The (last census found) that almost 400 different langusges are spoken in homes across Australia, where a quarter of the population was born overseas.

最近的一次人口普查发现，澳大利亚家庭中使用的语言有近400种，其中四分之一的人口是在国外出生的。

In the 1980s, the government gave special attention to teaching Asian languages in schools and universities as (Canberra sought) closer ties with its regional neighbours.

20世纪80年代，在堪培拉当局跟其邻邦寻求更紧密关系时，政府部门对在中、小学及大学教授亚洲语言给予了特别的重视。

But increasingly it appears that commitment has (waned), and Australia is less able to deal with its neighbours.

然而事实显示政府的重视程度已经越来越衰退了，澳大利亚在处理与邻邦关系方面的能力也在减弱。

Figures show that only 13% of Australian high school graduates know a foreign language, (less than) half of thoes (are proficient) in an Asian language. Four decades ago, 40% have foreign language skills.

数据显示，澳大利亚高中毕业生中只有13%的学生懂得一门外语，其中掌握亚洲语言的则不足一半。而40年前，掌握外语技能的占40%。

Research by Australia universities has shown that a (monolingual) country often performs worse in international trade and diplomacy.

由澳大利亚各大学联合进行的一项研究显示，单语国家在国际贸易及外交方面的表现通常要逊色些。

Professor (Elise Tipton) from Sydney University says increasingly students (do not) feel the need to learn another language to boost their careers.

悉尼大学的Elise Tipton教授表示越来越多的学生认为没有必要学习另一种语言来推动他们事业的发展。

She believes that Australia's economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for it minerals, is helping (mask) serious (deficiencies) in its language skills.

她认为澳大利亚繁荣的经济是由对其矿物的火热需求而产生的，它对掩盖缺乏语言技能起到了负面的作用。