Notice 敬告读者
Common Talk Wednesday and Sunday editions will be both suspended for two issues during the Spring Festival. We will be back on February 23.
Meanwhile Common Talk English Salon will be canceled on February 11. We wish you a happy Spring Festival.
Common Talk Weekly

春节期间双语周刊周三版与周日版将停刊两期, 周三版2月23日起恢复正常, 周日版2月27日起恢复正常. 同时, 双语周刊英语沙龙活动也将暂停一期, 2月18日起恢复正常. 预祝读者朋友们新春快乐!
双语周刊编辑部

 

You first
By Michelle
Picture by Zhu Lijun

礼让, 不仅是一种单纯的礼貌行为, 从更深层的角度考虑, 这是一种为他人着想的高尚品格, 同时也是个人人格和素质的体现. 公车门口的你挣我挤, 卖场里的疯狂抢购, 排队时的人潮涌动, 诸如此种现象似乎都在告诉我们, 礼让, 这项中国优秀的传统美德似乎在慢慢消失. 相反, 外国人用实际的行动更好地诠释了这项美德.

Downtown is known to be the busiest district of our city in New Zealand, which means the traffic volume is the largest of all the areas here. So you can imagine how hard it would be when you want to find a place to park your car.

Yesterday I went there with my cousin for shopping. As we arrived at the main business street, Queen St., we drove around and around hoping to discover a parking place but found nowhere to park our car. Just before we gave up, I suddenly noticed that behind our car there was one small jeep turning out from its place leaving an available space at a corner. "Great!" we cheered and soon drove towards the corner. However, right at the same time, another car turned out from our right hand side that was obviously targeting the same spot.

Instead of speeding up to get the place before us, the man driving the car waved his hands to show us, "You go first!" We were very eager to find a place to park but after the driver's kind behavior, we changed our mind deciding to let him park first. However, the man insisted that we go first, therefore we got the place and thanked him by smiling and waving gratefully to him.

Then he moved away to search for another place.

Actually, things like this happened very often during the time I was abroad. Abroad you can always find yourself being respected everywhere. The small circumstance I met yesterday would be a typical example of what might happen abroad. Besides, when you are crossing a street in another country, no matter on foot or in a car, you will find other people giving you the chance to move first while you are doing the same thing in respect to them. Also, when you are in a shop wanting to buy something, people who are buying the same thing will let you choose first while they wait.

Thinking about others first makes relationships and interactions among people more pleasant and agreeable. Without arguing or racing for things, situations are often easier to deal with.

 

 

Crossword Puzzle
本栏目内容由 www.1cm.com.cn 提供



Across
1. A very popular Computer game.
6. A famous band with three Taiwan girls.
8. The best teacher.
10. 4 times 20.

Down
1. Nike, Reebok, Adidas
2. Nearly.
3. the middle.
4. Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop
5. English also call it “cha”.
7. freedom from disease or abnormality
9. A short literary composition.

 

 

鸡同鸭讲

一天, 某涉外公司开会. 老板心血来潮, 出了三道题测试手下人的英译汉水平. 第一道题是: "How are you? "副总经理抢先回答: "怎么是你? "老板心里不高兴, 但碍于情面不好说什么. 第二道题是: "How old are you? "两位助总觉得表现自己的机会不该错过, 就异口同声说: "怎么老是你? "老板忍不住生气: "告诉你们, 英语的语法和汉语不同, 不可以逐字翻译! "这时只剩最后一题了: "This is a duck, too."总经理秘书心里想: "照说应该译成‘这是一只鸭子也', 可是不能直译呀! "于是他脑筋一转, 脱口而出: "这是一只野鸭子. "老板终于怒火中烧: "一群饭桶! 散会! "
By 陈仲锴

一个星期六早上, 我去爷爷家. 一进门, 我就大声叫道: "Good morning! "爷爷一愣, 立即用闽南语答道: "虾米(什么)? 舞抹你(牛没奶)? 这有什么关系? 正好我买羊奶了, 比牛奶更补呢! "我摇摇头, 笑道: "爷爷, Good morning是英语早上好的意思. "爷爷一听, 也笑了.
By 陈煜

 

 

Hot Word
Collected by Jianjiang

● adaptation
The Chinese television show "Legend of Sword and Fairy" based on the popular online game hit Chinese markets. The adaptation is a love tale, starring a group of big names.
风靡一时的经典游戏《仙剑奇侠传》被改编成一部爱情童话并拍成30集连续剧. 日前该剧已经正式发行, 剧中群星闪耀, 剧外照例是一片挑剔的众说纷纭.
adaptation, 改写本. 被改写的逍遥和灵儿, 是否依然能温暖我们已不再年少的梦境?



● holidaymaker
The devastating tsunami that wiped out cities, seaside communities and holiday resorts in southern Asia has not put holidaymakers off visiting the region, a survey has found.
在遭受印度洋海啸巨灾之后, 东南亚各国在忙于灾后重建的同时致力于重振旅游业, 而一项调查显示法国、德国等国家的人们仍然很愿意去东南亚旅游.
holidaymaker, 度假者. 相当于holiday traveler(假期游客).

● swot
Far from being the school swot, Lucian, who spends his evenings watching The Simpsons and chatting on the Internet, made the discoveries thanks to his interest in his Polish roots.
12岁的卢西恩并不是刻苦读书的孩子, 晚上他常看《辛普森一家》, 并上网聊天. 他能发现《大英百科全书》中有几处明显错误, 全归功于他的波兰渊源和对野生动植物的痴迷.
swot, 书呆子. swot up, 考前临时抱佛脚.

● latte
Starbucks' quarterly growth showed that Starbucks is able to draw loyal customers despite an October price increase in its lattes, cappuccinos and other specialty coffee drinks.
尽管全球最大咖啡零售商星巴克把拿铁、卡布奇诺等饮品的价格调高, 但对消费者的吸引力却丝毫不减. 2004年第四季度它的收入接近1.5亿美元.
latte, 拿铁. 你一定也会哼那首传唱大街小巷的歌, "想用一杯latte把你灌醉......"

● bottleneck
The nation's rail bottleneck is back in the limelight again as the peak Lunar New Year travel season started.
随着春运的来临, 交通瓶颈又一次成为众人关注的话题. 据预测, 春运期间全国旅客运量将达19.7亿人次, 同比增长3.4%.
bottleneck, 瓶颈. 意思是"薄弱环节", 也可表示"障碍". bottleneck streets, 隘路.

● boilover
Everything seemed to be going according to script when Federer won the opening set but the first hint of a boilover came when Safin won the second.
一年之前, 萨芬在澳网决赛中败于费德勒, 这也开启后者整整一年的辉煌. 一年之后, 同样是澳网, "沙皇"怒吼中归来, 爆出冷门破了费得勒的不败金身.
boilover, 爆冷门的结果. 一般用于体育比赛.

 

 

Cartoon English
By Bo & Bob

 

 

Daily English
Collected by the Chef

衣食住行, 学英语要从身边的小事开始. 本栏目将带给您最实用的日常口语.

Invitation 邀请

● I am wondering if you have time this weekend.
我想知道你这周末是否有空.
● Do you have time for dinner this Friday?
这周五你有时间一起吃晚饭吗?
● Are you available on Friday?
你周五有空吗?
● How is your schedule next Tuesday?
你下周二是怎么安排的?
● Can we arrange a meeting tomorrow?
我们明天开个会怎么样?
● I don't suppose you have time this afternoon?
你今天下午有时间吗?

Response 回复

● Maybe next time.
也许下次吧.
● Sorry I don't think I have time on Friday.
对不起我星期五可能没时间.
● I am not available.
我没空.
● My schedule is gonna be very tight.
我的日程安排很紧.
● Can I take a rain check?
我能下次再去吗?
● This Friday? I am afraid it is packed.
这星期五? 那天我会很忙的.

 

 

经典恭维语
By Suky

拍马屁, 英文是"apple-polish", 老外认为为别人擦干净苹果就是很恭维的表示啦. Suky认为, 拜年时朋友、同事间互相apple-polish, 只要恰到好处, 可谓有益身心.

1. It's really impressive the way you run this company.
您经营这家公司的模式真是令人印象深刻.

夸人家好, 不用老是good啊, great啊, 肉麻兮兮的, impressive这个词, 我们平时很少用, 用在这些地方效果不是很好吗?

2. You're the best-dressed boss around.
您是这里穿得最有型的主管.

走进银行中心, 每个金领、白领都是衣冠楚楚的. 这个时候, 一句best-dressed就足够老板们开心的了.

3. I look forward to coming to work every day.
我每天都迫不及待来上班.

会这样吗? 这是什么工作, 天下还有这样的好事啊? 确实恭维了一点. 即使任何人都不会相信, 但是主管一定会听得很舒服.

4. You're my idol.
您是我的偶像.

朋友之间用用可以.

5. I really admire your decision-making ability.
我很钦佩您的决策能力.

6. You're too young to be a professor...
您当教授实在太年轻了......

再补上一句, Your teaching is so inspiring. 您的教学真是让人如沐春风.

7. You look so much younger than my classmates' moms /dads.
你看起来比我同学的爸爸妈妈年轻多了.

年轻谁都愿意啦, 此句真是经典, 新春拜年都可以用了.

 

 

Cooking 烹调方法
By Ivan

"心, 暖了又灰; 世界有时候孤单得很需要另一个同类. "我们给那些零散的单词寻找同类, 也为热爱生活的您找一片合乎兴趣的乐园. 同类系列英语愿能换得您默契的会心一笑.
非常欢迎读者来信来电"点题", 我们将尽力满足大家的要求. (联系电话:5581650;电邮地址:common-talk@fj172.com)

● chafing dish, 火锅.
chafing原意是"皮肤发炎". 过年了, 热气腾腾的火锅无疑是亲朋好友团圆时的首选. 可大快朵颐的同时, 别忘了注意降降火, 防止发炎.
● braised, 红烧.
这是最基本的烹调技巧. 红烧豆腐, 红烧茄子, 红烧排骨......简直放之万物而皆可用. 怎么向老外解释"红烧狮子头"? meat balls braised with brown sauce.
● steamed, 蒸.
这个做法一般是用在海鲜身上, 所以尽管在steamed后头加各类鱼虾贝类吧. steamed bass, 清蒸鲈鱼.
● fried, 干烧.
中华饮食文化的博大精深尽显其中. pan-fried, 用平底锅的是"煎". stir-fried, 需要翻搅的是"炒". quick-fried, 迅雷之速当然是"爆"了. 而deep-fried(炸)更是分为soft deep-fried(软炸)和 crisp deep-fried(酥炸).
● twice-cooked stirred, 回锅.
这里的twice也能改成double. 多到锅中走一趟, 菜自然也别有风味.
● barbequed, 烧烤.
厦门最近流行起无烟烧烤, 美其名曰"精致化BBQ". roast的意思也差不多, roast Beijing duck, 北京烤鸭.
● smoked, 熏.
母亲在自家院子中熏制牛肉或猪肘的图景, 是许多人关于孩提时代最美的回忆. 不过为了健康, 对熏制食品还是浅尝为好.
● consomme, 清汤.
是从法文中演变出来的词. 送Common Talk的所有朋友一碗清汤, 化解过年大鱼大肉的油腻, 衷心祝愿大伙鸡年快乐!

 

 

皇马? 法网?
By 郑启五

编者按:
随着与西方世界的更多交流, 中文词汇也日渐丰富. 一些新兴的外来词语或翻译过来的词语大量涌入我们的眼帘. 一些我们已习以为常, 一些我们还陌生依旧. 究竟那些外来词汇的命运如何, 是将融入我们的文化, 生命长存呢? 还是昙花一现, 消逝无踪? 我们特别开设"翻译大家谈"栏目. 希望能借助这个平台, 让更多的读者在此畅所欲言, 一起探讨外来词汇翻译的问题.

如果你在非球迷界说起"皇马", 很可能有人会问你"皇马是什么马? "或自以为是"皇马就是皇帝的马", 而面对公众的报纸就赫然刊出《齐达内天价转会皇马》的通栏标题. 农科院的院士也许看不懂"皇马"是什么马, 而很可能院士的孙子会告诉爷爷, "皇马就是足球场无人不知无人不晓的西班牙皇家马德里队! "面对越来越快的生活节奏, 洋词的缩略语层出不穷. 面对着越来越多的通栏标题和标题新闻, 拖泥带水的音译词汇难免被榨干水分, 说"皇马"要比说"皇家马德里"节省一倍多的时间而且更地道更内行或更球迷; 写"皇马"要比写"皇家马德里队"省去一半以上的空间而且更醒目更专业或更有阵容豪华大将云集的语味与联想. 其实拧干洋词汇里拖泥带水的成分, 是电视现场解说的必需, 是网上报上标题处置的必须, 你要拉住球迷的心你就必须直截了当用"皇马", 而且千万不要引号. 用引号会让人觉得你不地道不内行不球迷.

但"皇马"毕竟是一个不太正规的词汇, 在《现代汉语词典》中没有"皇马"的地位, 皇家的高头大马或豪华马车以往没有或很少缩成"皇马"的. 它充其量只是"皇位"、"皇宫"的派生或私生, 没有名分, 于是让"皇家马德里"占用或借用"皇马"似乎没有什么太大的不可以, 不过是把浓缩的字眼泡开而已, 至少不会在词的解释上引起太大的歧义. 而"法网"就不一样了, 在《现代汉语词典》第342页"比喻法律的严密"是"法网"独一无二的解释, 特别是"法网恢恢, 疏而不漏"使用的频率极高. 然而不太严密的"法网第二"开始与"法网第一"分一杯羹. 先是体育报刊, 进而几乎是所有的传媒, 都不约而同地甚至有点争先恐后地把"法国网球公开赛"缩略成"法网", 而且不带引号, 根本就不在乎词典们那正儿八经的析义之惟一. 这很有点在词典们严密的"法网"头上动土的味道.

过长的译名向来是讨人嫌的, 所以老早就有"麻省"、"加州"乃至"华府"等等美国地名的缩称, 但过去的译语缩略不多, 而且小心翼翼, 生怕引起误解, "麻省"就不会引起歧义的, 因为"麻子的省份"、"麻雀省长"并不存在. 可现在不同了, 形形色色的新词汇一如"法网"和"皇马"就这么毫无顾忌地闯入我们的生活, 并大大咧咧地坐落在字里行间......它们是那么的自信, 从不在乎语文老先生的唠唠叨叨, 因为总有球迷对它们投以会心的微笑.