大學英語unit07家庭的自學教程

07-A. Families

“Family”—the word has different meanings for different people, and even the dictionary gives us several definitions :“a group of people related by blood or marriage,” “two adults and their children,” “all those people descended from a common ancestor,” “a household,” and so on. Some people think of a family as a mother, a father, and their children; others include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. For some of us, family means the group of relatives living far away from home. For others, having a family simply means having children. Some families have long histories, while others know very little about their ancestors. No matter if it is young or old, large or small, traditional or modern, every family has a sense of what a family is. It is that feeling of belonging, of love and security that comes from living together, helping and sharing.

There are basically two types of families: nuclear families and extended families. The nuclear family usually consists of two parents (mother and father) and their children. The mother and father form the nucleus, or center, of the nuclear family. The children stay in the nuclear family until they grow up and marry, then form new nuclear families.

The extended family is very large. There are often many nuclear families in one extended family. An extended family includes children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. The members of an extended family are related by blood (grandparent, parents, children, brothers, sisters, etc.) or by marriage (husbands, wives, mothers-in-law, etc). They are all related, so the members of an extended family are called relatives.

Traditionally, all the members of an extended family lived in the same area. However, with the change from an agricultural to an industrial society, many nuclear families moved away from the family home in order to find work. In industrial societies today, the members of most nuclear families live together, but most extended families do not live together. Therefore we can say that the nuclear family becomes more important than the extended family as the society industrializes.

In post-industrial societies like the United States, even the nuclear family is changing. The nuclear family is becoming smaller as parents want fewer children, and the number of childless families is increasing. Traditionally, the father of a nuclear family earned money for the family while the mother cared for the house and the children. Today more than 50% of the nuclear families in the United States are two-earner families – both the father and the mother earn money for the family – and in a few families the mother earns the money while the father takes care of the house and the children. Many nuclear families are also “splitting up” – more and more parents are getting divorced.

What will be the result of this “splitting” of the nuclear family? Social scientists now talk of two new family forms: the single parent family and the remarried family. Almost 20% of all American families are single parent families, and in 85% of these families the single parent is the mother. Most single parents find it very difficult to take care of a family alone, so they soon marry again and form remarried families. As social scientists study these two new family form, they will be able to tell us more about the future of the nuclear family in the post-industrial age.

【課文譯文】

家庭

“家庭”這個詞對不同的人有不同的意義。甚至詞典也給出了好幾個意義：“一羣由血緣或婚姻聯繫起來的人”、“兩個成年人和他們的孩子們”、“從一個共同祖先延續下來的所有的人”、“在一座房子裏住在一起的所有的人”等等。有些人認為家就是母親、父親和他們的孩子們，家中的其他人還包括祖父母、嬸嬸、叔叔和堂兄妹。對一些人來説，家庭就是在離家很遠的地方生活的一羣親戚，而對另一些人來説，擁有一個家只意味着有孩子。有些家庭有很長的歷史，而另一些家庭對自己的祖先知之甚少。無論一個家庭的歷史是長還是短，規模是大還是小，是傳統的還是現代的，每個家庭都知道家是什麼。它是一種歸屬感，一種愛和安全的感覺。這些感覺來自於共同生活，互相幫助和同甘共苦。

基本上有兩種家庭類型：核心家庭和大家庭。核心家庭通常由雙親(父親和母親)和他們的孩子組成。父親和母親形成核心家庭的核心或中心。孩子們一直生活在核心家庭裏，直到長大結婚。然後他們形成新的核心家庭。

大家庭非常大。在一個大家庭裏經常有很多核心家庭。一個大家庭包括孩子、父母、祖父母、叔叔、嬸嬸和堂兄妹。大家庭的成員由血緣(祖父母、父母、孩子、兄弟、姐妹等)或婚姻(丈夫、妻子、婆婆等)聯繫起來。他們之間有聯繫，所以大家庭裏的成員叫做親屬。

傳統上，大家庭中的所有成員住在同一個地方。然而，隨着農業社會向工業社會的轉變，很多核心家庭離開家庭聚居地去尋找工作。在今天的工業社會裏，大多數核心家庭的成員生活在一起，但是大多數大家庭的成員不住在一起。所以我們可以説，隨着社會工業化的發展，核心家庭變得比大家庭更為重要。

在像美國這樣的後工業化社會裏，甚至核心家庭也在變化。因為父母不想要更多的孩子，所以核心家庭變得越來越小，而且無孩子家庭的數量也在增加。傳統上，核心家庭中的父親掙錢養家，而母親則做家務，照看孩子。今天，在美國有超過50%的核心家庭是兩個人掙錢的家庭——父親和母親都掙錢養家，還有一些家庭母親掙錢養家而父親做家務，照看孩子。很多核心家庭也正在“分裂”——因為越來越多的父母正在離婚。

核心家庭的這種“分裂”結果將是什麼?社會學家們現在談到兩種新的家庭模式：單親家庭和再婚家庭。幾乎20%的美國家庭是單親家庭，其中85%的單親是母親。大多數單親發現獨自照料一個家很困難，因此他們很快又結婚，形成再婚家庭。隨着社會學家們對這兩種新的家庭模式的研究，他們將能夠告訴我們後工業化時期有關核心家庭未來的更多的情況。

把一個孩子養大需要多少錢？

Our children, of course, are priceless. But they do have a cost: about a quarter-million dollars.

我們的孩子當然是無價之寶。但養育他們確實是需要成本的：大約25萬美元。

A new government report estimated that a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend about 221,000 raising that child from birth through age 17, according to the Associated Press. (The number rises to some 292,000 when adjusted for inflation.) The figures don't count the cost of college or childbirth.

據美聯社報導，一份新的政府報告估計，一箇中等收入家庭將去年出生的孩子撫養到17歲將花費大約22.1萬美元。（經通脹調整後的數字約為29.2萬美元。）這一數字不包括孩子上大學的費用或生孩子的費用。

Annual child-rearing expense estimates ranged between 11,610 and 13,480 per-child in married, middle-class family with two children.

有兩個孩子的中產階級家庭每年平均在每個孩子身上花的錢大約在11,610美元至13,480美元。

The report, by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, said that housing was a family's single largest expense, followed by food and the costs of child care and education.

美國農業部的營養政策與宣傳中心發佈的這份報告説，住房是家庭最大支出，其次是食品和孩子的撫養及教育費用。

Money spent on child-related costs increases as a family's income goes up. For instance, those with an income between 57,000 and 99,000 spend about 221,000 and those with higher incomes are expected to spend roughly 367,000 through age 17. Costs of raising a child are highest in the urban northeast and lowest in the urban south and rural areas.

用在孩子身上的開支隨家庭收入增長而增加。舉例來説，收入在5.7萬美元至9.9萬美元之間的家庭將孩子養到17歲大概要花22.1萬美元，而收入更高的家庭大約花費36.7萬美元左右。東北部城市養育孩子的花費最高，南部城市和農村地區則最低。

We've written before about the decision to add to the family in tough economic times. How much thought did you give to the cost of raising children in your decision to have a family or to have additional children? What are your biggest costs in raising your children?

此前我們討論過經濟困難時期家庭所需要做的決定。在決定要孩子或是多生孩子時，你有沒有考慮過養育孩子的成本？你撫養孩子最大的開支是什麼？

什麼樣的父母生氣時會打孩子

Fathers who were spanked as children are less likely to spank their own children than mothers who were spanked while young, according to a US study.

美國一項最新研究表明，小時候捱過打的爸爸更捨不得打自己的孩子，而有此遭遇的媽媽打孩子可能性更大。

Researchers from Ohio State University set out to see if 1990s parents followed the practices of their own mothers but found parents today were showing a lot more affection to their children, reading to them more and spanking them less.

俄亥俄州立大學的研究人員對上世紀90年代的家長是否會效仿他們自己的媽媽展開了調查，但結果表明，如今父母們對孩子更加疼愛，更愛給他們讀故事，也更少打他們。

"We were surprised that mothers seem to learn a lot about the parenting role from their own mothers, but fathers don't follow their mothers as much," said researcher Jonathan Vespa in a statement.

研究人員喬納森·韋斯帕在聲明中稱：“看起來媽媽從自己的母親那裏學到了很多育兒經，而爸爸卻不跟自己的母親學那麼多，我們對此很驚訝。”

The study of 1,133 young adult parents found significant generational changes in parenting practices.

這項研究共對1133位年輕的父母進行了調查，結果表明一代一代的育兒方式有很大差別。

Overall, there was a large generational shift in which the second generation of parents was much less likely to spank than their own parents.

總體上看，與自己的父母相比，第二代父母更不愛打孩子，兩代人在此問題上的觀念有很大轉變。

Second generation mothers who were spanked at least once a week were found to be nearly half as more likely to spank their own children compared to mothers who weren't spanked.

調查結果還表明，與沒捱過打的母親相比，小時候至少每週被打一次的第二代母親打孩子的機率要多一半。

Fathers spanked as children were less likely to spank their own children.

但小時候捱過打的父親卻更不會打孩子。

The study found only 28 percent of the second generation of fathers reported spanking their children compared to 43 percent of mothers.

研究發現，僅有28%的第二代父親打過孩子，而在母親中該比例為43%。

"A little spanking of boys seems to deter (fathers) from spanking their own children later in life," said Vespa.

韋斯帕説：“捱過幾次打的男孩長大後更不會打自己的孩子。”

"The evidence suggests that mothers are more the disciplinarians in the family than fathers are today."

“數據表明，在當今家庭中，教訓孩子更多的是母親而不是父親。”

In general, the amount of affection that parents show their children has increased significantly over the generations.

總體來看，如今的父母對孩子的疼愛比前幾代人超出很多。

Sixty percent of fathers and 73 percent of mothers in the second generation reported showing their children physical affection and praising them within the last week compared to only 40 percent of their parents openly showing affection weekly.

在第二代父母中，有60%的父親和73%的母親在一週之內愛撫並稱贊過孩子，而第一代父母中僅有40%每週公開向孩子表達愛意。

Reading to children had also increased markedly. Nearly three times more mothers in the second generation reported reading to their children daily compared to their own parents.

給孩子讀故事的比例也有大幅提高。與第一代父母相比，第二代母親每天給孩子讀故事的比例要多近3倍。

生女比生男更幸福

Sisters spread happiness while brothers breed distress, experts believe.

專家相信，姐妹為家庭播灑快樂，而兄弟讓家庭陷入憂愁。

Researchers quizzed 571 people aged 17 to 25 about their lives and found those who grew up with sisters were more likely to be happy and balanced.

研究人員在對571名年齡在17至25歲的青年人進行調查後發現，那些在成長過程中有姐妹相伴的人長大後更快樂、心理也更平衡。

The University of Ulster said having daughters made a family more open and willing to discuss feelings.

阿爾斯特大學的研究人員説，家中有女兒有助於家庭成員之間敞開心扉、增進交流。

They said the influence of girls was particularly important after distressing family events such as marital break-ups.

女孩對家庭有着巨大的影響力，這種影響力在家庭遭遇諸如夫妻離異這樣的重大變故後，會尤為明顯地體現出來。

The findings are due to be presented at the British Psychological Society in Brighton on Thursday.

該項研究成果將於週四在英國心理學會在布萊頓召開的會議上公佈。

During the study, participants filled in psychological questionnaires which researchers used to assess a range of issues, including whether they had a positive outlook and any mental health problems.

在研究過程中，研究人員通過問卷調查的方式，對受訪者是否心態樂觀、是否患有精神抑鬱疾病作了深入的.瞭解。

Lead researcher Professor Tony Cassidy said: "Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. "

該項研究的負責人託尼?卡西迪教授説：“家裏有姐妹更有助於家庭成員加強交流並增進凝聚力。”

"However, brothers seemed to have the alternative effect. "

“相反，兄弟們似乎只能增加家人間的隔膜。”

"Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families."

“情感的表達對於個人心理健康有着重大作用，家有姐妹能夠進一步強化這種家庭紐帶。”

He said many of the participants had been brought up in families where parents had split and the impact of sisters was even more marked in these circumstances.

他説，很多參加調查的人都來自單親家庭，姐妹關係對這些人起到了非常顯著的積極影響。

"I think these findings could be used by people offering support to families and children during distressing times. "

“我想，這項研究成果對於幫助家庭和孩子渡過情感危機，將起到一定的指導作用。”

"We may have to think carefully about the way we deal with families with lots of boys."

“我們也應該重視那些只有男孩兒的家庭的情感溝通方式。”

Geri Burnikell, co-ordinator of the charity Support Line, which offers counselling to young people and families, said: "This is very interesting and certainly chimes with our experiences."

向年輕人和家庭提供諮詢服務的慈善組織支持熱線的負責人蓋裏? 波尼科爾表示，這項研究的成果非常有趣，它與我們在工作中的發現相吻合。

"Boys tend to internalise problems and in families where there are lots of sons, I can see that can cause problems.

“男孩子容易將事情個人化，我覺得家裏要是男孩子多，自然容易出現溝通方面的問題。”

"I think the most important thing in these circumstances is to give people someone independent to talk to outside the immediate family unit."

“我想消除這種溝通障礙的最佳辦法，就是找一個局外人就事論事地解決矛盾。”

“家庭婦男”怎麼説？

“家庭婦男”怎麼説？

(2008-10-06 14:30:41)

你知道丈夫的含義嗎？——丈夫、丈夫，一丈之內乃夫也！你知道英文husband是怎麼來的嗎？——husband=house+band 房屋栓牢！（band的含義就是Something that constrains or binds morally or legally約束：在道義上或法律上受到限制或約束的事物。比如説the bands of marriage and family婚姻和家庭的約束）這當然有玩笑的成分，不過也表明了丈夫和家庭的密切聯繫。我們都知道housewife是“家庭婦女”的意思，那麼，你知道“家庭婦男”用英語該怎麼説嗎？

“家庭婦男”的説法很簡單，就是由house房子和husband丈夫組成的，即house-husband。説“家庭婦男”多多少少都帶點貶低色彩，而 “全職爸爸”則是一個比較中性的説法，指沒有負擔家庭經濟責任的父親，在現實中，他們生活重心以料理家務、照顧子女或自我休閒為主。A house-husband is a man who stays at home and doesn't go to work, while his wife goes to work and earns money. Usually a man becomes a house-husband in order to look after children.

Sociologists have found the full-time househusband emerges in three main situations.

Firstly, if the wife is ambitious, well-paid and has good job prospects, while her husband is paid poorly and has no job prospects, it makes economic sense for the female to become the main income earner for the household. 第一：妻子有個好工作並且掙得比丈夫多。

Secondly, if the wife is tired of household chores and eager to work outside the home, her husband may forfeit his job for her sake.

第二：妻子樂意主外，而丈夫有成人之美。

Thirdly, if the husband can do his work at home, he may take this option as it allows him more time to take care of the family. 第三：丈夫可以在家辦公，從而有條件多花心思在家裏。

Housemaker是house-wife和house-husband的統稱。當強調在家照看孩子職責的時候，我們也可以稱house-wife為stay-at-home mom，稱house-husband為stay-at-home dad。還有一種"domestic engineer"的委婉説法，不過這種説法多少對居家者有種諷刺挖苦的味道，所以一定要慎用。與之類似的"housekeeper"這個詞也要小心使用，因為它同樣用於挖苦居家者。

有關house-husband的新聞：

In a traditional Chinese family, women are expected to do the housekeeping and leave the "other business" to men. However, the emergence of the full-time "househusband" is changing traditional family dynamics.

A survey in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen shows that 22 percent, 73 percent, 34 percent and 32 percent of white-collar male workers, aged between 28 and 33, would be prepared to do the housekeeping if the conditions were right.

有關house-husband的對話：

A: Will you go back to work after you have the baby?

B: Oh yeah!

A: Who'll look after the baby when you're at work then?

B: My husband--he's going to quit his job and become a house husband. I earn more than him, so it makes sense really. And he loves kids, so he'll enjoy it.

Some families with full-time househusbands prefer others not to know about their arrangement, concerned people would laugh at a husband with "no prospects" or wife who is "too strong", but it's getting more common. 有些男人一開始可能還覺得當“全職爸爸”不好意思，不過現在這種情況越來越普遍了。Many of the young men believe a successful man will make a good father. 成功的男人也能做個成功的父親，你是不是也堅信這點呢？

工作家庭雙兼顧 老爸也叫苦

Juggling work and family tough for dads too

With Father's Day fast approaching, many dads admit they are struggling with how to juggle long days at the office and quality time with their family, according to a new survey.

A fifth of the 248 Canadian fathers questioned said time away from home because of work is their biggest concern because they may miss important family events.

"I think it's tough for all working parents ... Trying to juggle is a difficult task," said Patrick Sullivan, president of job site , which conducted the poll.

Fifteen percent were concerned about finding time for chores, while 11 percent worried about being unable to turn off work at home.

Sixteen percent of fathers in families with an income of over $100,000 said they had difficulty letting go of work at the end of the day. Many fathers also said they felt it was difficult getting parental leave.

Despite the struggles, 40 percent of working dads still claim the family-work balance is manageable.

Fathers in Quebec claimed to be the most in control, with more than half of those surveyed citing no challenges. Only three percent said time away from family was an issue. Western dads seemed more in tune with mothers, with nearly a quarter agreeing that finding time for chores was the biggest issue.

About a third of dads took their own fathers' counsel about careers and family to heart and are happy with the outcome, while another 18 percent chose not to listen.

“父親節”臨近！一項最新調查顯示，很多爸爸坦稱自己一直在努力尋求工作與家庭生活之間的平衡。

在加拿大的248名受訪爸爸中，有五分之一的人稱，由於工作原因而無法待在家裏是他們最擔心的問題，因為他們可能會因此錯過重要的家庭活動。

開展該調查的求職網站的總裁帕特里克?薩利文説：“我覺得這對於所有職業父母來説都很難……兼顧工作和家庭的確不容易。”

15%的人最關心如何擠時間做家務的問題，11%的人擔心下班後也無法擺脱工作的困擾。

在家庭年收入超過10萬美元的受訪爸爸中，16%的人稱他們下班後也很難擺脱工作的煩擾。此外，很多爸爸稱他們很難休到育兒假。

儘管如此，仍有40%的職業爸爸稱自己可以處理得好工作和家庭的關係。

調查顯示，魁北克省的爸爸們把這一關係處理得最好，超過一半的人稱這對於他們來説沒有任何挑戰。僅3%的人認為因為工作關係無法待在家是個問題。加拿大西部的老爸與媽媽們似乎比較相似，近四分之一的人認為擠時間做家務是他們面臨的最大問題。

約三分之一的爸爸聽取自己父親有關處理事業和家庭關係的建議，而且覺得收效顯著；另有18%的人則不聽取這些意見。