我们能从“特金会”中学到哪些地道表达?

原文:http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI5MzQ0NjMyMw==&mid=2247485089&idx=1&sn=54b488a5d0ddee1dff108edb47f7baaf&chksm=ec70b17ddb07386bcd96ab7e4c8825a86bab4aecceff60754918f9aec10acc977357ea971f8d#rd

近几日媒体铺天盖地的报道“特金会”,我从BBC和《纽约时报》等外刊中找了一些地道表达和一个写作句式和大家分享一下,希望你们能喜欢。




一、create space for


关于特金会,the New York Times 是这么报道的:


Mr. Trump was setting a policy that analysts refer to as “freeze for freeze,” in which the United States freezes the exercises and North Korea freezes its weapons tests. It’s meant to reduce tensions and create space for more meaningful concessions. 


分析人士把特朗普所制定的政策称为“双暂停”,指美国暂停 韩美军演,朝鲜暂停武器测验。这意味着会缓解冲突、为更有意义的让步创造条件


 里面有一个搭配:create space for,可以理解为“为...创造空间,为...创造条件,为...铺路搭桥”,也可以用 set the stage for, create conditions for, pave the way for, provide/lay a foundation for 等来替换,比如《政府工作报告》中曾有这么一句话:


逐步改变贫困地区社会、经济、文化的落后状况,为达到小康水平创造条件


英文译文是


Improve social, economic and cultural aspects of poverty-stricken communities as part of the efforts to build/lay a solid foundation for a well-off society; 


再比如2017年《经济学人》中有这么一句话:


Some businessmen welcomed it, hoping that a reduction in graft and cronyism will create space for young entrepreneurs.


一些商人对此表示欢迎,他们认为,减少腐败和任人唯亲等现象可以为年轻企业家创造空间


我们造一个句子:


A level playing field will create space for start-ups to boom.

公平的竞争环境能够为新兴企业的繁荣创造条件。


A level playing field 是外刊中常出现的表达,意思是“公平公正的竞争环境”,它对应的动词表达是:level the playing field,创造公平的竞争环境,也可以说 create the level playing field.




二、a one-time shot


BBC的报道:


Mr Trump described it as a "one-time shot" at peace and said the two were in "unknown territory".


特朗普认为,这次峰会是实现和平的“唯一机会”,并表示,  两人进入了“未知的领域”。


"one-time"是形容词,表示“一次性的,只有一次的”,shot 在这里表示“尝试,努力,机会”,比如,give it a shot 试一试。

合起来,one-time shot 就表示“唯一的机会”,机会只有一次,过了这个村没这个店了。


《纽约时报》在题目中就出现了这个表达:

Trump casts North Korea Summit as "One-Time Shot" for Kim


cast...as...就相当于上文的 describe...as...,可以相互替换。


我们可以用"one-time shot"来比喻机会的宝贵,比如刚过去的高考,我们就可以说:

Many describe  gaokao as a one-time shot to improve one's life.


也可以用 once in a lifetime opportunity 来替换。




三、trade


trade 既可以作动词也可以作名词,表示“贸易”,但很少人能把这个词用活。


BBC在描述之前 Trump 和 Kim 的关系时,是这么说的:


The two leaders have had an extraordinary up-and-down relationship over the past 18 months, trading insults and threatening war before abruptly changing tack and moving towards a face-to-face meeting.


have an extraordinary up-and-down relationship 可以用来表示坎坷的关系,相爱相杀。


trade insults,很明显 trade 在这里是个动词,表示“贸易”,贸易的本质就是交换,所以,trade insults 的字面意思是“交换辱骂”,也就是“互骂、对骂”的意思。


此外我们还可以说 trade views 交换意见,trade insights 交流见解,trade jokes 互相讲笑话,trade blows 互打,trade secrets 交换秘密。再举个例子:

We sat around the dinner table, trading stories.

我们围坐在餐桌旁,你一言我一语地讲着各自的见闻。


trade 还可以用 exchange 替换,比如BBC的报道中还有这么一句话:


Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un have become the first sitting US president and North Korean leaders to meet, an unprecedented development after a year of exchanging threats.




四、观点类写作句式:people are split on...


各位专家对这场峰会可能取得的成果意见不一,BBC是这么报道的:


Analysts are split on what the summit will achieve. Some see it as a propaganda win for Mr Kim, others a potential path to peace.


"others a potential path to peace"可以看成独立主格,因为前后动词一致,所以为求精简,把后面的省略了。


"Analysts are split on.... Some see it as..., others...",这简直是为观点类写作量身定做的一个句式,观点类写作中,我们一般分为三/四段,第一段简要介绍背景以及双方的观点,中间段落要详细论述双方观点,最后一段亮出个人观点或方法论。在第一段简介双方观点时,我们就可以用到这个句式,比如“人工智能之辩”:

Analysts are split on what AI will change. Some see it as a helper to humans, others a potention threat.


再比如“手机之利弊”:

Analysts are split on what smartphones can bring. Some see it as a boost to social life, others a distraction.


电子游戏之利弊:

Analysts are split on what video games can bring. Some see it as a bane of violent social behavior, others a flavour to our boring lives.


我们也可以用"Opinions are divided about..."来替换"Analysts are split on...",不过 divide 快被用滥了。




最后和大家分享一个小故事,上世纪80年代朝韩领导人第一次会面,当时创可贴公司邦迪抓住了这个机会,写了个广告文案:没有愈合不了的伤口。大火。前几天突然想到这事,截图发了个朋友圈:

有一位学员在评论区为杜蕾斯写了个文案,清新脱俗:没有润滑不了的关系。


我立马想到了下面这张图片:



开个玩笑,祝世界和平!