跟着英国女王学最正宗的英音 | 女王圣诞演讲中英全文对照
又到了做年底总结的时候。
除了个人总结、学校总结、公司总结外，最让人期待的莫过于各国首领和名流发表的年终总结。而对于那些整天浸润在美式发音里的北美小伙伴们来说，年终的英音福利大礼包又来啦 — 九十岁高龄的伊丽莎白奶奶那一年一度的圣诞演讲和首相梅姨的首次圣诞讲话！
伊丽莎白女王的2016年关键字 -- Inspiration
今年，伊丽莎白奶奶以表彰英国奥运健儿开头，又以“inspiration”为主题鼓励国民既要赠予他人鼓舞，也要善于接纳别人给予的鼓舞。在生活中不要以为自己微不足道的小小善意是没必要的；不要总以为阻止战争，保护环境等大话题离我们的生活很远所以自己的努力是无用的，因为小小的力量积少成多就能产生意想不到的结果。
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=m0359svwo5x&width=500&height=375&auto=0
译文：
There was a time when British Olympic medal winners became household names because there were so few of them.
曾几何时，英国奥运奖牌获得者家喻户晓，因为他们凤毛麟角。
But the 67 medals at this year's Games in Rio and 147 at the Paralympics meant that the GB medallists' reception at Buckingham Palace was a crowded and happy event.
可今年里约奥运会上我们斩获67枚奖牌，残奥会147枚，这让在白金汉宫里招待大不列颠的奖牌得主变得拥挤而欢乐。
Throughout the Commonwealth there were equally joyful celebrations. Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica and New Zealand won more medals per head of population than any other countries.
英联邦各处亦欢欣鼓舞，格林纳达、巴哈马群岛、牙买加、新西兰比其他任何国家的人均奖牌数都多。
Many of this year's winners spoke of being inspired by athletes of previous generations.
今年许多获胜者谈到，自己受到了运动前辈的鼓舞。
Inspiration fed their aspiration; and having discovered abilities they scarcely knew they had, these athletes are now inspiring others.
心受鼓舞令人志存高远，这些运动员发现了自己都难以置信的能力，现在他们正鼓舞着他人。
A few months ago, I saw inspiration of a different kind when I opened the new Cambridge base of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, where Prince William works as a helicopter pilot.
几个月前，我受到另一种鼓舞，我为东盎格鲁救援飞行队在剑桥的新基地剪彩，威廉王子是那里的直升机飞行员。
It was not hard to be moved by the dedication of the highly skilled doctors, paramedics and crew, who are called out on average five times a day.
训练有素的医生、医疗护理人员和机组成员，他们平均每天出勤五次，人们被他们的奉献精神感召并不困难。
But to be inspirational you don't have to save lives or win medals.
但要鼓舞他人，你不一定要救人性命或赢取奖牌。
I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organisers and good neighbours; unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special.
我常常从普通人身上汲取力量，他们做着不平凡的事：志愿者、看护者、社区组织者和友善的邻居，他们是无名的英雄，默默无闻的奉献让他们与众不同。
They are an inspiration to those who know them, and their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa, from this year Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
他们鼓舞着认识他们的人，他们的生活每每体现着特雷莎修女曾说过的真理，今年特雷莎封圣为“加尔各答的圣特雷莎”。
She once said: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love'.
她曾说：“并非每个人都能建立丰功伟业，但我们可以满怀着爱做一些小事。”
This has been the experience of two remarkable organisations, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and The Prince's Trust, which are 60 and 40 years old this year. These started as small initiatives but have grown beyond any expectations, and continue to transform young people's lives.
有两个出色的组织正是如此，它们是今年六十周年的爱丁堡公爵奖和四十周年的王子信托基金。它们从小做起，如今却超乎预料，并继续改变着年轻人的生活。
To mark my 90th birthday, volunteers and supporters of the six hundred charities of which I have been patron came to a lunch in The Mall.
为纪念我九十岁生日，来自600个慈善团体的志愿者和支持者参加午宴，我一直以来资助这些团体。
Many of these organisations are modest in size but inspire me with the work they do.
许多机构并不大，它们做的事却鼓舞着我。
From giving friendship and support to our veterans, the elderly or the bereaved; to championing music and dance; providing animal welfare; or protecting our fields and forests, their selfless devotion and generosity of spirit is an example to us all.
它们把友谊和支持给予退伍老兵、老年人和丧亲之人；它们赞助音乐和舞蹈；它们推动动物福利；它们保护我们的土地和森林；它们无私的奉献和慷慨堪为典范。
When people face a challenge they sometimes talk about taking a deep breath to find courage or strength. In fact, the word 'inspire' literally means 'to breathe in'.
遭遇挑战的人们有时会说，深吸一口气，拿出勇气和力量。事实上，“鼓舞”的字面意思就是“吸气”。
But even with the inspiration of others, it's understandable that we sometimes think the world's problems are so big that we can do little to help.
可即便受到他人鼓舞，我们有时还是发现，这个世界的问题太大，我们所做的不过杯水车薪，这是可以理解的。
On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.
就我们自己而言，我们无法结束战争，扫荡不公，可成千上万微不足道的善行累加起来，却产生我们想象不到的影响。
At Christmas, our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby some two thousand years ago. It was the humblest of beginnings, and his parents, Joseph and Mary, did not think they were important.
圣诞之际，我们回想两千年前诞生的一个婴儿。他生于忧患，起于毫末，父母约瑟和玛丽并没以为他们算什么重要人物。
Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life, and never travelled far. He was maligned and rejected by many, though he had done no wrong.
耶稣基督一生微不足道，从未能行走天下，尽管自己并没做错什么，很多人还是排挤他。
And yet, billions of people now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives.
然而如今，数十亿人追随他的教诲，从他身上发现生命中引路的明灯。
I am one of them because Christ's example helps me see the value of doing small things with great love, whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe.
The message of Christmas reminds us that inspiration is a gift to be given as well as received, and that love begins small but always grows.
我就是其中一员，因为基督之范让我看到以大爱行小善的价值，无论是谁，无论他信仰什么。今年的圣诞致辞让我们不要忘记，鼓舞是一种既要赠予又要接纳的礼物，爱起于垒土，却终成九层之台。
I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
祝圣诞快乐。
（转自公众号：英文联播）
在这里插播一个豆知识：
为啥伊丽莎白奶奶用的是“Happy Christmas” 而不是我们熟知的 “Merry Christmas” 呢？
这就要讲到“Merry Christmas”这个不同寻常的祝福语的来源了。
细心的小伙伴在英语学习的过程中应该早就关注到了这样一个现象：不论是大型节假日还是生日祝福，祝福语大多以“Happy”开头。唯独圣诞节，祝福语却是以“Merry”开头的。
“Merry Christmas”用法最早的出处来源于1565年的一份赫理福德市（Hereford）的政府文件。文件用古老的英文写到：
"Andthus I comytt you to God,
whosend you a merry Christmas.”
等到了1699年，一位英国海军上将在一封非正式信函里，首次使用了 “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” 这种祝福语。同样的祝福语也出现在了16世纪一首名为《We Wish You a Merry Christmas》的世俗颂歌中。
世俗颂歌的表演形式特指圣诞期间三五好友组成临时合唱队，挨家挨户地敲门，等门开了就站在人家门口为一家人唱一首有关圣诞的祝福曲，而这些祝福曲又大多不是那些在教堂里被专业唱诗班吟诵的正儿八经的圣曲，而是一些歌词直接明了，毫不含蓄的类似“打油诗”一样的曲目，比如《We Wish You a Merry Christmas》—
祝您一家：
圣诞快乐！
赏点布丁，
不给不休！
有些团体确实唱得不错，而有的则纯属趁着节日的气氛来闹事，特别是那些借机想赚零花钱的小孩儿，五音不全还只会这首烂俗的《We Wish You a Merry Christmas》。给人家唱完后人家又会因为看在是一年中最重要的节日的面子上而不得不打发点钱给他们。
上面所说的这些民间影响力都算小，真正将 “Merry Christmas” 发扬光大的，还是鼎鼎大名的大文豪狄更斯。在他1843年发表的作品《圣诞颂歌》（A Christmas Carol）中，多次引用了祝福语 “Merry Christmas” 。
随后，这句祝福语被印刷到了英国首批商业圣诞卡上，随之广为流传，开始变得家喻户晓。
这张贺卡上描绘了一幅一家人喜气洋洋欢度圣诞的场景，但一家人都在饮酒，且图右的妇人还正鼓励儿童饮酒。于是乎，这句祝福语也被染上了些许“纵欲”的意思。
另外，在民间俚语中, “Merry”一词本身就带有放纵狂欢、饮酒狂欢的含义，也难怪象征着英国荣耀的正统皇室不会轻易使用这个词，而是多年来在讲话中一直使用 “Happy Christmas” 来代替。
看完皇室，让我们来看看今年7月刚升任为首相的梅姨对英国大众又有什么话想说呢？
英国首相的2016 Christmas Message:
向现役军人致敬！
在短短两分钟的视频中，梅姨向英国所有现役军人及其家属表达了感激之情，并向他们保证国家不会忘记他们无私的奉献，也会倾尽全力保证他们应得的福利。
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=q035936ar9f&width=500&height=375&auto=0
译文：
There is no greater honour for me, as Prime Minister, than to work with so many of you: the extraordinary men and women who make up the armed forces of our United Kingdom.
身为首相，我为一群在武装力量前线无私奉献的青年男女们感到无比的骄傲。
So as our thoughts turn to Christmas, I want to send you this personal message, to thank you on behalf of the whole country for everything you do for us; and to tell you just how much we appreciate the extraordinary sacrifices that you and all your families make, especially at this time of year.
当下正值圣诞佳节，我有些话想对这群杰出的人们说：我在此代表全国人民，感激你们为国家所贡献的一切，也想告诉你们我们打心底感激你们和你们的家人对国家做出的奉献。
Earlier this month I was on board HMS Ocean in Bahrain, meeting sailors, marines and pilots whose service is helping to bring stability to the Gulf. We talked about the challenges of being away from home – separated and at such a distance from loved ones this Christmas.
本月初，我登上了位于巴林的英军海陆级两栖攻击舰，与海员、海军和飞行员们会面。他们的主要 任务是维护海湾地区的稳定。我们聊到了远离家乡的艰辛和困苦，亦或每逢佳节倍思亲的惆怅。
Over this holiday period, there will be around 5,000 members of our Armed Forces deployed on operations – in the desert, at sea, even under the sea operating our continuous nuclear deterrent. While even those who are able to be here in the UK will, in many cases, be on standby to deal with domestic incidents like the flood relief that so many of you helped with during your Christmas breaks last year.
在今年的节假日期间，大约会有五千民英国武装军人继续在此待命和部署行动。他们的身影出现在沙漠、在海上、甚至在海底，在那里持续开展核威慑巡航。与此同时，身在英国国内的军人官兵们依然会严阵以待，好及时应对国内的突发事件。比如去年的圣诞假期期间，很多军人都参加了洪水抢在抢险工作。
Just as your commitment to our country is unfaltering – so in return we owe you the same deep commitment and unflinching support. So as I made clear when I met some of your families on Salisbury Plain earlier this year, we will honour the commitments we have made to you, including helping you to buy your own home and providing support for your children in school.
正如你们保家卫国的承诺是如此的坚定不移，作为回报，我们也应当给予你们同样深刻的承诺和坚定的支持。因此，今年年初在索尔兹帕里平原见到你们家人的时候，我也做出明确表示，我们将彻底履行对你们的承诺。包括帮你们购置房屋；并为你们的孩子在校读书提供资金支持。
And as we go into 2017, I know there is more we can do to help and I am determined that we should do so. Because I want you – and all your families - to know that this government is on your side.
即将迈入2017年，我知道可以为你们提供更多的帮助。我也下定决心，一定要这样保持下去。因为我希望你们，还有你们的家人都知道，英国政府永远在你们左右，支持你们。
Day in and day out, you put yourselves on the line to keep us safe and to protect our interests around the world. You are the finest in the world, and your service is an inspiration to us all.
日复一日，你们冒着极大的危险，却竭尽所能保障我们的安全，驻扎在世界各地保障英国的国家利益。你们是全世界最了不起的军人。你们的事迹一直激励这我们所有人。
So on behalf of our whole country, let me say a huge thank you once again – and let me wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
所以我谨代表各国人民，再次向你们致以衷心的感谢。也祝福你们度过一个祥和的圣诞和快乐的新年。
值得注意的是，梅姨也没有用“Merry Christmas”结尾，而是改用 “wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year” 结尾。
可怜的“Merry”遇到此等“难登大雅之堂”的尴尬局面，有着说不尽的委屈有没有！
不过俗就俗一点啦，雅俗共赏才叫人生嘛。只要自己的圣诞祝福真诚地传达到了对方心中，谁管这表达方式到底是“Merry”还是“Happy”呢？
听完两段纯英音圣诞演讲，耳朵还是不过瘾？那不如趁着假期回顾一下诸如《唐顿庄园》，卷福和小雀斑的剧，来一饱耳福吧！