Wikinews has an article on protest zones in China during the Olympics:
Beijing has set up three designated zones throughout the city, for protesting the 2008 Summer Olympics. Shijie (Beijing World Park), Zizhuyuan (Purple Bamboo Park), and Ritan, three public parks, have been selected as the locations for the "legal" protests. "They are all close to the city proper and the Olympic venues," stated Liu Shaowu who is the Director of Security for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee.
Demonstrators must first receive licenses to picket and rally before protesting. "The police will safeguard the right to demonstrate as long as protesters have obtained prior approval and are in accordance with the law,” Mr. Liu said. Chinese law states the citzens must apply five days prior to demonstrating, stating slogans to be used, number of participants, and overall topic of protest.
The protest zones have been considered to be nothing more than an international show by certain human rights activists. "This is only a show for foreigners," said lawyer and legal rights activist Jiang Tianyong. Xu Zhiyong, another legal rights advocate with a more optimistic stance on the zones stated that, "as a first step toward opening up space for dissent, it is appropriate."
Please click the link above to see this article or other articles at Wikinews.
While this is probably only for show, many people will find it amazing that the Chinese felt pressured enough to take this step.
One-Two-Go Airlines ceases operations
2008-07-23 19:11:08 (17 hours ago)
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カテゴリタグ：
- 英語トピックス
Today, we would like to present another article from Wikinews:
Thai low-cost air carrier One-Two-Go Airlines has announced that it will be grounding all 16 of its aircraft immediately until September 15. The news comes as legal action against the airline and associated companies begins over the September crash of Flight 269, which killed 90 people, mostly foreigners.
Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder of the airline, has said conditions were hard for airlines with fuel prices having doubled within a year. He says 70% of operating costs are taken up with fuel, and the airline has already raised fuel surcharges again by 100 baht to 850 baht per leg.
"In this kind of environment, anyone can go (bankrupt) anytime," said Urdom, who declined to comment on the impact the present financial situation has had on his airline, saying only that they "are financially sustainable." He also said that the airline could return to service with ease if prices dropped, noting that, "if the situation improved with fuel prices being lowered and the profitability outlook was better, we could be airborne again."
The airline began operations in 2003; it is a subsidiary of Orient Thai Airlines. Orient Thai, which will continue to operate as normal, recently opened Thailand's first freight-only airline, Orient Thai Cargo, with a pair of Boeing 747-200Fs bought from Japan Airlines.
Urdon said that a major part of the problem is that eight of the company's aircraft are MD-11s, which consume large volumes of fuel. He also said that a collapse of a damage limitation scheme with rivals Nok Airlines and Thai AirAsia had affected his decision. Both rival carriers were also struggling financially. One-Two-Go has already cut many routes.
The news comes as the first families of victims of Flight OG269 launch legal action against the airline, as well as parent airline Orient Thai and lessor Grandmax Group. Already confirmed to be involved in the action are Richard and Margaret Collins as well as Steve and Jean Jones, parents of Alex Collins, 22, and Bethan Jones, also 22, an unmarried Welsh couple who, a few days into a round-the-world trip, were among the 123 passengers on board. Alex was reported missing but quickly confirmed to have died, while Bethan died ten days after the accident with her family at her bedside, bringing the final death toll to 90.
"We believe the air crash was completely avoidable and those responsible should be held to account. While we accept that nothing can bring Alex and Bethan and the other people who lost their lives back, we are keen to make sure we prevent this from happening again," said the families in a joint statement. "We will be forcing One-Two-Go Airlines to prove in court that they are not a low cost, low safety airline," said James Healy-Pratt, head of aviation at Stewarts Law in London. He also said that the action will be brought before courts in the United States.
Please click the link above to read this article with links or see other news at Wikinews.
Thai low-cost air carrier One-Two-Go Airlines has announced that it will be grounding all 16 of its aircraft immediately until September 15. The news comes as legal action against the airline and associated companies begins over the September crash of Flight 269, which killed 90 people, mostly foreigners.
Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder of the airline, has said conditions were hard for airlines with fuel prices having doubled within a year. He says 70% of operating costs are taken up with fuel, and the airline has already raised fuel surcharges again by 100 baht to 850 baht per leg.
"In this kind of environment, anyone can go (bankrupt) anytime," said Urdom, who declined to comment on the impact the present financial situation has had on his airline, saying only that they "are financially sustainable." He also said that the airline could return to service with ease if prices dropped, noting that, "if the situation improved with fuel prices being lowered and the profitability outlook was better, we could be airborne again."
The airline began operations in 2003; it is a subsidiary of Orient Thai Airlines. Orient Thai, which will continue to operate as normal, recently opened Thailand's first freight-only airline, Orient Thai Cargo, with a pair of Boeing 747-200Fs bought from Japan Airlines.
Urdon said that a major part of the problem is that eight of the company's aircraft are MD-11s, which consume large volumes of fuel. He also said that a collapse of a damage limitation scheme with rivals Nok Airlines and Thai AirAsia had affected his decision. Both rival carriers were also struggling financially. One-Two-Go has already cut many routes.
The news comes as the first families of victims of Flight OG269 launch legal action against the airline, as well as parent airline Orient Thai and lessor Grandmax Group. Already confirmed to be involved in the action are Richard and Margaret Collins as well as Steve and Jean Jones, parents of Alex Collins, 22, and Bethan Jones, also 22, an unmarried Welsh couple who, a few days into a round-the-world trip, were among the 123 passengers on board. Alex was reported missing but quickly confirmed to have died, while Bethan died ten days after the accident with her family at her bedside, bringing the final death toll to 90.
"We believe the air crash was completely avoidable and those responsible should be held to account. While we accept that nothing can bring Alex and Bethan and the other people who lost their lives back, we are keen to make sure we prevent this from happening again," said the families in a joint statement. "We will be forcing One-Two-Go Airlines to prove in court that they are not a low cost, low safety airline," said James Healy-Pratt, head of aviation at Stewarts Law in London. He also said that the action will be brought before courts in the United States.
Please click the link above to read this article with links or see other news at Wikinews.
医薬翻訳に求められる正確性とは
2008-07-21 17:55:29 (2 days ago)
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カテゴリタグ：
- 医療・医学翻訳
医薬翻訳 （ 英日 ・ 日英 ） に求められる正確性とは
直訳か意訳か ー 翻訳という作業を行うにあたり、誰もがこの問題を一度は考えることでしょう。実務翻訳の分野にもよりますが、多くの翻訳者は「 直訳では翻訳をしたことにならない 」 と考え、できるだけ整った訳文に仕上がるように工夫していることと思います。確かに、英単語をそのまま日本語に置き換えたり、日本語の文字通りに英文を組み立てたりしただけの訳文では、翻訳料金をいただくに値しない訳文かもしれません。
では、医薬分野の英日翻訳の場合はどうでしょう。直訳では翻訳とはいえないのでしょうか。実は先日、ある翻訳会社で膨大な数の医療関係の学術論文を和訳する大きなプロジェクトがありました。複数の翻訳者が分担して訳した後、その会社がチェックして翻訳者に差し戻した際に翻訳者を怒らせてしまったのが、「 原文に一字一句違わない訳文にせよ 」 という指示でした。恐らくほとんどの翻訳者はそれまで 「 きれいな日本語 」 に仕上がるように鋭意努力していたはずです。でも翻訳会社側の考えは、正確な訳文であることが第一であり、きれいな日本語になっている方がかえって誤訳を見落としやすくて“ 迷惑 ”、それに読み手は専門家なので、無理に整えた文よりも、英語に忠実な訳文である方がよい、というものでした。このプロジェクトにはかなりの人数の翻訳者が参加していたため、その中の1人が自身のブログでこのことを書いたところ、同じプロジェクトに参加した翻訳者数名が同じ不満をコメントし、うち数名はこの仕事を途中で降りてしまったと述べていました。翻訳者の言い分は、原文に一字一句従った直訳のような訳文は翻訳ではない、というものでした。「 読みやすい日本語 」 に訳してこそ翻訳者に依頼する意味があるとして、この会社の姿勢を多くの翻訳者が猛烈に批判していました。
翻訳会社が翻訳者に原文に極力忠実な訳文を求めることは、そんなに珍しいことでしょうか？翻訳者が目指した 「 読みやすくきれいな訳文 」 と翻訳会社が求めた 「 原文に忠実な訳文 」 とはかけ離れたもので、相容れないものだったのでしょうか？答えはノーです。翻訳会社も翻訳者も、同じ目的に向かって訳文を仕上げる立場にあるはずです。それは、最終的に訳文をお読みになるお客様が求めるものを納品するという目的です。英日 ・ 日英を問わず、お客様に届けなければならない訳文とは、「 原文を英語 （ または日本語 ） のままで読んだ場合と同じ情報が得られる訳文 」 です。一字一句忠実に訳すことを求めた件の会社も、求めているのは直訳文なのではなく、原文に書かれた 「 情報 」 を、簡潔で過不足なく正しい日本語で記した訳文でした。つまり、正確な情報が得られる訳文なのです。プレスリリースやカタログの翻訳と、医学の学術論文の翻訳は別ものです。論文の和訳の場合は、正しい日本語で記した訳文はたいてい原文の英語よりも短くなり、読みやすい日本語になります。医薬翻訳で求められているのは、翻訳者自身が満足する美しい訳文ではなく、原文から正確にくみ取った情報を別の言語で正確に再現した訳文なのです。
翻訳者の役目とは、ある言語で書かれた情報を、その内容に手を加えることなく、お客様が望む言語で正確に書き表すことである―ここに、「 直訳か意訳か 」という問題などはじめから不要にすら思える、明らかな答えがあるのではないでしょうか。
直訳か意訳か ー 翻訳という作業を行うにあたり、誰もがこの問題を一度は考えることでしょう。実務翻訳の分野にもよりますが、多くの翻訳者は「 直訳では翻訳をしたことにならない 」 と考え、できるだけ整った訳文に仕上がるように工夫していることと思います。確かに、英単語をそのまま日本語に置き換えたり、日本語の文字通りに英文を組み立てたりしただけの訳文では、翻訳料金をいただくに値しない訳文かもしれません。
では、医薬分野の英日翻訳の場合はどうでしょう。直訳では翻訳とはいえないのでしょうか。実は先日、ある翻訳会社で膨大な数の医療関係の学術論文を和訳する大きなプロジェクトがありました。複数の翻訳者が分担して訳した後、その会社がチェックして翻訳者に差し戻した際に翻訳者を怒らせてしまったのが、「 原文に一字一句違わない訳文にせよ 」 という指示でした。恐らくほとんどの翻訳者はそれまで 「 きれいな日本語 」 に仕上がるように鋭意努力していたはずです。でも翻訳会社側の考えは、正確な訳文であることが第一であり、きれいな日本語になっている方がかえって誤訳を見落としやすくて“ 迷惑 ”、それに読み手は専門家なので、無理に整えた文よりも、英語に忠実な訳文である方がよい、というものでした。このプロジェクトにはかなりの人数の翻訳者が参加していたため、その中の1人が自身のブログでこのことを書いたところ、同じプロジェクトに参加した翻訳者数名が同じ不満をコメントし、うち数名はこの仕事を途中で降りてしまったと述べていました。翻訳者の言い分は、原文に一字一句従った直訳のような訳文は翻訳ではない、というものでした。「 読みやすい日本語 」 に訳してこそ翻訳者に依頼する意味があるとして、この会社の姿勢を多くの翻訳者が猛烈に批判していました。
翻訳会社が翻訳者に原文に極力忠実な訳文を求めることは、そんなに珍しいことでしょうか？翻訳者が目指した 「 読みやすくきれいな訳文 」 と翻訳会社が求めた 「 原文に忠実な訳文 」 とはかけ離れたもので、相容れないものだったのでしょうか？答えはノーです。翻訳会社も翻訳者も、同じ目的に向かって訳文を仕上げる立場にあるはずです。それは、最終的に訳文をお読みになるお客様が求めるものを納品するという目的です。英日 ・ 日英を問わず、お客様に届けなければならない訳文とは、「 原文を英語 （ または日本語 ） のままで読んだ場合と同じ情報が得られる訳文 」 です。一字一句忠実に訳すことを求めた件の会社も、求めているのは直訳文なのではなく、原文に書かれた 「 情報 」 を、簡潔で過不足なく正しい日本語で記した訳文でした。つまり、正確な情報が得られる訳文なのです。プレスリリースやカタログの翻訳と、医学の学術論文の翻訳は別ものです。論文の和訳の場合は、正しい日本語で記した訳文はたいてい原文の英語よりも短くなり、読みやすい日本語になります。医薬翻訳で求められているのは、翻訳者自身が満足する美しい訳文ではなく、原文から正確にくみ取った情報を別の言語で正確に再現した訳文なのです。
翻訳者の役目とは、ある言語で書かれた情報を、その内容に手を加えることなく、お客様が望む言語で正確に書き表すことである―ここに、「 直訳か意訳か 」という問題などはじめから不要にすら思える、明らかな答えがあるのではないでしょうか。
Paul McCartney not welcome in Canada?
2008-07-21 10:08:17 (3 days ago)
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カテゴリタグ：
- 英語トピックス
Today, we would like to present an article from Wikinews on Paul McCartney and an upcoming concert in Quebec:
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney received a hostile reception this week from some Quebec separatists as he prepares for his concert on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City on Sunday.
The controversy began when Quebec artist Luc Archambault released an open letter last week criticising the concert as a "British invasion". The letter was also signed by some other separatists including a few Parti Québécois politicians. The concert is located at the site of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham on which British and French troops battled. Quebec premier Jean Charest dismissed the letter, noting that Quebec superstar Celine Dion does not face criticism when she sings in various nations.
When interviewed by Radio-Canada on Thursday, the musician suggested that the protestors "smoke the pipes of peace and to just put away your hatchets" and indicated his appearance was a matter of friendship and good will.
McCartney's performance is among numerous scheduled events marking Quebec City's 400th anniversary this year. Celine Dion is scheduled to perform at the Plains of Abraham next month.
Please click the link above to see this or other articles at Wikinews.
What do you think? Should Quebec separatists be worried about the concert?
We think you cannot turn back the clock...
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney received a hostile reception this week from some Quebec separatists as he prepares for his concert on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City on Sunday.
The controversy began when Quebec artist Luc Archambault released an open letter last week criticising the concert as a "British invasion". The letter was also signed by some other separatists including a few Parti Québécois politicians. The concert is located at the site of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham on which British and French troops battled. Quebec premier Jean Charest dismissed the letter, noting that Quebec superstar Celine Dion does not face criticism when she sings in various nations.
When interviewed by Radio-Canada on Thursday, the musician suggested that the protestors "smoke the pipes of peace and to just put away your hatchets" and indicated his appearance was a matter of friendship and good will.
McCartney's performance is among numerous scheduled events marking Quebec City's 400th anniversary this year. Celine Dion is scheduled to perform at the Plains of Abraham next month.
Please click the link above to see this or other articles at Wikinews.
What do you think? Should Quebec separatists be worried about the concert?
We think you cannot turn back the clock...
More Common Errors in Medical English Writing Word Usage
2008-07-20 21:58:47 (3 days ago)
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カテゴリタグ：
- 医療・医学翻訳
More Common Errors in Medical English Writing Word Usage
In Some Common Errors in Medical English Writing Word Usage, we’ve already presented numerous examples. As we have explained, when writing in technical or specialized fields, writers need to be aware of certain rules and standards. In the field of medical writing, editing, and proofreading, the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style (9th edition) is the most widely used style manual. Again, we would like to recommend that you use the AMA Manual of Style to make your medical English writing as good as it possibly can be.
In this essay, we will look at several additional examples of both correct and incorrect medical English writing usage.
Disc versus Disk
In casual writing, these two words are often used interchangeably. Some writers might simply prefer one spelling to the other.
However, the AMA Manual of Style recommends using disc and disk in different, specific ways. Use disc when writing about the eye, or ophthalmology. Use disk when referring to other parts of the anatomy. Two examples of correct medical usage are optic disc and lumbar disk.
There are two exceptions to this rule: (1) disk should also be used when writing about computers. For example, disk drive and hard disk are both correct usage; and (2) disc is the term to be used for entertainment media, as in compact disc and videodisc.
Doctor versus Physician
Doctor is a more general term than physician. It includes, for example, such medical professionals as dentists, veterinarians, pediatricians, and surgeons. It even refers to anyone with a PhD degree in a discipline other than medicine. Someone can, for example, be a doctor of history or politics!
Physician is a more specific term and refers only to doctors who have an MD or a DO degree. (MD is the acronym for Doctor of Medicine and DO is the one for Doctor of Osteopathy.) In medical writing, and even in casual language, you should not use physician to refer to a doctor who does not have an MD or DO degree.
Dose versus Dosage
These words can be confusing for medical writers and editors as well as those in other fields. Dose is a single or total amount of medication. Dosage is the rate at which the patient receives the medication.
If you are taking a medication and each pill is 25 mg, then each of your pills is a dose of 25 mg. Your doctor might instruct you to take one 25 mg pill every 12 hours. This is the dosage because it specifies both the amount and the rate of administration. If your doctor instructs you to take this dosage for 10 days, your total dose will be 500 mg. Remember, a dose is an amount, only, whereas a dosage is an amount plus an indication of frequency.
Health Care versus Healthcare
Most medical English writers use this term correctly. However, it is common for writers to write it as one word. In formal or scholarly writing, it should always be written as two words. According to Webster’s health care, healthcare, and even health-care are all synonymous and interchangeable. Remember that Webster’s is for general use while the AMA is for professionals.
You might see "healthcare" in the names of companies and in some advertising and marketing literature. This is usually intentional and is done for creative, brand or stylistic reasons. If you are writing for or about a company that uses "healthcare" as one word, you should follow that company's style. However, when writing a research article or any scholarly text, you should always write health care as two words.
Keeping Track of Tracts
It is often colloquial usage to leave out the term, tract, when discussing certain infections. Two examples of this are respiratory infection and urinary infection. However, for the medical writer, the correct forms, including the word tract, must be written as respiratory tract infection and urinary tract infection.
There are so many rules and standards to be aware of when writing in a specialized field such as medicine. Usage is just one of them, and it can be a tricky area for native and non-native English writers alike. That is why there are style manuals, editors, and proofreaders. They are all tools to help avoid and correct errors in medical English writing. We hope this brief discussion of usage can help you to avoid some common errors in your own medical English writing.
In Some Common Errors in Medical English Writing Word Usage, we’ve already presented numerous examples. As we have explained, when writing in technical or specialized fields, writers need to be aware of certain rules and standards. In the field of medical writing, editing, and proofreading, the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style (9th edition) is the most widely used style manual. Again, we would like to recommend that you use the AMA Manual of Style to make your medical English writing as good as it possibly can be.
In this essay, we will look at several additional examples of both correct and incorrect medical English writing usage.
Disc versus Disk
In casual writing, these two words are often used interchangeably. Some writers might simply prefer one spelling to the other.
However, the AMA Manual of Style recommends using disc and disk in different, specific ways. Use disc when writing about the eye, or ophthalmology. Use disk when referring to other parts of the anatomy. Two examples of correct medical usage are optic disc and lumbar disk.
There are two exceptions to this rule: (1) disk should also be used when writing about computers. For example, disk drive and hard disk are both correct usage; and (2) disc is the term to be used for entertainment media, as in compact disc and videodisc.
Doctor versus Physician
Doctor is a more general term than physician. It includes, for example, such medical professionals as dentists, veterinarians, pediatricians, and surgeons. It even refers to anyone with a PhD degree in a discipline other than medicine. Someone can, for example, be a doctor of history or politics!
Physician is a more specific term and refers only to doctors who have an MD or a DO degree. (MD is the acronym for Doctor of Medicine and DO is the one for Doctor of Osteopathy.) In medical writing, and even in casual language, you should not use physician to refer to a doctor who does not have an MD or DO degree.
Dose versus Dosage
These words can be confusing for medical writers and editors as well as those in other fields. Dose is a single or total amount of medication. Dosage is the rate at which the patient receives the medication.
If you are taking a medication and each pill is 25 mg, then each of your pills is a dose of 25 mg. Your doctor might instruct you to take one 25 mg pill every 12 hours. This is the dosage because it specifies both the amount and the rate of administration. If your doctor instructs you to take this dosage for 10 days, your total dose will be 500 mg. Remember, a dose is an amount, only, whereas a dosage is an amount plus an indication of frequency.
Health Care versus Healthcare
Most medical English writers use this term correctly. However, it is common for writers to write it as one word. In formal or scholarly writing, it should always be written as two words. According to Webster’s health care, healthcare, and even health-care are all synonymous and interchangeable. Remember that Webster’s is for general use while the AMA is for professionals.
You might see "healthcare" in the names of companies and in some advertising and marketing literature. This is usually intentional and is done for creative, brand or stylistic reasons. If you are writing for or about a company that uses "healthcare" as one word, you should follow that company's style. However, when writing a research article or any scholarly text, you should always write health care as two words.
Keeping Track of Tracts
It is often colloquial usage to leave out the term, tract, when discussing certain infections. Two examples of this are respiratory infection and urinary infection. However, for the medical writer, the correct forms, including the word tract, must be written as respiratory tract infection and urinary tract infection.
There are so many rules and standards to be aware of when writing in a specialized field such as medicine. Usage is just one of them, and it can be a tricky area for native and non-native English writers alike. That is why there are style manuals, editors, and proofreaders. They are all tools to help avoid and correct errors in medical English writing. We hope this brief discussion of usage can help you to avoid some common errors in your own medical English writing.