英語のニュースを読むコツ（11）頻出表現：匿名の情報筋「anonymous source」等

「英語のニュースを読むコツ」シリーズにようこそ。

英語のニュース記事では、「匿名の情報筋」や「匿名を希望した関係筋」という意味の表現が、よく使われます。例えば、次の文では下線を引いた語句です。

The Chinese investigators were expected to spend up to four hours at the site to study it [= a bus explosion] closely, one senior Pakistani administration official told Reuters, asking to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the media. (Reuters, July 17, 2021)

情報筋が匿名であることを示す表現に慣れておくと、ニュース英語・時事英語がさらに読みやすくなります。そこで、今回は、こういった表現のうち頻度の高いものを、用例を使って見ていきましょう。（原文の後に和訳を添えますが、日本文としての読みやすさを優先しており、必ずしも原文の文構造を正確に反映しているわけではありません。）

「asking to remain anonymous」

この表現の用例は既に上で一つ見ましたが、あといくつか見てみましょう。

A relative of one inmate facing execution told the Observer that his life had become a nightmare since the executions. “These prisoners were arrested with no evidence, tortured for months, convicted in sham trials and are now living in fear of their lives,” he said, asking to remain anonymous for fear that speaking out would lead to his relative being singled out. (Observer, September 1, 2012)

“The rumors started that they were going to sell something, so everyone came out and started to beat on the warehouse door, there were a lot of desperate people, kids and pregnant women,” said a local resident, asking to remain anonymous. (Reuters, May 23, 2017)

“It has a small smoking area, fingerprint turnstiles and a canteen not capable of the social distancing standard,” the worker reported, asking to remain anonymous because of the worry of being sacked. (BBC News, March 24, 2020)

Cases where it [= a task force] has taken action with raids or questioning represented “the tip of the iceberg”, the official said, asking to remain anonymous so that investigations are not impeded. (Reuters, April 8, 2022)

Asking to remain anonymous due to the seriousness of the incident, he said: “Shorty after 12 they heard a bang but they thought it was a car backfiring.

“Five minutes later there was banging at the front door and there was a chap there saturated in blood.” (Daily Record, January 15, 2022)

ところで、この用例では「backfiring」の後に引用符「”」が無く、この匿名の情報筋の発話がまだ続いているように見えるものの、二つ目の段落の初めに、発言の始まりを示すかのような引用符「”」があります。これを「少し変だな」と思われたでしょうか。実は、同じ人の発話（発言）が続いているにもかかわらず新たな段落を設ける場合は、このように、発話の最初の段落の最後に発話の終わりを示す引用符「”」は付けません。しかし、次の段落の最初には発話の始まりを示す引用符「”」を付けるのが慣例です。

“We are totally disappointed with Greek authorities,” her sister told the AP in Paris, asking to remain anonymous to protect her safety. (Independent, February 18, 2022)

「asking not to be named」

この表現は、先ほど考察した表現と意味も構造も同じですね。

“Once the voters have their registration cards in their hands and feel there has been some progress, then we can tell them it will be delayed,” he said, asking not to be named. (NBC News, February 5, 2005)

“Everyone, including the government and the Communist Party, has got involved and accused foreigners of stealing from the poor,” an expatriate businessman told AFP, asking not to be named. (Independent, December 5, 2010)

“I wouldn’t keep any money in Peru, not a penny,” the attorney added, asking not to be named because of sensitivities about the political situation. (NBC News, June 16, 2021)

Asking not to be named, she told the ECHO that she flew from the airport, which has been plagued with stories about staffing shortages, causing huge queues and baggage chaos in recent weeks. (Manchester Evening News, April 5, 2022)

“Eni is taking a bit more time to assess developments but will have to start procedures to open a rouble account next week or risk being in breach of contract,” one of the sources said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. (Reuters, May 13, 2022)

「asked to remain anonymous」

この表現は、基本的な意味は既に見た２つの表現と同じですが、「ask」が現在分詞ではなく過去形です。

One self-styled ethical hacker, who goes by the name Sick Codes and asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC he had discovered weaknesses in John Deere’s software, which he had reported. (BBC News, May 21, 2022)

A photo taken by his friend shows the charred remains of a victim lying face down, holding his head up, suggesting he was burned alive. “I am very upset, it is unacceptable,” said the 19-year-old, who like others interviewed by the AP asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. (AP News, December 30, 2021)

Reuters was able to corroborate some of the details described by the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, through security footage taken in the bar. (Reuters, May 9, 2022)

Two Americans shipping military supplies to Ukraine, who asked to remain anonymous, said they had seen rapid export license approvals. (Reuters, March 10, 2022)

「asked not to be named 」

すぐ上の表現と、意味も構造も同じですね。

“It was not wheat alone. The rise in overall prices raised concerns about inflation and that’s why the government had to ban wheat exports,” said another senior government official who asked not to be named as discussions about export curbs were private. “For us, it’s abundance of caution.” (Reuters, May 14, 2022)

A regional security official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the slain troops had moved to the checkpoint just hours before the attack. (NBC News, January 7, 2006)

The family, who have asked not to be named because of the growing danger in Ukraine’s second city, adopted a heavily pregnant dog they found wandering in the ruins of Kharkiv in the middle of March. (Guardian, April 19, 2022 )

「wished to remain anonymous」

この表現では、「asked」のかわりに「wished」が使われています。

One scam victim, who wished to remain anonymous, says she lost thousands of pounds to scammers after trying to find new investments to grow her savings. (BBC News, May 5, 2022)

A local television channel’s female employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters Taliban officials had visited their office on Wednesday. (Reuters, May 19, 2022)

A former Briton Ferry Town player originally from Pakistan, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I came across it and became very offended. This topic is so sensitive for people from ethnic backgrounds.” (Wales Online, May 18, 2022)

Net income in the first half of 2011 came to almost $500 million, according to the source, who wished to remain anonymous because privately-held Facebook does not disclose its results. (Reuters, September 8, 2011)

「wished not to be named」

この表現は文言が少しだけ違いますが、パターンは先ほどの表現と同じです。

A neighbour, who wished not to be named, said: ‘I was watching telly when, about half 1 in the morning, I heard a woman screaming for about five minutes. (Metro, April 25, 2022)

A resident, who wished not to be named for security reasons, told CNN the city was “very quiet,” though shops were open and buses and taxis appeared to be running normally. (CNN, November 15, 2017)

“I was inside just enjoying myself and pop, pop, pop. Next thing I knew they were wheeling them out on stretchers,” said a witness to the carnage who wished not to be named. “It’s crazy around here.” (New York Daily News, May 7, 2022)

The doctor, who wished not to be named due to his hospital protocols and the sensitivity of the issue, said they diagnosed Pranaiya with postpartum depression and that her symptoms — including suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping and a lack of energy or interest in activities — were in line with those of a severe depressive disorder. (CNN, May 4, 2022)

「citing an unnamed (source)」

この小見出し↑の中で、カッコを付けている「(source)」の部分には、様々な単語や表現が使われることがあります。例えば、「government official」、「insider」、「person familiar with …」などです。

「citing an unnamed source」の意味は「匿名の情報筋の話として」や「匿名の情報筋を引用して」ということです。

用例を見ましょう。

Russian energy giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) will not publish its first-quarter financial results, Interfax reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed source. (Reuters, May 17, 2022)

Ford Motor is in talks to sell its Volvo car business to its China partner Changan Automobile Group, the National Business Daily reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed source at the Chinese company. (Reuters, December 8, 2008)

Russia will strengthen its Baltic fleet in response to U.S. plans to deploy Patriot missiles in Poland, Russian state news agency RIA reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed senior navy official.

“The surface, underwater and aviation elements of the Baltic Fleet will be strengthened,” RIA quoted the unidentified Russian navy official as saying. (Reuters, January 21, 2010)

India and Research In Motion have moved closer to agreement on lawful access and monitoring of highly secure corporate e-mail on BlackBerry devices, a newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed interior ministry official. (NBC News, November 17, 2010)

「quoting an unnamed (source)」

動詞の部分が「citing」の代わりに「quoting」です。

Israeli warplanes flying over Lebanon fired missiles toward areas near the Syrian capital of Damascus late Tuesday, hitting an arms depot and wounding three soldiers, Syrian state media reported, saying that most of the missiles were shot down by air defense units.

The TV, quoting an unnamed military official, identified the warplanes as Israeli. (AP New, December 26, 2018)

The Washington Post, quoting unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, reported Sunday that the UAE orchestrated the hacking and planted a false story that was used as a pretext for the crisis between Qatar and four Arab countries. (AP News, July 18, 2017)

Many newspapers reported on Friday that McMorris Rodgers likely would be selected for Interior secretary, always quoting unnamed sources. But no formal announcement was made. (AP News, December 14, 2016)

「citing an anonymous (source)」

この表現は「unnamed」のかわりに「anonymous」を使っていますが、意味は変わりませんね。

Citing an anonymous government official, Mainichi reported: “In the current situation it is impossible to bring in foreign spectators.” (Guardian, Marchi 3, 2021)

Although Rosenstein’s statement Thursday does not mention any specific story, the warning comes the same day as a Washington Post story citing an anonymous source reported that Mueller was investigating the business dealings of the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. (USA Today, Jun 15, 2017)

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported Celsius reduced its borrowings of the tether USDT stablecoin ahead of the latest market volatility, reducing it by half to 500 million in recent months, citing an anonymous source. (Forbes, May 16, 2022)

Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership on May 12, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported late on Sunday, citing anonymous government sources. (Reuters, May 2, 2022)

「quoting an anonymous (source)」

動詞が、「citing」の代わりに「quoting」になっています。意味はほぼ同じです。

UK-based specialty chemicals manufacturer, Elementis is said to be exploring a sale of its Chromium division, according to a report published by Bloomberg, quoting an anonymous source ‘familiar with the matter’. (Global Cosmetic News, March 30, 2022)

Since the end of March, Huawei has stopped taking on new contracts to supply network equipment to Russian operators, according to an April 1 article from Russian news outlet Izvestia, quoting anonymous sources from Huawei’s business partners. (Business Insider, Apr 13, 2022)

German weekly Welt am Sonntag had reported on Saturday that armaments manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann offered 100 howitzers, a type of artillery weapon, to Ukraine, quoting anonymous government sources in Kyiv. (Reuters, April 10, 2022)

The article quoting anonymous Conservative MP sources claimed Angela Rayner used a tactic of crossing and uncrossing her legs in the House of Commons to distract Boris Johnson…. (Wales Online, April 26, 2022)

「according to an anonymous (source)」

次の二つの表現は、「citing」や「quoting」の代わりに「according to」を使ったものです。「匿名の情報筋によると」という意味ですね。

According to an anonymous senior administration official, Priebus responded to the FBI’s McCabe: “Okay, what am I supposed to do?” (NBC News, February 24, 2017)

The incoming Trump administration was briefed on the playbook but it was “thrown on to a shelf”, according to an anonymous official quoted by Politico. (Guardian, March 31, 2020)

According to an anonymous source quoted by the Sun-Times, the investigation itself is “absolutely not” connected to the shipment of the heads. (NBC News, January 15, 2013)

About 26 colleges said that students would not be able to enroll in the next semester or graduate if they have an unpaid balance due to the missing grant, according to an anonymous survey conducted earlier this month by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

「according to an unnamed (source)」

The number of civilians killed had grown to 113 by early Friday, according to an unnamed Afghan health ministry source. (NBC August 27, 2021)

The process was swayed by the publicity an honour might get rather than genuine merit, according to an unnamed Whitehall source. (Guardian, December 30, 2003)

The data breach was discovered in mid-September, but [the company] kept the matter quiet at the request of the Department of Justice, according to an unnamed company official who spoke to the New York Times. (NBC News, October 24, 2012)

According to an unnamed “diplomatic source” quoted by The Guardian, the transcript records Foreign Secretary voicing concern that assertions being made by Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush about Saddam Hussein’s arsenals could not be proved. (Daily Mail, May 31, 2003 )..

「anonymity」

次に、「on condition of anonymity」や「requested anonymity」など、「anonymity」が使われている用例を見ましょう。

An Iraqi oil ministry legal adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that a joint government committee, including representatives from the oil ministry including the minister, Iraq’s National Oil Company (Inoc) as well as the Federal Board of Supreme Audit (FBSA), will conduct a contractual review. (Reuters, May 19, 2022)

One business owner, who had trepidatiously put a Strahan sign in her shop window, said Strahan would be more effective in Washington but requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation — specifically the fear of receiving a threatening voicemail from the congresswoman. (CNN, May 21, 2022)

The Biden administration has sent out the first batch of invitations to the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next month, an administration official said on Friday.

But the official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, declined to say which countries are on the invitation list or whether or not Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua would be excluded. (Reuters, May 20, 2022)

Gendron’s parents were not known to hold extremist views, according to two New York residents who have worked with his parents at the state Department of Transportation and who shared their views on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. (CNN, May 18, 2022)

CNN is not able to verify the number of dead but a witness speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity said that bodies were seen after the explosion.

The source required anonymity due to the politically sensitive nature of the attacks, and fear of reprisal from the government. (CNN, April 22, 2022)

「speaking anonymously」

情報筋が匿名であることを示す表現パターンを、もう一つだけ見ましょう。すでに考察した「anonymous」という単語の副詞「anonymously」です。

A source close to the Australian Open defending champion, speaking anonymously to detail private planning, said his legal team would immediately take an adverse decision by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to court. (The Age, January 13, 2022)

Washington officials speaking anonymously to the Associated Press painted a 1 March ceasefire proposal as an attempt by Moscow to give itself and the Syrian government three more weeks to try to crush moderate rebel groups. (Guardian, February 11, 2016)

“No one has money,” one current employee of Afghanistan’s central bank told CNN last week. The employee, speaking anonymously due to fears for their safety, said many families don’t have enough money for their daily spending and some paychecks have been halted. (CNN, September 2, 2021)

The Russian refusal to sign off on members of new expert panels is already delaying investigations of sanctions violations in South Sudan, Congo and Central African Republic, said the diplomats, insisting on speaking anonymously to reveal details of what are supposed to be private consultations. (AP News, Sept. 29, 2021)

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今回は、情報筋が匿名であることを示す表現を見てきました。こういった表現はニュース記事で頻出するので、それに慣れると、英語のニュースもさらに読みやすくなると思います。

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★　ニュース記事で頻繁に省略される単語やフレーズについては、こちら ⇩ をご覧ください。

★　時事英語（英語のニュース）の頻出単語・表現を集中的に学習する教材をお探しでしたら、こちらで ⇩ おすすめ教材を紹介していますのでご覧ください。

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