【英语趣味课堂】短信-Text Messaging

Jake: So, Lyndsay do you like to text message a lot on your cell¹ phone ?

Lindsay: Yeah, actually, I text message a lot.

 

Jake: I don't do it so much. Sometimes I prefer to just call someone on the phone if I'm in a hurry.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I know I don't really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so it's so much easier for me just to text them and say, "Are you going to the party tonight" for example instead of calling them, because I know if I call them, I'm gonna have to have a long conversation.

 

Jake: Yeah, I can see what you mean. Well, usually I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call someone. I'm not a big talker.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, that's true, Jake. You don't talk a lot. But, in general, I like to call people because I think it adds a more personal touch.

 

Jake: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb²?

 

Lindsay: Well, when I first got a cell phone, which was actually only five years ago, I was so slow, I thought I would never text message, and I always called people, but then people kept text messaging me so I felt obligated to try to learn how to text message, so now, I'm pretty fast actually. What about you?

 

Jake: Actually, I have the opposite problem, where when I first got my cell phone, I thought it was so cool and I had to text message all my friends who had one, and I was pretty fast with my thumb then, but it seems like now I don't use it so much, and I've gotten slower actually.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, I think the text message actually is sort³ of has to do with your age, for example, I text message a lot and I know people younger than me, for example people in high school, they text message a lot, but I asked my father if he text messages, and guess what he said?

 

Jake: What?

 

Lindsay: Well, of course, he said he never text messages. He thinks it's very juevenile and unprofessional to text message someone.

 

Jake: Yeah, I can see what he means⁴. It's usually associated⁵ with young people and considered pretty informal⁶ to text message someone.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, it is really informal, I think, because you're just using your thumb and you're trying to write fast. Rarely⁷ do you ever write 'dear' or 'from' or use polite language, right?

 

Jake: Yeah, because you're using your thumb, you have to write the messages as short as you possibly can.

 

Lindsay: Right, I mean, it sort of makes sense⁸, when I think that I would never text message someone I didn't know very well. I only text message people I'm good friends with and comfortable with.

 

Jake: Well, it serves it purpose then, doesn't it.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, I guess, I mean it is cheaper than calling someone, but, you know, other times it's better to call someone, don't you think.

 

Jake: Yeah, definitely⁹.

1 cell   

n.区，细胞，血球；小室，牢房；电池，光电管；基层组织

参考例句：

• Soap destroys the cell walls of bacteria.肥皂破坏细菌的细胞壁。
• They have locked the prisoners up in their cell.他们已把犯人监禁在小牢房里。

2 thumb   

n.拇指；vt.示意要求搭车，用拇指翻页翻阅；vi.翻页

参考例句：

• This glove has a hole in the thumb.这只手套的大拇指处有个洞。
• The little boy was sucking his thumb.小男孩儿吮着拇指。

3 sort   

v.排序，挑选，分拣；n.种类，类别，性质，程度

参考例句：

• She was a strange sort of person.她这个人有些古怪。
• I don't much care for that sort of man.我不太喜欢那种人。

4 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

5 associated   

adj.联合的

参考例句：

• the risks associated with taking drugs 与吸毒有关的危险
• I don't want to be associated with your scheme; I'm contracting out. 我不想参与你们的计划，我要退出。

6 informal   

adj.非正式的，不拘礼的，通俗的

参考例句：

• I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
• The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。

7 rarely   

adv.很少，难得；非常地，非凡地

参考例句：

• Such fish is rarely met with in the north country.这种鱼在北方难得看到。
• He rarely comes here anymore.现在他难得来这儿了。

8 sense   

n.侦测，感应，感觉，感官，意识，观念，情理，知觉，理智；vt.感觉，觉察，了解

参考例句：

• He has a strong sense of humor.他很有幽默感。
• He has a sense that somone is standing behind him.他有一种有人站在他后面的那种感觉。

9 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。