china daily雙語新聞：解讀美國大選上的唇槍舌劍
US president Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney had their first round of presidential debates on October 3. These debates are widely regarded as one of the key moments in the US election campaign.
十月三日，美國現(xiàn)任總統(tǒng)貝拉克•奧巴馬以及共和黨候選人米特•羅姆尼進(jìn)行了二人的首輪總統(tǒng)競選辯論。這次辯論被公認(rèn)為是美國大選中最為關(guān)鍵的時(shí)刻之一。
The two candidates addressed key issues including tax policies, healthcare and the role of the government. Judging from numerous media analyses and polls after the event, it was Romney who emerged with the upper hand. He was presidential, articulate and strong. Obama, on the other hand, was “stumbling, rambling, dull-edged” and spent most of the debate on the defensive, said an article in The Atlantic.
兩位候選人就一些關(guān)鍵議題進(jìn)行了演說，包括：稅收政策，醫(yī)療制度以及政府角色等。從眾多的媒體分析和事后投票來看，羅姆尼占據(jù)上風(fēng)。他很有總統(tǒng)相，口齒清晰，令人信服。而作為辯論另一方的奧巴馬，用《大西洋月刊》上的一篇文章的話說，口誤不斷，離題萬里，反應(yīng)遲鈍，大部分時(shí)間只是在進(jìn)行防御性辯解。
It seems Romney’s hard work paid off. According to The New York Times he has been doing debate preparation since June. Meanwhile, Obama’s campaign team has been telling journalists how little time he has had to prepare due to his heavy workload as incumbent.
羅姆尼前期的努力似乎十分奏效。《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》報(bào)道稱，羅姆尼從六月起就開始為辯論做準(zhǔn)備。同時(shí)，奧巴馬的競選團(tuán)隊(duì)也一直向記者表示，因?yàn)檫€屬任職期間，奧巴馬工作負(fù)擔(dān)很重，因此準(zhǔn)備時(shí)間很少。
The next two debates are scheduled for October 16 and 22. Their outcome will have a strong influence on those who haven’t yet decided how to vote. Perhaps the president should spend more time honing his debating skills.
接下來的兩輪辯論分別定于10月16日和22日舉行。他們辯論的結(jié)果將對那些尚未確定投票對象的選民們產(chǎn)生巨大的影響。也許總統(tǒng)先生應(yīng)該多花點(diǎn)時(shí)間好好練習(xí)一下辯論技巧。
So, how does a candidate prepare for these verbal duels?
那么，作為總統(tǒng)候選人，該如何準(zhǔn)備應(yīng)對這一場場唇槍舌戰(zhàn)呢？
Candidates enjoy the perk of having a prep team to arrange mock debate sessions and give them feedback. The prep team’s key task is to put together a briefing book on policy for the candidate, in addition to a position book detailing the opponent’s stance on key issues.
作為總統(tǒng)候選人的一份特權(quán)，他們總統(tǒng)可以讓競選團(tuán)隊(duì)來安排模擬辯論賽，聽聽他們的反饋。競選團(tuán)隊(duì)的主要任務(wù)是整理出該候選人的執(zhí)政介紹書，此外還要詳述對手在重要議題上的立場。
The team also tries to anticipate potential questions right down to their possible phrasing, said Tad Devine in a recent interview with the BBC. Devine is a senior adviser who helped with previous presidential debates.
競選團(tuán)隊(duì)還要嘗試預(yù)測出所有可能出現(xiàn)的問題，甚至是每一句可能使用的措辭，曾參與前幾屆總統(tǒng)辯論工作的高級顧問泰德•迪瓦恩近日在接受BBC采訪時(shí)如是說。
A candidate is generally advised to stick to familiar territory, using tried and tested material. Sharp one-liner attacks known as “zingers” are a key part of this approach and can be very effective.
候選人一般會接受建議，緊扣自己熟悉的領(lǐng)域，并使用反復(fù)驗(yàn)證過的材料。一些調(diào)侃性的犀利反駁是該競選方案中的重要且奏效的一環(huán)。
Romney is said to have been came in handy on October 3. He said: “Mr President, practicing zingers, which you’re entitled, as the president, to your own airplane and to your own house, but not to your own facts.”
據(jù)稱，這招在羅姆尼10月3日的辯論中就派上了用場。他說：“總統(tǒng)先生，作為一名總統(tǒng)，你有資格對著自己的飛機(jī)、房屋進(jìn)行練習(xí)強(qiáng)有力的反駁，但不要對著自己的政績這樣做?！?BR> One of the most important rules, says Devine, is to have a central message that you drive home to the audience repeatedly. Also make sure you answer the question, and do so right away. “Once you’ve answered, you can go on and talk about what you want to talk about,” says Devine.
迪瓦恩說，最重要的一條原則便是，你要反復(fù)向觀眾強(qiáng)調(diào)同一種中心思想。同時(shí)，要確保自己對答如流。“只要你給出答案，你可以繼續(xù)下去，高談闊論一番?！?BR> Another rule is never to show disdain for the opponent, but Obama has apparently forgotten this. “Professorial” is the word media outlets used most frequently to describe Obama’s mannerism. He was busy taking notes and didn’t make a lot of eye contact with either Romney or the cameras.
另一條原則是永遠(yuǎn)不要輕視對手，很明顯奧巴馬忘了這點(diǎn)。各大媒體常用“學(xué)者派頭”來形容奧巴馬特有的說話習(xí)慣。他忙于記筆記，疏于與羅姆尼或鏡頭做眼神交流。
Whereas Romney managed to “keep a choirboy smile pasted on his face”, the president was quick to drop his friendliness and adopted “the look of a long-suffering headmaster enduring the excuses of a bright student he is going to expel,” said a New York Times article.
當(dāng)“羅姆尼的臉上始終保持少年般微笑”時(shí)，奧巴馬卻迅速地丟棄自己友善的一面，他“看起來就像是一位長期受苦的校長，隱忍著他將要開除的天才學(xué)生的自我辯護(hù)?！?BR> It is no secret that Obama doesn’t like Romney, but after the first debate he might admit that Romney is a formidable opponent after all.
奧巴馬不喜歡羅姆尼，這點(diǎn)可謂眾人皆知。但在首輪辯論之后，他也許要承認(rèn)，羅姆尼終究是位強(qiáng)大的對手。
US president Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney had their first round of presidential debates on October 3. These debates are widely regarded as one of the key moments in the US election campaign.
十月三日，美國現(xiàn)任總統(tǒng)貝拉克•奧巴馬以及共和黨候選人米特•羅姆尼進(jìn)行了二人的首輪總統(tǒng)競選辯論。這次辯論被公認(rèn)為是美國大選中最為關(guān)鍵的時(shí)刻之一。
The two candidates addressed key issues including tax policies, healthcare and the role of the government. Judging from numerous media analyses and polls after the event, it was Romney who emerged with the upper hand. He was presidential, articulate and strong. Obama, on the other hand, was “stumbling, rambling, dull-edged” and spent most of the debate on the defensive, said an article in The Atlantic.
兩位候選人就一些關(guān)鍵議題進(jìn)行了演說，包括：稅收政策，醫(yī)療制度以及政府角色等。從眾多的媒體分析和事后投票來看，羅姆尼占據(jù)上風(fēng)。他很有總統(tǒng)相，口齒清晰，令人信服。而作為辯論另一方的奧巴馬，用《大西洋月刊》上的一篇文章的話說，口誤不斷，離題萬里，反應(yīng)遲鈍，大部分時(shí)間只是在進(jìn)行防御性辯解。
It seems Romney’s hard work paid off. According to The New York Times he has been doing debate preparation since June. Meanwhile, Obama’s campaign team has been telling journalists how little time he has had to prepare due to his heavy workload as incumbent.
羅姆尼前期的努力似乎十分奏效。《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》報(bào)道稱，羅姆尼從六月起就開始為辯論做準(zhǔn)備。同時(shí)，奧巴馬的競選團(tuán)隊(duì)也一直向記者表示，因?yàn)檫€屬任職期間，奧巴馬工作負(fù)擔(dān)很重，因此準(zhǔn)備時(shí)間很少。
The next two debates are scheduled for October 16 and 22. Their outcome will have a strong influence on those who haven’t yet decided how to vote. Perhaps the president should spend more time honing his debating skills.
接下來的兩輪辯論分別定于10月16日和22日舉行。他們辯論的結(jié)果將對那些尚未確定投票對象的選民們產(chǎn)生巨大的影響。也許總統(tǒng)先生應(yīng)該多花點(diǎn)時(shí)間好好練習(xí)一下辯論技巧。
So, how does a candidate prepare for these verbal duels?
那么，作為總統(tǒng)候選人，該如何準(zhǔn)備應(yīng)對這一場場唇槍舌戰(zhàn)呢？
Candidates enjoy the perk of having a prep team to arrange mock debate sessions and give them feedback. The prep team’s key task is to put together a briefing book on policy for the candidate, in addition to a position book detailing the opponent’s stance on key issues.
作為總統(tǒng)候選人的一份特權(quán)，他們總統(tǒng)可以讓競選團(tuán)隊(duì)來安排模擬辯論賽，聽聽他們的反饋。競選團(tuán)隊(duì)的主要任務(wù)是整理出該候選人的執(zhí)政介紹書，此外還要詳述對手在重要議題上的立場。
The team also tries to anticipate potential questions right down to their possible phrasing, said Tad Devine in a recent interview with the BBC. Devine is a senior adviser who helped with previous presidential debates.
競選團(tuán)隊(duì)還要嘗試預(yù)測出所有可能出現(xiàn)的問題，甚至是每一句可能使用的措辭，曾參與前幾屆總統(tǒng)辯論工作的高級顧問泰德•迪瓦恩近日在接受BBC采訪時(shí)如是說。
A candidate is generally advised to stick to familiar territory, using tried and tested material. Sharp one-liner attacks known as “zingers” are a key part of this approach and can be very effective.
候選人一般會接受建議，緊扣自己熟悉的領(lǐng)域，并使用反復(fù)驗(yàn)證過的材料。一些調(diào)侃性的犀利反駁是該競選方案中的重要且奏效的一環(huán)。
Romney is said to have been came in handy on October 3. He said: “Mr President, practicing zingers, which you’re entitled, as the president, to your own airplane and to your own house, but not to your own facts.”
據(jù)稱，這招在羅姆尼10月3日的辯論中就派上了用場。他說：“總統(tǒng)先生，作為一名總統(tǒng)，你有資格對著自己的飛機(jī)、房屋進(jìn)行練習(xí)強(qiáng)有力的反駁，但不要對著自己的政績這樣做?！?BR> One of the most important rules, says Devine, is to have a central message that you drive home to the audience repeatedly. Also make sure you answer the question, and do so right away. “Once you’ve answered, you can go on and talk about what you want to talk about,” says Devine.
迪瓦恩說，最重要的一條原則便是，你要反復(fù)向觀眾強(qiáng)調(diào)同一種中心思想。同時(shí)，要確保自己對答如流。“只要你給出答案，你可以繼續(xù)下去，高談闊論一番?！?BR> Another rule is never to show disdain for the opponent, but Obama has apparently forgotten this. “Professorial” is the word media outlets used most frequently to describe Obama’s mannerism. He was busy taking notes and didn’t make a lot of eye contact with either Romney or the cameras.
另一條原則是永遠(yuǎn)不要輕視對手，很明顯奧巴馬忘了這點(diǎn)。各大媒體常用“學(xué)者派頭”來形容奧巴馬特有的說話習(xí)慣。他忙于記筆記，疏于與羅姆尼或鏡頭做眼神交流。
Whereas Romney managed to “keep a choirboy smile pasted on his face”, the president was quick to drop his friendliness and adopted “the look of a long-suffering headmaster enduring the excuses of a bright student he is going to expel,” said a New York Times article.
當(dāng)“羅姆尼的臉上始終保持少年般微笑”時(shí)，奧巴馬卻迅速地丟棄自己友善的一面，他“看起來就像是一位長期受苦的校長，隱忍著他將要開除的天才學(xué)生的自我辯護(hù)?！?BR> It is no secret that Obama doesn’t like Romney, but after the first debate he might admit that Romney is a formidable opponent after all.
奧巴馬不喜歡羅姆尼，這點(diǎn)可謂眾人皆知。但在首輪辯論之后，他也許要承認(rèn)，羅姆尼終究是位強(qiáng)大的對手。