留学生在中国 第43期:现代化对传统的影响 Effects of modernization on Traditions

 　　Effects of modernization¹ on Traditions现代化对传统的影响David: Do you think China is loosing some of its traditions as it modernizes²?

　　你是不是觉得中国在其现代化进程中正在丢掉一些传统?

　　You: Well, maybe a little. As people advance they kind of get nostalgic and want to look back. When they find that something is good they treasure it, but when it seems bad, they just let it go with the wind. The things we treasure are really part of our culture.

　　可能有点吧。人类在进步的同时往往变得怀旧，喜欢回顾过去。发现好的东西就会格外珍惜，而糟粕则会被摒弃。所以我们现在珍惜的东西才是文明的精华。

　　David: Very interesting, but maybe some Beijing people would disagree. Maybe they think Chinese people should stick to their traditions and not change.

　　太有趣了。一些北京人很可能不大同意这种说法。也许他们认为中国应该固守所有的传统。

　　You: They are just of different minds. Everyone has a right to his own opinion. However, some traditional treasures are not so popular with youngsters?

　　各人有各人的想法。然而，一些传统的精华在年轻人中也没那么流行了。

　　David: In your opinion, what are the some of the trussure traditions taht have become less important.

　　你认为中国的哪些传统没有过去那么流行了呢?

　　You: A number of middle aged³ people and most elderly people enjoy listening to Beijing Opera but, with the modernization of society, the younger generation has develop their own taste in pop music.

　　就拿京剧为例吧。一些中年人和大部分的老年人就比较喜欢京剧，而随着社会发展，年轻人中流行的是流行歌曲。然而尽管京剧是我们的国粹，年轻一代很多却不喜欢。"David: This is true in America as well. Every new generation has its own interests. Before in the mind 1900's many people liked jazz, but now young people like hard rock, heavy metal and hip⁴ hop⁵.

　　这在美国也是一样的。年轻一代有他们自己的喜好。在20世纪90年代中期以前，很多人喜欢爵士乐;而现在年轻人们喜欢硬摇滚，重金属摇滚乐以及蹦迪等。

　　You: Actually, the traditions of jazz and Beijing Opera are symbols of the cultural identity for our two countries. So we should preserve and develop them.

　　但是京剧和爵士乐是中国和美国的国粹啊。因此，我们应当尽量保护并且弘扬他们。

　　David: That's a good idea.

　　你说得很对。

1 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

2 modernizes   

现代化事物( modernize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It modernizes the game while lowering the learning curve for newer players. 它让游戏更为现代化，降低了对新手的入门要求。
• In time to come, as a society modernizes, people's rights and responsibilities should be balanced. 从发展的角度看，一个社会越是具有现代性，它的公民的权利和义务就越是平衡。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

5 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？