英语常常由于吸收了来自两个或更多来源的、或多或少同义的词而丰富起来。但用于民族性(ethnicity)或民族主义(nationalism)的分析中的许多词一般含义都不很明确。对于这样一个复杂而又引起争论的题目,所有的名称都多少有些模棱两可,评论者们在表达这些词中的每一个的确切含义时往往不能取得一致意见。因而在一篇有充分权威的文章中规定每个词的“正确”含义可能是很有益的。更现实地说,我们的意图是探讨每个词的指定的意 English is often enriched by the absorption of more or less synonymous words from two or more sources. However, many of the terms used in analyzes of ethnicity or nationalism have little general meaning. All titles are somewhat ambiguous about such a complex and controversial subject, and commentators often fail to reach agreement on the exact meaning of each of these terms. It may therefore be helpful to prescribe the “correct” meanings of each word in a fully authoritative essay. More realistically, our intention is to explore the intended meaning of each word