全球独居者日益增多

 　全球独居者日益增多

According to the market research firm Euromonitor International, the number of people living alone globally is skyrocketing, rising from about 153 million in 1996 to 277 million in 2011 — a 55 percent increase in 15 years, the Guardian¹ reported.

　　英国《卫报》报道，欧睿国际信息咨询公司的市场调查显示，全球独居人数增长迅猛，从1996年的1.53亿人增至2011年的2.77亿人——15年间增长了55%。

　　Sweden has more solo dwellers³ than anywhere else in the world, with 47 percent of households having one resident; followed by Norway at 40 percent. In Japan, about 30 percent of all households have a single dweller², and the rate is far higher in urban areas. China, India and Brazil also see fast growth in one-person households.

　　瑞典的独居人数比世界其它国家都多，47%的家庭只有一口人。排在其后的是挪威，比例为40%。在日本，30%的家庭只有一个人，而该比例在城市地区更高。中国、印度、巴西的单人家庭数也增长迅速。

　　The rise of living alone has been a transformative social experience. It changes the way people understand themselves and their most intimate relationships. It shapes the way people build their cities and develop their economies.

　　独居兴起改变社会。它改变了人们理解自我以及亲密关系的方式。这种生活方式也影响城市建设和经济发展的方式。

　　The wealth generated by economic development and the social security provided by modern welfare states have enabled the spike⁴. More people live alone than ever before because they can afford to.

　　经济发展创造的财富以及现代福利国家提供的社会保障使得独居人数猛增。与过去相比，更多的人选择独居，因为他们有足够的钱这么做。

　　The rise also stems from the cultural change that Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology in the late 19th century, called the cult⁵ of the individual.

　　这种增长也来自于文化变迁，19世纪晚期社会学的创始人物埃米尔?涂尔干将其称之为个人崇拜。

　　Another driving force is the communications revolution, which has allowed people to experience the pleasures of social life even when they're living alone.

　　另外一个驱动力是通讯革命，这使得人们独居也能享受社会生活的乐趣。

　　In addition, young solitaires actively⁶ reframe living alone as a mark of distinction and success. They use it as a way to invest time in their personal and professional growth.

　　另外，年轻的独居者积极地将独居重新定义为卓越和成功的标志。独居成为他们花时间增进个人和职业成长的方式。

1 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

2 dweller   

n.居住者，住客

参考例句：

• Both city and town dweller should pay tax.城镇居民都需要纳税。
• The city dweller never experiences anxieties of this sort.城市居民从未经历过这种担忧。

3 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

5 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

6 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。