从几个与 DOM 脚本编程有关的术语翻译说起
2007年08月14日 原创
本文的关键词：Unobtrusive Javascript、Progressive Enhancement、Gracefully Degrade。
今天，刚开始学习 JavaScript 的人是有福气的，因为他们面对的 Web 世界虽然还不够完美，但毕竟较之从前已经是进步良多了。
为什么这么说呢？JavaScript 新手可能或多或少地知道，在早期浏览器竞争的背景下，各浏览器厂商标新立异，独树一帜，纷纷推出自己的独门绝技。“百花齐放，百家争鸣”的结果虽然催生了 Web 的早期繁荣，为 JavaScript 后来登堂入室埋下了伏笔。但同时也造成了 JavaScript 脚本编写者们苦不堪言的局面，大量的时间和精力被投入到了浏览器及版本检测上面。而且，为实现同一个功能往往要针对不同浏览器的不同版本多次重写相同的代码逻辑，导致了严重的人力资源浪费；在更深层面上，由于无法做到“编写一次，随处运行”，也就意味着将来的 API、库或者框架们根本没有诞生的土壤。而且，由于代码无法重用意味着开发效率难以提升，JavaScript 编程似乎永远是难登大雅之堂的“小玩艺”而已。
可怜的 JavaScript！ (摘自《Practical JavaScript DOM Scripting and Ajax Projects》)
在 W3C、ECMA 以及一些有识之士的不懈努力下，也是在 Microsoft 的 Internet Explorer 不断改进的基础上（毕竟 IE 的市场份额太大了），Web 开发产业终于等到了第二个春天－－一个遵奉标准、笃行规范的 Web 新世界展现在世人面前。JavaScript 也从“世上最被人误解的语言” ，一跃成为 Web 开发产业中的又一主角，而且随着 Ajax 异步通讯模式的“重现江湖”并迅速大行其道，以 JavaScript 框架、RSS、XML 等诸多 Web 技术的创新应用为标志的富客户端概念再度流行。JavaScript 终于得到了它应有的尊崇地位。
JavaScript 获得了应有的尊敬。（摘自《Practical JavaScript DOM Scripting and Ajax Projects》）
如今，当初学者们随便拿起一本 JavaScript 书时，“Web 标准”都是出现频率最高的词汇。但在 Web 标准的背后，有三个重要的关键词注定将被载入史册，它们分别是：Unobtrusive Javascript、Progressive Enhancement 和 Gracefully Degrade。
提到这三个关键词，也要提到三个人：Chris Heilmann、Jeffrey Zeldman 和 Jeremy Keith。Chris Heilmann 最迟在 2005 年 6 月之前写成一篇长文，文章题目就是 Unobtrusive Javascript 。而 Jeffrey Zeldman 则在 2003 年 5 月出版了专著 Designing with Web Standards（中文版由电子工业出版社出版），该书较早地提倡“遵循 Web 标准进行设计”；而 Jeremy Keith 则是成立于 1998 年的 Web Standards Project (WaSP) 的 DOM Scripting Task Force 的领导人，也是 DOM Scripting（中文版由人民邮电出版社出版）的作者，对 DOM 脚本编程的发展起到了直接推动作用。
当然，Chris Heilmann、Jeffrey Zeldman 和 Jeremy Keith 只是倡导 Web 标准的众多有识之士中的代表人物，而 ECMA 262（ECMAScript Language Specification）和 W3C 的 DOM、Event 和 Style 等规范作为标准匆庸置疑地起到了中流砥柱的作用。
其实，最终还是想分享一下我对 Unobtrusive Javascript、Progressive Enhancement 和 Gracefully Degrade 这三个新兴术语的理解。
Unobtrusive Javascript，字面意思是“不唐突的 Javascript”或者“不莽撞的 Javascript”。虽然直译未尝不可，但显然不够精确。要精确地翻译这个词，就需要从其本质含义下手，追根溯源，查清它的来龙去脉。请看下面简单的代码：
function someFunc() { if (!document.getElementById || !document.createTextNode){ return; } /* … 其他代码 … */ }
someFunc 函数的函数体内第一行是一个 if 语句，该语句判断的条件是
!document.getElementById || !document.createTextNode
即，如果浏览器不支持这两个标准方法中的任何一个，那么就返回－－什么也不做；也就是说，只有当浏览器同时支持这两个标准的方法时，才会执行 if 语句之后的代码。这其实就是所谓的 Unobtrusive Javascript 的核心，很有点知难而退的意思，不是吗？翻译成中国话就是“知其可为而为之”或者“知其不可为而不为”。那么，这个意思怎么翻译，而且怎么用三、四个汉字来准确地表达相同的意思呢？为寻找合适的答案，我几乎穷思极虑，仍然不得要领。结果，苦思冥想了好几个月的问题，今天堵车堵在天通苑时，似乎找到了答案。不卖关子了，我想出的译法是－－“有的放矢”，说全了就是“有的放矢的 JavaScript”。“有的放矢”这个成语的意思是“有靶子才射箭。比喻说话、做事都有明确的目的（金山词霸2007－高级汉语词典）”。Chris Heilmann 虽然不一定知道中国有这么好的成语，但他的意思肯定也是这样。总而言之，Unobtrusive JavaScript 是一种“文雅”的说法，如果不客气的说，那就是“不标准的浏览器我 JavaScript 不伺候！”。能想出这么一个词，也真是难为这些老外了，想想他们，再想想自己，苦思冥想几个月又算得了什么呢？
Progressive Enhancement 和 Gracefully Degrade 可以说是一对儿“双胞胎”。因为，如果只有它们其中一个，而没有另一个，那么整个“包容”的概念是不完整的。说白了（怎么老是忍不住用粗话呢？），为了给用户更佳的体验，我想做到 Progressive Enhancement。然而，要是人家浏览器不支持怎么办？好吧，那就 Gracefully Degrade 吧。换句话说，Progressive Enhancement 是代表美好理想的新体验，而 Gracefully Degrade 则是面对残酷现实的替代品。（难怪 DOM Scripting 的译者们会把后者译为“预留后路”呢。没错，要是美好的理想实现不了，也不能“一死了之”呀，所以要“留一手”才对）。这两个概念，也不是只有与 JavaScript 有关的书中常见，.NET 中同样有类似的术语。但就 JavaScript 而言，这两个概念应该如何翻译才好呢？字面意思， Progressive Enhancement 是“改进性增强”，而 Gracefully Degrade 是“优雅的降级”，没错，但还是不够准确（笔者在2006年6月份翻译 Chris Heilmann 的长文《从 DHTML 到 DOM 脚本编程》时就将前者翻译成了“进步性增强”，将后者翻译成了“适度地妥协”，但现在认为这仍然不准确）。同样经历了一个艰苦的去粗取精、去伪存真的漫长过程，也同样是在今天堵车堵在天通苑时，这两个术语似乎有了点眉目。
从本质上讲，这两个概念涉及到通过 JavaScript 提升用户体验（增加更多的便利功能）和保证网页的可访问性（不能“英勇就义”就算完事了）这两个重要的核心思想。而决定用户体验好坏的当然是 JavaScript 所提供的新功能。如果用户的浏览器支持标准（并且启用了 JavaScript），那么 JavaScript 就会通过提供更多的便利功能使用户体验更上一层楼；而如果浏览器不支持标准（或者出于安全考虑关闭了 JavaScript），那么就把这些便利功能统统撤掉，就当它们不存在，虽然用户不如在前一种情况下方便，但仍然可以保证访问到页面的内容。基于这个分析，我决定把这两个术语分别翻译为：“功能增进”和“功能减退”。这样，无论从字面上，还是从含义中，都能体现 JavaScript 在面临标准和不标准的浏览器共存（以及用户开不开启 JavaScript ）的现状时，所作出的抉择。
PS：以上分析我在11月份有又了新认识 
以下是笔者在 2006 年 6 月翻译的 Chris Heilmann 的长文《从 DHTML 到 DOM 脚本编程》（1.0版）。其中，有些概念和用词并不一定准确，请读者诸君善自斟酌，本文仅供参考。
为之漫笔（李松峰），本博客专注于Web前后端技术、移动平台开发技术、交互设计和技术翻译。声明一下，因为时常需要外出审稿，而且基本不带笔记本，所以有时可能会迟一点回复大家的留言。
This topic was really nice.hongxinmaoyi232post
New listed discount price fake ray ban sunglasses have sold on our shop online, as the style offake ray bans have a breakthough in optical technology, ray ban new aviator, ray ban new wayfarer are more loved by people, to our surprise, cheap ray banshave a role in the year round.
The blog article very surprised to me! Your writing is good
Canada Goose is specialized in Canada Goose Jakke to protect from authentic extreme weather.
Great,I have bookmarked your blog to keep up with the new topics you will post in the future.
Moncler jackets style of management has always been the trend.moncler outlet Regardless of Moncler jacket is thick, but the loss of the variety and style.canada goose outlet Why now, what do you be concerned about fashion? You just have to know whether or not Moncler lived as a result of that date. Moncler is named following the sale of special construction and high quality.You houesehold get some low cost,belstaff outlet excellent Moncler ski jacket or ski jacket for males, ladies opt.Many ladies can not be cool and stylish Moncler coat, when they fell in like with a specific style, they are doing their greatest to get it. belstaff outlet They may perhaps have the budget to be employed to get clothes or the repayment of the credit-automobile time to clarify whatever they do, they can not live without this style Jackets.So proposal Moncler,they really want an affordable sale. Moncler jackets not only defend against cold, but they are also the style of your post.
His times using the Bears started to be numbered using the signing of Marion Barber, and any attempts to business him went nowhere. but do not exercise using the team. He is anticipated to participate in Wednesday’s workout and be available when Arizona opens its time period Sunday at house against the Carolina Panthers.yangchengbin/201111
I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
It is nice to know this. Thanks for the time and effort. It is well appreciated. More to come.
Might take you up on that home advice youThis is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion.
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion.
Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..This is really a fascinating blog, lots of stuff that I can get into. One thing I just want to say is that your Blog is so perfect!linmei/comment201111
Shop the golf clubs at a lower price ,No sales tax,
Alway Free delivery.
Very nice, gives me a lot of inspiration being right in the midst of a redesign. It’s all in the details and comment forms are definitely overlooked more often than not. Time well spent on this post.
I simply added your web page to my favorites. I like reading your blog.linmei/comment201111
I agree with your blog, lucky to read your blog! It makes me have the courage to stick to it!linmei/comment201111
Thank u for your sharing.Your blog has a unique feature that can make the people who reads become happy.After reading your blog,I feel happy.
linmei/comment201111
The kindness of things. I do not know what I would do, if I did not find such a theme. I can see at this moment, my future. Thank you very much reliable and results-oriented guidance.linmei/comment201111
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello acknowledged the discussions using the Colts greater compared to weekend. “The team completely understood the problems and committed to addressing them,” Aiello mentioned in an electric mail toward the connected Press.”We have been informed last evening of the choice reached by the team and Mr. Tressel. We think it is appropriate.”
In a statement, Polian mentioned that “questions have been raised with respect toward the equity of his appointment as opposed to suspensions getting serves this season by present and previous Ohio State players.” yangchengbin/201111
I am usually to running a blog and i actually recognize your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your website and hold checking for brand new information.caiyifang/comment201111
Excellent task ! Your web-site has given me all the strategies and information I expected .linmei/comment201111
Love the information here. Adding to my bookmarks. Thank you!linmei/comment201111
The kindness of things. I do not know what I would do, if I did not find such a theme. I can see at this moment, my future. Thank you very much reliable and results-oriented guidance.caiyifang/comment201111
http://www.mbtmenshoesoutlet.com/mbt-women-shoes-mbt-name-women-shoes-c-109_158.html Some people do not watch to sudden left; something accidentally forgotten; some memory, have been very good, and now have been erosion of the.
Great article , thanks for sharing it , i like your blog , have a nice day.
The post is written in very a good manner and it contains many useful information
Thanks for sharing.linmei/comment201111.
I will definitely be adding this blog to my favorites list so I can share it with my friends. I appear forward to coming back to read your future posts also.linmei/comment201111
This blog is very cool!
It is useful information.linmei/comment201111
Nice information and facts! I have been seeking for everything like this for some time currently. Many thanks!linmei/comment201111
Nice information and facts! I have been seeking for everything like this for some time currently. Many thanks!linmei/comment201112
Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..This is really a fascinating blog, lots of stuff that I can get into. One thing I just want to say is that your Blog is so perfect!linmei/comment201112
weddingdresslove.co.uk specializes in designing and manufacturing various styles of high quality wedding clothing and apparel in China. All of these products are delicate, beautiful, fashionable and also of good quality. We do both wholesale and retail business, all Wedding Clothing and Apparel are made by our own professional factory…
I am very happy to read this article.thanks for giving us this useful information. Fantastic walk-through. I appreciate this post. linmei/comment201112
is a good article for us ,i have been find everywhere for this kind of point ,All Moncler products are produced by Original Brand from Manufacturer.We strives to be the most stylized, most robust, and most functional site for Moncler Clothing on the web.> In the case of an online experience,we promise to give you the best service.yangchengbin/201112
you might have a terrific weblog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my weblog?linmei/comment201112
This blog is very cool!
It is useful information.linmei/comment201112
Many articles is useful for me. I will be right back again.linmei/comment201112
I will definitely be adding this blog to my favorites list so I can share it with my friends. I appear forward to coming back to read your future posts also.linmei/comment201112
I love the daily blogs, brilliant. You’ve inspired me. I’ve started blogging again. Thank you!linmei/comment201112
good arctile , thanks for sharing it and please keep doing this good job .
The hospital of day nursery run by the Cancer influence is always in funds.These people are good soap-box orators . Any cause strong enough to capture their interest will give them a crusading spirit.
Enjoy the important among the style of which at long last need to wrist watch button embodied through the MotoGP established sign.
Inside the routine just before have seen associated with style regarding fixed control to timepiece are already included in different unique season’s unique, make your 09 months are not at all opening up, has developed into a benefit focusing on this weather.
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality This is a really good read for me. its really very good post. Thanks for posting this informative article.caiyifang/comment201112
Thanks for taking the time to chat about this, I feel fervently about this and I benefit from learning about this subject..caiyifang/comment201112
Your article is useful for me. It is a good article.
Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching something and your post looks very entertaining for me. Great page you are running there. And many thanks for posting this.caiyifang/comment201112
nice post , i like it , thanks for sharing it . have a nice day.
good post , thanks for sharing it . have a nice day .
It is a good post , I like it and please keep writing .