“金絲雀”英語譯為canary。例如:1.這只金絲雀,一種黃色羽毛會唱歌的小鳥,正在籠子里唧唧啾啾地歡唱。Thecanary,asmall songbirdwithyellowfeather,istrillingawayhappilyinitscage.2.由于金絲雀對甲烷和一氧化碳尤其敏感,昔日的礦工們常常帶著裝在鳥籠的金絲雀下到?jīng)]有通風(fēng)系統(tǒng)的煤礦,以探測任何危險氣體的積聚。Asthecanarywasespeciallysensitivetomethaneandcarbonmonoxide,theminersin theolddaysoftenbroughtacagedcanaryintothecoalminewithoutventilationsystemstode?tectanydangerousgasbuild-ups.
“金絲雀效應(yīng)”,英語譯為canaryeffect。例如:3.由于金絲雀具有探測低濃度煤氣的能力,并曾被礦工們用來測試它是否能在煤礦中生存,“金絲雀效應(yīng)”現(xiàn)在被當(dāng)作一種經(jīng)濟(jì)下行的預(yù)警信號。Asthecanaryhastheabilityto
detect small concentrations ofgas and wasonce usedbythe minerstotestwhetheritcouldsurviveinacoalmine,the“canaryef?fect” now servesasaprewarning signalofeconomicdownturn.▲
(本欄目供稿:王逢鑫教授)