翻译 中美价值观对比 3000字

1、附录一：中文译文（Chinese Translation）:中美价值观对比郭阳著，XX 译 转引我们知道，世界上每个国家都有自己的法律规章来确保社会的正常运行，而生活在社会制度中的人们也受这些条规的制约。然而法律规章并不是社会体系形成的唯一因素，价值观也同样推进社会体系的完善。虽然有的价值观是我们普遍认同的，如勤劳工作，诚实，忠诚等，但由于人们成长的环境不同，每个国家都形成了不同于其他国家的独有价值观，如中国和美国。他们都称颂善良，诚实，勤劳等，然而他们也有很多不同点。首先，个人主义美国人都比较独立。美国的父母很少强迫自己的孩子去做什么，而更偏向于让他们自行发展。反之，这种教育态度在中国看来是

2、很不服责任的。而且美国的孩子会选择与父母分开住，而在中国则通常与父母甚至加上祖父祖母一起住在一个大家庭。其二，个人隐私权美国人通常都很尊重他人隐私权。即使是朋友之间也很少问一些“私人问题”，如年龄，工资，婚姻状况等。当中国人在一起聊天时，通常会谈及到对方的个人信息，这在美国人看来是很不礼貌的。其三，不注重形式美国人不仅在穿着和休闲是都很随意，即便是在与长者或是身份高贵的人在一起交谈时也不拘礼数的。反之，中国人却很注重礼节。我们宣扬互相尊重，尊老爱幼。如果我们对父母或是老师直呼其名而不是其敬称时，便是不礼貌没大没小的。其四，喜欢展望未来由于中国有光辉且令人羡慕的历史，中国的领导人在大会上都会滔滔

3、不绝地讲述这过去几年来取得的成就。而这在美国是极少见的，他们喜欢展望未来。在美国，人们不会满足与他们现有的所得，而是继续向前奋斗。无论未来如何，他们都会欣然面对。既然中美有这些不同的价值观，我们需了解它们的优缺点。取其精华，去其糟粕，以帮助我们更好地做人。美国人的基本价值观和假想观美国的文化与其他国家有什么不同呢？要解答这个问题我们需要了解美国人持有什么样的价值观和假想观。人们在成长的过程中逐渐形成了自己的价值观和假想观，并将影响和贯穿人们一生。“价值观”既是关于对与错，好与不好，正常与不正常，合适与不合适的判定。“假想观”既是对人，对事，对人生的一种假想。多数人在一种特定的文化条件下形成一定

4、的价值观和假想观。这些价值观和假想观相辅相成，互相照应。文化可以看做是不同价值观和假想观的集合，是它们塑造了一代代人并影响这他们周边的环境。美国文化影响着美国人的思和行。美国的人种，种族，宗教可能比其他国家都要多。美国人很早就意识到了这种多样性的存在。民族，文化，宗教的多样性意味着接受这些多样性才是唯一可行的选择。如今，美国人也逐渐多样性国家的强大并比以前任何时期都认可了文化的多样性。独立宣言反映了美国人的信仰，“我们坚信这些真理是不言而喻的，那就是人人生而平等，上帝赐予了每个人生存，自由，追求幸福的权利。”美国人的核心价值观和假想观对他们的行为，社会关系，世界观，自我认识及个人主义等都密不可

5、分。在此谈及的价值观和假想观与美国的中层阶级紧密相连。(1)个人自由和靠自己个人自由恐怕是美国最根深蒂固的信仰了。了解美国的关键在于理解他们对个人主义的热衷。从小他们就养成了自己是独立个体的意识，对自己的人生和命运负责。最早来美国北部的居民都在持续建立自己的领土以脱离欧洲社会的统治。他们希望远离国王，政府，主教和教堂的控制。在极大程度上，他们成功了。在1776年时，英国殖民者宣布美国独立并可建立一个新的国家，即美利坚众合国。自此，他们拜托了最初的被统治并宣布政府的权力掌握在人民的手中。在1789年，当他们编写宪法时，他们把教堂和政府分隔使教堂失去政府这座靠山。这样便有效地限制了教堂的权力。同时

6、，他们废除了贵族头衔遏制了贵族阶级的发展。在新建立的国家里没有所谓的高层社会的人。前人们的这一历史性决定为以后美国人特点的塑造有深远影响。通过限定教堂和政府的权力及废除贵族阶级，美国人营造了一种自由的范围，强调个人自由。可想这是美国价值观中最基本的了。“自由”可以说是美国最受尊敬的一个词了。“自由”，美国人指的是用个人的欲望和能力去掌控自己的命运，没有政府，或某个规定的阶级，或教堂，或其他任何组织等的干涉。不受掌控的渴望是美国最基本的价值观，也是这种观念吸引着外来移民。这种观念可以从美国人教育孩子的方式窥见一斑。每个孩子都有自己选择和表达自己观念的机会。孩子的喜好也一般都会得到认可。从这点我们

7、可以看出美国人视他们为独立个体，有自己的观念，对自己的选择负责。然而，获得个人自由的同时也要付出相应的代价，及靠自己。冒着失去自由的危险，美国人需学会靠自己。这意味着尽早达到不靠父母，获得财政方面的独立。美国人要学会照顾自己，独立处理问题，自力更生。他们认为命运掌握在自己手中。这种靠自己的观念在如今依旧是美国人的基本观念。他们认为要获得自由就必须要靠自己。如果他们太依赖于家庭，政府或某组织的帮助，他们便失去了所想要的自由。自我提升和卡自己是美国人的核心观念。美国人认为他们是独立的个体，并认为世界上其他人也是如此。如果他们认为一个外国人太在意父母的观点，太保守，或太循规蹈矩时，便觉得他已被束缚，

8、或太软弱，优柔寡断，依赖性太强。美国人认为所有人应该避免自己陷入不能随自己心意做出决定的境地。他们觉得来到美国的人都会获得自由并会感激美国给予他们机会最用自己的方式做自己的事。正是这种独立选择的观念使得至少小部分美国人认为他们享有同一种文化。他们认为他们持有自己的价值观和假想观。理想中一个人应该是有个性的，不依赖于他人靠自己的。美国人崇尚靠自己克服困境取得成功的人。如聋哑作家兼海伦凯勒。美国人的个人自由是没有政府胡其他强制性组织指挥个人行为的。对每个人而言，个人自由有积极的内涵。如果我们对美国的自由观，个体精神和靠自己的意识有一定了解的话，那么便能更好地理解美国人的日常生活中的思与行。在美国很

9、少见到在超过20岁后依然和父母住在一起，花父母给的钱。同样年迈的父母也不会和成人的子女住在一起。自己支付吃住费用也是一种独立，靠自己对自己负责的表现。过于依赖他人，不仅是去了自己的自由，也会被同龄人瞧不起。即使他们不是真的都靠自己，也要假装如此。为了适应美国的主流生活，个体需要表现得凡事都是靠自己。即使从慈善机构，父母或是政府那儿得到资助，他们也绝不会承认。很多人认为这种所谓的个人自由是一种坏榜样，会弱化美国人的特点。(2)机会平等与竞争机会平等与竞争是美国又一基本价值观。正如独立宣言中所声明的，美国人认为人人生而平等。尽管有时在日常生活中他们会违反这一条，但他们坚信本质上人都是一样的，没有人

10、生来就比谁高贵。这也是外来移民源源不断涌入美国的第二个原因。移民者认为在这种观念下人人都有成功的机会。那些早期移民者的后代也是怀抱这种期盼来到了美国。既然个体不受宗教，政党和社会的束缚，他们成功的几率也就更大，尤其是也没有世袭阶级的阻挠。犹豫宪法规定禁止贵族头衔，因此美国形成不了阶级系统。在早期历史上，很多移民者选择离开旧时的欧洲社会，比起生来就决定了他们固定阶级的“老国家”，他们相信在美国成功几率更大，因为在美国他们不需要与那些生来就有无上权力和几百年世袭的财富的家庭住在一起。很多移民者希望在美国实现自己的理想。即使出生于底层阶级也无法阻挡他们获得更高社会地位的渴望。很多人发现在美国的确比在

11、以前的国家更容易成功。正因为千千万万的移民者成功了，美国人开始相信机会平等，即使在某些情况可能会有特例。越是深入了解美国社会，越能体会到在美国人机会平等这一基本事实。了解美国人所说的机会平等的含义是很重要的。他们不是指所有人都完全平等。美国人视生活为一场为成功而战的赛跑。每个人都应该有资格参与比赛，有机会获胜。比赛是公平的，美国总统亚伯拉罕.林肯说：即使是最卑微的人也与其他人一样有致富的权力。如归一个人出身贫寒，那么自由的社会便会给他提供一个更好的环境，让他知道他并不是一辈子只能干苦力。然而，在获得机会平等的同时也要付出相应的代价。如果他们的人生是一场竞赛，他们就必须参与其中，与他人竞争。如果

12、每个人成功的机会都是平等的，那么为成功而努力就是他们的职责。在这场为成功而战的竞赛中，美国人必须与他们的对手比智力比精力。竞争的压力从孩提时代开始直到他们退休时才终止。在美国学会竞争是成长的一部分。在最近的民意调查中，超过60的人认为竞争和对成功的渴望是有益的。竞争的压力可能会使美国人充满活力，但同时也会使其情绪压抑。当他在65岁退休时，将摆脱这种压力，但是新问题有随之而来。他们发现自己没有用武之地，被社会抛弃，而威望也只给与那些在竞争中获胜的人。这也是与其他竞争意识不强的社会相比，美国的老人没有得到多少威望和尊敬的原因之一。而事实是，无论是谁不管什么原因只要竞争失败便是与美国主流生活不符。(

13、3)物质生活和努力工作很多移民来美国的原因都是因为在这可以有更好的生活。人们可以改善自己的生活水平。这对大多数移民而言都是使他们离开自己祖国的一大诱因。丰富的自然资源使美国成为一片“富足之地”，引来千千万万的移民来此寻找财富。当然，他们中有很多并不是一夜暴富，而是经过一段艰辛最终改善了自己的生存条件。即使他们没有得到理想中经济上的成功，但他们坚信自己的后代一定会生活的更好。“白手起家”已经成为美国梦的标语。很多移民者实现了这个梦。他们取得了物质上的成功，被物欲所牵引。物质生活成为美国人又一价值观。对物质生活又高要求被称为“物质主义”。美国人的“物质主义”很普遍，太热衷于物质拥有。美国人不喜欢被

14、称为物欲者因为这好似在指责他们只追求物质生活而没有宗教信仰。事实上，美国人也有其他的价值观和信仰。虽然美国人喜欢得到大量的物质财富，但他们觉得这些都是正常的。由于美国否定了欧洲的世袭制和贵族头衔，那么他们就得找一个替代品作为衡量社会地位，即物质财富。物质财富的数量和质量成为了衡量一个人的社会地位及他取得的成就的标尺。而且，美国清教徒的工作信条也与物质生活的成功紧密相连。然而，在获得物质享受的同时也要付出相应代价，即努力工作。当第一批居民抵达美国北部时发现其自然资源丰富，但都尚未开采。只有通过努力开采，这些资源才能转化为物质财富和舒适的生活条件。努力工作贯穿整个美国历史，即成为一种必然也是一种回

15、报。正因如此，他们视物质享受是辛劳工作应得的回报。某种程度而言，物质财富不光显示出人们工作的努力，也是他们能力的体现。物质财富的多少显示出个人能力的大小。大部分美国人认为努力工作就会有好的生活条件。超过90的美国年轻人认为他们可以得到自己生活中所想要的。而十分之八以上的让人认为他们可以通过努力工作得到自己所想要的。他们从小就被教导要努力工作，以获得物质生活的成功和更好的未来。附录二：英文原文（English Original）：By XXX, excerpted from: Comparison between Chinese Value and American ValueAs we kno

16、w, every country in the world has its disciplines and laws to guarantee that its social system will function well, and we human beings also have to live under the restraint of these rules. While disciplines and laws cannot be the only element of a social system, its the value which promotes the esta

17、blishment of the system. Even though we share some general values such as hardworking, honest and loyalty, due to the different environment we live in, each country will have its featured values that are different from any other country. Take Chinese value and American value for example. Both of the

18、 two countries appreciate kindness, honest, diligence and some other nice value, however, they have many different values.First, individualism Americans are very independent, for instance, parents in American family seldom interpose what their children are doing, they prefer to let their children de

19、velop themselves freely; on the contrary, this kind of attitude would be regarded as irresponsible in Chinese society. Besides, American children choose to live alone without their parents, while we Chinese usually enjoy living with parents or even grandparents in a big family.Second, privacyAmerica

20、ns usually respect other peoples privacy, even between friends they seldom ask “personal questions”, such as age, salary and marital status. Yet when we Chinese have a chat, we usually want to have the idea about others personal information, which is considered impolite in America.Third, informality

21、Americans are more go-as-you-easy not only in dress or entertainment, but also in interpersonal communication, despite there maybe a sharp gab between the two persons on their age or status. Nevertheless, we Chinese have been thought much about etiquette, we appreciate those who show courtesy in int

22、eraction, we are taught to respect the aged and cherish the young since we were children. If we call our parents or teachers name instead of their real salutations like western people, we will be considered discourteous and disrespectful.Fourth, future orientationWe may be familiar with the situatio

23、n where a leader or somebody like that in a meeting keeps saying that how many achievements they have achieved during the past years. This often happens in China since Chinese seem to be bound up with our “brilliant, admirable” past. But it will seldom take place in America, where people are usually

24、 future oriented. In America, people will not be satisfied with what they have got, instead, they tend to look forward and keep moving. No matter what may happen in the future, they just face it.In conclusion, since there are differences between Chinese and American value, wed better realize their a

25、dvantages and disadvantages. And we can adopt its good points and avoid its weak points, so that it may help us to be better men. Basic American Values and Assumptions How does American culture differ from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values and assumptions that Americ

26、ans live by. As people grow up, they learn certain values and assumptions, which will influence and mode their way of life. Values are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. Assumptions here are the postulates, about people, life, an

27、d the way things are. Most people who grow up in a particular culture share certain values and assumptions. These values and assumptions overlap and support each other. They fit together. A culture can be viewed as a collection of values and assumptions that go together to shape the way a group of p

28、eople perceive and relate to the world around them. American culture refers to the dominant patterns of thinking and behaving of mainstream Americans. The United States probably has a greater diversity of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups than any other nation. Most early Americans reco

29、gnized this diversity as a fact of life. The large variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious groups meant that accepting diversity was the only practical choice. However, many Americans came to see strength in their countrys diversity and there is more recognition of the value of cultural diversiti

30、es than at any other time in the history. The Declaration of Independence reflect American beliefs, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happin

31、ess. The core American assumptions and values organized into form of activity, form of social relations, perception of the world, perception of self and the individual, etc. Assumptions and values discussed in this part are the dominant values commonly associated with the American middle class. 1) I

32、ndividual Freedom and Self-Reliance The belief in the freedom of the individual is probably the most basic and most strongly held of all American beliefs. The most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their devotion to individualism. They have been trained since very early in th

33、eir lives to consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies. The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies that were free from the controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to

34、escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governments, priests and churches. To a great extent, they succeeded. In 1776 the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation, the United States of America. In doing so, they overthrew the orig

35、inal control and declared that the power to govern would lie in the hands of the people. In 1789, when they wrote the Constitution for their new nation, they separated Church and the state so that there would never be a government-supported church. This greatly limited the power of the church. Also,

36、 in writing the Constitution they expressly forbade titles of nobility to ensure that an aristocratic society would not develop. There would be no ruling class of noblemen in the new nation. The historic decisions made by those first settlers have had a profound effect on the shaping of the American

37、 character. By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy, they created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual. The United States came to be associated in their minds with the concept of individual freedom. This is probably the m

38、ost basic of all the American values. Perhaps the word freedom is one of the most respected popular words in the United States. By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class

39、, the church, or any other organized authority. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation, and it has continued to attract immigrants to this country. We can see this in the way Americans treat their children. Even very young children are given opportunities to make their

40、 own choices and express their opinions: The childs preference will normally be accommodated. Through this process, Americans come to see themselves as separate human beings who have their own opinions and who are responsible for their own decisions. However, there is a price to be paid for this ind

41、ividual freedom: self-reliance. Americans believe that individual must learn to rely on themselves of risk losing freedom. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible. It means that Americans believe they should take care of themselves, solv

42、e their own problems, and stand on their own feet. They are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands. This strong belief in self-reliance continues to today as a basic American value. Americans believe that they must be serf-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If they rely t

43、oo much on the support of their families, of the government or any organization, they may not be free to do what they want. Self-improvement and self-help seem at the core of American ideology. Americans are trained to conceive of themselves as separate individuals, and they assume everyone else in

44、the world is too. When they encounter a person from abroad who seems to them excessively concerned with the opinions of parents, with following traditions, or with fulfilling obligation to others, they assume that the person feels trapped or is weak, indecisive, or overly dependent. They assume all

45、people must resent being in situations where, they are not free to make up their own minds. They resume that after living for a time in the United States people will come to feel liberated from constraints arising outside themselves and will be grateful for the opportunity to do their own thing and

46、have their own way. It is this concept of themselves as individual decision makers that blinds at least some Americans to the fact that they share a culture with each other. They have the idea that they have independently made up their own minds about the values and assumption they hold. Americans c

47、onsider the ideal person to be an individualistic, self-reliant, independent person. Americans admire people who have overcome adverse circumstances and succeeded in life. The blind and deaf author and lecturer Helen Keller is an example. The individual that Americans idealize prefers an atmosphere

48、of freedom, where neither the government nor any other external force of agency dictates what the individual does. For Americans, the idea of individual freedom has strong, positive connotations. Foreigners who understand the degree to which Americans are imbued with the notion that the free, serf-r

49、eliant individual is the ideal kind of human being will be able to understand many aspects of American behavior and thinking. It is not unusual for Americans who are beyond the age of about twenty and who are still living with their parents to pay their parents for room and board. Elderly parents li

50、ving with their grown children may do likewise. Paying for room and board is a way of showing independence, self-reliance, and responsibility for oneself. By being dependent, not only do they risk losing freedom, but they also risk losing the respect of their peers. Even if they are not truly serf-r

51、eliant, most Americans believe they must at least appear to be so. In order to be in the mainstream of American life, individuals must be seen as serf-reliant. Although receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is allowed, it is never admired. Many people believe that such

52、individuals are setting a bad example that may weaken the American character as a whole. 2) Equality of Opportunity and Competition Equality of opportunity and competition is another basic American value. Americans believe in the ideal, as stated in their Declaration of Independence, that all men ar

53、e created equal. Although they sometimes violate the ideal in their daily lives, Americans have a deep faith that in some fundamental way all people are of equal value, that no one is born superior to anyone else. This is the second important reason why immigrants have traditionally been drawn to th

54、e United States, which is the belief that everyone has a chance to succeed in the United States. Generations of immigrants from the earliest settlers to the present day have come with this expectation. They have felt that because individuals are free from excessive political, religious, and social c

55、ontrols, they have a better chance for success. Particularly important is the lack of a hereditary aristocracy, Because titles of nobility were forbidden in the Constitution, no formal class system developed in the United States. In the early years of American history many immigrants chose to leave

56、the older European societies, believing that they had a better chance to succeed in America than in the old country, where their place in life was determined largely by the social class into which they were born. They knew that in America they would not have to live among noble families who possesse

57、d great power and wealth inherited and accumulated over hundreds of years. The hopes of many of these immigrants were fulfilled in their new country. The lower social class into which many were born did not prevent them from wishing to a higher social position. Many found that they did indeed have a

58、 better chance to succeed in the United States than in the old country. Because millions of these immigrants succeeded, Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity although there might be exceptions in some situations. The more you advanced in the study of American society, the more you wou

59、ld perceive that equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived. It is important to understand what Americans mean when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. They do not mean that everyone should be totally equal. However, they do mean that each individual should have an equa