1. Illustrated with an entertaining array of example from both high and low culture , the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable . But it is less clear , to take the question of his subtitle , why we should , like , care .

结构：

Illustrated with an entertaining array of example from both high and low culture , the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents [主] is [系] unmistakable [表] .But it [主] is [系] less clear [表] , to take the question of his subtitle , why we should , like , care [状]

单词：

array n.大量 各种 陈列

subtitle n.副标题 字幕 vt.给...加副标题

词组：

Illustrate with 用...来说明 给...加（插图）

Array of 大量 陈列 一系列

直译：MW先生说，用大量来自高和低文化的娱乐例子来说明，这种趋势是正确的。但是，副标题带来的问题是为什么我们应该这样做，愿意以及在意是不清晰的

译文：麦克沃特先生从高雅文化到粗俗文化中举了一系列有趣的例子，从而说明他所记录的这种趋势是准确无误的。但是，面对副标题的问题：我们为什么会退化，愿意退化并在意这一点，则不那么清楚

重点：

Illustrate with 用...来说明 给...加（插图）Array of 大量 陈列 一系列

2. As a linguist , he acknowledges that all varieties of human language , including non-standard ones like Black English , can be powerfully expressive —— there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas . He is not arguing , as many do , that we can no longer think straight because we do not talk proper .

结构：

As a linguist , he [主] acknowledges [谓]宾语从句：that all varieties of human language [主]**语：, including non-standard ones like Black English ,can be [系] powerfully expressive [表]—— there exists no language or dialect in the world定语从句：that [主] cannot convey [谓] complex ideas [宾] .He [主] is not [系] arguing [表]**语：, as many do ,宾语从句：that we [主] can no longer think straight [谓]时间状语从句：because we [主] do not talk proper [谓]

单词：

Dialect n.方言

Proper a.像样的 正规的 适宜的 严格意义上的

Straight a.笔直的 直截了当的 连续的 正统的

词组：

All varieties of 各种各样

No longer 不再

解析：

that引导宾语从句，作acknowledges的宾语两个逗号之间是**语单个破折号表示解释说明that引导定语从句，用来修饰language or dialect ，句子中作主语that引导宾语从句，做非谓语动词arguing的宾语because引导时间状语从句

直译：作为一个语言学家，他承认人类各种语言，包括非正式语言，比如黑人英语，都能够进行有利的表达——世界上没有任何一种语言或方言不能传达复杂思想。像很多人做的一样，他不承认，因为我们不能适当地说，所以不能再直白的思考

译文：作为一名语言学家，他承认所有类型的人类语言，包括黑人英语那样不**的语言。都可以极具表现力——世界上还不存在不能表达复杂思想的语言或方言。与许多人不同，他并不认为我们说话的**不规范，就会使我们不能有条理的思考

重点：

that引导宾语从句，作acknowledges的宾语两个逗号之间是**语单个破折号表示解释说明that引导定语从句，用来修饰language or dialect ，句子中作主语that引导宾语从句，做非谓语动词arguing的宾语because引导时间状语从句

3. Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads , while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old-fashioned to most English-speakers .

结构：

Russians [主] have [谓1] a deep love for their own language [宾1] and carry [谓2] large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads [宾2] ,while Italian politicians [主] tend to [谓] elaborate speech定语从句：that [主] would seem [系] old-fashioned to most English-speakers [表]

单词：

chunk n.大块

Old-fashioned a.旧时的 古时候

Elaborate a.复杂的 周密的 精心制作的

解析：

that引导定语从句，修饰speech，在句子中做主语

直译：俄罗斯人对他们自己的语言有深深的爱恋，并在他们的大脑中记忆大量的诗歌，意大利**家往往精心**的演讲，对大多数讲英语的人来说是过时的

译文：俄罗斯人深爱他们自己的语言，并在脑海中记忆了大量诗歌，而意大利的政客们往往精心**演讲，这些演讲对大多数讲英语者来说似乎已经过时了

4. Mr. McWhorter acknowledges that formal language is not strictly necessary , and proposes no radical education reforms —— he is really grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful .

结构：

Mr. McWhorter [主] acknowledges [谓]宾语从句：that formal language [主] is not [系] strictly necessary [表] , and proposes [谓] no radical education reforms [宾] —— he [主] is really grieving over [谓] the loss of something beautiful more than useful [宾]

单词：

grieve vt.使悲伤 是苦恼

词组：

Grieve over 悲痛 哀悼

直译：MW先生承认真是英语并不严格需要，以及提出非根本性的教育改革——他真的非常悲痛关于丢掉美的东西超过了实用

译文：麦克沃特先生认为，正式语言并非不可或缺，他没有建议彻底的教育改革——他其实是在那些美好但不实用的事物的失去而感到悲伤

重点：

Grieve over 悲痛 哀悼

5. We now take our English “ on paper plates instead of china ”. A shame , perhaps , but probably an inevitable one .

结构：

We [主] now take [谓] our English “ on paper plates instead of china ” [宾].A shame , perhaps , but probably an inevitable one

单词：

Plate n.盘子 金属片

直译：如今，我们把英语放在“纸盘子上，而不是瓷器上”。可能这时一个耻辱，但是可能这也是不可避免地

译文：我们现在把英语放在“纸盘上而不是瓷器上”。这也许是一种遗憾，但可能是无法避免的