【大紀元2012年08月10日訊】A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班!
B: 我是Kat! 楊琳，趕快來告訴大家今天咱們要學甚麼吧!
A: 好! 今天，咱們一起去看一場電影，學學怎麼理性投資，教你怎麼說名褒實貶，還要一起來看看小家電怎麼說!
B: 名褒實貶? 這是甚麼意思….我不明白….
A: 等會聽了節目你就明白了! 言歸正傳，我們趕快來進入第一個單元，Learn a Word!
Learn A Word 1542 gadget
今天我們要學的詞是 gadget. Gadget is spelled g-a-d-g-e-t , gadget. Gadget 意思是小玩意，小工具，經常用來指小電器產品。比如，My friend Michael is a gadget freak who always wants to get his hands on the latest inventions. 我朋友Michael是小電器產品發燒友，有甚麼新玩意他都得拿來玩玩。The company caters to high-end users who crave the newest gadgets. 這家公司專門服務那些熱衷最新小電器產品的高端用戶。蘋果手機問世五年。For users, iPhone has changed from a gadget to a way of life. 對用戶來說，蘋果手機已經從一個小小的通訊工具，變成了一種生活方式。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 gadget, gadget, gadget…
A: 說起 gadget, 我昨天終於去換了iPhone 3 , 你看!
B: An iPhone 3? Oh my god, what century are we in? Well, it’s still an iphone, I guess… so wow… cool phone!
A: Why do I get the feeling that you are damning me with faint praise?
B: Well… everyone is using iPhone 4s now and the 5 is actually coming out this year! ….既然你已經提到了damn with faint praise, 咱們就來學學這個短語的用法吧!
Words and Idioms 973
現在播送美國習慣用語第 973講。我是楊琳。
M：我是 Dan Markus
我很尊重我奶奶，不過坦白說，她有時候真讓我沒辦法。上星期她來我家之前，我特地把家裏打掃得乾乾淨淨，還去買了幾個沙發坐墊，把客廳裝飾的更加溫馨。可他對我煞費苦心地裝飾只說了句：還湊合吧! 真氣死我了! 這也讓我想到一個習慣用語，那就是:
M: Damn with faint praise. Damn is spelled d-a-m-n, damn; faint, f-a-i-n-t, faint; and praise; p-r-a-i-s-e, praise. Damn-with-faint-praise. Damn with faint praise.
Damn 作為動詞，是批評的意思，而faint praise, 在這裡是指無力的讚揚。 Damn with faint praise, 作為一個詞組，意思是名褒實貶，用輕微的讚揚進行貶低。我奶奶就是這樣，對於我全部的努力，她就說了一句湊合， She damned me with faint praise even though I’ve tried my best to impress her. 雖然我盡了全力，可她還是名褒實貶地忽略了我的努力。下面的例子裡談的是父子關係，我們來聽聽看:
M: “Is it any wonder that my dad and I aren’t that close? No matter what I achieve, it always seems it isn’t good enough. He doesn’t actually say so directly. But the way he DAMNS me WITH FAINT PRAISE, I always feel like I’m not meeting his expectations. Why can’t he compliment me once in a while?”
這段話是說：我跟我爸爸的關係不是很好，這也沒甚麼好奇怪的。不管我取得了甚麼成就，對他來說好像始終不夠。他並不會直接這麼說。但是他從來都只是蜻蜓點水地讚揚，讓我覺得我永遠達不到他的期望。為甚麼他就不能誇獎我一次呢?
對啊! 有這樣的家長真的很讓人難受。有些家長認為如果表揚孩子就是對他們的溺愛，其實不是這樣。誰都需要表揚和肯定，不是嗎? 在工作中也一樣，如果有個不愛表揚人的領導，底下人的士氣肯定也不高。Instead of damning the employees with faint praise, supervisors should encourage the staff when they do a good job. 好的，我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:
M: “Is it any wonder that my dad and I aren’t that close? No matter what I achieve, it always seems it isn’t good enough. He doesn’t actually say so directly. But the way he DAMNS me WITH FAINT PRAISE, I always feel like I’m not meeting his expectations. Why can’t he compliment me once in a while?”
Damn with faint praise, 名褒實貶，用輕微的讚揚進行貶低。對於電影評論這個職業，或許這是一個有用的性格特徵? 我們來聽聽看下面這個例子:
M: “The movie director had received many positive reviews for her latest work. One critic, however, didn’t seem to care for it much. It’s not that he gave it an openly bad review. Instead, he wrote that he was pleasantly surprised that the film was shorter than the other films. It was easy to see that he was DAMNING the director WITH FAINT PRAISE.”
[這段話是說: 這名電影導演的最新作品獲得了很多正面評價。不過有一名影評人似乎並不怎麼看好他的新片子。他倒也沒有公開說這部電影不好，不過他說，他很高興地發現，這部電影比這個導演的其他電影要短。很顯然，他對這部電影是名褒實貶。]與其收到這種評論，倒還不如別人直接批評我! 我記得我聽過一句話: ” If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” 如果你沒有好話要說，那就閉嘴。我覺得這句話說的特別對。每個人都希望得到別人的肯定，誰願意得到這種蒼白的表揚呢? 好的，讓我們再來聽聽剛才那段話:
M: “The movie director had received many positive reviews for her latest work. One critic,however, didn’t seem to care for it much. It’s not that he gave it an openly bad review. Instead, he wrote that he was pleasantly surprised that the film was shorter than the other films. It was easy to see that he was DAMNING the director WITH FAINT PRAISE.”
今天我們學習的習慣用語是Damn with faint praise, 意思是「名褒實貶，用輕微的讚揚進行貶低」。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束，我是楊琳，我是 Dan Markus。謝謝各位的收聽。
A: Listen, I’m just not a tech geek so I don’t really care about what kind of phone I get. 我也就是發個短信，看個電影甚麼的，iPhone 3 對我來說足夠用了。
B: Haha, well at least you’ve got your priorities straight. Got any good movie recommendations for me?
A: 那你得告訴我你喜歡甚麼類型的呀？喜劇？懸疑片？功夫片？愛情片？
B: I love them all!!! But I think I enjoy the bloody ones best! Have you heard of Cannibal: The Musical? That’s my favorite movie of all time! A: 哎呦哎呦別說了，我膽兒小。
B: Haha, well you’re just going to have to deal with it! In today’s Go English, we will take you to the movie theatre for a horror movie!
Movie Dialogue: Beginner
大家好！今天我們為您播出「美語三級跳」節目「電影」單元的初級課程。
Professor: Winnie, today we’re going to listen to Emily and Peter talking about movies on their blind date.
哎，初次約會通過聊電影來瞭解對方，這辦法不錯！
Professor: I agree! Now let’s find out if they both like going to the movies in their free time.
P: So Emily, what do you like to do for fun?
E: I like to go to the movies. What do you do in your free time?
P: I also like going to the movies.
E: Well that’s great! It’s nice that we have something in common.
聽起來倆人都愛看電影，已經有共同話題了！對了，Professor Bowman, doing something “for fun” 和 doing something “in your free time” 有區別麼？
P: They’re very similar. When you want to know what people’s hobbies are, you can ask them what they do “for fun,” or what they do “in their free time.”
原來如此，那我可以說 “I like studying English in my free time.”
P: Exactly, Winnie! Now let’s listen and see when they go to the movies.
E: When do you usually go to the movies?
P: I usually go in my free time on the weekends. How about you?
E: The movie theater is always so crowded on the weekends. I like to go to the movies during the week.
P: That’s true. And sometimes the tickets are cheaper during the week as well.
Professor: It looks like Emily and Peter like going to the movies at different times. Did you hear the difference, Winnie?
嗯，好像 Peter是週末去電影院，但 Emily嫌週末人多，所以她一般都是週一到週五去看電影。
Professor: That’s right, and Peter says the tickets are cheaper during the week too. What kind of movies do you think they like?
唔，男生和女生喜歡的電影類型一定不一樣，最好能有甚麼類型的電影是他們倆都喜歡的，這樣第二次約會就有戲了！
Professor: Let’s listen and find out.
P: I like watching comedies, like “Borat.” Do you like watching comedies too?
E: Not really, I like watching horror movies, like “The Unborn.”
P: You like horror movies? I don’t like them because they’re too scary! I like comedies because I love to laugh.
E: I like horror movies because I like to be scared.
啊呀, 他倆的電影口味相差很遠呢！ Emily是個女孩子，結果反倒愛看恐怖片，Peter是男子漢，卻不敢看這種電影。Professor Bowman，我有個問題，他們好像管喜劇叫”comedies”，而不是”comedy movies”，這是為甚麼？
Professor: Well, Winnie, for some kinds of movies, you don’t have to use the word “movies” after them. For example, you can talk about “comedies,” “dramas” and “thrillers,” and everyone will know you’re talking about movies.
我明白了。comedies 喜劇片、dramas 劇情片和thrillers 驚險片，後面都不用加 movies. Professor Bowman，你覺得，他們電影口味不同，還會繼續約會麼？
Professor: I think if they really like each other, they’ll find a way to solve the problem. Let’s listen.
P: Well, it’s too bad that we like different kinds of movies. Maybe we’re just different kinds of people.
E: Yeah it’s too bad … but actually I think I know what to do.
P: What’s that?
E: We can go to a horror movie, and I’ll hold your hand so you don’t get scared.
P: You mean … like on a second date?
E: Of course! Or are you still too scared!
P: No way! That sounds great!
哈！ Emily 可真不簡單！她不僅安排了第二次約會，而且還找到了和 Peter 拉手的理由！
Professor: That was indeed very smart of her, Winnie! It looks like this date was a success after all.
是啊！您說他們能成一對兒麼？
Professor: Well, we’ll have to listen in next time and see what happens.
A: Oh good! They haven’t really started to watch the movie! 光聽著我都害怕！為甚麼這些人要拍恐怖片呢？
B: Haha, a lot of people, for example me, just LOVE IT! Horror movies have a huge market and they don’t require tons of investment like other kinds of movies.
A: 你說這種電影投資不大？
B: Yeah, a horror flick doesn’t require a huge set like a historical movie, or any of that 3D tech for sci-fi. It just needs some actors, some ketchup to throw around as fake blood and a place where you can run around and scream all you want!
A: 好吧好吧…你剛才提到投資，在下面的business etiquette裡談的就是這個話題，咱們一起來聽聽吧！
B: Let’s listen!
禮節美語 BE-251 Investing I
Steve找到同事Bob, 向他請教投資的問題。
Steve: Hey, Bob! You’re a financial expert, aren’t you? I hear you know a lot about investing.
Bob: Well, I don’t like to toot my own horn…but I did go to school for a few years to study stuff like that.
S: Excellent. Do you mind if I pick your brain for a second?
B: For you, my friend, anything. What’s on your mind?
S: My wife and I recently inherited some money. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough to make us consider investing. The problem is that neither of us has any experience in this field.
原來，Steve夫婦倆繼承了一筆財產，想拿去做投資。他知道 Bob 在投資方面比較在行，所以想 pick his brain 跟他諮詢一下。to pick someone’s brain 意思是諮詢某人的意見，跟某人討主意。Bob 說，I don’t like to toot my own horn. 我不想自吹自擂。to toot one’s own horn 意思是自吹自擂，類似中文裡說的老王賣瓜自賣自誇。Bob 聽說 Steve 打算投資後說，
B: I see. Well, that’s a nice problem to have, isn’t it?
S: Yes, I guess it is. My wife’s great uncle passed away last month and we unexpectedly got a call from a lawyer telling us he left us something close to $20,000 in his will.
B: Well, that’s the kind of windfall that only comes around every blue moon so I agree that you and your wife really should think about investing. The problem is that there are so many options…Some offer stability but the money grows very slowly. Other options are more risky, but have more earning potential.
原來是Steve妻子從伯祖父那裏很意外地繼承了將近兩萬美元。Bob說，That’s the kind of windfall that only comes around every blue moon. windfall is spelled w-i-n-d-f-a-l-l, windfall 意外收穫，飛來橫財。every blue moon 意思是非常罕見。投資有很多選項，有些相對穩固，但是增長速度慢，有些收益潛力大，但是風險也大。
S: The stock market is one choice, but it really seems quite risky to me.
B: Stocks are risky. Most people who invest in the stock market end up losing money. The people who do make money – such as Warren Buffet – are in it for the long haul, and they have enough money to ride out the low points. I’m not sure I’d recommend you put your money into the stock market.
S: Okay…how about property? Lots of people have told us we should buy an apartment. They say land or real estate will always appreciate in value.
Steve 覺得，投資 stock market 股票市場風險大，Bob 表示贊同，說凡是在股市賺錢的人，they are all in it for the long haul. 都是把錢放在股市裡走長線，這些人都有足夠的財力，能 ride out the low points 挺得過股市的低落點。to ride out something 是經受得住，安然渡過的意思。投資房地產也是選項之一，Bob的意見如何？我們下次繼續聽。
A: 現在真是個投資房地產的好時機，前兩天我還聽說又來了個買房團呢！
B: I guess it is. The interest rates and housing prices are still really low. But…why are we even talking about this? It’s not as if we actually have that kind of money!
A: 哈哈，也是。那咱們還是接著聽聽Steve是怎麼決定的吧！
禮節美語 – BE-252 Investing II
Steve找到同事Bob, 向他請教投資的問題，Bob覺得股市風險太大，那房地產呢？
Bob: Buying property is definitely something to consider. But just because prices have been going up for a long time doesn’t mean they will always go up. Lots of countries have experienced what’s called a “real estate bubble” that eventually pops.
Steve: That’s true. How about gold then? My brother-in-law says we should just buy a couple of gold bricks and store them in a vault somewhere.
B: Every time the economy begins to sour, people turn to gold. The price of gold then goes up because people see it as a safe haven.
Bob覺得，投資房地產固然可以考慮，但是房產價格不會永遠攀昇，很多國家都經歷過 real estate bubble 房地產泡沫，最後都以泡沫破滅而告終。除了股市和房市以外，還可以買黃金。Bob 也認為，黃金是很好的避險投資，people see it as a safe haven. safe haven 是避難所，意思是投資黃金比較安全，不會賠錢。Every time the economy begins to sour, people turn to gold. 每次經濟走下坡路，大家都把投資轉向黃金。
B: But there are two problems with gold. One, there’s no guarantee that prices will stay high, and two, while it might be safe, it’s not really earning you anything in the same way that a smart investment could.S: That makes sense. You know, the more I think about this, the more complicated it becomes.
B: One of the safer bets might be government bonds. You give the government your money for say 20 years, and at the end of that period, they return it with a relatively high rate of interest.
S: That’s kind of appealing because it means you can’t touch the money during that period of time and it removes any temptation to go and buy a new car, for example.
除了黃金以外，另外一種安全投資是政府債券，safe bet, 安全的賭注，這裡指萬無一失的投資模式。Steve覺得，購買政府債券確實不錯 that’s kind of appealing. appealing is spelled a-p-p-e-a-l-i-n-g, appealing 意思是有吸引力的，因為在債券到期之前，這些錢是不能動的，所以也就不會胡亂花掉。
B: Yeah, the money just sits there safely until you’re ready to retire. Many banks offer similar long-term investment deals that also pay pretty good interest rates.
S: Thanks a lot, Bob. I’m going to look into government bonds, and I’m going to have a conversation with my bank’s investment department.B: I’d say that’s probably the smartest way to go. Good luck.
Bob說，很多銀行也提供類似的長期投資產品，而且利息不錯。Steve向 Bob表示感謝，說 I’m going to look into government bonds. look into something 是仔細研究的意思。看來，Steve 還是準備穩妥起見，進行長期、風險小的投資。
A: Well, now the show is almost over. 我們今天要告訴大家一個傷心的消息，我最合拍的搭檔Kat也要為自己的職業投資，今天是她最後一次主持美語訓練班了！
B: （say something you want to say to the audience)
A: 雖然我們經常逗嘴，不過我肯定會很想你的！ 希望你有空常回來做客，Kat!
B：沒問題！ I will definitely come back to bother you. You can count on it, Yang Lin!
A: 好，這次節目時間就到這裡。如果你對我們的節目有甚麼建議，或者想提甚麼問題，請發電子郵件到meiyu@voanews.com. 下週我們會有臨時的帶班主持人Jody參加，千萬別錯過呦！
B: Bye bye!
