English No Longer Requirement for New York City Taxi Drivers(翻译)

In New York City, taxi drivers are a largely immigrant community.And now, they are no longer required to know English.
在纽约市里，出租车司机是庞大的移民群体。现在，他们不再需要懂英语了。

In April, New York City’s city council approved a bill that allows tests required to get a taxi license to be given in foreign languages. The bill went into effect on August 26.
四月份，纽约市议会通过了一项法案，允许司机们拿到非英语语种的出租车执照。法案于8月26日生效。

New York City’s taxi industry has been dominated by foreign-born drivers for decades.Only four percent of current New York cab drivers were born in the United States. That statistic comes from the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
纽约市的出租车行业几十年来一直由外裔司机主导。现在只有百分之四的纽约出租车司机是美国公民。数据来自于纽约出租车和轿车委员会。

Sponsors of the bill in the city council argued that the law will allow more immigrants who need work to support themselves.
市议会里该法案的支持者认为，法案可以让更多自力更生的移民生活下去。

Some New York City residents are concerned that the new law would make communication between the driver and the customer even more difficult.
一些纽约市民担心，新法案会让司机和乘客之间的交流变得困难。

Residents are also unsure how they would instruct a driver which route to take or precisely where they are headed.Also, what if payment issues arise?How will the drivers communicate?
居民们也不知道该如何精确地指挥司机走哪条路线、怎么去要去的地方。还有，车费问题不会变多吗？怎么和司机交流呢？

Perhaps technology is the answer.
也许，技术就是答案。

Before advances in technology, the conversation between driver and customer might go something like this:
在技术进步以前，司机和乘客之间的对话可能是这样的：

Driver: Where are you heading?
司机：咱们奔哪儿？

Customer: I need to go to West 79th Street and Broadway. But I saw there was construction on the West Side Highway, so can you go up 10th Avenue?
乘客：我要去西79号街然后去百老汇。但是我看城西高速公路正在施工，所以我们要不走10号大街？

Driver: The traffic there is terrible. How about 8th and cut across on Broadway?
司机：那里的交通状况不好。走8号大街然后抄近路去百老汇行吗？

Customer: Sure, but I’m really in a hurry.Can you step on it?
乘客：行，但是我赶时间。你能快点吗？

Driver: Okay, here you are. West 79th and Broadway. That’ll be $22.50.
司机：好的，到了。西79号街和百老汇。一共二十二块五。

Customer: Here’s $30. Do you have a five?
乘客：给你三十。你有五块的吗？

Driver: Let me look.
司机：我看看。

Customer: Never mind! Just keep the change.
乘客：算了，不用找了。

But these days most taxi drivers use automated payment systems. People pay the fare with their credit or debit cards. They can also use the machines to add a tip.
但是最近大多数出租车司机都用自动支付系统了。人们可以用信用卡或者借记卡付车费。他们也可以使用机器来添加一笔小费。

Also, with the increased use of GPS and navigation apps, communication between drivers and riders has decreased. They really don’t need to talk to each other.
同样的，随着全球定位系统和导航软件的普及使用，司机和乘客之间的交流减少了。他们真的不用和对方说话。

Many New Yorkers feel that as long as their driver can get them to their destination safely, conversation is not needed. Generally speaking, New Yorkers are not known for chit-chatting.
很多纽约人觉得，只要司机把他们安全送到目的地，交流其实没什么必要。一般说来，纽约司机不是以天南海北地闲聊而闻名的。

Even hailing or flagging a taxi does not require speaking. Simply raise your arm and a taxi – you hope – will come.
即使叫车也不需要说话。只要你愿意，挥一挥胳膊出租车就会来了。

I’m Anna Matteo.
安娜·马提欧为您报道。