American Social Relations 中英文對照

1、4.American Social Relations Gladys G. Doty Janet Ross American society is much more informal than that of many other countries and ,in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. The American mixture of pride in achievement and sense of “Im just as good as anybody else.” Along with lack

2、of importance placed on personal dignity, is difficult for a foreigner to understand. Americans in general do not like to be considered inferior, and they grumble loudly about inc onveniences or not getting a “fair deal.” Yet they do not make a point of their personal honor. As an illustration of th

3、e difference between European and American reflection in this respect, John Whyte in American Words and Ways gives the following account.美國的社會比其他國家的社會更加非正式,在某些方面,美國社會的特征就是較少的社會差別。美國式的混合物-個(gè)人的成就感、不比別人差的優(yōu)越感以及對個(gè)人尊嚴(yán)缺乏重要性,這些對一個(gè)外國人來說是很難理解的。通常來講美國人不喜歡被別人看成低人一等的,他們也會為自己遭受的不便而抱怨,還會為自己沒有得到公平的待遇而抱怨。然而,他們也不是很重視自

4、己的榮譽(yù)。在這一方面,為了更好展示歐洲人和美國人的不同反映,John Whyte 在美國語言和方式這本書里給了我們?nèi)缦碌拿枋觥 .European professor visiting in America was once sent a bill for hospital services which he had never enjoyed. The bill was accompanied by a strong letter demanding payment. It was obvious that a mistake in name had been made, but the

5、professor, thoroughly aroused by this reflection on his character and financial integrity , wrote a vigorous letter of reply (which an American might also have done . But in this letter of reply he demanded that the creditor write him a formal letter of apology for this reflection on his honor. Sinc

6、e on publicity could possibly have been given to the mistake, for mistake it was ,most Americans in that situation, after getting the matter off their chest (or without doing that would have let the matter rest.有位歐洲的教授曾在美國訪問,他有次收到一份在醫(yī)院接受治療的賬單,實(shí)際上他并沒有接受過任何治療。隨附賬單還有一封措施很強(qiáng)烈的信件。很明顯這是因?yàn)榘研彰e(cuò)了,但是這位教授由于對信中

7、對自己人格以及金錢方面的廉潔而提出的質(zhì)疑感到不舒服,他也寫了一份措辭很激烈的回信。(美國人也會這樣去做。但是在這份回信中,這位歐洲教授要求他的債權(quán)人寫一份正式的道歉信,就因?yàn)閷λ烁竦闹肛?zé)。由于這樣的錯(cuò)誤并沒有被公眾知悉,即使這樣的錯(cuò)誤已經(jīng)發(fā)生了,但大多數(shù)美國人在這種形勢下,只是將其宣泄一番,甚至有的人根本就不用宣泄,就讓這件事情過去了。An example of the same thing may be that although Americans like to talk about their accomplishment ,it is their custom to show ce

8、rtain modesty in reply to compliments. When someone praises an American upon his achievement or upon his personal appearance ,which, incidentally, is a very polite thing to do in America, the American turns it aside. If someone should say, “Congratulations upon being elected president of the club,”

9、an American is expected to reply, “well, I hope I can do a good job,” or something of the sort. Or if someone says . “Thats pretty blue necktie you are wearing,” an American is likely to say ,”Im glad you like it,” or “Thank you My wife gave it to me for my birthday.” The response to a compliment se

10、ldom conveys the idea, “I, too, think Im pretty good.”同樣的事情我再給你舉一個(gè)例子,盡管美國人比較喜歡討論自己的成就,但是他們有個(gè)習(xí)俗,那就是如果你得到某種贊美時(shí),你的回答要展示某種謙虛。當(dāng)有人在贊美一個(gè)美國人諸如他的成就或外貌的時(shí)候,這些話題在美國被認(rèn)為是很有禮貌的事情,他也不會太在意。如果有人對一個(gè)美國人說:“祝賀你當(dāng)選俱樂部主席”,他會回答“我希望把工作做好”或者諸如詞類的話語。當(dāng)有人說:“你打的領(lǐng)結(jié)很漂亮”,而美國人會說“我很高興你喜歡它”或者“謝謝你,這是我妻子送給我的生日禮物”。所有對這種贊美的回答從來都不會傳達(dá)這樣的含義即“我

11、也認(rèn)為我挺不錯(cuò)的”Likewise ,there are fewer social conventions that show social differences in America. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room .on does not always address a person by his title, such as “professor” or “Doctor” (“Doctor” is always used ,however ,for a doctor of medicine. The respe

12、ctful “sit” is not always use in the northern and western parts of the country .同樣的,在美國也很少有那種社會習(xí)俗來表現(xiàn)這種社會差異。當(dāng)老師進(jìn)教室的時(shí)候,學(xué)生是不起立的。也不經(jīng)常在一個(gè)人的名字前面加一些頭銜,比如教授或博士。(DOCTOR 如果從醫(yī)藥學(xué)方面來稱呼也是可以的。表示尊敬含義的SIR在美國北部和西部也是很少使用的。Clothing in Amer ica ,as in every place in the word, to a certain degree reflects a persons socia

13、l position and income, or , at least among the young, his attitudes toward society or toward himself. Yet no person is restricted to a certain uniform or manner of dress because of his occupations or class in society. A bank president may wear overalls to paint his house and it not ashamed of either

14、 the job or the clothing, and a common laborer may wear a rented tuxedo at hisdaughters wedding .在美國正如在世界上其他地方一樣,從某種意義上,人的穿著會反映其社會地位和收入,或者至少在年輕人當(dāng)中可以反映這個(gè)社會或者自己的態(tài)度。但是由于自已的職業(yè)或社會地位,沒有任何一個(gè)只局限穿一種特定的制服或選擇某種特定的穿衣方式。一個(gè)銀行的行長在粉刷自己房子的時(shí)候會穿工裝服,而且不會因這種工作和穿衣的方式而感到羞愧。而一個(gè)普通勞動(dòng)者在自己女兒的婚禮上也會租穿一件無尾燕尾服。Yet in spite of all

15、the informality,America it not completely without customs that show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal “Hello” is an acceptable greeting form employee to employer, the employee is more apt

16、 to say. “Hello, Mr. Ferguson.” Wh ereas the employer may reply, “Hello, Jim.” Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir,” or “Yes ,mama,” or “No, sir,” or “No , mama,” when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority. Although this is a good form all over the Unite d States,

17、“Yes, Mr. Weston” or “No, Mr. Baker” is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West .盡管有諸如此類非正式的東西,但是美國也并不是完全沒有習(xí)俗來展現(xiàn)這種社會差別意識。例如,但一個(gè)人跟他的上司說話的時(shí)候,他會用更加正式的語言。盡管非正式語言HELLO 可以用于雇員和雇主之間,但對于一個(gè)雇員來說,他更傾向于使用HELLO,MR FERGUSON,而上司回答時(shí)可以直接回答HELLO JIM。當(dāng)跟一個(gè)年長者或者權(quán)位更高的人說話時(shí),美國南方人主張說YES SIR 或YES MAA

18、M 或NO, SIR或NO, MAMA。盡管這樣的稱謂在全美國被認(rèn)為是一種很好的稱謂形式,但是在美國北部或西部,人們還更傾向于稱YES,MR WESTON 或NO,MRS BAKER。Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Though people wear hates less now than in the past ,women still occasionally wear hats in church and at public social functions (except thos

19、e that are in the evening.某種表示禮貌的形式可以在社交場合會看到的。盡管現(xiàn)在的人不像過去那么經(jīng)常帶帽子,但是女性在教堂或一些公眾慶祝宴會時(shí)會帶上帽子的(當(dāng)然這些場合如果發(fā)生在晚上就不用了In America there are still customs by which a man may show respect for a woman. He opens the door for her and lets her precede him through it .he walks on the side of the walk nearest the street

20、. He takes her arm when crossing a street or descending a stairway. Ayounger person also shows respect for an older one in much the same fashion, by helping the older person in things requiring physical exertion or involving possible accident.在美國仍然還有些習(xí)俗,男士們通過這些習(xí)慣來表現(xiàn)對女士的尊敬。他會給女士開門,而且讓女士先進(jìn)入。男士也會走在更靠近街

21、道的人行道。當(dāng)穿過一條階段或下樓梯時(shí),男士會扶著女士。一個(gè)年輕人同樣也會表示對年長者的尊敬,他們通過幫助他們做一些費(fèi)體力的活或一些引發(fā)事故的活。American surface informality often confuses the foreigner because he interprets it to mean no formality at all. He does not understand the point at which informality stops. A teacher, though friendly, pleasant, and informal in c

22、lass, expects students to study hard, and he grades each students work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect. Although students are free to ask questions about statements make by the teacher, and may say that they disagree with what he says, they are not expected to co

23、ntradict him. Similarly, in boy-girl relationships a foreign student should not mistake the easy relationship and flattery that are part of the dating pattern in the United States, nor presume that in means more that it does.美國人這種表面上的非正式性會讓一個(gè)外國人迷惑,因?yàn)樗J(rèn)為美國人的這種非正式性意味著沒有正式性而言。但是他并不知道美國人的這種非正式性會在哪里變成了正式

24、性,比如一個(gè)老師在課堂上看起來友好、和善,在課堂上也表現(xiàn)的非正式,但老師要求學(xué)生努力學(xué)習(xí),并且在批改作業(yè)時(shí)是很嚴(yán)格和仔細(xì)的。而且這位老師也同樣希望學(xué)生能尊敬他。盡管學(xué)生對老師的陳述自由提出問題,而且也可以表達(dá)對老師觀點(diǎn)的不同意,但是這些學(xué)生也不能駁斥老師的觀點(diǎn)。同樣,在男孩和女孩交往的過程中,一個(gè)外國學(xué)生也不要對美國人在約會里表現(xiàn)的親近關(guān)系或奉承的話語而誤會,不要認(rèn)為他們還有更深層次的含義。Also, because an American is perhaps more likely to admit and laugh at his own mistakes than one who st

25、ands more on his dignity, a foreigner sometimes does not know how to handle the Americans apparent modesty. The American is quite ready to admit certain weaknesses, such as “I never was good at mathematics.” “Im a rotten tennis player.” Or “Im the worlds worst bridge player.” However,the stranger mu

26、st not be too quick to agree with him. Americans think it is all right, even sporting, to admit a defect in themselves, but they feel that it is almost an insult to have someone else agree. A part of American idea of good sportsmanship it the point of being generous to a loser. This attitude is carr

27、ied over into matters that have nothing to do with competition. If a man talks about his weak points, the listener says something in the way of encouragement, or points to other qualities in which the speaker excels. An American student reports that when he was in foreign country he was completely stunned when he said to a