BBC英国问答UK and US Personality Finn:This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English.I'm Finn,and with me today is Jean. Jean:在我们的《英国问答》节目中，我们为大家解答有关英国生活与文化的一些问题。 Finn:We certainly do,and today we have a question from Jen in Beijing about the differences in personality between British and American people. Insert It is said that British people compared to American people,they are more indifferent,like not looking straight into people's eyes or not delving into other people's private things-I want to ask whether it is true or not. Jean:Jen想问的就是，英国人在说话的时候是不是并不很直接，也很少太多涉及个人的话 题-因为她听说英国人比美国人要冷淡一些indifferent。Do you think so Finn? Finn:Well I think it's a good question Jean.But firstly -this word 'indifferent'might not be the best choice here.I think that Jen might have meant a word like 'reserved' Jean:有保留的、谨慎的reserved可能是Jen想表达的意思。一般来讲我们可以说谁是 indifferent to something或者indifferent about something,而不是不管对什么都是完全的冷淡 冷漠不关心。比如说I am indifferent to apples. Finn:Apples,really?Anyway let's get back to Jen's question.To get an idea we spoke to a few Americans in Britain,and also British people who lived in America.First we spoke to Ben. Insert What's important is to consider the geography in Britain or in America as to where people live. London is a big city like anything else,very similar to New York as far as the make up of the people.People have their own business,don't necessarily want to go out of their way to make acquaintance with someone.But I found the country pubs where I spent most of the first week since I'm on 2 holiday over here,I found that to be a really welcoming,open place,much less guarded. Jea:Ben他认为居住在伦敦或者纽约的人们一般来说都很忙-他们都有自己的事业，很 少下很大的功夫去结交新朋友。 Finn:He said they don't go out of their way to make new friends-that means they don't try too hard-but if you are in the country then people are much more friendly. Jean:Especially the country pubs!所以他认为英国和美国国内的城市与乡村的差异比这两 国之间的不同还要大。 Finn:That's right,so if you find Londoners just a little bit unfriendly,perhaps you could visit the country where people are more welcoming. Jean:更友好好客。 Finn:And less guarded. Jean:更少一点保守谨慎。 Finn:Right,now,we also spoke to Val.She's a British woman with an American father who lived in the States for many years.Did she think Americans were more open? Insert Probably there I'd find people superficially more open,like chatting to you on the streets and on public transport.And even things like your neighbours,my parents have lived here for 17 years and they don't really know their neighbours here,whereas there they might not have known themBBC 英国问答 UK and US Personality Finn: This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English. I'm Finn, and with me today is Jean. Jean: 在我们的《英国问答》节目中，我们为大家解答有关英国生活与文化的一些问题。 Finn: We certainly do, and today we have a question from Jen in Beijing about the differences in personality between British and American people. Insert It is said that British people compared to American people, they are more indifferent, like not looking straight into people's eyes or not delving into other people's private things – I want to ask whether it is true or not. Jean: Jen 想问的就是，英国人在说话的时候是不是并不很直接，也很少太多涉及个人的话 题 – 因为她听说英国人比美国人要冷淡一些 indifferent。 Do you think so Finn? Finn: Well I think it's a good question Jean. But firstly – this word 'indifferent' might not be the best choice here. I think that Jen might have meant a word like 'reserved'. Jean: 有保留的、谨慎的 reserved 可能是 Jen 想表达的意思。一般来讲我们可以说谁是 indifferent to something 或者 indifferent about something, 而不是不管对什么都是完全的冷淡 冷漠不关心。比如说 I am indifferent to apples. Finn: Apples, really? Anyway let's get back to Jen's question. To get an idea we spoke to a few Americans in Britain, and also British people who lived in America. First we spoke to Ben. Insert What's important is to consider the geography in Britain or in America as to where people live. London is a big city like anything else, very similar to New York as far as the make up of the people. People have their own business, don’t necessarily want to go out of their way to make acquaintance with someone. But I found the country pubs where I spent most of the first week since I'm on 2 holiday over here, I found that to be a really welcoming, open place, much less guarded. Jean: Ben 他认为居住在伦敦或者纽约的人们一般来说都很忙 – 他们都有自己的事业，很 少下很大的功夫去结交新朋友。 Finn: He said they don't go out of their way to make new friends – that means they don't try too hard – but if you are in the country then people are much more friendly. Jean: Especially the country pubs! 所以他认为英国和美国国内的城市与乡村的差异比这两 国之间的不同还要大。 Finn: That's right, so if you find Londoners just a little bit unfriendly, perhaps you could visit the country where people are more welcoming. Jean: 更友好好客。 Finn: And less guarded. Jean: 更少一点保守谨慎。 Finn: Right, now, we also spoke to Val. She's a British woman with an American father who lived in the States for many years. Did she think Americans were more open? Insert Probably there I'd find people superficially more open, like chatting to you on the streets and on public transport. And even things like your neighbours, my parents have lived here for 17 years and they don't really know their neighbours here, whereas there they might not have known them