Life and Language-North‏

When the waitress brought Richard his drink, he took a swig and was immediately
surprised and disappointed. The shake was merely jiggled chocolate milk, sans ice cream. Richard didn't realize that in the capital of Massachusetts, a milkshake is just that—shaken milk. Had he wanted an ice cream treat, he should have ordered a frappe—the local term for the refreshment.
女侍端來飲料，他立刻喝了一大口，頓時吃了一驚，也很失望。這個奶昔只是用力搖晃
過的巧克力牛奶，根本沒有冰淇淋。李察不知道在這個麻州首府裡，milkshake（奶昔）
是名符其實的 shaken（搖過的）milk（牛奶）。如果他要的是加有冰淇淋的，他就應該點
frappe，那才是波士頓人對奶昔的稱呼。
It wouldn’t be the first time Richard would be scratching his head during a visit to the Northeastern part of the United States. The region, Richard discovered, was a place where people talked fast, spoke with thick accents, and lived much more intensely than citizens in other sections of America.
這並非李察造訪美國東北部時，第一次搔頭不解了。李察發現這個地區的人說話快、
有濃重的口音、生活得比美國其他地方的人都緊張。
Richard greeted people with a friendly “Hello,” only to receive staccato

bursts of “Yo” “Hi-there,” “How-areya” and “Have-a-good-day” in return as people hurried on their way. Northerners live in the fast lane, where time is precious. New Yorkers are known to schedule meetings for 3:00, 3:15 and 3:30, knowing they will never be able to keep the appointments. Their desire to set a pace to get the most out of every minute keeps them pushing their limits.
李察友善地向別人說「哈囉」打招呼，換來的只是音節短而重的「你」、「嗨，你」、
「你好嗎？」以及「祝你有愉快的一天」，人們一面說，一面匆匆走過。北方人都活在
快車道上，時間寶貴。大家都知道紐約人安排會面時間是像三點、三點十五分、三點半
這樣排的，同時他們也曉得自己一定無法準時赴約。他們渴望設定一個步調來儘可能的
利用每一分鐘，於是一直迫使自己去做超越極限的事。
Unused to people taking such liberties with pronunciation, Richard was somewhat puzzled
when he heard Bostonians ask for a “beah” instead of a beer and “pahster” rather than pasta. But he soon learned that residents of the North talk the way they live—as individualists—and the urban areas such as Boston, Hartford, New York and Philadelphia offer an ethnic smorgasbord that still has regional identities today.
李察不習慣人們如此隨意地發音，所以聽到波士頓人點 beer（啤酒）時說 beah；
要pasta（義大利麵）卻pahster，總有點困惑。不過他很快就知道，北方人說話方
式與其生活方式一樣，都很有個人風格。像波士頓、哈特福、紐約與費城等都會
區是各種種族的大集結，但迄今仍保有其地區本身的特色。
People of Italian, Puerto Rican and Vietnamese ancestry, both recent immigrants and second- and third-generation American citizens, blend the sounds of their native tongues with their English. Upper Crust Bostonians of proper English pedigree, too, flavor their English with a British tinge. Working-class Boston enunciation, it’s been said, is merely English marinated in corned beef and cabbage, doused with clam sauce from Little Italy—a reference to the Irish and Italian heritage that is still predominant in the area.
具有義大利、波多黎各與越南族裔背景的人，不論是新移民或第二、第三代美國公民，
說話時將其母語混在英語裡。擁有正統英國家系的波士頓上流社會人士也一樣，他們也
把英文加進英國的味道。聽說工人階級的波士頓口音是英文在醃牛肉與甘藍菜中泡過後
，再浸入小義大利區製造的蛤蜊醬，即表示此區目前仍居主流的愛爾蘭與義大利文化的
傳統的影響。
Northerners are proud of their accents—and their history. Citizens are secure in their regional identity. They are welcoming, if sometimes reserved, to visitors. Most residents are described as stoic; after all, fierce snowstorms blanket the region during the winter—when temperatures drop to 20 degrees below zero (-12oC) —while thermometers can top 100 degrees (39oC) in the summer.
北方人對於自己的口音和歷史都很自豪。他們蠻自恣於本身的區域歸屬。雖然有時可能
有點緘默，但基本上他們歡迎外來遊客。此地居民大多被視為冷靜自制，不太情緒化；
畢竟整個冬天凜冽的暴風雪籠罩此區，溫度降至零下廿度；而夏天的氣溫則可能高達華
氏一百度。
Without a doubt, the central core of the northern-tier states is New York City, a metropolis that has a brashness all its own. New York can be an audacious, unique and intense place. The metronomic rhythm of urban life is more pronounced in the Big Apple; syncopation is reflected in daily conversation.
毫無疑問，北方這一連續的各州之中，核心地區是紐約市，一個很自以為是的大都會。
紐約市有可能在外人眼中是大膽、獨特又緊張的地方，在俗稱「大蘋果」的紐約市更格
外的顯出城市生活的都會步調。他們借用日常生活的語言來打破這種一成不變的步調。
It's been said that New Yorkers have a chip on their shoulder; they think everyone should look up to them because they live in the world’s most important and unique city. Perhaps they do, but other sections of the United States wouldn't be so bold to publicly proclaim it.
早有人說紐約人脾氣大，他們認為每個人都應該敬他們三分，因為他們住在世界上最重要、最獨特的城市。也許他們確實如此，但美國其他地方的人就不會那般大膽地公開宣稱這一點。
And New Yorkers pride themselves on quick quip or a biting sarcastic remark. Many residents tell of the violinist who was lost and trying to find a noted cultural landmark. He stopped a New Yorker and asked how to get to Carnegie Hall. “Practice,” the New Yorker immediately replied. “Practice.”
紐約人也很自豪能夠妙語如珠或出言挑釁的諷刺。許多居民都會說這個提琴手的故事：
此人迷了路，正試著找一個著名的文化中心。他攔下一位紐約客，問對方怎樣才能到卡
內基音樂廳去。
「練習，」紐約客馬上回答，「不斷地練習。」
Visiting the southern United States drives Frank Castillo crazy. The New Yorker becomes
exasperated when Southern drivers stop and let a half dozen or more cars
enter their lane. “I could see letting one car in, maybe, but six?” laments Castillo. “People in the South are too polite—even when they talk. It’s always ‘Yes, sir,’ or ‘No, ma’am.’ The South is a whole different world.”
拜訪美國的南部使法蘭克‧卡斯提歐抓狂。當這位紐約客看著南部司機們停車，並連
續讓六部以上的車子切入他們的車道時，就非常惱火。卡斯提歐大聲抱怨：「我或許
可以理解讓一輛車子切入；但是六輛？南方的人太過於禮讓了；連說話也是如此。總
是聽到：『是的，先生』或『不是的，女士』。南方真是一個完全不一樣的世界。」




@Word Bank
swig (n) （俚）牛飲；一口氣喝下
sans (prep) 沒有；缺

staccato (adj) 不連接的；中斷的

smorgasbord (n) 瑞典式之自助餐提供之三明治、沙拉、水果、甜點
smorgasbord (n) 瑞典式之自助餐提供之三明治、沙拉、水果、甜點

stoic (adj) 禁慾的；不開通的；堅忍的

core (n) 核心；中心
tier (n) 連續的
syncopation (n) 加強弱音節來表現不同

quip (n) 妙語；雙關語；譏諷語

exasperated (adj) 激怒的；惱火的

@TheDay's Phrase
You've better leave early. The traffic is going to be bad!
你最好提早走. 交通會很糟喔!
You look as if you don't have a care in the world.
你好像漠不關心

Plastic bottles are brightening homes and lives in the Philippines
在菲律賓，塑膠瓶不僅照亮許多人的住家，也照亮他們的人生

You always play the same old tune: "Don't do this. don't do that."
你總是老調重彈說"別這樣做. 別那樣做"
It's driving me up the wall. What should I do?我氣瘋了, 我該怎麼辦?

What on earth are you talking about?
你到底在說什麼?
I'm not sure, but I'll try.
我還不確定. 但我會試試看.

Do you have a city map I can borrow?
你有沒有一張市區地圖可以借我?

Do you think it will rain this weekend?
你想這個週末會下雨嗎?

Would you like to go and watch a movie?
你想不想去看部電影?
Which movies are showing tonight?
今天晚上有哪些電影在上演?