今天的这段对话，在讨论山姆大叔，

山姆大叔被指作美国政府这个说法的时间和来历，山姆大叔最有名的海报是什么

来听今天的讲解:

A: It's nice to see you in the library doing some reading, what are you looking at?

很高兴见到你在图书馆看书，看什么呢？

B: I'm reading about America and Uncle Sam Before I started this book I thought that Uncle Sain was a real person, perhaps the uncle of a president or something.

我正在看《美国和山姆大叔》。看这本书之前，我还以为山姆大叔是个真实的人物可能是某位总统或什么名人的叔叔。

A: He is a popular U. S. symbol, usually seen in cartoons. He has long white hair, a beard and very interesting clothing.

他是美国的大众化的象征，经常在漫画巾可以看到。他留着白色长发，蓄着胡子，穿着有趣的衣服。

B: Yes, he wears a swallow-tailed coat, a waistcoat, tall hat with a star, and striped trousers. Just like the American flag.

是的，他穿着燕尾服、马甲，戴着一顶有星星囹案的高帽子，穿着带条纹的裤子，就像美国国旗那样的。

A: But do you know his appearance came from two other symbols in American folklore?

但是你知道吗？他的形象来自美国民间传说中的另外两个人物。

B: I know that, Brother Jonathan and Yankee Doodle. The name "Uncle Sam" was often used to describe the American government.

我知道，是乔纳森兄弟和傻子扬基。山姆大叔经常被用来指美国政府。

A: Very good But do you know when this started and why?

很好。不过你知道这个说法开始使用的时间和来历吗？

B: It was in 1812, during the war. They said "Uncle Sam" because of the letters U. S.  on the soldiers' uniforms.

是在战时的1812年。他们叫“山姆大叔”是因为士兵们制服上印的美国字母U.S.O.

A: That's right. But some people also say that the name came from Samuel Wilson, of Troy, N. Y.  Wilson, whose nickname was Uncle Sam, was an inspector of army supplies

是的。但有些人也说这个名字代表着纽约州特洛伊城的塞缪尔·威尔逊。威尔逊的绰号就是山姆大叔，他是军队供应品的检查员。

B: Oh, because the army supply boxes also had U. S. printed on them* So he could have been a real person after all.

哦，是因为军需品的盒子上都印上了山姆大叔的名字。也就是说他可能是个真实的人物。

A: One story must be true, but I'm not sure which. Do you know what was the most well-known poster of Uncle Sam?

总有一个说法是对的，但我也不知道哪一个是真的。你知道有关山姆大叔最有名的海报是什么吗？

B: I think it was from the First World War. They used Uncle Sam., pointing a finger at the American people saying "We want YOU!" to encourage men to sign-up and become soldiers.

我想是与第一次世界大战有关。海报上山姆大叔用手指着美国人民说：“我们需要你”以此来鼓励国民入伍当兵。

A: And a very effective advertising campaign it was too. Many young men signed up to fight for their country because of that poster.

而且这个广告宣传真的很有效。很多年轻人都因为这个海报而参军入伍为国家而战。

B: I think that poster is perhaps the most famous American poster ever. Even more than the Hollywood movie posters you see outside cinemas.

我认为这也足美国迄今为止最有名的一张海报，它甚至比你在影院外面看到的好莱坞电影海报还有名。

A: I think you're right. In 1961 the American congress adopted Uncle Sam as the national symbol.

你说得没错。1961年，美国国会采用了山姆大叔作为美国的象征。

B: So nowadays Uncle Sam isn't just about war, like in the poster, he's the true symbol of the American people. I think it's special to have a cartoon as a national symbol, very different.

所以今天的山姆大叔不仅跟战争有关，就像海报上的一祥，而且他也是美国人民的真实象征。我认为用一个漫画人物做国家的象征还真是别出心裁，与众不同。