你如何稱呼能說三種語言的人？三聲帶。能講兩種語言的人又如何稱呼
？雙聲帶。那麼，隻會一種語言的人呢
？美國人。

 

　　To people in many countries, being bilingual or even trilingual is a way of life. But since the mother tongue of most Americans is English-a language widely spoken around the world-they often don't feel the need to learn a foreign language. Moreover, people who live in the heartland of America have little contact with other linguistic groups, making foreign language skills irrelevant.

 

　　對許多國家的人而言，說兩種或三種語言，是家常便飯。但在美國
，由於大多數人的母語為英語--一個世界上廣泛通用的語言--因此美國人都不覺得有必要學習外語。此外，居住於美國大陸內地的人

，較少與其它語言族群接觸，因此外語能力更顯得無關緊要。

 

　　Actually, though, this "land of immigrants" has always had people of many different nationalities-and languages. The 1990 census indicates that almost 14% of Americans speak a non-English language at home. Yet only 3% reported that they spoke English "not well" or "not at all." That means that slightly more than one out of 10 Americans could be considered bilingual. Besides that, many high school and college students-and even some elementary school students-are required to take a foreign language as a part of their curriculum. In addition to old standbys like Spanish, German and French, more and more students are opting for Eastern European and Asian languages. Of course, not all students keep up their foreign language abilities. As the old saying goes, "If you don't use it, you lose it." But still, a growing number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of being multilingual.

 

　　事實上
，在美國這塊「移民之地」，一直住著來自不同國籍、說不同語言的人口。一九九○年的人口普查顯示，幾乎百分之十四的美國人
，在家裏不講英語。隻有百分之三的人宣稱他們英語「說得不好」或「根本不會說」。這表示十分之一強的美國人可視為雙聲帶。此外
，許多中學生、大學生
，甚至小學生在校的學科都必須加修一門外語。除了西班牙文
、德文與法文等常選的第二語言外
，愈來愈多的學生選修東歐和亞洲語言。當然，並非所有學生都能夠學以致用。套句老話：「不用就會丟掉。」盡管如此，愈來愈多的美國人已經開始意識到會說多種語言的好處。

 

　　Ethnic enclaves, found particularly in major metropolitan centers, have preserved the language and culture of American immigrants. Some local residents can function quite well in their native language, without having to bother learning English. Regions such as southern Florida and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. In fact, Spanish speakers-numbering over 17 million-compose the largest non-English linguistic group in America. But Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Polish and many other ethnic groups add to the linguistic flavor of America. Foreign languages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods that visitors might think they are in another country!

 

　　在(zai)主(zhu)要(yao)大(da)都(dou)市(shi)裏(li)，有(you)許(xu)多(duo)族(zu)群(qun)居(ju)住(zhu)的(de)社(she)區(qu)
，都(dou)還(hai)保(bao)存(cun)著(zhe)移(yi)民(min)的(de)文(wen)化(hua)傳(chuan)統(tong)和(he)語(yu)言(yan)。有(you)些(xie)當(dang)地(di)人(ren)在(zai)生(sheng)活(huo)上(shang)隻(zhi)講(jiang)母(mu)語(yu)就(jiu)夠(gou)了(le)，根(gen)本(ben)不(bu)需(xu)要(yao)學(xue)英(ying)語(yu)。佛(fo)羅(luo)裏(li)達(da)州(zhou)南(nan)部(bu)以(yi)及(ji)美(mei)國(guo)西(xi)南(nan)部(bu)等(deng)區(qu)
，有(you)許(xu)多(duo)說(shuo)西(xi)班(ban)牙(ya)語(yu)的(de)社(she)區(qu)。事(shi)實(shi)上(shang)
，說(shuo)西(xi)班(ban)牙(ya)語(yu)的(de)人(ren)口(kou)超(chao)過(guo)一(yi)千(qian)七(qi)百(bai)萬(wan)
，是(shi)美(mei)國(guo)最(zui)大(da)的(de)非(fei)英(ying)語(yu)係(xi)族(zu)群(qun)。不(bu)過(guo)，還(hai)有(you)中(zhong)國(guo)、越南

、意大利、波bo蘭lan與yu其qi它ta很hen多duo種zhong族zu的de族zu群qun，更geng使shi美mei國guo語yu言yan增zeng色se不bu少shao。在zai許xu多duo外wai來lai民min族zu的de後hou裔yi社she區qu裏li，由you於yu外wai語yu的de廣guang泛fan使shi用yong，甚shen至zhi會hui使shi訪fang客ke有you身shen置zhi異yi國guo的de感gan覺jiao。

 

　　Although some Americans welcome this linguistic and cultural diversity, others have begun to fear that the English language is being threatened. Since the 1980s, the "English Only" movement has sought to promote legislation which would establish English as the "official language" and restrict the use of non-English languages. However, some groups, including TESOL, the organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, object to such "language restrictionism." Their view, known as "English Plus," suggests that Americans should have respect for people's native language and culture, while promoting the teaching of English to help them fit into the mainstream of society. But so far, 19 states have passed English Only legislation, and the topic is the focus of an ongoing debate.

 

　　雖然有些美國人歡迎這種語言與文化多元化
，也有些人擔心英語已經受到威脅。從一九八○年代以來
，「唯用英語」(English Only)運動即試著開始推動立法
，將英語訂為「官方語言」，並限製其它語言的使用。但有些團體，如「教導母語為其它語言學生的英語教師組織」（簡稱TESOL)，就反對這種「語言限製主義」。他們提倡的「英語與外語」（English Plus)，建jian議yi美mei國guo人ren應ying尊zun重zhong其qi它ta族zu群qun的de母mu語yu以yi及ji文wen化hua

，同tong時shi也ye推tui廣guang英ying語yu教jiao學xue，幫bang助zhu其qi它ta族zu群qun融rong入ru社she會hui主zhu流liu。但dan是shi到dao目mu前qian為wei止zhi
，已yi有you十shi九jiu個ge州zhou通tong過guo「唯用英語」一法；該議題也一直是辯論的焦點。

 

　　Whether or not English is the official language of the United States, it remains the "language of wider communication." Nearly everyone recognizes the need to develop proficiency in English in order to do well in America. To help those who want to brush up on their English skills, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes abound. Cities with large numbers of recent immigrants often set up bilingual education programs to teach students content subjects in their native language while they improve their English. Language educators often have strong and divergent views as to which approach helps learners achieve better results: a bilingual approach, an ESL approach-or even a pure immersion ("sink orm") approach. However, all these teachers share a common commitment: to help students function well in English.

 

　　無論英語是否是美國的「官方語言」，它仍是「廣泛溝通的語言」。在美國，幾乎每個人都了解，若想要出人頭地
，必須精通英語。為滿足那些想精進英語能力的人的需要
，教導英語為第二語言的機構（ESL）daochudoushi。yongyoudapixinjinyimindeyixiedadoushi，dousheyoushuangyujiaoxuekecheng，zaiyiminmenjiaqiangyingyunenglidetongshi，yongyiminmendemuyujiaoshouputongkemu。yuyanjiaoyuxuejiaduihezhongfangfacainengbangzhuxueshenggengyouxiaodixuexiyingyu--利用雙語教學、ESL教學
、或讓學生完全浸入一個英語的環境（認輸或強學--），都擁有強烈並分歧的看法。但這些教師都擁有共同使命：幫助學生流利地使用英語。

 

　　Americans recognize that English is the de facto international language, and people with good English skills can get by in many international settings. On the other hand, in a world growing increasingly smaller, second language skills can be a great boon. They can build cross-cultural bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career fields. Indeed, lack of foreign language proficiency can limit one's chances for advancement-and keep one in a cultural cul-de-sac. As many people in America are discovering, being monolingual is no laughing matter.

 

　　美(mei)國(guo)人(ren)了(le)解(jie)，英(ying)語(yu)就(jiu)是(shi)一(yi)個(ge)實(shi)際(ji)的(de)國(guo)際(ji)語(yu)言(yan)，若(ruo)能(neng)操(cao)流(liu)利(li)的(de)英(ying)語(yu)，在(zai)許(xu)多(duo)國(guo)際(ji)場(chang)合(he)都(dou)能(neng)派(pai)得(de)上(shang)用(yong)場(chang)。另(ling)一(yi)方(fang)麵(mian)當(dang)國(guo)際(ji)間(jian)的(de)距(ju)離(li)越(yue)變(bian)越(yue)小(xiao)時(shi)，擁(yong)有(you)第(di)二(er)外(wai)語(yu)能(neng)力(li)極(ji)為(wei)有(you)利(li)。外(wai)語(yu)能(neng)力(li)可(ke)以(yi)建(jian)立(li)文(wen)化(hua)交(jiao)流(liu)的(de)橋(qiao)梁(liang)，並(bing)且(qie)使(shi)人(ren)們(men)在(zai)不(bu)同(tong)的(de)專(zhuan)業(ye)領(ling)域(yu)裏(li)，占(zhan)得(de)優(you)勢(shi)。的(de)確(que)，缺(que)乏(fa)外(wai)語(yu)能(neng)力(li)不(bu)僅(jin)限(xian)製(zhi)個(ge)人(ren)的(de)擢(zhuo)升(sheng)，並(bing)且(qie)把(ba)個(ge)人(ren)限(xian)製(zhi)在(zai)文(wen)化(hua)的(de)死(si)胡(hu)同(tong)內(nei)。很(hen)多(duo)美(mei)國(guo)人(ren)都(dou)逐(zhu)漸(jian)發(fa)現(xian)，隻(zhi)會(hui)一(yi)種(zhong)語(yu)言(yan)
，不(bu)再(zai)是(shi)一(yi)件(jian)好(hao)事(shi)了(le)。