Javier: Welcome to L.A.! It's nice to finally meet you in person! Linda: Thanks! It's great to be here, but wow, I didn't expect to see so many Mexicans. Javier: You thought I was the only one? Well, they're not all Mexicans. And actually, one in every four people in California is Hispanic. Linda: What's that? It looks like a parade! Javier: You just happened to be here for the kick-off of National Hispanic Heritage Month - September fifteenth. Linda: Wow! Look at all those colors! Javier: And the festivities also mark the independence days of many Hispanic countries. Linda: Which ones? Javier: Well, today - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and, and Nicaragua. Linda: And Mexico is when? Javier: On the sixteenth. Linda: Cool. My timing is just right!
讲解:
1. 对话中,Linda来到洛杉矶见网友Javier。L.A.就是Los Angeles洛杉矶的缩写。Javier在西班牙语中是一个男性的名字。Javier说真高兴终于见到Linda本人了。in person 表示“亲身,亲自;本人”,比如说,You can apply for tickets in person or by letter. 需要票的人可以亲自来申请或者来信索取。
3. 那么什么是Hispanic American 或者Latino American呢?Hispanic American 或者Latino American是指居住在美国,但本身或者祖先是出生在Spanish-speaking“西班牙语系”国家的美国人。但是在某些分类中,也将说葡萄牙语Portuguese的“巴西裔”Brazilian归入。他们的文化、音乐、食物,甚至是独特腔调和轻快的说话速度,如今已经深入影响到美国许多的城市。
4. Hispanics/Latinos“拉丁美洲裔”在美国的人数越来越多,目前已占全美人口的6.5%,在某些州数目甚至比白人还多。Linda突然发现大街上正有人举行游行,就问Javier这是怎么回事,原来Linda正好赶上了全国拉丁文化月的开幕仪式。You just happened to be here for the kick-off of National Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off是一个口语词汇,表示“开始”。