With the rally in tech and other growth stocks losing steam, consider dividend-paying stocks to get you through the lull.

Because dividend stocks make regular cash payments to shareholders, you can score a worthwhile return even if the overall market goes nowhere.

When the market regains strength, your dividend stocks will likely move up as well. Thus you'll enjoy share price gains plus the steady dividend income.

I'm going to describe a stock screen for finding relatively low-risk dividend payers. Before I get into the details, you need to know how dividend-yield math works.

How yields add up

Dividend yield is analogous to the interest you receive on a bank savings account or certificate of deposit. It's the next 12 months' dividends divided by the price you pay for each share. For instance, the yield would be 10% if you paid $50 per share for a stock expected to pay dividends totaling $5 over the next year.

The dividend yield changes inversely to the share price. So, if the share price for the same stock moved up to $55, the yield to new investors would drop to 9.1%. (That's $5 in expected dividends divided by $55.)

Here's the flaw with the bank interest analogy: Unlike the interest you lock in on a bank CD, you can't lock in a dividend yield. There's no guarantee that a company won't cut its dividend payout while you hold the stock or that the stock won't drop in value. That makes dividend stocks riskier than federally insured bank CDs.

To compensate for the extra risk, my screen looks for stocks paying a minimum 3.75% yield, more or less double what you're likely to get from a bank these days. To minimize risk, the screen pinpoints relatively safe, low-debt, profitable companies. These are not out-of-favor value plays either. Passing stocks must be in favor with most market players, which, in my experience, makes them safer than out-of-favor stocks.

Here are the details.

Dividend yield

We'll start by limiting the field to stocks with expected yields of at least 3.75% and ruling out the riskiest dividend stocks: small companies and those paying abnormally high dividend yields.

Try raising your minimum to 4% if you want to limit your list to higher-yielding stocks.

Screening parameter: Current Dividend Yield >= 3.75

Yield too good to be true?

Because yields go up when share prices drop, many stocks with beaten-down share prices appear to be paying double-digit yields. Unfortunately, those abnormally high yields suggest that many market players expect a dividend cut. Whether those fears come to pass or not, double-digit yields signal high risk, which is what we're trying to avoid.

What's too high? Usually, yields of 8% and above would be enough to trigger a red flag. But because many stocks are still trading below normal levels, I allow stocks paying dividend yields up to 10%. Try reducing your maximum yield to 7% if you want to cut your risk or raising it to 15% if you want to throw caution to the winds.

Screening parameter: Current Dividend Yield <= 10

Avoid small caps

All else equal, large companies are safer bets than smaller companies. Bigger companies have the product diversity, experience and financial wherewithal to survive a tough economy. Market capitalization, which is the current value of all outstanding shares, is the best way to measure company size. To me, market caps below $2 billion define small caps, companies with market caps above $8 billion are large caps, and those in between are midcaps.

I rule out small-cap stocks by requiring a minimum $2 billion market cap. Try cutting that limit to $1 billion if you want to see more stocks.

Screening parameter: Market Capitalization >= 2,000,000,000

Next, we'll limit the field to fundamentally sound stocks that are highly profitable and carry relatively low debt.

Highly profitable

We'll measure profitability two ways: by checking the return on equity profitability ratio and by comparing a company's pretax profit margin to its industry.

Return on equity (net income divided by shareholder equity) measures how efficiently a company uses its assets to generate earnings. Many professional money managers avoid stocks with ROEs below 15%. But because this year has been a dud, I'm taking a longer view and require an average 15% over the past five years. Try reducing that figure to 12% if you want to see more stocks or raising it to 20% if you want to focus on only the most profitable companies.

Screening parameter: ROE: 5-Year Avg. >= 15

Continued: Profit margins

Profit margins

Profit margins measure the income earned per dollar of sales. For example, a 20% net profit means that a company earned 20 cents for each dollar of sales. In any given industry, the company with the highest margins takes home the most cash to develop products, increase dividends and do other good things.

Because companies may be paying different income tax rates, it's best to compare pretax profit margins. I require pretax margins at least 25% higher than the industry average.

Screening parameter: Pre-Tax Margin >= 1.25*Industry Average Net Profit Margin

Low debt

Given the uncertain credit markets, companies carrying little or no debt are safer than those with high debt. That said, requiring no debt would rule out most dividend-paying stocks. Also, the definition of low and high debt levels varies with the industry. Consequently, I allow moderate debt but limit the field to the lowest-debt stocks in each industry.

The debt-to-equity ratio, which compares debt with shareholder equity (a company's total assets minus liabilities), is a popular debt measure. A zero ratio indicates no debt, and the higher the ratio, the higher the debt. I set my maximum debt-to-equity ratio at 0.5, which equates to moderate debt.

Screening parameter: Debt to Equity Ratio <= 0.5

To confine the list to the lowest-debt stocks in each industry, I require debt-to-equity ratios no higher than 75% of the industry average.

Screening parameter: Debt to Equity Ratio <= 0.75*Industry Average Debt to Equity Ratio

Finally, we'll check institutional ownership, analysts' "buy" and "sell" ratings and each stock's own price action to confine our list to in-favor stocks.

Check the smart money

Because they generate huge trading commissions, institutional buyers such as mutual funds are privy to better stock-moving information than individual investors. If they don't own a stock, you shouldn't either.

Institutional ownership, the percentage of a firm's shares held by these big players, ranges from 40% to 95% and sometimes even higher for in-favor stocks. I specify a minimum 40% institutional ownership.

Screening parameter: % Institutional Ownership >= 40

Analysts set market tone

Stock analysts advise whether to buy, sell or hold stocks that they follow. MSN Money compiles the ratings for each stock into these categories: "strong buy," "buy," "hold," "moderate sell" and "strong sell." Right or wrong, analyst ratings influence many investors. Thus any version of "sell" says the stock is out of favor.

Screening parameter: Mean Recommendation >= Hold

Stock price action

Relative strength measures a stock's return compared with the overall market. For example, relative strength of 90% means a stock has outperformed 90% of all stocks. Almost by definition, a stock must be outperforming the market to qualify as in favor.

I require a minimum 55% 12-month relative strength, which means that passing stocks must have outperformed a majority of stocks over the past 12 months.

Screening parameter: 12-Month Relative Strength >= 55

Consider the results of any screen, including this one, as candidates for further research, not a "buy" list. For best diversification, buy only one pharmaceutical maker -- Bristol-Meyers Squibb or Merck -- not both. In my view, all of the stocks turned up by the screen have the wherewithal to survive just about any likely economic downturn and are suitable for a buy-and-hold strategy.

译：Jaychivo

“ The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention. ”

“哪怕是做件微不足道的事情，也总比空有一身抱负强。”

— Quoted by Patti LabBelle in LaBelle Cuisine (Broadway)

Second Marriage

第二次婚姻

译：Jaychivo

“If I were to die first, would you remarry?" the wife asks.

妻子问：“如果我先死了，你会再婚吗？”

"Well," says the husband, "I'm in good health, so why not?"

丈夫答：“会，我身体这么健康，那是当然啦。”

"Would she live in my house?"

“她会住我的房子吗？”

"It's all paid up, so yes."

“会，房子都买好了。”

"Would she drive my car?"

“她会开我的车吗？”

"It's new, so yes."

“会，那车还是新的。”

"Would she use my golf clubs?"

“那她会用我的高尔夫球杆吗？”

"No. She's left-handed."

“不会。她是个左撇子。”

译：Jaychivo

Daylighter: someone who works a second job during the the hours of the fist job.

 上班兼职者：在上班时间做其他兼职的人。

aka "moonlighting by day." For example, an after-hours real estate agent who may set up appointments during her day job.

也可以说是“白天兼差”。譬如，一位下班后兼职地产经纪的人，她可能在正职的时间里约见客户。

Accept yourself and enjoy life more

认可自我，好好享受生活

译：Jaychivo

Do you accept yourself, or are you constantly scolding yourself because you make mistakes and have faults?

对于自己的过失或者自身的不足，你是认可自我还是让自己深陷自责的泥潭之中？

Many singles set impossible standards for themselves, even higher than God sets for them. They go through life frustrated and angry because they aren't perfect.

许多人都给自己定下过高的标准，那标准恐怕就连上帝的都没有那么高。他们在生活中不断以过高的标准自我要求，以求达到完美，因而他们在生活中常感到挫败与愤怒。

We should all try to improve, but beating yourself up is not the way to do it.

我们都应努力提升自我，但是过于自责是于事无补。

Accept yourself by being realistic

认可自我，先要务实

Many of us say things to ourselves we would never voice to another person. We're downright cruel, belittling ourselves when we feel we don't measure up. It's self-destructive and we need to stop it.

我们中许多的人都会默默地给自己定下某个目标，而当我们觉得自己并没有达到时，我们会近乎残忍地贬低自我。我们得停止这种自我摧残。

We each need to face a simple truth:

我们每个人都得承认一个简单的道理：

I'm not perfect and I never will be.

我们不完美，也从不会完美。

If we can overlook the flaws and shortcomings of our friends and family members, we can do it with ourselves, too. This is so crucial to our happiness that I can't stress it enough.

如果我们能宽容朋友和家人的缺点和不足，我们同样能宽恕自身的不足。这点对于我们能活得快乐有多么重要，我无法用语言来表达。

Accept yourself by being optimistic

认可自我，先要乐观

None of us is where we want to be, but with God's help, we can get there. That's a great source of optimism.

我们都是在逐渐地提升自我，在上帝的帮助下，我们能做到。那就是乐观的巨大源泉。

Instead of viewing life with discouragement, see it as a work in progress. That's how God looks at you.

与其心灰意冷地看人生，不如将人生看作是尚未完成的工作。上帝就是这么看你的。

Change is hard, but if we do it in small steps, we can make meaningful improvement. Don't keep replaying the things you've done wrong. Focus on the gains you've made. Feel good about how far you've come.

改变很难，但是如果我们能一点一滴地进行，我们将极大地提升自我。切勿重蹈覆辙，让自己一错再错。关注自己所取得的成就，满意自己目前所走过的人生。

Accept yourself because God accepts you

认可自我，因为上帝认可你

When you think about how much God loves you and finds you precious, just the way you are, you'll see things from a different perspective.

当你认为自己从上帝那得到了多少爱及发现自己有多么珍贵时，那便是你。你会通过不同的透视洞悉人生。

We can keep no secrets from God. He knows everything about us, yet he loves us anyway.

我们对上帝没有秘密可言，他熟知我们的一切，不管怎样他都是深爱着我们。

I still remember something my Dad said to me when I was a small boy, over 50 years ago. I was feeling sad because I was having trouble with one of my subjects in school. I just couldn't get it. He looked me in the eye and said gently:

我还记得50年前，当我还是一个小男孩时，我父亲跟我说的话。当时是由于在学校，我有一门科目不好，我感到很伤心。那门科目我总是不行。他看着我的眼睛，和蔼地说：

"As long as you do your best, we'll always be proud of you."

“只要你一直都尽力去做，我们会为你感到自豪。”

That's the way God feels about you. And when we make mistakes or mess up, we have to remember we did the best we could at the time.

上帝也是那样认为你的。当我们犯错或搞砸了，我们得牢记我们那会是竭尽全力了。

Remember that God is kind and generous. When you learn to receive his enormous love for you, you'll feel a new-found sense of confidence and strength. Growth is the goal, not perfection. When you live that out, every day becomes an opportunity to know true, soul-deep joy.

请牢记上帝是仁慈和宽宏大量的。当你学会从上帝那接收无尽的爱时，你将感到自己重拾信心和力量。我们的目标是成长，不是完美。当你在生活中体会这些时，每天都会是你懂得真实欢乐和认识灵魂深处的快乐的时光。

认可自我，享受生活。

A Face From an Infomercial

一张来自商业推广的脸

译：Jaychivo

IT used to be that a cosmetic surgery patient who was tired of sagging jowls would discreetly ask for names of reputable doctors who did face-lifts. A surgeon, building a practice as word of mouth about his skills spread, became, in effect, his own brand.

在过去，想要通过整容手术摆脱松弛面颊烦恼的人，都会谨慎地找那些有良好声誉的面部除皱医生。外科医生都是靠通过口碑来传播他们的技能从而开展他们的业务，在业务实践中形成他们自身的品牌。

But now face-lifts themselves are being branded. Certain minimally invasive procedures are marketed directly to patients in a one-size-fits-most approach. Patients pick an operation — usually after seeing it touted online, on TV or in magazines — and are referred by a national organization to a doctor.

但如今的面部除皱自身正趋于品牌包装。有不少的微创外科整容手术以挂着“万灵丹药”的方式被直接向世人兜售。而世人呢，通常都是在因特网、电视或杂志上看到该手术——都是由大到一个国家机构或小至一个医生推荐——的兜售广告后，便接受该手术。

Two procedures sold this way are the Lifestyle Lift, which an ad in Family Circle describes as “revolutionary” and a way to “remove wrinkles, frown lines and sagging skin” in about an hour; and the QuickLift, which also benefits from nationwide marketing that promotes a short recovery and only local anesthesia.

时尚除皱(Lifestyle Lift)和快速除皱(QuickLift)就是以这种方式兜售的两种外科整容手术。其中，时尚除皱在《家庭圈》(Family Circle)里做的广告声称，该整容手术是“革命性”和能在大约1小时内“去除皱纹、皱眉纹和修整松弛肌肤”的方法。而快速除皱也从全国性推广恢复时间短和局部麻醉的推销中斩获颇丰。

Because these procedures, priced at $4,000 and $5,900, contrast with more extensive face-lifts requiring general anesthesia and usually costing more, they have become popular: More than 100,000 patients have received the Lifestyle Lift alone since 2001, according to the company.

由于这些外科整容手术的收费都是在4000美元至5000美元之间，相比更全面的面部除皱，不仅是仅需要局部麻醉，而且通常都是花费更低。这就是为什么这些外科整容手术受欢迎的原因。根据时尚除皱公司，从2001年至今有超过100,000名消费者进行了时尚除皱。

But some surgeons think branded face-lifts are problematic. It is not the procedures themselves that disturb critics — many plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists (head and neck surgeons) offer their own quick-recovery face-lifts. But some doctors are concerned that patients may be so persuaded by advertising that they don’t seek a second opinion or investigate the full range of options. Consumers may pick a minimally invasive procedure when the results they seek may require more complex — and expensive — intervention.

但是有些外科医生认为品牌包装的面部除皱存在着问题。有许多的整形外科医生和耳鼻喉科医生(头和颈外科医生)从事他们自己的术后快速恢复的面部除皱手术。问题并不是外科整容手术自身存在着问题，而是像有些医生担忧的那样，世人可能会被广告冲昏了头，在没有征询其他意见或详细全面了解选项后便接受。消费者可能在接受了微创外科整容手术后，结果是他们可能需要进行更复杂也更昂贵的补救手术。

“What’s new is this is plastic surgery being marketed to the public as a widget,” said Dr. Brian Reagan, a plastic surgeon in San Diego. “People are buying, so buyer beware.”

美国圣迭戈的整形外科医生表示：“现在的新形势是，整形外科手术正被作为一种“装饰品”向世人兜售。所以世人在考虑购买时，请保持谨慎。”

In this new landscape, patients are encouraged to seek an advertised procedure rather than work with a surgeon to select from a menu of options. “What’s more, some patients are now looking not for the best doctor, but the one who has the magic wand,” said Dr. Reagan, who has given a lecture titled “Invasion of the Mini-Lifts ... Coming to a Clinic Near You.”

在这种新环境中，世人都被鼓励寻找广告推广的外科整容手术，而不是通过征询外科医生从中确定适合自己的整容手术。举行过一场名为“微型除皱入侵，进驻你身边的诊所”演讲的Reagan医生表示：“更加离谱的是，有的人寻找的不是最好的医生，而是一个会变戏法的人。”

Dr. David M. Kent, an osteopath and facial plastic surgeon who founded Lifestyle Lift, said he employs nearly 100 doctors in 31 offices who are trained to do Lifestyle Lifts. (The company also has 10 doctors in private practice who license its brand.) “Every single patient gets the same basic face-lift,” he said, explaining that it consists of lifting underlying layers of muscle and connective tissue, and trimming skin. Patients also receive custom nips and tucks as needed.

成立时尚除皱公司的整骨医生和面部整形外科医生David M. Kent表示，他在31个办事处中聘请了将近100名医生，进行培训提供时尚除皱。(该公司在私人诊所中还有10名许可使用它品牌的医生。)他表示：“每一名前来整容的人，都进行相同的面部除皱手术。”他是这么解释面部除皱手术的，它包含了撑起肌肉底层和结缔组织，还有修整肌肤这些手术过程，消费者都能取得想要的订制效果。

The QuickLift, which roughly 10,000 patients have had since 2003, is sold differently. Doctors who offer it maintain their own practices and might also offer traditional face-lifts. A company, MDCommunications, helps those physicians market the QuickLift by placing television spots and optimizing how fast a doctor is found online.

从2003年至今已有将近10,000名消费者选用了快速除皱。快速除皱采用的是不用的销售方式。医生在从事快速除皱的同时，还继续他们本来的业务，同时也可能从事传统的面部除皱。一个名为医学沟通(MDCommunications)的公司，通过投放电视广告及完善如何快速在线找到一名医生来帮助那些医生推销快速除皱。

Dr. Dominic A. Brandy, the developer of the QuickLift, coined the term to describe his adaptation of an S-lift, an operation that uses teardrop-shaped sutures to suspend sagging features. Dr. Brandy said he improved on the S-lift by pulling the face vertically instead of toward the ears.

开创快速除皱的Dominic A. Brandy医生，新创了快速除皱(QuickLift)这个词来命名他从塑形除皱(S-lift)手术中演变出来的新手术。塑形除皱手术使用泪滴形的缝线悬吊松弛部位。Brandy医生表示，他对塑形除皱手术进行了改进，以前是往耳朵的方向拉脸，现在是通过往垂直方向拉脸。

Currently, 25 to 30 doctors receive patients through QuickLiftMd.com. The doctors attended a one-day workshop priced at $1,950 (and sometimes a few other days of training) taught by Dr. Brandy, a cosmetic surgeon with a background in emergency medicine.

目前为止，有25名至30名医生通过QuickLiftMd.com获得消费者。这些医生参加一天诊所工作的价格为1,950美元。有时还得参加为期数天的培训，由具有急救医疗背景知识的整容外科医生Brandy讲授。

Teresa Bradley, 47, found her QuickLift surgeon on the company’s site. Even before meeting him, she had decided QuickLift was for her. “I researched the procedure,” she said. “It was excellent.” But she has agonized over the results. “He lifted one side very high and left the other side hanging,” she said.

47岁的Teresa Bradley在该公司的网站上找到给她做快速除皱的外科医生。甚至在还没有见到该医生之前，她就已决定要做快速除皱手术。她说：“她深入了解了该手术，它太棒了。”但是在做过该手术之后，带给她的却是烦恼、痛苦。她说：“他把我的一边脸拉得很高，而另一边则还是悬吊着。”

Now Ms. Bradley said she realizes the QuickLift is only as good as the surgeon doing it.

如今Bradley女士表示，她认识到的快速除皱效果仅取决于给你做手术的外科医生的技能水平。

In response, Dr. Brandy said, “When you teach somebody a procedure, even if they use the basic same procedure, skill levels are so different.”

Brandy医生回应说：“在教授一个手术时，即使他们使用了基本相同的手术，他们的技能水平都是千差万别的。”

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons hasn’t taken a stand on branded procedures. But its president, Dr. John W. Canady, advised, “Go get a second opinion from someone who doesn’t have a big ad.”

目前为止，美国整形外科协会(American Society of Plastic Surgeons)并没有对品牌包装的外科整容手术有一个明确的态度。但是该协会主席John W. Canady医生建议：“不妨去咨询下那些没有大肆广告宣传的整容机构的意见。”

Patients should be presented with a range of options, said Dr. David S. Kung, a board-certified plastic surgeon in the Washington, D.C., area. He considers deeper-plane face-lifts “the gold standard,” because they “last the longest and they can effect the maximal change,” he said. But he sees a place for middle-of-the-spectrum face-lifts, which in his opinion, include the QuickLift, Lifestyle Lift and another (nonbranded) lift, the minimal access cranial suspension.

位于华盛顿特区获得认证的整形外科医生David S. Kung表示，消费者应该有更多的选择。他把更深层的面部除皱看作“黄金标准”，因为更深层的面部除皱“能保持更久及取得更明显的改变”。但是，在他认为，他目前看到的都是些中层范围的面部除皱，譬如快速除皱、时尚除皱及其他(无品牌包装的)除皱，都是小切口微创面部除皱。

Dr. Kent said that before patients meet a Lifestyle Lift surgeon, they see a consultant and watch a video in which the company’s medical director explains its philosophy. Then they meet with a surgeon before deciding whether to proceed.

Kent医生表示，消费者在见到时尚除皱外科医生之前，他们先见到一个顾问，并通过观看公司的医疗顾问介绍该手术原理的视频。然后，他们才见到外科医生，之后决定是否要做该手术。

But three Lifestyle Lift patients and Dr. Mario S. Yco, a board-certified otolaryngologist who was an employee of the company for about a year, said that patients were urged to put down a deposit before they met with a surgeon.

但是有三名时尚除皱的消费者和一名受聘于该公司约一年之久的获得认证的耳鼻喉科医生Mario S. Yco表示，消费者都要在交纳定金之后才能见到外科医生。

“The consultant sold the surgery,” said Dr. Yco, who practices in Encinitas, Calif. Often by the time he saw patients, the surgery was booked. “There were many patients I had to cancel,” he said, explaining that he didn’t deem them appropriate candidates.

在加州的恩锡尼他行医的Yco医生，经常要见预约了该外科手术的消费者。他表示：“是顾问将该外科手术推销出去的，而我不得不取消掉许多消费者。”原因是他认为有的消费者并不适合做该外科手术。

In response, Dr. Kent said, “It’s never a consultant that decides whether or not a patient should have surgery.” He described the company’s consultants as “people-friendly people.” They make sure patients “understand what they are getting into, explain the things we offer, talk about the doctor,” he said.

Kent医生回应说：“从来都不是顾问来决定消费者是否要还是不要做该外科手术。”他将该公司的顾问说成是“友善之人”。他们确保消费者“了解他们将要取得的效果，解释我们提供的服务，及介绍医生”。

Dr. Yco said he was amazed at the power that advertising had over Lifestyle Lift patients. “They are sold by the concept, they are not sold by the surgeon’s credentials,” he said. “Unfortunately if they are not satisfied, it’s a big drop for them.” He added, “It’s like lemmings going down a cliff.”

Yco医生说，他对广告宣传带给时尚除皱消费者的影响力感到惊讶。他表示：“消费者被推销的是概念，而不是外科医生的凭证。很不幸的是，如果消费者没有取得满意的效果，有不少的消费者已跌落其中。”他补充道：“好像旅鼠跌落悬崖一样，一个接一个地往下跳。”

In May, on the job site Monster.com, the Manhattan branch of Lifestyle Lift ran an ad seeking applicants to be plastic surgery consultants. “No medical experience needed,” it said, adding that the right candidate would have an “ability to match the offerings of Lifestyle Lift with the desires of Clients.”

5月份，时尚除皱的曼哈顿分店，在工作招聘网站Monster.com发布的一份招聘整形外科手术顾问的广告中写道，“无需医疗经验”及适合人选应具备“使时尚除皱提供的服务满足客户需求的能力。”

Sharron Bryant, a manager for Lindt Chocolates in Dallas, who got a Lifestyle Lift in 2007, said she had a “high pressure” consultation and put down a deposit before meeting a surgeon. Ms. Bryant, then 59, paid $6,100 for a Lifestyle Lift and chin liposuction. She never needed pain medication during her weeklong recovery, she said.

达拉斯Lindt Chocolates公司经理Sharron Bryant，在2007年进行了时尚除皱手术。她说，她经历的是一个“强行”的顾问，要在交纳定金之后才能见到外科医生。那时59岁的Bryant女士交了6,100美元做时尚除皱和下巴抽脂。在长达一周的恢复时间内从不需要服用止痛药。

But she disliked the loose skin that remained on her jowls and neck. “I got nothing for the money,” she said. She later paid $8,200 for a traditional face-lift from a different surgeon.

但是，让她讨厌的面颊和脖子上的松弛肌肤完全没有改变。她表示：“她花的那些钱，什么都没有得到。”之后，她花了8,200美元找了另一个外科医生做了次传统的面部除皱。

With “every plastic surgery procedure, there’s a certain number of people afterwards that are unhappy,” Dr. Kent said. “There’s nothing wrong with them medically. They are just dissatisfied.”

Kent表示：“无论是对何种整形外科手术来说，都存在着一定的用户在手术之后并不满意的。对他们做的手术在医学上并没有什么不妥，但是他们就是不满意。”

On Realself.com, a Web site where patients discuss cosmetic surgery, 37 percent of the 170 people who reviewed the Lifestyle Lift said the procedure was “worth it,” while 63 percent didn’t think so.

在消费者讨论整容外科手术的网站Realself.com上，170人中有37%的人认为时尚除皱手术 “值得”，而有63%的人认为不值得。

Leigh Floyd, 46, a technical writer in Houston, is an “extremely satisfied” customer of Lifestyle Lift, which she partly attributed to her realistic expectations. “You won’t look 20” afterward, she said, “because it’s still your 40-year-old skin.”

休斯敦46岁的科技作家Leigh Floyd，是“十分满意”时尚除皱的客户。是因为时尚除皱在一定程度上达到了她的实际期望效果。她表示：“手术后，你看起来并不会像20岁，因为它还是你40岁的肌肤。”

But she was most impressed by the skill of her surgeon, Dr. Kevin R. Smith, a Houston otolaryngologist. “His sutures were so tiny,” she said. “I just know I picked the right doctor.”

但是，她的外科医生Kevin R. Smith(休斯敦耳鼻喉科医生)给她留下了十分深刻的印象。她说：“他的缝合很细微，我知道我选了个好医生。”

Here’s some advice for those considering face-lifts.

给考虑做面部除皱人士的一些建议：

Check whether your surgeon is certified by one of the boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties at abms.org. They require physicians to complete residency training in a specialty and to pass rigorous oral and written exams.

通过在abms.org网站上核对你的外科医生是否获得美国医学专科委员会(American Board of Medical Specialties)的认证。

Before you schedule an operation, meet the surgeon to make sure you’re on the same page. “The best surgeons will give you their honest opinion whether they can achieve what you’re looking for,” said Dr. John W. Canady, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

在计划做手术之前，咨询下外科医生，以确定你们的进度相同。美国整形外科协会主席John W. Canady表示：“好的外科医生会如实告诉你他们的意见，他们能否达到你想要的效果。”

Don’t settle for a hasty consultation. The downside as well as the upside of an operation should be covered, said Dr. Robert Singer, a plastic surgeon in La Jolla, Calif.

别仓促咨询。加州拉乔拉的整形外科医生Robert Singer表示，整容手术带来的不一定都是正面的效果，还会有负面的效果。

You should never feel as if you’re being sold a procedure. “If you’re getting a high-pressure sales pitch for a procedure, personally that would worry me,” Dr. Canady said.

你应该是自己决定选择进行整容手术，而不该是被人推销了一个整容手术。Canady表示：“如果你是被强行推销说辞说服而做的手术，就我个人而言，那会令我担忧。”

It never hurts to get a second opinion.

 多征询其他的意见，百利而无一害。

虽然这篇文章，讲的内容都是根据美国的实际情况。对于中国大众来说，不妨也可做为借鉴。毕竟，在中国现在，无论是整容还是整形都开始已热得很。保持一份冷静。

New device detects heart disease using less than one drop of blood

最新设备用不到一滴血便可检测心脏病

译：Jaychivo

New tool described in the FASEB Journal may help physicians monitor heart disease and help scientists grow new vascular tissue for transplants

《美国医学会杂志》(FASEB Journal)介绍的最新工具，可能有助于内科医生监测心脏病及帮助科学家们发展最新移植用的血管组织

Testing people for heart disease might be just a finger prick away thanks to a new credit card-sized device created by a team of researchers from Harvard and Northeastern universities in Boston. In a research report published online in The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org), they describe how this device can measure and collect a type of cells needed to build vascular tissue, called endothelial progenitor cells, using only 200 microliters of blood. The development is also significant because it allows scientists to collect these cells much more easily than current techniques allow, bringing laboratory-created tissue for vascular bypass surgeries another step closer to reality.

一个由哈佛大学及波士顿东北大学(Northeastern universities)的研究员组成的研究团队，创造出一款最新的信用卡大小的设备。有了该设备，也许用针扎指头取滴血便可测试出人的心脏病。《美国医学会杂志》 (http://www.fasebj.org)在线发布的一份研究报告，介绍了该设备在仅使用200微升血液的情况下，是如何测量及收集建立血管组织所需的一种被称为内皮祖细胞的细胞。该发展还具有重要的意义，它能使科学家们比现有的技术更快地收集这些细胞，在实现将实验室培育的组织用于血管搭桥手术上取得又一进展。

"This simple device is a promising tool for the pediatric and adult population in detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, and providing the option of treating cardiovascular disease by utilizing a small quantity of blood," said lead researcher Shashi K. Murthy of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston.

美国波士顿东北大学化学工程系的首席研究员Shashi K. Murthy表示：“该简单设备无论是对儿童还是对成年人群通过利用少量的血液，进行检测、诊断、监测及确定治疗心血管疾病的疗法，都是十分不错的工具。”

To collect the cells, the device works similar to Velcro? or a magnet. Specifically, the inside is coated with antibodies that only bind to endothelial progenitor cells. Blood flows through the device through a funnel-like opening (except the blood enters through the narrow end and exits through the wide end), passes over the antibodies, and endothelial progenitor cells are "picked up" in the process. In addition to allowing researchers to collect cells from a very small amount of blood, the device's design also provides researchers with a new model to study the effects that blood flow in the body has on cell binding (like clots form in arteries).

在收集该细胞时，该设备犹如一个威扣^TM或一个磁铁般工作。具体的方法是，设备的内侧涂有层仅结合内皮祖细胞的抗体。血液从漏斗状的开口流过设备(但是血液是从窄端流入，从宽端流出)，在血液流过抗体的过程中，抗体“拾起”内皮祖细胞。该设备除了使研究员能从很小量的血液中收集细胞之外，还给研究员提供了一个研究血液在身体中流动时所具有的对细胞结合(例如，动脉凝结)的影响的新模型。

"Most immediately, this is could be a new tool to assess cardiovascular health that cuts the amount of blood needed down to a pin prick. Its compact size might make it an excellent tool for use in developing countries where access to medical laboratories does not exist," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "In addition, this moves much closer to a future where new blood vessels, veins and arteries for transplants no longer need to be grafted from patient's bodies. The amount of pain and recovery times for bypass surgeries would be reduced significantly."

《美国医学会杂志》主编Gerald Weissmann医学博士表示：“很快，这设备可能成为一种仅需用针扎取滴血便可评估心血管健康的新工具。它的小巧体型，对于那些无法使用医疗实验室的发展中国家来说，无疑是十分不错的工具。另外，这也使得更接近了在不远的将来，移植用的新血管、静脉和动脉不再需要从病人的身上进行移植。这将极大地减少搭桥手术带给病人的疼痛，缩短病人的康复时间。”

重复性(repeatability)：是用本方法在正常和正确操作情况下，由同一操作人员，在同一实验室内，使用同一仪器，并在短期内，对相同试样所作两个单次测试结果，在95％概率水平两个独立测试结果的最大差值。

再现性(reproducibility)：是用本方法在正常和正确操作情况下，由两名操作人员，在不同实验室内，对相同试样各作单次测试结果，在95％概率水平两个独立测试结果的最大差值。

Wet ear wax and unpleasant body odors signal breast cancer risk

湿耵聍(俗称耳屎)及难闻的体味是乳腺癌威胁的信号

译：Jaychivo

New research in the FASEB Journal shows that a “breast cancer gene” causes osmidrosis and makes earwax wet and sticky

《美国医学会杂志》(FASEB Journal)最新发表的一篇研究报告表明，“乳腺癌基因”会导致身体出现狐臭及湿粘耵聍的体症。

If having malodorous armpits (called osmidrosis) and goopy earwax isn't bad enough, a discovery by Japanese scientists may add a more serious problem for women facing these cosmetic calamities. That's because they've found that a gene responsible for breast cancer causes these physical symptoms. The report describing this finding is featured on the cover of The FASEB Journal's June 2009 print issue (http://www.fasebj.org), and should arm physicians with another clue for detecting breast cancer risk.

要是说身体出现恶臭的腋窝(称为狐臭)及粘糊糊的耵聍这些体症并不能算是多么严重的事情，日本科学家的发现也许会使女性在忙于应对这些化妆难题时又多了几分忧虑。因为他们发现，一个诱发乳腺癌的基因会导致身体出现这些体症。介绍这一发现的报告登上了2009年6月份出版发行的《美国医学会杂志》(http://www.fasebj.org)的封面。该报告将给内科医生检测乳腺癌威胁提供另一提示。

"We do strongly hope that our study will provide a new tool for better predication of breast cancer risk by genotyping," said Toshihisa Ishikawa, Ph.D., a professor from the Department of Biomolecular Engineering at the 东京 Institute of Technology and the senior researcher involved in the work. "Using a rapid and cost-effective typing method presented in this study would provide a practical tool for pharmacogenomics-based personalized medicine."

参与该研究工作的高级研究员，东京工业大学生物分子工程系教授Toshihisa Ishikawa博士表示：“我们十分希望，我们的研究能提供一种全新的通过基因定型更好预测乳腺癌威胁的方法。研究中所介绍使用的一种快速、低成本的定型方法，可用作基于药理基因组学的个性化医疗的一种实用方法。”

感悟人生：看到第四段英文原文中红色的“东京 Institute of Technology ”这几个字吗？为什么东京不是英文而是中文的？原因就是英文的东京是敏感字，不允许发表。

Aging: Menopause Slows the Brain, Temporarily

老龄化：步入更年期的女性，脑部机能会暂时性下降

译：Jaychivo

Many women entering menopause say their brains do not seem to work as well as they used to.

许多正步入更年期的女性无不感叹，她们发觉到自己的脑部机能似乎已大不如前。

A new study suggests that they may be right, but it also appears the lapses are temporary.

一项最新研究表示，她们也许是对的，但是该研究同时表明更年期女性的脑部机能下降是暂时性的。

Researchers studied more than 2,300 women, ages 42 to 52, over four years.

研究员们对2,300多名年龄在42岁至52岁之间的女性，进行了长达4年之久的研究。

Some women in the study, which appears in Neurology, were still menstruating regularly. Others had completed menopause, and the remainder were in so-called perimenopause — that is, they were still having some periods but their bodies were experiencing changes as they neared menopause.

在该研究中有三种处于不同时期的女性，其一是在神经学上表现为仍然正常行经的女性；其二是完全处于更年期的女性；而第三种是被称为处于围绝经期的女性。围绝经期的女性在某些时期内仍然行经，但是在趋于更年期之际，她们的身体已逐渐经历着变化。

The researchers, led by Dr. Gail Greendale of the University of California, Los Angeles, gave the women a series of tests to determine cognitive skills. The tests measured memory and how quickly they processed information.

洛杉矶的加利福利亚大学的盖尔.格林德(Gail Greendale)博士带领的研究团队，对研究的女性进行了一系列的测试，以确定她们的认知技能。该测试主要是测量她们的记忆力及她们处理信息的速度。

When it came to processing speed, the study found, all the women except those in the late perimenopausal stage improved their scores when they took the test repeatedly. The researchers made similar findings with the tests for verbal memory.

该研究发现，当在进行处理速度的测量时，除了处于围绝经期的后期阶段的女性，其他所有的女性在反复的测试中，她们的记录都得到改善。研究员们在对她们进行的非文字记忆的测试中取得类似的发现。

The differences between the women were less a matter of some scoring worse than others, but more of some failing to improve as much as others over time. And women with lower scores as they entered menopause did better after it.

在那些研究的女性中存在的差异，不是有的取得的记录比其他差的问题，而更多的是有的女性在往后的测试中未能取得同其他女性一样的改善。另外，在步入更年期时取得较低记录的女性，在更年期后取得的记录都有所改善。

Study Urges Weight Gain Be Curbed in Pregnancy

最新研究敦促女性在怀孕期间注意体重增加

译：Jaychivo

For years, overweight women who become pregnant have been advised to limit their weight gain to 25 pounds over nine months.

多年以来，超重女性怀孕，她们都被劝告注意自身的体重增加，在九个月内体重增加不得超过25磅。

But on Thursday, health officials sharply reduced that number for many of them. In the first revision of weight-gain guidelines since 1990, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council said that women who start their pregnancies very overweight should limit their gain to 11 to 20 pounds.

然而在周四，卫生官员在一份报告中大幅调低了超重女性在怀孕期间的体重增加。在体重增加指南自1990年使用以来的首次修订中，美国医学研究所(Institute of Medicine)和美国国家研究委员会(National Research Council)指出，严重超重女性怀孕，她们应将体重增加限制在11磅至20磅之间。

About 27 percent of women of childbearing age fall into this category, defined as obese because they have a body mass index of 30 or more (for example, 5 feet 5 inches and at least 180 pounds).

大约有27%处于育龄段的女性属于肥胖人群。因为她们的身体质量指数(body mass index)达到了30以上(举例：一个女性身高为5英尺5英寸，而她的体重至少达180磅)。

The new guidelines stem from growing evidence linking weight gain before and after pregnancy to health problems for both mother and baby.

该最新指南是源于有越来越多的证据表明，怀孕前和怀孕后的体重增加无论是对孕妇还是对婴儿都存在着健康问题。

Overweight and obese women, or those who gain excessive weight during pregnancy, are at higher risk for complications that include gestational diabetes and a life-threatening blood-pressure problem known as pre-eclampsia. And children whose mothers gained too much weight during pregnancy are more likely to be overweight or obese themselves.

无论是超重的女性还是肥胖的女性，或者是那些在怀孕期间增加过多体重的女性，她们都是并发症的高危人群。此类并发症有妊娠糖尿病(gestational diabetes)以及会对生命造成威胁的血压问题(被称为先兆子痫(pre-eclampsia) )。另外，孕妇在怀孕期间增加过多体重，她们的孩子也极为可能存在着超重或肥胖的问题。

The guidelines for women with a body mass index under 30 do not change. Underweight women, with a body mass index of less than 18.5, should gain 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy; normal-weight women, with a B.M.I. of 24.9 or lower, should gain 25 to 35 pounds; and overweight women, with a B.M.I. of 25 to 29.9, should gain 15 to 25 pounds.

在此次修订中，身体质量指数(body mass index)低于30的女性，在怀孕期间的体重增加保持不变。身体质量指数(body mass index)小于18.5的轻体重女性，她们在怀孕期间体重应增加在28磅至40磅之间。

But the guidelines do urge doctors to better counsel all women to be vigilant about their weight. As many as 70 percent of pregnant women fail to comply.

除此以外，该指南还敦促医生要很好地劝告所有女性，让她们对自身的体重保持警惕。有多达70%的孕妇未能达到体重增加指南中的要求。

“Women must bring weight gain during pregnancy into these ranges,” said Kathleen M. Rasmussen, a professor of nutrition at Cornell University who led the committee that wrote the report. “For most women, this means gaining less than they currently gain.”

带领该委员会撰写此报告的是康奈尔大学的营养学教授Kathleen M. Rasmussen。他指出：“女性在怀孕期间的体重增加必须达到该指南中的范围。对于大多数女性，这意味着在怀孕期间要比过去减少增加体重。”

Gaining too little weight is also a concern: low-birth-weight babies are at risk for several health problems. Women carrying twins or multiples are advised to gain more weight than those carrying a single baby.

体重增加不足，也存在着一大顾虑：低出生体重婴儿会有多种健康问题。对于怀双胞胎或多胞胎的女性，要劝告其比那些怀一个婴儿的女性增加更多的体重。

To ensure a healthier pregnancy, the report also urges doctors to counsel women to lose weight before conceiving.

为确保一次更健康的怀孕，该报告还敦促医生要劝告女性在受孕之前减肥。

Health officials say the new guidelines were necessary because of changing weight patterns among American women. Today, about 55 percent of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese. But the 1990 pregnancy guidelines did not offer specific advice for obese women, who instead were often told to follow the recommendations for overweight women.

卫生官员表示，由于美国女性的体重特征发生了改变，出台最新的指南是必要的。在今天，有大约55%处于育龄段的女性要么超重要么肥胖。但是在1990年的怀孕指南中，并没有针对肥胖女性的具体建议，反而她们通常是被劝告去遵照那些超重女性的建议。

For instance, in the past, a 5-foot-5 woman who started pregnancy at 180 pounds would have been urged to finish her pregnancy at 195 to 205 pounds. Under the new guidelines, her recommended weight at delivery would be 191 to 200 pounds.

举例来说：在过去，一位身高5英尺5英寸的女性在体重为180磅时怀了孕，她被劝告在她怀孕期间，体重要达到195磅至205磅之间。而按照最新的指南，她在怀孕期间的推荐体重是191磅至200磅之间。

BMI 身体质量指数

BMI[Body Mass Index] 即BMI指数，也叫身体质量指数，是衡量是否肥胖和标准体重的重要指标。

该网址可以计算你的身体质量指数：http://ifit.fashionguide.com.tw/calculator/calculator_bmi.php

Nutrition: Vaginal Infection Tied to Low Vitamin D

营养学：缺乏维生素D的女性容易患阴道感染

译：Jaychivo

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age, and a new study has found that it is associated with vitamin D deficiency. The disorder is treatable with antibiotics, but it can lead to premature birth and is a major cause of infant mortality.

对于处于育龄段的女性来说，细菌性阴道炎是最为常见的阴道感染。最新一项研究得出，阴道感染与维生素D的缺乏有关。该病可使用抗生素治疗，但是使用抗生素治疗可能会导致女性发生早产，是导致婴儿死亡的罪魁祸首。

The analysis, published in the June issue of The Journal of Nutrition, examined 209 white and 260 black pregnant women at a Pittsburgh clinic and found that more than half had vitamin D levels below 37 nanomoles per liter. A reading of 80 is generally considered adequate.

今年六月份的《营养学杂志》刊载了一篇调查分析。该调查分析通过在匹兹堡医院对209名白种人女性和260名黑种人女性进行检查发现，有超过半数女性的维生素D水平低于37毫微摩尔/升。通常说来，维生素D水平为80毫微摩尔/升被视为正常。

After adjusting for other factors, a vitamin D level of 50 or less was associated with a 26 percent increase in the likelihood of bacterial vaginosis, and a reading under 20 was associated with a 65 percent increased risk. About 52 percent of black women had bacterial vaginosis, compared with 27 percent of white women, and black women were almost three times as likely to be vitamin D deficient, probably because darker skin prevents adequate synthesis of the vitamin.

在除去其他因素的影响外，维生素水平为50或更低的女性要高出26%患细菌性阴道炎的可能性，而维生素水平低于20的女性则要高出65%。有大约52%的黑种人女性患细菌性阴道炎，相比而言，有27%的白种人女性患细菌性阴道炎。从中可得出，可能是维生素D缺乏的黑种人女性是白种人女性的将近三倍，造成此情况的可能原因是黑种人的肤色较黑，不利于维生素的充分合成。

The lead author, Lisa M. Bodnar, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, said the study did not mean that women should be “running out and taking megadoses of vitamin D.”

该篇调查分析的主要作家，匹兹堡大学传染病学的助理教授Lisa M. Bodnar表示，该研究并不是想要女性 “匆忙地大量服用维生素D。”

“If women have concerns about vitamin D status,” she continued, “they should talk with their doctor about whether supplements are appropriate.”

她继而指出：“如果女性担忧自身维生素D的状况，她们应当咨询医生的意见，看看自身适合采用何种补充维生素D的方法。”

Reducing the Risks of Holiday Grilling

让假日烧烤吃得更健康

 译：Jaychivo

Smoking up the barbecue covers meat in risky chemical compounds.

用烧烤架烤肉时，弥漫的烟雾中含有危害身体健康的化合物。

Grilled meats have long been linked to health risks, but most backyard chefs don’t want to believe it. But a few simple tricks can help you avoid the health worries and still enjoy a holiday barbecue.

虽然人们长久以来认为烤肉存在着健康隐患，但是许多热衷于后院烧烤的厨师们并不以为然。可是，如果能掌握一些简单的诀窍，不仅有助你避免烧烤带来的健康忧虑，还能让你尽情享用假日烧烤。

The problem with grilling is that it creates two types of risky chemical reactions. Fat drippings create smoke that is filled with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. When the smoke envelopes the food, it transfers the PAHs onto the surface of the meat. And when meat, chicken and fish are grilled at high temperatures for long periods of time, compounds inside the food react and create heterocyclic amines, or HCAs. HCAs are worrisome because in lab studies they’ve been shown to trigger breast, colon and prostate tumors in rats and mice.

烧烤存在的健康隐患全因在烧烤时会产生两种危害身体健康的化学反应。烧烤时滴落的脂肪会产生充满多环芳烃(PAH)的烧烤烟。当烧烤烟缭绕着食物时，多环芳烃被传递到肉的表面。另外，如果长时间高温烧烤肉(鸡肉和鱼肉等)，食物里的化合物会发生反应并产生异环胺(HCA)。在实验室对老鼠进行异环胺的研究得出，异环胺会引发老鼠患乳房肿瘤、结肠肿瘤和前列腺肿瘤。因此可见，异环胺是多么令人不安。

A few dozen observational studies have shown a link between cancer and high consumption of grilled and well-done meats. One study of more than 3,000 women showed that for postmenopausal women, eating a lot of grilled, barbecued and smoked meats raised breast cancer risk by 47 percent compared to those who ate the least meat.

数十项观测研究表明，经常食用烤肉和烤制熟透的肉的人比较容易患癌症。一项对3000多名女性的研究得出，对绝经女性而言，经常食用烤肉、碳烤肉和熏肉的女性相对很少食用该类肉食品的女性要高出47%患乳癌的风险。

Here are four simple steps to make grilled meat safer.

简单四步，让烤肉吃得更安全。

1. Pre-cook in the microwave. By pre-cooking meat a little, you reduce the amount of time it sits on the grill. Microwaving also releases certain compounds so they won’t react on the grill. Just one minute of microwaving a burger before you put it on the grill virtually eliminates HCAs.

1. 烧烤前用微波炉预煮食物。预煮肉一会，可以减少烧烤肉的时间。用微波炉微波肉时，同时会释放出肉中的某些化合物，这样会减少烧烤时发生反应的化合物。在烧烤汉堡肉饼之前仅仅将它微波一分钟，就可极大地排除异环胺(HCA)。

2. Go heavy on the marinades. Marinades don’t just make food taste good. Studies show using a marinade helps blunt the heat so fewer HCAs are formed.

2. 在烧烤前将食物涂上一层厚厚的卤汁。卤汁不仅使烤出来的食物更可口，而且有研究表明使用卤汁有助降低食物的温度，这样能减少产生异环胺(HCA)。

3. Add broccoli. Consuming cruciferous vegetables like broccoli changes the way the body metabolizes certain chemicals associated with grilling.

3. 在烧烤食物中加入椰菜。食用椰菜等十字花科蔬菜能改变身体代谢某些烧烤产生的化合物的方式。

4. Avoid well-done meats. Numerous studies have linked well-done meat with various health problems. Tell the chef you want it medium or rare.

4. 尽量少吃烤制熟透的肉。许多研究均表明，食用烤制熟透的肉，会造成许多健康问题。跟烧烤的厨师说，你要吃烤得中度熟或半熟的肉。

In the past, when I’ve written about the health risks of grilling, readers have told me I’m a killjoy. But in my view, there are so few environmental and chemical risks we can control, why not take a few simple steps to reduce cancer-causing compounds in our food?

以前，我写些有关烧烤的健康隐患的文章时，读者们都说我那是在令人扫兴。我个人认为，我们能控制的环境和化学的隐患是少之又少，何不采取一些简单的步骤，减少我们食物中的致癌化合物呢？

What do you think? Will you think about healthier grilling during your Memorial Day celebration? Or is this a health message you plan to ignore?

你认为呢？在欢度阵亡将士纪念日时，你是考虑采用更健康的烧烤呢？还是对这条健康消息嗤之以鼻？

Memorial Day：美国对阵亡战士的纪念日(每州不同, 一般5月30日)

Rules and the native speaker

规则和讲本族语的人

1.15 Nor have we completed the inventory of meanings. The same native speaker, turning his attention from Latin, may comment:

French has a well-defined grammar, but in English we're free to speak as we like.

1.15 我们还没有将“语法”的各种含义全部列出。还是这个讲本族语的人，当他的注意力一离开拉丁文，又可能发出这样的议论：

French has a well-defined grammar, but in English we’re free to speak as we like.

To begin with, it is clear that the speaker cannot now be intending to restrict 'grammar' to inflections: rather the converse; it would seem to be used as a virtual synonym of 'syntax'.

首先，很清楚，说话人现在不能再把“语法”限制在屈折变化上了；恰恰相反，“语法”实际上似乎又用作“句法”的同义词了。

Secondly, the native speaker's comment probably owes a good deal to the fact that he does not feel the rules of his own language - rules that he has acquired unconsciously - to be at all constraining; and if ever he happens to be called on to explain one such rule to a foreigner he has very great difficulty. By contrast, the grammatical rules he learns for a foreign language seem much more rigid and they also seem clearer because they have been actually spelled out to him in the learning process.

其次，这个讲本族语的人所以讲这句话，可能在很大程度上出于他根本不觉得本族语有什么规则在约束他，其实他已不自觉地掌握了这些规则。假如有一天，碰巧有人请他给一个外国人讲解一条这样的语法规则，那么他就会觉得非常困难。相比之下，他所学习的外语的语法规则，仿佛要严谨得多，而且也好像更清楚，这是因为这些规则实际上在学习过程中都一点一滴地给他讲解过了。

But another important point is revealed in this sentence. The distinction refers to 'grammar' not as the observed patterns in the use of French but as a codification of rules compiled by the French (especially by the Academie Francaise) to show the French themselves how their language should be used. This is not grammar 'immanent' in a language (as our previous uses were, however much they differed in the types of pattern they referred to), but grammar as codified by grammarians: the Academy Grammar. There is no such Academy for the English language and so (our naive native speaker imagines) the English speaker has more 'freedom' in his usage.

但是，从上面那句话中，还可以看到很重要的一点。它所说的区别，不是把“语法”看作使用法语时人们所遵循的格式，而是把“语法”看成法国人（尤其由法国科学院）编纂的条文，告诉法国人自己应该怎样使用他们的语言。这种语法不是一种语言所“固有”的语法（不是我们前几例所说的语法含义，尽管他们各自的含义迥异），而是语法学家所编纂的语法：学院式的语法。对于英语来说不存在这样的“学院”，所以（我们天真的本国人以为）说英语的人在使用英语时就有更多的“自由”。

The meanings of 'grammar'

“语法”的各种含义

Syntax and inflections

句法和屈折变化

1.14 The word 'grammar' has various meanings, and since grammar is the subject matter of this book we should explore the most common meanings of the word. We shall be using 'grammar' to include both SYNTAX and that aspect of MORPHOLOGY (the internal structure of words) that deals with INFLECTIONS (or ACCIDENCE). The fact that the past tense of buy is bought [inflection] and the fact that the interrogative form of He bought it is Did he buy it? [syntax] are therefore both equally the province of grammar. There is nothing technical about our usage in this respect: it corresponds to one of the common lay uses of the word in the English-speaking world. A teacher may comment:

John uses good grammar but his spelling is awful.

1.14 “语法”这个词有各种含义。由于语法是本书研究的对象，我们就应该探讨这个词最常用的几种含义。我们从现在起所谈论的“语法”，包括句法（SYNTAX）和论述屈折变化（INFLECTIONS）(或词态变化ACCIDENCE)那一部分的词法（MORPHOLOGY, 词的内部结构）。因此，buy 的过去式是bought(屈折变化)和He bought it的疑问式是 Did he buy it? （句法），这两个例子都属于语法的范围。在这方面，我们所说的“语法”并没有技术性很强的含义：它不过是英语国家和地区里普通人常说的语法这个词而已。某教师可能在讲评是说：

John uses good grammar but his spelling is awful.

The comment shows that spelling is excluded from grammar; and if John wrote interloper where the context demanded interpreter, the teacher would say that he had used the wrong word, not that he had made a mistake in grammar. But in the education systems of the English-speaking countries, it is possible also to use the term 'grammar' loosely so as to include both spelling and lexicology.

这句话表明拼法不包括在语法之内。假如上下文要求用interpreter 这个词的地方，约翰却写了interloper，那么教师就会说约翰用错了词，而不是犯了语法错误。可是，在英国国家的教育体系中，“语法”这个字眼也可能用得并不严格，以致把拼法和词汇学都包括了进去。

There is a further; use of 'grammar' that derives from a period in which the teaching of Latin and Greek was widespread. Since the aspect of Latin grammar on which teaching has traditionally concentrated is the paradigms (or model sets) of inflections, it made sense for the learner to say:

Latin has a good deal of grammar, but English has hardly any.

“语法”还有一个用法是在教授拉丁文和希腊文盛行的那个时期产生的。既然词性屈折变化（或规则）的范例是我们传统上着重教授的那部分拉丁语法，那么学生在说下面那句话就不无道理了：

Latin has a good deal of grammar, but English has hardly any.

This meaning of 'grammar' has continued to be used by lay native speakers. In effect, grammar is identified with inflections, so that nonspecialists may still speak of 'grammar and syntax', tacitly excluding the latter from the former.

“语法”的这一含义，说本族语而并非研究语言的人一直不断地使用着。他们实际上就把语法和屈折变化等同起来，以致不研究语言的人仍会说“语法和句法”，不知不觉地把后者从前者中分离出去。

Note: The term grammar school (used in several English-speaking countries, though not always with reference to the same type of school) reflects the historical fact that certain schools concentrated at one time on the teaching of Latin and Greek. One sometimes comes upon the lay supposition that such schools do or should make a special effort to teach English grammar.

注：语法学校（Grammar School）这个名称（在好几个英语国家使用，虽然并非始终指同一类型的学校）反映了一个历史事实，就是某些学校过去曾一度着重教授拉丁文和希腊文。有时我们碰到有的门外汉仍以为这样的学校特别花功夫或应该特别花功夫去教授英语语法。