美國最糟旗幟迎來重新設計：英語精讀講義

Breaking flag news, 表達脈絡

突發旗幟新聞，

breaking flag news.

突發旗幟新聞。

Minnesota is redesigning her flag.

明尼蘇達州正在重新設計她的旗幟。

The current colors provocatively called

目前的旗幟顏色極具挑釁意味地被

quote worst in the Union by some YouTuber.

某位YouTuber稱為「全美最差」。

Minnesota asked for submissions,

明尼蘇達州公開徵集設計，

received thousands out of which selected six, 文法

收到了數千份投稿，從中選出了六份，

then thinned to three,

然後縮減到三份，

one of which to be picked as new before end of the year.

其中之一將在年底前被選為新旗幟。

Which of the three will it be?

究竟會是這三份中的哪一份呢？

Doubtless many Minnesotans and YouTubers will want to weigh in. 片語動詞

毫無疑問，許多明尼蘇達人和YouTuber都會想發表意見。

And I will because breaking flag news is rare and exciting.

我也會，因為旗幟的突發新聞既罕見又令人興奮。

So exciting that this is my second Minnesota flag redesign video.

太令人興奮了，以至於這是我第二部明尼蘇達州旗重新設計影片。

The first with my first impressions of the six semifinalists

第一部影片是我對六個準決賽作品的第一印象，

I gave semi-serious names I'm sticking with for cinematic continuity. 片語動詞

為了保持影片的連貫性，我給它們起了半開玩笑的名字並沿用至今。

But enough with the intro, 表達脈絡

開場白就說到這裡，

on to the top trio with designs as described by their documents for you to decide upon.

接下來是前三名，根據其文件描述來展示設計，供你評判。

First up, Star Rise.

首先是 Star Rise。

So Minnesota is the North Star State thanks to the Angle Inlet 片語搭配

明尼蘇達州是「北極星之州」，這要歸功於安格爾灣，

that US-Canadian map making muddled up that inched Minnesota out over the 49th parallel

美加地圖繪製時的混亂讓明尼蘇達州越過了北緯49度線，

putting her as America's northernmost contiguous state.

使其成為美國最北部的本土州。

Thus Star Rise centers on the North Star here

因此，Star Rise 以這顆北極星為中心，

with eight points to distinguish it from the standard state stars.

帶有八個角，以區別於標準的州星。

The blue is the sky that gives colors to Minnesota's 10,000 lakes

藍色是賦予明尼蘇達州萬湖色彩的天空，

with a rolling green landscape for the forests and farms

起伏的綠色景觀代表森林和農場，

and a bit of snow up top because it's cold up top.

頂部有一點雪，因為上面很冷。

That's Star Rise,

這就是 Star Rise，

on to Old Wavy.

接下來是 Old Wavy。

Here again is a North Star

這裡又是一顆北極星，

this time distinctified as four points in yellow

這次特別設計成了黃色的四角星，

and on the upper fly is described as wisps of snow, clouds, and aurora 用詞

並且在上半部被稱為雪、雲和極光的縷縷形態，

that are reflected along the bottom half as the head of the Mississippi River.

在下半部倒映出密西西比河源頭的樣子。

You might see a loon,

你可能會看到一隻潛鳥，

the common loon is the state bird.

普通潛鳥是該州的州鳥。

You might not,

你也可能看不到，

but it's there.

但它就在那裡。

And that's Old Wavy.

這就是 Old Wavy。

Last up,

最後登場的是

Polaris Tricolor.

Polaris Tricolor。

Starting with a hoist design in the simplified shape of Minnesota herself, 用詞

旗桿一側是以明尼蘇達州簡化形狀為設計的，

an eight-pointed star is centered inside with more of a twinkle look

裡面居中是一顆八角星，看起來更有閃爍感，

and from that feature tricolors extend for the lakes, land, and snow.

從這個特徵延伸出代表湖泊、土地和雪的三色條紋。

These are the final three

這就是最終的三強，

and if you haven't ranked them yourself already,

如果你自己還沒有給它們排名，

pause here to give it a ponder 片語搭配

在這裡暫停一下，思考一下，

cuz I've got thoughts I'm about to share in 3 2 1.

因為我將在 3 2 1 後分享我的想法。

All right,

好的，

Old Wavy.

Old Wavy。

Of the top three,

在前三名中，

it's easily the awfulest.

它無疑是最糟糕的。

In my first impressions video,

在我的第一印象影片中，

did not like this design

我就不喜歡這個設計，

and given time to reflect upon it 文法

並且在有時間反思之後，

has but changed my position to do not like harder.

我的立場只是變成了更加不喜歡。

And learning the details of the design didn't help either.

了解這個設計的細節也無濟於事。

Snow, clouds, and the Aurora Borealis are very different things

雪、雲和北極光是非常不同的東西，

and this squiggle looks like none of them.

而這條波浪線看起來哪個都不像。

It's reflection I can see as a river if I try

如果我努力想像，我可以把它的倒影看作是一條河，

and it may be inspired by the loon

它可能受到了潛鳥的啟發，

but to me it looks like a duck

但對我來說，它看起來像一隻鴨子，

and a duck side down duck. 慣用語

一隻倒立的鴨子。

In fact,

事實上，

I think this design really represents the potential danger in flag redesigns.

我認為這個設計真實反映了重新設計旗幟的潛在危險。

Maybe it can serve as warning to any states who might want to go next 片語搭配

也許它可以作為對接下來想要重新設計州旗的各州的警告，

because when you ask for designs of a state, 文法

因為當你為一個州徵集設計時，

you'll get designs that stick all the stuff of the state on the flag.

你會得到把該州所有東西都塞到旗幟上的設計。

Like the loon and the Mississippi and the Aurora.

比如潛鳥、密西西比河和極光。

But the goal of a flag is not to use pre-existing symbols 文法

但是旗幟的目的不是使用現有的符號，

but to become a symbol of its city or state.

而是要成為其城市或州的象徵。

or state state. And all that stuff?

或者說是州的象徵。那所有這些東西呢？

Well, there's a perfect place for it in your seal

嗯，你的州徽裡有它們完美的位置，

which we don't have time to get into 片語動詞

我們沒有時間深入討論，

but Minnesota also just redesigned hers into a total banger. 用詞

但明尼蘇達州也剛剛把她的州徽重新設計成了一個絕對的傑作。

Best seal in the Union?

全美最棒的州徽？

Uh, I don't actually know because I haven't gone through all of them. 片語動詞

呃，我其實不知道，因為我還沒全部看一遍。

Oh, they're so interesting.

哦，它們太有趣了。

No, Grey. don't get distracted.

不，格雷，別分心。

There's no time.

沒時間了。

You have yet to give your hottest of takes which 講解

你還沒有給出你最犀利的觀點，

before I say the sentence that will doubtless drive many mad,

在我說出那句毫無疑問會讓很多人發瘋的話之前，

this video had to be written, recorded, edited, animated, and edited again all in a day.

這部影片必須在一天內完成撰寫、錄製、剪輯、動畫製作和再次剪輯。

So I did and reserve the right to retract. 片語搭配

所以我這樣做了，並保留撤回的權利。

But I actually think I might prefer Minnesota's original flag over Old Wavy.

但我其實覺得我可能更喜歡明尼蘇達州原來的旗幟，而不是 Old Wavy。

I know, it's terrible,

我知道，它很糟糕，

literally worst in the Union,

字面上看是全美最差，

but there's kind of an achievement in that.

但這其中也有一種成就感。

At least it's outstanding. 慣用語

至少它很突出。

Aren't the real worst things those in the middle of bad

真正最糟糕的東西難道不是那些處於糟糕中游的東西嗎？

where there isn't even any fun to be had in the art of entertaining complaining. 文法

在這些東西上，你甚至無法在抱怨的藝術中找到任何樂趣。

That's Old Wavy.

那就是 Old Wavy。

bad but middle mediocre which is worse than being the worst.

糟糕但處於中庸之道，這比最差還要糟糕。

Uh, yeah, so anyway,

呃，對，所以不管怎樣，

in case you couldn't tell, 語氣意圖

以防你看不出來，

I really don't like this design

我真的不喜歡這個設計，

and its alternative options are even uglier.

而它的替代選項甚至更醜。

So let's just move on to Star Rise,

所以讓我們繼續看 Star Rise，

which is fine.

它還不錯。

I don't have a lot to say about this one

我對這個設計沒什麼好說的，

because it's better but maybe not amazing.

因為它更好，但也許並不令人驚豔。

If Old Wavy is mediocre bad then this one is mediocre good.

如果 Old Wavy 是平庸的糟糕，那麼這個就是平庸的不錯。

Now, that's a bit too harsh.

好吧，這有點太嚴苛了。

Really, my main complaint is that it's so good at evoking the idea of a landscape 文法

其實，我的主要抱怨是它太擅長喚起風景的感覺，

that it looks kind of odd when hung vertical.

以至於垂直懸掛時看起來有點奇怪。

North Star to side star?

北極星變成側面星？

There are alternative options that move the star but still.

有其他的選項可以移動星星，但還是那個問題。

But I'd rate any of these as a legit improvement over the original flag 片語搭配

但我認為這些都比原來的旗幟有了合理的改進，

and would probably put Minnesota somewhere in the region of Mississippi's recent redesign. 片語搭配

可能會把明尼蘇達州放在密西西比州最近重新設計時的水準線上。

Yeah?

是嗎？

I don't know.

我不知道。

But better for sure.

但肯定是更好了。

Now on to Polaris Tricolor

現在來說 Polaris Tricolor，

which come on girl, 語氣意圖

拜託，老兄，

contest over, right?

比賽結束了，對吧？

It's awesome.

它太棒了。

That Minnesota K is so cool subtly representing the great state.

那個「明尼蘇達K」非常酷，巧妙地代表了這個偉大的州。

It's a unique design element not just among state flags but world flags. 文法

這不僅在州旗中，在世界旗幟中也是一個獨特的設計元素。

I kind of can't believe no tricolor hoist has inverted a triangle before

我有點不敢相信以前沒有三色旗在旗桿側使用過倒三角形，

because it looks so truly traditional.

因為它看起來是如此的傳統。

Something that could have been designed at any time in the long past. 文法

像是漫長過去的任何時候都可以設計出來的東西。

Thus basically guaranteeing it'll look great into the long future

因此，這基本上保證了它在漫長的未來也能看起來很棒，

unlike say Old Wavy which despite my nickname looks painfully modern

不像 Old Wavy，儘管我給它起了這個綽號，它看起來卻現代得讓人難受，

and is destined to be dated in under a decade. 用詞

注定在不到十年內就會過時。

Polaris Tricolor looks like a flag

Polaris Tricolor 看起來像一面旗幟，

especially when you rotate it with North Star top star

特別是當你把它旋轉成北極星在頂端時，

and still stands out even without wind. 片語動詞

而且即使沒有風也能脫穎而出。

Now, the only thing I'm afraid of for perfect Polaris 文法

現在，我對完美的 Polaris 唯一擔心的是，

is there are a bunch of variants all of which detract from the original design. 片語搭配

有很多變體，所有這些變體都會損害原始設計。

Look,

聽著，

I get the desire to tinker at the last second. 語氣意圖

我能理解在最後一秒進行微調的渴望。

When this first caught my eye, 慣用語

當這第一次吸引我的目光時，

I did wonder about the slightly muted colors

我確實對略微柔和的顏色感到疑惑，

and had second thoughts about the white stripe up top. 片語搭配

並對頂部的白色條紋產生了懷疑。

But unlike Old Wavy,

但與 Old Wavy 不同，

my love for this design has only grown with time. 片語搭配

我對這個設計的喜愛隨著時間的推移而增長。

White stripe on top makes it distinct from some of the most well-known tricolors

頂部的白色條紋使它有別於一些最著名的三色旗，

and the slightly muted colors convey a northern kind of cold coziness

而略微柔和的顏色傳達出一種北方的寒冷與舒適感，

and look better together than brightening the blue.

並且放在一起看起來比調亮藍色更好。

I mean, look,

我的意思是，看，

the design is so strong it would survive small changes

這個設計非常強大，可以經受住微小的改變，

but they'd hurt my heart a bit.

但它們會讓我的心有點痛。

Thus the original tricolor Polaris design as the artist intended

因此，藝術家意圖呈現的原始三色 Polaris 設計

gets my unambiguous approval

得到了我明確的認可，

and I hope to soon see it flying over the land of 10,000 Lakes. 文化背景

我希望很快能看到它飄揚在萬湖之地的上空。

But I'm not a Minnesotan.

但我不是明尼蘇達人。

It's not my opinion that matters. 文法

我的意見並不重要。

I'm just here cuz I can't stop myself from being on the edge of my seat 慣用語

我在這裡只是因為我情不自禁地處於緊張期待之中，

to see what Minnesota selects for herself.

想看看明尼蘇達州為她自己選擇了什麼。

Please pick Polaris Tricolor though. 語氣意圖

不過，請選 Polaris Tricolor 吧。