Language

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? An American.
你如何稱呼能說三種語言的人？三
聲帶。能講兩種語言的人又如何稱呼？
雙聲帶。那麼，只會一種語言的人呢？
美國人。
To people in many countries, being bilingual or even trilingual is a way of life.
But since the mother tongue of most Americans is English—a language widely spoken around the world—they often don’t 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.
對許多國家的人而言，說兩種或三
種語言，是家常便飯。但在美國，由於
大多數人的母語為英語——一個世界上廣
泛通用的語言——因此美國人都不覺得有
必要學習外語。此外，居住於美國大陸
內地的人，較少與其他語言族群接觸，
因此外語能力更顯得無關緊要。
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 only 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 their curriculum.
事實上，在美國這塊「移民之地」，
一直住著來自不同國籍、說不同語言的
人口。一九九○年的人口普查顯示，幾
乎百分之十四的美國人，在家裡不講英
語。只有百分之三的人宣稱他們英語
「說得不好」或「根本不會說」。這表示
十分之一強的美國人可視為雙聲帶。此
外，許多中學生、大學生，甚至小學生
在校的學科都必須加修一門外語。
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 don’t use it, you lose it.” But still, a growing number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of being multilingual.
除了西班牙文、德文與法文等常選的第二語
言外，愈來愈多的學生選修東歐和亞洲
語言。當然，並非所有學生都能夠學以
致用。套句老話：「不用就會丟掉。」
儘管如此，愈來愈多的美國人已經開始
意識到會說多種語言的好處。
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 and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods.
在主要大都市裡，有許多族群居住
的社區，都還保存著移民的文化傳統和
語言。有些當地人在生活上只講母語就
夠了，根本不需要學英語。佛羅里達州
南部以及美國西南部等區，有許多說西
班牙語的社區。
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 languages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoodsthat visitors might think they are in another country!
事實上，說西班牙語的
人口超過一千七百萬，是美國最大的非
英語系族群。不過，還有中國、越南、
義大利、波蘭與其他很多種族的族群，
更使美國語言增色不少。在許多外來民
族的後裔社區裡，由於外語的廣泛使
用，甚至會使訪客有身置異國的感覺。
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 restrict the use of non-English languages.
雖然有些美國人歡迎這種語言與文
化多元化，也有些人擔心英語已經受到
威脅。從一九八○年代以來，「唯用英
語」(English Only)運動即試著開始推動立
法，將英語訂為「官方語言」，並限制其
他語言的使用。
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 people’s native language and culture, 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.
但有些團體，如「教導
母語為其他語言學生的英語教師組織」
（簡稱T E S O L )，就反對這種「語言限制
主義」。他們提倡的「英語與外語」
（English Plus)，建議美國人應尊重其他族
群的母語以及文化，同時也推廣英語教
學，幫助其他族群融入社會主流。但是
到目前為止，已有十九個州通過「唯用
英語」一法；該議題也一直是辯論的焦
點。
Whether or not English is the official language of the United States, it remains the “language of wider communication.” Nearly everyone recognizes the 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 subjects in their native language while they improve their English.
無論英語是否是美國的「官方語
言」，它仍是「廣泛溝通的語言」。在美
國，幾乎每個人都了解，若想要出人頭
地，必須精通英語。為滿足那些想精進
英語能力的人的需要，教導英語為第二
語言的機構（E S L ）到處都是。擁有大批
新進移民的一些大都市，都設有雙語教
學課程，在移民們加強英語能力的同
時，用移民們的母語教授普通科目點。
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 share a common commitment: to help students function well in English.
語言教育學家對何種方法才能幫助學生更
有效地學習英語——利用雙語教學、E S L
教學、或讓學生完全浸入一個英語的環
境（認輸或強學——），都擁有強烈並分
歧的看法。但這些教師都擁有共同使
命：幫助學生流利地使用英語。
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 bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career fields. Indeed, lack of foreign language proficiency can limit one’s 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.
美國人了解，英語就是一個實際的
國際語言，若能操流利的英語，在許多
國際場合都能派得上用場。另一方面當
國際間的距離越變越小時，擁有第二外
語能力極為有利。外語能力可以建立文
化交流的橋樑，並且使人們在不同的專
業領域裡，佔得優勢。的確，缺乏外語
能力不僅限制個人的擢升，並且把個人
限制在文化的死胡同內。很多美國人都
逐漸發現，只會一種語言，不再是一件
好事了。
?Word Bankbilingual (adj) 能說二種語言的
mother tongue (n phr) 母語
linguistic group (n phr) 語言族群
curriculum (n) 課程
standby (n) 大家偏愛且常見的選擇
enclave (n) 被包領土
cultural diversity (n phr) 文化多樣化
language restrictionism (n phr) 語言限制主義
divergent (adj) 分歧的；差異的
immersion (n) 浸入
de facto (adv) 實際地；事實上
boon (n) 恩賜；益處
cul-de-sac (n) 窮途末路；死路；死巷

The Day's Phrase

An amazing dance style is back
令人嘆為觀止的舞蹈形式又捲土重來了
I always feel like I will never measure up to my older brother. 我總覺得我永遠達不到我哥哥的標準。
Brian's face fell when I told him I could not come to his birthday party.
當我告訴布萊恩我不能去他的生日派對時，他的臉就沉了下來。
Discover the fantastic world beneath the earth in Lebanon
到黎巴嫩探索地底下的奇妙世界
My birthday is next week. I know that Jason has something up his sleeve to surprise me. 我生日在下禮拜。我知道傑生一定有什麼給我驚喜的花樣。

Give yourself a pat on the back for finishing your homework early.
為自己早早做完功課稱讚自己一下吧。

Don't put me on a pedestal just because I am beautiful!
不要只是因為我漂亮就崇拜我！

If you have a problem I will be your shoulder to cry on.
如果妳有什麼問題，我願意聽妳傾訴。

America starts Thanksgiving in style
美國民眾別具風格地慶祝感恩節
A fancy car is just a status symbol.一部很炫的車只不過是個社會地位的表徵罷了。

A closer look at where technology is and where it is going
細看當前的科技發展及未來趨勢

You did a great job in the play. You stole the show!
你在戲裡表現得很棒。你大出風頭喔！

One hundred years after Twain's death, his memorable characters live on吐溫逝世百年之後，他令人難忘的書中角色仍繼續存留於世

Jenny, please slow down! You are talking a mile a minute!
珍妮，請說慢一點！妳像支機關槍一樣講得太快了！

I had to wake up at the crack of dawn to go to the airport.
我得要在破曉時分就起床前往機場。