论美国英语中的时间观念

On the Consciousness of Time in American EnglishAbstract: Americans generally emphasize the value of time, pay attention to the speed and efficiency. Actually, time should be seen a kind of silent language, because it contains abundant cultural connectation and has particular sequence, structure and meaning. If we say that this kind of silent language exists in the deep structure of culture, we can say that the sound language is manifest objectively in the social activities. It can be found obviously the project of the American consciousness of time.Key words : American English; culture; the consciousness of time;论美国英语中的时间观念内容摘要：美国人非常重视时间的价值，讲究速度和效率。

实际上，时间是一种无声的语言，它蕴含着丰富的文化内涵，具有特定的顺序，结构和意义。

如果说这种无声的语言栖存于文化的深存结构之中，那么有声的语言则是它在人们社会生活中的客观体现。

我们可以发现美国人的时间观念在美国人生活中得到了充分的反映。

而在美国英语中我们也显然可以发现时间观念的投影。

关键词：美国英语；文化；时间观念People who come from different cultural background have different views of time. In intercultural communication, this kind of difference usually causes misunderstanding between the two parties who are communicating and produces some unpleasant barriers. Therefore, when we study American English, we should not overlook this key point.The famous American anthropologist Edward T. Hall once had a comparatively deep and thorough study on this topic, what is more, he made a brilliant exposition in The Silent Language which was published in 1959. Hall has a contrast research on the concept of time which has been integrated into people’s consciousness. But what he mainly discusses is the ways of controlling and using time by Americans and the meanings of time – this silent language – in American culture.To explain the differences and relations of the consciousness of time on different conditions, Hall divides them into ranges which have three obvious characters: regular time, non-regular time and technique time. In this frame, seen from the regular time point of view, it is 365 days (the leap year adds one intercalary day) for so-call one year,12 months or 52 weeks .In other words, the “one year” which is showed on the calendar is regular time of one year .However, sometime “year” is one of very vague concept. For example,’’Oh, it takes years to get that done.”The “year”in this sentence does not really point a few years. It is likely to be a way to express the speaker’s exaggrative attitude and emontion. It emphasizes”very long time “While “the long time” is perhaps on the non-regular time which Hall called. The last kind is technique time, which does not contact with the common people greatly. The concept of “year” of astronomers belongs to it.Then considering from the two angles of regular time and non-regular, what kinds of characteristics does the Americans’consciousness of time have? Firstly, Americans attach great importance to the value if time. Time is considered as the tangible thing that can be measured, divided and made up.Hall thinks that in contemporary American society, the smallest set of regular time have been declined to 5 minutes. This is to say, for many social activities, the every short 5 minutes also become the period of time which can not be despised. For instance, a person is 5 minutes’ late. He will be aware of this himself and apologize the other people. In people’s mind, various sets of regular time (such as an hour, a week, a month, a season etc…) have very explicit boundary .What matter should be handled at what time and what should be completed at what time have a careful plan.Although time is “silent language”, it’s inherent meanings often have got a full expression through the sounded language. In the collocation of American English,”time” can be used with following verbs: buy, sell, save, spend, waste, lost, make up, measure. We can know from above that “time” is unstood a kind of thing which is merchadlike and the product whit honest price tag displayed. Though” time is money “listens to cliche, it is still a belief what most Americans follow scrupously.Americans are famous for punctuation. In this speech, we can easily find a lot of expression of “ on time” or “in time “, such as punctual, on schedule, on time, on the minute, to the minute , on the hour, at the appointed time, at the stated time , intime ,in good time, timely, well-timed and so on. In American culture, they take going to an oppointment on time for granted, while the lateness (particularly be late without reasons) is disrespectful. When Americans contact with other culture people, the other side’s unpunctuation often causes strange dissatification. It is even explained to their humililate deliberately. This kind of experience and feeling of American diplomat in a country of Latin American is mentioned in Hall’ book.Handling affairs with plans is a traditional characteristic in America this kind of wording, such as schedule, aganda are used very widely in American English. Here are some examples which are related to “schedule” or “agenda” have a full schedule, map out a schedule, accomplish something according to schedule, place on the agenda, my agenda for today starts with …… just because of this, once Americans find themselves have been behind the schedule, they will be carmped restless and make greatest efforts to speed up the rate of progress. Seen from a different angle, because Americans like handling affairs with plan, they will inform the relevant persons in advance not at the time when they want to have business talks, hold an academic or social activity. Tast minute notice will arouse dislike feeling. we should not adopt it, unless there is no choice. Another problem which involves regular time where we must treat seriously is dealine what Americans often say, whether the deadline can be obeyed relates to the prestige and benenfits of a group or person. In certain culture, it even involves legal responsibility. The so-called deadline usually can be expansion and contration leeway. Virtually it belongs to the concept of non-regular time. This becomes obvious constraction with the above mentioned American culture circumstance.American got used to quatify the concept of time. The following examples show this distinuisting feature. “I’ll be three in ten minutes.”“It will take six months to finish that job”“ I was in the Army for four and a half years”. Language and the thinking mode connect closely. The words quoted here shows a kind of tendency of the thinking activity from a facet.Generally speaking, Americans pay more attention to the present the future, no the past when they think of a problem. What they are deeply concerned is how to make use of the opportunities before their eyes to contunue their struggling after saying good-bye to yesterday. Following preverbs which Americans like to use can reflect the style of cherishing opportunities:“Make hay while the sun shines.”“Take time by the forelock” . ““Time and tide wait for no man.”“Time lost can’t be won again.”“Never put off till tomorrow.”“Tomorrow never comes.”“One today is worth two tomorrow.”In the preceding part, we talk about handling affairs with plans is one of characteristic in American culture. What we have to supplement and explain is when an American makes a plan, they pay attention to it can take effect in a short time. Even it is an very important and big plan, they also hope it can produce preliminary achievement which can be seen or touched within one or two years.Five years or ten years is already very long time. If the plan can’t have a good effect, tit is only considered as a failed or not too successful plan at least. From this, the concept of “future”, in Americans mind mainly refers to “not too long last of future”. They often add some definite decorative words such as in the immediate future, in the near future, in the foreseeable future, in the not too distant future. Obviously, this kind of decorative words all bring a certain meaning of emphasizing.Pursuing efficiency is not equal to work hare and never stop for a moment. Although “woraholic” also is not rare, most Americans pursue the life style of working with serious attitude and enjoying themselves where they are amusing. Americans understand the truth of “heart have no two use.” They used to do one thing at a time. This is what Hall says the monochronism which is related with the conceptof non-regular time. It’s not different to find out that it exists certain related factors between high working efficiency and monochronism.Now let’s come non-regular time. There are some phrases and expressions which are related to non-regular time, such as: some, presently, for a while, before long. The meanings of these phrases and expressions are all ambiguous and vague, but people can distinguish the basic meanings and basic meanings use these phrases and expressions in an effective way. For example, when a friend says to you “I’m coming presently”, according to liguistic environment of the current time and the understanding of your friend, you can judge generally how long is the “presently”. So even using some concepts of non-regular time, for these understanding of them, the participants of speech event still exist a kind of tacit understanding. It is worth paying attention to that the concept of non-regular time has great difference in different cultures. There is obvious difference when an American says “waiting a long time”and “waiting a very long time”. But in the Arabic culture, people don’t differentiate the last of time at all (E.T. Hall 1959:151)This consciousness is corresponding with Americans’ quick living rhythm. Living quick rhythm often makes people feel a kind of strong invisible pressure. As a result, the degree of strong pursuing speed has arrived almost frenzy. This kind of phenomenon speeds every aspect of American life and also the language that they use.It is difficult to find the people who walk leisurely and carefreely in the both side of prosperous avenues of big cites like New York, Chicago. People always get one place to do something in a hurry. There is no more accurate to describe them. If the acquaintances meet on the street, they also send the best regards muntually hastily, even come to stop to talk, after a few words, one side will say to another sorrily: “ Oh dear, I’m late. I’ve got to run.”The managing method of food processing industry and restaurant industry reflect Americans’ pursuit of speed.Most of food in the supermarket or grocery is process food except the fresh vegetable or fruit. Ti appears a lot of this kind of new words in American English vocabulary this century such as bread mix, frozen food, cake mix, instant coffee, canned food, dehydrared vegetable, soup mix, substitute food and preserved food so on.This kind of food can be eaten after the last processing and this simple processing can be done at home .It really can save a great deal of time. However, Americans do not always make a living by simple food. There is more time to prepare the dinner. The dinner is usually very formal and there are some dishes cooked by themselves. It is more ceremonious when a festival comes or there are some guest. Going to a restaurent has the same principle. They often go to a traditional restaurent to enjoy a complete set service when relatives or friends have a meeting or hold a family celebration activity . Under the urgent situation, the main purpose of going a restaurant is filling fully the belly. In that case, they are mostly to a fast food shop . The persons who have been American for a period all know that there are various fast food shop s almost in each corner of the cities the cities. And the business is very prosperous .We have analyzed contemporary American s’ conscious of time and the reflection of this consciousness generally emphasize the value of time , pay attention to the speed and efficiency . Actually, time should be seen a kind of silent language, because it contains abundant cultural connetation and has particular sequence, structure and meaning. If we say silent language exists in the deep structureof culture, we can say that the sound language is the manifest obviously in the social activities. It can be found obviously the project of the American consciousness of time.Bibliography：1.Zhu Yongtao,A Handbook to Essentials of British and American Cultures, Beijing :Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 1994i Luning,Cultural Background for English Study: A Survey of Europe,Beijing :Peking University Press, 20043.Deng Yanchang,Liu Runqing,Language and Culture，Beijing : Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 19894.Wang Bo, Selected Readings in American History & Culture，Beijing :Peking University Press, 2004。