Sketching is a useful tool for artists

Yang Li:  Hi everyone, I’m Yang Li. Today I’ve invited my colleague Finn to join me
for this edition of Question and Answer of the week from BBC Learning
English. Hi Finn.
 
Finn:    Hi Li. For today’s programme we’ve chosen a question from Chengyue Hui,
who wants to know the difference between draft and sketch.
 
Yang Li:  Draft and sketch 这两个词 有很多不同的用法，不过最常的意思就是草稿和草图，
draft 多指文字稿，而  sketch 多指图像和绘画。
 
Finn:  Listen to the following example:
 
Insert
 
This is only the first draft of my speech, what do you think of it? 
This is only the first draft of my speech, what do you think of it?
 
Finn:  Here the word draft means a piece of text in its initial state, often
containing the main ideas and intentions but not the fully developed form:
草稿。
 
Yang Li:  Yes we could say, the first draft 初稿；  the second draft 二稿或者  the final
draft 末稿。  Listen to the next example.
 
Insert
 
What are you drawing?
I’m just doing some sketches for my next painting. 

 
Finn:  Here the word sketch is used as a noun, meaning a simple, quickly-made
drawing which does not have many details 草图。 
 
Insert
 
What are you drawing?
I’m just doing some sketches for my next painting. 
 
Finn:  So, both draft and sketch can also be used as verbs. For example, I asked
Linda to draft a proposal for the project to discuss at the meeting. Here, to
draft means to make initial or rough plans. 
 Yang Li  我让  Linda 草拟一个项目建议大家可以在会上讨论。这里 draft 是动词，意思是草拟
计划。How about sketch Finn?
 
Finn:  Right. When we use sketch as a verb we often use it as a phrasal verb to
sketch something out meaning to give an outline of something.
 
Yang Li:  To sketch out 是个短语动词，意思是简略地描述。  For example.
 
Finn:    She sketched out the plan in a few brief sentences. 
 
Yang Li:  她用几句话把计划作了简要描述。不过  sketch 更多还是作名词来用。  Finn shall
we have a look at some of its other meanings?
 
Finn:  Sure. Well, we use the word sketch a lot in the British media. For example,
sketch can mean a short written or spoken story which does not have
many details, so 喜剧，讽刺画。 The drama group did a sketch about a
couple buying a new car. 
 
Yang Li:   这句话里的  sketch 是名词，意思是小品。戏剧组演了一个夫妇买汽车的小品。
 
Finn:   Here is another example. She writes satirical sketches for a magazine.
 
Yang Li:  她为一家杂志写讽刺小品  sketches. 

Finn:    We could also say this is a biographical sketch of the Prime Minister.
 
Yang Li:  这是关于首相的生平简介。 A biographical sketch of the Prime Minister.
 
Finn:  Just like sketch, the word draft also has a few other meanings.
 
Yang Li:  第一，选拔队/征兵。
 
Finn:  He was drafted into the army.
 
Yang Li:  第二，汇票/付款通知单。
 
Finn:  A banker’s draft.
 
Yang Li:  第三，穿堂风。注意，英式英语的拼法是 D.R.A.U.G.H.T. draught.
 
Finn:  Don’t sit in the draft (or draught), you will catch a cold. 
 
Yang Li:  Finally there are two ways of pronouncing the word draft. 
 
Finn:  That’s right. So in British English, people would normally say draft whereas
most Americans would say draft.
 
Yang Li:        Draft and draft. Half and half.
 
Finn:  Half and half! Well today we’ve explained the differences between draft and
sketch and how to use them in different contexts.  

Yang Li:  Hope this is helpful but do feel free to drop us an email at
chinaelt@bbc.co.uk if you have further questions or any other questions. 
 
Finn:  Thanks for listening and see you next time.
 
Yang Li:  谢谢大家，我们下次节目再会！ 

Glossary

the first draft 一稿

sketches 草图

to draft a proposal 草拟计划

sketch out the plan 简要地描述计划