Comma story - Terisa Folaron

一个关于逗号的故事 -- 特里萨 佛劳伦

翻译人员: Xiaoqing He 校对人员: JIALU XU

Commas are tricky things,

逗号的运用是很讲究技巧的，

especially when subordinates

尤其是当从属关联词

and conjunctions are involved.

和连词也一并参与其中的时候

If you can remember a few basic rules,

只要你记得一些基本的规则

a simple law of physics,

一个简单的物理定律

and some common scenarios,

和一些常见的情况

you will be able to use commas correctly.

你就可以正确的使用逗号了

I like to think of the different parts

我喜欢将句子的不同部分

比作成不同的角色

of our sentence as characters.

Let's meet a few of them:

让我们来会会他们中的几个吧:

the tiny conjunctions,

渺小的连词

the mighty subordinates,

力大无比的从属关联词

and the clever comma.

还有聪明的逗号

Conjunctions are small and nimble.

连词很小且机灵

They are words that connect clauses,

他们连接从句、

words,

and phrases.

单词

和短语

You can easily remember the conjunctions

你将可以轻松记住连词

by remembering the acronym FANBOYS.

只要记住首字母缩略词 FANBOYS（星战男孩-- 一部电影名称）

The conjunctions are

这些连词有

for,

for (为了；因为；给；至于)

and,

and（和）

nor,

nor（也不；也不是）

but,

but（但是）

or,

or（或者）

yet,

yet（然而）

so.

so (所以）

Because they're so small,

因为他们太渺小了

more often than not,

以至于常常

they require the help of a comma

他们需要一个逗号的帮助

but not always.

但并非总是如此

Subordinates, on the other hand,

从属关联词

are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences.

是句子世界中的“职业举重比赛冠军“

They are words that connect two unequal things,

他们能够连接两个不等同的事物：

dependent and independent clauses.

从句和主句

Subordinates make it very clear

从属关联词让人一下就看出来

what is being prioritized in a sentence.

句子中的重点在哪里。

Commonly used subordinates are

常见的从属关联词有

although,

although（尽管）

because,

because（因为）

before,

before（在。。。之前）

however,

however（然而）

unless,

unless（除非）

and even though.

以及 even though（虽然，即使）

Because subordinates are all about power,

因为从属关联词和”力量“有关

they can do a lot of heavy lifting by themselves.

他们自己就能完成很多举重的活

But, of course, sometimes even the strongest among us

但毫无疑问，即使是我们当中最强壮的从属关联词有时

needs some help from our clever friends.

也需要来自我们聪明小伙伴的帮助

Because our clever comma is so nice,

因为我们的聪明的逗号十分的善解人意

she often roams her neighborhood

她经常在小区周边漫步

looking for some community service to do.

寻找一些社区服务的机会

Today, as soon as she leaves her house,

今天，她一离开家

she sees a subordinate lifting the weight

她就看到一个从属关联词正扛着

of two complete sentences,

两个完整句子

one on each arm.

手臂两边，一边一个

Bartheleme loves engaging in political debate

Bartheleme（巴尔特）钟情于政治争辩

even though

即使

he usually loses.

他经常失败

The comma asks the subordinate if he needs help.

逗号便问从属关联词是否需要帮助

Well, we know that subordinates

正如我们所知，从属关联词们

are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences.

都是句子世界中的”职业举重比赛冠军“

They can easily hold the weight

他们能够轻松地举起

of these two complete sentences

两个完整的句子

because they are distributed evenly on both arms.

因为句子的重量被均匀的分配在了一双手上

So, when the comma asks if it can help,

所以，当逗号问及是否需要帮助的时候

the subordinate is appalled

从属关联词诧异于

at the idea of needing assistance.

他需要援助的想法。

No thanks, maybe next time!

“不，谢谢，下次再说！”

So, the comma continues on.

所以，逗号继续上路了

Soon, she seems a couple of subordinates

不久，她看见了一些从属关联词

attempting to lift the weight

试图举起

of sentences directly in front of themselves.

放在他们面前的句子。

Even though Bartheleme loves to sing,

即使 Bartheleme （巴尔特）爱唱歌，

he never sings in front of others.

他从来没有在别人面前唱过。

The comma asks the subordinates if they need help.

逗号问他们是否需要帮助，

They might not want to admit it,

他们不想承认，

but this time the subordinates do need help.

但这次，从属关联词确实需要帮助。

Complete sentences weigh quite a bit.

完整的句子相当的重

Simple physics tells us

简单的物理定律告诉我们

that it's easier to balance heavy objects

最简单的平衡重物的方法即是

if the weight is evenly distributed.

将重量均匀地分布。

So, while the subordinates are quite capable

所以，即使从属关联词有能力

of balancing two complete sentences

将两个完整的句子

when carrying the weight on both sides,

一边一句，平衡好后顺利举起，

they're having trouble picking just one up.

他们却很难单单举起一个句子

The comma rushes over

于是逗号冲了过去

to help the struggling subordinates,

帮助苦苦挣扎的从属关联词

but how will she help?

但她要怎么帮助从属关联词呢？

When subordinates begin sentences,

当从属关联词开始举起句子时，

the comma will place herself

逗号将自己

directly after the first thought or complete sentence.

直接放在第一个完整的句子后面

After helping the subordinates,

在帮助了从属关联词之后

our comma heroine continues on

我们的英雄逗号继续上路了

and spots a conjunction

又遇见了一个连词

holding the weight of two complete sentences.

肩负着两个完整的句子的重量。

Bartheleme was accepted into the University of Chicago,

Bartheleme 日前被芝加哥大学录取

and

并且

he is on the waitlist for Stanford University.

在斯坦福大学的录取候选名单上也有他的名字

The comma asks the conjunction if he needs help.

逗号问连词是否需要帮助。

Of course he does! Hurry!

他当然需要！急需！

The comma rushes and places itself before the conjunction.

于是逗号冲了过去，并将自己放在了连词的前面

Fanboys aren't as militant as subordinates.

连词不像从属关联词一样的好胜

For this reason,

由此，

the commas don't have to fall in line behind the fanboys.

逗号也不用天天追在连词后面

Fanboys are courteous creatures.

连词十分谦恭有礼

They allow the comma to go ahead of them.

他们允许逗号走在他们前头

Helping others is hard work!

帮助他人是一份很艰巨的任务

On her way home,

在她回家的路上

our comma sees a conjunction holding up the weight

我们的逗号看见一个连词正举着

of a complete sentence

一个完整的句子

and a fragment sentence.

和一个句子的片段

Bartheleme is going to major in molecular biology

Bartheleme（巴尔特）将主修分子生物学

or

或者

interpretive dance.

形义舞

The now-exhausted comma asks the conjunction

于是精疲力竭的逗号问连词

if he needs help lifting the items.

他是否需要她帮忙举起重物

This is one of the rare occassions

这类情况比较少见

where a conjunction doesn't need the help of a comma.

这个情况下， 连词不需要逗号的帮助

The conjunction assures the comma

于是连词向逗号保证

that help isn't needed,

他不需要帮助

which is good for the comma

这对逗号来说是件好事

because by now,

因为到目前为止，

all it wants to do is go home and rest up

逗号只想回家休息

for another day of vigilant sentence constructing.

准备第二天对句子构建的巡逻