Scientists say they have discovered the oldest DNA on record.

科学家表示他们发现了有记录以来最古老的DNA序列。

It was found in the teeth of mammoths that lived in northeastern Siberia up to 1.2 million years ago.

该基因是在有120万年历史的西伯利亚东北部的猛犸象的牙齿中发现的。

In an unusual turn of events,

在不同寻常的情况下，

English speakers sometimes use other pronouns to talk about inanimate objects – usually with the pronoun she.

说英语的人有时会使用其他代词来谈论无生命的物体——通常是代词“she”。

To be clear: this use is not very common.

需要明确的是：这种用法并不常见。

Still, you might hear she when people are talking about objects that are very close to them.

不过，当人们谈论离他们关系非常近的物体时，可能会用到代词“she”。

For example, it could be an object that a person has worked on or been with for many years.

例如，它可能是一个人已经工作或使用多年的东西。

Often, these objects will be large and used for transportation

通常，这些物体都很大，用于运输

- cars, ships, boats, and yes, even spacecraft.

——汽车、轮船、船只，是的，甚至是宇宙飞船。

It would sound strange to talk about a smaller, simpler object with the pronoun she.

用代词“she”来谈论一个更小、更简单的物体听起来很奇怪。

For example, it would be hard to imagine a speaker of American English using she to talk about a nail or a flower pot.

例如，很难想象一个讲美式英语的人用“she”来谈论钉子或花盆。

Speakers of different kinds of English refer to inanimate objects in slightly different ways.

说不同种类英语的人对无生命物体的称呼略有不同。

In a paper on New Zealand English,

在一篇关于新西兰英语的论文中，

Laurie Bauer notes that she is used to talk about inanimate objects

劳里·鲍尔指出，“she”被用来谈论无生命的物体

– particularly if the object is "a ship, car, or other piece of much-loved machinery."

——尤其是当这个物体是“一艘船、一辆车或其他备受喜爱的机械设备”时。

But, Bauer adds,

但是鲍尔补充说

speakers of New Zealand English use she to refer to objects in a way that is different from other kinds of English.

讲新西兰英语的人用“she”来指代对象的方式不同于其他类型的英语。

One example Bauer gives is "she's a good crash-helmet,"

鲍尔给出的一个例子是“她是一个很好的安全帽”，

a statement made in an everyday discussion.

这是在日常讨论中做出的声明。

Bauer notes that this use also sometimes appears in Australian English.

鲍尔指出，这种用法有时也出现在澳大利亚英语中。

He is careful to add that some kinds of Australian English also use he with a similar meaning.

他谨慎地补充说，一些澳大利亚英语中也用“he”来指代类似的意思。

The good news for you is this:

对你来说，好消息是：

you do not need to use the pronoun she in the way that we have discussed today.

你不需要像我们今天讨论的那样使用代词“she”。

When you are speaking,

当你说话的时候，

you should use the pronoun it when you talk about inanimate objects.

当你谈论无生命的物体时，你应该使用代词“it”。

This will help you avoid any confusing situations.

这将帮助你避免任何混乱的情况。

But understanding how some English speakers use different pronouns can be useful to you

但是了解一些说英语的人如何使用不同的代词会对你很有帮助，

– particularly if you are listening to everyday discussions or watching films.

尤其是当你在听日常讨论或看电影的时候。

The next time you are watching American films – and particularly films about spacecraft, cars, boats, or ships

下次你在看美国电影的时候，尤其是关于宇宙飞船、汽车、船只的电影的时候，

– pay careful attention to the pronouns that the speakers use when they talk about inanimate objects.

要特别注意说话人谈论无生命物体时使用的代词。

Over time, you will develop a stronger understanding of the small details in meaning that different pronouns can give.

随着时间的推移，你会对不同的代词所能表达的意思的细节有更强的理解。

I'm John Russell.

约翰·拉塞尔为您播报。

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