听懂新闻英语的十大方法.doc

听懂新闻英语的十大方法（一）尽量先以自己熟悉的语言了解新闻内容 刚到ICRT 国内新闻中心上班的外籍记者，虽然多半中文程度并不差，但是有时候“新闻中文”并不强，在翻译或阅读一些中文的新闻稿时，虽然可以查单字，但要完全了解整体的意思，往往有些困难。发生这样的状况，我会建议他们先去看英文报纸的同样一则新闻，透过自己的母语，了解其中的来龙去脉，再回来看中文稿时，本来以为很复杂的内容，就变得简单多了。 同样的，在进行当天的英文新闻学习前，先从中文的媒体了解当天主要的国际或国内新闻内容，在听英文新闻时，就容易多了。当然，这是在学习期间，过了入门的阶段，就不需要了。 （二）掌握各类新闻英语的有限单字 世界之广，事件之多，大部分的人一定认为，要掌握新闻英语的相关单字，恐怕好几千个，要背完一整本的新闻字库，才有办法听懂。这个想法似乎很合逻辑，但是其实有个极大的错误，从政治新闻到娱乐新闻，当然很可能有几千个单字，但是相关的单字每几个月，甚至每几年才出现一次，就是所谓的rarely used vocabulary（罕见单字），例如：multilateral currency realignment（跨国货币调整）或planned obsolescence（计画的陈废），如果连这些也要背，那可真是不得了。 幸好，每天新闻会遇到的单字，八成五以上，都是我们称为的commonly used vocabulary （常用单字）。换言之，只要你能掌握这五、六百个重复出现的单字（也就是本书所介绍的字汇），就可以听懂八成五以上的新闻。其它一些较专门的财经或科学等新闻字汇，等主要的单字会了之后，再慢慢的增加难度。 （三）遇到听不懂的地方不要去想它，继续听下去 你一定有个经验，在听英语新闻或英语节目时，遇到一个你不会的字或没听清楚的段落，就开始想它的意思，往往造成接下来的内容全都没听清楚。所谓“一心不能二用”，绝不可以在听的同时，边想前一句的意思，要养成一个习惯，那就是遇到不太懂的地方不要停下来思考，专心听下去。 某个段落没听懂，可能的原因有几个，也许有个没学过的单字，或有较特殊的句型，也许主播播报的速度一时加快，甚至自己分心没听好。无论原因是什幺，不管它就继续听下去，还是有可能将主要内容听懂，因为九成的时候，漏掉一点，不会是关键到让你无法连接下面的意思，但是如果思惟卡在前一句，肯定全军覆没。 但如果另外那一成确实是关键呢？要是有空，可以上网找相关内容的新闻，了解一下是否有关键单字或内容较不熟悉，如果是重要新闻，一般来讲不会报一次就不报了，可以收听当天其它整点新闻的播报，也许还可以听到同样的新闻，也许听第二次就完全了解了！ （四）不要太在乎特殊难懂的人名及地名 2000 年初夏，裴济发生政变，没多久就宣布戒严令，军方的领导人，头衔连姓名叫“Fiji military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama”，每次我播报新闻，念到这里时，都差点要吃螺丝。想一想，连我都要花时间先练习这些较难念的名字，而听众听我播报，三秒就过去了，难怪有人对这些外国人名及地名叫苦连天。 遇到这样的状况时，该怎幺办呢？别理它吧！说实话，我自己听 BBC 或 CNN 的新闻，也常常听到不太熟悉的人名或地名，如某国家的人，也许我没听过，很可能听完新闻你再问我，我也答不出来他的名字，但是多半时候对了解新闻内容并不影响，我只要知道他是某国的国会领导人就够了。再如俄罗斯南部某个难念的小城镇发生什幺事，清楚它他是俄罗斯南部的小城镇，足够我了解新闻内容。你也可以试试这种方法，不要为复杂的名称所困扰。当然，重要的新闻人物及地名还是得熟悉一下。 （五）以正确的播报速度来学习 我刚来台湾时，常常有人找我为一些英文教材配音。进录音室时，我坐在麦克风前，拿了稿子开始念，没念几句，负责人请我是否可以念慢些，于是我从头开始，放慢了速度，念了几句，他又问我可不可以再慢些。等到教材出版后，我听了卡带，自认为不但听起来怪怪的，对学会也没有帮助，因为人正常说话根本不是这样的。 经常有本地朋友抱怨，我在ICRT 播报新闻的速度，快得让他们听不太懂，我只能说，这是播报新闻正常的速度，即使 ICRT 播的慢些，等到你要听BBC或CNN ，还是会听不懂。那该怎幺办呢？我来台湾时，基本的中文会话不成问题，时间久了，报纸也能读看，但是打开中广或三台的新闻，还是觉得“雾煞煞”，于是我将中文新闻录音下来，重复的听，如果不会的单字，请朋友帮忙听一下，听到上百遍，直到完全听懂为止。因为我自己这样的练习，现在听中文新闻，一个字都不会漏掉。 有了手上的这套教材，你不用自己录音，更不需要麻烦别人帮忙听，但是你会发现，专业的播音员录制在CD 片上的新闻都是以正常的速度播报，因为这样才能真正的学会新闻英语，如果听不太懂，多听几次，一定大有进展。但是，如果用一些速度放慢的教材，那只能永远听教材，真正新闻的速度会跟不上。 （六）尽快锁定大略的新闻内容 不知你是否注意过，听英语新闻时，主播经常会在报某条新闻前，来句类似And now in sports.（现在进入体育新闻），或Turning to the Middle East .（转向中东地区）或In U.S. election race news.（有关美国选举新闻）等，没有一定格式或说法，这样短短的一句，就是要让不同类型新闻的转变自然些。 播报某条新闻前，来个这样的“自我介绍”，对学习新闻英语是很有帮助的。怎幺说呢？我举个简单的例子，到目前为止，我听得懂的台语还是有限，如果随便跟我说几句，我很可能听不懂，但是若有人先让我知道他准备跟我聊的话题，接下来对我就容易的多了。这个情形跟新闻前给你一个小提示一样，知道即将要接收哪一类的讯息，可以先准备一下自己的思惟。 当然，不是每条新闻前都会给你这样的提示，要是没有，自己也得赶快锁定内容及方向，如果看电视新闻的话，可以试着从画面了解是哪一类的新闻；若是广播的话，也应该从第一句就可以判断。 （七）经常听，经常练习 或许你会认为这幺简单的道理不用说也知道，但是你会发现，最简单的道理也是最重要的。 我记得刚来台湾不久，中文尚未十分流利，只要回美国几个星期，回台湾之后，讲起中文来，舌头便不听使唤，结结巴巴的。后来，我与美国史丹福大学的一个东方语言学教授聊起来，他说，其实只要每天花点时间接触它，就可以完全避免这样的状况。 新闻英语周打通关的课程可以让你在最短的时间内听懂大部分重要的新闻内容，但是八周后还是要每天或每两天找点时间打开收音机或电视听听英语新闻，维持“基本工夫”。 （八）虽然要“听”新闻，正确的“说”也很重要 本书的目的，是让你打好收听新闻英语的基础，做个一流的“听众”，但听力再怎幺好的中国人，不会自己想做英语主播，所以为什幺要管发音呢？其实，这个道理是很简单，如果自己对某一个新闻单字的发音不对，很可能会听不懂，例如唱片或记录叫record，录音也叫record，但是前者念record，后者念record，如果认为这个字只有一个发音，很可能就会弄混。 有时候也很容易将两个不同单字的发音弄混，例如：Philadelphia battered Chicago, winning 14 to 1.（费城击败芝加哥，以 14 比 1 赢球。）如果这句的battered听成batted，虽然发音接近，但意思就不对了。 避免这方面问题最好的方法，就是听本书所附的 CD 时，单字的部分自己也跟着念。如果花一点时间确定自己的发音是否正确，对听懂新闻英语也会有帮助。 （九）了解学习新闻英语的过程及进步的速度 学习任何东西，尤其是语言，就像滚雪球一样，愈滚愈大，到了某个阶段，学习的速度会自然而然的加快。学习新闻英语的起步阶段，也许经常觉得听不懂，但是继续努力，不知不觉会发现，费的精神较少，但听得懂的部分变多了。 为何了解这个过程是诀窍之一呢？因为很多人还不到“半途”就以为自己学不会，但是其实只要有恒心，绝对可以有令人非常满意的成果。 （十）对自己有信心 一定有人说，讲这个谁都知道，但不少人对自己却是没有信心或信心缺乏，而对自己学习的进度及成果大打折扣。英文有句话：We are our own worst enemy.（最大的敌人，便是自己），虽然学新闻英语一点都不难，但如果心里想：“我一定学不会”。还没有开始奋战，已经被自己打败了，要突破自己设下的心里障碍，比实际学习的障碍还更困难。 我记得在美国刚开始学中文时，有一天在纽约唐人街的书店拿起一本厚厚的中文小说，书名三个字我只认得第一个字“红”，翻开看看，里面只认得几个零星的字。当时我心里想，真的会有一天我能看得懂这个吗？对外国人而言，要认得汉字可是一件极为艰难的事，不过我当时告诉自己，我一定要学会，绝不轻易“罢休”。 当时我在唐人街手握着的书，书名的另外两个字是“楼梦”，至今红楼梦我看过三遍。如果当时我想：“ 啊！这个太难了，学一百年都学不会。”我现在认得的中文，可能还是那零星的几个字。所以在强烈的学习欲望及好方法之外，也要对自己有信心，英文有另外一句话，就是What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.生活中常用的五星级英文句子熟练地运用英语的一个重要方面就是学习并掌握英语本族者常用的生动、的活泼的习语。1. After you.你先请。这是一句很常用的客套话，在进出门，上车得场合你都可以表现一下。 (好象现在女士不愿意你这么做，特别是那些女权主义者，我还记得这么一段话：一个女士对一个让她先行的男士说：You do this becauseI am a woman?那个男士回答说：I do this not because you are a woman but becauseI am a man! I love this guy! 2.I just couldnt help it.我就是忍不住。想想看，这样一个漂亮的句子可用于多少个场合？下面是随意举的一个例子：I was deeply moved by the film andI cried and cried.I just couldnt help it.3. Dont take it to heart. 别往心里去，别为此而忧虑伤神。生活实例： This test isnt that important. Dont take it to heart. 安慰人的超级句子。 4. Wed better be off.我们该走了。Its getting late. Wed better be off . 5. Lets face it. 面对现实吧。常表明说话人不愿意逃避困难的现状。 参考例句：I know its a difficult situation. Lets face it, ok? 很棒啊，年轻人犯错误，上帝都会原谅，remember？但是犯了错误，你必须面对他，Lets face it。或者是：Lets face the music. 6. Lets get started.咱们开始干吧。劝导别人时说：Dont just talk. Lets get started. Lets get started. Lets start. Lets do it right now. Llets hit sth. Lets rock&roll. Lets put our hands on sth. 7. Im really dead.我真要累死了。坦诚自己的感受时说：After all that work, Im really dead. 8. Ive done my best.我已尽力了。 这句话，很有用，失败有时难免，但是你要是可以说，Ive done my best.I spare no efforts。就不必遗憾，毕竟，Man supposes,god disposes. 9. Is that so?真是那样吗？常用在一个人听了一件事后表示惊讶、的怀疑。 10. Dont play games with me!别跟我耍花招！ 11.I dont know for sure.我不确切知道。 Sranger: Could you tell me how to get to the town hall? Tom:I dont know for sure. Maybe you could ask the policeman over there. 12. Im not going to kid you.我不是跟你开玩笑的。 Karin: You quit the job? You are kidding. Jack: Im not going to kid you. im serious. 13. Thats something. 太好了，太棒了。 A: Im granted a full scholarship for this semester. B: Congratulations. Thats something. 14. Brilliant idea!这主意真棒！这主意真高明！ 15. Do you really mean it? 此话当真？ Michael: Whenever you are short of money, just come to me. David: Do you really mean it? 16. You are a great help.你帮了大忙 17.I couldnt be more sure. 我再也肯定不过。 18.I am behind you.我支持你。 Whatever decision youre going to make,I am behind you. 19. Im broke.我身无分文。I am penniless. 20. Mind you!请注意！听着！(也可仅用mind。) 模范例句：Mind you! Hes a very nice fellow though bad-tempered. 21. You can count on it.你尽管相信好了，尽管放心。 A: Do you think he will come to my birthday party? B: You can count on it. 22.I never liked it anyway.我一直不太喜欢这东西。当朋友或同事不小心摔坏你的东西时就可以用上这句话给他一个台阶，打破尴尬局面：Oh, dont worry. Im thinking of buying a new one.I never liked it anyway. 23. That depends.看情况再说。 (on sth) 例：I may go to the airport to meet her. but that depends. 24. Congratulations.恭喜你，祝贺你。 25. Thanks anyway.无论如何我还是得谢谢你。当别人尽力要帮助你却没帮成时，你就可以用这个短语表示谢意。 26. Its a deal.一言为定 Harry: Havent seen you for ages. Lets have a get-together next week. Jenny: Its a deal 电影里经常听到，Its a deal, That is a good deal.或是两个人打算达成某个协议或是做成某个生意会说：Deal? Deal!商业英文书信一. 商业书信常用开头语 Opening Phrases & Sentences Generally Used In Business Letters（1）特此奉告等 To inform one of; To say; To state; To communicate; To advise one of; To bring to ones notice (knowledge); To lay before one; To point out; To indicate; To mention; To apprise one of; To announce; To remark; To call ones attention to; To remind one of; etc.1. We are pleased to inform you that 2. We have pleasure in informing you that 3. We have the pleasure to apprise you of 4. We have the honour to inform you that (of) 5. We take the liberty of announcing to you that 6. We have to inform you that (of) 7. We have to advise you of (that) 8. We wish to inform you that (of) 9. We think it advisable to inform you that (of) 10. We are pleased to have this opportunity of reminding you that (of) 11. We take the advantage of this opportunity to bring before your notice 12. Please allow us to call your attention to 13. Permit us to remind you that (of) 14. May we ask your attention to 15. We feel it our duty to inform you that (of) （2）为(目的)奉告某某事项1. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that (of)2. The purport of this line is to advise you that (of)3. The object of the present is to report you that4. The object of this letter is to tell you that5. By this letter we Purpose to inform you that (of)6. Through the present we wish to intimate to you that7. The present serves to acquaint you that（3）惠请告知某某事项，等1. Please inform me that (of)2. Kindly inform me that (of)3. Be good enough to inform me that (of)4. Be so good as to inform me that (of)5. Have the goodness to inform me that (of)6. Oblige me by informing that (of)7. I should be obliged if you would inform me that (of)8. I should be glad if you would inform me that (of)9. I should esteem it a favour if you would inform me that (of)10. I will thank you to inform me that (of)11. You will greatly oblige me by informing that (of)12. We shall be obliged if you will inform us that (of)13. We shall be pleased to have your information regarding (on, as to; about)14. We shall deem it a favour if you will advise us of15. We shall esteem it a high favour if you will inform us that (of)（4）特确认，本公司某月某日函件等1. We confirm our respects of the l0th May2. We confirm our letter of the l0th of this month3. We confirm our last letter of the l0th June4. We had the pleasure of writing you last on the l0th of this month5. We confirm our respects of the l0th June6. We confirm the remarks made in our respects of the l0th July7. We confirm the particulars of our enquiry by telephone of this morning8. In confirming our telegram of this morning, - 9. Confirming our respects of the 10th May,- 10. Confirming our last of the 10th June,- （5）贵公司某月某日函电，敬悉等 l. We have pleasure in acknowledging receipt of your esteemed favour of the 3rd May2. We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your favour of the lst June3. We have to acknowhedge receipt of your favour of the 5th July4. Your letter of May 5 was very welcome5. Your letter of April l0 gave me much pleasure6. Your esteemed favour of 7th May was duly received by us7. Your favour of the 5th June is duly to hand8. Your favour of the l0th is to (at) hand9. We are in due receipt of your favour dated the 7th June10. We are in receipt of your letter of the 7th July11. We are in possession of your letter of the 5th April12. We have duly received your favour of the 5th March13. Your letter of yesterdays date is duly to (at) hand14. Your esteemed communication of yesterdays date is just to (at) hand15. We thank you for your favour of the 5th May16. We are obliged for your letter of the 5th May17. Many thanks for your latter of the 5th June18. Very many thanks for your letter of May 519. In acknowledging receipt of your letter of the 5th June, .20. Your favour of the 5th May has just reached me21. Your favour of the 5th May is duly received22. Your favour of the 5th May is now before me23. Your promised letter under date (of) the 5th June has just reached us（6）特回答贵公司某月某日函所叙述有关事项等1. I have the pleasure of stating, in answer to your inquiry of the 4th inst, that2. In reply to your letter of the 5th of May, I have to inform you that (of)3. I hasten to answer your inquiry of the l5th May, by stating that4. We are in receipt of yours of the 5th June, in reply to which we are pleased to state that5. In reply to yours of the l0th May, relative to., I would say that 6. I am in receipt of your favour of the 7th May, and in response I inform you that (of)7. In response to your letter of l0th May, I wish to say that8. In answer to your favour of the 5th May regarding. I reply as follows:9. Answering your letter of the 8th of February re., I would say that10. In reply to your letter of February 8th, I inform you that (of)11. Replying to yours of the 8th of February regarding., I would say that12. Replying to your favour under date of February 8th re., I say that （7）非常遗憾，我们奉告您关于，等。 l. We regret to inform you that (of)2. We are sorry to have to draw your attention to3. We regret to have to say that4. We regret to advise you that5. We very much regret to announce you that6. It is most regrettable that we have to inform you that (of)7. It is with our greatest regret that we must inform you that (of)8. To our greatest regret we must herewith inform you that (of)9. It is a matter for regret that I have to inform you that (of)10. It is to be regretted that I must inform you that (of)11. It is with regret and reluctance that we have to inform you that (of)12. It gives us a deep sorrow that we have to announce you that13. It causes me much sorrow to have to say that14. I feel sorry for having to announce you that15. I express my sorrow for announcing you that （8）当我们得悉甚为遗憾等。 1. We are very sorry to hear (know) that2. we are grieved to hear of (about)3. We are indeed sorry to hear that4 We very much regret to hear that5. We regret to hear of (that)6. It is with great regret that we just learn that7. Much to our regret we have heard that8. We regret to receive your information re9. We regret that we have been informed that (of) 10. To our deep regret we were informed that (of) （9）我们对于您某月某日来函的询价，深表谢意等。 1. We thank you very much for your inquiry of the l0th of May2. I thank you for your inquiry of the 10th May3. We are very much obliged by your enquiry dated the 10th May4. We are indebted to your inquiry under date (of) the 10th May for5. I thank you for your inquiry of July 106. Thanks for your kind enquiry of May 5 （10）兹函附某某，请查收，等。 1. Enclosed please find2. Enclosed we hand you3. We enclose herewith4. Herewith we have the pleasure to hand you5. We have pleasure in enclosing herewith6. We take the liberty to enclose herein7. We are pleased to enclose herewith8. We are pleased to hand you enclosed （11）遵照某月某日来函指示，等。 1. In accordance with the instructions given (contained) in your favour of the 10th May2. According to the directions contained in yours of the 6th May3. According to the instructions given in your letter under date of the 10th of last month4. In conformity with (to) your instructions of the l0th ult.5. Pursuant to your instructions of May 10 （12）关于详情，下次叙述，等。 1. I will write you particulars in my next.2. Particulars will be related in the following.3. I will relate further details in the following.4. I will inform you more fully in my next.5. I will go (enter) into further details in my next. （13）如下列所记，如附件所述，等。 1. As stated below,2. Annexed hereto,3. Attached you will find.4. As shown on the next page5. As indicated overleaf（下页，背面）6. As at foot hereof,7. Sent with this,8. As the drawings attached,9. As shown in the enclosed documents,10. As already mentioned,11. As particularized on the attached sheet,12. As detailed in the previous letter, （14）因电文不太明确，等。 1. Your telegram just received is quite unintelligible.2. Please repeat your wire on receipt of this, stating your meaning more clearly.3. Your telegram is not clear; explain the third and fourth words.4. Your telegram is unintelligible; repeat more fully in plain language.5. Your cable is not clear, repeat, using the codes agreed upon (on).6. We cannot understand your telegram; state the code used and which edition.7. Your telegram is not signed with cipher as agreed on; confirm if correct.8. We cannot trace the code you used; please repeat the telegram in plain words.9. Your telegram is too short to be understood. Please repeat it more fully.l0. The telegram was vague (pointless), and they requested them to explain in plain words.二. 商业英文书信常用结束语Closing Phrases & Sentences Generally Used in Business Letters（1）我们盼望于近日内接获回信，等。1. We hope to receive your favour at an early date. 2. We hope to be favoured with a reply with the least delay. 3. We await a good news with patience. 4. We hope to receive a favourable reply per return mail. 5. We await the pleasure of receiving a favourable reply at an early date. 6. We await the favour of your early (prompt) reply. 7. A prompt reply would greatly oblige us. 8. We trust you will favour us with an early (prompt) reply. 9. We trust that you will reply us immediately. 10. We should be obliged by your early (prompt) reply. 11. Will your please reply without delay what your wishes are in this matter? 12. Will you kindly inform us immediately what you wish us to do. 13. We request you to inform us of your decision by return of post. 14. We are awaiting (anxious to receive) your early reply. 15. We thank you for the anticipated favour of your early reply. 16. We should appreciate an early reply. 17. We thank you in anticipation of your usual courteous prompt attention. 18. We thank you now for the courtesy of your early attention. 19. We hope to receive your reply with the least possible delay. 20. Kindly reply at your earliest convenience. 21. Please send your reply by the earliest delivery. 22. Please send your reply by messenger. 23. Please reply immediately. 24. Please favour us with your reply as early as possible. 25. Please write to us by tonights mail, without fail. 26. May we remind you that we are still awaiting your early reply. 27. May we request the favour of your early reply? 28. A prompt reply would help us greatly. 29. A prompt reply will greatly oblige us. 30. Your prompt reply would be greatly appreciated. 31. Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly esteemed. 32. We look forward to receiving your early reply. 33. We thank you now for this anticipated courtesy. 34. As the matter is urgent, an early reply will oblige. 35. We reply on receiving your reply by return of post. （2）回信请用电报，等。1. We await your reply by telegraph. 2. Please wire reply to our telegram of this morning. 3. We are anxiously awaiting your reply by telegram. 4. Please arrange for your telegraphic reply, or long distance call, to reach us