TED演讲:逗号的故事(1)

 　　Commas are tricky¹ things, especially when subordinates and conjunctions are involved. 逗号的运用是很讲究技巧的，尤其是当从属关联词和连词也一并参与其中的时候。

　　If you can remember a few basic rules, a simple law of physics, and some common scenarios², you will be able to use commas correctly. 只要你记得一些基本的规则，一个简单的物理定律和一些常见的情况，你就可以正确的使用逗号了。

　　I like to think of the different parts of our sentence as characters. 我喜欢将句子的不同部分比作成不同的角色。

　　Let's meet a few of them: the tiny conjunctions, the mighty³ subordinates, and the clever comma. 让我们来会会他们中的几个吧：渺小的连词，力大无比的从属关联词，还有聪明的逗号。

　　Conjunctions are small and nimble. 连词很小且机灵。

　　They are words that connect clauses, words, and phrases. 他们连接从句、单词和短语。

　　You can easily remember the conjunctions by remembering the acronym⁴ FANBOYS. 你将可以轻松记住连词，只要记住首字母缩略词——星战男孩。

　　The conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. 这些连词有for（为了；因为；给；至于）and（和）nor（也不；也不是）but（但是）or（或者）yet（然而）so (所以）。

　　Because they're so small, more often than not, they require the help of a comma but not always. 因为他们太小了以至于常常他们需要一个逗号的帮助，但并非总是如此。

　　Subordinates, on the other hand, are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences. 从属关联词是句子世界中的“职业举重比赛冠军“。

　　They are words that connect two unequal things, dependent and independent clauses. 他们能够连接两个不等同的事物：从句和主句。

　　Subordinates make it very clear what is being prioritized in a sentence. 从属关联词让人一下就看出来句子中的重点在哪里。

　　Commonly used subordinates are although, because, before, however, unless, and even though. 常见的从属关联词有although（尽管）because（因为）before（在...之前）however（然而）unless（除非）以及 even though（虽然，即使）。

　　Because subordinates are all about power, they can do a lot of heavy lifting by themselves. 因为从属关联词和”力量“有关他们自己就能完成很多举重的活。

　　But, of course, sometimes even the strongest among us needs some help from our clever friends. 但毫无疑问，即使是我们当中最强壮的从属关联词有时也需要来自我们聪明小伙伴的帮助。

　　Because our clever comma is so nice, she often roams her neighborhood looking for some community service to do. 因为我们的聪明的逗号十分的善解人意她经常在小区周边漫步寻找一些社区服务的机会。

　　Today, as soon as she leaves her house, she sees a subordinate lifting the weight of two complete sentences, one on each arm. 今天，她一离开家她就看到一个从属关联词正扛着两个完整句子手臂两边，一边一个。

　　Bartheleme loves engaging in political debate even though he usually loses. 巴尔特钟情于政治争辩即使他经常失败。

　　The comma asks the subordinate if he needs help. 逗号便问从属关联词是否需要帮助。

　　Well, we know that subordinates are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences. 正如我们所知，从属关联词们都是句子世界中的”职业举重比赛冠军“。

　　They can easily hold the weight of these two complete sentences because they are distributed evenly on both arms. 他们能够轻松地举起两个完整的句子因为句子的重量被均匀的分配在了一双手上。

　　So, when the comma asks if it can help, the subordinate is appalled⁵ at the idea of needing assistance. 所以，当逗号问及是否需要帮助的时候从属关联词诧异于他需要援助的想法。

　　No thanks, maybe next time! “不，谢谢，下次再说！”

　　So, the comma continues on. 所以，逗号继续上路了。

1 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

2 scenarios   

n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本

参考例句：

• Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

4 acronym   

n.首字母简略词，简称

参考例句：

• That's a mouthful of an acronym for a very simple technology.对于一项非常简单的技术来说，这是一个很绕口的缩写词。
• TSDF is an acronym for Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities.TSDF是处理，储存和处置设施的一个缩写。

5 appalled   

v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• They were appalled by the reports of the nuclear war. 他们被核战争的报道吓坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》