高级翻译教程课文Unit One(1)翻译

The American character 美国人的性格
Most Americans have great vigor and enthusiasm. They prefer to discipline themselves rather than be disciplined by others. They pride themselves on their independence, their right to make up their own minds. They are prepared to take the initiative, even when there is a risk in doing so. They have courage and do not give in easily. They will take any sort of job anywhere rather than be unemployed. They do not care to be looked after by the government. The average American changes his or her job nine or ten times during his or her working life.

大部分美国人精力充沛，充满热情．他们宁愿自律，而不愿受制于人．他们以独立行事和有权做出自己的决定而自豪。他们做事采取主动，即使这样做存在风险也在所不惜．他们有勇气，不会轻易屈服．他们宁愿在任何地方干任何工作，而不愿失业．他们不愿受政府的救助.普通美国人一生中换九到十次工作.

Americans have a warmth and friendliness which is less superficial than many foreigners think. They are considered sentimental. When on ceremonial occasions they see a flag, or attend parades celebrating America's glorious past, tears may come to their eyes. Reunions with family and friends tend to be emotional, too. They like to dress correctly, even if "correctly" means flamboyantly. They love to boast, though often with tongue in cheek. They can laugh at themselves and their country, and they can be very self-critical, while remaining always intensely patriotic. They have a wide knowledge of everyday things, and keen interest in their particular city and state. Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they have little interest or knowledge of outside world.
美国人热情友好, 其程度并非外国人想得那样表面化.人们认为美国人易动感情.当在典礼上看见国旗,当参加庆祝美国光荣历史的游行时,他们可能会热泪盈眶.与家人团圆,与朋友相聚,也会让他们十分激动.他们喜欢穿着得体，即使这种"得体"无异于奢华炫耀.他们喜欢自吹自擂,尽管多数情况下只是说说而已.他们有时会嘲笑自己,会嘲笑自己的国家,甚至有时候会自责,但是始终有着强烈的爱国之心.他们对日常事情所知甚广,对他们所在的城市和州深为关切。然而,有时候外国人会抱怨说,美国人对外面的世界漠不关心,一无所知.
The Americans have a passion for grandeur. Their skyscrapers, bridges and dams often have a splendor which matches in beauty and scale the country's natural wonders.

美国人酷爱豪华的气派.他们的摩天大厦,桥梁和水坝往往十分雄壮宏伟,这与美国的自然奇观之壮美和恢弘相得益彰.
Is the sole aim of most Americans to make money and possess luxuries which could be called excessive. The majority

of Americans would certainly deny this, though mos
t feel proud to amass wealth and possessions through hard work. In the US, about 90% of the population is well-off enough to expect a brighter future. The USA stil has one of the highest standard of living in the world, although, at the present time, 10% are below what the Government considered to be the "poverty line". While these underprivileged receive the help from the Government, they have no high hope for future. It is from this "underclass" and those who take advantate of it, that most of the violence springs - the violence which is the least pleasant aspects of American society.
赚钱和拥有称得上过多的奢侈品,是不是美国人唯一的目标呢?大部分美国人肯定会予以否认,尽管他们将通过辛勤劳动而积攒的钱财而自豪.在美国,90%的人生活富足,期待更美好的未来.美国的生活水平依然在世界上名列前茅,尽管现在还有10%的美国人生活在政府划定的"贫困线"以下.这些贫困虽然得到政府的救助,但是他们对未来不抱太多希望。正是这些"社会下层阶级"和利用他们的人引发了大部分的暴乱,而这成为了美国社会最另人不快的一面.
Americans are beginning to realize that this terrible problem of poverty is their problem and not just their government's. It has been said that an individual American is generous, but that American nation is hard.


美国人开始意思到，这个严重的问题是他们自身的问题,而不仅仅是政府的问题。据说,美国人作为个体是慷慨的,但是美国作为一个民族则是吝啬的.
The US is reputed to be a classless society. Their is certainly not much social snobbery and job snobbery. The manual worker is usually quite at east in any company. This is partly explained by the fact that all income groups go together to the same schools. Americans are far more race concious than they are class concious.

美国人开始意思到，这个严重的问题是他们自身的问题,而不仅仅是政府的问题。据说,美国人作为个体是慷慨的,但是美国作为一个民族则是吝啬的.

人们普遍认为,美国是一个不分阶级的国家.的确,美国对人们的社会地位和不同工作不带任何势利的看法.体力劳动者在任何场合都很自在.不同收入档次的群体可以在同一所学校上课,这个事实多少可以说明这一点.与其说美国人具有阶级意识,还不如说他们具有种族意识.