改革开放30年来，随着中国逐渐崛起成为政治经济强国，海外人士学习汉语的现象与日俱增，海外孔子学院也成了人们学习中国语言和中国文化的首选之地。通过学习汉语，他们对这个和自己文化大相径庭的古老文明产生了浓厚的兴趣。通过学习汉语，他们有机会了解中国的哲学、艺术、建筑、医学、饮食文化，亲身体验这个文明古国的风采。作为第二文化，中国文化也丰富了他们的生活和世界观。可以说，这个潮流方兴未艾。
As China is rising as a potential political and economic world power, thanks to its three-decade reform and opening up, more and more people in overseas countries start to learn Chinese and turn to a Confucius institute in their own country as their first choice for learning Chinese language and Chinese culture. During the learning process, the learners concurrently develop their interest in this ancient land, whose civilization is so vastly different from theirs. And during the learning process, the learners have opportunities to learn about Chinese philosophy, art, architecture, medicine and catering culture, and experience first-hand the splendors of this venerable civilization. Meanwhile, Chinese culture has enriched the life and world outlook of the learners. This trend, so to speak, is gathering momentum and is there to stay.
有趣的是，我发现越来越多的学习汉语的美国人除了对中国菜肴赞不绝口之外，也在尝试针灸、草药和中国武术。他们也看功夫电影，学习东方时装潮流和手工艺。他们不知不觉地在日常生活中谈及中国的点心、人参、银杏、乌龙茶、太极、气、阴阳和八卦等。目前，在美国最热门的中国文化是道家学说和有着神秘色彩的风水学。我最近到过加利福尼亚州，发现所有著名的书店和图书馆都有很多关于这些古老学问的书籍。美国的一大优点在于它的确是一个很开放的社会。因此，它很容易接受其他国家的文化价值和习俗，把它们融入美国社会，使之成为美国多元种族和多元文化的一部分。
由此看来，我们应该更加重视第二语言在传播第二文化中的作用，进一步挖掘第二语言中的文化内涵，为不同国家之间的跨文化交际发挥重要的桥梁和纽带作用。
It is interesting to note that apart from their love for Chinese cuisine, more and more American learners of Chinese language are turning to Chinese acupuncture, herbal medicines, martial arts, kongfu films, fashions and crafts. Seemingly outlandish words such as dimsum, ginseng, gingko, oolong cha, taiji, qi, yin and yang and ba-gua have crept into their everyday language. The latest Chinese cultural icons to make its impact there are Taoism, an ancient school of thought, and fengshui, an ancient art of placement. In my recent trip to California, I found all leading book stores and public libraries were well-stocked with plenty of publications on these highly inspiring and esoteric subjects. One of the palpable strengths of the United States is that it is truly a very open society. This makes it easier for it to absorb cultural values and practices from other countries and to nurture them, so much so that they are integrated into the social fabric of America's own multiethnic and multicultural community.
Therefore, we should pay extra attention to the role of second language in the transmission of second culture, and make further efforts to tap the cultural quintessence inherent in the second language. With that in mind and in action, we will play an important role as a bridge and a linking tie in cross-cultural communication between different countries.
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