Why American Culture is Unique American culture is unique because it is nurtured， formed and developed under certain conditions， which are characteristically(特性)A The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment， ethnic diversity(多民族) and plural religion， which is quite different from other nations in the What is more， these elements are still influencing the American Rough Environment The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of A The environment there was very rough but they believed the poor land could purify their mind so they chose the place along the From 1607 to 1892， frontiers were pushed further The American frontier consisted of the relatively unsettled regions of the United States， usually found in the western part of the The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise， opportunity and Actually they looked for a better So individualism， self-reliance， and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage(遗产) of A Ethnic Diversity The population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups coming from many races， nationalities， and People refer to the United States as "melting pot "and the dominant people are B American is made up of WASP+MM， that is， White， Anglo Saxon， Protestants plus Middle Class and M In history， people from different countries in the world rushed to American three They brought their own culture to American and later on different cultures were mixed Thus the unique American culture is formed， a common cultural life with commonly shared Plural religion The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the right of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United S The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism; almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United S Christianity(基督教) is the dominant religion in American and Protestant (新教)is predominate(主导) Any individuals are equal before God and they believe they can communicate directly to God so they can share the same Under the protestant， many new ones are formed and different explanations produce different sect of Churches are independent and American religion is no longer religion The institution permits the practice of religion and the political power is separate form So there are more religions in American than in other Current influence: Nowadays， we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American American family is typically parents and their unmarried Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married Many Americans live in mobile homes whose homes are built with They can be The people in American have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new Quite a number of people change residences(住所) every The average American moves fourteen times in his The courage to try something new has been an American American democracy means majority rule， but it also means protection of minority There are certain freedom which the United States promises to all its citizens and members of minority group cannot be denied these rights by a vote of the Americans also like to be involved in many challenge activities and sports to show their adventurous All of these are affected by the heritage of the American From the facts above， we can see American culture is unique which was cultivated， formed and developed by the main three factors， rough environment， ethnic diversity and plural religion and still is affected and determined by them now希望采纳
下面是英汉文化中十大常见差异。 1．回答提问 中国人对别人的问话，总是以肯定或否定对方的话来确定用“对”或者“不对”。如： “我想你不到20岁，对吗？” “是的，我不到20岁。” （“不，我已经30岁了。”） 英语中，对别人的问话，总是依据事实结果的肯定或否定用“Yes”或者“No”。如： “You're not a student，are you？” “Yes，I am．” （“No，I am not．”） 2．亲属称谓 英语的亲属以家庭为中心，一代人为一个称谓板块，只区别男性、女性，却忽视配偶双方因性别不同而出现的称谓差异。显得男女平等。如： 英文“grandparents，grandfather，grandmother”，而中文“祖辈、爷爷、奶奶、外公、外婆”。 再如，父母同辈中的称谓：英文“uncle”和“aunt”，而中文“伯伯、叔叔、舅舅等，姑妈、姨妈等”。 还有，英文中的表示下辈的“nephew和 niece”是不分侄甥的，表示同辈的“cousin”不分堂表、性别。 3．考虑问题的主体 中国人喜欢以对方为中心，考虑对方的情感。比如： 你想买什么？ 您想借什么书？ 而英语中，往往从自身的角度出发。如： Can I help you？ What can I do for you？ 4．问候用语 中国人打招呼，一般都以对方处境或动向为思维出发点。如： 您去哪里？ 您是上班还是下班？ 而西方人往往认为这些纯属个人私事，不能随便问。所以他们见面打招呼总是说： Hi/Hello！ Good morning/afternoon/evening/night！ How are you？ It's a lovely day，isn't it？ 5．面对恭维 中国人的传统美德是谦虚谨慎，对别人的恭维和夸奖应是推辞。如： “您的英语讲得真好。” “哪里，哪里，一点也不行。” “菜做得很好吃。” “过奖，过奖，做得不好，请原谅。” 西方人从来不过分谦虚，对恭维一般表示谢意，表现出一种自强自信的信念。如： “You can speak very good French．” “Thank you．” “It's a wonderful dish！” “I am glad you like it．” 所以，学生要注意当说英语的人称赞你时，千万不要回答：“No，I don't think so．”这种回答在西方人看来是不礼貌的，甚至是虚伪的。 6．电话用语 中国人打电话时的用语与平时讲话用语没有多少差异。 “喂，您好。麻烦您叫一声王伟接电话。”“我是张英，请问您是谁？” 英语中打电话与平时用语差别很大。如：“Hello，this is John speaking．” “Could I speak to Tom please？” “Is that Mary speaking？” 西方人一接到电话一般都先报自己的号码或者工作单位的名称。如： “Hello，52164768，this is Jim．” 中国学生刚开始学英语会犯这样的错误： “Hello，who are you please？” 7．接受礼物 中国人收到礼物时，一般是放在一旁，确信客人走后，才迫不及待地拆开。受礼时连声说： “哎呀，还送礼物干什么？” “真是不好意思啦。” “下不为例。” “让您破费了。” 西方人收到礼物时，一般当着客人的面马上打开，并连声称好： “Very beautiful！Wow！” “What a wonderful gift it is！” “Thank you for your present．” 8．称呼用语 中国人见面时喜欢问对方的年龄、收入、家庭等。而西方人很反感别人问及这些私事。西方人之间，如没有血缘关系，对男子统称呼“Mr．”，对未婚女士统称“Miss”，对已婚女士统称“Mrs．”。 中国人重视家庭、亲情，认为血浓于水。为了表示礼貌，对陌生人也要以亲属关系称呼。如： “大爷、大娘、大叔、大婶、大哥、大姐等”。 9．体贴他人 在西方，向别人提供帮助、关心、同情等的方式和程度是根据接受方愿意接受的程度来定的；而中国人帮起忙来一般是热情洋溢，无微不至。例如：一位中国留学生在美国看到一位老教授蹒跚过车水马龙的马路，出于同情心，他飞步上前挽住老人，要送他过去，但是他得到的却是怒目而视。请看下面的对话： Chinese student：Mr．White，you are so pale，are you sick？ English teacher：Well．．．yes．I have got a bad cold for several days． Chinese student：Well，you should go to a clinic and see the doctor as soon as possible． English teacher：Ewhat do you mean？ 中国人建议患上感冒的人马上去看医生，表示真诚的关心。而美国人对此不理解，会认为难道他的病有如此严重吗？因此，只要回答：“I'm sorry to hear that．”就够了。 10．请客吃饭 中国人招待客人时，一般都准备了满桌美味佳肴，不断地劝客人享用，自己还谦虚：“没什么菜，吃顿便饭。薄酒一杯，不成敬意。”行动上多以主人为客人夹菜为礼。 西方人会对此大惑不解：明明这么多菜，却说没什么菜，这不是实事求是的行为。而他们请客吃饭，菜肴特别简单，经常以数量不多的蔬菜为可口的上等菜，席间劝客仅仅说：“Help yourself to some vegetables，please．”吃喝由客人自便自定。 可见在学习语言的过程中，不可忽视语言交际中的文化倾向，要适时导入相关的文化背景知识，以充实学习者的知识结构，提高认知能力。
