- Published on
《牛津英语词典》的故事(下)
- Authors
然而，这本词典的许多贡献者都是自学成才。
双语精读
Through the multitude of stories, snapshots of a society in flux emerge: an age of scientific discovery, growing transport and communication links and increased professionalisation of scholarship.
从众多的故事之中，一个变化中的社会的大致图景浮现出来：众多科学发现、不断发展的交通和通信联系，以及学术的日益专业化。
Yet many of the dictionary's contributors were autodidacts. The project's popularity reflected a growing community of people eager for intellectual pursuits but excluded from conventional academia.
然而，这本词典的许多贡献者都是自学成才。该项目大受欢迎，说明当时越来越多的人渴望智识方面的追求，却被传统学术界拒之门外。
Ms Ogilvie's book is full of quirky titbits. Many dictionary obsessives engaged in another crowdsourcing vogue: collecting and measuring rainwater.
奥格尔维的这本书充满了奇闻轶事。许多痴迷于词典的人还参与了另一种很时尚的众包工作：收集和测量雨水。
The presentation of the book is unconventional, too, taking its structure from the work it describes. There are 26 alphabetical chapters, each celebrating a group of contributors (memorably, "K" is for "kleptomaniac").
这本书的呈现方式也是不同寻常的，借用了《牛津英语词典》的结构。全书有26个按字母顺序排列的章节，每个章节都是为了纪念某一群贡献者(让人印象很深的是K代表“偷窃狂”)。
This is a cunning conceit, though it sometimes means that broader issues emerge only piecemeal.
这是一种别出心裁的巧思，但这种结构也导致有时更宏大的问题只能零零碎碎地呈现。
"The Dictionary People" will appeal to logophiles. Pages abound with wonderful words: absquatulate (to abscond), couthutlaughe (a person knowingly concealing an outlaw) and zwodder (a drowsy feeling).
《编写词典的人》将会吸引词语爱好者。精彩的词汇在书中俯拾皆是：absquatulate(逃遁)、couthutlaughe (故意窝藏罪犯的人)、zwodder(昏昏欲睡的感觉)。
But Ms Ogilvie's book is also a story of omissions. The OED aimed to record English as it was used across the world; it was a product of empire.
但奥格尔维的这本书也是一个关于遗漏的故事。《牛津英语词典》旨在记录英语在世界各地的使用情况，它是帝国的产物。
"The published sources of those words drew originally on the language of members of black and indigenous communities, whose names never made it into the pages of Murray's address book," Ms Ogilvie writes.
奥格尔维写道：“有些单词最初来自黑人和原住民的语言，但他们的名字从未出现在默里的通讯录上。”
In addition, many words were kept out of the OED: "homosexuality" was included in 1933, "lesbian" not until 1976. When it came to slang, Murray was cautious about obscenity laws; first editions of the "C" and "F" volumes remain clear of the obvious culprits.
此外，许多词曾经被《牛津英语词典》排除在外：“同性恋”一词于1933年被收录，“女同性恋”一词直到1976年才被收录在内。对于俚语，默里对淫秽语言的态度十分谨慎，第一版词典的C和F部分十分清白，没有那两个众人皆知的词。
Above all, though, this is a story about ordinary people. It is a powerful testament to those who, to cite dictionary-helper George Eliot, "lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs".
不过，最重要的是，这本书讲述了普通人的故事。引用曾为词典提供帮助的乔治·艾略特的话来说，这本书是那些“生前忠实地过着无名的生活，生后于无人来访的坟墓中安息”的人们曾存于世间的有力证明。
词汇预习
originally [高考]
美[əˈrɪdʒənəli] | 英[əˈrɪdʒənəli]
adv. 原本；起初；独创地
emerge [高考]
美[iˈmɜːrdʒ] | 英[iˈmɜːdʒ]
vi. 浮现；(由某种状态)脱出；(事实)显现出来
intellectual [高考]
美[ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl] | 英[ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl]
n. 凭理智做事者；知识分子 adj. 智力的；聪明的
indigenous [高考]
美[ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs] | 英[ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs]
adj. 土生土长的；本地的；天生的
appeal [高考]
美[əˈpiːl] | 英[əˈpiːl]
n. 恳求；呼吁；上诉；吸引力 n. (体育比赛中)诉请裁决 v. 呼吁；有吸引力；求助；诉请
eager [高考]
美[ˈiːɡər] | 英[ˈiːɡə(r)]
adj. 热切的；渴望的
obvious [高考]
美[ˈɑːbviəs] | 英[ˈɒbviəs]
adj.明显的;显著的;平淡无奇的;自明
cautious [高考]
美[ˈkɔːʃəs] | 英[ˈkɔːʃəs]
adj. 谨慎的；十分小心的
presentation [高考]
美[ˌpriːzenˈteɪʃn] | 英[ˌpreznˈteɪʃn]
n. 介绍；陈述；赠送物；报告；[美]讲课
scholarship [高考]
美[ˈskɑːlərʃɪp] | 英[ˈskɒləʃɪp]
n. 奖学金；学问；学识
conventional [高考]
美[kənˈvenʃənl] | 英[kənˈvenʃənl]
adj. 传统的；惯例的；常规的
appeal to [高考]
美[əˈpiːl tu] | 英[əˈpiːl tu]
对 ... 产生吸引力； 呼吁； 恳求； 申诉
cautious about [高考]
美[ˈkɔʃəs əˈbaʊt] | 英[ˈkɔ:ʃəs əˈbaut]
谨慎于 ...
means [高考]
美[miːnz] | 英[miːnz]
n. 方法；手段；收入；财产 v. 意思是，意味（动词mean的第三人称单数）
cite [高考]
美[saɪt] | 英[saɪt]
vt. 引用；传讯；表扬；举(例)
empire [四级]
美[ˈempaɪər] | 英[ˈempaɪə(r)]
n. 帝国；大企业；帝权
cunning [四级]
美[ˈkʌnɪŋ] | 英[ˈkʌnɪŋ]
adj. 狡猾的；有眼光的；精巧的；可爱的 n. 【C】狡诈；灵巧
academia [四级]
美[ˌækəˈdimiə] | 英[ˌækəˈdi:miə]
n. 学术界，学术生活
knowingly [四级]
美[ˈnoʊɪŋli] | 英[ˈnəʊɪŋli]
adv. 故意地；会意地
full of [四级]
美[fʊl ʌv] | 英[ful ɔv]
充满 ...
clear of [四级]
美[klɪr ʌv] | 英[kliə ɔv]
无阻碍;无辜的;摆脱
multitude [六级]
美[ˈmʌltɪtuːd] | 英[ˈmʌltɪtjuːd]
n. 大量；多数；群众
slang [六级]
美[slæŋ] | 英[slæŋ]
n. 俚语；行话 vt. 使用俚语；辱骂 vi. 辱骂
flux [六级]
美[flʌks] | 英[flʌks]
n. 流量；变迁；助熔剂 vt. 使熔化；使泻；涨 vi. 熔化
conceit [六级]
美[kənˈsiːt] | 英[kənˈsiːt]
n. 自负，狂妄，幻想，巧妙的构思 vt. 幻想，理解
outlaw [六级]
美[ˈaʊtlɔː] | 英[ˈaʊtlɔː]
n. 歹徒，逃犯；被剥夺法律保护的人 v. 宣布…为不合法；将…放逐；剥夺…的法律保护；取缔
out of [六级]
美[aʊt ʌv] | 英[aut ɔv]
prep. 离…一段距离；从…里；离开 ...；出于
drowsy [专四]
美[ˈdraʊzi] | 英[ˈdraʊzi]
adj. 昏昏欲睡的；令人昏昏欲睡的 adj. 寂静的
abound [专四]
美[əˈbaʊnd] | 英[əˈbaʊnd]
v. 富于；充满
testament [专八]
美[ˈtɛstəmənt] | 英[ˈtestəmənt]
n. 证明；自白；[律]遗嘱；[古]圣约 n. 圣经旧约；圣经新约
vogue [专八]
美[voʊɡ] | 英[vəʊɡ]
n. 时尚；流行
obscenity [专八]
美[ɑbˈsɛnɪti, əb-] | 英[əbˈsenəti]
n. 猥亵下流；猥亵的话(或行为)
alphabetical [考研]
美[ˌælfəˈbetɪkl] | 英[ˌælfəˈbetɪkl]
adj. 按字母表顺序的，字母（表）的
unconventional [考研]
美[ˌʌnkənˈvenʃənl] | 英[ˌʌnkənˈvenʃənl]
adj. 非传统的；不合惯例的；非常规的
engaged in [考研]
美 | 英
使从事于, 使忙于
homosexuality [托福]
美[ˌhɒməˌsekʃʊ'ælətɪ] | 英[ˌhɒməˌsekʃʊ'ælətɪ]
n. 同性恋
重点讲解
Through the multitude of stories, snapshots of a society in flux emerge: an age of scientific discovery, growing transport and communication links and increased professionalisation of scholarship.
从众多的故事之中，一个变化中的社会的大致图景浮现出来：众多科学发现、不断发展的交通和通信联系，以及学术的日益专业化。
a multitude of 许多；大量
【例】A multitude of suggestions have been made.
已经提出了许多建议。
【近义词】a wealth of/multiple 许多；大量
in flux 流动中；处于变化中
【例】The world is in a continual flux.
我们所处的世界变动不居。
【拓展】fluctuate v. 波动；起伏变化
the influx of sth 某物的流入/涌入
Yet many of the dictionary’s contributors were autodidacts. The project’s popularity reflected a growing community of people eager for intellectual pursuits but excluded from conventional academia.
然而，这本词典的许多贡献者都是自学成才。该项目大受欢迎，说明当时越来越多的人渴望智识方面的追求，却被传统学术界拒之门外。
autodidact n. 自学成才的人
【例】The internet has made it easier than ever for autodidacts to find resources and learn new skills.
互联网使自学者比以往任何时候都更容易找到资源和学习新技能。
【近义词】self-taught/self-educated/self-made adj. 自学成才的；白手起家的
【拓展】automobile/automatic n./adj. 汽车/自动的
pursuit n. 追逐；追求；追寻
【例】the pursuit of excellence/scientific pursuit
追求卓越/科学方面的追求
【搭配】be in pursuit of sth 追求某物
【拓展】pursue v. 追求；力图实现
【例】to pursue a goal/policy/medical career
追求目标/贯彻政策/立志从事医学工作
Ms Ogilvie’s book is full of quirky titbits. Many dictionary obsessives engaged in another crowdsourcing vogue: collecting and measuring rainwater.
奥格尔维的这本书充满了奇闻轶事。许多痴迷于词典的人还参与了另一种很时尚的众包工作：收集和测量雨水。
quirky adj. 古怪的
【例】a quirky coffee shop/a girl of quirky charm
一家稀奇古怪的咖啡店/一个古灵精怪的女孩
【近义词】strange/odd/bizarre/peculiar/weird adj. 奇怪的；怪异的
vogue n. 流行；时髦；风尚
【例】the vogue for large hats 戴大帽子的时尚
【搭配】be in vogue/out of vogue 正在流行/不再流行
The presentation of the book is unconventional, too, taking its structure from the work it describes. There are 26 alphabetical chapters, each celebrating a group of contributors (memorably, “K” is for “kleptomaniac”).
这本书的呈现方式也是不同寻常的，借用了《牛津英语词典》的结构。全书有26个按字母顺序排列的章节，每个章节都是为了纪念某一群贡献者(让人印象很深的是K代表“偷窃狂”)。
unconventional adj. 不依传统的；非常规的
【例】His unconventional approach to problem-solving often leads to innovative solutions.
他用非常规的思路解决问题，常常能带来创新的解决方案。
【拓展】convention n. 社会习俗；惯例
This is a cunning conceit, though it sometimes means that broader issues emerge only piecemeal.
这是一种别出心裁的巧思，但这种结构也导致有时更宏大的问题只能零零碎碎地呈现。
unconventional adj. 不依传统的；非常规的
【例】His unconventional approach to problem-solving often leads to innovative solutions.
他用非常规的思路解决问题，常常能带来创新的解决方案。
【拓展】convention n. 社会习俗；惯例
“The Dictionary People” will appeal to logophiles. Pages abound with wonderful words: absquatulate (to abscond), couthutlaughe (a person knowingly concealing an outlaw) and zwodder (a drowsy feeling).
《编写词典的人》将会吸引词语爱好者。精彩的词汇在书中俯拾皆是：absquatulate(逃遁)、couthutlaughe (故意窝藏罪犯的人)、zwodder(昏昏欲睡的感觉)。
abound with 有大量（某物）
【例】That region abounds with rain.
那个地区雨水很多。
【搭配】sth abound 有许多某物
【例】Rain abounds in that region.
那个地区雨水很多。
【拓展】abundant adj. 大量的；丰富的
draw on sth 利用；运用
【例】The novelist draws heavily on her personal experiences.
这位小说家运用很多她的亲身经历为素材。
to draw on my savings/knowledge
动用我的存款/利用我的知识
But Ms Ogilvie’s book is also a story of omissions. The OED aimed to record English as it was used across the world; it was a product of empire.
但奥格尔维的这本书也是一个关于遗漏的故事。《牛津英语词典》旨在记录英语在世界各地的使用情况，它是帝国的产物。
abound with 有大量（某物）
【例】That region abounds with rain.
那个地区雨水很多。
【搭配】sth abound 有许多某物
【例】Rain abounds in that region.
那个地区雨水很多。
【拓展】abundant adj. 大量的；丰富的
draw on sth 利用；运用
【例】The novelist draws heavily on her personal experiences.
这位小说家运用很多她的亲身经历为素材。
to draw on my savings/knowledge
动用我的存款/利用我的知识
“The published sources of those words drew originally on the language of members of black and indigenous communities, whose names never made it into the pages of Murray’s address book,” Ms Ogilvie writes.
奥格尔维写道：“有些单词最初来自黑人和原住民的语言，但他们的名字从未出现在默里的通讯录上。”
abound with 有大量（某物）
【例】That region abounds with rain.
那个地区雨水很多。
【搭配】sth abound 有许多某物
【例】Rain abounds in that region.
那个地区雨水很多。
【拓展】abundant adj. 大量的；丰富的
draw on sth 利用；运用
【例】The novelist draws heavily on her personal experiences.
这位小说家运用很多她的亲身经历为素材。
to draw on my savings/knowledge
动用我的存款/利用我的知识
In addition, many words were kept out of the OED: “homosexuality” was included in 1933, “lesbian” not until 1976. When it came to slang, Murray was cautious about obscenity laws; first editions of the “C” and “F” volumes remain clear of the obvious culprits.
此外，许多词曾经被《牛津英语词典》排除在外：“同性恋”一词于1933年被收录，“女同性恋”一词直到1976年才被收录在内。对于俚语，默里对淫秽语言的态度十分谨慎，第一版词典的C和F部分十分清白，没有那两个众人皆知的词。
a testament to 证明某事的证据
【例】His success is a testament to his skills.
他的成功便是他技艺娴熟的证据。
【近义词】testimony (to) /evidence/proof (of) n. 证据
【拓展】testify to 证明某事
Above all, though, this is a story about ordinary people. It is a powerful testament to those who, to cite dictionary-helper George Eliot, “lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs”.
不过，最重要的是，这本书讲述了普通人的故事。引用曾为词典提供帮助的乔治·艾略特的话来说，这本书是那些“生前忠实地过着无名的生活，生后于无人来访的坟墓中安息”的人们曾存于世间的有力证明。
a testament to 证明某事的证据
【例】His success is a testament to his skills.
他的成功便是他技艺娴熟的证据。
【近义词】testimony (to) /evidence/proof (of) n. 证据
【拓展】testify to 证明某事
课后练习
What does the popularity of the dictionary project indicate about the society at that time?
A. The high social status of scholars.
B. The popularization of science education.
C. The desire and enthusiasm for knowledge.
D. The rise of crowdsourcing in Britain.
What is unique about the book "The Dictionary People"?
A. It has 26 alphabetical chapters.
B. It focuses on the broader issues in society.
C. It contains pages filled with invented words.
D. It tells the story of weird and dangerous people.
What do the omissions in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) reflect?
A. The OED's disregard for scientific terminology.
B. The OED's cultural and racial discrimination.
C. The OED's lack of comprehensive coverage of global languages.
D. The OED's focus on words used only within the empire.
What is the primary focus of "The Dictionary People" according to the author?
A. It is a tribute to the significant figures in history.
B. It is a story about the lives of ordinary people .
C. It is a testament to the famous writers and their works.
D. It is a celebration of the most important English dictionary.