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Text III
Pre-reading task
1. Look at the tittle of the following article. What do we
mean when we say “the average American”?
2. Make sure you know the following words and phrases:
ethnic identity; average American; ancestry; a recent immigrant;
“melting pot”; “salad bowl”; the census data.
3. Read the text.
The “Average American”
The variety of ethnic identities, immigration experiences and
cultural choices that have gone into making Americans is so
complex, however, that describing the “average American” is
very difficult. Our “average American” might be white, but
Americans are not “normally” white. Most Americans are
Christians, but America cannot be called “a Christian country.”
And a majority of Americans might claim European ancestry, but
this description also does not define Americans in general.
Neither, in fact, does language.
The United States is one of the few countries that has no
“official” national language, or languages. English is a common
language by use, but it is not the national language by law. About
30 million Americans speak a language other than English at
home. This means, for example, that if you meet an American in
New Mexico who speaks Spanish as his first language, he could
be a recent immigrant, having arrived in the U.S. only a few years
ago, or his grandparents could have arrived in the United States a
hundred years ago. It could also be that his ancestors had been
living in the area years before the thirteen British colonies were
established on the East Coast. A so-called foreign accent does
not necessarily mean that a n individual is (or even was) a
foreigner.
Of all the many different nationalities and ethnic groups
which have gone into the making of America, some have
quickly assimilated. They have largely lost or intentionally
given up many of those specific markers, which would make
them much different from their neighbours. This process of
assimilation, or “Americanization.” – becoming part of the
“melting pot” – has characterized the immigrant experience in
American history. Other Americans have, while becoming
American in other ways, maintained much of their ethnic
identities. In this sense, U.S. society has been likened to a
“salad bowl.” It does not follow, however, that these Americans
are any less aware or proud of their American nationality.
Japanese-Americans provide a well-known example. Although
their loyalty in World War II was doubted by many of their
fellow countrymen, as a group they became the most highly
decorated American soldiers fighting in Europe. Perhaps a
better metaphor for American society than either the “melting
pot” or the “salad bowl” would be that of a “pizza” (which has
become, by the way, the single most popular food in America).
The different ingredients are often apparent and give the whole
its particular taste and flavour, yet all are fused together into
something larger.
Still another factor to consider in describing “the American”
is that the face of America is constantly, and often very rapidly,
changing. According to the census data, by the year 2000, for
instance, Hispanics (a term including all Spanish-speaking
Americans, such as Mexican-Americans or “Chicanos,”
Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc.) had become the largest “minority”
in the United States. In a number of cities Hispanics represent
now the majority of citizens.
Crèvecoeur’s old and often repeated question – “What then
is the American, this new man?” – cannot be answered simply
established on the East Coast. A so-called foreign accent does
Text III not necessarily mean that a n individual is (or even was) a
foreigner.
Pre-reading task Of all the many different nationalities and ethnic groups
which have gone into the making of America, some have
1. Look at the tittle of the following article. What do we quickly assimilated. They have largely lost or intentionally
mean when we say “the average American”? given up many of those specific markers, which would make
them much different from their neighbours. This process of
2. Make sure you know the following words and phrases: assimilation, or “Americanization.” – becoming part of the
ethnic identity; average American; ancestry; a recent immigrant; “melting pot” – has characterized the immigrant experience in
“melting pot”; “salad bowl”; the census data. American history. Other Americans have, while becoming
American in other ways, maintained much of their ethnic
3. Read the text. identities. In this sense, U.S. society has been likened to a
“salad bowl.” It does not follow, however, that these Americans
The “Average American” are any less aware or proud of their American nationality.
Japanese-Americans provide a well-known example. Although
The variety of ethnic identities, immigration experiences and their loyalty in World War II was doubted by many of their
cultural choices that have gone into making Americans is so fellow countrymen, as a group they became the most highly
complex, however, that describing the “average American” is decorated American soldiers fighting in Europe. Perhaps a
very difficult. Our “average American” might be white, but better metaphor for American society than either the “melting
Americans are not “normally” white. Most Americans are pot” or the “salad bowl” would be that of a “pizza” (which has
Christians, but America cannot be called “a Christian country.” become, by the way, the single most popular food in America).
And a majority of Americans might claim European ancestry, but The different ingredients are often apparent and give the whole
this description also does not define Americans in general. its particular taste and flavour, yet all are fused together into
Neither, in fact, does language. something larger.
The United States is one of the few countries that has no Still another factor to consider in describing “the American”
“official” national language, or languages. English is a common is that the face of America is constantly, and often very rapidly,
language by use, but it is not the national language by law. About changing. According to the census data, by the year 2000, for
30 million Americans speak a language other than English at instance, Hispanics (a term including all Spanish-speaking
home. This means, for example, that if you meet an American in Americans, such as Mexican-Americans or “Chicanos,”
New Mexico who speaks Spanish as his first language, he could Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc.) had become the largest “minority”
be a recent immigrant, having arrived in the U.S. only a few years in the United States. In a number of cities Hispanics represent
ago, or his grandparents could have arrived in the United States a now the majority of citizens.
hundred years ago. It could also be that his ancestors had been Crèvecoeur’s old and often repeated question – “What then
living in the area years before the thirteen British colonies were is the American, this new man?” – cannot be answered simply
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