如何把美音說得和老外一樣地道？①

在很大程度上，世界上許多國家說的英語都和美式英語一樣。是的這樣沒錯，但是在口語、拼寫和口音上，確實會有和美國不同的地方，甚至在美國的不同地區都是有區別的。所以，要做到能讓美國人完全理解你，可不是那麼簡單的事情喲。

part1  Learning American English 1、Learn English.     

American English is, for the most part, just the same as any other English. Apart from some phrases, colloquialisms, dialects, and spellings, most of the language is the same as the English spoken in Britain, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere around the globe. There are a few significant local differences, which leads some people to say that these groups are "separated by a common language." But in reality, most of the words and phrases are the same. If you know English and understand non-American English speakers, too, for the most part, you will do fine in America.

學英語。美國英語在很大程度上和其他英語一樣。除了部分短語、俗語、方言和拼寫外，大部分的都與英國、澳大利亞、加拿大和世界其他地方說的英語一樣。一些明顯的地方差異，導致有人說這些羣體“被一種共同語言分開”。但實際上，大部分單詞和短語都是一樣的。如果你懂英語，也能理解除美國人以外的講英語的人，基本上，你在美國就會做得很好。

 2、Listen for accents, dialects, and slang.     

American English is spoken differently in each region of the U.S. Listen closely to pick up local phrases and colloquialisms, especially in social settings. You will begin to notice the difference when you travel from one region to another.

聽口音、方言和俚語。美式英語在每個地區說起來都不一樣。仔細去聽，輕鬆學會當地的短語和口語，尤其是在社交情景下。當你從一個地區旅行到另一個地區時，你就會開始注意到區別。

For some articles on regional accents and expressions, check out How to Imitate a Texan Accent, How to Speak With a Bostonian Accent, How to Speak With a Convincing New Jersey Accent, How to Talk Like a New Yorker, How to Fake a Chicago Accent, and How to Talk Like a Southern Gentleman.

一些關於地域口音和表達的文章，查看《如何模仿德州口音》《如何用波士頓口音交談》《如何說出地道的新澤西口音》《像紐約人一樣說話》《怎樣裝出芝加哥口音》以及《如何像南方紳士一樣說話》。

 3、Know some American English phrases.     

You'll learn as you go, but here is a short list of American English, just to get you acquainted.

瞭解一些美式英語短語。你去了就能學到，但這裏有一份關於美式英語的小清單，只爲了讓你熟悉一下。

① "Awesome" and "cool" are used to describe something great or positive or popular, more so than in other countries, and both words can be used as a positive reaction to something someone tells you, too.

① “Awesome”和“cool”用來形容一些很好的、積極的或流行的東西，在美國比其他國家的都要用得多，而且這兩個詞也可以用來作爲對別人告訴你某件事的積極反應。

② "What's up?" or "Sup" for short. This phrase is used to ask someone what they're doing, how they are, and as a general greeting. It is not socially acceptable in formal occasions, but it's fine to use casually with friends. It's most often used by young men.

② “What's up?”或簡稱“Sup”，這個短語用來詢問別人正在做什麼，他們怎樣，以及作爲一般的問候。雖然在正式場合下，這樣說是不被社會所接受的，但在朋友之間是可以隨意使用的。年輕人最常使用它。

③ "Hanging out" is spending time somewhere or with someone. It can be used in describing or arranging one particular event ("Do you want to hang out?") or more generally to describe a habit ("I hang out at the mall a lot"). It's a phrase often used by teenagers to describe how they pass time and socialize, often without one particular activity or aim. It can also be used to describe time spent around the house or doing nothing in particular ("What are you up to?" / "Not much; just hanging out”).

③ “Hanging out”是指在某個地方或與某人在一起打發時間。它可以用來描述或安排特定活動(“你想出去玩嗎?”)，或者更常用來描述一個習慣(“我經常在購物中心閒逛”)。這是青少年經常使用的一個短語，用來描述他們如何消遣時間和社交，通常沒有特定的活動或目的。它也可以用來描述花時間在家附近瞎轉悠，或沒做什麼做特別的事(“你在做什麼?”/“沒啥，只是閒逛”)。

④ "Y'all" is a contraction of "You all", the second person plural mode of directly addressing a group of people. It is used primarily in the Southern States but is acceptable in other regions.

④ “Y'all”是“You all”的縮寫，第二人稱，直接稱呼一羣人的複數形式。它主要用於南部各州，但在其他地區也是接受這種說法的。

 4、Know what English words won't be understood.     

If you've studied British English in the past, realize that not all of the words and phrases will be identical in the US. If you use British English words, phrases, or spellings in these situations, you might not be understood. Learn the American versions instead:

知道哪些英語單詞是不能理解的。如果你過去學過英式英語，要意識到，在美國這些單詞和短語並非都是一樣的。如果你在以下情況下使用英式英語單詞、短語或拼寫，別人可能無法理解（✨也許因爲用錯的次數多了哈哈，在很多情況下英美人都能互相理解啦，但是同學們還是可以注意一下兩國之間的區別喲！✨）。學習一下它們的美國版本:

• Restroom/bathroom instead of Toilet/Lavatory

• Elevator instead of Lift

• Trunk instead of Boot

• Freeway instead of motorway

• Sweater instead of jumper

• Pants for trousers, not underwear

• Vest for waistcoat (the underwear version is often just called an undershirt instead)

• Sneakers instead of Trainers

• Diaper instead of nappy

• Bathing suit instead of swimming costume

• Vacation instead of holiday (holidays tend to mean national bank holidays only)

• French fries instead of chips

• Chips instead of crisps

• Gasoline instead of Petrol

• Truck instead of Lorry

• Flashlight instead of Torch

• Color instead of colour

• Favorite instead of Favourite

• Popsicle instead of Ice Lolly

• Tire instead of Tyre

• Napkins should only be used to wipe your face at dinnertime

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