2008.10.01
2008年10月第1週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (1)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
Great Lakes is just about to hire a new guy who is returning to work to supplement his pension.
● who has の発音
Jay Tyson pronounces "who has" fairly clearly here, but you often hear people shorten it to "who’s." It sounds exactly the same as "who is."
● lot 一組，ひと山，（同じ種類の人・物の）群れ，連中
・ lot = a group of people or things considered together
● credentials 経歴，業績，資格，適性，人物証明書
I think because they’re talking in the office, Tyson uses the full word credentials. Often you hear the phrase, though, street cred. Cred is short for credentials. And because it’s street cred, it means you have some kind of believability out on the mean streets.
・ credentials someone’s education, achievements, experience etc that prove they have the ability to do something
credentials for/as : She had excellent credentials for the job. / There are doubts over his credentials as a future Prime Minister. / He spent the first part of the interview trying to establish his credentials as a financial expert. (LDOCE)
・ 辞書ではstreet cred のcredはcredibility の略となっている。street cred 「人気，流行，若者文化に通じていること」
● fill one’s shoes 役目を引き継ぐ
To fill someone’s shoes is to take over their position or duties, and not only do that but be able to do it as well as they did. There’s another very similar phrase, step into someone’s shoes, which doesn’t quite include the idea of doing it as well as the previous person.
・ step into/fill somebody’s shoes to do a job that someone else used to do, and do it as well as they did: It’ll be hard to find someone to fill Pete’s shoes. (LDOCE)
● by way of introduction 紹介しておくと，
by way of = You use by way of when you are explaining the purpose of something that you have said or are about to say. For example, if you say something by way of an introduction, you say it as an introduction. : ‘I get very superstitious about things like that,’ she said by way of explanation. (COBUILD)
● sluggish 怠惰な，無精な
Sluggish is an adjective that means slow or without much movement. It’s used when slow or unmoving is a negative thing. Sluggish comes from slug, one of the meanings of which is the kind of animal, a creature like a snail but without a shell. You could also call a lazy person a sluggard or even a laggard with the same ending, although laggard focuses a little more on being last.
● resourceful 機知に富んだ，やりくりのうまい
・ resourceful = good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc. (OALD)
● cut corners 節約する，怠ける
When you cut corners, you use the quickest, easiest, or cheapest way of doing something. When that’s a good thing, it’s used positively, but you can also use it when you want to criticize someone for not doing a better job.
・ If you cut corners, you do something quickly by doing it in a less thorough way than you should. : Take your time, don’t cut corners and follow instructions to the letter. (COBUILD)
● way back when ずっと以前（から）
・ way back (also way back when) <informal> long ago (OALD)
● easy credit 簡単な融資
Easy credit is short for easy credit terms, meaning the company wants to attract many customers because it’s easy to continue paying back. And nowadays if you look easy credit up on the Internet, you’re often directed to the phrase "predatory lending," which actually sounds much more negative, even though it’s pretty much the same phenomenon.
・ predatory lending = Any of a number of fraudulent, deceptive, discriminatory, or unfavorable lending practices. Many of these practices are illegal, while others are legal but not in the best interest of the borrowers.
This content can be found on the following page: InvestorWords.com
● as if the sky is the limit 青天井で
The phrase "the sky is the limit" is used in English to say basically there is no limit, because the sky just goes on and on and on. There’s a similar phrase. You could say "as if there were no tomorrow." So sometimes people spend all their money today because they don’t need it tomorrow if there isn’t a tomorrow.
・ the sky’s the limit <spoken> used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc: Francis believes the sky’s the limit for the young goalkeeper. (LDOCE)
● tighten one’s belt 倹約する，財布のひもを締める
In English, using the phrase tighten your belt means you don’t have enough money so you haven’t been eating enough, so you have to put your belt on the next hole because you’ve lost some weight.
・ If you have to tighten your belt, you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have. : Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you’ll need to tighten your belt. (COBUILD)
● cash and carry 現金払いで持ち返る
Cash and carry is a phrase businesses use sometimes to advertise sales or special liquidation like if going out of business. If you pay cash and you take it yourself, you can often get a better price.
And the two c’s make a nice alliteration, so I think that’s why the phrase is used.
2008.10.02
2008年10月第1週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (2)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
Kinkaid, Shiga, Tyson, and Cortez consider the effects of the tight economy.
● posted prices 提示価格
Kinkaid talks about the posted prices for homes. You could also say the asking prices for homes. And especially in a down market,that’s usually the starting point for negotiating the actual price of a house.
● high spender 浪費家 ←→ penny-pincher 締まり屋，倹約家
・ big spender とも。
・ penny-pinching = unwilling to spend or give money [↪ mean]:
penny-pinching governments (LDOCE)
● shopping spree 買い物をしまくること
A spree is an overindulgence. You can have a spree with all kinds of different things; you can go on a shopping spree, like Shiga says; you can go on a gambling spree. Anything when you overindulge could be called a spree.
・ spree = a short period of time that you speed doing one particular activity that you enjoy, but often too much of it (OALD)
● Buy now, pay later 今買って，払うのは後
"Buy now, pay later" is a phrase also used by businesses to try to encourage people to come buy larger purchases, so you’ll often see it in advertisements for furniture or cars or maybe even other large household appliances like refrigerators or stoves.
● wind down だんだんと縮小する
Tyson also talks about some kind of activities winding down. You can also say wind up, meaning "pick up speed, become more common or more popular."
・ wind something down to gradually reduce the work of a business or organization so that it can be closed down completely
● credit squeeze, credit crunch 金融引き締め
Cortez talks about credit being squeezed. You could also use it as a noun and call it a credit squeeze or even a credit crunch.
● go from bad to worse さらに悪化する
・ go from bad to worse to become even more unpleasant or difficult: The schools have gone from bad to worse in this area. (LDOCE)
● up-swing 急激な上昇
・ upswing = an improvement or increase in the level of something (LDOCE)
● conspicuous consumption
Cortez talks about conspicuous consumption. This is a phrase that was coined in 1899, and it’s used to mean buying things to show off. It’s trying to establish your position in society and show how rich you are by buying noticeable, expensive items. It’s similar to talking about keeping up with the Joneses, which means seeing what your neighbors are doing and trying to do one better.
・ keep up with the Joneses =try to have the same new, impressive possessions that other people have (LDOCE)
● live beyond one’s means 収入以上の生活をする ←→ live within one’s means
・ If someone is living beyond their means, they are spending more money than they can afford. If someone is living within their means, they are not spending more money than they can afford. : The more gifts she received, the more she craved, until he was living beyond his means. (COBUILD)
● fly in the ointment 台無しにするもの
The phrase "a fly in the ointment" is used to mean a problem, but it often refers specifically to a kind of problem that’s a small defect, but ruins something valuable, something really useful, even though it’s a small thing.
・ If you describe someone or something as a fly in the ointment, you think they spoil a situation and prevent it being as successful as you had hoped. : Rachel seems to be the one fly in the ointment of Caroline’s smooth life. (COBUILD)
2008.10.03
2008年10月第1週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (3)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
The team talks about how people are responding to the tight economy.
● ethanol の発音
In the U.S, ethanol is usually pronounced with a short e sound. In the U.K, though, they tend to say it with a long e sound: [íːɵənɔːl].
● That takes you full circle back to the cost of flour それが回り回って小麦粉の値段に影響する
・ come full circle 一周して戻る
come/go full circle also turn full circle <British English> to end in the same situation in which you began, even though there have been changes in the time in between: Sooner or later, fashion comes full circle. (LDOCE)
● ～-proof ～に強い，～知らずの
Kinkaid uses the phrase recession-proof. You can attach the word proof to almost anything, if you want to say it is fully or successfully resistant, it’s impervious. Some very common ones are oven-proof for dishes that you can put into the oven; water-proof, which means water will not come in and damage, whatever it is you are describing; and fire-proof, which means that won’t burn.
It’s sort of interesting, though. In the case of dishwashers, you describe dishes as dishwasher-safe. I guess it’s because you don’t want it to be resistant to the dishwasher. You just want it to be able to bear up under the heat and detergent that’s used to clean dishes in the machine.
● hike 値上げ，引き上げ
・ hike (in sth) <informal, especially NAmE> a large or sudden increase in prices, costs, etc.
● give ～ second thoughts ～に二の足を踏ませる，再考させる
To have second thoughts or to be given second thoughts means you’re reconsidering your previous decision; you’re no longer sure about what you’d originally been thinking. Sometimes it also is used to mean regret.
・ have second thoughts to start having doubts about a decision you have made: You’re not having second thoughts, are you? (LDOCE)
● fleet (of cars) 社用車の集合
● hybrid 雑種，混成物
Hybrid is a word that comes from genetics, and it describes the offspring of parents who are genetically different. So something that’s hybrid is an unusual mixture of two different things. It comes from the Latin word for mongrel, which is the word describing a dog that isn’t the result of special breeding; it’s a mixed kind of a dog.
● staycation という新語
Yeah, I’ve heard it on the radio. When I was a kid, we had staycations, too, my family. In fact, most families I knew had staycation, but we didn’t call it that. You just didn’t have to go to school.
● have a ball 楽しむ
・ have a ball <informal> to have a very good time
● chafe at ～ からにいらいらする
2008.10.08
2008年10月第2週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (4)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
Because consumers have become more cautious, companies are working hard to find creative ways to get them to spend more.
● cogitate on ～ ～をよく考える
Cogitate is another word for think. It comes from a Latin word for think. And think itself is part of the original Germanic base of English.
・ cogitate = to think carefully about sth (OALD)
・ もちろん cogito, ergo sum. （我思う故に我あり I think, therefore I am.）のcogito。
● sundry さまざまな，雑多な
・ sundry <formal> not similar enough to form a group [= various]: He makes films about animals, plants and sundry other subjects. (LDOCE)
● cater to ～ ～に答える
cater to ～ = provide with what is needed or required, try to satisfy (a particular need or demand) : The school caters to children with learning difficulties. (NOAD)
● rule the roost 支配する，牛耳る
If you talk about someone "ruling the roost," you’re talking about them because they’re in control, because they dominate, because what they say becomes what everyone else does.
・ If you say that someone rules the roost in a particular place, you mean that they have control and authority over the people there. (INFORMAL) : Today the country’s nationalists rule the roost and hand out the jobs. (COBUILD)
● name brands ブランドもの
"Name brands" are of course famous brands — companies that everybody knows, luxury items that people probably don’t really need to buy. A name brand could be anything in the supermarket that’s well known.
Also in supermarkets, sometimes you can find generic products, which means they have no known-brands. It doesn’t belong to the supermarket, it doesn’t belong to famous companies, but because it has no name, it tends to be a lot cheaper.
● hallmark 特徴
Goldsmiths' Hall
Tyson talks about hallmarks. A hallmark is a market quality or excellence. It’s a recognition of something good. And it comes from Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. Goldsmiths’ Hall was a place where you could take gold or silver articles, and have them appraised and then have it stamped with a mark that told of its quality. So something with a hallmark nowadays is something that people recognize as being a good thing.
・ hallmark = a feature or quality that is typical of sb/sth (OALD)
・ appraise 鑑定する，査定する
● "even red meat sales are on a downturn"
I think Kinkaid says "even red meat sales are on a downturn," because generally in the U.S. red meat is very popular, and I think it’s almost considered sort of a basic staple of diet.
・ be on a downturn 落ち込んでいる，減少している
downturn = a fall in the amount of business that is done; a time when the economy becomes weaker (OALD)
● buffalo meat
I think he mentions buffalo meat because it’s not so common and many people don’t really want to eat it, so the price is lower when you can find it.
● pricey (pricy) 高価な
Pricey is an adjective people use when something is expensive and they think really it shouldn’t be quite that expensive. It’s sort of a negative way to say expensive.
● "Dining out is out for many American families."
Cortez uses the two words out — the first one with dining to mean eating in restaurants, and the second out to mean out of fashion or out of style.
・ out = no longer fashionable [≠ in]: You can’t wear that – maxi skirts have been out for years. (LDOCE)
● mainstay 頼みの綱，支え
・ If you describe something as the mainstay of a particular thing, you mean that it is the most basic part of it. : Fish and rice were the mainstays of the country’s diet. : This principle of collective bargaining has been a mainstay in labor relations in this country. (COBUILD)
● toss out 外へ投げ出す
・ toss out = to get rid of something that you do not want: I tossed most of that stuff out when we moved. (LDOCE)
2008.10.09
2008年10月第2週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (5)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
== Key Phrases to Remember ==
● belt tightening 耐乏（生活），緊縮（政策）
「財布のひもを締める」 tighten one’s purse strings
You can also talk about a person who’s good at spending very little money as a person who keeps a tight hold of the purse strings.
・ hold [control] the purse strings 財布（のひも）を握る，財政を預かる
● cost of living 生活費，生計費
・ the cost of living = the amount of money you need to pay for the food, clothes etc you need to live
● shopping spree 買い物をしまくること
A similar word binge is used when it’s in an especially bad episode of whatever you’re doing too much of. A spree is a little bit lighter, a little more enjoyable and fun.
・ spree a short period of time when you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol どんちゃん騒ぎ
● be on the rise 上昇している
● have a ball 楽しむ
・ have a ball <informal> to have a very good time : have a ball informal to have a very good time (LDCOE)
● spur someone to ・・・ （人）を･･･（するよう）に駆り立てる
・ spur O to V(原形), spur O to 名詞[Ving], spur O into Ving などの形
= あんな時，こんな時 =
「辞める」という意味の表現 resign
● "I’ve had it up to here with the jerk." もうこれ以上我慢できない
喉のあたりに手を当てるしぐさとともに
・ be up to here / have had it up to here <spoken> to be very upset and angry because of a particular situation or person
be up to here with : I’m up to here with this job; I’m resigning.
・ jerk 「いやな奴」 を表す数多くの語のひとつ。よく使われる。
It’s probably one of the safest ones to use if you need to use one of those words.
jerk <informal> = someone, especially a man, who is stupid or who does things that annoy or hurt other people: I swore at him for being such a jerk. (LDOCE)
● die with my boots on 戦いながら死ぬ，死ぬまで仕事する
Sometimes people say "die in harness" with the same meaning.
● give the up-and-comers a go at it
・ up-and-comers 将来有望な人 = up-and-coming person
・ give a go ためす = give a try
● tender one’s resignation 辞表を提出する
・ tender <formal> to formally offer or show something to someone:
As company secretary, you must tender the proposal.
tender something to somebody
The seller has the right to keep the goods until payment is tendered to him. / Minton tendered her resignation on Friday. (LDOCE)
● golden handshake [parachute] （辞めてもらうための）特別割増退職金
You could say it’s a kind of severance package.
・ golden handshake <British English> a large amount of money given to someone when they leave their job
・ golden parachute <informal> part of a business person’s contract which states that they will be paid a large amount of money if they lose their job, for example if the company is sold
● turn in his badge [uniform] バッジ（制服）を返却する
2008.10.10
2008年10月第2週分 Lesson 1 Belt Tightening (6)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
S = 杉田敏 I = Susan Iwamoto
S: Now, Susan, in our most recent vignette, we’ve been talking about the economic downturn, and the belt tightening that accompanies it.
I: Yes, and it’s certainly a subject on many people’s mind all over the world. People are looking for ways to be frugal, and some, like the newest member at Great Lakes, Tony Hughes, are going back to work after retirement.
S: Tony’s case isn’t that unusual in the United States, is it?
I: No, recently more and more people of his generation are either choosing to delay their retirement from the current jobs, or retiring and then going back into the workforce on a part-time or project basis, perhaps as a consultant. Come to think of it, nearly all of my aunts and uncles too are in their sixties and still working, because they feel they’re still healthy and energetic, so why not delay full retirement for a few more years? Now for one of my aunts, this means working a few days a week at a nearby school and for one of my uncles, it means running a manufacturing company. But that seems to be the case more and more in Japan too. Don’t you think?
・ on ～ basis ～にもとづいて，～的に
・ come to think of it そういえば
S: Hmm…, yes…, though it’s still not as common as in the United States. Most Japanese business people still retire at sixty or so.
I: That does seem to be the case. When I worked for a Japanese corporation, the official age of retirement was indeed sixty, but we had a program that allowed employees to return to work for up to three more years, if they were so inclined. The interesting thing to me, however, was that they would give up the management roles and take staff-level of positions. I worked with several guys like this over the years, and they seemed content with their situation. They were still interested in working and making a bit of extra money, but also very happy to be able to leave at 5 p.m. every day. It seems like a nice way to ease into retirement.
・ be inclined (to V) V したい気になる
S: Belt tightening is happening across all generations, isn’t it?
I: That’s for sure. Of course, everyone would like to maintain their current quality of life, so many people look for painless ways to cut costs at first. For me, this means saying goodbye to extras like massages and manicures and making my lattes at home instead of buying them at cafés. I have to admit, though, I’m not always the most careful budgeter, but recently, I’ve been making more of an effort to plan my menus around what’s on sale at the supermarket. This past summer, I tried to use my air-conditioner as infrequently as possible — something that’s definitely good for the environment and my health in addition to reducing energy costs. My friends and family in the U.S. are also looking for ways to cut costs. All three of my sisters have given up their land lines in favor of cell phones, as it’s an easy way to save around 50 to 60 dollars a month. Other friends and relatives have stopped the cable television service or have gone back to public libraries instead of buying the latest releases at the local bookstores. The biggest change for many of them, though, is the rising costs of gas.
・ That’s for sure. 確かにその通り。
・ careful budgeter 金を計画的に使う人
S: Shiga Hiroshi mentions cutting back on driving and riding his bike more often. What are some other ways people are dealing with this?
I: Well, bikes and public transportation are attractive options for many people in cities, but for those in the suburbs or who live in cities without adequate public transportation, it’s a challenge. Two of my sisters live in Manhattan, and they’re blessed, just as I am in Tokyo, with an excellent public transportation system, plus, loads of stores, restaurants and entertainment options within walking distance. My parents and many of my other relatives and friends live in the suburbs where there’re no supermarkets, banks or other shops within walking distance. They can cut down on driving and car pool when possible, but it has a big impact on their daily lives.
・ cut back on ～ ～を削減する，縮小する ≒ cut down (on) ～
・ be blessed with ～ ～に恵まれている
・ loads of ～ たくさんの～
・ within …. distance (of ～) (～から)･･･の範囲内にある
S: What other measures are people taking?
I: Well, as Melinda Kinkaid mentioned in the vignette, more and more people are choosing to bring their bag lunches to work, instead of going out to lunch every day. And as Jay Tyson mentioned, staycations were on the increase this past summer, with many families staying home, or looking for interesting day trips in the towns and cities in the area. Many of my relatives vacation in places within driving distance of their home. In addition, some people are taking second jobs to supplement their incomes. Often they look for something that brings added their benefits. For example, I have some friends and relatives who work a couple nights a week for local department stores. Not only do they earn some extra money, but they can also take advantage of the employee discounts to buy clothes and other daily necessities.
・ a couple a couple of の of が省略されることがある
S: That’s a good idea.
I: I think so. I just wonder if all this attention to thrift will fall by the wayside once the economy recovers. Cutting energy costs in particular is something that would be well worth continuing and living frugally in good economic times and bad is always a wise idea.
・ fall by the wayside 途中で挫折する
2008.10.15
2008年10月第3週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (1)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
Tony Hughes, the new hire, is looking into social networking services for older people.
● What are you up to? 何をしているんですか？
"What are you up to?" is the very typical phrase people use when they’re first beginning to talk to somebody. You could also say, "What are you doing?" It has the same meaning. Or "How are you?" even, of course, is often used in this way. "What are you up to?" though, depending on the tone of voice, could be an accusation — "What are yóu up to?"
● mission 任務
Hughes sounds a little bit like he is looking at his task today as sort of a military operation, because he uses the word mission. He could have said any of many other words, such as goal or objective or even assignment or duty.
● cater to ～ ～にこたえる
・ cater to ～ = provide with what is needed or required, try to satisfy (a particular need or demand) : The school caters to children with learning difficulties. (NOAD)
● on-going research 継続的に行っている調査
・ on-going = continuing, or continuing to develop: ongoing negotiations / The discussions are still ongoing. (LDOCE)
● springing up 生じる，誕生する
Cortez could have said appearing, but by using the verb spring, spring up, it sounds much more energetic and like many of them are popping up, maybe almost like mushrooms after rain.
● be well-heeled financially 裕福である
Well-heeled is kind of an interesting adjective. It means well provided for, it means having money and resources. There’s another phrase, down-at-the-heels, which means poor, because poor people probably don’t have enough money to replace the heels on their shoes. But using heel in these two ways is kind of a coincidence, because well-heeled actually seems to come from cock-fighting. In cock-fighting, people would attach a blade to the heels of the cocks, the chickens the roosters. And then that meant that they were armed or provided for. So, slowly the meaning changed from cockfighting, meaning armed, to meaning well-provided for or wealthy.
・ well-heeled <informal> rich: a well-heeled businessman (LDCOE)
・ down at (the) heel(s) = unattractive and not well cared for, because of a lack of money: The town today is a shabby, down-at-heel place. (LDCOE)
● have a nose for ～ ～をかぎつけるのが上手だ
If you have a nose for something, it means you’re good at finding it. I think it probably comes from the way animals find what they are looking for. They tend to sniff around until they identify it.
・ have a (good) nose for something = to be naturally good at finding and recognizing something: a reporter with a good nose for a story (LDOCE)
● flit around 飛び回る
・ flit = to move lightly and quickly from one place or thing to another
● like-minded, like-aged 同じような考え方の，同じような年齢の
Hughes uses two adjectives — like-minded, like-aged. Like-minded is used quite a bit to describe people who tend to think in the same way or hold the same opinion. Like-aged is probably a new coinage here. Everybody understands it very easily, but I could only find one other phrase using like- and that was like-kind. Like-kind is used legally to talk about tax purposes. If you trade two like-kind properties, so for example you trade a car with a friend of yours, if the value is different, the person who gets larger value doesn’t have to pay tax on it, because it’s a like-kind exchange. If you are exchanging a car for a house for example, you would have to pay taxes on the value difference.
2008.10.16
2008年10月第3週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (2)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
This time, Tyson notes that social networking started with teenagers and office workers, because they were already comfortable using computers to interact with other people.
● irksome 面倒な，やっかいな
・ irksome = annoying or irritating (OALD)
● delicate issues デリケートな問題
Hughes talks about delicate issues. He could have said sensitive issues or even difficult issues.
● tech-smart 技術に強い
● with-it 流行に敏感な
Tyson uses the phrase with-it as an adjective. With-it is a kind of slangy way to say interested in or knowledgeable about the latest styles and trends. You can also use it, though, to mean mentally competent. People would use it, for example, if they come to work and say "Wow, I only had three hours of sleep last night, but I seem to be with-it anyway."
・ knowledgeable 精通している
・ with-it = fashionable and modern in the way that you dress, think etc [= trendy] (LDOCE)
● Madison Avenue 「広告業界」の代名詞 (= Mad Avenue)
・ Madison Avenue = the American advertising industry (Merriam-Webster)
● -ee のつく名詞
Tyson talks about Internet devotees. Those are people who are devoted to the Internet. But that ending -ee, usually with a stress, is fairly common in English. Besides devotee, there’s also divorcee, examinee, and interviewee, and even employee, although the word employee can also be stressed on middle syllable, emplóyee.
・接尾辞 -ee について（ジーニアス大英和）
- （動詞のあとで） ～される人 employee
- ～する人 absentee
- ～を受ける人 biographee
● staid まじめな
Hughes uses the adjective staid. You don’t hear that so much. And sometimes it’s used rather negatively, mildly negatively. It tends to mean serious or sedate or someone with dignity.
・ staid = serious, old-fashioned, and boring: a staid old bachelor (LDCOE)
・ sedate くそまじめな
・他人のことをいう場合
Yeah, in that case, you should use serious or dignified.
● race around かけめぐる
Race around or run around are(sic.) phrases that can be used either positively or negatively. If what you want to talk about is a good thing, you can use the phrase positively. The phrase is used negatively when a person is rushing around without being effective. I think in this case he means rather negatively.
2008.10.17
2008年10月第3週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (3)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
The group talks about how older people respond to networking sites customized to their taste, when there is a focus on fun and easy interaction.
● tantalize じらす
・ tantalize = to make a person or an animal want something that they cannot have or do : Such ambitious questions have long tantalized the world’s best thinkers.
● come-on 誘い文句，売り文句
Come-on is a rather informal noun that means inducement or teaser, or you could also use the words lure or bait. It’s something that attracts other people.
・ come-on <informal> an object or action which is intended to attract somebody or to persuade them to do something : She was definitely giving him the come-on (= trying to attract him sexually). (OALD)
● get going 1. 始める，とりかかる 2. [命令文で]がんばって，やってごらん
・ get doing something = to begin doing something
We got talking about the old days.
I think we should get going quite soon.
What are we all waiting for? Let’s get moving! (LDOCE)
● spending money
Kinkaid uses the phrase spending money. That usually means the money that you don’t have to use for other things, such as rent and electricity and gas payments. Another way to say spending money is to call it discretionary income.
・ spending money = money that you have available to spend on the things you want rather than need
・ discretionary income 裁量所得
● on the premise that … ･･･という前提で
● A picture is worth a thousand words. 1枚の写真は千のことばに匹敵する
The proverb "a picture is worth a thousand words" seems to have been used in pretty much that form in the U.S. since about the early 1920s.
● so-called generation gap
I think Hughes describes the generation gap as so-called, because in this instance, what he’s talking about is a gap that’s beginning to disappear. Older people and younger people are using computers more and more and the gap is becoming less and less clear.
● snicker at ～ ～を冷笑する
Cortez talks about computer-savvy older people snickering at the others, who are not so up-to-date technologically. To snicker is to laugh in a way that’s rather disrespectful. Snickering is often partially secretive, as if you are trying to hide it, but you just can’t quite hide it.
・ snicker <American English> to laugh quietly and in a way that is not nice at something which is not supposed to be funny [= snigger British English]
snicker at The other students snickered at Steve. (LDOCE)
● dial telephone
Cortez also talks about dial telephones. I don’t think I’ve seen a dial telephone in years, although I grew up with them. I also read that in some places in the U.S, you can’t use the dial telephone unless you make special arrangements with your local telephone service.
● Wake up and smell the coffee! 目を覚まして現実に目を向けろ。
"Wake up and smell the coffee!" is kind of a cliché, I guess you could say, which means, "Pay attention. Learn what’s going on. Don’t be so old-fashioned."
● people of advanced age
Tyson starts off talking about "people of advanced age." That’s a kind of polite way to say "old people." And people of advanced age would be older than middle-aged.
● shy away from ～ ～からしりごみする
And Tyson says these older people shied away from computers and all that kind of technology. If you shy away from something, you draw back from it or recoil even, which is the, … , more like jumping back away from something that causes fear or makes you feel cautious.
・ shy away from something = to avoid doing or dealing with something because you are not confident enough or you are worried or nervous about it: They criticized the leadership, but shied away from a direct challenge. (LDOCE)
● make full turns 見方を一変させる
He also talks about those people making a full turn. What he means is changing their minds completely in going in the other direction. Another way you could say that is they made a one-eighty. A hundred-and-eighty-degree turn means you’re facing the opposite direction. In politics, it’s sometimes called a flip-flop.
・ one-eighty 180度回転
・ flip-flop If you say that someone, especially a politician, flip-flops on a decision, you are critical of them because they change their decision, so that they do or think the opposite. (mainly AM INFORMAL) / He has been criticized for flip-flopping on several key issues. / He seemed so sure of his decision, how could he flip-flop so dramatically now? (COBUILD)
2008.10.22
2008年10月第4週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (4)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
● 今日のテーマ
The group discusses how online networking is good at breaking down barriers between people because everyone can communicate as equals.
● multilingual translation options
You can already do this somewhat with various Web sites, although it doesn’t happen instantaneously while you’re typing, but you have to be very careful with these translations — machine translations — because they’re usually not very accurate, especially if the two languages are very different from each other.
・ ためしに上の文を訳させてみると(Yahoo!)，
「あなたがタイプする間それが即座に起こらないが、あなたはいろいろなウェブサイトでいくぶんすでにこうすることができます、しかし、あなたはこれらの翻訳に非常に注意しなければなりません — 機械翻訳 — 特に2つの言語が互いと非常に異なるならば、彼らが通常あまり正確でないので。」
おっ，けっこういい線いってますね。「彼ら」じゃないけど。
● I must say that …
Tyson starts out using the phrase "I must say that …" This phrase is often used when someone wants to emphasize, or really make everyone focus on, what he’s going to say next.
● confiscate 没収する
Confiscate is a fairly formal-sounding verb that means take away. It tends to be used with legal authorities who take something away from a citizen.
・ confiscate = to officially take something away from somebody, especially as a punishment (OALD)
● bug 悩ませる
Cortez talks about something that’s bugging their children. Something that’s bugging is irritating you or irking you or bothering you, just as if a small insect — a bug — wouldn’t go away.
・ bug <informal> to annoy or irritate somebody (OALD)
So I think in the computer world also, a bug is something that’s causing trouble, a small irritating, problem-making thing.
● self-absorbed 自分のことしか頭にない
To be self-absorbed is to be interested only in yourself. Sometimes people who are self-absorbed are called navel-gazers.
・ self-absorbed = only concerned about or interested in yourself
・ navel-gazing <disapproving> the fact of thinking too much about a single issue and how it could affect you, without thinking about other things that could also affect the situation
● be tuned into ～ ～に気を配る，～を把握する
・ be tuned in = to realize or understand what is happening or what other people are thinking
tune in to
Try to tune in to your partner’s needs. / The company aims to be more tuned in to customer needs. (LDOCE)
● growing-up aches and pains 成長に伴う心の痛み (同じ意味の語の重複)
You can also say "growing pains" to refer to the sort of psychological, emotional trouble that a lot of teenagers have as they’re getting older.
● culture gap
Kinkaid talks about a "culture gap," which often refers to people from different countries or different communities; In this case, of course, parents and teenagers in the same country. Usually in the same country and the same community, but you could say they are different groups, they have different cultures. Kinkaid’s focusing a little more on what they do and how they think, rather than on their ages. If she was focusing more on ages, she might have said "generation gap."
● be bowled over ～に驚く，～によろこぶ
・ bowl somebody over
1 to accidentally hit someone and knock them down because you are running in a place that is full of people or things [= knock over]
2 to surprise, please, or excite someone very much [= knock out]:
He was bowled over by her beauty. (LDOCE)
● tell it like it is 率直に話す
To "tell it like it is" is a phrase from the sixties, and it means to speak the truth even if it might be unpleasant to the people hearing it.
・ tell it like it is <American English> to say exactly what you think or what is true, without hiding anything that might upset or offend people: Don always tells it like it is. (LDOCE)
2008.10.23
2008年10月第4週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (5)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
== Key Phrases to Remember ==
● spring up 生じる，誕生する
● have a nose for ～ ～をかぎつけるのが上手である
● keep track of ～ ～を追跡する，把握しておく
● look into ～ ～を調べる
In this case, they’re talking about literally looking into cabinets and boxes to try to find the photo album. You can also use the phrase "look into" figuratively, and in that case it means investigate.
● on the premise that … ･･･という前提で
Premise is from Latin, and in Latin it was a logic term, meaning a proposition on which an argument is based. So you could use a similar phrase, a similar but shorter phrase — given that.
● cling to ～ ～にこだわる，～にしがみつく
あんな時，こんな時
あいさつの文句 （その日はじめてあった時）
● What’s up? — Whassup?
These two are basically the same thing just with a more relaxed and so less formal pronunciation in the second example.
● How goes it (with you)?
I think in the past you didn’t have to use do to form questions in English, but now it’s become the main pattern. So I think "How goes it?" is probably an old phrase. If you use the more grammatical form ( = "How does it go?"), at least grammatical from modern ears, people will either laugh or they’ll look at you and say, "How does what go?"
● How’re things going?
● How’re things (with you)?
● How’s business?
● How’s it going?
● How’s the world (been) treating you?
● How’s life (been) treating you?
● What’ happening?
● What’s going on?
● What’s new?
Some people don’t like this phrase — What’s new? — because people don’t always have something new and interesting or exciting to tell you. So they might get a little bit irritated.
● What’s the latest?
● What’s cooking?
久しぶりにあった時
● How’ve you been?
● Where’ve you been hiding?
● Where (have) you been keeping yourself?
Both of these tend to be used when it’s been quite a long time since you’ve seen the other person, almost like they were hiding away from you.
● How’s it been?
● Long time no see.
● It’s been ages.
少し改まった表現
● I trust you’re keeping well.
● I hope all goes[all’s going] well with you.
● I expect that you’re in high spirits.
2008.10.24
2008年10月第4週分 Lesson 2 Social Networking for Seniors (6)
《ディクテーション・ノート》
S = 杉田敏 I = Susan Iwamoto
S: In our most recent vignette, we’ve been looking at the increasing number of social networking sites geared toward seniors.
I: Yes. This is definitely a growing trends among the, shall we say, more mature of the demographic of the Internet users. Baby boomers in particular are leading the way in establishing blogs or networking sites that appeal to the needs and interests of the older generations, whether it’s parenting, dating, travel, or healthcare.
・ gear something to [towards] <usually passive> to make, change or prepare something so that it is suitable for a particular purpose : The course had been geared towards the specific needs of its members. (OALD)
S: How about you, Susan? Are you a fan of social networking sites?
I: Well, I’ve been an active member of professional networking sites and web forums for a while, but it wasn’t until recently that I joined social networking site that’s been extremely popular in the U.S. for the past several years. It first became a big hit with college students, and I thought I was a little too old to be using it. But my sisters urged me to sign up for it. Once I did, I was surprised to see how many of my friends, relatives, and acquaintances were actively using it. It’s been a great way to keep in touch with them, whether it’s sharing photos or just sending a quick hello that way.
S: Keeping in touch with friends and family seems to be one of the main draws for many seniors on those sites.
I: Definitely. It’s common in the U.S. for families to live all over the country. Some move because of work and certainly among the senior stats(?), it’s not unusual to move to a warmer climate for retirement. With rising energy costs affecting family travel plans, people with kids and grand kids are looking for new ways to keep in touch. So things like photo-sharing and Internet video calls and of course e-mail are the most popular ways to do this. Well, many seniors have already been Internet-savvy for a long time. For others, things like photo-sharing are a gateway to whole new online pastimes. Now, how about you, Sugita-san? You’re a member of the generation Tony Hughes was describing. Are you interested in these networking sites?
・ draw 人を引きつけるもの，呼び物 (attraction)
S: Uhm. Only from a professional point of view. I’m interested to know how communication flows through those networks. But I feel I have other things to do. Now, Susan, how about your parents? They are in that generation as well.
I: Yes, but though they’re active Internet users, I don’t think they’ve got into social networking sites quite yet. That could certainly change in the near future, though. Three of their children, including me, live far from them, and once grand kids come into the picture, I have a feeling their interest in the Internet as a whole will soar.
・ come into the picture 関与する，かかわってくる
S: Rosa Cortez mentioned that Internet-savvy seniors can’t believe that some of their peers are still reluctant to broaden their online horizons.
I: Yes, in that, something has(?) popped up with a certain old presidential candidate in the U.S. not too long ago. Though he knows how to use e-mail and the Internet, of course, he’s known for not going online and for having staff handle his e-mail. This caused many people, and not just the younger generation, but those his own age, to criticize him for being out of touch. I don’t know how much of an impact this would have on his political success, but it was an interesting comment on just how much the Internet has become a part of our daily lives. E-mail, web searches and online shopping are a second nature to most people, and social networking sites and other web forums are rapidly catching up across generations. One such site, primarily inter-parent, was sold to another site for rumored 10 million dollars recently.
・ out of touch 現実認識が欠けて
a) also lose touch (with something) to not have the latest knowledge about a subject, situation, or the way people feel
be out of touch with I’m out of touch with modern medicine.
b) to not know much about modern life: Judges are often accused of being out of touch. (LDOCE)
・ be a comment on ～ ～をよく表している，象徴している to be a sign of the bad quality of something: The number of adults who cannot read is a sad comment on the quality of our schools. (LDOCE)
S: You mentioned a growing number of bloggers among the older generation too.
I: That’s right. A few years ago, blogging was often associated with people in their teens, twenties and thirties. But that definitely changed. People in their sixties, seventies, and even older are both maintaining their own blogs and actively following others. Blogging software has become increasingly user-friendly and seniors are finding that blogging can be a fun hobby, a good way to keep in touch with friends and family, and a great way to keep their mind sharp as they age. Now my favorite example of this is a one hundred and six year old who started blogging at the age of 98. But there are many others in their seventies and eighties who are having fun writing blogs and interacting with their readers.
S: Advanced age is definitely no excuse for staying offline.