去郵局寄信、到商場購物、到旅行社訂出行計劃… 這樣的事情在網(wǎng)絡(luò)走入人們的生活以后正在慢慢淡出歷史舞臺。能在網(wǎng)上解決的事情就不用在現(xiàn)實生活中費精力、費時間了??墒?,你想過嗎?其實這個世界上還是有那么一些人并不怎么了解網(wǎng)絡(luò)的。
For many of us below a certain age, use of the web is routine, and our children have only ever known a world where going online is an accepted norm of everyday life. However the fact remains that there is still a significant part of the population who do not use the Internet, either because their social situation precludes access, or because they are part of an older generation for whom the Web still seems something of a mystery. These people are now being referred to as nonliners.
對于中年以下的人來說,運用網(wǎng)絡(luò)是件習(xí)慣成自然的事情,而我們的下一代所了解的世界也是一個將上網(wǎng)作為生活常態(tài)的地方。事實上,仍然有相當(dāng)一部分人并不使用因特網(wǎng),可能是因為他們所處的社會環(huán)境沒有上網(wǎng)的條件;也可能是因為他們出生的年代較早,對他們來說,網(wǎng)絡(luò)還是個神秘的事物。這些人就被稱為nonliner(無網(wǎng)人員)。
Nonliner is of course a play on onliner, blending this word with the prefix non-, meaning 'not'. The term seems to be very recent, only having popped up in the last year or so, amidst a growing awareness of the need to help a significant minority who do not possess the skills or resources to access the Internet.
Nonlinear這個詞很明顯是對onliner(在線人員)這個詞的戲改,加了前綴non,表示“無”。這個詞大概是去年才出現(xiàn)的,與之一同走入人們視線的是,越來越多的人意識到還有相當(dāng)一部分人缺少連接到因特網(wǎng)的技能或資源,他們需要幫助。
相關(guān)閱讀
網(wǎng)絡(luò)囤積 cyber hoarding
(中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯)