手机应用程序，使游客能直接与运营商联系，运营商会解答游客的问题或代表游客与当地服务机构联系。佐贺县旅游协会（Saga Tourism Federation）发言人说：“我们把消防部门和警察也加了进来，如果你开着租来的汽车发生交通事故或需要紧急医疗救助，便可以使用该服务。”

　　Vocabulary

　　multilingual：使用多种语言的

　　decipher：解释

1 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

2 queries   

n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问

参考例句：

• Our assistants will be happy to answer your queries. 我们的助理很乐意回答诸位的问题。
• Her queries were rhetorical,and best ignored. 她的质问只不过是说说而已，最好不予理睬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

4 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

5 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。