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這個問題在世界各國的答案都不太一樣，以台灣為例的話，大部分的人應該會說18歲以後，因為，就法律來說，18歲之後就必須獨自負擔法律責任。在世界上大部份的國家，也是以18歲為分界點。這樣的年齡限制，適用在許多地方，比如說菸酒的購買權、或是出入聲色場所的限制等。在加拿大，你必須要21歲以上才能夠購買酒精飲品。雖然說18歲就需要負擔法律責任，但是在西方國家和亞洲社會的認定和作法又有所不同，在西方國家，大部分的人18歲以後，就要自給自足，有些人會搬離家中，自己負擔家中的所有開銷，連大學的學費也需要自己出去打工賺錢得來。相反地，東方社會中，過18歲似乎沒有這樣的習慣和做法，大部分的人還是住在家裡，不需幫忙負擔家計，學費也通常是由父母支出。也就是因為這樣，就養出了一堆草莓族和啃老族。一方面是因為父母放心不下小孩自己獨立生活，另一方面，小孩也不願意面對長大的壓力和現實。
Neil: We could say that was the end of your childhood and the beginning of your adulthood. It's a time when you begin to stand on your own two feet.
Childhood是指童年時期; adulthood就是轉大人的時期
Stand on your own two feet意思就是可以自己獨當一面
Finn: You mean it's when I started to be independent, to look after myself and act like a grown-up – well, maybe, a bit like a grown-up!
Grown-up就是成年人的意思
Neil: Yes, it's when you're supposed to think and act like a man! Well, according to some experts, the age when adulthood begins could be increasing. I'll tell you more about that soon and we'll look at some vocabulary to do with growing up. But before that, I have another question for you Finn. In England, people can get married without asking their parent – or without consent, at the age of 18. Do you know what the youngest age is men can legally marry in Bangladesh? Is it:
在英國，到底是幾歲開始可以不需要父母的同意就自行決定結婚呢?
a) 15
b) 18
c) 21
Finn: I honestly have no idea. So I'll say b) 18.
Neil: OK. I'll let you know the answer at the end of programme. Back to our discussion about the age we really become an adult. Leaving home or getting married could be some of the signs of maturity and becoming a grown-up.
Finn: There are many other signs too but,certainly in the UK, people regard 18 as the age when we reach the end of adolescence– a point where you've changed from being a child to being an adult. You should, in theory, think and behave like one.
Adolescence是青春期的意思。所以大家都是從childhood走到adolescence在轉變成為adulthood
Neil: Well, that is the theory. We know that people develop at different speeds and some never grow up. I'm sure we know people like that!
Finn: One or two! But child psychologists –the people who study how children behave – now think adolescence could last until the age of 25.
Neil: Twenty-five is when they stop being an adolescent. Medical and educational professionals now have a better understanding of how our hormones – the chemicals in our body – develop and how our brain works.
研究孩童的研究專家指出，目前的人們，青春期已經延長到25歲囉! 這包含了我們荷爾蒙以及腦部發育會一直延續到20歲以後了。
Finn: Yes. They say that we keep developing into our twenties.
Neil: A child psychologist called Laverne Antrobus, who works at the Tavistock Clinic in London, appeared in a BBC magazine article recently and said: "The idea that suddenly at 18 you're an adult just doesn't quite ring true... my experience of young people is that they still need quite a considerable amount of support and help beyond that age."
專家指出，18歲就要孩子獨當一面事實上是有點不切實際，因為通常我們在這個年紀都還是需要一些指引和幫助的。所以這樣的論點其實是不太正確的 (does not ring true)
Finn: So she says the idea that we become an adult at 18 doesn't ring true – that means, it doesn't sound true. Young people need help and support until they're older.
Neil: She also suggests that some young people continue to live at home because they need more support during these 'formative years' – the time when you are growing up. Well, that might be true for some but I was ready to leave home at 18 – I was bored at home and ready for my freedom!
Finn: I know the feeling. Well, in the same BBC article, Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, thinks what you did is a good thing. He says: "There is a loss of aspiration for independence and striking out on your own. When I went to university it would have been a social death to have been seen with your parents, whereas now it's the norm."
Neil: So he thinks living at home makes you lose the aspiration – or the desire to be independent, and he says in his day it would have been social death – so embarrassing - to be seen by others to live at home!
Finn: Yes, and I think he's saying living at home stops you growing up quickly.
在西方社會，因為大部分的人上大學之後都會搬出家裡，自己在外面住。所以，如果你還是持續的和家人一起住的話，他們會覺得很沒面子。這樣表示你還沒有能力自己生活，還要靠家裡。
Neil: Does this mean we are developing a generation of big babies?
Finn: Maybe not Neil but this is an interesting subject. Could it be we are mollycoddling young people for longer –that means protecting them and looking after them?
Neil: Yes, or it could be that young people are living at home for longer for economic reasons – they can't afford to leave home.
也許因為現在的社會消費太高而導致大部分的人無法或是沒有能力搬離家中
Finn: Or maybe there is some truth in the idea it takes longer for us to grow up? I think I'll go with that theory.
Neil: That would explain your juvenile behaviour Finn! Now, let's find out if you got today's question right. Earlier I asked you if you knew what the youngest age a man can legally marry in Bangladeshis?
Finn: I said 18, I think Neil.
Neil: You were wrong. It was option c) 21.Apparently, it's 21 for men, and 18 for women. Now Finn, could you remind us of some of the growing up related words that we heard today.
在孟加拉，男生要到21歲才可以獨自決定結婚與否，女生則是要到18歲喔
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