英文ライティング―金融、会計、経済、法律専門

Shishigatani Jyuren-zan Anraku-ji Temple, which was named after two Buddhist monks, Jyuren-shonin and Anraku-shonin, was established by Honen-shonin, their teacher and the founder of Jodo-shu about 800 years ago. They could recite some of the Buddhist Sutras with wonderful voice. Some persons who were deeply impressed by their singing sutras became believers in Jodo-sect.

I visited this small old temple with my wife last Saturday. The resident monk told us the history of the temple. He continued the story as follows.

This rumor spread all over Kyoto. Two court ladies, who were sisters, attending on Gotoba-joko, an absolute monarch of that time, were getting fed up with a flamboyant life in the Imperial court and desired to be a nun under the influence of the monks. One day, Gotoba-joko journeyed to Kumano. It was said that it took about a month to come back to Kyoto. They took advantage of this opportunity and decided to have their hair cut by the monks. The monks persuaded them not to renounce the world without Gotoba-joko’s permission. However, these ladies insisted on their desires. They told the monks that if their desires were not accepted, they would commit suicide by throwing themselves into a river. After all, the monks answered their desires and allowed them to go into religion. As expected, the news made Gotoba-joko lose his temper. He punished them by death. He also ordered Jodo-sect not to proliferate and broaden their beliefs.

Not fearing their own death, the two monks opened the door for the court ladies to enter the Buddhist path. I think the monks’ action deserved credit. On the other hand, the ladies’ action seemed to be thoughtless and selfish. What kind of impression do you have from this story?

A dog whose name is Otto has been recognized by Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest dog at the age of 20 years and eight months. He would be 145 in human years. The owners say he has lived so long thanks to plenty of love, good food, and regular checkups at the vet’s.

This news on a paper reminds me of my friend’s case. Her dog is seventeen years old and has been suffering from diseases. After having surgeries three times, she manages to keep her life, but she looks waiting for her death. My friend whines about the financial burden.

A great number of pets are thrown away every year and most of them are choked to death at public facilities. There are two main reasons. One is that the owners become too old to keep their pets. In the worst case, pets live longer than their owners. The other is that financial burdens don’t allow owners to continue to keep pets.

Having pets makes our lives better and makes us healthier, but that makes us more compassionate and responsible. Before being a pet owner, you must pay attention to your health and fortunes.

時事英語には比ゆが頻出します。toothless（歯がない）と聞いて何を連想しますか。この場合の「歯」とは「のこぎりの歯」の比ゆのようで、「役に立たない」という意味でよさそうです。

Fears that the new human rights body will be toothless are well grounded.

「新たな人権団体は機能しないだろうという懸念には十分な根拠がある」

have teeth: if a law or an organization has teeth, it has the power to force people to obey it

ちなみに「甘党」のことは　sweet tooth といいます。

①to retrench on wasteful projects

無駄な事業を（　　　）する。

②to put so much faith in the reliability of that test

そのテストの信頼性を（　　　）する。

③to delve into errors committed by the investigators

捜査官による誤りを徹底的に（　　　）する。

④to diminish security support for Japan

日本への安全面での保障を（　　　）する。

他動詞の場合はその目的語に、自動詞の場合はそれに続く副詞・前置詞に、名詞の場合はどの動詞の、あるいはどの前置詞の目的語になっているか、に注目することで意味を推測することが出来ます。

①削減　②過信　③調査　④縮小

The administration, which at its outset enjoyed an approval rating that topped 70 percent, still commands strong public support.

command

3. DESERVE AND GET

to get something such as respect or attention because you do something well or are important or popular

control、order以外の意味が、いまいち理解できなかったcommandですが、本日やっと解決しました（錯覚かもしれませんが）。例文から推測すれば「依然として高い支持率を確保している」ということなので、getあるいはkeepやholdに置き換えが可能なのかなと思いました。念のためにロングマンを引いてみると、上記のような説明になっていました。

語源的に考えると、com=together withということなので「高い支持率と一緒にある」→「高い支持率を保持している」と考えればよさそうですね。

ボキャビルに「語源」が有効なことを証明してくれました。

最近ボキャブラリーの衰えを感じるので、The Japan TimesのEditorialのon lineをWordにおとして、数回読むようにしています。2-3記事で1200単語を目安にしています。どんな風に取り組んでいるのか、ちょっと紹介させてください。「ニュースで英会話」の英字新聞担当回の伊藤サムさんがお勧めする方法と重なっている部分もあります。

① 黙読…分からない単語に出会ったら、言い換えの部分はないか、同義語・反対語はないか、などに気をつけながら意味を推測しながら読み進める。とにかくスピードと大意をつかむことに重点を置く。（会社）

② 精読…文法上の疑問点、覚えておきたい表現にアンダーラインを引きながら意味を押さえる。（会社）

③ 推測した意味・用法・品詞が正しいかどうかを確認するつもりで辞書を引く。（自宅）

④ 音読…話題にしやすい時事用語を暗記するつもりで声を出して読む。（自宅）

⑤ 英会話サークルで取り上げられそうなテーマの場合は、原文をアレンジしながら英文を書いてみる。（自宅）

平行して「発信型英語10000語レベル　スーパーボキャブラリー」（ベレ出版、-植田一三）を15分ほど。ただ、この手の単語帳形式の書物で単語を覚えるのはかなり苦痛ですね。「この単語・コロケーション、覚えておくと使えそう」という感覚で取り組んでいます。

伊藤サム

「単語を暗記すると逆効果？」

http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/e-news/essay/index.cgi?pn=index

It is said that U.S. President Barack Obama was very surprised at the decision of the Nobel Committee. The decision was that he has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize less than nine months in office. Some critics are pointing out that he is not entitled to receive this prize because he has not done any achievement leading to world peace yet. From my viewpoint as one member of the only nation that was the victim of atomic bombs, he deserves this prize because he has gained the momentum of nuclear disarmament

In terms of nuclear disarmament, he made an impressive speech in Prague in April. He said he will make every effort to abolish nuclear weapons around the world. He declared that “as a nuclear power, as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act.”

Compared to the reiterated official statement that the use of atomic bombs urged the Japanese Government to make an unconditional surrender and prevented people, including U.S. soldiers, from being exposed to the decisive final battle on the mainland, he stated his position to accept the need to eliminate nuclear weapons. His remark was so committed to world peace that it got to catch the attention of the mayors and citizens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The two cities have entered the contest to co-hold the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

His journey has just begun. But his direction is considered correct by the prestigious Committee. He has certainly secured the support of nuclear disarmament from the world. The Norwegian Organization is also worth the Nobel Peace Prize because of its wonderful selection.

シルバーウィークに小浜市から湖北にかけて旅行しました。Ｌａｋｅ　Ｂｉｗａ　（2009.10.04）の中でその内容を紹介しましたが、お昼に立ち寄ったレストランが「クレア」（11月号）というミセス（40代後半から50代を対象にしているそうですが）向けの雑誌で紹介されています。「樋口可南子の京都が教えてくれたこと」という特集記事の中で写真入で掲載されています。ちょっとお洒落な記事に仕上がっていますのでよろしかったら本屋で立ち読みでもしてください。

出迎えてくれたワンちゃんの名前は「チャイ」というそうで、私たちを出迎えてくれた日と同じように首にバンダナを巻いていました。

偶然記事を発見した***さんとチャイ君との記念撮影です。

お昼休みにはThe Japan TimesのEditorialを読んでいます。Oct. 11, 2009のA wife by another nameに以下のような表現がありました。

The legal requirement that spouses in Japan use the same surname has long since disappeared in most developed countries. Japan has retained this legality well past its usefulness.

このpastの用法に馴染みがなく、なんとなく違和感があったのですが、”well past the * date” とフレーズ検索したところ145万件もヒットしました。past以下を形容詞用法の前置詞句と考えればいいのだなと思うのですが、past　を前置詞と意識したことがなく、まだまだ基本がなっていないな、と反省しております。

In reality, most medications still retain their potency well past the expiration date stamped on the side of the bottle.

I send my check in before the due date, but it does not clear my bank account until well past the due date.

BENEFITS OF UMEBOSHI

It is said that one umeboshi, plums which have been pickled in salt and dried under the sun, every morning is good for your health. Food experts say umeboshi has six benefits to us.

RECOVERY FROM FATIGUE

Umeboshi gives us quick recovery from fatigue. Fatigue is caused by accumulated lactic acid, an acid produced by muscles after exercising and found in sour milk, in our bodies. Umeboshi has plenty of citric acid, a weak acid found in some fruits such as lemons, that effectively dissolves lactic acid.

REDUCTION OF ARTERY CLOGGERS

Umeboshi prevents us from hardening our arteries. Citric acid also helps our blood pressure go down. That means umeboshi keeps our arteries flexible.

EXPELLING OF ACTIVE OXYGEN

Umeboshi drives active oxygen away. Active oxygen is considered one of the causes of life-style related diseases. Umeboshi facilitates the production of saliva. Our saliva is effective to reduce the amount of active oxygen and also to get rid of toxic substances leading to cancers.

REMEDY FOR CONSTIPATION

Umeboshi can provide relief for constipation. Umeboshi helps our bowels move actively to smoothly eliminate our bodily waste.

EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST HANGOVER

Umeboshi is helpful to recover in a terrible hangover. Too much consumption of alcohol makes our body acid. Eating umeboshi, one of alkaline foods, neutralizes the acid in the stomach and is effective for quick recovery from a hangover.

MEASURE FOR FOOD POISONING

Umeboshi prevents us from food poisoning. Citric acid containing in umeboshi stems the growth of germs that cause food poisoning. There is a good reason that umeboshi is a typical ingredient of rice balls.

A modification of a proverb as follows is a summary of the benefits of umeboshi: An umeboshi a day drives the doctor away.