新奇事件簿 Kiwi不是歧视性词汇

A court in Australia has judged that the use of the word "Kiwi" to describe a person from New Zealand is not discriminatory. New Zealander Julie Savage¹ filed a complaint against an Australian bakery where she was nicknamed "Kiwi" by her colleagues. She asserted that the term "Kiwi" was a form of racial discrimination and was insulting and disrespectful. However, the employment tribunal decided² otherwise and dismissed her complaint. The bakery owner argued that the term "Kiwi" was one that most New Zealanders were proud of. He said the New Zealand government openly endorses³ the term and that it was used as "a term of endearment⁴ and as a means of identifying as a New Zealander".

澳大利亚一家法院判决使用“Kiwi”一词称呼来自新西兰的人不属歧视。新西兰人朱莉·萨维奇向一家澳大利亚面包店提起诉讼，该店同事戏称她为“Kiwi”。她声称“Kiwi”一词是种族歧视的一种形式，且感觉受到侮辱和不尊重。但劳资仲裁法庭并不这么认为并驳回了她的投诉。面包店店主争辩称“Kiwi”一词是让大部分新西兰人骄傲的事物之一。他表示新西兰政府公开支持该词，而且该词被用作是“表示亲昵的术语，是鉴别新西兰人身份的方式”。

The tribunal judge ruled that calling a New Zealander a Kiwi was not offensive. She said: "'Kiwi' is not an insult." In her findings, the judge observed that Ms Savage, "did not allege⁵ that she suffered unfavourable treatment in respect of the terms of her employment, lack of progression or segregation⁶". Australia's Commissioner⁷ for Equal Opportunity acted on Ms Savage's behalf. She determined⁸ that: "If someone takes particular offence at that nickname and doesn't like it and says they don't like it and asked not to be called that anymore, then in a respectful workplace, that's what you'd do, you wouldn't call them that anymore." The bakery owner said he employs "every nationality known to man" and is not a racist⁹.

法庭法官判决称一名新西兰人是Kiwi不属冒犯行为。她表示：“‘Kiwi’不是侮辱。”在她的发现中，法官注意到萨维奇女士，“没有宣称自己在工作期间遭遇了不适宜的对待，不存在进一步发展或种族隔离的情形。澳大利亚机会平等委员会代表萨维奇女士提起诉讼。她认为：“如果有人对这个词特别生气，不喜欢这个词，也明确表示过他们的不喜欢，并且要求别人再也不要这么称呼自己那么在一个有礼貌的工作场合，我们就应该不再那么称呼他们。”面包店主表示他雇用“人类已知的每个民族”，而且他并非种族歧视者。

1 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

4 endearment   

n.表示亲爱的行为

参考例句：

• This endearment indicated the highest degree of delight in the old cooper.这个称呼是老箍桶匠快乐到了极点的表示。
• To every endearment and attention he continued listless.对于每一种亲爱的表示和每一种的照顾，他一直漫不在意。

5 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

6 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。