零距離美語(yǔ)會(huì)話[家庭]Lesson 4
Four International Marriage.
涉外婚姻
1 Introduction
A Perhaps more than ever before, people from very different cultures marry each other. Such intercultural and interracial marriages have been more common in countries like America and Canada where people from all over the world live, work, and study together. These relationships often have hidden problems and surprising benefits.
不同文化間的人結(jié)婚也許已大大超出了往常。這種不同文化、不同人種間的婚姻在像美國(guó)、加拿大這種有來(lái)自世界各地的人在此生活、工作、學(xué)習(xí)的國(guó)家已經(jīng)變得很普遍了。這些關(guān)系經(jīng)常隱藏危機(jī)，也有出乎意料的好處。
B Every marriage requires commitment, dedication and work. An international / intercultural marriage requires even more attention because of the many obstacles that a couple faces. The obstacles come from family, friends, personal values, expectations, and bureaucratic procedures. To overcome these barriers, intercultural couples need to learn about one another's cultures, accept that cultural roots go deep and that people don't change easily or quickly. And most important, they need to focus on the positives and talk with one another about which traditions they want to carry on as a couple and with their children.
每一個(gè)婚姻都需要有承諾，都需要付出努力。由于涉外婚姻夫妻面對(duì)著很多障礙，所以需要更加用心。障礙有來(lái)自家庭的，朋友的，還有個(gè)人價(jià)值觀不同，期待不同，以及官方手續(xù)。要克服這些障礙，涉外婚姻夫妻需要了解對(duì)方文化，并要接受由于這種文化根底深，人是不容易或者很快改變的。最重要的是，他們需要看到那些好的方面，互相商量看作為夫妻以及小孩以后想繼續(xù)采用哪一種傳統(tǒng)。
2 Sample Sentences
1. I think that anyone considering marrying a foreigner needs to look at things very closely before doing so.
我覺(jué)得任何選擇和老外結(jié)婚的人都應(yīng)該在此之前仔細(xì)地看清楚這件事。
2. Marriage to someone from a different country does require some extra effort.
和一個(gè)異國(guó)他鄉(xiāng)的人結(jié)婚真的是需要更多的努力。
3. It can be worth the effort however.
然而這份努力也可能是很值得的。
4. Couples have said that the first five years of this type of marriage are the hardest.
有夫妻說(shuō)過(guò)這種類型的婚姻前5年是最難的。
5. The key to a successful intercultural marriage is to develop understanding and patience.
一個(gè)成功的涉外婚姻最關(guān)鍵的就是要培養(yǎng)理解與耐心。
6. It isn't easy to deal with the legacy that we've all grown up with in our ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
要處理好我們?cè)谶@種民族、信仰和社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)環(huán)境下長(zhǎng)大所受到的影響是不容易的。
7. Do you ever feel the fear of abandonment by your family, friends and your spouse?
你有沒(méi)有過(guò)怕被你的家人、朋友和你的配偶拋棄的恐懼心理？
8. How would you describe your intercultural marriage?
你怎么描述你的涉外婚姻？
9. Understanding the diversity of cultures and traditions in one another's past can enhance a marriage relationship.
理解另外一個(gè)人過(guò)去不同的文化與傳統(tǒng)可以改善你的婚姻關(guān)系。
10. Although there can be many problems in these international marriage relationships, they can also be very successful.
盡管在這種國(guó)際婚姻關(guān)系中有很多問(wèn)題，但是它們還是可以很成功的。
11. I've been married for almost 3 years, and never once regretted it.
我結(jié)婚快3年了，但我從未后悔過(guò)。
3 Conversations
1. Two women are talking about intercultural marriage.
A. You are married to a foreigner, huh? So what’s it like?
B. Well, the first year of our marriage, we had great difficulty getting along. The things that are important to me are not important to him. We had a lot of conflicts1.
A. Yeah, I know what you mean. The first year of any marriage is difficult for all couples, not to mention two people from different cultures.
B. And now we have a two-year-old boy. We’re very happy that he’s healthy and smart.
A. Oh, so he’s half Chinese and half American. That’s unusual. What languages does he speak, then?
B. Right now he speaks mostly Chinese, and he can say a few English words. But he will learn.
A. What does he look like? Can people tell?
B. Yes, people surely can. He’s whiter than the Chinese kids, and his hair is a little blonde. My husband says his eyes are very Chinese though.
【譯文】
——你跟一個(gè)老外結(jié)婚了，是嗎？那么是個(gè)什么樣？
——嗯，我們結(jié)婚的第一年，我們很難相處。對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)重要的事對(duì)他來(lái)說(shuō)又不重要。我們有過(guò)很多沖突。
——是，我知道你什么意思。結(jié)婚的第一年對(duì)任何夫妻來(lái)說(shuō)都很難，更不用說(shuō)是兩個(gè)來(lái)自不同文化的人。
——而且現(xiàn)在我們有了一個(gè)兩歲的男孩。我們很高興他很健康、很聰明。
——噢，那么他是一半中國(guó)血統(tǒng)、一半美國(guó)血統(tǒng)。那很不尋常。那他講什么語(yǔ)言？
——現(xiàn)在他主要講中文，他只會(huì)說(shuō)幾個(gè)英文單詞。但是他會(huì)學(xué)。
——他長(zhǎng)得怎么樣？別人看得出來(lái)嗎？
——能，別人當(dāng)然能看出來(lái)。他比其他中國(guó)小孩白，頭發(fā)有點(diǎn)金黃。但我丈夫說(shuō)他的眼睛很像中國(guó)人的。
1. An interculture couple are talking about relatives visiting without warning.
A: Well, I can’t believe your uncle and aunt came to stay with us for a week, and they did not even call us in advance2.
B: John, they are old-fashioned people from the Chinese countryside. That’s their custom.
A: I know, but it is hard for me to get used to your relatives coming to visit us, and without warning.
B: Don’t your relatives visit other relatives?
A: Yes, but Americans never visit without calling in advance, and they almost never stay overnight.
B: I think that maybe Chinese families are closer than your families.
A: I think you’re right!
【譯文】
——嗯，我真不敢相信你的叔叔和姑媽和我們住了一個(gè)星期，甚至他們都沒(méi)有提前打個(gè)招呼。
——約翰，他們是從中國(guó)農(nóng)村來(lái)的老年人。那是他們的習(xí)俗。
——我知道，但是對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)很難適應(yīng)你的親戚來(lái)看我們，連個(gè)招呼都不打。
——你的親戚難道不去看望其他親戚的嗎？
——去啊，但是美國(guó)人從不事先不打個(gè)電話就去的，而且?guī)缀醵疾贿^(guò)夜。
——我覺(jué)得也許中國(guó)家庭比你們的家庭要親密很多。
——我想你說(shuō)得沒(méi)錯(cuò)！
3. Tired of Western food.
A: Sally, I’m tired of this Western food. I really miss my mother’s Sichuan cooking.
B: I’m sure you do miss that type of cooking. But can’t you try to get used to Western food?
A: I have tried. But Americans like butter, bread, sugar, and cream too much.
B: I suppose you’re right, Lee. Maybe that’s why so many Westerners are overweight3.
A: It’s interesting that Americans work very hard at their jobs, do not take naps4 during the day, and yet they can be so heavy.
B: You see, because we are often busy working, we eat too much fast food, and that food is very fattening5.
【譯文】
——莎利，這些西餐我真吃膩了。我真想念我媽媽做的四川菜。
——我知道你肯定很想念那種口味的菜。但是你難道不能試著適應(yīng)吃西餐嗎？
——我都試過(guò)了。但是美國(guó)人太喜歡黃油、面包、白糖和奶油了。
——我想你說(shuō)得對(duì)，李。也許那就是為什么這么多西方人超重。
¬——很有趣，美國(guó)人工作很賣力，白天又不打盹，而他們還可以這么胖。
——你想，因?yàn)槲覀児ぷ鹘?jīng)常很忙，所以我們吃快餐吃得很多，而那些食物又很容易使人發(fā)胖。
4. Money problems.
A: Calvin, how much money did you spend last weekend?
B: Lily, I’m not sure. Let me check, I think I spent $50.
A: Why don’t you help me save money? You are always spending money.
B: I know that I should learn how to save more, but I hope that we can spend a little on ourselves sometimes.
A: I’m sorry. I guess I’m too extreme when it comes putting money in the bank.
B: That’s okay. I’m sorry, too. It’s a good idea to prepare for the future possibilities.
【譯文】
——加爾文，上個(gè)周末你花了多少錢？
——莉莉，我不太清楚。我算算，我想我花了50美元。
——你怎么不幫我省錢？你老是花錢。
——我知道我應(yīng)該學(xué)會(huì)節(jié)省錢，但是我希望有時(shí)候我們可以花一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)錢在我們自己身上。
——對(duì)不起。一說(shuō)起把錢存進(jìn)銀行，我想我太過(guò)分了。
——沒(méi)關(guān)系。我也有愧。為將來(lái)做好準(zhǔn)備，這是好的。
4 Words and Expressions
1. conflict 沖突, 抵觸
2. in advance 事先; 預(yù)先
3. overweight 超重的; 過(guò)重的
4. nap 打盹兒, 小睡
5. fattening 用于養(yǎng)肥的
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