Business: English Skills
ビジネスチャンスを活かす英語力UPのために
こんにちは。今月のＢ項を担当します、佐々木です。いかがお過ごしでしょうか？
日本をはじめ、アジア諸国を周っているトランプ米大統領ですが、「北朝鮮は地獄だ」などと表現した１１月８日の韓国国会での演説が関心を集めています。北朝鮮の核の脅しに団結して対抗するのは良心の問題だとして、「北朝鮮の野蛮な体制」を孤立化させるため、同国への援助や支援を拒否するよう世界各国に呼び掛けました。このソウルでの演説内容を伝えるメディアに出てきた見出しが、”DO NOT TRY US” （我々を試すな。）です。この一見簡単な表現にはどれくらいの重みが込められているのでしょうか？この部分の演説を抜粋して解説を行いたいと思います。
Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us, and do not try us.(1) We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty.
We did not choose to draw here, on this peninsula — (applause) — this magnificent peninsula — the thin line of civilization that runs around the world and down through time. But here it was drawn, and here it remains to this day. It is the line between peace and war, between decency and depravity, between law and tyranny, between hope and total despair.(2) It is a line that has been drawn many times, in many places, throughout history. To hold that line is a choice free nations have always had to make. We have learned together the high cost of weakness and the high stakes of its defense.
America’s men and women in uniform have given their lives in the fight against Nazism, imperialism, Communism and terrorism.
America does not seek conflict or confrontation, but we will never run from it. History is filled with discarded regimes that have foolishly tested America’s resolve.(3)
Anyone who doubts the strength or determination of the United States should look to our past, and you will doubt it no longer.(3) We will not permit America or our allies to be blackmailed or attacked. We will not allow American cities to be threatened with destruction. We will not be intimidated. And we will not let the worst atrocities in history be repeated here, on this ground, we fought and died so hard to secure. (Applause.)
That is why I have come here, to the heart of a free and flourishing Korea, with a message for the peace-loving nations of the world: The time for excuses is over. Now is the time for strength. If you want peace, you must stand strong at all times. (Applause.) The world cannot tolerate the menace of a rogue regime that threatens with nuclear devastation.
We did not choose to draw here (, on this peninsula — (applause) — this magnificent peninsula –) the thin line of civilization that runs around the world and down through time.
■部分的訳
(1) Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us, and do not try us.
本日、北（朝鮮）に対して、言います。「我々を軽く見るな、そして、我々を試そうとするな。」この発言は、我々の国だけでなく、全ての文明国を代弁していることを願います。
→not only A but B の構文を見逃さないように！
(2) It is the line between peace and war, between decency and depravity, between law and tyranny, between hope and total despair.
それは、平和と戦争の、健全と腐敗の、法と暴政の、そして希望と絶望のどん底の、境界線（国境を指して）です。
(3) America does not seek conflict or confrontation, but we will never run from it. History is filled with discarded regimes that have foolishly tested America’s resolve.
アメリカは衝突も対立も自ら求めはしないが、それらから逃げる事も絶対にしない。歴史を振り返れば、アメリカの決意を試そうなどと馬鹿なことを考えたが故に処分されてしまった政権など沢山ある。
(4) Anyone who doubts the strength or determination of the United States should look to our past, and you will doubt it no longer.
アメリカの強さや決意を疑う者がいたら、我々の過去を振り返るべきだ。そうすれば疑いは晴れるだろう。
→注）anyone、anythingは肯定文で使われると、「anyone=誰でも」「anything=何でも」という意味になります
■今日のVOCABULARY
speak for 代弁する／underestimate 過小評価する／peninsula半島／decencyきちんとしていること，礼儀正しさ；体面，体裁 →例）He is a decent person. 彼はまともな人だ。／depravity 堕落，腐敗. ／tyranny 専制政治，暴政／despair 絶望／imperialism 帝国主義／Communismコミュニズム; 共産主義／run from～ ～から逃げる／discard 捨てる、処分する／regimes 政体、体制、政権、制度／resolve 決心，決意／atrocities 暴虐、非道、残虐／menace 脅迫、威嚇、脅し、危険なもの／rogue 悪党、ごろつき／devastation 荒らすこと、荒廃(状態)、惨害、惨状
北朝鮮がこのスピーチを聞いていると思うと、今にでもミサイルが飛んできそうで、背筋が凍ってしまいますね、、、。
年末に向けて、今年初めに掲げた目標を見直すのもいいかもしれませんね。英語力アップが目標の一つだったあなた、TOEICを受けて今の英語力をはかってみるのもお勧め
