英国人真的很严肃吗？

随身英语

英语听力

歌词

Many people in Britain have been moaning about price rises,

英国很多人一直在抱怨物价上涨,

low interest rates for savings;

低储蓄利率；

and it's not unusual to see couples kissing in the streets of London.

并且在伦敦街头很难看见情侣们当街接吻。

What's happened to the famous British stiff upper lip?

什么导致了英式的不苟言笑？

The image of a nation resolute and stoic in the face of adversity still stands around the world,

一个国家（英国）在逆境中坚韧不拔、坚忍不拔的形象依然屹立在世界各地，

but it's questioned by the Brits themselves from time to time.

但是这不时会被英国人自己怀疑。

The TV documentary Stiff Upper Lip:

最近被英国广播公司推出的纪录片僵硬的上唇：

An Emotional History of Britain, shown recently by the BBC, has been providing the latest opportunity for reflection.

一部英国的情绪史，提供了最新的反思的机会

It says the emotional reserve that is part of the national identity is actually a far cry from the exuberant attitude of some 500 years ago.

这部纪录片说，作为国家认同一部分的情感储备实际上与500年前的繁荣态度大相径庭。

Foreigners in the 16th century couldn't believe how touchy-feely the English could be.

十六世纪的外国人们不敢相信英国人的脾气能有这么感情化

"Wherever you move there is nothing but kisses",

“不论你走到哪都只有亲吻”，

wrote the Dutch philosopher Erasmus.

荷兰哲学家伊拉斯谟写道。

The journalist Ian Hislop, who presents the programme, says his countrymen have the French to thank for their current composure.

该节目的主持人伊恩·希斯洛普说，他的同胞需要感谢法国人对他们目前的冷静态度。

The British ruling classes got worried when they saw the political passion brought about by the French Revolution.

当英国统治阶级看到法国大革命带来的政治热情时，他们开始担心。

In the 18th century, it was polite to express some degree of emotion in public.

在18世纪，在公众场合表达某种程度的情感是礼貌的。

A quiet tear when watching a play was acceptable, as sensitivity was seen as a sign of refinement.

观看一出戏时，安静的眼泪是可以接受的，因为感性被看作是一种优雅的表现。

But the concept didn't last.

但这个概念并没有持续下去。

The upper lip stiffened during Queen Victoria's reign when unflappable soldiers and explorers became role models for the nation.

维多利亚女王统治期间，当不屈不挠的士兵和探险家成为国家的榜样时，（人们）开始变得一丝不苟了。

The Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo,

在滑铁卢战役中击败拿破仑的惠灵顿公爵

destroyed his beloved violin in his youth as a character-building move. According to Hislop, in the far-flung corners of the empire,

在他年轻的时候摧毁了他心爱的小提琴来作为一个性格塑造的举动。根据希斯洛普的说法，在帝国遥远的角落，

the colonisers cultivated an illusion of superiority by appearing to be aloof and unshakeably self-confident. Suffering?

殖民者似乎表现出冷漠和不可动摇的自信，从而培养出一种优越感的错觉。

Discomfort? The Brits make no fuss; and some expressed pride when Queen Elizabeth and her husband,

痛苦？不适？英国人没有大惊小怪；当伊丽莎白女王和她的丈夫爱丁堡公爵今年早些时候参加她的钻石禧年的游艇游行时，

the Duke of Edinburgh, took part in the boat parade on her Diamond Jubilee earlier this year.

一些英国人表达了自豪

The elderly couple endured cold and rain showing that the spirit of the stiff upper lip lives on.

这对老年夫妇忍受着寒冷和雨水，这表明一丝不苟的精神依然存在。

专辑信息

16.集邮