新編研究生綜合英語教程unit3(潘海英)

1、新編研究生綜合英語教程Advanced English for Graduate Students:General Skills &Academic Literacy,Unit Three Culture,Text A The Values Americans Live By,A culture can be viewed as a collection of values that go

2、 together to shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to the world around them. As people grow up, they learn certain values, which will influence and shape their way of life. How does American culture differ

3、from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values Americans live by.,Overview,“Values” are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. M

4、ost people who grow up in a particular culture share certain values. These values overlap and support each other; they fit together. Dr. L. Robert Kohls has developed a list of 13 commonly held values which help explain

5、 why Americans act as they do.,Background Information Pre-reading Questions Text A The Values Americans Live Vocabulary Exercises,Text A The Values Americans Live By,,,,,,Background Information,,,,,Text A The

6、Values Americans Live By,,,,,,V Writing,Exercises,,IV Translation,,,,,,,Dr. L Robert Kohls, Director of International Programs at San Francisco State University, is a renowned literary contributor to the research on cult

7、ural patterns. He has developed a list of 13 (8 are listed in Text A) commonly held values which help explain to first-time visitors to the United States why Americans act as they do. He is careful, and cautions to avoid

8、 labeling these values positive or negative. Whether one agrees with Kohls or not — or is willing to accept as valid any generalizations about Americans — his observations are thought provoking.,Background,1. Information

9、 about the author,,,:In recent decades, a new form of identification has emerged which breaks down the understanding of the individual as a coherent whole subject into a collection of various cultural identifiers. The

10、se cultural identifiers may be the result of various conditions including: locality, gender, race, history, nationality, language, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, aesthetics, and even food. Therefore, cultural identity r

11、efers to a feeling of belonging to a group. It is part of a person's self-conception and self-perception and is related to these cultural identifiers or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture

12、. In this way, cultural identity is both characteristic of the individual but also of the culturally identical group of members sharing the same cultural identity. Cultural identity can also be expressed through cer

13、tain styles of clothing or other aesthetic markers..,Background,2. Information about cultural identity,,,:.,Background,3. Information about the Declaration of Independence,,,The Declaration of

14、Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and then adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It was regarded as the nation’s most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson’s most enduring monument. “We hold

15、 these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ” was made by Abr

16、aham Lincoln as the centerpiece of his rhetoric (as in the Gettysburg Address of 1863), and his politics. Since then, it has become a well-known statement on human rights.,Q1: How much do you know about the American valu

17、es? Which part of American values do you think is acceptable to us? Q2: What is the cause of traditional American values?Q3: What is your view on American values? What are the effects of American values?Q4: How is the

18、 mainstream American culture different from the Chinese culture?Q5: Do cultural values change as time changes?,Pre-reading Questions,,Q1: How much do you know about the American values? Which part of American values do

19、 you think is acceptable to us?Open,Pre-reading Questions,,Q2: What is the cause of Traditional American values?The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies that were free from the

20、controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to escape the controls placed on their lives by the kings and governments, priests and churches, noblemen and aristocrats. In 1776, the British colonial settlers d

21、eclared their independence from England and established a new nation, the United States of America. In doing so, they created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual. This is probably the most basic

22、 of all the American values, which is also called individualism by scholars.,Pre-reading Questions,,Q3: What is your view on American values? What are the effects of American values?By freedom, Americans mean the desir

23、e and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference. There is, however, a price to be paid for this individual freedom: self-reliance. Individuals must learn to rely on themselv

24、es or risk losing freedom. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age of 18-21.It means that Americans believe they should take care of themselv

25、es, solve their own problems, and “stand on their own two feet.”,,,Q3: What is your view on American values? What are the effects of American values?Most Americans believe that they must be self-reliant in order to kee

26、p their freedom. If people are dependent, they risk losing freedom as well as the respect of their peers. In order to be in the mainstream of American life---to have power and/or respect –individuals must be seen as self

27、-reliant. Although receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is allowed, it is never admired. Many people believe that such individuals are setting a bad example, which may weaken the American c

28、haracter as a whole.,,,Q3: What is your view on American values? What are the effects of American values?So, it is important to understand what most Americans truly mean when they say they believe in equality of opport

29、unity. They mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success. It helps ensure that the race for success is a fair one and that a person does not win or lose just because of external forces.The phrase “g

30、oing from rags to riches” became a slogan for the great American dream. There is, however, a price to be paid for this equality of opportunity: competition.,,,Q3: What is your view on American values? What are the effect

31、s of American values?People who like to compete and are more successful than others are honored by being called winners. On the other hand, those who do not like to compete and are not successful when they try are often

32、 dishonored by being called losers. The pressure to compete causes Americans to be more energetic, but it also places a constant emotional strain on them. When they retire, they are at last free from the pressures of com

33、petition. But then a new problem arises. They may feel useless and unwanted in a society that gives so much prestige to those who compete well. This is why older people in the United States do not have as much honor and

34、respect as they do in other less competitive societies.,,,Q4: How is the mainstream American culture different from the Chinese culture?Open,Pre-reading Questions,,Q5: What are the main characteristics of values?First

35、, as part of culture, values are learned from people around: family, school, mass media, and so on. Once learned, they tend to be stable and govern people’ beliefs, attitudes, ideas and actions. Second, values are hidden

36、. We do not see them as they exist in our subconsciousness. We are not always aware of them, but we make judgments according to them.,Pre-reading Questions,,Q5: What are the main characteristics of values?Third , value

37、s are pervasive. Each of us has a unique set of individual values, but there are also values that tend to permeate a culture. They are called cultural values. The point we have to keep in mind is that the value of the cu

38、lture may not be the value of all individuals within the culture. Fourth, values can be compared on a continuum rather than one of only two possible choices. People posses the same values to different degrees.,Pre-readin

39、g Questions,,Q5: What are the main characteristics of values?Fifth, values are interrelated. They don’t work alone. For example, the value toward family usually leads to those toward age, status, etc. Finally, values of

40、 a culture change just as cultures do. Of course, they change much more slowly than do the way people dress, the artifacts people make, and other parts of a culture that are easily seen. Contradictory values can be found

41、 in a particular culture. There is often a gulf between the values that are articulated (idealism) and the values that are acted out (reality).,Part2_TA1_s,,,Pre-reading Questions,1. Most Americans would have a difficul

42、t time telling you, specifically, what the values are that Americans live by. They have never given the matter much thought.,Text A The Values Americans Live By,1. 大多數(shù)美國人在談起其賴以生存的價值觀時會感到力不從心。他們從未仔細(xì)考慮過價值觀這個問題。,,L. Robert

43、 Kohls,2. Even if Americans had considered this question, they would probably, in the end, decide not to answer in terms of a definitive list of values. The reason for this decision is itself one very American value — t

44、heir belief that every individual is so unique that the same list of values could never be applied to all, or even most, of their fellow citizens.,2. 即使美國人考慮過這個問題，他們最終也不可能決定以一張明確的價值觀清單來回答。做出這樣的一個決定，本身就是一個非常美國式的價值觀——他們相信每

45、個個體都是獨一無二的，相同的價值觀永遠(yuǎn)也不可能適用于所有的美國公民，甚至不能適用于大多數(shù)公民。,,3. Although Americans may think of themselves as being more varied and unpredictable than they actually are, it is significant that they think they are. Americans tend t

46、o think they have been only slightly influenced by family, church or schools. In the end, each believes, “I personally chose which values I want to live my own life by.”,3. 盡管美國人可能認(rèn)為他們自己比實際看上去更加變幻莫測，但重要的是他們的確認(rèn)為自己變幻莫測。美國

47、人普遍認(rèn)為他們受家庭、教會或?qū)W校影響很輕微。最終，每個人都認(rèn)為“我個人會根據(jù)自己生活方式選擇我的價值觀”。,,4. The different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group. When you e

48、ncounter an action, or hear a statement in the United States that surprises you, try to see it as an expression of one or more of the values listed here.,4. 一個民族的不同行為方式或者一種文化之所以有意義，是因為人們通過該民族的基本信仰、看法和價值觀念來看待它們。在美國，如果某一個

49、行為或某一句話使你感到吃驚，那么你可以將其與下面羅列的價值觀對號入座。,,5. Before proceeding to the list itself, we should also point out that Americans see all of these values as very positive ones. They are not aware, for example, that the people in ma

50、ny Third World countries view some of these values as negative or threatening.,5. 在探討這個清單之前, 有必要指出美國人認(rèn)為這些價值觀是充滿正能量的。他們沒有意識到許多第三世界國家的人們可能認(rèn)為其中一些價值觀是消極或者可怕的。,,In fact, all of these American values are judged by many of the

51、 world’s citizens as negative and undesirable. Therefore, it is not enough simply to familiarize yourself with these values. You must also, so far as possible, consider them without the negative or derogatory connotation

52、 that they might have for you, based on your own experience and cultural identity.,事實上,許多外國人認(rèn)為美國人的這些價值觀是消極和不受歡迎的。因此，僅僅熟悉這些價值觀是不夠的，還必須盡可能做到不因自身經(jīng)歷和文化身份而對這些價值觀有負(fù)面和貶損的看法。,,Personal Control over the Environment6. Americans

53、no longer believe in the power of Fate, and they have come to look at people who do as being backward, primitive, or hopelessly naive. To be called “fatalistic” is one of the worst criticisms one can receive in the Ameri

54、can context; to an American, it means one is superstitious and lazy, unwilling to take any initiative in bringing about improvement.,對環(huán)境的自我把握 6. 美國人不再相信命運的力量，那些相信此道的人被認(rèn)為是落后、原始和極其幼稚的。在美國語境下，“宿命論者”是對一個人最糟糕的評價之一；對美

55、國人來說，這一評價意味著這個人迷信、懶惰且不思進(jìn)取。,,7. In the United States, people consider it normal and right that Man should control Nature, rather than the other way around. More specifically, people believe every single individual sho

56、uld have control over whatever in the environment might potentially affect him or her.,7. 在美國, 人們認(rèn)為人定勝天, 而非受制于自然的觀點既正常又正確。更確切地說，人們相信每個人都應(yīng)該控制周圍環(huán)境中任何可能影響到自己的因素。,,The problems of one’s life are not seen as having resulted

57、 from bad luck as much as having come from one’s laziness in pursuing a better life. Furthermore, it is considered normal that anyone should look out for his or her own self-interests first and foremost.,一個人在追求美好生活的過程中出現(xiàn)

58、挫折人們不認(rèn)為是因為運氣差，而是由自己的懶惰所導(dǎo)致。而且，人們認(rèn)為如果一個人把追尋個人利益放在第一位是很正常的。,,Time and Its Control8. Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting thing

59、s accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail.,把握

60、時間 8. 對普通美國人來說，時間至關(guān)重要。在外國人看來，美國人似乎更關(guān)注按時（根據(jù)預(yù)定的日程表）完成任務(wù)而不是發(fā)展深層人際關(guān)系。美國人認(rèn)為，哪怕最小的細(xì)節(jié)也必須在日程安排中列出來并付諸實施。,,9. It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wri

61、sts, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time.,9. 你或許會覺得美國人完全被戴在手腕上的那個小玩意所控制著，為了能準(zhǔn)時赴下一個約會，他們會突然打斷談話。,,10. Americans’ language is filled with references to time, giving a clear

62、 indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “used,” “spent,” “wasted,” “l(fā)ost,” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.”,10. 美國人的語言中充斥著時間的指示

63、詞，這也暗示出人們對于時間的重視程度。時間可以遵守、填補、節(jié)省、利用、度過，浪費 、失去、贏得、計劃、給予，充分利用，甚至可以消磨。,,11. The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late — even by 10 minutes — for an appointment in the United States. (

64、Whenever it is absolutely impossible to be on time, you should phone ahead and tell the person you have been unavoidably detained and will be a half hour — or whatever — late.),11. 外國人很快就會發(fā)現(xiàn)，在美國與人約會，即使遲到十分鐘就會被認(rèn)為是很不禮貌的行為。

65、如果實在無法準(zhǔn)時到達(dá)，應(yīng)事先打個電話告訴不得不久等你的人你將遲到半小時或怎樣。,,Equality 12. Equality is, for Americans, one of their most cherished values. This concept is so important for Americans that they have even given it a religious basis. They say

66、 all people have been “created equal.” Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status.,平等 12. 平等是美國人最珍視的價值理念之一，美國人也因此而賦予這一理念以宗教基礎(chǔ)。他們說人“生

67、來平等”。大多數(shù)美國人相信上帝會平等地看待每一個人，而不考慮其智力、體力或經(jīng)濟方面的差異。,,In secular terms this belief is translated into the assertion that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Americans differ in opinion about how to make thi

68、s ideal into a reality. Yet virtually all agree that equality is an important civic and social goal.,通俗地說，這種信仰被解釋為一種信念，即每個人都有平等獲得成功的機會。美國人在如何把這種理想轉(zhuǎn)化為現(xiàn)實的看法方面存在分歧，然而人們一致認(rèn)為平等是公民和社會共同追求的重要目標(biāo)。,,13. The equality concept oft

69、en makes Americans seem strange to foreign visitors. Seven-eighths of the world feels quite differently. To them, rank and status and authority are seen as much more desirable considerations — even if they personally hap