Appreciation and greetings
来自异地的欣赏与问候

You couldn't imagine how much Common Talk has helped me. As a middle school student, I used to take no interest in English. So my English was inevitably poor. I almost lost heart completely. By chance, my English teacher introduced this newspaper to me, which has really helped me to make a complete change. The first time I read it, I was so attracted not only by its beautiful designs but also by its unforgettable rich content. From then on, I began to show great interest in English and started to make progress little by little.

Common Talk not only gives us the main events of the week in English but also shows us other interesting things, such as lifestyle, culture and also local and western art. What's more, the language page seems to be magical, especially the humor section, which makes me burst into laughter each time I turn to the page.

At present I am busy preparing for the coming College Entrance Examination. Though I don't have much free time, I still spare some time to read Common Talk, which always brings me much joy. Because of it, my vocabulary is enlarging and my grammar skills are improving too. I really love it.

Let's just say that Common Talk is really a success and it's nearly perfect.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the makers of this newspaper for your excellent work. I sincerely hope more and more readers will become interested in it and appreciate its wonderful content.

Zhang Zongfeng
Yongding No. 1 Middle School

你无法想像双语周刊对我的帮助有多大. 我原先对英语没什么兴趣, 学得很差, 几乎对英语都丧失了信心. 一个偶然的机会, 我的英语老师向我推荐了双语周刊, 从此有了极大的改变. 第一次看到这份报纸, 我就被它的精美设计与精彩内容深深吸引住了. 从那时开始, 我对英语的兴趣越来越浓, 水平也随之提高. 在双语周刊上, 不仅能看到每周的大事, 而且还有很多有趣的事情, 如生活方式, 中西方文化与艺术. 而且语言版也特别精彩. 每次我看到幽默英语那个栏目都会忍不住笑起来.

现在我正在紧张地准备高考, 没有太多的空闲时间, 但我仍然抽出时间阅读双语周刊, 因为它能给我带来欢乐. 有了双语周刊, 我的词汇量增大了, 语法也进步了. 怎能让人不爱上双语周刊呢？双语周刊确实是一项成功之作.

最后, 我想对那些为这份报纸忙碌工作的人们表达我的感激之情. 同时我希望更多的读者会喜欢双语周刊.

永定一中高三学生 张宗锋

Question and answer
编读往来

在今天的厦门日报双语周刊(2004年3月31日)头版上, Participation makes Xiamen marathon a success一文中出现了一点错误, 本着实事求是的态度和爱护厦门人自己报纸的心情, 提出个人的见解供您参考.
本届厦门马拉松赛是由中国田径协会和厦门市人民政府共同主办的, 但在文中译为"The 2004 Amoi Xiamen International Marathon, co-sponsored by China Track and Field Association and Xiamen Municipal Government...". "co-sponsored"是"协办"之意, 而非"主办", "主办"应译成"sponsored by".
"中国田径协会"是专有名词, 它的英译名是"Chinese Athletics Association" (缩写CAA), 而非"China Track and Field Association".
"厦门市人民政府"译成"Xiamen Municipal Government"欠妥, 因为我国任何一级政府均称为人民政府, 而英语municipal 一词不含"人民"之意. 为体现中国特色, 最好译成"Xiamen Municipal People's Government".
本届马拉松赛的宣传资料如<宣传小册子>、<秩序册>、<参赛须知>的英译文均出现一些错译、漏译或用词不当等问题, 建议有关市领导引起充分重视, 组织有关专家严格把关, 建立"中文审稿—翻译—校译—审译", 层层把关制度, 尽快提高对外宣传资料的译文水平, 将下届马拉松赛办得更好. 如有兴趣, 请您拨冗看看本人的拙著<体育对外宣传的译文质量问题不容忽视 - 评2004年厦门国际马拉松赛宣传小册子的英译文>发表在厦门市翻译工作者协会主办的网站www.xmta.net,翻译技巧栏目, 欢迎批评指正.

厦门市体育运动学校
英语教师　李永庆
2004-3-31

首先很感谢您对双语周刊的关注和对我们工作的支持.
关于您在来信中指出的几个"错误", 我们的解释如下:
1.文中的"co-sponsor"并非是"协办", 而是"联合主办".
2. Xiamen Municipal Government已经是正式的翻译, 目前中国关于"市人民政府"的翻译, 较少用"Municipal People's Government", China Daily等国内权威的英文媒体目前都是采用前者.
3."中国田径协会"的官方翻译是"Chinese Athletics Association", 我们文中的翻译的确欠妥.
再次感谢您对双语周刊的关心, 我们的进步离不开热心读者的批评和支持, 希望您以后继续关注双语周刊.

双语周刊
4月2日

Comments for Common Talk

When I saw how eager the editors of Common Talk were to participate in the debate in the English salon, I couldn't help but laugh. As a young group, they are so energetic and enthusiastic about everything. With their hard-work, Common Talk of the Xiamen Daily is becoming richer in content and more attractive to readers. Since more and more foreigners work and live in Xiamen, I wish that Common Talk would pay more attention to their life in our city, as well as their feelings and opinions about it. This will help open and enrich the future development of Xiamen as a sprouting city.
Peng Jingting

每次我参加双语周刊的英语沙龙, 都能感受到Common Talk 团队是一个朝气蓬勃的年轻团体. 在他们的努力下, Common Talk 的内容变得越来越丰富精彩. 随着越来越多的外籍人士在厦门工作和生活, 我希望双语周刊能更多地关注他们在厦门的生活, 以及他们对厦门的感受, 以此从一个侧面来反映我们这个城市日新月异的变化.
彭竞霆 (厦门某国企职员)

I am a student from Xiamen University. I didn't know Common Talk until I came to have an internship in the company. You have really done a good job. Common Talk is excellent. And luckily enough, I was able to finish the crossword puzzle. I sincerely hope Common Talk keeps getting better and better.
Chen Zhipeng

我是厦门大学的学生, 到公司实习才看到你们的报纸, 办得不错. 我做了填字游戏, 很幸运, 竟然做出来了. 祝你们的报纸越办越好!
陈智鹏
xmczp@tom.com

Having attended Common Talk's English Salon for over four months, I have fallen in love with this club. Not only the organizing style attracts me, but also the open and free atmosphere. Furthermore, I feel that the twice a month schedule is really nice. It gives me two weeks to practice in between each visit. So when I come the next time I can show off and use all the new English I learned. I believe Common Talk is an ideal choice for every fan of English.
Wu Hui

加入双语周刊英语俱乐部四个多月以来, 我已经迷上了英语沙龙. 不仅是组织形式, 而且那种自由的气氛也给我留下了深刻的印象. 我特别喜欢时间上的安排, 每两周一次刚刚好. 经过两周的英语学习, 来到英语沙龙, 你可以充分展示你自己. 这也是一种很好的阶段性学习测试. 我相信英语沙龙是每一个英语爱好者的最佳选择.
武辉 (厦门某外企职员, 英语沙龙俱乐部会员)

After graduating from my university, my English degressed because I seldom had the chance to use English in my daily life and work. It seemed to be a hopeless situation, and I had nearly given up. I made up my mind to start learning English again when Common Talk of Xiamen Daily first appeared the year before last. One reason I am interested in it is because it is easy for people to read and get information due to its bilingual edition. I also bought an electronic dictionary to help me read Common Talk. I feel my English skill has returned now. Thank you, my dear Common Talk.
Elizabeth

离开校园许多年, 虽说过了英语四级, 但由于工作中根本没机会再用到, 英语几乎都还给了老师. 许多次下决心想从头开始, 一直拖着. 自从前年厦门日报新鲜出炉双语周刊, 中英搭配, 让我又有了读英语的信心. 我重整旗鼓,特地买了文曲星, 边看边查, 感觉离英语又近了.
Elizabeth (媒体工作者)