There's no other way to interpret Taipei's decision to refuse an entry visa to Rebiya Kadeer.
除了媚中之外,沒有其他可以解釋台灣政府拒絕熱比婭拜訪台灣的決定
...that's a decision for the individual, not for the government, to make --a choice made possible in a democracy.
選擇的自由在人民,不在政府. 這是任何民主國家賦予人民的
But the real risk is that caving to authoritarian bullying will weaken Taiwan's bargaining power vis-a-vis Beijing while betraying the democratic values Taiwan stands for.
但是,真正的風險是讓中國政府於取與求之後,將來在與北京談判時,台灣將失去籌碼,而且此讓步也有失台灣是民主國家(故允許民眾自由選擇)的真意. --- 之前我在msn的部落格轉貼WSJ的報導Taiwan Won't Allow Visit by Uighur Leader 提到台灣隨中國起舞硬是將熱比婭打入與恐怖份子有關的這種全世界只有中國接受的說法(原文:citing terrorist links that have been claimed by Beijing but not accepted by most Western countries or independent analysts),現在WSJ又更進一步指出,台灣政府這種粗鄙的說詞除了媚中外,別無其他解釋(There's no other way to interpret Taipei's decision to refuse an entry visa to Rebiya Kadeer). 此外,WSJ報導還駁斥內政部長與行政院長的那比婭與恐怖組織有關聯說是站不住腳的(These explanations don't add up. Taiwan doesn't explicitly categorize any Uighur group as a terrorist organization. Ms. Kadeer lives peacefully in Washington, D.C. and her organization) 原文轉載如下.付上我自己的翻譯(意譯,非逐字譯). 如有錯漏歡迎指正. ------- SEPTEMBER 28, 2009, 5:07 P.M. ET. Rebiya Kadeer and Taipei The Ma government missteps. Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou was elected last year largely to improve the island's economy through closer links with China. His government is misinterpreting that mandate to include closer ties with China's authoritarian politics, too. 台灣總統馬英九去年當選多因為民眾希望藉由與中國更緊密的關係而改善經濟.但馬政府卻將此錯誤解讀,連中國獨裁統治都帶進. There's no other way to interpret Taipei's decision to refuse an entry visa to Rebiya Kadeer. The Uighur activist was invited by a local rock star Wednesday to visit the island in December. The Ma government shut that idea down fast. 除了媚中外,沒有其他解釋馬政府拒絕熱比婭訪台的決定. 熱比婭是受到閃靈樂團的邀請,希望她於十二月拜訪台灣,但這已迅速被馬政府拒絕. Interior minister Jiang Yi-huah told parliamentarians Friday that Ms. Kadeer's World Uighur Congress "is related to terrorist groups" and thus couldn't visit the island. Premier Wu Den-yih added Saturday the decision was "based on concerns for national security and public interest." (上)週五內政部長江宜樺以熱比婭與恐怖份子有關聯為由拒絕,行政院長吳敦義於週六進一步解釋這個決定是基於國家安全與公共利益. These explanations don't add up. Taiwan doesn't explicitly categorize any Uighur group as a terrorist organization. Ms. Kadeer lives peacefully in Washington, D.C. and her organization,which represents one of China's most oppressed minorities, has renounced violence. Other democracies, including Australia and Japan, have welcomed her to their shores without incident. 然而,內政部長與行政院長的那比婭與恐怖組織有關聯說是站不住腳的.因為台灣既未將維吾爾族歸為恐怖份子,且熱比婭女士又和平的住在華府,代表最受中國政府壓迫的少數民族之一.此外,其他民主國家如澳州日本也都歡迎熱比婭女士拜訪. As for the claim that it's in "public interest" not to listen to Ms. Kadeer, surely that's a decision for the individual, not for the government, to make --a choice made possible in a democracy. Taiwan is home to a variety of pro- and anti-China groups, whose views are covered extensively in the island's lively media. Why not let Mrs. Kadeer present her evidence of China's campaign against the Uighurs and then let citizens decide what they think? 至於所謂的公共利益,要不要聽熱比婭的演講的選擇權操之在民眾,不在政府,這是任何一個民主政府賦予民眾的. 台灣是個多元的社會,親中與惡中的團體都存在,也都被媒體廣泛報導. 為什麼不讓熱比婭展示中國壓迫維吾爾族的證據,然後讓民眾自由選擇呢? By refusing Ms. Kadeer a visa -- before she even applied, no less -- the Ma government looks like it is appeasing China. Shortly after Ms. Kadeer's trip was announced, Chinese state-run media threatened to pull Beijing's support for Taiwan's membership in the World Health Organization and to halt cross-Strait economic liberalization. Beijing raised a similar fuss when Taipei let the Dalai Lama visit the island earlier this month to comfort victims of Typhoon Morakot. 拒絕熱比婭,甚至在她提出申請之前就拒絕,只是顯示出馬政府媚中的作為.在熱比婭有訪台意願的消息一釋出,中國國營媒體馬上以北京將停止奧援台灣政府明年參與WHO(世衛)與暫停兩岸經貿交流為威脅. 北京在之前颱風過後達賴訪台也有類似的作法. Mr. Ma may believe that he's doing Taiwan a favor by acceding to threats in the short term to gain more economic integration with China down the road. But the real risk is that caving to authoritarian bullying will weaken Taiwan's bargaining power vis-a-vis Beijing while betraying the democratic values Taiwan stands for. 馬政府以為他在幫台灣的忙,以對短期威脅退讓交換長期經濟利益,但是,真正的風險是讓中國政府於取與求之後,將來在與北京談判時,台灣將失去籌碼,而且此讓步也有失台灣是民主國家(故允許民眾自由選擇)的真意.
野馬群中的成年公馬都是Stallion,不可能有 Gelding,這個道理就如民間不可能產生太監,太監只存在於皇宮中的道理一樣,但是太監以外的成年男人都是「種人」嗎﹖當然不是。著名的電影「The Black Stallion」和「Young Black Stallion」,台灣譯成「黑神駒」和「黑神駒前傳」,這兩部電影分別敘述一匹黑色公馬,先後和一個男孩,一個女孩間的友情故事,如果當時譯成「黑色的種馬」,那豈不離題太遠,成了笑話﹗
(講稿原文照錄) ﹕Vice President, Mr. Vice Premier, ministers, members of the press corp, ladies and gentlemen, today I want to say a few words before responding to your questions. First, Typhoon Morakot has brought to Taiwan the highest rainfall in history, causing great damage to the southern part of Taiwan. So far, more than 100 people passed away, and many more are missing. The damages to roads, bridges, houses, rice patty fields, and fishing farms have been very serious. The damages could be as high as 100 billion NT. As the president of this country, certainly we feel that in the whole process of prevention and rescue, there are things we have to correct and we also will be responsible for whatever mistakes or neglect government officials have made. But no matter what these mistakes or neglects are it is my responsibility as president of this country. So, an hour ago when I met with our local press, members on the table stood up and bowed to the country to demonstrate our sincere apology for failure to act faster and in a more orderly way.
上段英文中,可看出句子造的太長,而且疏鬆無力,現在我再將一些明顯的錯誤,挑選出來討論如下﹕
(錯一) ﹕So far, more than 100 people passed away, and many more are missing. 這句英文中的passed away,詞義一如中文的「逝世」,此詞是用在自然(因老病)死亡的場合,因而好的中文不會說成﹕美國911事件中,有三千餘人「逝世」,在災難中,英文和中文一樣,不用逝世,要用喪命(lost their lives),致死(were killed) 之類的詞。
(錯二) ﹕The damages to fishing farms…… 養魚的農場,我們應說成fish farm,不是fishing farm。因為fishing是捕魚的意思,譬如﹕fishing village (靠捕魚為生的村莊,簡稱漁村),同理﹑fishing port(捕魚用的港口﹑簡稱漁港),fishing boat(捕魚用的船﹑漁船)。
(錯三) ﹕As the president of this country, certainly we feel that in the whole process of prevention and rescue, ……這句英文就錯的太離譜了,我改寫一下,這句話的錯誤就明顯易見了﹕we, as the president of this country, feel that in the whole process of prevention and rescue, ……看出來了嗎﹖原來英文句意是﹕「我們,以總統的身份,感覺到……」,難道台灣是集體領導,總統不止一人﹖所以句中主詞只能用I(我) ,不能用we(我們) 。
(錯四) ﹕in the whole process of prevention and rescue, ……這句英文如此寫法是不可懂的英文,有二種改法﹕一) 將in改成during ,或者﹑二) 保留in但要刪去 whole。in the process of是成語﹑有固定詞意,多加修飾的字如whole反而有誤。the process of prevention and rescue也是難懂的英文﹑可能要寫成the process of preventing and rescuing﹑或the phase of prevention and rescue。
(錯五) ﹕So, an hour ago when I met with our local press, members on the table stood up and bowed to the country to demonstrate our sincere apology for failure to act faster and in a more orderly way. 這句英文中的 members on the table stood up and bowed to the country應該是沒有人能看懂的,我將此句譯出而成﹕“桌子上面的會員們站起來,並且向國家鞠躬”,內閣的閣員們怎麼會爬到桌子上面﹖為什麼突然要向國家鞠躬﹖又怎麼向看不見的國家鞠躬﹖bow to 國旗或國父遺像等實物,bow是鞠躬致敬的意思,但如bow to China ,因為China不是實物,所以此處的bow是屈服的意思,譬如﹑「U.S. bowed to China」要解釋成「美國向中國低頭」,那bowed to the country是什麼意思﹖大家隨便猜吧,這種英文是糟糕到無從猜起。 上面提及的錯誤都是比較明顯的,文中其它小錯也很多,包括句子的錯用時態,語氣,連接詞等,這類錯不是那麼明顯,譬如﹕ First, Typhoon Morakot has brought to Taiwan the highest rainfall in history, 這句話中也有小錯,因為颱風帶來的雨量只是台灣歷史上記錄最高的雨量,但不是全世界記錄的新高,總統要說有把握﹑有根據的話,所以應說成in Taiwan’s history,或 in our nation’s history。 馬總統的致詞原文總長八百餘字,如今我只挑出首段中的百餘字,已寫了數千餘的討論文字,如將其餘內容一一討論,需要的文字太多,意義也不大,總之,馬總統的英文不像程度很高,餘文中也有很多不該錯而錯的地方,譬如﹕ I have a consensus with the premier that we will make a decision on punishment and maybe changes of officials no later than early September. 這段文字中馬總統想說﹕「我與行政院長之間有了一個共識,不會遲過九月初,我們會決定如何處罰(punishment) 救災不力人員和改組內閣(changes of officials)」。馬總統要處分他的閣員,處罰一字選用了punishment,這是不應該犯的錯誤,譬如﹑裁判只能penalize違規球員,但不能punish球員,同理﹑足球的罰球也是penalty kick,不是punishment kick。英文中,有許多都可當「處罰」解釋的字和詞,總統對付救災不力的官員,可以 deal with urgency/severity(緊急/嚴格處理),但不能punish官員。很顯然的,馬總統對這些字詞間的字義差異和正確用法都未能掌握,句中的 punishment需要改成punitive measures。至於句中的changes of officials (官員的改變),當然也是很中式的不好英文,起碼也應說成reassignment of officials(重新選派官員)或cabinet reshuffle (內閣改組)。 總而言之,馬總統的英文講稿,內容聽讀起來都覺吃力,實在不能說好,如此的英文講稿,是否應該繼續留在總統府的網站上,是否有礙觀瞻和損及國家形象,尚請方家們不吝賜教,不過我這篇「馬的英文」,討論就此告一段落。
In the small community of Otis Orchards, an age-old question has been answered. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get a donut. KXLY4's Sally Showman reports.