Humor 美式幽默(Part 1 of 8)
Is humor a universal experience? Well, it's true that people all over the world enjoy a good laugh. But every culture's funny bone is tickled a different way. Humor is based onshared experiences and background knowledge. As a result, non-Americans have a hard time seeing why American jokes are funny, even if they know what the words mean. But if you know what to look for, you can learn to appreciate American humor.
幽默是不是一種全世界共通的經驗呢？嗯，全世界的人都喜歡開懷大笑倒是真的。不過，令不同文化背景的人感到好笑之處都不相同，幽默是建立在共同的經驗與知識背景上，因此，即使能明白字面上的意思，但若不是美國人就很難了解美式笑話的好笑之處。不過你若能掌握訣竅，就可以學會欣賞美式幽默。
⊙ Word Bank
funny bone (n phr) 肘上方恥骨之端（碰到時會發麻）
tickle (v)
搔癢；覺得酥癢
Is humor a universal experience? Well, it's true that people all over the world enjoy a good laugh. But every culture's funny bone is tickled a different way. Humor is based onshared experiences and background knowledge. As a result, non-Americans have a hard time seeing why American jokes are funny, even if they know what the words mean. But if you know what to look for, you can learn to appreciate American humor.
幽默是不是一種全世界共通的經驗呢？嗯，全世界的人都喜歡開懷大笑倒是真的。不過，令不同文化背景的人感到好笑之處都不相同，幽默是建立在共同的經驗與知識背景上，因此，即使能明白字面上的意思，但若不是美國人就很難了解美式笑話的好笑之處。不過你若能掌握訣竅，就可以學會欣賞美式幽默。
⊙ Word Bank
funny bone (n phr) 肘上方恥骨之端（碰到時會發麻）
tickle (v)
Humor 美式幽默(Part 2 of 8)
The pun, or the play on words, is a basic part of American humor. Puns are based on words that have a double meaning or words that sound alike. For example, one man saw an expensive car wrapped around a tree after an accident. He said, "That's the way the Mercedes Benz!" The obvious pun is that Benz sounds like bends. Some people consider the pun a low form of humor, but many Americans still enjoy "pun"-ishing each other.
雙關語，或稱作玩弄文字遊戲，是美式幽默中一個基本的部分。雙關語所用的字都有雙重的意義，或者發音很接近。舉例來說，有個人看到一輛昂貴的汽車在發生意外事故後整個車身纏繞在一棵樹上，他說：「賓士車撞歪之後就是這副德性！」在這個明顯的雙關語中，「賓士」的發音和「彎曲」很像。有些人覺得雙關語是較為不高尚的幽默方式，但是很多美國人仍然喜歡以雙關語彼此開玩笑。
⊙ Word Bank
pun (n)
雙關語
wrap around (v phr) 纏裹
The pun, or the play on words, is a basic part of American humor. Puns are based on words that have a double meaning or words that sound alike. For example, one man saw an expensive car wrapped around a tree after an accident. He said, "That's the way the Mercedes Benz!" The obvious pun is that Benz sounds like bends. Some people consider the pun a low form of humor, but many Americans still enjoy "pun"-ishing each other.
雙關語，或稱作玩弄文字遊戲，是美式幽默中一個基本的部分。雙關語所用的字都有雙重的意義，或者發音很接近。舉例來說，有個人看到一輛昂貴的汽車在發生意外事故後整個車身纏繞在一棵樹上，他說：「賓士車撞歪之後就是這副德性！」在這個明顯的雙關語中，「賓士」的發音和「彎曲」很像。有些人覺得雙關語是較為不高尚的幽默方式，但是很多美國人仍然喜歡以雙關語彼此開玩笑。
⊙ Word Bank
pun (n)
wrap around (v phr) 纏裹
Humor 美式幽默(Part 3 of 8)
Other types of American humor are based on language, too. Knock-knock jokes, popular with children, follow a standard format:
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Dozen.
Dozen who?
Dozen (Doesn't) anybody want to let me in?
其他種類的美式幽默也是以語文為基礎的。「敲門，敲門」的笑話在孩子圈裡很流行，其標準格式如下：
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Dozen.
Dozen who?
Dozen (Doesn't) anybody want to let me in?
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Dozen.
Dozen who?
Dozen (Doesn't) anybody want to let me in?
其他種類的美式幽默也是以語文為基礎的。「敲門，敲門」的笑話在孩子圈裡很流行，其標準格式如下：
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Dozen.
Dozen who?
Dozen (Doesn't) anybody want to let me in?
Humor 美式幽默(Part 4 of 8)
Riddles have been around for thousands of years. Americans also enjoy this kind of question-and-answer humor:
■ What is black when it's clean and white when it's dirty? A blackboard.
■ What asks no questions but gets many answers? A doorbell.
■ What starts with T, ends with T and is full of T (tea)? A teapot.
謎語的存在已有幾千年的歷史，但美國人仍喜歡這種問答式的幽默：
■ 什麼東西乾淨時是黑的，但弄髒時是白的？黑板。
■ 什麼東西不發問，但卻得到許多回答？門鈴。
■ 什麼東西以T 開頭，以T結尾，而且裡面都是T（茶）？茶壼。
Riddles have been around for thousands of years. Americans also enjoy this kind of question-and-answer humor:
■ What is black when it's clean and white when it's dirty? A blackboard.
■ What asks no questions but gets many answers? A doorbell.
■ What starts with T, ends with T and is full of T (tea)? A teapot.
謎語的存在已有幾千年的歷史，但美國人仍喜歡這種問答式的幽默：
■ 什麼東西乾淨時是黑的，但弄髒時是白的？黑板。
■ 什麼東西不發問，但卻得到許多回答？門鈴。
■ 什麼東西以T 開頭，以T結尾，而且裡面都是T（茶）？茶壼。
Humor 美式幽默(Part 5 of 8)
People in America like making each other laugh. Even if they are not professional comedians, most people think they have a good sense of humor. A favorite American style of joking around is "pulling somebody's leg." That means telling someone a story which is untrue—maybe even a "tall tale"—while keeping a straight face. At other times, Americans use funny voices or sound effects to spice up a story. Their body language and facial expressions add to the humor.
美國人喜歡引人發笑，即使不是什麼專業的喜劇演員，大部分的人都覺得自己很幽默。美國人最喜歡的一種玩笑方式是「開別人玩笑，使其信以為真」，就是板著臉孔正經八百地陳述一件並非真實的故事——或許甚至是個誇張的故事。此外，美國人會以滑稽的聲音或音效為一個故事增加笑料，他們的肢體語言和面部表情可以使其更好笑。
⊙ Word Bank
comedian (n)
喜劇演員
pull somebody's leg (v phr) 開某人玩笑使其信以為真
People in America like making each other laugh. Even if they are not professional comedians, most people think they have a good sense of humor. A favorite American style of joking around is "pulling somebody's leg." That means telling someone a story which is untrue—maybe even a "tall tale"—while keeping a straight face. At other times, Americans use funny voices or sound effects to spice up a story. Their body language and facial expressions add to the humor.
美國人喜歡引人發笑，即使不是什麼專業的喜劇演員，大部分的人都覺得自己很幽默。美國人最喜歡的一種玩笑方式是「開別人玩笑，使其信以為真」，就是板著臉孔正經八百地陳述一件並非真實的故事——或許甚至是個誇張的故事。此外，美國人會以滑稽的聲音或音效為一個故事增加笑料，他們的肢體語言和面部表情可以使其更好笑。
⊙ Word Bank
comedian (n)
pull somebody's leg (v phr) 開某人玩笑使其信以為真
Humor 美式幽默(Part 6 of 8)
Sometimes, though, people in America make jokes about others. Mothers-in-law, politicians, teachers and ethnic groups are the target of many jokes. Here's one: An absent-minded college professor left a note on his office door that said, " I'II be back in one hour." When he returned, he read the note and sat down to wait for himself. Get it?
不過，有時候美國人也會取笑他人，岳母、政客、老師和不同族群的人都是被取笑的對象。這裡有一個笑話：一個心不在焉的大學教授在他辦公室門口留了一張紙條，上面寫著：「我會在一個小時內回來。」當他回來時，看完紙條後就坐下來等他自己。你聽懂了嗎？
⊙ Word Bank
target (n)
（被開玩笑的）目標
Sometimes, though, people in America make jokes about others. Mothers-in-law, politicians, teachers and ethnic groups are the target of many jokes. Here's one: An absent-minded college professor left a note on his office door that said, " I'II be back in one hour." When he returned, he read the note and sat down to wait for himself. Get it?
不過，有時候美國人也會取笑他人，岳母、政客、老師和不同族群的人都是被取笑的對象。這裡有一個笑話：一個心不在焉的大學教授在他辦公室門口留了一張紙條，上面寫著：「我會在一個小時內回來。」當他回來時，看完紙條後就坐下來等他自己。你聽懂了嗎？
⊙ Word Bank
target (n)
Humor 美式幽默(Part 7 of 8)
Making fun of others like this might reflect just a playful attitude. But it can also reflect jealousy, anger or resentment. While these jokes are just for fun, they may not be funny to everyone— especially the target.
像這樣開別人玩笑可能只是反映出一種好玩的態度，但它也可能反映出嫉妒、憤怒或怨恨的心情。然而儘管這些玩笑只是為了開心的緣故，但並非每個人都會覺得好笑，尤其是被開玩笑的人。
⊙ Word Bank
resentment (n)
憤恨
Making fun of others like this might reflect just a playful attitude. But it can also reflect jealousy, anger or resentment. While these jokes are just for fun, they may not be funny to everyone— especially the target.
像這樣開別人玩笑可能只是反映出一種好玩的態度，但它也可能反映出嫉妒、憤怒或怨恨的心情。然而儘管這些玩笑只是為了開心的緣故，但並非每個人都會覺得好笑，尤其是被開玩笑的人。
⊙ Word Bank
resentment (n)
Humor 美式幽默(Part 8 of 8)
America is a funny place. If you need a laugh, it's not far away. Just pick up a newspaper and scan the "funny pages" for your favorite comic strip. Or turn on the TV and watch a comedy show. Mail a smile to a friend by sending a humorous greeting card. And watch for amusing situations around you in real life. Telling stories about funny experiences is a great way to brighten up someone's day. Hey, did you hear about the time I...
美國是個很有趣的地方，你如果需要一笑，絕對不成問題。只要拿起報紙，瀏覽一下遊戲版上你最喜歡的連環漫畫，或者打開電視看一齣喜劇。寄一張有趣的祝賀卡給朋友，帶給他一個微笑。觀察周遭生活中一些有趣的情況，把一些有趣的經驗告訴別人，這也是個讓人日子過得更開心的好方法。嘿，你有沒有聽說，有一次我……
⊙ Word Bank
comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫
America is a funny place. If you need a laugh, it's not far away. Just pick up a newspaper and scan the "funny pages" for your favorite comic strip. Or turn on the TV and watch a comedy show. Mail a smile to a friend by sending a humorous greeting card. And watch for amusing situations around you in real life. Telling stories about funny experiences is a great way to brighten up someone's day. Hey, did you hear about the time I...
美國是個很有趣的地方，你如果需要一笑，絕對不成問題。只要拿起報紙，瀏覽一下遊戲版上你最喜歡的連環漫畫，或者打開電視看一齣喜劇。寄一張有趣的祝賀卡給朋友，帶給他一個微笑。觀察周遭生活中一些有趣的情況，把一些有趣的經驗告訴別人，這也是個讓人日子過得更開心的好方法。嘿，你有沒有聽說，有一次我……
⊙ Word Bank
comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫
If you wash the dishes, I'll dry them and put them away.
如果你洗碗的話，那麼我就把它們擦乾收起來。
如果你洗碗的話，那麼我就把它們擦乾收起來。
We need to go grocery shopping because there is no food in the house.
我們需要去買些食品雜貨，因為家裡沒有吃的了。
Let's have fish. It's very healthy to eat.
我們吃魚好了。吃魚很健康的。
Please ask one of us to pass the food; do not reach across the table for it.
請叫我們當中一個人替你傳食物；別把手伸到桌子的另一端去拿。
Let's go out to eat tonight.
我們今晚去外面吃吧。
What else do we need to do before we can eat?
我們在吃東西之前還需要做什麼？
Did you have a good day at work?
你今天工作順利嗎？
Wow, you look like you have a lot of homework to do tonight.
哇，你今晚看起來好像有很多功課要做。
全站熱搜
留言列表
