ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」
すごい。たまたま同じ記事が取り上げられていた。
富士山と舞妓さん問題、海外でも注目？
In today's lesson, there might be a KO knockout in an unudual festival contest for baties, but we will focus on some finer details of the word "to."
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 こどもの日恒例の“泣き相撲”
5月20日(月)
BABIES TAKE TO SUMO RING ON CHILDREN'S DAY
May 5 is Children's Day in Japan, and a shrine in Hiroshima is celebrating with a special event –– “baby sumo.”
About 700 children aged six to 18 months took part in this year's crying contest. The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children. Two babies face each other in the ring, and the winner is the first one to cry.
(Mother)
“I was worried my baby might not cry, but he did right away. I hope he grows up big and strong.”
(Mother&Father)
“My niece took part in this event last year and it was cute, so we came this time.”
“My son didn't cry as much as we expected.”
Some bouts ended in a draw because neither baby flinched.
(2024年5月5日のニュース）
- is to pray -> be＋to不定詞で「目的」「〜するためのものです」
the annual event … is to pray「毎年行われるその行事は、祈るためのものです」 - wellbeing「well（良い）状態であること」「幸福、福祉、健全性」-> 子どもたちの「幸せ」
-> well-beingとハイフンで結ぶ表記もよく使います。 - the first one to …
反対のthe last one to …「最後に～する人」
＝＞自然な日本語では「最後まで～しなかった人」
He was the last one to know the secret. - right away「すぐに、すぐさま」 ＝immediatelyやinstantlyなどでも言いかえられますが、right awayが口語表現
- grow upは「育つ、成長する」
grow up big and strongは「大きく元気に育つ、たくましく育つ」 - nieceは「めい」「おい」ならnephewです。
「叔父、伯父」はuncle、「叔母、伯母」はauntです。
「いとこ」はcousinで、「はとこ」second cousin
「義兄弟」にはbrother-in-lawを、「義姉妹」にはsister-in-law - cute「生意気な、気取った」
Don't get cute with me. 「生意気言うな、気取るな、ふざけるな」
Clever or witty, especially in an impertinent or evasive way, as in falsely suggesting that one is ignorant about the matter at hand.
- not … as much as …「～ほど～ない」
- bout「（格闘技の）試合」
- end in a draw「引き分けに終わる、引き分けになる」
- neither A nor B「ＡとＢのどちらも～ない」＝全てを否定
He showed interest in neither science nor art. - flinch「たじろぐ、ひるむ、尻込みする」
flinchTo start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
->start
(驚いて)飛び上がる，びくっとする，飛び出す.
〔…に〕ぎくりとする
=>>> To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily:
started at the loud noise.
「向かって」いくという矢印（→）のイメージ
対象へ「向かって」いるということから、至近距離で「向き合う」
さらには対象に「到達」して接触する点（到達点）のイメージ
（１）「～すること」という名詞的用法
（２）「～する（ための）」という形容詞的用法
（３）「～するために」という副詞的用法
- The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
-> the annual event … is → to → pray 祈るという目的に「到達しようとしている」
When I hear "to" in this sentence, I imagine the event will be for the purpose of prying for health.
- I want to pray.
- He grew up to be big and strong.
It is really helpful to think of an arrow or direction when using the word, to. It maybe a difficult concept but I'm sure our listners can master it.
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The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is (held) to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
=>
The (aim of the) annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
Two babies face each other in the ring, and the winner is the first one to cry.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 ガザ報道 ピュリツァー賞各部門で受賞
5月21日(火)
In today's lesson, let's learn another way to use the word, "with." It might be the opposite of what you expect. But it's extreamly useful.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT REPORTING AWARDED PULITZER PRIZES
Journalists covering the conflict between Israel and Hamas have been recognized with what are considered to be the most prestigious awards in U.S. journalism.
The Pulitzer Prize Board on Monday announced the prizes for works published last year. It honored journalists covering Gaza with a special citation. It says an extraordinary number of them have died in an effort to tell the stories of Palestinians in the enclave.
Reuters news agency staff won the Breaking News Photography prize. It was for documenting the surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October as well as the first weeks of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza. The board calls the photos raw and urgent.
And a team from The New York Times took home the International Reporting prize. The board says it was in part for coverage showing how Israeli officials dismissed the Hamas attack plan that they obtained well before the group carried it out.
(2024年5月7日のニュース）
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- citation「表彰」「賞状」
今年のピュリッツァー賞では、特別賞（special citation） - the enclaveは「ガザ地区」
enclave「ほかの国に囲まれている土地、飛び地・飛び領土」「周囲から孤立した少数民族集団（地域）、異種文化圏」などを表す言葉
パレスチナ暫定自治区は現在、ガザ地区とヨルダン川西岸（West Bank）に分かれています。ガザ地区は地中海に面し、北側と東側はイスラエル、南側はエジプトに囲まれています。 - raw「生々しい、ありのままの、（感情などが）むきだしの、（描写などが）率直な、露骨な」といったニュアンス
- dismissは「（考えなどを）捨てる、退ける、（問題などを）忘れ去る、無視する」
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withには、
・「～とともに」（同伴）
・「～を持った」（所有）
・「～を用いて、～をもって」（手段）
・「～のせいで」（原因）
・「～という状態で」（付帯状況）
・「～に賛成して」（一致）
・「～にとっては」（関係）
・「～に対して」「～を相手に」（対立）
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My father fought with the general.
（１）「私の父は、（戦争で）その将軍と共に戦いました。」＝My father fought together with the general.
（２）「私の父は、その将軍と戦いました（けんかをしました）。」＝My father fought against the general.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 パリオリンピックを前にセーヌ川の水質改善
5月22日(水)
PARIS MAKES MOVES TO CLEAN UP SEINE RIVER BEFORE OLYMPICS
Now we go to preparations for this summer's Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. Officials have unveiled a new stormwater facility to combat a water quality problem in the River Seine ahead of the Games.
The underground facility has been set up near the river. Several events will be held in the Seine, including triathlon and marathon swimming.
The officials say sewage facilities in Paris are too old, so floodwaters flow into the Seine. The new facility can temporarily store up to 50,000 cubic meters of water and send it to a sewage treatment plant. They plan to operate it as early as this month.
City officials say they want to make the water quality improvement a legacy of the Games.
(Tony Estanguet / Paris 2024 President)
“It will be less pollution in the natural environment, with a river in a better state today than three years ago, and that will keep improving.”
(2024年5月3日のニュース）
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- Olympics and Paralympics
OlympicsとParalympicsはOlympic GamesとParalympic Gamesを短縮した形なので複数形 - stormwater facility
stormwater「（豪雨などによる）雨水」 - triathlon and marathon swimming
- sewage facilities -> sewage 下水
- cubic meter「立方メートル」/「平方メートル」square meter
- a legacy of the Games => legacy「遺産、レガシー」
- natural environmentは「自然環境」
sewage
[ˈsuəʤ]
- combat 「（敵、病気、犯罪、問題などに）立ち向かう」
Japanese policy to combat the weak Yen.
- combat the weak yen 「円安に対抗する」
- legacy of the Games 「オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会のレガシー」
イギリス英語では川の呼び方はRiver Thames「テムズ川」のようにRiverを先
アメリカ英語ではMississippi River「ミシシッピ川」のようにRiverを後
-> 川や海の名前にはtheが付きます。有名な川の名前はthe ThamesのようにRiverが省略されることも多いです。
-> ちなみに、山や湖の名前にはtheを付けませんが、
“The store is temporarily closed,” it means the store is just closed just for a while.
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I found an interesting quote about the facility from one Paris offical.
We're buiding two cathedrals. He said, there's the one aboveground that everyone knows Notre Dame and then there's the one underground. It's obvious that Paris sees the water quality project as a potential Legacy maker.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 富士山撮影スポットに目隠し
5月23日(木)
BLOCKING MT. FUJI VIEW TO DETER MISBEHAVING TOURISTS
Tourists are flocking to a town in Japan to see Mount Fuji. But some cause a nuisance and behave dangerously. So the town is erecting a giant screen to block the view.
The problems arose in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture. Photos from a particular angle show Mount Fuji as though it's standing over a convenience store. Tourists wanting this shot stray onto the busy road or trespass on private property.
This week, workers began erecting a black screen that will be 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high. They're also putting up fences to keep people off the road.
(Australian visitor)
“It's not very safe. So it makes sense that they're going to try and block the view or impede the view. But I think people will still come and take photos.”
Town officials say they hope the screen will reduce overcrowding. Still, they say putting it up was a tough decision.
(2024年5月3日のニュース）
--
- flock to
Tourists are flocking to a town in Japan to see Mount Fuji.
flock 群れ
The actor is alwayas followed by a flock of reporters.
- nuisance 「迷惑（行為）」
[ˈnusəns]
- is erecting a giant screen to block the view
- arose <- arise
The problems arose in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture.
If a new problem arises, please email me as soon as possible.
- as though …「あたかも～のように」
- stray「（本来いるべき場所から）さまよい出る、（行くべき道から）それる、外れる」
「道に迷った、はぐれた」という意味の形容詞
-> stray catなら「野良猫」 - trespass on …「～に不法侵入する」
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flock to … 「～に殺到する、～に群がる」
flock 「（人や動物の）群れ」
arise 「発生する、起こる」
tourism pollution 「観光公害」
tackle a problem 「問題に取り組む」
tourist attraction / tourist spot / sight-seeing spot 「観光スポット」
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I’d actually like to talk about a word from today's story that you can use in lots of ways. It's “stray.”
The basic idea of “stray” is to “move away from a group or the right place.” But it's not just for physical movement. You could say things like this:
“My teacher has a habit of straying from the topic,
” or “I was trying to study, but my mind kept straying.”
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So, Tom, what do you think of misbehaving tourists?
-Well, I was in Kyoto in March and I have to say, I was astounded at how crowded it was with tourists. I saw a number of people walking across strees whenever and wherever they felt like it, too.. Naomi, you're from Kyoto, right? Have you noticed any tourism issues?
-Yeah, as a former Kyoto resident, it's happy that many people are coming and interested in Kyoto, but I've seen people throwing their waste on the road or stopping on the crosswalk when the traffic light is red. So, that's kind of dissapointing for Kyoto residents.
*astound -> be astounded at
*waste
* crosswalk
Since the record number of tourists are traveling to Japan, Government offices in the locla community are acting against overtourism. In Kyoto for instance, the geisha district banned visitors from small private alley due to bad behavior.
However, I think banning tourists is only a short-term solution. So do you have any ideas on how to overcome this problem, Tom?
-Well, to me, one big thing is mutual understanding. Very few tourists are intentionaly trying to misbehave. It's just that they don't know what the norms are. Tourists need good ways to learn about cultural rules, but locals also need to put themselves in tourists' shoes.
-That's is a good point. I think the Japanese people must adjust to the enormous number of tourists coming to their cities. Learning English is one way to tackle the problem. They can tell the tourists in English, what they can and what they cannot to do at certain places.
- I know what you mean, but you have to be realistic. No matter how your English is, it's never easy to tell complete stranger that they're doing something wrong. Not everyone going to listen to either.
-Well, whatever the case, I think studying English is more inportant than ever.
-Agreed. Communications is the key.
ｰｰｰ
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JAPAN CLOUD COMPUTING PROVIDERS FOCUS ON 'DATA SOVEREIGNTY'
Cloud computing providers in Japan are responding to customer demands for better security by offering what's known as data sovereignty services.
Data sovereignty refers to safeguarding information by keeping it within a country's borders and subject to local laws and regulations. The European Union and a number of other countries are adopting such procedures to improve data security.
Fujitsu has teamed up with U.S. IT giant Oracle to start a cloud computing service in fiscal 2025 that will keep data transfer and storage within Japan. Officials say the agreement ensures use of Fujitsu's local data centers, and no information will move offshore.
In a related development, NEC and NTT offer a service to Japanese companies using generative AI. It processes data through in-house servers without using data centers.
(2024年5月7日のニュース）
不法入国者をルワンダ移送 英で法案可決
UK LAWMAKERS PASS CONTENTIOUS RWANDA ASYLUM BILL
British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the plan will deter people from illegally crossing the English Channel. But United Nations officials are urging a rethink.
The legislation passed the House of Lords after clearing Parliament's lower chamber. It's one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship policies ahead of a general election due by late January next year.
Undocumented migrants are pouring into Britain, this year reportedly at the fastest pace ever. And Britain's leaders say the problem is weighing heavily on the state coffers. So they've brokered a deal with Rwanda.
The East African nation is still emerging from a devastating period of genocide in the 1990s. But the British government says Rwanda belongs to international treaties aimed at protecting the rights of refugees.
(2024年4月23日のニュース）
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- contentious「激しい議論を引き起こす、物議を醸す」=>controversialで言いかえることもできますが、contentiousの方がもっと強烈
- undocumentedは「正式な書類（許可書）がない、必要書類がない」
- the English Channelはイギリス南部とフランス北部を隔てる「イギリス海峡」
- United Nations officialは「国連の職員」、特に「幹部、高官」
- flagshipは「最も重要な、主力の、目玉の」
-> flagship model「主力モデル」flagship store「旗艦店」
Yes, in English flagship model or flagship store are often used. Even in Japanese I sometimes hear flagship used. For example,
・There are quite a few big brand flagship stores in Ginza. - the fastest … everは「今までで最も速い～」
- weigh on …は「～にのしかかる、重荷になる」 -> is weighing heavily on
- state coffersは「国庫」
- broker a dealは「取り引き、協定、取り決めなど」がまとまるよう取り計らう」
- emerge from …「（苦境から）抜け出る、立ち上がる」
British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
British lawmakers have approved
a contentious bill
to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
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★undocumented migrant ある国に「不法に入国した人」
= illegal immigrant「不法移民」
people from illegally crossing the English Channel
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda.
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 タイタニック号の楽団長遺品 落札
5月14日(火)
タイタニック号の楽団長遺品 落札
VIOLIN CASE OF TITANIC ORCHESTRA LEADER SOLD AT AUCTION
A violin case belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic has been auctioned in Britain. It was found strapped to his body after the luxury steamship sank in 1912.
Britain's public broadcaster BBC has reported the brown leather bag belonging to Wallace Hartley fetched about 362,000 dollars at the auction on Saturday. The auction house says the leather bag, which carries Hartley's initials, “W. H. H.,” was a gift from his fiancée.
The orchestra played on the deck of the Titanic to calm panicked passengers after the ship struck an iceberg and began to sink. Hartley's body was recovered after the disaster with the case containing the violin strapped to him. He possibly used it for buoyancy.
The violin case was returned to his fiancée but later passed through the hands of a number of different people.
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- fetch 金額を目的語とする場合
->「（ある価格で）売れる、（ある金額を）手に入れる」
Oh, fetch, that brings back great memories of playing with my dog. I would use go fetch almost every day, when asking my dog to bring me his ball. This is usually used in this way when speaking to animals.
- buoyancy
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What a heartbreaking story. I'm glad his fiance could get the case back at the timme. Now it's such a rare and expensive piece of history.
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A violin case belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic has been auctioned in Britain.
A violin case
belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic
has been auctioned in Britain.
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★theの総称用法
The Dalai Lama will hold talks to decide on whether the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after him.
the institution of the Dalai Lamaは「ダライ・ラマという制度」
the institution of Dalai Lama -> 冠詞を付けない単数形の原形は抽象的意味
->「ダライ・ラマ」は固有名詞なので、個人の名前に聞こえて紛らわしいかもしれません。theを付けたほうが意味がはっきり
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violin
・a violin 「ある１つのバイオリン」（不特定単数）
・violins 「複数のバイオリン」（不特定複数）
・the violin 「（話に出てきた）そのバイオリン」（特定単数）
・the violins 「（話に出てきた）それらのバイオリン」（特定複数）
- I have borrowed the violin from your teacher.
- I play the violin.
-> the violin 「バイオリン（という楽器）」（特定・抽象）
theを付けて特定 ->「ピアノ」でも「ギター」でもなく、「バイオリン」
ほかの概念とはっきり区別したり対比したりするニュアンス
Today's lesson was fantastic. And Sam, you answered today's question so eloquently. I'm looking forward to even more questions from the listners.
eloquently - Capable of or characterized by eloquence
eloquence - fluent and persuasive discourse
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 米大学でイスラエルへの抗議デモ拡大
5月15日(水)
米大学でイスラエルへの抗議デモ拡大
PROTESTERS AND POLICE CLASH ON U.S. CAMPUSES
Protesters and counter-protesters have been shattering the calm on campuses across the U.S. Students, faculty, and those who live nearby are concerned tensions over the fighting in Gaza have created a “hostile environment.”
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been camping on the grounds of Columbia University for more than a week. They've heard warnings from police to dismantle their tents within the next few days. Police have already arrested more than 100 people.
Professors have canceled many in-person classes and are instead teaching online to prioritize “safety.” But protesters say their demonstrations have been peaceful.
Protesters and police have clashed on campuses nationwide. Many students are demanding that administrators cut financial ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.
ｰｰｰ
- counter-は「反対の、逆の」
counter-protester・counterprotesterは「対抗デモに参加する人」
counterculture「反体制文化」
counterattack「反撃（する）」
- 動詞shatterは「打ち砕く、粉々にする、ずたずたにする」
shatter one's hopesなら「（人の）希望を打ち砕く」
shatter a recordなら「記録を破る」
ｰｰｰ
shatter 「粉々にする、打ち砕く」
calm 「平穏」
hostile 「敵対的な」
pro-Palestinian 「パレスチナ支持の、親パレスチナの」
anti-Semitism 「反ユダヤ主義｣
ESG 「environment（環境）、social（社会）、governance（ガバナンス、企業統治）を考慮した投資活動や経営・事業活動」
ｰｰｰ
- hostile environment
hostile -> hostility
aggressive
violent
And that's probably why today's story used the word hostile. The situation is very tnese and and people are clearly taking sides. But there hasn't been much full-out violence yet.
*full-out
-> full out 全面的な -With one's full effort or energy.
And hostile als comes up in this pattern,
A hostile to or toward B,
which means that A is opposed to B or sees B as an enermy. Here's an example.
- Some people are hostile to the idea of social media.
I want you to include these pieces, hostile, sdudents, and the University's policy.
- Most students are hostile to the University's policy raising tuision.
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Many students are demanding that administrators cut financial ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.
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- disclose 「開示する」
- divest 「投資を引き揚げる」<>（invest「投資する」の反意語）
- We will not rest.
- blowback 「否定的な反応」
- backlash 「強い反発」
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I have some friends back home who got along great until the latest eruption in the Israel Plestine conflict. And now they seem really hostile to each other and vocal about which side. They're on the situation is definitely shattering the calm in a lot of places even on a personal level.
*vocal about ～を主張する、～についてうるさく言う
blowbackについて
“Blowback,” which comes from the idea of gases or flames “blowing back” in the reverse direction, is a big concern.
Here's an example of “blowback” in a sentence: After voting against the bill, the politician faced blowback from some of her supporters.