苏格兰独立
Scottish independence
Welcome to 6 Minute English with me Rob…
欢迎大家和我一起来到BBC6分钟英语，我是Rob、
…and me Neil.
我是Neil。
Today we're talking about national independence - that's when one nation is free from control by another country.
今天我们来讨论下国家独立--指的是一个国家摆脱了另一个国家的控制，获得自由。
Neil, can you think of any countries that have become independent?
Neil，你能想起几个已经独立的国家的名字吗？
Well, Scotland is talking a lot about this at the moment.
苏格兰正在谈论这个。
Yes, it is.
是的。
It's a big political issue which we'll talk more about soon.
这是一个很大的政治话题，我们随后来谈论。
And of course we'll be looking at some words related to independence.
当然我们还要看一些跟独立相关的词汇。
But let's start with a question.
但让我们以一个问题开始吧。
How well do you know your history?
你知道你们国家的历史有多少？
The Declaration of Independence was made by thirteen American colonies that were fighting for freedom from the British Empire.
独立宣言是由13个美国殖民地起草的，为的是从大英帝国获得自由。
But do you know what year that declaration – or announcement – was made? Was it:
但是你知道独立宣言或声明是哪一年起草的吗？是：
a) 1776
a) 1776年
b) 1786
b) 1786 年
c) 1796
c) 1796 年
I am pretty sure it's a) 1776.
我很确定是a）1776年。
You sound quite confident, don't you,
你听上去非常自信，不是吗，
but I'll let you know the answer later on.
但我一会再揭晓答案。
Let's talk more about independence.
让我们再说一下独立。
We often hear about groups of people campaigning or fighting for independence from the country that rules them.
我们经常听到一些人组织运动或争取从统治他们的国家独立。
Yes, like the Basque people in Spain, or the Kurds in Iraq.
是的，比如西班牙的巴斯克人,或者在伊拉克的库尔德人。
This is when a certain group of people want their own homeland to preserve – that's keep alive – their culture or beliefs.
这是一群人想要保护自己的家园--让他们的文化和信仰保持鲜活。
And sometimes, a whole nation wants to break away from the country that rules it because it feels it would be better for its people.
有时整个国家都想打破现有国家的统治，因为这样会使国家的人民感觉更好。
That's what's happening in Scotland right now, isn't it Neil?
这就是苏格兰的现状，不是吗，Neil？
Well, not quite. Not everyone in Scotland wants to break away from the United Kingdom.
呃，不全是，并不是每一个苏格兰人都想从联合王国独立出去。
This is a plan suggested by the ruling political party in Scotland – the Scottish National Party.
这是由一个苏格兰的政党--Scottish National Party提出的
But they are asking people to vote on the decision.
他们正要求人们为这个决定投票。
And this vote on a single issue – or referendum – is happening in September.
表决一个单一的问题 — — 或全民投票 — — 在 9 月发生的一切。
Politicians who want Scotland to be separate from the UK are trying to persuade the public to vote in favour of independence.
想要苏格兰从联合王国独立出来的政治家们正在试图让公众为他们的独立投票支持。
Other politicians are trying to persuade people to vote 'no'.
剩下的政治家都在试图劝说人们投“反对票”
Independence would mean Scotland would be able to control things like its tax system, its immigration policy and people would have a Scottish passport.
独立意味着苏格兰将可以控制它的纳税系统、移民政策，人们将会得到一本苏格兰护照。
Well, let's hear from Alex Salmond, the Leader of the Scottish National Party,
让我们听一下 Alex Salmond， Scottish National Party的领导人是怎么说的。
talking when he first announced there would be a referendum.
谈论当他第一次宣布进行全民投票的事。
What words did he use to describe how he wanted the debate – or discussion – on independence to be?
他使用了什么词来描述他想要的关于独立的辩论或者讨论的?
Divergent views are the very essence of democracy;
意见分歧是民主的本质。
robust debate is part of what makes us Scottish
激烈的辩论是使我们成为苏格兰人的一部分。
The exchanges, the criticism and the debate must be passionate – how else could it be in Scotland?
交流、 批评和辩论必须充满激情 — — 否则怎么会在苏格兰呢？
But let these contributions be based on fact, reason, logic, rather than smears, or allegations or misinformation.
但是让这些贡献是基于事实,原因,逻辑,而不是污点,指控或错误信息。
Alex Salmond said divergent views are the very essence of democracy –
Alex Salmond说意见分歧是民主的本质
so all different views are important and that is what makes a democracy.
所以所有不同的观点很重要，那会组成民主。
And he encouraged debate about independence.
而且他鼓励关于独立的辩论。
Yes and he said the debate should be robust – so strong, firm and determined…
是的，他说辩论应当激烈--所以坚强、 坚定和坚决....
…and it should be passionate – expressing powerful emotions.
...还有它应该是充满激情 — — 强大的情感表达。
But most importantly, the debate should be based on real information – facts –
但最重要的，辩论应当基于真实信息--现实
not misinformation or what he calls smears – in other words, lies.
没有错误信息或他所说的污点——换句话说,谎言。
Well, Scottish people will go to the ballot box in a few months' time to vote.
嗯，苏格兰人将在几个月的时间后进行表决。
And if they vote 'yes' for independence,
如果他们表决“同意”独立，
we, Rob, might have to show our passports if we cross the border from England into Scotland.
我们，Rob如果我们从英格兰穿过到苏格兰或许我们要出示护照。
Imagine that!
想象一下!
And the Scottish people might lose the BBC – the British Broadcasting Corporation –
苏格兰人民或许会失去BBC--英国广播公司--
and get their own smaller Scottish Broadcasting Corporation.
使用他们自己的更小的苏格兰广播公司、
Of course, there's always been a – let's say – friendly rivalry between the two countries.
当然，总有--说吧--两国之间的友好竞争。
And we are used to our nations competing independently in football and rugby tournaments.
我们都习惯我们的国家在足球和橄榄球比赛中独立地竞争。
Of course, being an Englishman I know who's best!
当然，作为一名英格兰人据我所知是最好的！
But seriously, the idea of an independent Scotland isn't that strange.
但认真地说，苏格兰独立的主意并不奇怪。
The Act of Union, which brought Scotland together with England and Wales, only came into being in 1707.
将苏格兰和英格兰还有威尔士组合在一起的联盟法案，仅仅是在1707年出现的。
Before that, Scotland was independent.
在那之前，苏格兰是独立的。
And only last century, Ireland fought for its independence from Britain
仅在上个世纪，爱尔兰为从英国独立而战。
And in 1947, India succeeded in becoming independent from British rule,
在1947年，印度成功地从英国独立，
a day that's now commemorated – or remembered – as a national holiday .
作为纪念的一天--被记住，作为全国性节日、。
But, while some countries aim to have self-rule – another word for independent rule –
但尽管一些国家的目标是自治 --独立规则的另一个词--
others want to share things which are usually unique to a country
其他人想要分享的东西往往是一个国家特有的
For example, the member states of the European Union work together in trade and some share the same currency – the Euro.
例如,欧盟的成员国在贸易中一起工作并其中一些国家使用相同的货币——欧元。
Well, this brings us back to your question
好吧，这些让我们回到你的问题。
Rob, when some American states declared independence from British rule.
Rob，什么时候美国宣布从英国独立的。
Yes, that was the Declaration of Independence – but what year was it?
那是独立宣言，但是哪一年呢？
I said a) 1776.
我选的是a）1776年。
And of course, you were right.
当然你说对了。
It was 1776. This was the beginning of a new nation that became the USA –
是1776年，有一个新兴的国家建立成为了美利坚合众国。
and Independence Day is now celebrated every year on the 4th of July.
并在每年的7月4日庆祝独立日、
I wonder if Scotland will be celebrating its own independence day in just a few years' time?
我在想苏格兰是不是也会在几年以后庆祝它的独立日呢？
OK Neil, please could you remind us of some of the independence-related words that we've heard today.
好了，Neil，你能给大家回一下今天我们听到的跟独立有关的词语吗、
OK, here we go: independence ;declaration;campaigning
好的， independence--独立 ;declaration--宣言;campaigning --竞选活动
Referendum;in favour of;debate
Referendum--全民投票;in favour of--支持;debate--辩论
divergent views ;robust ;passionate
divergent views--不同意见 ;robust--激烈的 ;passionate--有激情的
smears ;rivalry;commemorated ;self-rule
smears-污点 ;rivalry--竞争;commemorated--纪念 ;self-rule--自治
Thanks Neil. We hope you've enjoyed today's 6 Minute English.
谢谢Neil。希望大家喜欢我们今天的这期节目。
Please join us again soon for another programme.
请再次加入我们下期节目。
Goodbye.
再见啦.
Bye
拜~