Somalia is a country in East Africa, on the corner of the continent that sticks out into the Indian Ocean — the part often called the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia and Kenya are its neighbours, and it has a very long coastline. The capital is Mogadishu, and the population is around ten to twelve million. Most people there speak Somali, and Arabic is also widely used.

Somalia is a country in East AfricaSomalia是東非的一個國家 on the corner of the continent that sticks out into the Indian Ocean位於突出到印度洋的那個角落 the part often called the Horn of Africa也就是常被稱為Horn of Africa（非洲之角）的地方 Ethiopia and Kenya are its neighboursEthiopia（衣索比亞）和Kenya（肯亞）是它的鄰國 and it has a very long coastline而且它的海岸線非常長 The capital is Mogadishu首都是Mogadishu（摩加迪休） and the population is around ten to twelve million人口大約一千萬到一千兩百萬 Most people there speak Somali大部分當地人說Somali語 and Arabic is also widely usedArabic（阿拉伯語）也很普遍使用

It is worth knowing why the name comes up in English news so often. Since 1991 the central government has been weak or absent for long periods, and different armed groups have fought each other. Many people have died in the fighting and in the terrible food shortages that followed.

It is worth knowing why the name comes up in English news so often值得知道的是為什麼這個名字常常出現在英文新聞裡 Since 1991自從1991年開始 the central government has been weak or absent for long periods中央政府長期處於薄弱甚至不存在的狀態 and different armed groups have fought each other不同的武裝團體彼此交戰 Many people have died in the fighting很多人在戰亂中喪生 and in the terrible food shortages that followed以及後來嚴重的糧食短缺中喪生

American soldiers were sent there in 1993 to help protect food aid, and left in 1994 after a battle in Mogadishu that Americans still remember. For about ten years after that, ships off the Somali coast were attacked by pirates, which put the name in headlines all over the world.

American soldiers were sent there in 1993 to help protect food aid美軍在1993年被派過去協助保護糧食援助 and left in 1994 after a battle in Mogadishu that Americans still remember並在1994年、一場美國人至今還記得的Mogadishu戰役之後撤離 For about ten years after that在那之後大約十年間 ships off the Somali coast were attacked by piratesSomali海岸外的船隻常常遭到海盜攻擊 which put the name in headlines all over the world讓這個名字登上了全世界的新聞頭條

Because of all this, the word 'Somalia' carries heavy associations for many English speakers, and you should be careful with it: for the people who live there, and for the large Somali communities in Britain, the United States and Scandinavia, it is simply home. The adjective and the word for the people is Somali, not 'Somalian' — and Somaliland, in the north, is a separate matter: it declared itself independent in 1991, though most countries do not recognise it.

Because of all this因為這些歷史 the word 'Somalia' carries heavy associations for many English speakers「Somalia」這個字對很多英語使用者來說帶著沉重的聯想 and you should be careful with it你使用時要小心 for the people who live there, and for the large Somali communities in Britain, the United States and Scandinavia對住在當地的人還有對在英國、美國和斯堪地那維亞的龐大Somali社群來說 it is simply home這裡就只是「家」而已 The adjective and the word for the people is Somali, not 'Somalian'這個字的形容詞和指當地人的說法是Somali不是「Somalian」 and Somaliland, in the north, is a separate matter而北邊的Somaliland則是另外一回事 it declared itself independent in 1991它在1991年宣布獨立 though most countries do not recognise it不過大部分國家並不承認