SECTION A CHINESE TO ENGLISH Translate the underlined part of the following text into English.1. 沿着荷塘,是一条曲折的小煤屑路。这是一条幽僻的路;白天也少人走,夜晚更加寂寞。荷塘四面,长着许多树,蓊蓊郁郁的。路的一旁,是些杨柳和一些不知道名字的树。没有月光的晚上,这路上阴森森的,有些怕人。今晚却很好,虽然月光也还是淡淡的。
路上只我一个人,背着手踱着。这一片天地好像是我的;我也像超出了平常的自己,到了另一世界里。我爱热闹,也爱冷静;爱群居,也爱独处。像今晚上,一个人在这苍茫的月下,什么部可以想,什么都可以不想,便觉是个自由的人。白天里一定要做的事,一定要说的话,现在都可不理。这是独处的妙处,我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了。
I am on my own, strolling, hands behind my back. This bit of the universe seems in my possession now; and I myself seem to have been uplifted from my ordinary self into another world. I like a serene and peaceful life, as much as a busy and active one; I like being in solitude, as much as in company. As it is tonight, basking in a misty moonshine all by myself, I feel I am a free man, free to think of anything, or of nothing. All that one is obliged to do, or to say, in the daytime, can be very well cast aside now. That is the beauty of being alone. For the moment, just let me indulge in this profusion of moonlight and lotus fragrance.
[难点注释]
1.路上只我一个人,背着手踱着:此句的语义重心在于前部分,译为主句,后部分“背着手踱着”则译为伴随状语成分strolling,hands behind my back。
2.超出了平常的自己:可译为have been uplifted from my ordinary self。
3.爱冷静:指我喜欢平静祥和的生活,可译为like a serene and peaceful life。“群居”和“独处”分别转译为介词短语in company和in solitude。
4.像今晚上,一个人在这苍茫的月下,什么都可以想,什么都可以不想,便觉是个自由的人:此句的语义重心在“便觉是个自由的人”,可译为主句,而“像今晚上”则可译为as引导的状语从句as it is tonight,“一个人在这苍茫的月下”可译为现在分词短语basking in a misty moonshine all by myself。“什么都可以想,什么都可以不想”是对“便觉是个自由的人”的进一步说明,可译为“free to think of anything,or of nothing"。
5.白天里一定要做的事,一定要说的话,现在都可不理:此句中“一定要做的事”为无主句,翻译时增译主语one,该句可译为All that one is obliged to do;“一定要说的话”与前者结构相同,故可省略译为or to say。
6.这是独处的妙处,我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了:此句中,“妙处”指“美妙,美好”,译为beauty即可。“受用”可译为enjoy或indulge in。“无边的”不宜直译为rimless,其在文中表达的是一种抽象的意义,指更偏向程度上的,故译为this profusion更好些。
2. 不管是好习惯还是坏习惯,都是逐渐养成的。当一个人重复做某件事时,一种看不见的力量驱使他去重复做同一件事,这样就养成了习惯。习惯一旦形成,要改掉它是困难的,有时是不可能的。所以,我们在形成习惯的时候要小心谨慎,这一点是非常重要的。小孩子常常会养成坏习惯。这些坏习惯中有的一直保留到你死去为止。年纪大的人也会养成坏习惯,在某些情况下,这些坏习惯能毁掉人。还有的早年养成的习惯成了一件幸事。许多成功者声称他们很多的成功要归功于早年生活所形成的习惯,诸如准时、早起、诚实和彻底。
Habits, good or bad, are acquired ones. A habit is developed by an invisible force which drives one to repeat an action. Once funned, it is hard, sometimes even impossible to get rid of it. Therefore, it is of great importance for us to take great caution in training a habit. Children are prone to bad habits, some of which will remain throughout their life. Elderly people also tend to grow bad habits, which, under certain circumstances, may bring ruin to themselves. Some habits developed in one's earlier life turn to be a blessing. Many successful men have attributed their achievements to the habits acquired in their earlier life, such as punctuality, honesty, and perseverance and rising with the lark.
[难点注释]
1.不管是好习惯还是坏习惯,都是逐渐养成的:第一句的语义重心在于“习惯是逐渐养成的”,因此可泽为Habits,good or bad,are acquired ones。
2.当一个人重复做某件事时,一种看不见的力量驱使他去重复做同一件事,这样就养成了习惯:此句在翻译时需要调整语序,该句强调的是习惯是如何养成的,因此把“这样就养成了习惯”译为主句,且转译为被动句A habit is developed by an invisible force which drives one to repeat an action.其中“一种看不见的力量驱使他去重复做同一件事”本身已经包含“当一个人重复做某件事时”这句话,因此可省略不译。
3.习惯一旦形成,要改掉它是困难的,有时是不可能的:此句中“习惯一旦形成”隐含条件之意,可译为完整的条件状语从句Once a habit is formed,也可译为分词短语once formed,从而使句子更简洁。
4.所以,我们在形成习惯的时候要小心谨慎,这一点是非常重要的:此句在翻译时需要调整语序,使译文更符合英语后重和先叙事后表态的特点,本句可译为it作形式主语的句子。“这一点是非常重要的”可译为It is of great importance或It is very important。
5.小孩子常常会养成坏习惯。这些坏习惯中有的一直保留到你死去为止:这两句在语义和结构上都很紧凑,可合译为一句,其中后一句译为定语从句。前一句中的“小孩”和后一句中的“你”都是泛称,因而译文的主语统一用children即可。
6.还有的早年养成的习惯成了一件幸事:可译为Some habits developed in one's earlier life turn to be a blessing.
7.许多成功者声称他们很多的成功要归功于早年生活所形成的习惯,诸如准时、早起、诚实和彻底:此句中“声称”可省略不译。“准时”译为punctuality;“彻底”在文中指“坚持不懈”,可译为perseverance。“归功于”可译为attribute to或owe to。
3. 这一句话是:“不要抛弃学问。”以前的功课也许有一大部分是为了这张毕业文凭,不得已而做的,从今以后,你们可以依自己的心愿去自由研究了。趁现在年富力强的时候,努力做一种专门学问。少年是一去不复返的,等到精力衰时,要做学问也来不及了。即为吃饭计,学问决不会辜负人的。吃饭而不求学问,三年五年之后,你们都要被后来少年淘汰掉的。到那时再想做点学问来补救,恐怕已太晚了。
I have the words, "Never give up the pursuit of learning." You have perhaps finished your college courses mostly for obtaining the diploma, or, in other words, out of sheer necessity. However, from now on you are free to follow your own bent in the choice of studies. While you are in the prime of life, why not devote yourselves to a special field of study? Youth will soon be gone never to return. And it will be too late for you to go into scholarship when in your declining years. Knowledge will do you a good turn even as a means of subsistence. If you give up studies while holding a job, you will in a couple of years have had yourselves replaced by younger people. It will then be too late to remedy the situation by picking up studies again.
[难点注释]
1.不要放弃学问:若直译为Never give up learning.则无法充分体现文中隐含的意思——“不要放弃对学问的追求”,在此最好译为Never give up the pursuit of learning.
2.以前的功课也许有一大部分是为了这张毕业文凭,不得已而做的,从今以后,你们可以依自己的心愿去自由研究了:此句可拆译为两个独立的句子,前部分“……不得已而做的”为无主句,需增译出主语you。“以前的功课”为名词,可转译为动宾结构have perhaps finished your college courses。“不得已而做的”指“纯粹是出于必要性而做”,可译为out of sheer necessity。后部分“从今以后……研究了”与前部分的“从前……”之间隐含转折语气,因此可增译however一词来衔接。
3.趁现在……专门学问:此句为陈述句,在翻译时可采用转句译法,译成反问句式,从而增强说服力。“年富力强”,可译为inthe prime of life。“专门学问”可译为a special field of study。
4.少年是一去不复返的,等到精力衰时,要做学问也来不及了:此句虽然不长,但前部分“少年是一去不复返的”与后部分“等到精力衰时,要做学问也来不及了”可拆译成两个独立的句子。“精力衰时”可译为in your declining years;“做学问”可泽为go into scholarship。
5.即为吃饭计:指“即便作为一种谋生的手段”,可泽为even as a means of subsistence。
6.学问决不辜负人的:换句话说就是“学问会给你带来好处”,因此这句话可用反说正译法翻译成肯定句:Knowledge will do you a good turn。
7.吃饭而不求学问:此句含有假设之意,因此可译为if引导的条件状语从句。
8.到那时再想做点学问来补救,恐怕已太晚了:最后一句需调整语序,译为“it is+形容词+真正主语”的结构,即It will then be too late to remedy the situation by picking up studies again。
4. 从北平来的人往往说上海这地方怎么“呆”得住。一切都这样紧张。空气是这样龌龊。走出去很难看得见树木。诸如此类,他们可以举出一大堆。我想,月亮仿佛失掉了这一点,也该列入他们认为上海“呆”不住的理由吧。假若如此,我倒并不同意。在生活的诸般条件里列入必须看月亮一项,那是没有理由的。清旷的襟怀和高远的想象力未必定须由对月而养成。把仰望的双眼移到地面,同样可以收到修养上的效益,而且更见切实。可是我并非反对看月亮,只是说即使看不到也没有什么关系罢了。
People from Peiping often wonder why one should choose to live in such a lousy place. They say life here is so full of tension, the air so foul, trees so scarce, and so on and so forth. I wonder if the apparent loss of moonlight might as well be listed among their reasons for staying away from this city. But I would think otherwise, for it doesn't make sense to call enjoyment of moonlight one of the requisites of life. Open heart and wide vision do not necessarily come of watching the moon. The same can be achieved in self-cultivation, and that in a more practical way, by looking earthward instead of skyward. Nevertheless, I'm not opposed to watching the moon. I only mean it doesn't matter at all if you see no moon.
[难点注释]
1.上海这地方怎么“呆”得住:指人们怎么会选择住在上海这么一个地方,故可译为why one should choose to live in such a lousy place。
2.一切都这样紧张。空气是这样龌龊。走出去很难看得见树木。诸如此类,他们可以举出一大堆:本处句式结构简短,表达的都是北平人的看法,因此可合译为一个句子,但需增译主谓they say。“一切都这样紧张”不可直译为Everything is nervous.此处的“紧张”是形容生活:声奏紧绷,因此可译为Life here is full of tension。
3.我想,月亮仿佛失掉了这一点,也该列入他们认为上海“呆”不住的理由吧:本句以助词“吧”字结尾,隐含一种不太肯定的语气,故此处“我想”译为I wonder比I think更贴切。“也”在此译为“as well”也比用also彰显翻译功底。
4.假若如此,我倒并不同意。在生活的诸般条件里列入必须看月亮一项,那是没有理由的:这两句之间联系紧密,隐含因果关系,因此可合译为一句。后一句在译文中要调整语序,采用it作形式主语的结构。这里的“条件”指“生活必需条件”,可译为requisite of life。
5.把仰望的双眼……关系罢了:是汉语中常见的无主句,翻译时可转换语态,译为英语被动句。“修养”可泽为self-cultivation;“修养上的效益”指的就是前一句的“清旷的襟怀和高远的想象力”,为了避免复赘,可用the same代替。“反对”可译为be opposed to,be against,或disagree with。
5.
学问要有根底,根底要打得平正坚实,以后永远受用。初学阶段的科目之最重要的莫过于语文与数学。语文是阅读达意的工具,国文不通便很难表达自己,外国文不通便很难吸取外来的新知。数学是思想条理之最好的训练。其他科目也各有各的用处,其重要性很难强分轩轾,例如体育,从一方面看也是重要得无以复加。总之,我们在求学时代,应该暂时且把趣味放在一旁,耐着性子接受教育的纪律,把自己锻炼成为坚实的材料。学问的趣味,留在将来慢慢享受一点也不迟。
Laying a solid foundation for learning will be of great life-long benefit to you. Of all the school subjects during the preliminary stage of learning, languages and mathematics are the most important. Languages serve as a tool for reading and communication. Without a good knowledge of Chinese, you will find it difficult to express yourself. Without a good knowledge of a foreign language, you will find it difficult to absorb new knowledge from abroad. Mathematics makes for logical thinking. Other subjects also have their respective uses. It is hard to say which is more important. Physical education, for example, is also extremely important for another point of view. In short, while in school, we should temporarily put aside our personal liking and patiently observe school discipline so that we may temper ourselves and become solid stuff.
[难点注释]
1.学问要有根底,根底要打得平正坚实,以后永远受用:此句所表达的意思是“打牢学问根底将受益终生”,因此可合译为一个句子Laying a solid foundation for learning will be of great life-long benefit to you。
2.初学阶段:可译为during the preliminary stage of learning。
3.语文:不宜译为Chinese,因为此处的“语文”并不仅指中文,而统指语言,故译为languages更稳妥些。
4.达意:指的是“交流”,可译为communicate。
5.不通:可译为without a good knowledge of。
6.数学是思想条理之最好的训练:指的是数学对逻辑思维有帮助,因此可译为Mathematics makes for logical thinking.
7.其他科目也各有各的用处,其重要性很难强分轩轾,例如体育,从一方面看也是重要得无以复加:此句可拆译为三个独立的句子。第一部分“其他科目也各有各的用处”可译为Other subjects also have their respective uses.第二部分“其重要性很难强分轩轾”译为It is hard to say which is more important.即可。第三部分中“重要得无以复加”可译为is extremely important。
8.总之,我们在求学时代,应该暂时且把趣昧放在一旁,耐着性子接受教育的纪律,把自己锻炼成为坚实的材料:句中“求学时代”译为while in school即可;“把自己锻炼成为坚实的材料”是“应该暂时且……接受教育的纪律”的目的,因而可在译文中增译连词so that或in order that来表示这种逻辑关系。“耐着性子”译为副词patiently即可,“接受教育的纪律”即遵守学校的纪律,译为observe school discipline。
SECTION B ENGLISH TO CHINESE Translate the following text into Chinese.1. I never met a more interesting man than Mayhew. He was a lawyer in Detroit. He was an able and a successful one. By the time he was thirty-five he had a large and a lucrative practice, he had amassed a competence, and he stood on the threshold of a distinguished career. He had an acute brain, an attractive personality, and uprightness. There was no reason why he should not become, financially or politically, a power in the land. One evening he was sitting in his club with a group of friends and they were perhaps a little worse (or the better) for liquor. One of them had recently come from Italy and he told them of a house he had seen at Capri, a house on the hill, overlooking the Bay of Naples, with a large and shady garden. He described to them the beauty of the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.
我从未见过比梅休更有意思的人了。他是底特律的一名律师,为人能干,事业上也很成功。35岁时事业就蒸蒸日上,收入颇丰,能力渐增,前程似锦。他头脑灵活,性格招人喜欢,为人又很正直,在这个国家里不变得有钱或有势才怪呢。一天晚上,他与一些朋友在俱乐部聚会。喝了酒之后,他们也许有点醉意(或更清醒)了。其中一人刚从意大利回来,跟大家谈起了在卡普里岛看到的一幢房子。那是一幢坐落在小山上的房屋,还有个绿叶成荫的大花园。从屋里望出去,那不勒斯湾尽收眼底。他将地中海这个最美的岛屿向他们娓娓道来。
[难点注释]
1.He was an able and a successful one:这里的代词one指代的是前文提到的lawyer,所以中文翻译中将本句与前一句合为一句,使结构更紧凑。
2.…he had a large and a lucrative practice, he had amassed a competence, and he stood on the threshold of a distinguished career:句中的practice在指律师或医生行业时意为“业务,生意”,lucrative意为“赚钱的”,amass本意为“积累”,这里意译为“增加”,on the threshold of意为“在……的开端”,stood on the threshold of a distinguished career(站在蓬勃事业的开端),译为“前程似锦”。
3.He had an acute brain,an attractive personality,and uprightness:本处三个名词短语主要是描述人的性格特征,翻译时可转换三个主谓结构,acute意为“敏锐的,灵敏的”,uprightness是upright的名词形式,意为“正直,诚实”。
4.they were perhaps a little worse(or the better)for liquor:可译为“喝了酒之后,他们也许有点醉意(或更清醒)了”。
5.a power in the land:意为“这个国家举足轻重的人”,这里的land代指一个国家。
6.shady:意为“成荫的”。
2. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing the conditions facing our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So first of all, let me express my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror, which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves, which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
In such a spirit on my part and on yours, we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Yet, our distress comes from no failure of substance.
现在正是坦白、勇敢地说出实话,说出全部实话的最好时刻。我们不必畏畏缩缩,不正视我们国家正面临的情况。这个伟大的国家会一如既往地坚持下去,它会复兴和繁荣起来。因此,让我首先表明我的坚定信念:我们唯一不得不害怕的就是害怕本身——一种无以名状的、丧失理智的、莫名其妙的恐惧,它把人转退为进所需的种种努力化为泡影。凡在我们国家阴云密布的时刻,坦率而有活力的领导都得到过人民的理解和支持,从而为胜利创造了必不可少的条件。我相信,在这危急时刻,大家会再次给予同样的支持。
我和你们都要以这种精神,来面对我们共同的困难。感谢上帝,这些困难只是物质方面的。但是,我们的苦恼绝不是因为缺乏物资。
[难点注释]
1.preeminently:意为“显著地,卓越地”。
2.Nor need we shrink from honestly facing…:本句整句是一个倒装句,nor否定词提前,用部分倒装。honestly facing…直译为“诚实地面对……”,这里宜意译为“正视……”。
3.…will endure as it has endured:endure意为“忍受”,本句直译为“……将会像他们以前一样继续忍受”,这样显得生涩无味,故译为“……将一如既往地坚持”。
4.nameless:意为“无以名状的”。
5.Which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance:本句是一个定语从句修饰先行词terror,which在从句中作主语,to convert retreat into advance是动词不定式作后置定语修饰needed efforts,其Convert...into...意为“把……转化成……”,paralyze意为“使无能为力,使瘫痪”,retreat意为“撤退”。
6.I am convinced that:译为“我确信……”。
7.in these critical days:泽为“在这危急时刻”。
3. My address will follow the classical sonata form of commencement addresses. The first movement, just presented, were light-hearted remarks. This next movement consists of unsolicited advice, which is rarely valued, seldom remembered, never followed. As Oscar Wilde said, "The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself."
So, here comes the advice. First, every you celebrate an achievement, be thankful to those who made it possible. Thank your parents and friends who supported you, thank your professors who were inspirational, and especially thank the other professors whose less-than-brilliant lectures forced you to teach yourself. Going forward, the ability to teach yourself is the hallmark of a great liberal arts education and will be the key to your success. To your fellow students who have added immeasurably to your education during those late night discussions, hug them. Also, of course, thank Harvard. Should you forget, there's an alumni association to remind you. Second, in your future life, cultivate a generous spirit. In all negotiations, don't bargain for the last little advantage. Leave the change on the table. In your collaborations, always remember that "credit" is not a conserved quantity. In a successful collaboration, everybody gets 90 percent of the credit.
所以,下面就是我的忠告。第一,每次在你庆祝自己的成就的时候,感谢那些帮你实现成就的人。要感谢你的父母和支持你的朋友,要感谢那些启发过你的教授,尤其要感谢那些课上得不怎么好的教授,因为他们迫使你自学。从长远来看,自学能力是优秀的人文科学教育中必不可少的,将成为你成功的关键。你还要去拥抱你的同学,感谢他们在那些彻夜长谈中为你的学习带来的无法衡量的价值。当然,你还要感谢哈佛大学。不过即使你忘了这一点,校友会也会来提醒你。第二,在你们未来的人生中,做一个慷慨大方的人。在任何谈判中,都把最后一点点利益留给对方。不要把桌上的钱都拿走。在合作中,要牢记荣誉不是一个守恒的量。成功合作的任何一方,都应获得全部荣誉的90%。
[难点注释]
1.inspirational:意为“给予灵感的,给予启发的”。
2.…especially thank the other professors whose less-than-brilliant lectures forced you to teach yourself:本句中whose less-than-brilliant lectures forced you to teach yourself堤一个由whose引导的定语从句,修饰professors。
3.Going forward…:意为“向前,前进”。
4.hallmark:意为“显著特征”。
5.liberal arts education:liberal arts意为“人文科学”,liberal arts education则译为“人文科学教育”。
6.night discussions:可译为“夜谈”。
7.Should you forget,there's an alumni association to remind you:本句是一个省略了even if的条件状语从句,译为“即使你忘记了哈佛大学,校友会也会来提醒你”,alumni association意为“校友会,同学会”。
8.In all negotiations, don't bargain for the last little advantage. Leave the change on the table:bargain for意为“为……谈判,为……而讨价还价”,本句若直译为“在谈判中,不要为最后一点小小的利益谈判,将零饯放在桌上”,读起来生涩拗口,故把两句反过来译要合适一些。
4. A reader in Florida, apparently bruised by some personal experience, writes in to complain, "If I steal a nickel's worth of merchandise, I am a thief and punished; but if I steal the love of another's wife, I am free."
This is a prevalent misconception in many people's minds—that love, like merchandise, can be "stolen". Numerous states, in fact, have enacted laws allowing damages for "alienation of affections".
But love is not a commodity; the real thing cannot be bought, sold, traded or stolen. It is an act of the will, a turning of the emotions, a change in the climate of the personality.
When a husband or wife is "stolen" by another person, that husband or wife was already ripe for the stealing, was already predisposed toward a new partner. The "love bandit" was only taking what was waiting to be taken, what wanted to be taken.
佛罗里达州1的一位读者显然是在个人经历上受过创伤,他来信抱怨道:“如果我偷走了价值五分钱的商品,我就是个贼,要受到惩罚,但是如果我偷走了他人妻子的爱情,我就没事儿。”
这是许多人心目中普遍存在的一种错误观念——爱情,像商品一样,可以“偷走”。实际上,许多州都颁布法令,允许索取“情感转让”赔偿金。
但是爱情并不是商品;真情实意不可能买到,卖掉,交换,或者偷走。爱情是自愿的行为,是感情的转向,是个性发挥上的变化。
当丈夫或妻子被另一个人“偷走”时,那个丈夫或妻子就已经具备了被偷走的条件,事先已经准备接受新的伴侣了。这位“爱匪”不过是取走等人取走、盼人取走的东西。
[难点注释]
1.apparently bruised by some personal experience:apparently译为“显然”,bruise译为“受过创伤”,此处译为“在个人经历上受过创伤”。
2.write in:此处可译为“来信”。
3.a nickel's worth of merchandise:nickel指“(美国和加拿大的)五分镍币”;a nickel's worth of merchandise译为“价值五分钱的商品”。
4.a prevalent misconception:译为“普遍存在的一种错误观念”。
5.enact:意为“颁布(法律)”。
6.damage:此处作名词,意为“损害赔偿金”。
7.alienation of affections:根据上下文,可译为“情感转让”。
8.It is an act of the will,a turning of the emotions,a change in the climate of the personality:此处运用了排比的手法,可意译为“爱情是自愿的行为,是感情的转向,是个性发挥上的变化”。
9.When a husband or wife is "stolen" by another person.that husband or wife was already ripe for the stealing, was already predisposed toward a new partner:此处只要理解两个词就很容易翻译了。一个是ripe,ripe此处作形容词,意为“成熟的”,be ripe for意为“时机成熟”,此处暗指“已经具备了被偷走的条件”;另一个是predispose, predispose原意为“使受……的影响”,此处暗指“接受”。此句译为“当丈夫或妻子被另一个人‘偷走’时,那个丈夫或妻子就已经具备了被偷走的条件,事先已经准备接受新的伴侣了”。
10.The "love bandit" was only taking what was waiting to be taken, what wanted to be taken:love bandit译为“爱匪”即可。此句译为“这位‘爱匪’不过是取走等人取走、盼人取走的东西”。
5. Divorce is transforming the lives of American children. In the past World War II generation, more than 80 percent of children grew up with both biological parents. Today only half will do so. Each year more than a million children experience family breakup: about as many are born out of wedlock.
At the same time, the problems associated with family disruption have grown. Overall child well-being has declined, despite historically high public spending. The teen suicide rate has almost tripled. Juvenile crime has increased and become more violent. School performance has been poor.
Over the past 25 years Americans have been conducting a vast natural experiment in family life. The results are becoming clear. Adults have benefited from the changes, but not children. Indeed, this may be the first generation to do worse psychologically and socially than their parents.
The novelist Pat Conroy has observed that "Each divorce is the death of a small civilization." No one feels this more acutely than children.
离婚正改变着美国孩子的生活。在“二战”后成长起来的一代人中,有80%以上的孩子都在亲生父母身边长大。今天只有50%的孩子是如此,每年有100多万的孩子经历家庭破裂。这与私生子女的数量大体相当。
与此同时,由于家庭破裂所带来的问题日渐增多。尽管政府公共资助力度达到历史高点,孩子的总体幸福水平却下降了。青少年自杀率翻了三番,青少年犯罪率也上升了,他们的暴力行为也增加了,在学校的表现也一直不好。
在过去的25年里,美国人一直在进行家庭生活中的一项规模宏大的自然实验。其结果已日渐明朗。成人从变化中受益,而儿童则不然。确实,这可能是在心理上、社交方面比父辈做得更差的第一代子女。
小说家帕特·康罗伊发现,“每一次离婚都是—个小的文明社会的泯灭”。没有人比儿童更能感受到这一点了。
[难点注释]
1.biological parents:可译为“亲生父母,生身父母”。
2.born out of wedlock:译为“非婚生的,私生的”。
3.family disruption:与前文中的family breakup同义,译为“家庭分裂,家庭破碎”。
4....despite historically high public spending:despite后接的是动名词,作让步状语,historically可译为“历史上地,历来”。
5.The teen suicide rate has almost tripled:the teen suicide rate译为“青少年自杀率”,triple意为“增至三倍”。
6.Juvenile crime:是固定搭配,译为“青少年犯罪”。
7.conducting a vast natural experiment:conduct a experiment意为“做实验,进行一项实验”。
8.acutely:译为“剧烈地,强烈地”。