Culture of the United States
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This article is about the high culture and popular culture of the United States. For customs and way of life, see Society of the United States.
The development of the culture of the United States of America—music, cinema, dance, architecture, literature, poetry, cuisine and the visual arts— has been marked by a tension between two strong sources of inspiration: European sophistication and domestic originality.[citation needed]
American music can be heard all over the world, such as through Channel V, VH1 and by singers such as Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, BB King, The Doors and The Ramones; American films and television shows are also very popular[citation needed], including icons like Star Wars, The Godfather, Schindler's List, Titanic and The Matrix; American sports figures are widely known, such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Venus Williams, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Michael Johnson; and American movie actors and actresses are widely recognized such as Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise.[citation needed]This is in very stark contrast to the early days of the American republic, when the country was generally seen as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally advanced world centers of Europe and Asia.[citation
needed] At the beginning of her third century, nearly every major American city offers classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture.[citation needed] This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.[citation needed]
[edit] Literature
Main article: Literature of the United States
In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American art and literature took most of its cues from Europe. Writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry David Thoreau established a distinctive American literary voice by the middle of the nineteenth century.[citation needed]Mark Twain and poet Walt Whitman were major figures in the century's second half; Emily Dickinson, virtually unknown during her lifetime, would be recognized as America's other essential poet.[citation needed] Eleven U.S. citizens have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, most recently Toni Morrison in 1993. Ernest Hemingway, the 1954 Nobel laureate, is often named as one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.[1] A work seen as capturing fundamental aspects of the national experience and character—such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick (1851), Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(1885), and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby(1925)—may be dubbed the "Great American Novel". Popular literary genres such as the Western and hardboiled crime fiction were developed in the United States.
[edit] Comic books
Main article: American comic book
Since the invention of the comic book format in the 1930s, the United States has been the leading producer with only the British comic books (during the inter-war period and up until the 1970s) and the Japanese manga as close competitors in terms of quantity.[citation needed]
Comic book sales began to decline after World War II, when the medium was competing with the spread of television and mass market paperback books. In the 1960s, comic books' audience expanded to include college students who favored the naturalistic, "superheroes in the real world" trend initiated by Stan Lee at Marvel Comics. The 1960s also saw the advent of the underground comics. Later, the recognition of the comic medium among
academics, literary critics and art museums helped solidify comics as a serious artform with established traditions, stylistic conventions, and artistic evolution.[citation needed]
[edit] Television
Main article: Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one.[citation needed]
[edit] Dance
Main article: Dance in the United States
There is great variety in dance in the United States, it is the home of the Lindy Hop and its derivative Rock and Roll, and modern square dance (associated with the United States of America due to its historic development in that country--nineteen U.S. states have designated it as their official state dance) and one of the major centers for modern dance. There is a variety of social dance and concert or performance dance forms with also a range of traditions of Native American dances.
[edit] Visual arts
Main article: Visual arts of the United States
In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American artists primarily painted landscapes and portraits in a realistic style. A parallel development taking shape in rural America was the American craft movement, which began as a reaction to the industrial revolution. Developments in modern art in Europe came to America from exhibitions in New York City such as the Armory Show in 1913. After World War II, New York replaced Paris as the center of the art world.[citation needed]Painting in the United States today covers a vast range of styles.
[edit] Architecture
Main article: Architecture of the United States
The United States has a history of architecture that includes a wide variety of styles.
The United States of America is a relatively young country, and the Native Americans did not leave any buildings comparable to the grandeur of those in Mexico or Peru. For this reason, the overriding theme of American Architecture is modernity: the skyscrapers of the 20th century are the ultimate symbol of this modernity.[citation needed]
Architecture in the US is regionally diverse and has been shaped by many external forces, not only English. US Architecture can therefore be said to be eclectic, something unsurprising in such a multicultural society.[citation needed]
[edit] Sculpture
Main article: Sculpture of the United States
The history of sculpture in the United States reflects the country's 18th century foundation in Roman republican civic values as well as Protestant Christianity.[citation needed]
[edit] Theater
Main article: Theater in the United States
Theater of the United States is based in the Western tradition, mostly borrowed from the performance styles prevalent in Europe, especially England.[citation needed]Today, it is heavily interlaced with American literature, film, television, and music, and it is not uncommon for a single story to appear in all forms. Regions with significant music scenes often have strong theater and comedy traditions as well. Musical theater may be the most popular form: it is certainly the most colorful, and choreographed motions pioneered on stage have found their way onto movie and television screens. Broadway in New York City is generally considered the pinnacle of commercial U.S. theater, though this art form appears all across the country. Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway diversify the theatre experience in New York. Another city of particular note is Chicago, which boasts the most diverse and dynamic theater scene in the country. Regional or resident theatres in the United States are professional theatre companies outside of New York City that produce their own seasons. There is also community theatre and showcase theatre (performing arts group).
Even tiny rural communities sometimes awe audiences with extravagant productions.
[edit] Cuisine
Main article: Cuisine of the United States
Mainstream American culinary arts are similar to those in other Western countries. Wheat is the primary cereal grain. Traditional American cuisine uses ingredients such as turkey, white-tailed deer venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, indigenous foods employed by Native Americans and early European settlers. Slow-cooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American styles. Soul food, developed by African slaves, is popular around the South and among many African Americans elsewhere. Syncretic cuisines such as Louisiana creole, Cajun, and Tex-Mex are regionally important. Iconic American dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the recipes of various immigrants. So-called French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are widely consumed.[2]Americans generally prefer coffee to tea, with more than half the adult population drinking at least one cup a day.[3] Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible for making orange juice and milk(now often fat-reduced) ubiquitous breakfast beverages.[4] During the 1980s and 1990s, Americans' caloric intake rose 24%;[2]frequent dining at fast food outlets is associated with what health officials call the American "obesity epidemic." Highly sweetened soft drinks are widely popular; sugared beverages account for 9% of the average American's daily caloric intake.[5]
[edit] Fashion
Main article: Fashion in the United States
Apart from professional business attire, fashion in the United States is eclectic and predominantly informal.[citation needed]Blue jeans were popularized as work clothes in the 1850s by merchant Levi Strauss, a German immigrant in San Francisco, and adopted by many American teenagers a century later. They are now widely worn on every continent by people of all ages and social classes.[citation needed]Along with mass-marketed informal wear in general, blue jeans are arguably U.S. culture's primary contribution to global fashion.[6] The country is also home to the headquarters of many leading designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Labels such as
Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Hollister, and Eckōcater to various niche markets.
[edit] Popular culture
American popular culture has expressed itself through nearly every medium, including movies, music, and sports. Mickey Mouse, Barbie, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Aerosmith, Babe Ruth, Baseball, American football, Basketball, screwball comedy, G.I. Joe, jazz, the blues, Rap & Hip Hop, The Simpsons, Michael Jackson, Superman, Gone with the Wind, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jordan, Indiana Jones, Sesame Street, Catch-22—these names, genres, and phrases have joined more tangible American products in spreading across the globe.
It is worth noting that while the U.S. tends to be a net exporter of culture, it absorbs many other cultural traditions with relative ease, for example: origami, soccer, anime, and yoga.[citation needed]
[edit] Exportation of popular culture
The United States is an enormous exporter of entertainment, especially television, movies and music. This readily consumable form of culture is widely and cheaply dispersed for entertainment consumers worldwide. It's even considered to be an "entertainment superpower" along with Europe, and Japan. Part of this is because America owns so much foreign property[citation needed] and has so many military personnel serving overseas (Japan for instance).[citation needed]
Many nations now have two cultures: an indigenous one and
globalized/popular culture[citation needed]. That said, what one society considers entertainment is not necessarily reflective of the "true culture" of its people. More popular syndicated programs cost more, so overseas entertainment purchasers often choose older programs that reflect various, and dated, stages of United States cultural development.[citation needed]Pop culture also tends to neglect the more mundane and/or complex elements of human life.[citation needed]
[edit] References
1.^ Meyers, Jeffrey (1999). Hemingway: A Biography. New York: Da Capo, p. 139.
ISBN 0-306-80890-0.
2.^ a b Klapthor, James N. (2003-08-23). "What, When, and Where Americans Eat in
2003". Institute of Food Technologists. https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/cms/?pid=1000496.
Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
3.^"Coffee Today". Coffee Country. PBS. May 2003.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/frontlineworld/stories/guatemala.mexico/facts.html#02. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
4.^ Smith, Andrew F. (2004). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.
New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 131–32. ISBN 0-19-515437-1. Levenstein,
Harvey (2003). Revolution at the Table: The Transformation of the American Diet.
Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press, pp. 154–55.
ISBN 0-520-23439-1. Pirovano, Tom (2007). "Health & Wellness Trends—The
Speculation Is Over". AC Nielsen.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/pubs/2006_q1_ci_health.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
5.^"Fast Food, Central Nervous System Insulin Resistance, and Obesity".
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. American Heart Association.
2005. https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/cgi/content/full/25/12/2451#R3-101329. Retrieved
on 2007-06-09. "Let's Eat Out: Americans Weigh Taste, Convenience, and Nutrition"
(PDF). U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/publications/eib19/eib19_reportsummary.pdf. Retrieved on
2007-06-09.
6.^ Davis, Fred (1992). Fashion, Culture, and Identity. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, p. 69. ISBN 0-226-13809-7.
Why American Culture is Unique--英语
本文来自: 疯狂英语([url]https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,[/url]) 详细出处参考：
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/zhuantiyingyu/duanyujiangjie/20081014/24201.html
American culture is unique because it is nurtured, formed and developed under certain conditions, which are characteristically(特性)American. The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment, ethnic diversity(多民族) and plural religion, which is quite different from other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture.
1. Rough Environment
The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of American. The environment there was very rough but they believed the poor land could purify their mind so they chose the place along the coast. From 1607 to 1892, frontiers were pushed further west. The American frontier consisted of the relatively unsettled regions of the United States, usually found in the western part of the country. The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom. Actually they looked for a better
life. So individualism, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage(遗产) of American.
2. Ethnic Diversity
The population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups coming from many races, nationalities, and religions. People refer to the United States as "melting pot "and the dominant people are British. American is made up of WASP+MM, that is, White, Anglo Saxon, Protestants plus Middle Class and Male. In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to American three times. They brought their own culture to American and later on different cultures were mixed together. Thus the unique American culture is formed, a common cultural life with commonly shared values.
3. Plural religion
The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the right of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States. The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism; almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United States. Christianity(基督教) is the dominant religion in American and Protestant (新教)is predominate(主导). Any individuals are equal before God and they believe they can communicate directly to God so they can share the same idea. Under the protestant, many new ones are formed and different explanations produce different sect of religion. Churches are independent and American religion is no longer religion seculars. The institution permits the practice of religion and the political power is separate form religion. So there are more religion
本文来自: 疯狂英语([url]https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,[/url]) 详细出处参考：
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/zhuantiyingyu/duanyujiangjie/20081014/24201.html American culture：美国主流文化的形成
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/06/0406/11/2E17J0QM00291ON7.html
The main content of American culture is the emphasize on individuals' value, the pursue of democracy and freedom, the promotion of deploitation(开拓, 经营) and competition and the need of realistic and practicality. Its core is individualism: self first, personal need first, pursue of individual benefit and enjoyment, emphasize on achieving individual value by self-strive and self-design. This type of intentionally build up of personality and pursue customized individualism has its pros and cons, it gives incentives to people and make them exert on their potential and wisdom and as a result accelerate the development of the entire race and nation; on the other hand it is difficult to keep good relationship among people if everyone is egocentric thus make the entire society lack of unity.
egocentric: .自我中心的, 利己主义的
American citizens emphasize on achievements and respect heroes. They have great sense in their hearts to praise success and heroes. Personal achievements are one of those with the highest value in Americans mind. Americans have very strong senses of success. Success is the pursuit of most Americans, it is their attractive future and the incentives for moving forward. They believe that one's personal value is equivalent to his achievements in his career. Some high achievers in their career such as entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and all kinds of super starts became modern heroes. The process and result of how they strived have become the frame of reference of social culture value and the real life text book for parents to educate their children.
incentive: Serving to induce or motivate:
American society has great movements within itself. These movements are shown in two aspects: movements amongst locations and movements inside the society. The United States are relatively more open and have more freedom. Developed transport and the tradition of adventure and sporty makes a lot of American migrate from countryside to cities, from downtown to uptown; and from north to the southern sunny land, from one city to another. Unlike European countries, the social classes in America is not so stable. Further more, with the advocation of public education, movements upwards along the social ladder have become possible. Many people living in the states, no matter whether they are Native American or immigrants from overseas, have the same dream of changing their social class and make their lifetime dream come true through their own efforts. This is what they often called "American dream".
advocation：(=advocacy)拥护；支持
美国文化的主要内容是强调个人价值，追求民主自由，崇尚开拓和竞争，讲求理性和实用，其核心是个人中心主义：个人至上、私欲至上、追求个人利益和个人享受，强调通过个人奋斗、个人自我设计，追求个人价值的最终实现。这种刻意塑造自我，追求个性化的个人主义有其积极的一面，也有消极的一面。它调动了个人的积极性，使许多人的智慧和潜力得以充分发挥，从而促进整个民族与国家的振兴和发展。然而，人人以我为中心，人际关系就难以融洽，整个社会也会缺乏凝聚力。
美国公众注重成就，仰慕英雄，有深厚的成就崇拜和英雄崇拜的心理积淀。个人成就是所有美国人价值观中评价最高的价值之一。美国人有很强的成就(或成功)意识。成功是所有美国人的追求，是诱人的前景，前进的动力。他们坚信，一个人的价值就等于他在事业上的成就。一些事业有成的企业家、科学家、艺术家和各类明星，成了新时代的英雄。他们个人奋斗的过程和结果，成了社会文化价值取向的参照系，父母教育子女的活教材。
美国是流动性很大的社会。这种流动体现在两个方面：地域性流动和社会性流动。美国相对的开放自由、发达的交通和冒险好动的传统使许多美国人从乡村流到城市，又从市中心流向郊区；从北方流到南方阳光地带，从一个城市流到另一个城市。美国社会阶级不像欧洲国家那样固定，加上公共教育的普及，使沿着社会阶梯向上流动成为可能。许多生活在美国的人，无论是土生土长的美国人，还是漂洋过海来到美国的外国移民，都有一个梦，即通过自己的努力，改变自己的社会地位，实现自己的人生梦想，这就是人们常津津乐道的“美国梦”。
文化：美国人的致谢和道歉与中国的有何不同
As the American people's concept of being polite is different from that held here, I'd like to discuss with you the use of "please", "excuse me" and "thank you". I have noticed that the Chinese people use "please" as often as we do on most occasions. But on some occasions they don't use this word. For instance, Chinese teachers rarely say "please sit down" when their students have answered their questions and the traffic police here are also not accustomed to using "please" when they are on duty.
美国人对礼貌的概念与中国也有所不同。在这里，我想和你们一起讨论一下"请（please）"、"对不起（excuse me）"和"谢谢（thank you）"的用法。我注意到，在大多数场合，中国人和我们一样常常用"请"这个词，但在某些场合你们又不用。比如，中国教师在他们的学生回答问题后很少说"请坐"，中国的交通警在他们值勤时也不太习惯用"请"这个词。
We say "please pass me the salt" instead of stretching out our arms to reach for it. So don't forget to say "please" whenever the situation requires it if you are in the United States.
在餐桌上，我们说"请把盐递给我"，而不是自己伸手去拿。假如你们去美国，那么，当情况需要时可别忘了说"请"。
I believe we say "excuse me" more often and on more occasions than the Chinese people. We say "Excuse me" when we need to pass in front of someone, to leave a party or the dinner table or when we want to excuse ourselves from company or find ourselves late for an appointment and so on.
我相信，我们美国人说"对不起"的时候要比中国人多得多或更为普遍。当我们要经过某人的面前、要离开宴会或餐桌，或者是当我们要离开同伴（或约会迟到等等）时，我们都要说声"对不起"。
"Thank you" means that you appreciate what someone has done for you, very often very small and most ordinary things. So we in the West thank people all day long.
"谢谢你"意味着你在某人为你做了什么事后表示谢意，那通常是一件无足轻重和极其普通的事情。所以，我们西方人真是从早到晚谢不离口。
Why American Culture is Unique
https://www.doczj.com/doc/5111289198.html,/fun/article/2006-01-05/2772.html
American culture is unique because it is nurtured, formed and developed under certain conditions, which are characteristically(特性)American. The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment, ethnic diversity(多民族) and plural religion, which is quite different from other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture.
1. Rough Environment
The early immigrants who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of American. The environment there was very rough but they believed the poor land could purify their mind so they chose the place along the coast. From 1607 to 1892, frontiers were pushed further west. The American frontier consisted of the relatively unsettled regions of the United States, usually found in the western part of the country. The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom. Actually they looked for a better life. So individualism, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage(遗产) of American.
2. Ethnic Diversity
The population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups coming from many races, nationalities, and religions. People refer to the United States as "melting pot "and the dominant people are British. American is made up of WASP+MM, that is, White, Anglo Saxon, Protestants plus Middle Class and Male. In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to American three times. They brought their own culture to American and later on different cultures were mixed together. Thus the unique American culture is formed, a common cultural life with commonly shared values.
3. Plural religion
The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the right of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States. The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism; almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United States. Christianity(基督教) is the dominant religion in American and Protestant (新教)is predominate(主导). Any individuals are equal before God and they believe they can communicate directly to God so they can share the same idea. Under the protestant, many new ones are formed and different explanations produce different sect of religion. Churches are independent and American religion is no longer religion seculars. The institution permits the practice of religion and the political power is separate form religion. So there are more religions in American than in other countries.
4. Current influence:
Nowadays, we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American society. American family is typically parents and their unmarried children. Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married children. Many Americans live in mobile homes whose homes are built with wheels. They can be moved. The people in American have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new place. Quite a number of people change residences(住所) every year. The average American moves fourteen times in his lifetime. The courage to try something new has been an American characteristic. American democracy means majority rule, but it also means protection of minority rights. There are certain freedom which the United States promises to all its citizens and members of minority group cannot be denied these rights by a vote of the majority. Americans also like to be involved in many challenge activities and sports to show their adventurous spirits. All of these are affected by the heritage of the American history.
From the facts above, we can see American culture is unique which was cultivated, formed and developed by the main three factors, rough environment, ethnic diversity and plural religion and still is affected and determined by them now.
美国文化中的个人主义 摘要：在跨文化交际中，一定要紧紧把握价值现这一核心来了解中西文化差异。以自我为中心的个人主义价值观是美国文化的核心，是美国文化的灵魂所在。个人主义价值观在美国日常交际中有着十分广泛的体现。 关键词：个人主义价值观；跨文化交际；价值观；日常交际；美国文化 语言既是文化的载体，又是文化的写照，它们有着水乳交融的关系。语言的使用脱离不了产生这种语言的社会环境。不同的语言要素反映不同的文化属性，不了解语言中所蕴涵的社会文化就无法真正掌握这门语言，也就无法进行成功的跨文化交际。价值观是跨文化交际的核心。价值观的差异是中西文化差异的精髓所在，不理解价值观方面的差异就不能真正理解跨文化交际。价值观与交际是支配和反映的关系，价值观决定人们如何进行交际，交际反映出人们的价值观。 一、个人主义价值观与美国文化 以自我为中心的个人主义价值观是美国文化的核心，是美国文化的灵魂所在。美国社会遵循个体价值至上的原则，提倡个人利益为最高利益，强调主动进取，追求自由平等，自立自强，注重个人自由和权利，并把它视为实现自我价值的积极表现。英语中有不少谚语很好地阐释了这种重视自我、依赖自我和强调个体独立的价值观。“Every man is nearest himself”(每个人都最亲近自己)。“Every man is the architect of his own fortune．”(每个人都是自己命运的设
计师)，“God helps them that help themselves．”(天助自助者)，由此可见。作为美国文化核心的个人主义价值观，深深植根于美国的民族语言中，且在日常交际、词汇、谚语、文学作品中都有广泛体现。 二、个人主义价值观在日常交际中的体现 1．称呼语 在英语所有的人称代词中，“you”(你，你们)，“she”(她)，“he”(他)，“we”(我们)，“they”(他们)，“it”(它)，只有当它们位于句首时，才大写第一个字母。而“I”(我)无论在什么情况下都一律要大写。大写的“我”。强调以“我”为中心的个人主义价值观念。汉语中，我们中国人往往会在姓氏前加上“老”或“小”来称呼他人。姓氏前加上“老”字表示对听话者的尊重。加上“小”字表示对听话者的爱护和关心。这样称呼可以缩短对话双方的心理距离。便于双方进一步交流，而英语中则没有类似的用法。这和西方的个人主义价值观有着十分紧密的联系。西方国家崇尚个人主义，不希望自己因为年龄而受到他人更多照顾．无论处在什么样的年龄阶段，他们都希望得到别人平等的对待，而且在英语文化中，“老”字意味着衰老残年，不中用，来日无多等。因此西方人十分忌讳“老”字．如果称某外国朋友为“old Mr．John”(老约翰先生)。肯定会伤害对方的自尊心，引起对方不快。由于美国人强调平等，珍视平等的权利，他们的社会等级观念相对而言比较淡薄。因此人们在相互交往中没有各种各样的繁多礼节。上级与下级之间，家长与子女之间，老板与员工之间，教师与学生之间。见面时只需笑一笑。说声“嗨”(Hi)
美国概况及风土人情 首先要想做好美国项目就要了解目的国家的历史，政治经济，文化背景，风土人情等。相对于中国具有上下5000年的古老历史文明，美国作为一个新兴的资本主义国家，拥有的历史并不算漫长。 美国历史 最早可以追溯到15世纪左右，那时的美国本土居住着大量的土著印第安人。并没有被近现代文明社会所发现，直至意大利人航海家哥伦布发现了北美洲大陆，在1492-1502，十年间，哥伦布在西班牙的资助下四次横渡大西洋，达到美洲大陆。可以说；是哥伦布把欧洲的现代文明带到了美洲大陆。自从哥伦布发现了现代文明后， 在1776年7月 4日，反对英国殖民者的军队在费城召开了第二次大陆会议，组成“大陆军”，由乔治。华盛顿任总司令，并通过了《独立宣言》，那么这一天就被成为美国历史上最著名的“独立日” 1783年9月3日，独立战争结束。美国成为美洲首个独立国家。” 1787年制定联邦宪法。 1788年乔治。华盛顿当选为第一任总统。
美国地图： 美国位于北美洲中部：东濒大西洋，西滨太平洋，北靠加拿大，南接墨西哥及墨西哥湾。除美国简称USA,US，是由50个州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区组成的联邦共和立宪制国家。 面积与人口： 美国国土面积世界第四；第一俄罗斯，第二加拿大，第三中国，大约为962.9万平方公里陆地面积915万平方公里，内陆水域面积为20万平方公里，五大湖中美国主权部分约为17万平方公里。河口，港湾，内海等沿海水域面积约10万平方公里。 美国人口约3.1 亿人，数量为世界第三。第一是中国，第二是印度，以白人为主，但有大量的移民人口。 主要城市 华盛顿：纽约所担任的职能仅限于经济范围内，而美国的首都华盛顿是纯粹的政治中心。区别于中国的首都北京所具有的政治经济文化中心的职能所不同的，美国的很多城市都具有单一的职能性。举例来讲美国的首都华盛顿只是政治中心，全程华盛顿D.C。最著名的景点就是美国的国会大厦，白宫，以及白宫正对面的华盛顿纪念碑。 美国的纽约不仅具有金融中心这一特点，同时他也是灾难的中心。他的出名也许会因为股市的反弹一夜暴富，也许会因为911的撞击事件而失去生命。 纽约市The city of New York 金融，文化，艺术的中心 纽约市是美国最大及人口最多的城市，也是全世界最大的都会区之一。 纽约在商业和金融的方面发挥巨大的影响力。该市有曼哈顿区，皇后区，布鲁克林区，布朗克斯区，斯塔腾岛五个区。 纽约市是美国第一大港，同时也是世界第四大都会区，仅次于东京，首尔，墨西哥城。 历史事件：2001年9月11日，911事件，恐怖分子劫持四架飞机，两架分别撞向两座世界贸易中心，一架撞向五角大楼，造成3000人死亡。 洛杉矶City of Los Angeles 洛杉矶是美国第二大城市，仅次于纽约，拥有巨大影响力的国际化大都市。 洛杉矶人口是加州最多的，超过400万人口，仅次于纽约。 大学有；加州理工学院，加州大学洛杉矶分校，南加州大学，洛杉矶加利福尼亚州立大学 旧金山 San Francisco
《美国历史与文化》 结课论文 专业：化学工程与工艺 学号：041114116 姓名：杨乐
Columbo's influence on the American continent Columbo is a famous Spanish navigator, is a pioneer of the great geographical discovery. Columbus young is garden said believers, he so haunting had in Genoa made prison of Marco Polo, determined to be a navigator.1502 he crossed the Atlantic four times in 1492, discovered the American continent, he also became a famous navigator. On August 3, 1492, Columbus by the king of Spain dispatch, with credentials of Indian monarchs and emperors of China, led the three tons of Baishi of sailing, from Spain Palos Yang Fan of the Atlantic, straight towards to the West. After seventy days and nights of hard sailing, in the early morning of October 12, 1492 finally found the land. Columbo thought he had arrived in India. Later know that Columbus landed on a piece of land belonging to the now Balak America than the sea in the Bahamas, he was it named San Salvador. Columbo's discovery has changed the course of world history. It opens up a new era of development and colonization in the new world. At that time, the European population was expanding, with this discovery, the Europeans have settled in two new continents, there will be able to make a difference in the European economy and the resources of the mineral resources and raw materials. This discovery led to the destruction of the American Indian civilization. From a long-term point of view, there have been a number of new countries in the Western
英语国家概况美国部分精讲系列 Chapter: 13 geography 地理位置 1.Alaska and Hawaii are the two newest states in American.Alaska northwestern Can ada,and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific. 阿拉斯加和夏威夷是最近加入美国的两个新州.阿拉斯加在加拿大的西北部，夏威夷位邻中太平洋.（本细节还有考“一句话简答”的可能） 2.The U.S has a land area of 9.3 million square kilometres.It is the fourth largest co untry in the world in size after Russia,Canada and China. 就面积而言，美国是世界第四大国，就人口而言，美国是世界是第三大国. 3.Of all states of American,Alaska is the lagest in area and Rhode Island the smalles t.But on the mainland Texas is the largest sate of the country. 所有州中，阿拉斯加是面积最大的州，罗得岛最小，在美国大陆，最大的州是得克萨斯州. 4.The Rockies,the backbone of the North American Continent,is also known as the C ontinental Divide. 落基山脉是北美大陆的脊梁，也被成为大陆分水岭. 5.The two main mountain ranges in American are the Appalachian mountains and the Rocky mountains. The Appalachians run slightly from the northeast to southwest and the Rocky mountains run slightly from the northwest to southeast. 阿巴拉契亚山脉和落基山脉是美国的两座大山脉.（本细节有考“一句话简答题”的可能）
从外星人电影题材看美国文化 马俊虎-2012213906-智能科学与技术-155******** [摘要]美国电影中融入了美国文化人的精神视野，蕴涵着他们深层的文化价值立场，传播着他们的文化价值观，影响着全世界电影爱好者文化价值观的形成。同时美国也试图通过附加在外星人题材的电影内的剧情编排向全世界输出自己的文化理念和个人主义的价值观，因此这种类型的电影也成为了美国文化符号的一个载体。 [正文]电影作为一门视听艺术，它通过艺术形象的展示，表达一定的思想情感，反映不同社会文化，体现时代和民族精神。电影作为人类文化生活的组成部分，直接反映了一个民族的文化。美国电影也是美国文化在银幕上的重要表达方式之一。 一、个人主义和英雄主义的文化特征 美国人信奉个人主义,他们总是将自己放在核心地位，而对别人的干涉嗤之以弃。美国人崇尚个人奋斗、冒险，崇尚不屈不挠的抗争精神。他们主张个人以自己喜欢的生活方式去生活，不喜欢受到外界的干预和限制。因此，美国电影尤其是以外星人为题材的电影中极力宣扬以自我为中心的个人主义和英雄主义。 美国电影中的英雄人物无论面对何种危机、困难，无论受到何种致命的打击、毁灭性的创伤，从来就不相信失败，因而也没有任何胆怯心理，英雄们总是临危不惧，一往无前。无论这些英雄们面对怎样险恶的危机、不利的局势、突然的灾难，他们总是临危不乱，冷静机智地奋勇前行。无论这些英雄们面对怎样复杂多样、变化无端的局势，他们都拥有无比清醒的理性头脑，快速做出完美的部署，瞬间做出绝对正确的判断，总能抓住那只有百分之一二的获胜机会，并获得胜利。在美国科幻电影中，一般都有一个全能的超级英雄，越是科幻电影，英雄主义越容易展现 美国电影中打造的个人英雄主义形象有着共同特征，就是将个人英雄无限神化，从而表现出极端个人英雄主义的价值取向。美国电影中广泛制造完美英雄个体的虚幻假象，尤其是极力渲染英雄个体控制整个矛盾冲突的巨大力量，极力夸大英雄个体力量战胜群体敌对势力的决定性作用，将个体力量无限夸大、神化，从而赋予了这些英雄人物以极端个人英雄主义的价值取向。 二、科技主义文化特征 美国的高科技助长了美国电影征服全球的竞争力，美国电影更是借助当代传播媒体向世界范围大肆输出自己的电影文化，并且突出了电影的豪华性、奇观化、梦幻性的特点。美国电影以各种视觉造型和高科技手段打造了影片的独特的文化性，体现在它的文本构成和视觉形象的创造上一些巨型的灾难片、科幻片和剧情片大量的涌现，如《外星人》，以高科学技术的优势，创造了令人膛目的电影效果，更是吸引了世界各国观众的注意力。
摘要 人类进入21世纪后，过于国之间的文化交流越来越紧密，不同文化之间开始进行交流，从而促进国家间的发展与进步。 跨文化的交际也是一种普遍现象。中西方在文化维度上存 在着很大的差异。美国人崇尚个人主义，而中国人崇尚集体主义。 美国人的个人主义文化认为人们应该关心他们自己和独立，自我意识很重要，个人可以做任何他们想做的事，他们崇尚自由和权利。而中国人的集体主义强调集体，集体主义重视和谐而避免直接的冲突，他们强调与他人建立友好的关系. 关键词：个人主义,集体主义
Abstract Since human beings entered 21th century, cultural communication in different countries is more and more closely. Different cultures begin to communicate so that it can promote development and process of countries. International communication in business has been a common phenomenon. Culture between Chinese and Western has a great different. Americans have faith with individualism, Chinese have faith with collectivism. Individualistic culture of America believes that people are supposed to take care of themselves and remain emotional independence of groups, organizations or other collectives. Self-emphasis is important. Individuals can do whatever they want, and their freedom and rights are of necessary values. However, collectivist culture of China emphasizes the in group. Collectivists value harmony and avoid direct confrontation. They emphasize building friendly relationships with others. The key words: Individualism and Collectivism
1.他提出的论据相当不充实。 The argument he put forward is pretty thin. （词） 2.我们确信，年轻一代将不会辜负我们的信任。We are confident that the younger generation will prove worthy of our trust.（短语） 3.他七十岁了，可是并不显老。 He was 70, but he carried his years lightly.（句） 4.他这个人优柔寡断，而且总是反复无常。 He was an indecisive sort of person and always capricious.（词） 5.调查结果清清楚楚地显示病人死于心脏病。 The investigation left no doubt that the patient had died of heart disease.（短语） 6.这类举动迟早会被人发觉的。 Such action couldn't long escape notice.（句子） 7.有利必有弊。 There is not any advantage without disadvantage. （双重否定） 8.我们在那个城市从未因为是犹太人而遭受歧视。 In that city, we had never suffered discrimination because we were Jews.（否定转移）
《英语国家社会和文化》教学大纲 一、课程说明. 1. 课程代码：307052281 2. 课程中文名称：英语国家社会和文化 3. 课程英文名称：The Society and Culture of Major English Speaking Countries—an Introduction 4. 课程总学时数：36 3. 课程学分数：2 4. 授课对象: 商务英语专业高职二年级 5.本课程的性质、地位和作用 本课程是商务英语高职专业的一门语言类专业任选课，主要以英语为媒介系统地向学生介绍和阐述世界主要英语国家的基本概况。本课程的教学能够提高学生对文化差异的敏感性、宽容性和处理文化差异的灵活性，改善学生的文化修养，使他们的跨文化语言运用的得体性和跨文化语言转换的准确性得到加强，以适应未来所从事的国际商务活动。 二、教学基本要求 1.本课程的目的、任务 本课程的教学目的在于让商务英语专业学生了解和熟悉主要英语国家的社会与文化概貌，掌握其地理、历史、政治、经济、社会生活与文化传统等方面的基本知识，扩大知识面，丰富文化修养，加深对语言和文学的理解，提高分析判断能力。 2.本课程的教学要求 本课程的基本要求是让学生掌握英美两个典型英语语言国家的历史与社会文化背景、民族特点、当前现状及发展前景。通过本课程的学习，学生除了掌握有关英美两国的社会基本构成、文化传统、经济科技发展等基本知识外，同时也提高自身对英文社科类书籍的阅读能力，从而进一步提高自己的英语水平。 针对本课程的特点，教师也可适当向学生推荐一些优秀的且能反映英美国家文化的电影，以提高学生的综合语言能力。
The essence of American culture -individualism Abstract:Individualism as a typical Western capitalist political and social philosophy,that the supremacy of personal values.The United States is a typical representative of the values of individualism,individualism is an important part of the American spirit.American individualism, rational principles derived from the Christian spirit and the pursuit of individual autonomy.In the process of development of American culture,it became the starting point of American Thought and destination,constitute the essence of American culture. Key words:the essence of the individualistic culture "Individualism"in Western culture,especially in American culture plays an important role." Individualism,"the earliest use of the term is French form of"individualism",from the Europeans and so-called root causes of the French Revolution-Enlightenment thinking-common reactions.But first systematic use of"individualism"is the term the mid-1820s,Saint-Simon's followers.Perhaps because of the pervasive influence of Saint-Simon doctrine,"individualism" in the19th century the term has been very widely used,developed into a personal ideology and theory,that is a political philosophy Western philosophy and social.Its main contents are:emphasizing the value of the subject,I believe that everyone has value,a high degree of importance of individual self-control,self-control,self-development.Individualism is based on individual-based philosophy of life. However,the true meaning of individualism varies.In France,it usually carries a negative connotation,even it remains so,means that the emphasis on individual will be more harmful to the interests of the community.For some people,individualism is a dangerous idea;in others it seems,individualism is a social or economic anarchy,the lack of the necessary systems and standards;some people believe that it is the universal personal selfish attitude.Socialists are simply"individualism"is equivalent to a"socialist"and"communism"of the opposite.French liberals talk about individualism,but regarded it as a minimum of state intervention and political freedom in order of greatest threat to a pluralistic society.And in France,in sharp contrast,the" individualism"is the term romanticism in Germany,but the label affixed.German for" individualism"is a personal understanding of self-completion and the organic unity of the individual and society. There are profound differences between East and West,most of the Eastern countries, especially China,Japan and South Korea to"individualism"as with"collectivism"contrary to the values-oriented.That"individualism"is"all personal interests as the starting point of thinking......the performance of selfish,mercenary,intrigues,etc.";"Modern Chinese Dictionary"interpretation of"individualism"is"everything from the individual starting their personal interests to put collective interests,their own interests,regardless of other people's wrong thinking."In short,Chinese culture,individualism is synonymous with self-interest,is a derogatory term. In Western culture,emphasizing the individual-oriented values dominate,but only in the American culture,individualism is only part of the essence of the development to the point of culmination,and was as a fundamental value to be highly respected.However,in the United States,"individualism"was originally sang of capitalism and liberal democracy,the emergence
英语国家概况—美国部分测试题 姓名____________ 班级_______________ 分数______________ 1. America was named after（）. A. Italian navigator Columbus B. navigator Amerigo Vespucci C. some Indian chieftain D. George Washington, founding father of the United States 2. Between 1860 and 1990, the United States witnessed（）large-scale population movements. A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5 3.At the beginning of the Berlin Blockade, President Truman turned down the option of（）. A. sending supplies through the highways, protected by tanks and troops B. sending supplies through the waterways C. starting large-scale airlifting D. staring limited airlifting to test the Soviets 4.In 1900, the United States ranked first in the production of（）. A. coal B. electricity C. oil D. wheat 5.The Constitutional Convention in America was attended by（）. A. all of the 13 states B. all of the states except Maryland C. all of the states except Rhode Island D. all of the states, but later Rhode Island withdrew from the convention 6.In the United States, Henry Ford became famous（）. A. because of his wealth B. because he set up the Standard Oil Corporation C. because he was the first to invent cars D. because of his Model T automobile 7.The attitude of many Americans toward different political views after WWⅡcan be described as（）. A. following the main trend of view B. intolerant C. indifferent D. tolerant 8.In the U.S., the Red Scare refers to（）. A. a senseless hysteria about the danger of communism B. a fear of Soviet subversion C. a senseless hate of anything foreign D. an intolerance of any idea different from the mainstream idea 9.In the United States, the“winner-take-all”system applies to（）. A. all the states B. a majority of the states C. all states except Maine D. only Maine 10.In “Old Man and Sea”, Hemingway praises the old man’s attitude towards（）. A. defeat and failure B. the sea C. his work D. nature 11. Which of the following is NOT among the five biggest cities in the United States?( ) A. Chicago. B. New York. C. Miami. D. Los Angeles. 12.____, which banned slavery, was added to the American Constitution in December, 1865.( ) A. The Bill of Rights B. The Thirteenth Amendment C. The Civil Rights Act D. The Voting Rights Act 13.___ have made it possible for all sections of the American population to have higher education.
美国文化的特征： 一、强调独立、个性而又不排斥他人？ 作为一个从原野里创造出来的国家，美国在资源丰富亟待开发的早期，机会虽多，可是蛮荒未辟，心须奖励个人独立创造的性格，凡是囿灭个性发展的各种因素都视作当时拓殖精神的阻碍，加以贬责，同时，在艰苦开拓的过程中，每个民族都必须发挥本民族的长处，尊重并吸取其他民族的优秀品质，坚信自我，尊重他人的文化取舍态度成为他们共同的准则，正是在这一点上，也只能是在这一点上，各国移民找到了共同之处，这就是个性容于团队的价值体系，它深入民心，以各种形式得到充分发展，由此形成了美利坚民族的特殊性格：对自己深信不疑，对自己的命运深信不疑，把依靠自己作为哲学信条。？ 二、冒险、开拓、富有创新精神？ 美国人的格言是“不冒险就不会有大的成功，胆小鬼永远不会有大作为”。从首批英国移民踏上北美大陆，到美利坚合众国成立这一个半世纪里，北美险恶的自然条件，培育了美国人顽强拼博，艰苦奋斗性格。北美丰富的资源等待着开发利用，培育了美国人开拓进取、敢于冒险的精神。从文化学的角度考察，北美在一定程度上曾经是一片文化真空，闯入这真空的，不是有组织的文化单位，而是一批对于传统制度已失去好感的亡命者。他们的头脑为叛逆精神所主宰，身上绝少传统思想的保守性，再说即便有，也没有发挥的土壤，因为险峻的环境迫使他们只能确立与传统不同的生活方式，这种冒险精神成了美国人民的传统。他们把冒险探求新大陆看作寻求生活的机遇。这种冒险精神一直渗透到美国人民生活的各
个方面。在硝烟弥漫的商战中，美国人勇敢地开拓创新，从各个方面处处体现了这种民族冒险精神。基于此，美国人特别强调创新精神，他们认为机会到处都有，主要在于主动发现和利用。除法律外，美国人认为一切传统和先例都是创新的障碍，他们乐于向传统和先例挑战。由于美国不象中国、印度、英国等有着悠久而灿烂的文明，所以美国人在接受新思想、新技术时很少先去考察这些东西是否符合某位专家、权威的理论，然后再引经据典加以注释和考证，以决定是否采用。？美国人认为，他们的国家虽没有灿烂的过去，但由于具有创新精神，因而他们拥有光明的未来。所以美国人勇于向传统和权威挑战，勇于向已有的一切挑战，“我与专家、权威、传统平等”，这是美国人的性格。？ 三、自由、平等精神？ 美国是一个崇尚自由的国家。北美殖民地历史的一个重要的特征就是封建秩序从来没有在那里存在过，在美利坚民族的形成过程中，许多从欧洲大陆来的移民把资产阶级自由思想带到了美洲。新大陆的自由空气以及大自然的艰苦环境陶冶了美利坚民族的民族性：热爱自由、珍惜自由、崇尚自由。在美国，对人的自由，除法律可以明文规定加以限制，并由执法机关及其人员执行限制外，任何机关或个人不得非法剥夺或限制他人的自由。民主自由的环境为才能和幸运开辟了道路，因此出身对美国人不起任何作用。美国人相信这样的格言：“一个人富裕到什么程度，就表明他的才能实现到了什么程度”。因为在机会均等的条件下，人的才能决定富裕的程度。所以美国人一般不羡慕他人的财富，而喜欢赞美富翁的才能。？
美国人的价值观念 ——浅谈美国人价值观中的个人主义 美国只是一个230多年历史的新兴国家，没有过于悠久的历史文化，没有过于辉煌的历史古迹，虽然像一叶漂游于水中的浮萍一样没有根基，但同时也就意味着它没有历史的包袱。所以，不管何时，它都可以轻装上阵。 或许由于它是这样一个特殊的国家，所以在我的印象当中，我一直觉得美国是一个有个性的国家，美国人是一群有个性的生物体，虽然我没有去过美国。它的多元文化、消费方式、种族主义等等，都有着自己个性的印迹和特色。 在这里，我更想谈谈美国人的价值观念。 什么是价值观？人类学家克拉克洪（Clyde Kluckhohn）从个人与社会的行为模式、方式和目的等方面对价值观这样定义说，价值观是“个人或群体所特有的一种显型或隐型的认为什么是可取的观念，这一观念影响人们从现有的种种行动、方式和目的中做出选择。”美国社会学家Samovar和Porter则都认为：“价值观是规定性的，告诫人们什么是好的和坏的，什么是正确的和错误的，什么是真实的和虚假的，什么是正面的和反面的，等等。”价值观念包括很多方面，比如个人主义观念、物质观念、竞争观念等。 个人主义是美国人价值观当中最具有代表性的一个组成部分。荷兰人类学家Geert Hofstede曾就五十几个国家和地区的个人主义取向程度做过调查和比较, 调查结果表明美国社会中的个人主义占第一位。 “个人主义”（individualism）这个词最先是由法国政治学家、思想家托克维尔使用的。在19世纪40年代，他在考察了美国多个月之后写下了《论美国的民主》一书。托克维尔在这本书中最先提出了“个人主义”这一概念，并对它作了详细系统的阐释。他说“美国人不是把个人主义看作一个缺点而是看作一个近乎完美的品德, 它代表创造性、开拓性、积极进取精神以及不向权威屈服的自豪因此个人主义通常产生骄傲感,美国人认为它是美国文明独特的、最吸引人的地方”。 在英语单词的书写过程中, “我”字无论何时何地都要求大写, 而“我们”、“你们”、“他们”、“你”、“他” , 则不必大写。所以，从这个小小的侧面也可以看出, 在美国“我”比“我们”、“你们”、“他们”等其他任何人的地位都要重要。 在美国，每一个美国人都深信：每个人都有同等的价值，没有一个人生来就比别人高贵，每个人都有成功的机会。人们并不会因为你是总统就得仰视你，并不会因为你是富豪就得巴结你。父母的大名帮不了什么忙，没有人会来买账，总统的孩子一样可以去加油站擦汽车，去餐馆端盘子。 对美国人来讲，个人奋斗有着独特的内涵和渊源，因为个人主义是美国文化模式的重要内容。
美国历史与文化 美利坚合众国（英语：The United States of America，简称：The United States、America、The States，缩写：USA、The US），简称美国，是由50个州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区组成的联邦共和立宪制国家。美国本土位于北美洲中部，东临大西洋，西临太平洋，北面是加拿大，南部和墨西哥及墨西哥湾接壤。除阿拉斯加州和夏威夷州之外，48个州都位于美国本土。阿拉斯加州位于北美大陆西北方，东部为加拿大，西面和俄罗斯隔着白令海峡。夏威夷州则是太平洋中部的群岛。美国在加勒比海和太平洋还拥有多处境外领土和岛屿地区。此外，美国在全球140多个国家和地区拥有374个海外军事基地。 美国目前有50个州、一个联邦直辖特区及若干境外领土，面积约962.9万平方公里（其中陆地面积915.8960万平方公里，内陆水域面积约20万平方公里，五大湖中美国主权部分约17万平方公里，河口、港湾、内海等沿海水域面积约10万平方公里），位居世界第二或第三名（依水域面积定义而有差异）。美国人口约为3.15亿人，其数量为世界第三。是个多元文化和多元民族的国家，以白人为主，但有大量来自世界各地的移民。[3] 在13个殖民地的公民自1776年脱离大不列颠王国管辖，建立国家，殖民地代表一同发表《美国独立宣言》。在经历美国独立战争后，于1783年与大不列颠王国签订《巴黎条约》，从此受到世界各国承认。美国宪法于1787年通过。1791年，美国权利法案获得批准之后，又经内战、第二次世界大战和民权人士努力引发检讨和改正，而后逐步扩展到美国白人以外全体美国人。 美国曾经历过1812年战争、南北战争(1861年－1865年）和经济大萧条（1930年代）[4]。在第一次世界大战和第二次世界大战中，美国和其他盟国共同击败纳粹德国和大日本帝国而获得胜利。经历数十年冷战，在苏联解体后，成为目前唯一的超级强国。其在经济、工业、军事及科研等领域都处于全世界领先地位。 1.名称 1.1英文名称 “The United States”最初是复数，例如“the United States are”，包括美国宪法第十三条修正案，1865年批准使用。美国内战结束后使用单数，如“the United States is”。现在单数形式是标准。[17][18] 1507年，由德国制图员马丁·瓦尔德泽米勒制作的《世界地理概论》中，美洲首次在世界地图上被标注为“America”。[19]因为意大利探险家亚美利哥·韦斯普奇指出这块大陆是新大陆而非当时包括哥伦布等人所认为的亚洲东部。美国因美洲而得名。在英语中，亚美利加和美利坚为同一词“America”，只是中译不同，前者指美洲，后者指美国。[20][21] “哥伦比亚”是美国一度流行的名称，来自哥伦布，一些美国事物至今仍沿用“哥伦比亚”的名称，如华盛顿哥伦比亚特区、哥伦比亚广播公司等。 1.2中文名称 在清朝，美国又被称为米国（日本翻译为“アメリカ合衆国”，简称“米国”），比如曾国藩就说过：“米夷质性淳厚，于中国时思效顺”。中国开始接触美国时，称为“亚美理驾洲大合众国”，简称“美国”或“合众国”，参见1844年《中美望厦条约》：“兹中华大清国、亚美理驾大合众国欲坚定两国诚实永远友谊之条约及太平和好贸易之章程……”，因美国国旗的花样，别称“花旗国”，一些美国事物的中文译名至今仍沿用“花旗”的名称，如美国特产花旗参以及美国最大银行之一花旗银行（Citibank）。 美国的谚文名称“??”所对应的朝鲜汉字，在韩国（标准韩国语）为“美國”，在朝