翻译练习(3)

参考译文:

(1) 美国人的空间与中国人的场所

美国人有空间意识，没有场所概念。如果你去住在郊外的美国人家中作客，你要做的第一件事几乎总是不由自主地走向观景窗。说来真怪，你在主人屋内首先赞扬他屋外的景色多么美！主人很高兴你会欣赏他屋外的远景。远方的地平线不仅仅是天地间的分界线，而且是未来的象征。美国人不会扎根于他的寓所，不管这寓所多么舒适：他的目光被辽阔的空间引向地平线上的一点，那是他的未来。

相比之下，来看看中国人传统的家。四周围着光秃秃的墙壁，外面是个院子，院角可能有个小花园。一进入这样一个私家小院，你就会置身于一种静谧、优美的氛围之中，那房舍、小径、石头、花草构成了一个井然有序的小天地。可是你看不到远处的风景：你前面没有任何开阔的空间，唯一的开阔空间是头顶上的天空。中国人扎根于他的场所之中。

(2) AA制（各自付账）

随后便出现了一度称作妇女解放的运动。我这一代女性宣称我们要求平等。说我们不想让别人为我们开门，我们不想让别人替我们付账。突然间，让男人请去饮酒进餐被认为是一种侮辱，认为这是男人们让我们安分守己的阴谋，所以我们拿出自己的支票簿，各付各的账。这是一个多么大的错误啊！如果我顺其自然地同意别人为我付钱的话，不仅可以省下很多钱，而且还省去了许多烦恼。我常常整顿饭都在考虑账单来了怎么办？我是否应该表示付一半？如果我不这样做，他是否期待我会吻他或……如果是他付账，我还能吃龙虾吗？在我知道如果他接受了我提出的付一半的提议而这时我又会感到失望时，提出付一半的建议又有多少是真诚的呢？如果他的钱没有我的钱多，账单全部由我付吗？

翻译练习(1):

The growth of e-trade during the past few years is, without doubt, the most formidable development in the history of commerce —and there seems to be no foreseeable slowing down. The speed of penetration of this medium into every commercial media is almost incomprehensible to even the most ardent cyber-enthusiasts. Not since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century has development so dramatically altered the path of human behavior.

The possibilities of further developments seem literally without limits. Future cyber applications to business, not even explored, seem to have no boundaries. Nor are these developments restricted to interface with current desktop and laptop computers. The increasing appearance of wireless appliances, such as cellular phones, not to mention the infinite means of transmitting and distributing messages from one point to another and the continuing miniaturization of equipment, promise to alter our means of doing commerce throughout the world. Who knows what other, never before invented communication media will surface tomorrow and in the next few years?

The impact of this technical revolution is having on retail commerce and on the means we have come to associate with traditional retail marketing is felt more and more every day. It is likely to revolutionize the relationships marketers have with retailers, their channels of distribution, their suppliers, their advertising agencies and their ultimate consumers. Marketers will need to examine how the rocketing cyberspace developments will affect their

current and future branding methodologies and determine how and when to adjust them to the ever-growing speed of technological advances.

（2）奥巴马就职演讲节选

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they endured the lash of the whip and toiled in sweatshops ;

For us, they plowed the hard earth and settled the West.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.