Unit 12  （2005年）

It is not easy to talk about the role of the mass media in this overwhelmingly significant phase in European history. History and news become confused, and one’s impressions tend to be a mixture of skepticism and optimism. （46） Television is one of the means by which these feelings are created and conveyed and perhaps never before has it served to much to connect different peoples and nations as in the recent events in Europe. The Europe that is now forming cannot be anything other than its peoples, their cultures and national identities. With this in mind we can begin to analyze the European television scene. （47） In Europe, as elsewhere, multimedia groups have been increasingly successful groups which bring together television, radio, newspapers, magazines and publishing houses that work in relation to one another. One Italian example would be the Berlusconi group while abroad Maxwell and Murdoch come to mind.

Clearly, only the biggest and most flexible television companies are going to be able to compete in such a rich and hotly contested market. （48） This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in, a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks, no less than 50% took a loss in 1989.

Moreover, the integration of the European community will oblige television companies to cooperate more closely in terms of both production and distribution.

（49） Creating a “European identity” that respects the different cultures and traditions which go to make up the connecting fabric of the old continent is no easy task and demands a strategic choice that of producing programs in Europe for Europe. This entails reducing our dependence on the North American market, whose programs relate to experiences and cultural traditions which are different from our own.

In order to achieve these objectives, we must concentrate more on co-productions, the exchange of news, documentary services and training. This also involves the agreements between European countries for the creation of a European bank will handle the finances necessary for production costs. （50） In dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say “Unity we stand, divided we fall” and if I had to choose a slogan it would be “Unity in our diversity.” A unity of objectives that nonetheless respect the varied peculiarities of each country.

Unit 12  翻译题解

 （46） Television is one of the means by which these feelings are created and conveyed and perhaps never before has it served to much to connect different peoples and nations as in the recent events in Europe.

［结构分析］ 这是一个由and连接的两个并列句。

［词汇难点］ means（单复数同）意为“手段”；served意为“起作用”。

［参考译文］ 电视是引发和传递这些感受的手段之一——在欧洲近来发生的事件中，它把不同的民族和国家连到一起，其作用之大，前所未有。

（47） In Europe, as elsewhere, multimedia groups have been increasingly successful groups which bring together television, radio, newspapers, magazines and publishing houses that work in relation to one another.

［结构分析］ 这是一个多重复合句。第一个which修饰前面的groups；第二个which修饰前面一系列的名词。

［词汇难点］ groups在此为一词多义，意为“集团公司”；in relation to意为“与…有关；涉及…”。

［参考译文］ 在欧洲，像在其他地方一样，传媒集团越来越成功：这些集团将相关的电视、广播、报纸、杂志和出版社组合在一起。

（48） This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in, a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks, no less than 50% took a loss in 1989.

［结构分析］ 这是一个多重复合句。第一个that引导宾语从句；从句中的a fact直至句末为补充说明结构，修饰逗号前的小句；underlined引导一个分词结构，为后置定语，修饰a fact；that show that...为定语从句，修饰statistics。

［词汇难点］ underline意为“强化，强调”；took a loss意为“亏损”。

［参考译文］ 这一点就足以证明，要在电视行业里生存下来并非易事。统计数字尤其说明了这一事实，在80个欧洲电视网中，多达一半在1989年亏损。

（49） Creating a “European identity” that respects the different cultures and traditions which go to make up the connecting fabric of the old continent is no easy task and demands a strategic choice

［结构分析］ 这是一个复合句，主句的主语是动名词结构Creating a “European identity”，谓语有两个is no...和demands...；that引导定语从句修饰identity；which引导定语从句修饰cultures and traditions。

［词汇难点］ European identity指的是欧洲的电视网络加强协调，乃至联合在一起，从而能形成所谓的“欧洲身份”或“欧洲一体”；fabric原义为“纺织品”，引申为“组织；结构”。

［参考译文］ 不同的文化和传统把欧洲大陆编织成一体，要创造出一种尊重这些不同文化和传统的“欧洲品牌”绝非易事，需要人们做出战略性的选择。

（50） In dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say “Unity we stand, divided we fall”

［结构分析］ In dealing with...为介词结构，做全句的状语；and前后为两个并列的句子，其中后面的又是一个主从复合句。

［词汇难点］ on such a scale意为“如此规模的”；slogan意为“标语，口号”。