宏浩翻譯有限公司

◎魏國金

A Swiss court has ordered that a chicken be locked up in a soundproof box every night so its neighbours can get a good night’s sleep, the ATS news agency reported.

瑞士一個法庭命令必須把一隻雞每晚鎖進隔音箱，以便讓鄰居們晚上能好好睡覺，瑞士ATS新聞社報導說。

The court at Ticino in southern Switzerland even stipulated that the box, in which the chicken must be kept from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, should be at least eight centimetres thick and insulated with glass wool.

瑞士南部提契諾邦的法院甚至規定這個箱子應該至少有8公分厚，同時以玻璃棉隔音。這隻雞從晚間10時至清晨7時務必被關在該只箱內。

The decision ends a five-year battle between the authorities in the village of Sant’Antonio and the chicken’s owner.

這項判決讓聖安東尼歐村當局與雞飼主長達5年的爭訟畫下休止符。

The authorities, alerted by complaints from neighbours, earlier ordered that the bird be put in a henhouse at night. The measure, however, was found to be pointless.

由鄰人的申訴而察知此事的地方當局，之前命令這隻鳥禽晚間必須被放進雞舍，然而這項措施被證實毫無意義。

新聞辭典

soundproof︰隔音的。～proof表示不能穿透的、抗…、防…，比如︰heatproof（耐熱的）、rustproof（防鏽的）、earthquake-proof（抗震的）。

stipulate︰規定、約定、講定。例句︰She stipulated three things before she can agree to do the job.（她提出3件事，以作為同意做這份工作的條件。）

insulate︰使隔絕、使絕緣。例句︰They have found a way to insulate themselves against the cost of inflation.（他們找到免受通膨損失的方法。）insulating tape，絕緣膠帶。

pointless︰無意義的、不得要領的、乏味的。例如，a pointless remark，沒頭沒腦的話；a pointless story，平淡的故事。