2010年，聯(lián)合國新聞部（現(xiàn)全球傳播部）宣布啟動聯(lián)合國語言日（Language Days）。

Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
聯(lián)合國語言日的倡議旨在慶賀多種語文的使用和文化多樣性，并促進六種官方語言在聯(lián)合國的平等使用。

聯(lián)合國中文日（UN Chinese Language Day）定在每年的“谷雨”節(jié)氣

The date for the UN Chinese Language Day was on the same day with Guyu (Grain Rain), the 6th of 24 solar terms, to pay tribute to Cangjie, who is claimed to be the inventor of Chinese characters.
中文日定在農(nóng)歷二十四節(jié)氣的第六個節(jié)氣“谷雨”，以紀念“中華文字始祖”倉頡造字的貢獻。

關于“谷雨”節(jié)氣的來歷，據(jù)《淮南子》記載，倉頡造字，是一件驚天動地的大事（the invention of characters is a remarkable achievement），黃帝于春末夏初發(fā)布詔令，宣布倉頡造字成功，并號召天下臣民共習之。這一天，下了一場不平常的雨，落下無數(shù)的谷米（the sky rained millet），以慰勞圣功，后人因此把這天定名谷雨，成為二十四節(jié)氣中的一個，這就是現(xiàn)在的“谷雨”節(jié)氣。

中文是聯(lián)合國的六種正式語言之一

Chinese was established as an official language of the United Nations in 1945.
聯(lián)合國1945年成立時，中文就被確定為正式語言。

In 1973, the General Assembly included Chinese as a working language, which was followed by the Security Council in 1974. More and more UN offices and staff members work with Chinese language.
1973年，聯(lián)合國大會將中文列為工作語言之一，1974年，聯(lián)合國安理會也將中文列為工作語言之一。越來越多的聯(lián)合國機構(gòu)和員工用中文開展工作。

Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, and among the six official languages of the United Nations, it is the only official language used by a single country.
中文是全世界使用人數(shù)最多的語言，在聯(lián)合國的六種正式語文中，中文是唯一一個由單一國家使用的官方語言。

迄今為止，紐約聯(lián)合國總部已經(jīng)成功舉辦了10屆“聯(lián)合國中文日”的慶祝活動，并通過豐富多彩的文化展示和藝術(shù)表演在這個世界最重要的國際機構(gòu)中推動了來自世界各地的聯(lián)合國官員、外交官以及海外華僑對中國語言和文字的了解和喜愛。

今年聯(lián)合國中文日的活動主題是：聚焦象形文字（Highlighting Pictographs）。

其他幾個聯(lián)合國語言日分別是：

3月20日法文日（French Language Day, 法語組織成立紀念日）
4月23日英文日（English Language Day, 莎士比亞誕辰與逝世日）
4月23日西班牙文日（Spanish Language Day, 塞萬提斯逝世日）
6月6日俄文日（Russian Language Day,普希金誕辰日）
12月18日阿拉伯文日（Arabic Language Day, 聯(lián)大于1973年12月18日決定將阿拉伯文定為正式語文）

在這樣一個特別的日子里，不如一起欣賞三首蘇東坡的名作及翻譯泰斗許淵沖的英譯版本，品味語言之美！

水調(diào)歌頭

明月幾時有？把酒問青天。
不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年？
我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。
起舞弄清影，何似在人間！
轉(zhuǎn)朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。
不應有恨，何事長向別時圓？
人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。
但愿人長久，千里共嬋娟！

TUNE: PRELUDE TO WATER MELODY

How long will the full moon appear?
Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly,
Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be
Too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?
The moon goes round the mansions red
Through gauze-draped windows to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Against man she should have no spite.
Why then when people part, is she oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy, they meet or part again;
The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days,
So let us wish that man
May live long as he can!
Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.

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定風波

莫聽穿林打葉聲，何妨吟嘯且徐行。
竹杖芒鞋輕勝馬，誰怕？一蓑煙雨任平生。
料峭春風吹酒醒，微冷。山頭斜照卻相迎。
回首向來蕭瑟處，歸去！也無風雨也無晴。

TUNE: CALMING WIND AND WAVES

Listen not to the rain beating against the trees.
Why don't you slowly walk and chant with ease?
Better than saddled horse I like sandals and cane,
Oh, I would fain,
In a straw cloak, spend my life in mist and rain.
Drunk, I am sobered by vernal wind shrill
And rather chill.
In front I see the slanting sun atop the hill;
Turning my head, I find the dreary beaten track.
Let me go back!
Impervious to wind, rain or shine, I'll have my will.

----------------

念奴嬌

大江東去，浪淘盡千古風流人物。
故壘西邊，人道是三國周郎赤壁，
亂石崩云，驚濤裂岸，卷起千堆雪。
江山如畫，一時多少豪杰！
遙想公瑾當年，小喬初嫁了，雄姿英發(fā)。
羽扇綸巾，談笑間檣櫓灰飛煙滅。
故國神游，多情應笑我早生華發(fā)。
人間如夢，一尊還酹江月。

TUNE: CHARM OF A MAIDEN SINGER

The endless river eastward flows;
With its huge waves are gone all those
Gallant heroes of bygone years.
West of the ancient fortress appears
Red Cliff where General Zhou won his early fame
When the Three Kingdoms were in flame.
Rocks tower in the air and waves beat on the shore,
Rolling up a thousand heaps of snow.
To match the land so fair, how many heroes of yore
Had made great show!
I fancy General Zhou at the height
Of his success, with a plume fan in hand,
In a silk hood, so brave and bright,
Laughing and jesting with his bride so fair,
While enemy ships were destroyed as planned
Like castles in the air.
Should their souls revisit this land,
Sentimental, his bride would laugh to say:
Younger than they, I have my hair turned grey.
Life is but like a dream.
O moon, I drink to you who have seen them on the stream.

參考來源：聯(lián)合國官網(wǎng)

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen）