万千变化在开篇－学会灵活运用英语

miriam

大家都知道，英文写作水平的高低代表着一个人的英语综合水平。而要想写出一手好文章，就必须注意积累，注意灵活得运用所学的知识，从而达到事半功倍的效果。
下面举一个小例子，希望对大家有所启发。如果觉得有用，请跟帖发表您的高见，我们会为您制做更多有用的绝招：

同样是“伊拉克接受联合国决议”这样一条新闻，中外各媒体的表达手法殊为迥异。且看以下首句，于你不无裨益。

Iraq says 'yes' to UN resolution
Iraq, facing a Friday deadline, has accepted a tough new U.N. resolution that will return weapons inspectors to the country after nearly four years.转自：http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/news/2002-11-14/93694.html
1. 首先引用的是新华社和中国日报的开篇。一眼看去，学生朋友们应该对其语言运用和句法结构颇为熟悉：主谓宾开门见山，动名词表原因和状态，从句结构补充说明。这几点对于有一定功底的初学者而言，是试图用一句话表述完整意思的不二法门。


Saddam says yes
Saddam Hussein has accepted a UN resolution calling on Iraq to give up weapons of mass destruction. But that may have been the easy bit. Evidence of his arms program still has to be uncovered转自：http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1441613
1. 再看看经济学家杂志的引言怎么说。
国外喜欢用地名（首都或著名山川等地理标志）或人名借指；国内则偏好正规的， “客观的”叙述。所以同样是一个“Yes”,出自 “Iraq”之口和“Saddam”之口味道就有所不同， Saddam 独步伊国数十年的君临天下之势通过一个“Yes”就跃然纸上，大家可以自己体会。

2. bit: 常规，老一套；标准做法，典型的行事方式
eg: the wet-eyes bit during leaving-taking 挥泪告别的老一套
Local toughies of fourteen were practicing the dangerous-loiterer bit as we passed.
在我们经过之处，14岁的当地小流氓正游荡街头，一副惹祸滋事的样子。
3. 大规模杀伤性武器（weapons of mass destruction，WMD）一般指ABC武器，即：原子武器、生物武器和化学武器，ABC是英文atomic weapon, biological weapon 和chemical weapon 三词的首字母缩写。


Survival demands that he play along with the UN. But playing along also reminds Iraqis of his ultimate weakness 转自：http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,389696,00.html
1. 时代杂志和经济学家杂志相似，开宗明意地提出自己的观点。类似于“顶真”的技法使语意层层递进，环环相扣。
2. “Survival”一个词做主语相当简洁，避免了句子的头重脚轻。


Iraq dodged the prospect of immediate war with the United States on Wednesday when it accepted a new United Nations resolution ordering Baghdad to comply with weapons inspections or face "serious consequences."转自：http://www.usatoday.com/news/acovthu.htm
1. 今日美国新闻同样是用一句话介绍事情的前因后果，而且又用“Baghdad”借指伊拉克。
2. Dodge：
To avoid (a blow, for example) by moving or shifting quickly aside.
闪躲通过快速移到一边来躲开（如一击）
To evade (an obligation, for example) by cunning, trickery, or deceit:
躲避通过巧计、哄骗或欺骗来逃避（如义务等）：
文中是此意，又如：Senate O’Brain skillfully dodged the crucial question.


The Iraqi response to the United Nations leaves room for interpretation on whether Baghdad really has accepted the U.N. resolution -- and that could mean a military confrontation is waiting down the road.转自：http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/11/13/iraq.un/index.html
1. CNN的表述着重于其对伊拉克后续行为的预测和分析。
2. Interpretation:
The act or process of interpreting.
解释的行为或过程
A result of interpreting.
解释结果
现在往往有“公说公有理、婆说婆有理”、“各自表述”的含义。

很明显，只有中国媒体的报道最为“客观和直白”，而国外的老记们为了表达他们眼中的真实，更愿意煞费苦心地表达自身立场、变幻文字运用