Architecture‏

German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) once called architecture “frozen music.” Although that description seems a bit “cold,” it does capture the essence of architecture as an art form. Some might think of architecture as merely the designing of buildings. On the contrary, as English writer John Ruskin (1819-1900) commented, “No person who is not a great sculptor or painter can be an architect. If he is not a sculptor or painter, he can only be a builder. ” 德國詩人約翰．沃夫剛．歌德（一 七四九∼一八三二）曾經稱建築學為 「凍結的音樂」。雖然這種說法好像有點 「冷酷」，但是它的確抓到以藝術形式表 現之建築的精髓。有些人可能會認為建 築學只是在設計建築物而已。反之，正 如英國作家約翰．魯斯金（一八一九∼ 一九○○）所言：「建築師必須是偉大 的雕刻家或畫家；否則，他就只是蓋房 子的工人罷了。」 Goethe would probably add that a good architect needs to be a composer, as well. Of course, not everyone has ears to hear the lovely strains embedded in architectural forms. But for those who listen to its immobilized melodies, architecture serves as a testament to a culture’s values and heritage. 歌德大概會補充說， 一個好的建築師必須同時也是作曲家才 行。當然，並不是每個人都會用心聽嵌 入於各種建築構造中的韻律。但是，對 傾聽這些「靜止的旋律」的人而言，建 築物見證了文化的價值觀和傳統的傳 承。 Architecture in America highlights the nation’s intimate connection with the rest of Western civilization. Americans have often looked to Europe for inspiration in their architecture as well as in their music. Many of the major architectural icons in America almost seem to exude the elegance of a Mozart symphony. 美國的建築物在在顯示出這個國家 和其他西方文明的親密關係。美國人在 建築學與音樂上，常常向歐洲看齊，尋 求靈感。美國許多主要的建築物似乎都 散發出莫扎特交響樂式的優雅氣息。 National landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol building, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial illustrate neoclassical architecture. Their tall columns, simple geometric patterns and gleaming white marble were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Since neoclassical architecture has become identified with U.S. government buildings, Americans also call it the “federal style.” 國家級的地標如國會大廈、白宮、傑佛遜 紀念堂以及林肯紀念堂，都表現出新古 典主義的建築風格。高聳的廊柱、簡單 的幾何圖樣以及閃亮的白色大理石，這 些靈感都源自於古希臘和羅馬時代的建 築。因為美國政府大樓都採新古典主義 型式，美國人也稱這類建築為「聯邦 式」。 From the days of the early settlers, American architecture has reflected the cultural origins of the nation’s immigrants. Colonial architecture was necessarily simple and straightforward— like a folk song—since the early colonists were more concerned with survival than with creating architectural masterpieces. Nevertheless, their buildings appeared to resonate with the lilting melodies of England, Sweden, Holland, France, Germany and Spain. The very “American” log cabin, à la Abraham Lincoln, actually comes from the Swedish colonial style. 從早期拓荒時期起，美國的建築就 反映出外來移民的文化源頭。殖民時期 的建築一定都簡單明瞭，像民謠一般， 因為早期的移民關心的是如何生存，而 不是如何建造出建築上的傑作。儘管如 此，他們的建築物仍然和英國、瑞典、 荷蘭、法國、德國以及西班牙等地輕快 活潑的曲調相呼應。典型的美國式— 所謂林肯風格的小木屋— 事實上是由 瑞典式的殖民建築所演變而來的。 The more aristocratic Georgian style developed after 1700 and lasted until the American Revolution in the 1770s. Named after King George I, II and III of England, this formal style with characteristic red brick and white-painted wood trim can be seen in the buildings of Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 較具貴族氣息的喬治亞式建築自一 七○○年開始發展，一直維持到一七七 ○年代美國獨立革命時期。這種建築形 式是以英王喬治一世、二世和三世的名 字命名，其風格較正式，是用有特色的 紅磚及白色的木條為主要建材，在維吉 尼亞州的威廉堡及費城的獨立廳都可看 到這種建築。 European trends in architecture continued to have an impact in America for several decades after the United States was born. But with the advent of the modern period of architecture, from the late 1800s to the present, foreign architects began singing America’s tune. 美利堅合眾國誕生後，歐洲的建築 潮流仍繼續影響美國達數十年之久。但 是，自一八○○年代晚期迄今，隨著建 築業現代時期的到來，外國建築師開始 唱起美國的曲調來了。 Ironically, one of the factors that propelled America to the forefront of modern architectural developments was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the city. As Chicago was rebuilt, architects had a prime opportunity to experiment with new ideas, such as using steel frames as building supports. These progressive conceptsled to the development of the modern skyscraper, a towering American invention that has since sprung up in many other countries. 諷刺的是，將美國推到現代建築發展最前線的因素之 一，竟是一八七一年的芝加哥大火，這 場大火使得此市幾乎全毀。重建芝加哥 時，建築師利用這個極佳的機會來試驗 新點子，像是使用鋼架作為建築物的支 撐等等。這些先進的概念導致了現代摩 天大樓的誕生，這是一項高聳入雲的美 式發明，自此也開始在其他國家如雨後 春筍般地興起。 The greatest American architect of modern times—and one of the best modern architects in the world—was Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright created buildings that blend with their environments and seem to “grow”from their sites, evoking the gentle harmonies of nature. His famous Fallingwater house was recently voted most significant building of the century. 法蘭克．洛伊德．萊特是近代美國 最偉大的建築師，同時也是當代全世界 最好的建築師之一。萊特所創造的建 築，都能和周遭的環境相融合，而且好 像還會從原地「伸展」出來，引發出一 股大自然溫柔而和諧的氣氛。最近，他 最著名的「落水屋」獲選為本世紀最具 意義的建築物。 But as important as the national landmarks, skyscrapers and modern building designs are, they don’t really get down to where most Americans live. Some Americans like to stretch out in the wide-open expanses of a ranch house. Others prefer a two-story townhouse or a natural wood split-level home. Middle-class suburbia often features brick or painted wood structures and wellmanicured lawns. 不過，即使那些國家級地標、摩天 大樓和現代建築設計的確非常重要，但 它們並不代表美國人的住家。有些美國 人喜歡伸展在農莊上開放的空間。另有 一些人則比較喜歡城市中兩層的連棟小 樓房或是木造、有複式地板的房子。住 在郊外的中產階級則常以磚頭或上油漆 的木頭建築為主，門前則有一塊修剪得 非常漂亮的草坪。 Urbanites nestle themselves into highrise apartments, fancy condominiums or low-cost public housing. True individualists express their personal flair by residing in geodesic domes, underground "earth homes,” environment-friendly solar houses and even recycled airplane fuselages. But whatever the style of architecture, home is always music to one’s ears. 都市人則把自己窩在 高樓公寓、華麗的公寓大廈或是廉價的 國宅裡。真正的個人主義者則住在透明 玻璃的球儀頂建築、地下「土房」、環保 太陽能房屋、甚至是回收的廢棄機身 裡，來表現個人獨特的作風。不過，不 管是哪種樣式的建築，「家」對每個人 而言，仍是最悅耳的一個字。 If Goethe came to America today, he would probably marvel at the “music” of its architecture. He would revel in the “classical,” “country and western” and even “rock ‘n’ roll” music elements expressed in American building designs. And he would leave with a good understanding of American culture. After all, American culture— like every other culture—is set in stone. 如果歌德今天來到美國，他大概會 對這裡的建築「音樂」感到不可思議。 他可能會沈浸在美式建築設計中所表現 出來的「古典」、「鄉村」、「西式」甚 至是「搖滾」的音樂元素裡。他離開 時，就能充分地了解美國文化。畢竟， 和其他任何文化一樣，美國文化也根深 蒂固地嵌在石頭裡。 ⊙Word Bankstrain (n) 旋律、曲調（常用複數） testament (n) 遺囑 exude (v) 使流出；使發散 column (n) 圓柱 resonate (v) 共鳴 lilting (adj) 輕快活潑的 aristocratic (adj) 貴族的；氣派高雅的 propel (v) 推動；驅使 evoke (v) 引起 townhouse (n) 城市住宅；連棟的小樓房 split-level (adj) 屋內（或樓房內）兩邊樓層高度不同的 suburbia (n) 郊區 manicure (v) 修剪 flair (n) 鑑別力；眼光 geodesic dome (n phr) 透明玻璃球儀頂建築 fuselage (n) 飛機機身 The Day's Phrase   This popular singer writes her own songs 這位受歡迎的歌手會創作歌曲 Just look at his new shoes! He must be filthy rich! 你只要看看他的新鞋子就好了！他一定非常有錢！ "Your name is Harold, right?" she asked. "Close but no cigar," he replied, "my name is Henri." 「你的名字叫做哈洛?，對吧？」她問道。「很接近，不過還是錯了，」 他答道，「我的名字叫做亨利。」

Luke reflects on his first year at an American university
路克回顧在美國大學一年級的新鮮人時光
For the final race of the season, Brittany decided to let it all hang out. I think that was the fastest she ever drove.由於是本季最後的比賽，布瑞塔妮決定要使出渾身解數。我認為那是她開得最快的一次。

This famous rabbit turns 70 today!
著名的兔寶寶今天過七十大壽了！

Sylvester had already tipped his hand. So when he made the final announcement, it was not much of a surprise.
席維斯特已經講明了他的意圖。所以當他最後宣佈時，沒有太多人訝異。

Avoid five mistakes that could kill your business
應避免可能扼殺企業生存的五大

Arnold likes to ride horses, but he has very poor balance. Last night while riding around the garden,
Arnold bit the dust, but fortunately he was not hurt.
席維斯特已經講明了他的意圖。所以當他最後宣佈時，沒有太多人訝異。

Johnny is a sweet volleyball player. He can spike well, and play defense better than anyone I know.
強尼是一位技巧純熟的排球選手。他殺球殺得不錯，他防守也比我所認識的任何人都好。

Which countries have rights to the Arctic's natural gas and oil?
哪些國家有權擁有北極天然氣和原油資源呢？

Gregory is a very imaginative fellow. He can tell stories with the best of them.
喬治是個很有想像力的傢伙。他可是說故事的箇中高手呢。

Travel to Nicaragua for the ride of a lifetime!
到尼加拉瓜一遊，嚐嚐終身難得一遇的滑降經驗吧

Those two boys are always at each other's throats. Why don't they stop fighting and become friends? 那兩個男孩子總是吵個不停，為什麼他們不能停止吵架做朋友呢？

Learn what people in the business world are talking about
來學學商業界人士的英語會話方式

Poor Jim, recently he's been stuck between a rock and a hard place.
可憐的吉姆，他最近處在一個兩難的抉擇裡。

Uncle Fred was the black sheep in our family. He was so bad that his own mother wouldn't talk to him.
弗瑞德叔叔是我們家族的敗類。他壞到連自己的媽媽都不肯跟他說話。

This astronomer changed the way people understood the world
哥白尼這位天文學家改變了人類對世界的瞭解

I was asked to teach math but because I know nothing about it, I replied "That would be like the blind
leading the blind."
我受人之請去教數學，但是因為我對數學一竅不通，我便回覆：「那會像瞎子領瞎子一樣。」

I think I'm going to go next door and talk to our new neighbors just to break the ice.
我想我會到隔壁家去跟我們新搬來的鄰居聊一聊，熟絡一下。