English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips > 新闻选读

简•奥斯汀将登上新版10英镑纸币
Pounds and Prejudice: Bank of England puts Jane Austen on banknote

[ 2013-07-25 13:41] 来源:中国日报网     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

英国央行7月24日宣布,新版10英镑钞票将使用英国19世纪小说家简•奥斯汀的头像取代目前使用的达尔文头像,来缓和女权主义者们关于英国央行低估女性作用的批评。这套纸币预计在2017年开始流通,肖像将以简•奥斯汀姐姐的手绘素描为蓝本,并配上出自《傲慢与偏见》 的一句名言“我觉得什么娱乐也抵不上读书的乐趣。”

今年4月英国央行宣布把5英镑背面的女社会改革家伊丽莎白•弗莱替换成前首相丘吉尔,引发了强烈抗议,因为前者是现版英镑纸币中出现的唯一一位女性。英国和其他国家一样,每隔一段时期更换纸币设计来杜绝假币。从1960年开始纸币正面印的都是伊丽莎白女王的头像,而背面的人物头像是不同时代的英国名人,几乎都是清一色的男性,在伊丽莎白•弗莱之前,女性历史人物只有现代护理学创始人弗洛伦斯•南丁格尔在上世纪70年代中期登上过10英镑纸币。

简•奥斯汀将登上新版10英镑纸币

简•奥斯汀将登上新版10英镑纸币

 British 19th century novelist Jane Austen will become the face of the new 10 pound note, the Bank of England said on Wednesday, defusing criticism that women are under-represented on the country's currency.

British 19th century novelist Jane Austen will become the face of the new 10 pound note, the Bank of England said on Wednesday, defusing criticism that women are under-represented on the country's currency.

The writer of classics such as "Pride and Prejudice", "Sense and Sensibility" and "Emma" will replace naturalist Charles Darwin on the reverse of Britain's most popular banknote.

Britain's central bank sparked an outcry in April when it announced former prime minister Winston Churchill would replace social reformer Elizabeth Fry on the reverse side of the five pound note, depriving the currency of its only female historical figure.

Mark Carney, the first foreigner to head the bank in its 319-year history, praised Austen as "one of the greatest writers in English literature" and said the choice of future banknote characters would be reviewed to ensure a row of this sort did not erupt again.

"We believe that our notes should celebrate the full diversity of great British historical figures and their contributions in a wide range of fields," he told a gathering at the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, the 17th century house where the author wrote some of her best-known novels.

"We want people to have confidence in our commitment to diversity. That is why I am today announcing a review of the selection process for future banknote characters."

The Austen notes are likely to come into circulation in 2017 and will feature a portrait adapted from an original sketch by Jane's sister together with the quote 'I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!' from Pride and Prejudice.

Carney, who headed the Bank of Canada before taking the helm of Britain's central bank on July 1, is keen to assert his reformist credentials in an antiquated institution where doormen still dress in top hats and pink tail-coats.

Whether Carney, who has four daughters, will succeed in redressing the gender imbalance on the bank's monetary policy committee remains to be seen. The nine-strong body has been male-only since May 2010, and only four women have served on the committee since its creation in 1997.

In his first public press conference since taking office, Carney made only the slightest reference to monetary policy.

"You can be comforted that our job at the Bank of England is to protect the value of the new Jane Austen note," he said. "In fact, maintaining confidence in our currency is the fundamental responsibility of your central bank."

Like many other countries, Britain changes the design of its banknotes at regular intervals to address counterfeiting risks.

While the sovereign has been depicted on British banknotes since 1960, the vast majority of historical figures - introduced in 1970 - have been men. The pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale appeared on the 10 pound note from the mid-1970s, but the notes went out of issue in the early 1990s.

Carney said it was never the Bank's intention that none of the four characters on its notes should be a woman, but it would invite feedback from the public on whether it could to do more to comply with its commitment to equality. The conclusions of the review will be announced by the end of the year.

In Canada, the signature of the central bank governor is carried on bank notes but in Britain that honor goes to the chief cashier.

(Source: Reuters)

相关阅读

意小镇自印货币抵制政府缩减

加拿大发行百元面值“塑料钱”

英国央行:丘吉尔肖像将登新版英镑

美国财政部发行龙年“吉利钱” 发行量创纪录

简•奥斯汀将登上新版10英镑纸币

(中国日报网英语点津 Helen )

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn