輕松美語會(huì)話第2輯 社會(huì)老齡化
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
女士們先生們！您們好！
it gives me great pleasure to introduce our Keynote speaker for today's plenary address,
我很高興介紹為今天全席演講的主要發(fā)言人，霍華德·米勒博士，
Dr.Howard Miller.,Dr.Miller, Professor of Sociology at Washington University,
米勒博士是華盛頓大學(xué)社會(huì)研究學(xué)教授，
has written numerous articles and books on the issues facing older Americans in our graying society in the past 15 years.
在過去十五年里，米勒博士為我們老人社會(huì)的老一代美國人所面臨的各種問題寫下了許多文章和書籍。
Thank you for that introduction.
謝謝你的介紹，
Today,I'd like to preface my remarks from a story from my own life
今天就讓我從我生命中的一個(gè)故事來開始我的演說吧，
Which I feel highlights our common concerns that bring us here together.
我認(rèn)為它能突出反映我們共同的關(guān)心的也是使我們今天聚到一起的問題。
Several years ago when my grandparents were well into their eighties,
幾年前，當(dāng)我外祖父母進(jìn)入耄耄之年時(shí)，
they were faced with the reality of no longer begin able to adequately care for themselves .
他們面臨著不能夠充分照顧自己的現(xiàn)實(shí)。
My grandfather spoke of his greatest fear,
我的外祖父說到他的最大恐懼是，
that of leaving the only home they had known for the past 60 years.
離開他們過去六十年熟悉不過的家。
Fighting back the tears, he spoke proudly of the fact that he had built their home from the groud up,
強(qiáng)忍著淚水，他驕傲地說到自己如何從平曠的地面上建立起自己的家園，
and that he had pounded every nail and laid every brick in the process.
說起在此過程中如何添磚加瓦。
The prospect of having to sell their home and give up their independence,
一想到要賣掉他們的家，放棄獨(dú)立，
and move into a retirement home was an extremely traumatic experience for them.
然后搬到退休公寓，這一切對(duì)他們來說都是一個(gè)痛苦的經(jīng)歷。
It was ,in my grandfather's own words ,like having a limb severed off.
用我外祖父的話說來就是像四肢散了架。
He was quite emphatic exclaiming that he felt he wasn't important anymore.
他強(qiáng)調(diào)地說道他感覺自己已不再重要了。
For them and some older Americans,
對(duì)他們和一些老一輩美國人來說，
their so-called"golden years" are at times not so pleasant,for this period can mean the deline of not only one's health but the loss of identity and self-worth.
他們所謂的“黃金時(shí)代”有時(shí)候卻讓人不怎么愉快，因?yàn)檫@個(gè)時(shí)期可能意味著一個(gè)人健康狀況的下降和自我身份與價(jià)值的遺失。
In many societies,this self-identity is closely related without social status,occupation,material possessions,or independence.
在許多社會(huì)里，個(gè)人身份與一個(gè)人社會(huì)地位、職業(yè)、財(cái)產(chǎn)和獨(dú)立性是息息相關(guān)的。
Furthermore,we often live in societies that value that which is "new" or in vogue,
此外，我們通常是生活在一個(gè)崇尚新事物和時(shí)尚東西的社會(huì)里，
and our own usage of lexicon in the English language often does not bode well for older citizens.
我們使用的英語詞匯卻讓老一代美國人預(yù)感不妙，
I mean how would your family react if you came home tonight elated exclaiming ,"Hey ,come to the living room and see the OLD black and white TV brought!
我的意思是，當(dāng)你晚上回到家得意洋洋地喊道：“嘿，到客廳來，看看我買的古老的黑白電視！”你的家人怎樣反應(yīng)。
"Unfortunately, the word"old" conjures up images of the need to replace or discard.
不幸的是“老”這個(gè)字眼卻讓人產(chǎn)生必須替換和拋棄的印象。
Now many of the lectures given at this conference have focused on the issues of pension reform,
在這次討論會(huì)上，許多演講都是關(guān)于退休金改革，
medical care,and the development of public facilities for senior citizens.
醫(yī)療福利，老年人公共設(shè)施發(fā)展問題，
And while these are vital issues that must be addressed,
因?yàn)檫@是必須說到的重要問題。
I'd like to focus my comments on an underlying issue that will affect the overall success of the other programs mentioned.
但我還是想談?wù)勔粋€(gè)潛在的問題，它將影響上面提到的一切計(jì)劃的全面實(shí)現(xiàn)，
This has to do with realigning our perspectives on what it means to be a part of this group,
這就是需要我們著眼于一個(gè)問題，即作為老年人中的一員到底意味著什么，
and finding meaning roles the elderly can and should play in our societies.
還需要我們?cè)谶@個(gè)社會(huì)里尋找老年人可以并且應(yīng)該承擔(dān)的有意義的角色。
First of all,I'd to talk about..
首先，我想談?wù)?hellip;…
numerous adj. many
眾多的。
There were numerous articles in the paper on that problem.
報(bào)紙上刊登了許多關(guān)于那個(gè)問題的文章。
preface v. to introduce or begin
序文
The manager prefaced his presentation with the minutes from last meeting.
經(jīng)理從上次開會(huì)的會(huì)議記錄開始進(jìn)行闡述。
prospect n. the anticipation that something might happen
前途，期望
His prospects aren't very good for getting a job because he lacks the needed skills.
由于缺少必要的技能，他找到工作的可能性并不大。
traumatic adj. very upsetting or difficult
創(chuàng)傷的
Because of air pollution, we have seen some very traumatic changes in the environment.
由于空氣污染，我們看到環(huán)境有了許多煩人的改變。
limb n. a part of the body , like an arm or leg
肢
Many artificial limbs have been prepared for.
許多人造肢體準(zhǔn)備好了。
severed off cut off completely
嚴(yán)厲的
The two businesses severed off negotiations after they couldn't agree on any of the important issues.
在所有重要問題上都產(chǎn)生了意見分歧后，兩筆交易談判取消了。
lexicon vocabulary
詞匯
Expanding your lexicon in this technical field will help you a great deal.
擴(kuò)大你的技術(shù)領(lǐng)域的詞匯量將對(duì)你幫助很大。
to be elated V. very happy or excited
高興的樣子
They were elated to hear the good news.
聽到這個(gè)好消息后他們非常興奮。
discard v. to throw away, to dispose of
丟棄
The fish in this river are dying because local industries have been reckless in discarding their waste materials.
由于當(dāng)?shù)毓I(yè)企業(yè)恣意亂排廢物，這條河中的魚不斷死亡。
