NCE4 Lesson6体育精神 自我翻译

Lesson 6 The Sporting Spirit 体育精神 原文是英国著名讽刺作家乔治·奥威尔所作，代表作有《1984》《动物农场》等，下文由本人翻译，是一篇短篇的议论，已然成了名篇，不过各大出版社大都不敢收录其中。 每每听闻诸如体育能缔造国家间的友谊，抑或是诸如唯有世界公民在足球或板球赛场上相拥围聚，他们才能避免在狼烟四起的沙场决斗时，我总震惊不已。纵使一个人对于具体的例子（如1936年奥运会）一无所知，对于国际视野的运动比赛所致使的憎恶的放荡也无所获，他至少能从总结性的准则触类旁通。 现今几乎所有训练的运动都是富于竞争性的。人们只是为了获胜而乐此不疲。如果你不赴以全力去赢，那么游戏几乎失去了其意义。在一片翠绿的农郊乡野中，你自选一边队伍，淡然于席卷而来的爱国主义、地方观念。在这种场合下，你是有可能只为欢愉与磨炼技术而玩的。但当名誉的问题拂起心头，当你意识到你和你的队伍将会因落败而蒙面，内心最深处的野蛮、好斗的直觉天性难免萦绕。这般道理，即使只在校足球队的队员都无比清楚。而在国际阶段的比赛中，比赛，坦言之，已然成了模拟战争。但是最打紧的不是选手的行为，而是众看客对此的态度。还有，就是在观众背后，国家的态度。那些国家总为这些荒诞不经的竞技而癫痴如狂，进而不可理喻地坚信在短期内如此——跑步、跳跃、踢球都是国家美德素质的“绝佳”测验。 附原文 I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the would could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce if from general principles. Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as a the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe -- at any rate for short periods -- that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.