2017圣诞演讲:英国女王真情诠释“家”的定义

2017年12月26日 英国留学启德



如果说英国人圣诞节有什么特色保留节目,那一定是听25日圣诞节当日下午3点女王的圣诞致辞。毕竟由女王亲自撰稿,公开发表个人看法,每年也就只有这一次机会了。



既去年的主题“启迪”(inspiration)之后,今年的圣诞演讲主题是——“家”(home)。整个演讲统统围绕“家”来诠释。对很多人而言,“家”的概念早已超越了一栋建筑、一个家乡、一座城市的表面之所在。”


演讲核心词:


科技 | 伦敦 | 曼彻斯特 | 白金婚 | 皇室新成员 | 哈里王子大婚 


女王在回顾了几十年来现代科技的飞速变迁之后,便讲到了今年发生在伦敦与曼城的恐袭、格伦费尔大厦火灾,还提到了自己和菲利普亲王的70周年“白金婚”、菲利普的退休,以及明年即将迎来的两位皇室新成员:威廉王子与凯特王妃预计4月降生的第三胎,以及哈里王子将在5月迎娶的梅根·马科尔。


女王在21岁时与菲利浦亲王成婚;右为前不久拍摄于温莎古堡纪念白金婚70周年


以下为全部演讲的中英文版:


Sixty years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark.


六十年前的今天,一名年轻的女性尝试了首次这类电视直播,并在其中讲到了科技变迁的快速程度。她把那一刻称为“里程碑”时刻。


(直播中还播放了一段影像资料)


QUEEN (in archival footage): Television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television, as they are at this moment. And that is how I imagine you now.


女王资料影像:电视让你们许多人在圣诞假当天坐在家里就能够见到我。我自己的家人常常聚到一起看电视,而他们现在也正坐在电视机前。我想象中,这就是你们现在的样子。



Six decades on, the presenter has evolved somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then, who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones, as some of you are today?


六十个年头过去了,这位“主播”历经蜕变,正如她所描述的科技一般。当年有谁能想象到,有一天人们会从笔记本电脑和手机上观看这则视频,就像今天你们中的一部分人这样?


But I'm also struck by something that hasn't changed - that whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.


不过,我也为另外一些不曾变化的事情备受感动,那就是无论科技如何进步,你们中绝大多数人依然聚在家里观看这则视频。


We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love - of shared stories and memories - which is perhaps why, at this time of year, so many return to where they grew up. There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. For many, the idea of home reaches beyond a physical building, to a home town or city.


我们把家看做温暖、亲情与爱所凝聚的地方,看做保留共同的经历与回忆的地方。可能也正是如此,每年这个时候,很多人都选择回到他们长大的地方。这正是“家”对人们经久不衰的吸引力之所在。对很多人而言,“家”的概念早已超越了一栋建筑、一个家乡、一座城市的表面之所在。


This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months, in the face of appalling attacks. In Manchester, those targeted included children who had gone to see their favourite singer.


这个圣诞节,我心中想到的是伦敦和曼彻斯特,即使在令人震惊的袭击面前,它们强有力的秉性在过去12个月里,依然大放异彩。在曼彻斯特,那些包含孩子们在内的被袭击者不过是去见他们最喜欢的歌手而已。


A few days after the bombing, I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents.


在爆炸发生的几天后,我有幸当面见到了几位年轻的幸存者,以及他们的父母。


I described that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. Indeed, many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert. It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home.


我把这几次医院探望称之为“荣幸”,是因为我见到的那些伤者是我们所有人的榜样,他们展现出了非同凡响的勇敢和坚韧。事实也正是如此,因为不过几天之后,许多袭击中的幸存者就再次聚集到一起,参与了一场慈善演唱会。这是对我们共同信念的重申,也是对所有那些年轻人称之为“家”的城市的主权宣誓。


We expect our homes to be a place of safety - sanctuary, even - which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered. A few weeks ago, the Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities.


我们都希望我们的家是安全的地方,甚至是圣所一样的存在,但也正是如此,当家所提供的温暖舒适遭到破坏的时候,这一切才更令人震悚。就在几周前,威尔士王子(注:即查尔斯)也刚刚访问了遭遇飓风袭击后邻里街访遭遇破坏性打击的加勒比地区。


And here, in London, who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire? Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year, saving others.


而就在这里,在伦敦,谁能够忘怀那纯粹可怕的格伦费尔大厦火灾呢?我们的心绪和祈祷,都与受害者和那些失去太多的人们同在。而对那些在过去一年内冒着生命危险去援救他人的紧急救援队伍成员们,我们也十分感激。


Many of them, of course, will not be at home today, because they are working to protect us. Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family and, in particular, for 70 years of marriage. I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary. When I was born, you weren't expected to be around that long.


而他们中许多人,今天毫无疑问也无法回家团聚,因为他们为了保护我们而坚守在工作岗位上。回顾这些事件,让我对家和家庭所带来的美好深深感激,尤其是过去70年来的婚姻。我不知道是谁为70周年结婚纪念日发明了“铂金婚”这个说法,毕竟在我出生的时候,一般人是活不了这么长的。



Even Prince Philip has decided it's time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, done his bit. But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family, and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.


就连菲利普亲王都决定,是时候放慢脚步了,正如他非常实在地说的那样,他已经履行了应尽的义务。但我知道,他的支持和独特的幽默感将一如既往地陪伴左右,尤其是我们一家人聚在一起欢度圣诞,并期待明年迎来新的家庭成员的时候(注:指威廉王子与凯特王妃的第三胎,以及即将嫁给哈里王子的梅根·马科尔)。


In 2018, I will open my home to a different type of family, the leaders of the 52 nations of the Commonwealth, as they gather in the UK for a summit.


2018年,我还将敞开我家大门欢迎另外一个类别的家人,那就是英联邦52国的领导人,他们将一起参加在英国举行的峰会。


The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the Commonwealth Games, which begin in a few months' time on Australia's Gold Coast, or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir - a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is.


英联邦在凝聚人心方面有着充满启发性的方式,包括几个月后即将在澳大利亚黄金海岸拉开帷幕的英联邦运动会,以及英联邦青年管乐团和合唱团这样的团体。这些都时刻提醒着我们,我们的国际大家庭是多么的生机勃勃。


Today, we celebrate Christmas, which, itself, is sometimes described as a festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together.


今天我们庆祝圣诞节,而它也有时被称为是属于家庭的节日,人们不远万里跋涉,只为了与家人团聚。


Volunteers and charities, as well as many churches, arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. We remember the birth of Jesus Christ, whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem. He knew rejection, hardship and persecution.


志愿者、慈善机构以及许多教堂,都为无家可归、以及独自度过圣诞节的人们安排了免费餐点。我们以此纪念耶稣基督的诞生,当时他的圣所不过是伯利恒的一处马厩,而他也深知拒绝、艰苦与迫害的涵义。


And, yet, it is Jesus Christ's generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad. Whatever your own experience is this year, wherever and however you are watching, I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas.


即便如此,耶稣基督宽容的大爱和榜样,无论在歌舞升平还是艰难困苦的时代,都始终启迪着我。无论你过去一年中有什么样的个人经历,无论你什么时候在什么地方观看这则视频,我都祝你度过一个祥和而快乐的圣诞节。



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