横扫12项奥斯卡提名,斩获4项大奖,这个故事有点燃丨聊聊英语

《国王的演讲》是一部人物电影,以现任女王伊丽莎白二世的父亲乔治六世为原型,讲述了他在二战时期临危受命,继任王位,克服口吃、在公众面前发表抗战演讲的故事。

In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.

在这个庄严的时刻,或许是国家历史上最生死攸关的时刻,无论你身处何方,我向每一位民众,都传递这样一个信息:对于你们正遭受的苦难,我感同身受,我甚至希望能挨家挨户地,亲自向你们诉说。

For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.

我们中的大多数人,将经历有生之年里的第二次战争。

Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has bee in vain.

我们已经不止一次地尝试通过一种和平的方法,来解决与敌国间的争端,但那都是徒劳无功。

We have been forced into a conflict, for which we are called, with our allies to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.

我们已经被卷入了这场战争,我们和盟国正受到法西斯主义的挑战,如果它得胜,世界的文明秩序都将受到致命的摧残。

This is the ultimate issue which confronts us. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.

这是对我们的终极考验。为了捍卫我们珍视的一切,为了世界的和平有序,我们应该毫不犹豫地接受这项挑战。

It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.

正是出于这个目的,今天我呼吁所有国内国外的子民,以此崇高目标为己任。

I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.

我恳请大家,在磨砺来临之际,保持平静、坚定、团结。

The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God. If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God’s help, we shall prevail.

这会是一项艰巨的任务。前路漫漫而艰辛,战争也不只局限于战场,心怀正义,便能正确处事。虔诚地将自己交付给上帝,并毅然忠诚于他,准备好为他的指引做出一切努力甚至牺牲。

在法西斯不断的挑衅下,二战阴云笼罩在英伦上空,约克公爵(后来的乔治六世)继任王位,需要鼓舞国民,对抗这场罪恶的战争。

词汇:

grave:n.坟墓

fateful:adj.重大的,决定性的

threshold:n.门槛

prevail:v.占上风

reverently:adv.虔诚地

battlefield:n.战场

解读:

第一句中“grave”表示“坟墓”,“in grave hour”表示“生死存亡的时刻”,意在强调目前国家所面临的形势非常严峻。

后面“at home and overseas”表示“国内外”,即在这个严峻的时刻,海内外的同胞都应团结一致,精神抖擞,共同面对国家的危难。

第一段最后一句“as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself”使用了虚拟语气,表示国王希望能够“挨家挨户,亲自诉说”,一方面表达出国王的恳切和对国民的亲和力,更能引起共鸣;另一方面,烘托出此时国家面临的挑战之大,每个公民都应鼓起勇气,主动承担自己的职责。

第二句“if it were to prevail”作为插入语,意为“占于上风”,这里指“如果法西斯占了上风”。“which would be fatal to…”是定语从句修饰“the challenge of a principle”:这将对文明秩序是致命的打击。

第三句中的“confront”在表示“面对”时比“face”更加正式,符合演讲这一严谨庄重的场合。除此之外,“face”侧重有勇气、决心或自信心去面对;“confront”多指勇敢、冷静地面临某种问题、困难或任务等。这里国王希望国民能沉着冷静,自信勇敢地面临这场危难。

第四句“it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge”使用了双重否定表肯定的用法,“unthinkable”意为“不能想象的”,“refuse”意为“拒绝”。“不能想象,如果拒绝面临挑战”,就应该翻译为“应该毫不犹豫地面临挑战”。这里双重否定增强了气势,加重了情感,表明国王带领大家共赴国难,直面挑战的决心。

最后一句中“keep resolutely faithful to”表示“忠于上帝”,只要我们做出一切努力和牺牲,做正确的事,剩下的就交给上帝,也可理解为“成事在人,谋事在天。”

“with god’s help”出自“God help those who help themselves.”这则谚语意为“天助自助者”。这里意在安抚民众,只要我们团结一致,同仇敌忾,上帝也会帮助我们的,胜利属于我们。

整部电影冷静克制,没有极度的煽情,也没有过度的美化,只是讲述了属于那个年代的故事。

最后的演讲铿锵从容,在磨砺来临之际,保持平静、坚定、团结。

前路漫漫而艰辛,战争也不只局限于战场,对乔治六世如此,对面临抗战的英国军民如此,对如今的我们,亦是如此。