现代化对传统的影响

David: Do you think China is loosing some of its traditions as it modernizes? 你是不是觉得中国在其现代化进程中正在丢掉一些传统?

You:Well, maybe a little. As people advance they kind of get nostalgic and want to look back. When they find that something is good they treasure it, but when it seems bad, they just let it go with the wind. The things we treasure are really part of our culture. 可能有点吧.人类在进步的同时往往变得怀旧,喜欢回顾过去.发现好的东西就会格外珍惜,而糟粕则会被摒弃.所以我们现在珍惜的东西才是文明的精华.

David: Very interesting, but maybe some Beijing people would disagree. Maybe they think Chinese people should stick to their traditions and not change. 太有趣了.一些北京人很可能不大同意这种说法.也许他们认为中国应该固守所有的传统.

You:They are just of different minds. Everyone has a right to his own opinion. However, some traditional treasures are not so popular with youngsters? 各人有各人的想法.然而,一些传统的精华在年轻人中也没那么流行了.

David: 你认为中国的哪些传统没有过去那么流行了呢?

You:A number of middle aged people and most elderly people enjoy listening to Beijing Opera but, with the modernization of society, the younger generation has develop their own taste in pop music.就拿京剧为例吧.一些中年人和大部分的老年人就比较喜欢京剧,而随着社会发展,年轻人中流行的是流行歌曲.然而尽管京剧是我们的国粹,年轻一代很多却不喜欢."

David: This is true in America as well. Every new generation has its own interests. Before in the mind 1900’s many people liked jazz, but now young people like hard rock, heavy metal and hip hop. 这在美国也是一样的.年轻一代有他们自己的喜好.在20世纪90年代中期以前,很多人喜欢爵士乐;而现在年轻人们喜欢硬摇滚,重金属摇滚乐以及蹦迪等.

You:Actually, the traditions of jazz and Beijing Opera are symbols of the cultural identity for our two countries. So we should preserve and develop them.但是京剧和爵士乐是中国和美国的国粹啊.因此,我们应当尽量保护并且弘扬他们.

David: That’s a good idea. 你说得很对.