[ti:Pretend and Imitation]
[by:www.21voa.com]
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[00:02.00]Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher,
[00:05.16]we answer a question from Shinji in Japan.
[00:09.88]I am unsure about how to use “imitate” and “pretend.”
[00:16.20]For example, I see such sentences as,
[00:19.88]“Does your child like pretend play?”
[00:23.28]referring to acting like a superhero, for instance.
[00:28.36]But is it wrong to say,
[00:30.40]“Does your child like imitation play?”--Shinji, Japan.
[00:35.96]Dear Shinji,
[00:38.32]We have all watched children
[00:40.52]as they use their imagination during play.
[00:44.16]For example, a child may pick up a stick
[00:47.56]and use it as a sword, pretending to be a hero.
[00:52.52]The simple answer to your question is no,
[00:55.36]it is not wrong to use “imitation”
[00:57.76]as an adjective with the noun “play.”
[01:01.80]But there is a difference in meaning.
[01:04.72]Let us look at the two words.
[01:08.12]When someone pretends,
[01:09.72]they are acting as if something were true.
[01:13.28]An example is the child who takes an empty shoe box
[01:17.28]and puts a doll into it.
[01:20.36]The child is pretending as they push it around the floor, saying,
[01:24.92]This is her car.
[01:28.00]When children imitate, they are acting as if they were another person,
[01:33.00]such as an adult in their life.
[01:36.72]The child who holds a doll and sings a gentle song to it
[01:40.88]is imitating a loving parent.
[01:44.68]The child puts the doll down and covers it, saying,
[01:47.96]My baby is going to sleep now. Please be quiet.
[01:52.64]The child is both imitating a parent
[01:55.20]and pretending that the doll is a living thing.
[01:59.36]Do you have a child who plays in this way?
[02:02.00]You may be interested to know that experts say
[02:06.80]it is very important for children to learn
[02:09.84]by imitating what they see around them
[02:12.68]and pretending with toys and other objects.
[02:17.04]Both help them use their imagination.
[02:20.52]Another word for this kind of play is “make-believe.”
[02:26.04]One way to help a child develop their imagination
[02:29.92]is to provide dress-up clothes
[02:32.44]and toys that look like tools and household objects.
[02:37.84]Experts also suggest it is good to play along
[02:41.56]with whatever story the child imagines
[02:44.28]and talk about what is happening
[02:46.52]to help develop their language skills.
[02:50.20]Shinji, I hope you have fun taking part in pretend play
[02:54.64]with the children in your life.
[02:57.44]You can even see adults playing at being someone else
[03:01.28]or being in another time at historical fairs and museums.
[03:07.48]What question do you have about American English?
[03:11.52]Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
[03:18.44]And that’s Ask a Teacher.
[03:20.88]I’m Jill Robbins. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM