英国女王圣诞演讲“套路满满”

　　昨日，英国女王在白金汉宫录制了万众瞩目的“圣诞演讲”，不同于女王去年的圣诞致辞，今年女王整个圣诞演讲词的重点定在了“家”...但不少英国媒体纷纷对此，进行猜测"女王演讲的周围照片是68岁儿子查尔斯王子，那他很有可能会将王位传给查尔斯，而不是威廉王子"....伦敦大学学院UCL的专家们，总结出了女王圣诞演讲词“套路满满”.....

　　从英国女王1951年到2016年发表的64次圣诞演讲中，女王一共用了4.2万个词，但是只有3991个词从来没有重复过。

　　这么算下来，女王的演讲中只有9.5%的词是新词。可以说，女王的演讲都是套路啊!

　　女王在演讲里经常重复的词有：

　　families(家庭)

　　Commonwealth(英联邦)

　　children(儿童)

　　peoples(人民)

　　经常重复用的短语有：

　　tragic example(悲惨的例子)

　　shining example(杰出的榜样)

　　weak and innocent(弱小又无辜的)...

　　2016年女王演讲的主题是“鼓舞人心(inspiration)”，今年，演讲的主题为“家(home)”。

　　女王在演讲中，阐释了“家”的意义：

　　“我们把家当成温馨、熟悉和爱的来源,共享记忆和故事。这也就是为什么每到圣诞大家都会回到家乡，对家乡的思念是永恒的。对大家而言，家不仅仅是一栋房子，也不是家乡或者一个城市……我们希望家园是安全的，甚至是避难所。”

　　在今年5月，白金汉宫宣布了现年96岁的菲利普亲王在今年秋季退休的决定，英国女王对此表示支持。1952年至今，菲利普亲王单独执行了22219项王室公务，菲利普亲王此后将不再单独承担王室公务，但仍会以女王丈夫的身份陪女王出行。

　　在演讲中，女王特别用一整段来感谢菲利普亲王的支持，她还称赞了菲利普亲王“独特的幽默感”。

　　女王在演讲中还特别提到了伦敦和曼彻斯特今年经历的恐袭，称赞她去看望的幸存者是“所有人的榜样，展现了极强的勇气和抵抗力”。

　　同时，作为英国极具“困难”，“经历颇多”的一年，女王在演讲词中，也对各种自然灾害以及恐怖袭击等事件的受害者们给与慰问.....

　　另外，英国女王在圣诞致辞中，并没有用“Merry Christmas”，而是只说只说“Happy Christmas”。

　　那“Merry Christmas”与“Happy Christmas”有哪些区别呢?

　　一般来说，在美国圣诞节，大家说的最多的是“Merry Christmas”，Merry Christmas的普及度高于Happy Christmas。

　　但是在英联邦国家，人们多用Happy，而少用Merry。Merry Christmas在英国女王的历年圣诞致辞中仅出现了四次，剩下的都是Happy Christmas。因为在维多利亚时期，社会风气比较保守，merry一词有“醉醺醺”的意思，所以大家把merry换上了更为中性的happy。事实上在英国，Happy Christmas的流行程度要大于Merry Christmas。

　　Merry Christmas的起源

　　其实“Merry Christmas”的起源问题，比较模糊，相传最早，可以追溯到1534年。英国的罗马天主教主教约翰·费舍尔写给英国政治家托马斯·克伦威尔的圣诞祝贺信中就首次出现了“Merry Christmas”。

　　Merry的原意是“jovial,and outgoing，probably mildly intoxicated”，就是天性活泼的，可能还有些醉了。

　　所以，“最长待机”的女王在每年的圣诞讲话中都会不疾不徐地道一声：Happy Christmas，而不是Merry Christmas了。

　　附：2017英国女王圣诞演讲词(中英文)

　　Sixty years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark:

　　"Television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television as they are at this moment, and that is how I imagine you now."

　　六十年前的今天，一个年轻女子在第一次电视演讲时提到科技进步的飞速，她把那一刻称为里程碑：

　　“现在你们可以在圣诞节的自己家中看到我，电视让这一切变得可能。我的家人也会在这一刻聚集起来看电视，我觉得你们现在也一定是这样。”

　　Six decades on, the presenter has ‘evolved’ somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then, who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones – as some of you are today. But I’m also struck by something that hasn’t changed. That, whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.

　　六十年后，当年演讲的女子自身也进步了，就像她形容的科技发展一样。那时候，谁能想到现在的人们用笔记本电脑和手机观看这一切，就像今天的你们一样。我也很开心的看到有些东西并没有改变,无论科技如何进步，你们都会在家中看到这个演讲。

　　We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love; of shared stories and memories, which is perhaps why at this time of year so many return to where they grew up. There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home.

　　我们把家当成温馨、熟悉和爱的来源，共享记忆和故事。这也就是为什么每到圣诞大家都会回到家乡，对家乡的思念是永恒的。

　　For many, the idea of “home” reaches beyond a physical building – to a home town or city. This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past twelve months in the face of appalling attacks. In Manchester, those targeted included children who had gone to see their favourite singer. A few days after the bombing, I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents.

　　对大家而言，家不仅仅是一栋房子，也不是家乡或者一个城市。今年圣诞，我想到了伦敦和曼彻斯特。在过去一年，面对袭击时，他们的坚韧性格愈发凸显。在曼彻斯特，袭击的目标包括孩童，那些孩子只是为了去看看自己最喜欢的歌手。在爆炸后几天，我有幸去拜访了几位年轻的幸存者和他们的父母。

　　“所以你专门为了演唱会来的吗?”

　　“对的。这是给我的生日礼物。”

　　“哦，是吗?”

　　“太可怕了。”

　　“居然袭击这么年幼的孩子，太糟糕了。”

　　“希望一切会变好。”

　　“但是大家都团结一心，对抗袭击。”

　　“大家的表现都很棒。”

　　I describe that hospital visit as a “privilege” because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience.

　　我把那次去医院的拜访称为珍贵的机会，因为那里的患者是我们所有人的榜样，展现了极强的勇气和抵抗力。

　　Indeed, many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert.It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground, and of the city those young people call home.

　　很多幸存者几天后一起来到了慈善演唱会，那是一种强烈的意志，对这片土地的信心，对这座大家称之为家园的城市的信心。

　　We expect our homes to be a place of safety – “sanctuary” even – which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered.

　　我们希望家园是安全的，甚至是避难所。家园被袭击时，我们也就更为震惊。

　　A few weeks ago, The Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities.

　　几周前，威尔士亲王拜访了加勒比海区域，在灾难性的飓风毁掉了社区后。

　　And here in London, who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire?

　　在伦敦，也没人能忘却格林菲尔大楼大火的悲剧。

　　Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much; and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives, this past year, saving others.Many of them, of course, will not be at home today because they are working, to protect us.

　　我们为那些逝去的人和他们的亲人朋友祈祷，我们感谢过去一年那些冒着生命危险拯救别人的急救人员。他们中的很多人今天没法在家度过圣诞，因为他们在外保护我们。

　　Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family, and in particular for 70 years of marriage.

　　I don’t know that anyone had invented the term “platinum” for a 70 wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren’t expected to be around that long.Even Prince Philip has decided it’s time to slow down a little – having, as he economically put it, “done his bit”.

　　这一切让我感激我的家人，尤其是我维持了70年的婚姻。不知道我出生的时候，有没有人称70年为“白金婚”。那个时代，大多数人无法活到那个年纪。菲利普亲王决定退休，他说自己已经“做好了他那份工作”。

　　But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever, as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.

　　但是我清楚，他独特的幽默和支持会一如既往的伴随我。在今年与我们的家人一同共度圣诞时，我期待着明年王室新成员们的加入。

　　In 2018 I will open my home to a different type of family: the leaders of the fifty-two nations of the Commonwealth, as they gather in the UK for a summit.

　　在2018年，我会迎接不太一样的家人来到我们的国家。英联邦52国的首脑，即将聚集在伦敦，一同开会。

　　The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the Commonwealth Games – which begin in a few months’ time on Australia’s Gold Coast – or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra & Choir: a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is.

　　英联邦的激励作用，让大家团结一心。比如几个月后在澳洲黄金海岸上会举行的英联邦运动会，还有英联邦青年管弦乐队都在提醒我们，这个国际大家庭是多么的有活力。

　　Today we celebrate Christmas, which itself is sometimes described as a festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together.

　　Volunteers and charities, as well as many churches, arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.

　　今天，我们一起庆祝圣诞节,这个节日有时会被形容为一个家庭节日。家庭成员们跋山涉水聚集起来。

　　志愿者、慈善组织和很多教堂都准备了餐食给流浪者，还有那些在圣诞节孤单一人的人。

　　We remember the birth of Jesus Christ whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem.

　　He knew rejection, hardship and persecution; and yet it is Jesus Christ’s generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad.

　　我们铭记耶稣基督的诞生，他的庇护所是耶路撒冷的伯利恒，他的家乡。他经历了拒绝、苦难和迫害，但是耶稣基督无私的爱引领我一路走来。

　　Whatever your own experiences this year; wherever and however you are watching, I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas.

　　不管日子是好是坏，无论你今年过得怎样。无论你在哪里，怎样观看这段演讲。希望你度过一个平和、快乐的圣诞。