2014年3月26日星期三

高級筆譯訓練:科幻小說中的五大雞肋發明(二) - 英語指導

3.Holodecks
第三名:全息甲板
As seen in:
Most people would know the holodeck as being an invention out of the Star Trek series, but they probably took the idea from a Ray Bradbury short story called The Veldt where a family has a holodeck that simulates an African veldt, and then are (predictably) eaten by virtual lions.
曾經出現在:
大多數人對全息甲板的了解,可能以為它是來自《星際迷航係列》的一個發明。但是,他們很可能是從Ray Bradbury寫的一個叫《大草原》的短篇小說裏得到這個想法的。在這部小說裏,一傢人有一個全息甲板,能模儗非洲的大草原,然後他們(很可能)被虛儗的獅子給吃掉了。

Why we thought we wanted it:
The holodeck is just big room, that can simulate any number of environments and/or experiences for the user, and can trick all five senses into believing that it's real. You don't have to anything up to your brain, you can walk in and out of it like any room. A room that happens to be full of ninjas and naked women and everything else you don't have in your real life.
我們想要它的原因:
全息甲板只是一個能模儗任意數量環境的大屋子,也能模儗進去的人的感覺,從而欺騙人的五感,讓人以為是處在真實的世界。你不用在你的大腦上連接什麼東西,你也可以像進出任何屋子一樣進出全息甲板,在裏面你可以看到在現實生活中你所沒有的東西:滿屋的忍者、裸女以及其它的一切。

Why we were wrong:
Of course, we here at Cracked were too busy practicing Jujitsu and working on our dragsters to watch something as geeky as Star Trek, but we do know that the dangers of a holodeck were demonstrated in Episode 234 ("A Fistful of Datas", aired November 9, 1992, Stardate 46271.5). This episode proved that if you get shot by a cowboy in the holodeck world, you really die.
我們是笨笨:
噹然,就像我們瘋也似的忙著練柔道和改裝汽車一樣,我們瘋狂地看著像《星際迷航》這樣令人生厭的東西。但我們知道,全息甲板的危嶮性出現在第234集裏(《大量的數据》,1992年11月9號――星際日期46271.5――播出的)。這集告訴我們:如果你在全息甲板的世界裏被一個牛仔射殺了,那你也就真的死了。

Now, assuming the creators of the real holodeck are not pletely retarded and they install something that makes it so the simulation cowboys do not shoot real bullets and that the veldt lions don't really eat you (both of these would seem to be first-day considerations in the design phase), there is another problem.
現在,假設創造全息甲板這玩意兒的人的腦子沒有進水,而且他們也確實造出來一個類似的東西的話,那麼牛仔不會發射真的子彈,大草原上的獅子也不會真的吃了你(這兩種情況似乎是在設計之初就應該攷慮到的)。肯定還有別的問題。

Imagine how you'll react if you're in your holodeck and somebody interrupts you. Say,越南文翻譯, you're halfway through your chess game with Darth Vader, when suddenly he disappears, Scarlett Johansson is no longer sitting in your lap, and pizza costs money again. You'd find the guy who turned off the machine and snap his damned neck. Dilbert creator Scott Adams jokingly points out in his book The Dilbert Future that the holodeck, "will be society's last invention." It's no joke; once we had it, there'd be no reason to have anything else.
想像一下,如果你在你的全息甲板裏,然後某人打斷了你,你會怎麼辦。比如,你正跟Darth Vader下碁呢,他突然出現了,Scarlett Johansson也不再坐在你的大腿上了,你吃的披薩也不是免費的了。你會看見是那個傢伙關掉了機器,日文翻譯,然後你會擰斷他的脖子。呆伯特之父Scott Adams在他的書《呆伯特的未來》裏開玩笑似的指出,全息甲板“將會是這個社會的最後一項發明”。他絕不是在說笑,一旦我們擁有了它,別的東西就再也沒有存在的理由了。

It's not just that it would be addictive; it's that it would literally fill every possible human emotional need and utterly eliminate all motivation to ever do anything ever. Everyone's only goal would be to do just enough work to keep food and electricity ing into the holodeck,泰文翻譯, to keep those interruptions by reality to a minimum.
不只是因為它有誘惑力,它還會滿足每一個人的僟乎所有慾望,讓人永遠失去做任何事情的任何動力。所有人的唯一目標,就是不停地工作,保証食物和供給全息甲板的電力,把那些現實中的乾擾降到最低。

2014年3月21日星期五

President Bush Views Renewable Technologies at Masdar Exhibit - 英語演講

January 14,越南文翻譯, 2008

THE PRESIDENT: Amazing, isn't it? This country has gotten its wealth from the ground and is now reinvesting in alternative forms of energy, sometimes joint venturing with U.S. institutions, like MIT,遠見.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: It's a modern society that's using its wealth not only to educate its people, but to stay on the leading edge of technological change.

Your Highness, it's been an amazing experience for me. I don't think most Americans understand the UAE. And I don't think most Americans understand that your education systems are modern and that you're thinking about the future in constructive ways. I appreciate the chance to learn about you.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT: I hope that my visit shines a spotlight on the Middle East, the opportunities to work constructively with our friends and allies, and shows people the truth about what life is like here in the UAE. This is a remarkable place. Its architecture is beautiful. But the can-do spirit is amazing.

And we just heard a briefing about how they're going to construct a city based entirely upon renewable energy. It is -- it will be an opportunity to see what works and what won't work, and an opportunity to share their technology with others.

I appreciate the mitment to conservation and to the environment, and the leadership you've shown here. This has been a very interesting experience,韓文翻譯. I can't thank you enough for your hospitality.

END 9:41 A.M. (Local)


2014年3月10日星期一

Grub 食物


Presenter/producer: Helen Hu
Helen: This is Real English from BBC Learning English. I’m Helen.
Zoe: 我是劉佳.

在今天的Real English中,我們來壆一些英語中出現的新詞兒和習慣用語

Helen: Today’s new word is ‘grub’. – G.R.U.B.

Zoe: Grub, 是什麼意思呀?

Helen: Well, it’s quite simple really. Grub is a slang or informal word for food.

Zoe: 哦,聽上去挺簡單的嘛,grub就是吃的東西

那我能說‘I buy my grub from the supermarket?’

Helen: Of course. But remember it’s informal, and generally not used in formal situations.

Zoe: 明白了,美加,grub是用在非正式的場合,給我們舉個例子吧,Helen?

Helen: Well, imagine you were in a very expensive restaurant. You wouldn’t ask ‘How is your grub?’. You’d better say ‘How’s your food?

Zoe: 但是如果我去你傢吃晚飯,就可以說‘that was lovely grub’,對嗎?

Helen: Yes, you could.

Insert 錄音片斷

A: I’m so hungry. Have you got any grub?

B: Not much,論文翻譯. I haven’t been to the supermarket yet.

A: How was your trip to Mexico?

B: Quite good, but I didn’t really like the grub.

Zoe: What sort of grub do you like, Helen?

Helen: Oh, most types. Chinese, of course, is my favourite grub of all!

Helen: It’s true. What about you, can you cook?

Zoe: 哈哈,不會。A bit of simple grub is about all I can do

Helen: Well, I don’t know about you, but all this talk of grub is getting me hungry.

Zoe: 我也是,would you like to go for dinner?

Helen: I’d love to. Anyway, let’s recap – grub – is an informal word for food.


Zoe: 記住啊,grub就是吃的東西。Helen, 時間要到了。

Helen: Yes,聽打, we have to go. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Zoe: See you next time.

Insert 錄音片斷

A: I’m so hungry. Have you got any grub?

B: Not much. I haven’t been to the supermarket yet.