4. American Social Relations –Gladys G.Doty __ Janet Ross

4. American Social Relations

Gladys G. Doty Janet Ross

TEXT

American society is much more informal than that of many other countries and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. The American mixture of pride in achievement and sense of “I’m just as good as anybody else.” Along with lack of importance placed on personal dignity, is difficult for a foreigner to understand. Americans in general do not like to be considered inferior, and they grumble loudly about inconveniences or not getting a “fair deal.” Yet they do not make a point of their personal honor. As an illustration of the difference between European and American reflection in this respect, John Whyte in American Words and Ways gives the following account.

A… [European] professor [visiting in America] was once sent a bill for hospital services which he had never enjoyed. The bill was accompanied by a strong letter demanding payment. It was obvious that a mistake in names had been made, but the professor, thoroughly aroused by this reflection on his character and financial integrity, wrote a vigorous letter of reply (which an American might also have done). But in this letter of reply he demanded that the creditor write him a formal letter of apology … for this reflection on his honor. Since no publicity could possibly have been given to the mistake, for mistake it was, most Americans in that situation, after getting the matter off their chest (or without doing that) would have let the matter rest.
An example of the same thing may be that although Americans like to talk about their accomplishments, it is their custom to show certain modesty in reply to compliments. When someone praises an American upon his achievement or upon his personal appearance, which, incidentally, is a very polite thing to do in America, the American turns it aside. If someone should say, “Congratulations upon being elected president of the club,” an American is expected to reply, “Well, I hope I can do a good job,” or something of the sort. Or if someone says, “That’s a pretty blue necktie you are wearing,” an American is likely to say, “I’m glad you like it,” or “Thank you. My wife gave it to me for my birthday.” The response to a compliment seldom conveys the idea, “I, too, think I’m pretty good.”

Likewise, there are fewer social conventions that show social differences in America. Students do not rise when a teacher enters the room. One does not always address a person by his title, such as “Professor” or “Doctor” (“Doctor” is always used, however, for a doctor of medicine). The respectful “sir” is not always used in the northern and western parts of the country.
Clothing in America, as in every place in the world, to a certain degree reflects a person’s social position and income, or, at least among the young, his attitudes toward society or toward himself. Yet no person is restricted to a certain uniform or manner of dress because of his occupations or class in society. A bank president may wear overalls to paint his house and is not ashamed of either the job or the clothing, and a common laborer may wear a rented tuxedo at his daughter’s wedding.

Yet in spite of all the informality, America is not completely without customs that show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal “Hello” is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say, “Hello, Mr, Ferguson,” whereas the employer may reply, “hello, Jim.” Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir,” or “Yes, ma’am,” or “No, sir,” or “No, ma’am,” when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority. Although this is a good form all over the United States, “Yes, Mr. Weston” or “No, Mrs. Baker” is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West.

Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Though people wear hats less now than in the past, women still occasionally wear hats in church and at public social functions (except those that are in the evening).

In America there are still customs by which a man may show respect for a woman. He opens the door for her and lets her precede him through it. He walks on the side of the walk nearest the street. He takes her arm when crossing a street or descending a stairway. A younger person also shows respect for an older one in much the same fashion, by helping the older person in things requiring physical exertion or involving possible accident.

American surface informality often confuses the foreigner because he interprets it to mean no formality at all. He does not understand the point at which informality stops. A teacher, though friendly, pleasant, and informal in class, expects students to study hard, and he grades each student’s work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect. Although students are free to ask questions about statements made by the teacher, and may say that they disagree with what he says, they are not expected to contradict him. Similarly, in boy-girl relationships a foreign student should not mistake the easy relationship and flattery that are part of the dating pattern in the United States, nor presume that it means more than it does.

Also, because an American is perhaps more likely to admit and laugh at his own mistakes than one who stands more on his dignity, a foreigner sometimes does not know how to handle the American’s apparent modest. The American is quite ready to admit certain weaknesses, such as “I never was good at mathematics.” “I’m a rotten tennis player.” Or “I’m the world’s worst bridge player.” However, the stranger must not be too quick to agree with him. Americans think it is all right, even sporting, to admit a defect in themselves, but they feel that it is almost an insult to have someone else agree. A part of American idea of good sportsmanship is the point of being generous to a loser. This attitude is carried over into matters that have nothing to do with competition. If a man talks about his weak points, the listener says something in the way of encouragement, or points to other qualities in which the speaker excels. An American student reports that when he was in a foreign country he was completely stunned when he said to a native, “I don’t speak your language very well.” And the native replied, “I should say you don’t.” in a similar situation an American would have commented, “Well, you have only been here two months.” or “But you’re making progress.”

Although Americans are quite informal, it is best for a foreigner, in case of doubt, to be too formal rather than not formal enough. Consideration for others is the basis of all courtesy.

Phrase explanation

1. 本篇选自《美国语言与生活:美国留学生英语》(Language and Life in the U.S.A : American English for Foreign Students,1960)。.
2. American society is much more informal than that of many other countries and,in some ways,is characterized by less social distinction:与其他国家相比,美国社会更加不拘礼，某种意义上讲，没有太多的社会差别是美国社会的特征。
be characterized by:具有……的特点。例如:This election campaign has been characterized by violence.
3. as good as: 意同 almost,practically, 例如: The vote as good as kills the chance of real reform.
4. along with lack of importance placed on personal dignity: 伴随着不太重视个人尊严的习惯。该句含短语 place importance on.··。
5. grumble about;鸣不平;发牢骚。
6.inconveniences:不方便的事。
7.fair deal:公平待遇。
8. make a point of;重视;强调。本文第6段中 Southerners make a point of saying“Yes,sir.”...的 make a point of是“主张”的意思。
9.financial integrity:财务方面的廉洁,清白。integrity:诚实;廉洁。例如:a man of integrity
10.a vigorous letter of reply:一封措辞强硬的回信。
11.creditor:债权人。
12. Since no publicity could possibly have been given to the mistake:既然这种误会不可能宣扬出去。give publicity to:公开,宣传。
13.for mistake it was:此为插入语,相当于 for it was mistake。表语 mistake 前置表示强调。
14.getting... off one's chest:倾吐胸中郁闷。
15.let the matter rest:不再深究此事。
16.accomplishments: 成就,常用作复数。
17.incidentally: 附带地,顺便说一句。例如:I didn't ask you to come.Incidentally,why have you come?
18.turns aside:避开,撇开。
19.social conventions:社会习俗,
20.is restricted to:把……限制在……以内。
21.overalls:工装裤,用作复数。
22.tuxedo:无尾晚礼服。
23.in spite of all the informality:尽管有这一切不拘礼节的行动。all 表示强调,例如:all the time; all her life; working all by himself
24, America is not completely without customs that show consciousness of social distinction:美国并非完全没有表示人们意识到社会差别的风俗。
25. is apt to:易于。例如:She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about.
26.ma'am:madam的缩写
27. when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority:跟年长者或当权者谈话时。
28.public social functions:庆祝仪式;(盛大的)集会,宴会,
29.physical exertion:费体力的事。
30. he grades each student's work critically and carefully:他评分时对每个学生的作业非常挑剔,很认真。grade:给……分等级;给……评分。
31. Similarly,in boy girl relationships a foreign student should not mistake.,nor presume that it means more than it does:与此相类似,在男女学生的各种关系中，一个外国学生不应该把构成当今美国的约会方式的随便交往和奉承恭维搞错了，也不应该认为这里面还另有文章
32.stands on his dignity:保持尊严。
33 .a rotten tennis player:蹩脚的网球运动员。
34.sporting:有体育道德的;光明正大的
35.carried over:带到,转入。
36.excels(in):突出;擅长。例如:Caine has always been an actor who excels in irony.
37.in case of doubt:如果有怀疑或未搞清楚情况。

READER'S  QUIZ

Some of these statements are true (T),and some are false (F). Can you tell which are true and why the others are not?

(  )1. According to the passage,a strong sense of social differences is widespread in the American society.

(  )2. Generally speaking,American people seldom consider themselves inferior , nor do they feel any sense of superiority.

(  )3, Given the same situation confronting the professor, most Americans would have also demanded a formal apology.

(  )4. It's more of a matter of formalities than of substance to praise an American for what he has achieved.

(  )5.“Doctor" is always used for a doctor of medicine because a doctor is considered superior to those from other lines of work.

(  )6. American people are inclined to stick to one dress style or the other in line with their social status.

(  )7. There is always a degree beyond which formality is expected in the American society.

(  )8. Strangers are expected to behave like an American who admits to his weaknesses.

VOCABULARY

A. Use each of the following terms in a sentence.
1. to make a point of
2. to be apt to
3. in case of
4. to excel in
5. to grumble about
6. as an illustration of
7. to arouse
8. to disagree with
9. to contradict
10. as good as

B. Match the term in the left column with one which has a SIMILAR meaning in the right column
1. apparent
2. convention
3. compliment
4. accomplishment
5. occupation
6. dignity
7. informality
8. descend
9. exertion
10. courtesy
a. ease
b. fall
c. meeting
d. effort
e. praise
f. obvious
g. politeness
h. self-respect
i. job
j. achievement

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & APPRECIATION

1. What can be inferred from the passage with regard to the informal style prevalent in the American society?
2, What is the attitude Americans adopt towards their own achievement?Give an explanation please.
3. In which aspects are the Chinese different from the Americans in their attitudes towards the achievement? Give a brief explanation for your opinions.
4. When their teacher enters the classroom,Chinese students are expected to stand up while American students remain in their seats. Is there any difference between the modesty of the Americans and that of the Chinese people?
5. What can you say about the American characters from some of the occasions calling for formality as opposed to those where the informal style holds sway?

SPEED READING

Communities for Future Generations in the US
It is difficult to live without a car in modern America. Cities and towns are built around the automobile. This is a design focus that must be avoided in the future. Future communities, while still allowing residents to own and operate cars if they so choose, must be centered not around vehicle traffic, but around foot traffic.
A common argument against cars is that they pollute the environment and thus,are undesirable, While this is true, the automobile must be re-moved from urban planning not only due to pollution but also because of its unsustainable nature.

Cars and the type of city that is planned around them- use considerable resources and space that will not be available in the future. Oil reserves are dwindling and will disappear within the next century. Although it is possible for alternative fuel sources to be developed, these will nonetheless require considerable energy use. Furthermore, many resources are consumed in the production of cars. In a world with a constantly increasing population, the manufacture of new cars is not something that can be sustained and provided to all the people of the world. Not only does the production and operation of cars drain society, but the attitude associated with the automobile endangers the future. It is not advantageous for individuals to drive everywhere because, as the population increases, it will lead to incredible congestion (拥塞) within urban areas a drain on both time and resources that can be avoided with prop-er planning for the future.

Unfortunately, current urban plans require that anyone who wishes to lead an active life must drive a car. Mass transit, for the most part, is hardly available to those outside of downtown areas. Even where it is available, mass transit is often limited in scope and does not provide a preferable alternative to automobiles. The desire to own cars and land accompanies this idea. This property craving is currently satiated via suburban sprawl (散乱) and large houses. With a burgeoning(迅速发展的 ) population, the inefficient land use based on the notion of property wealth needs to be discarded. Communities must be redesigned so that people can live and work in both close quarters and comfort. Communities of the future must be de-signed so that businesses and homes are built next to one another.
Of course, this is not possible with current cities. Most businesses are located in undesirable areas of cities. Moreover, suburban sprawl further demands that one uses a car. Suburban areas are spread out over large tracts of land; not only does this use up valuable farmland and natural areas, but people who live in suburbs are far removed from entertainment and shopping centers and must travel by car to these places. For the most part, suburban communities function as places to sleep; residents work and play outside of where they live.

In order to create sustainable (可持续的) communities for future generations, it is not enough to simply pursue ideas such as mass transit. Although mass transit is an important part of any city plan, it is an alternative that distracts from the immediate problem at hand the fundamental need is to rethink how people live and what type of communities they live in.

Americans have a notion that they need to accumulate property wealth and this must be changed. Downtown areas can be modified to lower crime and create a more attractive facade (建筑物的正面) . In addition, new communities can be designed so that residential and commercial areas are zoned and built next to each other. With proper attention to building codes and planning, attractive houses and businesses can coexist. If this is done properly, people will in fact prefer to live in these communities for convenience and ease of commute (乘车往返). In return, this will eliminate the need for automobile transportation. It is not enough, however, that people merely be able to work near where they live. Shopping areas from grocery to clothing stores-should be located near homes so that citizens do not have to travel long distances to run errands. Concurrent (一致的) with this, entertainment facilities should be near homes and businesses so that an entire functioning and viable community can be within easy walking distance.

Even the homes themselves will have to be changed to meet future growth demand. Housing must become more compact. The days of the white picket fence house with the sprawling yard are gone. Americans need to get past this ideal and its inefficient use of limited land resources as being the American dream. Homes must be placed on smaller lots, and attractive apartments will increasingly need to be built. To compensate for (补偿) the lack of yards, more public parks located near homes must be constructed. This combination of commercial, residential, and recreation facilities will permit a higher density of people to enjoy a similarly high quality of life without creating the drain on resources that current cities demand. This type of high-density community can be found in Europe, where citizens enjoy a very high standard of living without the extensive use of automobiles that American life requires.

It will not be easy for Americans to make the shift to a more sustainable community, but it is a necessary one that must be made if the nation wishes to maintain its high standards of living. The focus of American community design must be removed from the car and property as wealth; with this will come a change in the idea of a home as a place to live rather than just to sleep. It will be difficult for urban planners to take these steps, but with courage and determination to build a better, sustainable future for America, it can be achieved.

Comprehension Exercises

I. Decide the answer that best completes the following statements according to the in formation provided in the text.

1. The main argument aside from pollution the writer brings forth against cars is that _____.
[A] less space will be available for the parking lot
[B] the production and operation of them can hardly be kept up in the long run
[C] oil reserves are on the decrease
[D] they will lead to traffic jams from time to time

2. Given the urban planning of the present time, cars are needed for an active life for the following reasons except that __
[Al mass transit is still limited in the area it covers
[B] mass transit distracts from our immediate problem at hand
[C] mass transit has not extended itself beyond the city centers
[D] transit can barely take the place of automobiles

3. A functioning and viable community is ____
[Al marked with ease of commute
[B] a combination of houses, businesses, shopping areas and entertainment facilities
[C] free of automobile transportation
[D] where people can work in the neighborhood of their home

4 Americans should not revert to the old- fashioned houses because ___
[A] they belong to the bygone days
[B] they put a strain on the limited land resources
[C] they used to be the American dream
[D] they are marked with a compact structure

5. Keeping up the high living standard necessitates ______
[A] the transformation of the current commute system
[B] the building of the community on the self-sustained basis
[C] the drop of cars and property as wealth
[D] the possibility for the people to live rather than sleep in their home

II . Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the in formation given in the text.
( ) 1. The traffic block, according to the writer, will turn out a heavy cost of time and resources.
( ) 2. Nowadays, many people have to travel by car to entertainment and shopping centers because they have been forced to live in the suburbs.
( ) 3. Instead of fence houses, apartments are suggested because they are economical in terms of space.
( ) 4. With an increasing population, new communities must be designed so that residential and commercial areas are divided into different zones.
( ) 5. According to the passage, the high density of population is not incompatible with the high living standard.