US Bar Chat

WEDDINGS

This month we are going to listen to two young Americans, Jack and Lanie, who are talking about weddings. Listen to the conversation and answer these two questions:

1. Why does one of the speakers think that weddings and marriage in general are good? 2. Why does one of the speakers think that weddings and marriage in general are bad?

Jack: So how was your weekend? Lanie: Man, I just went to this wedding. These blasted weddings all weekend. Jack: Blasted weddings? Why? Lanie: Cos I just don’t understand why people feel the need to get married. It’s so traditional. Jack: But marriage is something, yeah exactly, it’s traditional. It’s something that people do. It’s, it’s binding people together. Lanie: It’s just an excuse to spend a lot of money on a big party. Why don’t you just forget about it, and… Jack: Maybe that’s how women feel. I don’t know. Men, I don’t know. Personally, I think it’s something that people do to show publicly that they really are committed to each other and they care about each other; and that they want every one in their families and friends to all celebrate that. Lanie: So, have a family reunion. What’s the, the need for marriage? It’s so outdated. It’s, it’s just a ring and a piece of paper and it’s… Jack: Time to get technical. Alright you get tax exemption, you get certain tax benefits. It’s also by law. So, if you have kids you think twice before divorcing or you think twice before, you know, separating because it’s something that’s taken seriously. Lanie: But the rate of divorce now? Are you kidding me? Like, it’s just an extra thing to do. It’s like having… Jack: Alright obviously we’re not going to agree on this issue. So tell me, what are your plans for this weekend? Lanie: I’m actually setting up a bachelorette party. Jack: (laughter)

G L O S S A R Y

man exp inform this expression is used to refer to the person who you are talking to blasted adj inform this word is used to express anger, or to show that you don’t like something cos abbr inform because to bind people together exp to bring people into a union; to make people be together outdated adj old, out-of-date a ring n a piece of round jewellery that you wear on a finger you get tax exemption exp you don’t have to pay tax (in certain circumstances). Tax is the money all workers pay to the government for services are you kidding me? exp are you joking? like exp this word doesn’t really mean anything and is used to fill space in the conversation a bachelorette party n US a party for a woman who is going to get married. In British English a “bachelor” is a man who is not married, or who has no stable partner

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