2003年第3篇第10句 Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers
on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost. 词汇:
justify//v. 表明…是合理的或者公正的,是…的正当理由
on theground that // 因为,根据,鉴于
in thelong run // 从长远来看 结构:
Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers(主句) //on the
grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone'scost(on the ground
that词组引起的原因状语从句). 译文:
铁路公司认为它对“被控”托运商实行差别收费是合理的,因为从长远来看,这样做会降低每一个人的成本。 翻译思路:ratediscrimination的理解
rate是“价格”的意思;discrimination是“歧视”,它习惯搭配against…,表示“对…的歧视”。那这两个词结合起来rate
discrimination直译是“价格歧视”,什么意思呢?
它是对上文Railroads typically charge such “captive”shippers 20 to 30 percent
more than they do when another railroad is competing for the business.
(通常,铁路公司对这些“被控”托运商的收费,要比存在另一家铁路公司与其竞争时高出20% 到30%。)和Shippers who feel they are
being overcharged have the right to…(托运商如果觉得要价过高,他们有权…)中的“overcharged”的一个照应。
所以,这里其实就是对“被控”客户收费多,是对他们的一种歧视。