英国女王庆祝苏格兰议会成立20周年讲话

这次我们分享超长待机的女王在庆祝苏格兰议会成立20周年时候的讲话，这篇演讲非常短小，但是因为是女王演讲，用词精准、行文优雅， 非常值得学习。

Presiding Officer, First Minister, Members of the Scottish Parliament, The Duke of Rothesay and I are pleased to join you today in marking the Twentieth Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.

We fondly remember that proud day, when new Members gathered in the Assembly Hall to celebrate Scotland’s first parliament in 300 years. 

词汇：

fondly:此处指愉快的，下次当想表示开心愉快的时候，不要总说happily了。

I have noted on previous occasions my great affection for Scotland,and the many happy and personal connections I enjoy with this wonderful country.  It has been with great pleasure that over the years I have watched Scotland grow and prosper, and have been with you at each stageof your parliamentary life, including on landmark occasions such as today.

词汇：

noted on previous occasions my great affection： note此处是提到，表达的意思，用法比较正式。在正式的场合，不要说express,mention了，试试这个词。

grow and prosper: 非常有用的词组，成长并富强。

landmark occasions: 标志性的时刻，occasion其实就是time的意思，但是显然比time规范正式多了。

Twenty years on, this chamber continues to be at the centre of Scottish life, as an important forum to engage and unite diverse communities and also a home for passionate debate and discussion. 

Through new initiatives you continue to strive to be responsive and accountable to the people you serve, and to engage and involve those who might not otherwise participate in political debate.

词汇：

engage and unite diverse communities： engage 是一个非常powerful的词汇，他指的是与某人或某个团体建立紧密联系。一般当我们欢迎某个新人进入我们组织的时候，我们可以说hope you will fully engage in our organisation.

It is perhaps worth reflecting that at the heart of the word “Parliament” lies its original meaning: a place to talk. I have no doubt that for most of these last twenty years this striking chamber has provided exactly that, a place to talk. But of course it must also be a place to listen --- a place to hear views that inevitably may differ quite considerably, one from another --- and a place to honour those views. In turn, this occasion today gives us all an opportunity to honour those who help turn talk into action, not just Members of the Scottish Parliament but all those behind the scenes -- the many unseen, unsung individuals who are not afforded recognition by the nature of their role in Parliament, but who nonetheless join together to support parliamentary work in the service of others, and the success of the nation as a whole.

修辞：

It is perhaps worth reflecting： 一个惯用法，意思是这是值得回顾的，后面引出你真正谈论的内容。注意这个用法用在非常正式的场合，如果一般场合下会显得比较累赘。

who are not afforded recognition： 其实这里可以直接说成 are not recognised.但是女王这么表达，显然显示了一种贵族特有的修辞方法。显得更为委婉。

Presiding Officer, as we look to the future, it is my sincere hope that this Parliament, and all those who come to serve in it, will use the power of this chamber to celebrate those invisible pillars of our communities, and follow their example by working tirelessly to improve people’s lives, and strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership both at home and abroad. 

Today, with the echo of excitement and enthusiasm I encountered twenty years ago, I extend to you all my warmest good wishes on this special anniversary, for the continuing prosperity of the people of Scotland, and for those who represent them in this remarkable Parliament.

词汇：

strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership：strengthen，有一次多次出现的powerful word. 表示增强的意思，不要再说make sth stronger了，just say strengthen.

continuing prosperity ：持续的繁荣，这是很有用的词组，在许多正式的场合都会使用。

修辞：

with the echo of excitement and enthusiasm I encountered twenty years ago： 这里的修辞非常巧妙，女王在这里说的是，此时她的激动与激情是20年前的回响，也就是说20年前和现在，保持了一致性。 这20年来，她一直对苏格兰议会的成就表示赞许。