节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-01-03
难易度:Low
关键字:well-being, thoughtful, obvious, blessing
(Music).
Hello, everybody.
Welcome to Studio Classroom Worldwide.
My name is Steve.
Now most of you grew up with a certain way of saying hello.
That's right.
In Western cultures and many parts of the world, we often first think of shaking
hands.
But that's not always the case around the world.
For example, if you're in Greece, you might not know what to do if someone slap
your back on introduction.
Or you might be surprised if a Maori person bumped their nose with yours to say
hello.
Or my personal favorite, the people of Tuvalu may press their cheek to yours and
smell you deeply.
Hmm. I hope you've showered.
So if you're planning on traveling, you would be wise to study the different
greetings found around the world.
And we can start by looking at our reading on page 12.
Greetings!
Many friendly greetings are ways to ask about a person's well-being.
How are you? is a common greeting all over the world.
In southern Africa, the Lingala people ask How did you sleep?
The Tarahumara people in Mexico might ask What did you dream?
In many parts of Asia, people ask Have you eaten?
The Twi people in Ghana ask a more thoughtful question: How is your soul seeing
the world?
(Music).
Hello, friends.
I'm excited to have you here with us today in the studio.
My name is Kaylah.
And my name is Ryan.
And I am also glad to have you here as we continue talking about Greetings.
Yesterday we talked all about how greetings can be a bit more complicated than
you might think.
That's right. We might think it is easy, but we learned the different factors
that go into saying hello.
We might just say hi in English.
But when you travel around the world, there are many different ways to greet
people.
That's right. There are different phrases and different gestures.
For example, in West Africa, you have something different you say to people who
are working.
Or in the Philippines, for someone who is arriving to a house.
Well, many friendly greetings are ways to ask about a person's well-being.
Yesterday we just talked about greeting them, but sometimes it is a question
about their well-being.
That's right.
A question that is about "well-being" in English is How are you doing?
"Well-being" is referring to how someone is - Are they happy? Are they healthy?
That's right.
What are they feeling at that time?
And that can be feelings both physically: how their body feels, and emotionally:
Are they happy?
Are they sad?
Are they excited?
Are they scared?
So how do we ask around the world for people's well-being?
That's right. Well, we see How are you, of course, is pretty common in a few
different languages.
It's a common greeting all around the world.
That's right. We can see it all around the world.
In southern Africa, the Lingala people ask How did you sleep?
Ah. So this is a little bit different.
It's not just "How are you?" It's asking specifically about sleep.
It says How did you sleep?
I think you would usually say this in the morning.
I would hope so.
Unless you took an afternoon nap, then you could say in the evening as well.
That's right.
The Tarahumara people in Mexico might ask What did you dream?
Now Kaylah, I think this is a really interesting question.
That's right.
You know, when you ask "How did you sleep," that means did you feel well? Are
you rested? Are you tired?
But this one goes even beyond that and asks What did you dream?
It's very deep.
Yeah. I like that.
You know, most of the time, I don't remember my dreams.
I don't know about you.
So maybe I would not have a very long answer to this.
But I think it would be interesting.
You might get some interesting answers.
I also wonder if you ask "How did you dream," do you actually answer that
question?
Do you share your dream with them?
I don't know, friends... ? Ryan, what would you do?
Well, this is a good question because in English, we often ask "How are you?"
and people are taught the right answer is always Fine.
But sometimes we really want to know.
That's right.
When I ask friends around Taiwan, around in America, I often get "I'm OK," or
"Fine." But really, we're asking how you are.
Is there something more you would like to say to that?
That's right. So remember, sometimes if people ask "how are you," tell them.
Maybe they really want to know.
Just like if you're in Mexico and you happen to remember your dream, you might
want to tell them too.
I have some crazy dreams sometimes, so I might have some funny answers for you.
Now in many parts of Asia, people will ask Have you eaten?
So this can be asked in many times of the day, and usually this is used as a
greeting.
They're not just asking Have you eaten lunch yet?
They're just saying hello.
Now I think this is a very polite way to ask someone because it shows that you
care about them.
That's right. I actually have never heard this until I came to Asia.
And people might care whether you've actually eaten,
but they also might be asking, well, maybe if you haven't, maybe they'll eat a
meal with you.
That's right. I find that Asia people are very giving.
And if they know you are hungry, they just might give you food.
Yeah. But the Twi people in Ghana ask a more thoughtful question: How is your
soul seeing the world?
Wow. That is very thoughtful.
Yeah. "Thoughtful" means something that is very kind or maybe helpful; we might
use the word "deep" in English.
That's right. It means you're actually thinking about something.
There's the word "think," thought - past tense.
It's about caring for someone.
And this is a very caring question: How was your soul seeing the world?
Yeah. It is also making you think really hard too.
If... your "soul" is referring to not the human body or your thinking, it's
referring to a human spirit.
Seeing the world... It's an interesting question.
That's right. It's how... it's more than how are you feeling.
It's talking about your very innermost person.
Well, we're going to talk more about greetings around the world after the break.
Come back!
But before you go, let's watch the skit.
So, aren't you going to ask about my well-being?
Yes, but I don't know how.
You humans, must I teach you everything?
You just say, "How are you?" That's a common greeting all over the world! And
the universe!
It is?
How are you?
Or you can ask How did you sleep? Or what did you dream about? Or have you
eaten?
Oh. Those are strange questions.
Some cultures ask more thoughtful questions, like How is your soul seeing the
world?
Oh. That question is difficult and hard to answer.
Maybe you would like a greeting that states the obvious?
Yes. That... that would be very good.
What questions are easy to answer?
Well, you can ask Are you here?
Are you awake?
(Background Noise).
Those are easy.
Some cultures simply say I see you.
I see you too.
Many greetings wish blessings to the other person.
Peace.
Shalom!
Live long and prosper.
There are so many ways to greet people.
So how should I greet you?
Well, you don't need to greet me now.
It's time for me to go.
Oh. Sorry.
So aren't you going to say goodbye?
Sorry. I don't know how.
Now it's easy. Let me show you.
(Background Noise).