美國人為什麼這麼說
LS025
By: 保羅‧伯斯特, 季薇‧伯斯特
別人都笑翻了，還不知道笑點在哪裡? 一句話就搞定，何必在哪裡說一大篇? White elephant 不是白色大象 Elephant in the room 也不是真的房間裡有大象 Star-crossed lovers 更不是星宿命盤注定的愛人 而這句 for what it’s worth 到底想表達甚麼？ 語言離不開文化‧語感瞬間提升 是否常在看美國電視影集時只聽到罐頭笑聲，自己卻笑不出來？或是在美國電影中常聽到很特別的口語表達方式卻不知其為何而來？作者以定居美國多年的自身經驗，蒐集80種美國人常用卻讓人一頭霧水的英語詞彙，運用生動趣味對話，帶你一起深入美國生活文化！ 收錄6大篇：生活篇、信仰篇、表達篇、外來語篇、文明篇、其它篇，鋪天蓋地的聊天話題。 蒐羅22個單元：從食物到動物、從英語到其它地球語、從哈里路亞到莎士比亞，道地原味的口語表達。 精編80則情境對話：附中文解析、單字、片語、慣用語、常用短句，噴飯傻眼的現場直擊。 聽不出笑點？ 當你在看電影《變形金剛3》(Transformer 3: Dark of The Moon) 的開場時，主角山姆（Sam）的外國籍女友送給他一隻兔子的填充玩具作為象徵好運的禮物。當稍後兩人起了爭執時，山姆一怒之下將兔子的某一隻腳扯下來，吼 道：「不是整隻兔子都會帶來好運，只有這一部份！」你／妳知道他為什麼這麼說嗎? 讀過《美國人為什麼這麼說》「美國人的迷信」這個單元就會知道了。 一句話搞定 當你的生活或工作遇到瓶頸，你體認到「某件麻煩事，其實是另一件好事中不可避免的一部分」，你清楚知道「自己喜歡那件好事的程度，大到可以包容它帶來 的小困擾，就會比較甘願去做那個困難的部分」。如果讀過《美國人為什麼這麼說》「另外一層意義」這個單元你／妳就會學到原來只要瀟灑地說：“It comes with the territory.” 一句話就表達了當下那種種細微的情緒。 語感瞬間提升 語言不能脫離文化而存在。中文環伺的英語學習環境，要跳脫中文的邏輯思考框架不容易。精準描繪美國文化不是本書出版的本意，抽象的文化意涵也不是八十 個對話內容和主題解析就能辦到；但透過季薇與保羅化身書中人物連番生動又道地的口語對話，讀者們或會心一笑，或恍然大悟，或第一次聽到這種說法，就在意猶 未盡、迫不及待翻頁的那一個個瞬間，突然驚喜地感覺到，自己駕馭語言的能力，神奇地被提升了。 你／妳感覺到了嗎？
AI Overview
"美國人為什麼這麼說" (Why Do Americans Say That?) is a book written by Paul James Borst and translated by Jiwei Bao, published in 2014. Here is a comprehensive overview of the book:
Key Themes
- Cultural Insights: The book delves into the nuances of American culture, focusing on common expressions and idioms that might be confusing for non-native English speakers.
- Language and Culture: It emphasizes that language is deeply rooted in culture and that understanding these expressions can provide a more profound insight into American life and customs.
- Practical Communication: The book aims to help readers navigate everyday conversations in the United States by explaining and illustrating various idiomatic expressions.
Plot Summary
The book is structured into six main sections:
- 生活篇 (Life): Covers everyday expressions related to daily life.
- 信仰篇 (Faith): Explores expressions related to religious beliefs and practices.
- 表達篇 (Expression): Focuses on idiomatic expressions used in various contexts.
- 外來語篇 (Foreign Language): Discusses loanwords and phrases borrowed from other languages.
- 其他篇 (Other): Includes miscellaneous expressions that don't fit into the other categories.
Each section is filled with engaging, realistic dialogues that illustrate how these expressions are used in real-life situations. The authors use their own experiences living in the United States to provide authentic examples, making the book both informative and entertaining.
Critical Reception
While specific reviews are not provided in the sources, the general reception suggests that the book is well-received for its practical approach to learning American English. The use of engaging dialogues and the authors' personal experiences are highlighted as strengths in enhancing readers' understanding of American culture and language.
Instant Language Improvement: The book is praised for its ability to improve readers' language skills instantly. By providing concrete examples and context, it helps readers grasp the nuances of American English more effectively.
Cultural Immersion: The book is not intended to provide an abstract analysis of American culture but rather to immerse readers in the everyday conversations and expressions that define American life. This approach is seen as effective in helping readers feel more comfortable navigating American culture.
In summary, "美國人為什麼這麼說" is a valuable resource for those interested in understanding American culture and improving their English language skills. Its practical approach, engaging dialogues, and authentic examples make it a useful tool for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of American life and language.