離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》Australia pledges $7.8 mln for native languages 澳洲矢言砸780萬美元拯救原住民語言
◎陳成良
Australia has pledged 7.8 million US dollars this year to help save more than 100 indigenous languages which are in grave danger of dying out.
澳洲政府已承諾今年將提撥780萬美元，以協助保存100多種岌岌可危的本土語言。
Arts Minister Peter Garrett said the money would be spent on translation services, tests for children and a feasibility study for a national centre for Aboriginal languages.
藝術部長賈瑞特表示，這筆經費將用於翻譯服務，為兒童進行測驗，並研究成立國家原住民語言中心的計畫是否可行。
"These languages are... a significant part of Australia’s heritage and we must ensure they are protected for the benefit of future generations," Garrett said.
「這些語言屬於澳洲重要的歷史遺產，為了後代子孫福祉著想，我們必須確保它們得到保護。」
"A focused and coordinated national approach is critical to safeguard indigenous culture and save these unique languages."
「一套集中精力且協調一致的全國性作法，對捍衛原住民文化並保存這些獨特語言，至關重要。」
Australia has 145 languages and dialects with 110 at risk, according to a 2005 report, as they are often spoken only by small groups of over-40s. About 30,000 people are currently studying indigenous languages around the country.
澳洲共有145種語言及方言，其中110種有失傳風險，因為它們往往只被40歲以上的小族群所使用，據一份2005年的報告指出，目前全國各地約有3萬人學習原住民語言。
Native Australians account for about two percent of the population and typically live in small settlements scattered around the continent-sized nation.
澳洲是個大陸般大小的國家，原住民人口佔總人口約2%，通常居住在小型部落當中。
新聞辭典
indigenous：形容詞，土生土長的（並非外來的）、在地的，如 This plant is indigenous to Taiwan.（這種植物是台灣土生土長的。）
aboriginal：形容詞，原始的，土著的；名詞，原住民。例句：There are many aboriginal descendant families living here.（這裡住有很多原住民後裔家庭。）
account for：（數量、比例等方面的）佔。例句：It accounts for 40 percent of all traffic accidents.（這佔所有交通事故的4成。）
