【精析】英国女王2017圣诞致辞
英国女王2017圣诞致辞
2017 The Queen's Christmas Message
每年圣诞节当天下午三点，英国王室都会进行圣诞致辞。女王伊丽莎白二世的第一次圣诞演讲开始于1952年，这俨然是王室的一个传统。英国女王是国家凝聚力的象征，每年的圣诞演讲稿均是由女王亲自撰稿，蕴含一个主题，给予亿万子民以鼓励和启示。今年的主题无疑是“home and family”。下面让我们来看看，女王是如何演绎这一主题的吧~
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=w0524kp5566&width=500&height=375&auto=0
戳音频 听皇室英音
1
60 years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change. She presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark.
（video：Television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather around to watch television as they are at this moment, and that is how I imagined you now.）
Six decades on, the presenter has evolved somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then who could’ve imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones, as some of you are today.
But I’m also struck by something that hasn’t changed, that whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.
女王回顾了60年前，即1957年，自己首次通过电视进行圣诞致辞，慨叹科技发展之快(the speed of technological change）。现如今，自己也进益了（evolved），科技的发展更是60年前人们想都不敢想的，居然有一天能从笔记本电脑和手机上看女王的圣诞致辞。接着，女王又说，不管科技怎样日新月异，有一件事情始终未曾改变，那就是我们仍然是在"家"观看圣诞致辞，由此引出下一段。
60年前 sixty years ago today
60年后 six decades on
the first of its kind ……中的第一个
landmark 里程碑
be struck by/on/with sb/sth 被打动
2
We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love of shared stories and memories, which is perhaps why this time of year so many returned to where they grew up.
There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. For many, the idea of home reaches beyond the physical building to hometown or city.
这一段扣题：家，是温暖的港湾，有着我们的故事和回忆。家的牵绊如此简单，从不曾改变。对许多人来说，"家"的概念已经远远超越了自己的小家，而扩大到了自己的家乡或城市。
timeless永恒的，永不过时的
the pull of home 家的吸引力
3
This Christmas I think of London and Manchester whose powerful identities shone through over the past twelve months in the face of appalling attacks.
In Manchester, those targeted included children, who had gone to see their favorite singer.
这一段，女王提到了2017年伦敦和曼彻斯特的三次恐怖袭击，夸赞了两个城市给人带来的强大认同感（powerful identities）在这一年里一直熠熠生辉（shine）。
in the face of 面对
appalling 骇人的
3
A few days after the bombing, I had the privilege of meeting some of these young survivors and their parents.
（Video）
I describe that hospital visit as a 'privilege' because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience.
Indeed, many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert. It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home.
We expect our homes to be a place of safety, sanctuary even, which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered.
这一段，女王回忆了恐怖袭击后，去医院探访伤者和家属。她赞扬他们有着非凡的勇气和自愈力(extraordinary bravery and resilience)。女王再次强调，家是安全的地方，是我们的庇护所，所以当家的舒适感破灭，我们会更加震惊。
privilege 特权
benefit concert 慈善音乐会
reclaim 取回
sanctuary 避难所
all the more 更加
shatter 打碎、破灭
4
A few weeks ago, the Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities. And here in London who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services, who risked their own lives this past year saving others. Many of them of course will not be at home today. Because they are working to protect us.
本段，女王提及了加勒比国家中受飓风影响的灾民，以及在伦敦6月大火中失去住所的居民，并送上思念和祈祷（thoughts and prayers）。同时，她还向紧急救援部门的公职人员致谢，这其中的许多人甚至在圣诞节当天都不能回家，为了保护人民。
aftermath 战争、事故的后果、创伤
indebted to 蒙恩、感激
5
Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family and in particular for 70 years of marriage. I don’t know that anyone had invented the term Platinum for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren’t expected to be around that long.
Even Prince Phillip has decided it’s time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, done his bit.
But I know his support and unique sense of humor will remain as strong as ever, as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.
70年前↑
这一段中，女王罕有地在讲话中提及菲利普亲王，今年是他们结婚70周年，女王打趣说，她出生的时候还没有“铂金婚（Platinum）”这个词,因为人们连活70年都不指望。96岁的菲利普亲王在今年秋天退休，不再出席王室公共事务，女王借这个机会感谢了亲王对他的支持和独特的幽默感(support and unique sense of humor)。
她同时还提到了明年会有新成员加入这个王室家庭，这里说的应该是是哈里王子的未婚妻梅根·马克尔，和威廉王子家的三宝。
reflect on sth 回顾……
economically 这里的意思是“简短的、简洁的”
do one's bit 干分内的事情、尽职
6
In 2018, I will open my home to a different type of family, the leaders of the 52 nations of the Commonwealth, as they gather in the UK for a summit.
The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the Commonwealth Games, which begin in a few months’ time on Australia’s Gold Coast, or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir, a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is.
过去的一年回顾完了，这一段展望了一下2018年，英国将迎来52个英联邦（The Commonwealth）国家参加的峰会（summit）。女王同时还提及，明年将在澳大利亚的黄金海岸举办英联邦运动会。
女王不仅仅是英国女王，也是受到52个英联邦国家认可的女王。尽管女王在这一段极力强调，英联邦是多么有凝聚力和活力，实际上英联邦已经日渐式微。
be it...or... 不管是……还是……
body 机构
orchestra and choir 管弦乐队和唱诗班
vibrant 生机勃勃
7
Today, we celebrate Christmas, which itself is sometimes described as the festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together. Volunteers and charities as well as many churches arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.
We remember the birth of Jesus Christ, whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem. He knew rejection, hardship and persecution.And yet it is Jesus Christ's generous love and example, which has inspired me through good times and bad.
Whatever your own experience is this year, wherever and however you are watching, I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas.
最后，点题啦，圣诞节是举家团聚的日子。志愿者、慈善机构和许多教堂都会在这一天给那些无家可归的人们提供食物。沿袭老传统，以耶稣圣诞故事结尾，女王说是耶稣博大的爱激励着她走过潮起潮落。
“不论这一年你经历过什么，不管你身在何处，如何看到我的演讲，我都祝你圣诞节平安、快乐！”
女王似乎不太喜欢说Merry Christmas, 早在1957年她的第一次电视演讲当中，第一句话就是"Happy Christmas!" 据说是不喜欢merry这个词里的微醉的意味。另外，小编了解到，美国人不太会说Happy Christmas，而英国人听到Happy Christmas则不会觉得奇怪。
stable 马厩
rejection, hardship and persecution
排斥、艰难和迫害
good times and bad 顺境和逆境
女王用词典雅，紧扣主题，大家可以数数看home和family两个词一共出现了多少次。语速适中，为一秒两个单词，庄重而不拖沓。演讲中，偏用正统单词。短短的五分钟演讲却包含了这么多内容，浓缩即是精华。皇室演讲经历了接近半个世纪的洗礼，一直为人津津乐道，看来不无道理。
女王气质庄重的背后是成千上万小时的修养输入与积累，演讲亦是如此，你学到了吗？
－等你很久啦！－