閱讀暖身
在您的生活與工作中有 20 到 60 歲的人嗎?現代的家庭與職場跨越了三個重要世代。 曾經傲氣十足的 X 世代,慢慢轉移到 Y 世代的手上了。 進入本文前,請先想想怎麼表達以下單字:

a) 鑰匙兒童

b) 叛逆

c) 隔閡; 間隙

The end of WW2 created the baby boom; when all the soldiers went home and settled down, suddenly, there were lots of babies. The term Generation X was 1) coined after the concept that no one can predict what was in store for the generation following the baby boomers. There were no more major wars or significant world events, the 60’s and 70’s got a bit wild, but, mostly, life simply went on undisturbed. More women joined the workforce, single- parent families were common occurrences, and Gen X became the first a) latchkey kids.

第二次世界大戰的結束創造了嬰兒潮,當所有的軍人回家,安頓下來,突然,有很多 嬰兒就出現了。“X 世代”這個詞的創造是來自當初沒有人能預測嬰兒潮後來的那一代會 面對什麼。當時已經沒有重大的戰爭或顯著的全球事件,60 年代和 70 年代有點瘋狂, 但大部份來看,生活是平安的度過。更多的婦女加入職場,單親家庭的現象變成屢見 不鮮,而 X 時代成為第一群的鑰匙兒童。

As Gen X learned to take care of themselves, they became b) rebellious, and experienced the postmodern age of alienating growing pains. Their independence motivated them to take on challenges, and of course, they learned to question authority. When the digital age hit, Gen X adapted to technology, and helped the older generations make it through the transition. They are the last generation who remember a world without digital imprints, as they filled the c) chasm between the baby boomer and the Millennials.

X 世代學會了照顧自己,也開始叛逆,並經歷後現代時期青少年疏離的青澀成長過程。 他們的獨立促使他們接受挑戰,當然,也學會了質疑權威。當資訊時代蓬勃時,X 世代

適應了科技,並幫老一輩渡過過渡期。他們是僅存對數位印刷有印象的最後一個世代, 連結嬰兒潮和 Y 世代之間的間隙。

Once upon a time, the Gen X might have been the smartest, most independent who ever walked on planet earth. Times have changed; the Millennials are going take over. The younger generation has been operating alongside the latest technology even before they established their full identities. They are digitally advanced, fast-paced, versatile, and they got the best years of their lives in front of them like an open field.

很久以前,X 世代也許曾經是最有史以來,最聰明的,最獨立的。可是時代已經變了, Y 世代要來接管了。年輕的一代早在建立自己的身份以前,就適應了最新的科技。他們 已經數字化,快節奏,多才多藝,還有最好的年華在眼前。

Generation X is facing the inevitable. Nevertheless, Gen X is not to be forgotten, and will not 2) go down without a fight. They are experienced, competent, problem-solving individuals who are aging gracefully. The difference between the generations in life and at work will emerge; as the collision of the different minds will strike sparks that light up the generation gap.

X 世代正在正面臨著不可避免的事實。然而 X 世代不會被遺忘,也不會輕易束手就擒。 他們都是經驗豐富,有能力解決問題的人,也會慢慢的優雅的變老。不同時代的人在 生活和工作中的差異會出現,而代溝中不同的思想的碰撞也會創造火花。

口語詞彙:

1. Coined

Coined 是建立,創新一個新的詞語的意思, 與銅板沒什麼關聯。除非想像成拿個 硬銅板, 將一個詞語押成專有的意義。The term “unfriend” was coined by FB, and has been introduced to the English dictionary as a legitimate word. “Unfriend” 是從臉 書創立的字,也已經成為英文字典裡的一個正式的字。

2. Go down without a fight

Go down without a fight 就是不反抗就認輸了的意思,也是中文說的束手就擒。 When the veterinarian held the kitten down to give it the vaccination shots, the small animal hissed, scratched, and growled at the strong man, who laughed at the fact that felines never go down without a fight. 當獸醫給小貓注射疫苗時,小動物張牙舞爪的猙獰對抗一個大男人。獸醫都笑貓科的動物從來都不輕易束手就擒。