老美告诉你：会“说”英语远远不够

 　　Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.

　　说英语不仅仅在于语法正确，想要得心应手地使用英语，你还得了解语言的文化背景。如果你在美国说英语，那么接下来的小贴士能够提醒你需要注意的地方。

　　General Points to Remember

　　你需要记住的是：

　　Most Americans only speak English1: While it is true that more and more Americans speak Spanish, most Americans only speak English. Don't expect them to understand your native language.

　　大多数美国人只说英语：虽然现在越来越多美国人说西班牙语，但是大部分美国人仍然只说英语。所以就别太期望他们能理解你的母语。

　　Americans have difficulties understanding foreign accents: Many Americans are not used to foreign accents. This requires patience from both of you!

　　美国人理解外国口音有困难：很多美国人并不习惯外国口音，因此需要你们之间的耐心交流。

　　Conversation Tips

　　对话贴士

　　Speak about location: Americans love to talk about location. When speaking to a stranger, ask them where they are from and then make a connection with that place. For example: "Oh, I have a friend who studied in Los Angeles. He says it's a beautiful place to live." Most Americans will then willingly talk about their experiences living or visiting that particular city or area.

　　谈论地点：美国人很喜欢聊关于地点的话题，当你与一位外国人初次交谈的时候，可以询问他们的家乡以及与该地方相关的问题。比如说，“啊，我有一个在洛杉矶读书的朋友，他觉得那里很漂亮。”接着，大多数美国人都会很乐意与你交谈他们在那个地方生活或观光的经历。

　　Talk about work: Americans commonly ask "What do you do?". It's not considered impolite (as in some countries) and is a popular topic of discussion¹ between strangers.

　　谈论工作：美国人通常会问 “What do you do?” 虽然在某些国家这是无礼的问题，但在美国不是的，这只是一个陌生人之间的流行话题。

　　Talk about sports: Americans love sports! However, they love American sports. When speaking about football, most Americans understand "American Football", not soccer.

　　谈论体育：美国人太热爱体育运动了！不过，他们热爱的是美国体育。当聊到football的时候，绝大多数美国人想到的是橄榄球而不是英式足球。

　　Be careful when expressing ideas about race, religion or other sensitive topics: The United States is a multi-cultural society. Especially in the last few years, Americans are trying very hard to be sensitive to other cultures and ideas. Talking about sensitive topics like religion or beliefs is often avoided in order to be sure not to offend² someone of a different belief system. This is often referred to as being "politically correct".

　　当谈到关于种族，宗教或其他敏感话题的时候要注意：美国是一个多元文化的社会，特别是在这几年，美国人对不同的文化和观点特别敏感。在美国，像宗教或个人信仰的敏感话题通常是避免在交谈中提到的，以免对别人造成冒犯。这就是通常所说的“政治正确”。

　　Addressing People

　　称呼他人

　　Use last names with people you do not know: Address people using their title (Mr, Ms, Dr) and their last names.

　　对于不熟悉的人，请使用姓来称呼。称呼人的时候，使用头衔（如先生，女士，博士等）加上他们的姓。

　　Always use "Ms" when addressing women: It is important to use "Ms" when addressing a woman. Only use "Mrs" when the woman has asked you to do so!

　　请使用 “Ms” 来称呼女性：用 “Ms” 来称呼女性是比较重要的，只有在她要求你称呼她为 “Mrs” 的时候才这样做。

　　Many Americans prefer first names: Americans often prefer using first names, even when dealing³ with people in very different positions. Americans will generally say, "Call me Tom." and then expect you to remain on a first name basis.

　　美国人偏爱使用名字：美国人喜欢别人使用名字来称呼他们，即使双方的身份不同也这样做。美国人一般会说，“叫我Tom”，并且他希望你就这样称呼，不需要客气。

　　Americans prefer informal: In general, Americans prefer informal greetings and using first names or nicknames⁴ when speaking with colleagues and acquaintances⁵.

　　美国人更不拘小节：一般来说，美国人更喜欢非正式的问候语，当提到同事和熟人的时候会使用他们的名字或昵称。

　　Public Behavior

　　公共场合的行为

　　Always shake hands: Americans shake hands when greeting each other. This is true for both men and women. Other forms of greeting such as kissing on the cheeks, etc., is generally not appreciated.

　　握手的必须的：美国人在互相致意的时候都会握手，这是男女通用的，然而其他的问候方式如亲吻脸颊等，则不那么常用。

　　Look your partner in the eye: Americans look each other in the eyes when they are speaking as a way of showing that they are sincere⁶.

　　看着对方的眼睛：为表示真诚，美国人在与别人交谈的时候会看着对方的眼睛。

　　Don't hold hands: Same sex friends do not usually hold hands or put their arms around each other in public in the United States.

　　别拉手：在美国，同性朋友在公共场合并不太会拉手或者挽住对方的胳膊。

　　Smoking is Out!!: Smoking, even in public places, is strongly disapproved⁷ of by most Americans in the modern United States.

　　不许抽烟！！在当代美国，抽烟，特别是在公共场合，是非常不被人们接受的行为。

 

1 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

2 offend   

v.犯错误；违犯；犯罪

参考例句：

• He took care never to offend his visitors.他小心谨慎，绝不得罪他的访客。
• I think I never offend you.我想我从没有触犯过你。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 nicknames   

n.绰号，诨名，昵称( nickname的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The other children taunted him with nicknames. 其他的孩子用绰号取笑他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He tried to amuse her by calling her the affectionate nicknames "Dark Sweetie" and "Miss Chocolate." 方鸿渐要博鲍小姐欢心，便把“黑甜”、“朱古力小姐”那些亲昵的称呼告诉她。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

5 acquaintances   

n.相识的人( acquaintance的名词复数 )；熟人；对…有了解；（与某人）认识

参考例句：

• Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances . 克莱尔交游很广。
• We are the casual acquaintances of a long railway journey. 我们是在火车长途旅行中相识的朋友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 sincere   

adj.真诚的，诚挚的，诚恳的

参考例句：

• He is sincere and easy to get along with.他为人诚恳，很好相处。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 disapproved   

v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• My parents disapproved of my marriage. 我父母不赞成我的婚事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing. 她不赞成儿子不加选择地收看电视。 来自《简明英汉词典》