美国传统文化.docx

1、美国传统文化Travel美国旅游风尚 (转载)(2006-12-26 08:00:50) 分类： 英文精选 Its summertime, and the livin is easy. For many Americans, this is the season to travel. Why? Because school is out. Because the weather is great. And most of all, because we all deserve a break. When Americans take a break, they often head for t

2、heir favorite vacation spot.夏天到了，生活很惬意。对很多美国人来说，这是个旅游的季节，为什么？因为学校放假，因为天气很好，但最重要的是，休个假是我们所应得的。美国人休假时经常会去他们最喜欢的渡假地点。Throughout their history, Americans have been people on the move. The early immigrants had to travel to get to the New World. Once they arrived, they settled along the East Coast. But th

3、ey werent content to stay there. Explorers and traders journeyed to the unknown western territories. Later, settlers moved west to develop these new areas. As a result of this westward migration, Americans eventually occupied the whole continent-from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even today, American

4、s seem unable to stay put. Research says that the average American moves every five years.纵观整个历史，美国人一直是个迁移的民族。早期的移民者必须长途跋涉才能抵达新大陆，他们一到达就沿着东岸定居，但却不满于长居那地，冒险家和商人旅行至未知的西部地区。稍后，移民者也向西迁移去开发这些新地区。由于向西迁移，美国人最后占据了整块新大陆-从大西洋到太平洋。即使到今天，美国人似乎仍然无法在一地久居。根据研究，美国人平均每五年要搬一次家。Besides their habit of changing addresse

5、s, Americans are used to traveling. Some people make long-distance commutes to work daily. Their jobs may even require them to take frequent business trips. Most companies provide an annual vacation for their employees, and people often use that time to travel. Some people just visit friends or rela

6、tives in distant states. Others go on low-budget weekend excursions and stay in economy motels. Those with more expensive tastes choose luxurious resorts and hotels. Camping out in the great outdoors appeals to adventurous types. Some travel in recreational vehicles (RVs) to camp out in comfort, whi

7、le others rough it by sleeping in tents.除了搬家的习惯以外，美国人也很习惯旅行。有些人每天上下班得做长距离的通勤，工作上甚至经常需要因公旅行。大部分的公司每年会提供年假给员工，人们通常会利用这段时间去旅行。有些人去远一点的别州拜访朋友或亲戚，有些则在周末有个经济的小假期，并住在花费不高的旅馆里。品味较昂贵的人选择豪华的渡假地点和饭店；绝佳的户外露营则吸引冒险型的人。有些人开着旅行车出游，以舒适的方式露营；有些人则睡帐篷尝试野外生活。Most Americans prefer to travel within their nations borders.

8、Why? For one thing, its cheaper than traveling abroad, and theres no language problem. But besides that, the vast American territory offers numerous tourist attractions. Nature lovers can enjoy beaches, mountains, canyons, lakes and a wealth of natural wonders. Major cities offer visitors a multitud

9、e of urban delights. The convenience of modern freeways, railways and airplanes makes travel in America as easy as pie.大部分美国人比较喜欢在国内旅游，为什么呢？其中一个原因是，国内旅游比国外旅游便宜，也没有语言不通的问题。但除此原因以外，占地极广的美国国土提供了许多能吸引游客的地点。爱好大自然的人可以到海滩、山上、峡谷、湖泊和很多大自然奇景地区游览。大城市也提供给游客们很多都市型态的娱乐。现代高速公路、铁路和飞机使得在美国旅行很容易。Many American vacatio

10、ns are as unique as the people who take them. Families often plan their trips with the kids in mind. More and more family friendly vacation resorts offer special programs for children. History buffs seek out famous historical sites and museums. Environmentalists prefer green vacations. These trips a

11、llow them to observe flora and fauna up-close without disturbing the sensitive balance of nature. Some people find sea cruises relaxing and refreshing. Others hit the water to go fishing, skiing or white-water rafting. Daring souls get the thrill of a lifetime on trekking expeditions and safaris in

12、remote places from Africa to Asia.很多美国假期非常特别，和参与此种假期的人一样特别。全家出游时通常会将孩子考虑在内，有愈来愈多适合全家出游的渡假地点为孩子提供特别的活动。对历史有兴趣的人会找一些著名的历史据点和博物馆。有环保意识的人喜欢环保假期，这样的旅行使他们能近距离观察动植物，并且不会扰乱了大自然敏感的生态平衡。有些人觉得海上旅游能使心情放松并感到清爽，有些人则到水边钓鱼、滑水或泛舟。胆子大的人到亚洲和非洲去探险狩猎作长途旅行，享受一辈子难得一次的刺激。Americans arent the only people in the world who tra

13、vel. International business, mass communication and jet airplanes have created a world of globetrotters. People all over the world enjoy going abroad to travel. And no matter where they live, people enjoy visiting scenic spots in their own country. But being on the go makes Americans what they are:

14、people on the move. In America, almost every-body is a tourist sometime.美国人不是世上唯一爱旅行的人。国际企业、大众传播与喷射机创造了一个环游世界者的世纪。全世界的人都喜欢到海外旅游，不管住在那里，人们都喜欢去造访自己国家内风景优美的地区。不过好动的本性使美国人变成今天的模样：成为爱迁移的人。在美国，几乎每个人都有旅游的经验。Language 美国语言(转载)(2006-12-17 10:37:03) 分类： 英文精选 What do you call someone who speaks three languages?

15、 Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? An American.你如何称呼能说三种语言的人？三声带。能讲两种语言的人又如何称呼？双声带。那么，只会一种语言的人呢？美国人。To people in many countries, being bilingual or even trilingual is a way of life. But since the mother tongue

16、of most Americans is English-a language widely spoken around the world-they often dont feel the need to learn a foreign language. Moreover, people who live in the heartland of America have little contact with other linguistic groups, making foreign language skills irrelevant.对许多国家的人而言，说两种或三种语言，是家常便饭

17、。但在美国，由于大多数人的母语为英语-一个世界上广泛通用的语言-因此美国人都不觉得有必要学习外语。此外，居住于美国大陆内地的人，较少与其它语言族群接触，因此外语能力更显得无关紧要。Actually, though, this land of immigrants has always had people of many different nationalities-and languages. The 1990 census indicates that almost 14% of Americans speak a non-English language at home. Yet on

18、ly 3% reported that they spoke English not well or not at all. That means that slightly more than one out of 10 Americans could be considered bilingual. Besides that, many high school and college students-and even some elementary school students-are required to take a foreign language as a part of t

19、heir curriculum. In addition to old standbys like Spanish, German and French, more and more students are opting for Eastern European and Asian languages. Of course, not all students keep up their foreign language abilities. As the old saying goes, If you dont use it, you lose it. But still, a growin

20、g number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of being multilingual.事实上，在美国这块移民之地，一直住着来自不同国籍、说不同语言的人口。一九九年的人口普查显示，几乎百分之十四的美国人，在家里不讲英语。只有百分之三的人宣称他们英语说得不好或根本不会说。这表示十分之一强的美国人可视为双声带。此外，许多中学生、大学生，甚至小学生在校的学科都必须加修一门外语。除了西班牙文、德文与法文等常选的第二语言外，愈来愈多的学生选修东欧和亚洲语言。当然，并非所有学生都能够学以致用。套句老话：不用就会丢掉。尽管如此，愈来

21、愈多的美国人已经开始意识到会说多种语言的好处。Ethnic enclaves, found particularly in major metropolitan centers, have preserved the language and culture of American immigrants. Some local residents can function quite well in their native language, without having to bother learning English. Regions such as southern Florida

22、 and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. In fact, Spanish speakers-numbering over 17 million-compose the largest non-English linguistic group in America. But Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Polish and many other ethnic groups add to the linguistic flavor of America. Foreign lan

23、guages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods that visitors might think they are in another country!在主要大都市里，有许多族群居住的社区，都还保存着移民的文化传统和语言。有些当地人在生活上只讲母语就够了，根本不需要学英语。佛罗里达州南部以及美国西南部等区，有许多说西班牙语的社区。事实上，说西班牙语的人口超过一千七百万，是美国最大的非英语系族群。不过，还有中国、越南、意大利、波兰与其它很多种族的族群，更使美国语言增色不少。在许多外来民族的后裔社区里，由于外语的广泛使用，甚至会

24、使访客有身置异国的感觉。Although some Americans welcome this linguistic and cultural diversity, others have begun to fear that the English language is being threatened. Since the 1980s, the English Only movement has sought to promote legislation which would establish English as the official language and restric

25、t the use of non-English languages. However, some groups, including TESOL, the organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, object to such language restrictionism. Their view, known as English Plus, suggests that Americans should have respect for peoples native language and c

26、ulture, while promoting the teaching of English to help them fit into the mainstream of society. But so far, 19 states have passed English Only legislation, and the topic is the focus of an ongoing debate.虽然有些美国人欢迎这种语言与文化多元化，也有些人担心英语已经受到威胁。从一九八年代以来，唯用英语(English Only)运动即试着开始推动立法，将英语订为官方语言，并限制其它语言的使用。

27、但有些团体，如教导母语为其它语言学生的英语教师组织（简称TESOL)，就反对这种语言限制主义。他们提倡的英语与外语（English Plus)，建议美国人应尊重其它族群的母语以及文化，同时也推广英语教学，帮助其它族群融入社会主流。但是到目前为止，已有十九个州通过唯用英语一法；该议题也一直是辩论的焦点。Whether or not English is the official language of the United States, it remains the language of wider communication. Nearly everyone recognizes the

28、need to develop proficiency in English in order to do well in America. To help those who want to brush up on their English skills, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes abound. Cities with large numbers of recent immigrants often set up bilingual education programs to teach students content sub

29、jects in their native language while they improve their English. Language educators often have strong and divergent views as to which approach helps learners achieve better results: a bilingual approach, an ESL approach-or even a pure immersion (sink or swim) approach. However, all these teachers sh

30、are a common commitment: to help students function well in English.无论英语是否是美国的官方语言，它仍是广泛沟通的语言。在美国，几乎每个人都了解，若想要出人头地，必须精通英语。为满足那些想精进英语能力的人的需要，教导英语为第二语言的机构（ESL）到处都是。拥有大批新进移民的一些大都市，都设有双语教学课程，在移民们加强英语能力的同时，用移民们的母语教授普通科目。语言教育学家对何种方法才能帮助学生更有效地学习英语-利用双语教学、ESL教学、或让学生完全浸入一个英语的环境（认输或强学-），都拥有强烈并分歧的看法。但这些教师都拥有共同使

31、命：帮助学生流利地使用英语。Americans recognize that English is the de facto international language, and people with good English skills can get by in many international settings. On the other hand, in a world growing increasingly smaller, second language skills can be a great boon. They can build cross-cultural

32、bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career fields. Indeed, lack of foreign language proficiency can limit ones chances for advancement-and keep one in a cultural cul-de-sac. As many people in America are discovering, being monolingual is no laughing matter.美国人了解，英语就是一个实际的国际语言，若能操流利的英语，在许多国际场合都能派得上用场。另一方面当国际间的距离越变越小时，拥有第二外语能力极为有利。外语能力可以建立文化交流的桥梁，并且使人们在不同的专业领域里，占得优势。的确，缺乏外语能力不仅限制个人的擢升，并且把个人限制在文化的死胡同内。很多美国人都逐渐发现，只会一种语言，不再是一