美國文化習俗精粹 第9期:Love of American Style美式愛情
An old song says that "love makes the world go around." If you watch Americans on Valentine's Day, you can believe it. The whole country breaks out with little red hearts. Love-struck people give cards, flowers and candy to their sweethearts. You might call it an annual celebration of love.
有首老歌是這麼唱的「愛讓世界旋轉」。如果你在情人節觀察美國人，你就會相信，因爲全國突然出現許多小紅心，戀愛的人會送卡片、花和糖果給他們的情人，也許我們可以稱這是個愛的節日。
Americans are romantic all year long, but especially on February 14. Valentine's Day gives people an excuse to ask someone they admire to "be their valentine."
美國人全年都是羅曼蒂克的，尤其是在二月十四日。情人節給了人們藉口請他們所欣賞的人做他們的情人。
Conversation I 會話一
Stan: Hey, Angela! I've been looking all over for you!
史丹：安琪拉！我到處找妳！
Angela: Well, hi, Stan! Happy Valentine's Day!
安琪拉：嗨！史丹！情人節快樂！
Stan: Thanks! Happy Valentine's Day to you, too! Uh, Angela……
史丹：謝謝！我也祝你情人節快樂！嗯，安琪拉……
Angela: Yes?
安琪拉：什麼事？
Stan: Well, I……uh……got you a little something for Valentine's Day. Would you be my valentine?
史丹：我…，嗯，我有一樣小東西送給你當情人節的禮物，你願意做我的情人嗎？
Angela: How sweet! The flowers are beautiful! And you know how much I love chocolate! Sure, I'd be honored to.
安琪拉：多美啊！這花好漂亮！而且你知道我有多喜歡巧克力！我覺得很榮幸能夠成爲你的情人。
Stan: Would you like to go to the school party with me this Saturday?
史丹：這星期六你要和我一起參加學校的舞會嗎？
Angela: Yes, I would. I'll look forward to it.
安琪拉：好啊！我會去，並且滿心期待地！
The American concept of love and romance begins with dating. Young people date in several ways. At first they might have group dates with several boys and girls together. Later, they start going on single dates-just one boy and one girl. Sometimes a boy and a girl will go to a movie. Maybe they will go to a party at a friend's house. Or they might go out to eat.
美國人的觀念認爲愛情和羅曼史是從約會開始的。年輕人約會有幾種情況。剛開始，他會有羣體式的約會，就是幾個男生幾個女生一起約會出去。之後，他們纔開始單獨的約會，就是一男一女。有時他們會去看電影，也可能去朋友家聚餐，或者到外面吃飯。
When two couples go out together, we call it double dating. A friend might even arrange a blind date for you with someone you don't know. That doesn't mean you keep your eyes closed the whole evening! You just don't know who your partner will be until the time for the date. If someone asks you for any kind of date, and you don't want to go, you may politely say, "No, thanks."
當有兩對一起出去時，我們稱之爲「兩對式約會」，甚至朋友也會安排你不認識的人幫你相親。所謂相親（blind date）並不是指讓你整晚都把眼睛蒙起來，而是一直要等到約會那天你才知道對象是誰。如果有人以任何一種方式約你，但你不想去，你只管禮貌地說：「謝謝你，我不去。」
Conversation II
會話二
Jeff: Hi, Tanya! Boy, it's freezing today, isn't it?
傑夫：嗨！田雅，老天！今天真冷啊！
Tanya: You're not kidding! I'm glad I'm wearing a hat and gloves!
田雅：你說得沒錯，我真慶幸戴了帽子和手套！
Jeff: Yeah, you look warm all bundled up like that. Say, I was wondering, would you like to go to the Valentine's banquet with me next week?
傑夫：是啊！你裹得那樣看起來很暖和。我在想你下星期要不要和我去參加情人節的宴會？
Tanya: Well, I really don't think I can. I have other plans. Thanks for asking, though.
田雅：我想我真得沒辦法去，我有另外的計劃，不過還是謝謝你的邀請。
Jeff: That's O.K. Maybe some other time.
傑夫：沒關係，以後還有機會！
Tanya: Yeah. Well, here comes my bus. See you later!
田雅：啊！我的車來了，再見！
Americans view dating differently from people in other cultures. American young people see a date as a time just to have fun. They don't always have a romantic interest in mind. Someone may go out with one person this week, and another person the next. After a while, a boy and a girl may decide they want to "go steady." This means they think of each other as "boyfriend and girlfriend." It also means they don't want to date anyone else. Romance is beginning to bloom.
美國人看「約會」的角度與其他文化不同。美國的年輕人只是把約會當做享樂的時刻，並不都是有感情牽涉在內，有的人也許這星期和這個人出去，下星期和另一個人。過一陣子之後，一男一女可能決定他們要「穩定下來」，就是他們將彼此視爲男女朋友，也就是說他們不再和其他人約會。愛情之花將開始綻放。
Romantic love is very much a part of American culture. Movies, TV shows and books in America all picture people falling in love. Americans know that no romance is perfect, but still they try to find the ideal person. Actually, love is a part of every culture, not just American culture. People all over the world search for happiness in a loving relationship.
愛情是美國文化的一大部分，美國的電影、電視和書都刻劃人們墜入情網的事，美國人知道沒有一個愛情是完美的，但他們仍舊試圖尋找理想伴侶。事實上，愛情是每一種文化的一部分而非僅是美國文化的。我們可以看出全世界的人都想在愛情裏尋求快樂。
Maybe love does make the world go around.
也許愛情確實讓世界旋轉吧！
