美國家庭的雙語閲讀

"Please pass the turkey and dressing." What does this simple request make you think about? If you are an American, you think about Thanksgiving. A turkey dinner symbolizes Thanksgiving for Americans. What does Thanksgiving remind Americans of? Their families. Thanksgiving is a family time. On this holiday, families gather to gobble up the gobbler and stuff themselves with stuffing. Family members enjoy watching parades and football games on TV and just being together. What does "family" mean to Americans?

「請將火雞與配料遞給我。」這個簡單的請求令你想起什麼?如果你是美國人，你會想到感恩節。對美國人而言，火雞大餐象徵感恩節。感恩節提醒了美國人哪些事情呢?--他們的家人。感恩節是家人聚集的時間，在這個節日，家人聚在一起對着火雞以及雞腹中的調味材料大快朵頤;家人享受一起看遊 行、看足球比賽的電視轉播以及同聚的時光。到底家庭對於美國人的意義是什麼?

The traditional American family is a "nuclear family." A nuclear family refers to a husband and wife and their children. The average American family today has two or three children (and maybe a few pets). In some cultures, people live close to their extended family. Several generations may even live together. In America, only in a few cases does more than one household live under one roof.

傳統的美國家庭被稱為「核心家庭」。核心家庭包含了先生、太太和小孩子，今日美國的一般家庭有二個或三個小孩(或者再加上幾隻寵物)。在一些文化裏，大家庭住在一起，甚至好幾代的人同住。在美國，只有極少的情況下才會有超過一個家庭同住一個屋檐下。

American values receive a warm welcome in the home. Many homes are run like a democracy. Each family member can have a say. A sense of equality often exists in American homes. Instead of fearing Mom and Dad, children may think of them as good friends. Husbands and wives often share household chores. In many cases, a child can enjoy privacy in his or her own bedroom. From an early age, children gain responsibility in handling money. They may receive a weekly allowance or even work part-time jobs. Often parents give children freedom to make their own decisions. Preschoolers choose what clothes to wear or which toys to buy. Young adults generally make their own choices about what career to pursue and whom to marry.

美國人看重對家人回家時熱誠的歡迎。許多家庭用民主政治般的方式來治理，家中每個人都有發言權利，公平觀念廣泛存在於美國的家庭當中;除了敬畏之情外，孩子們也將父母親當成好朋友，夫婦經常彼此共同分擔家務;許多家庭的孩子在自己的卧室內享有隱私權;孩子們在很小的時候便有理財的責任，他們可能每個禮拜會有零用錢或是出去打工;父母親常會給孩子們自己做決定的自由，學齡前的孩子可以自己選擇穿什衣服或買什麼玩具，青年人則可自由選擇職業及結婚的對象。

Families in America, like those in every culture, face many problems. Social pressures are breaking apart more and more American homes. Over half of U.S. marriages now end in divorce. More than one in four American children are growing up in single-parent homes. As a result, many people believe the American family is in trouble.

正如許多其它文化一樣，美國的家庭也面對許多問題。社會的壓力正將愈來愈多的美國家庭解體。現在，超過半數以上的'婚姻在美國是以離婚做結束;每四個小孩中就有超過一位是由單親養育長大的，它的結果是造成了許多人相信美國家庭有麻煩了。

Even so, there is still reason for hope. Many organizations are working hard to strengthen families. Americans almost unanimously believe that the family is one of the most important parts of life. The vast majority also feel that the traditional two-parent family is best for children. They realize that problems in family life in recent years have brought about serious consequences. As a result, more and more people are making their family a priority. Many women are quitting their jobs to stay home with their children. Families are going on vacations and outings together. Husbands and wives are making a concentrated effort to keep their marriages solid.

即使如此，還是有盼望。許多機構正努力鞏固家庭。幾乎所有的美國人都相信家庭是生命中最重要的一部份。大多數人也認為傳統雙親式的家庭對小孩子是最好的。他們明白近來家庭生活的問題，已帶來了許多嚴重的結果。所以，愈來愈多的人將家庭視為第一優先。許多婦女辭去工作在家陪孩子。全家人一起渡假或出去玩，丈夫與妻子一起集中心力使婚姻穩固。

The United Nations has declared 1994 the "International Year of the Family." Not just in America, but all over the world, people recognize the importance of strong families. How do you strengthen the family bond? Do special things for each other. Talk to each other. Play together. Spend time together. Oh, and one more thing: be thankful for each other. If you have a family, every day should be Thanksgiving.

聯合國已宣佈一九九四年為國際家庭年。不止是在美國，全世界的人都明白一個穩固的家庭的重要性。你如何堅固你的家庭呢?為彼此做些特別的事情，一起聊天，一起玩，花時間在一起。喔!還有一件事情：對彼此懷着感恩之心，如果你有家庭，每天都應是感恩節。