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進入《中英對照讀新聞》Popular music often takes negative view of aging 流行音樂常對老化持負面觀點
研究指出，流行音樂裡對老化的負面描述恐令人沮喪。（彭博資料照）
◎魏國金
Music can powerfully influence mood, and for older people, the negative depictions of aging in most popular music can be a downer, researchers say.
音樂能強烈影響情緒，而對年長者而言，流行音樂裡對老化的負面描述恐令人沮喪，研究人員指出。
They analyzed images of aging conveyed in 76 songs whose lyrics invoke the topic. Most images were negative, they found.
他們分析76首歌詞觸及老化議題的歌曲所傳達的老化形象。他們發現，多數為負面。
"We’re aware that the number of people over age 60 will probably double by 2050, and we’re very keen that that aging experience is a positive one," said lead author Jacinta Kelly of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, U.K.
「我們知道2050年時，60歲以上人口可能倍增，我們非常渴望變老是正面經驗。」研究報告主要作者、英國劍橋安格里亞魯斯金大學的凱利說。
In music, aging is often associated with dependency and frailty and physical decline rather than with attractiveness, Kelly said.
在音樂中，老化通常與依賴、脆弱及肉體衰退有關，而非魅力，凱利表示。
"What we’re trying to get across is that this kind of bitterness or hostility is promoted or conveyed," she said. "You can absorb negativity and it can have consequences for your health."
「我們試圖使人瞭解這類悲苦或敵視是被宣傳或傳播的，」她說，「你可能吸收其中的消極性，而它會有健康上的後果。」
Harboring hostile attitudes toward aging can have negative effects on cardiac health, while a positive outlook can improve longevity by five to seven years, she said.
對老化懷有敵視態度恐對心臟健康產生負面影響，正面觀點則可能延壽5到7年，她說。
The researchers searched lyrics databases for English language songs relating to age or aging, settling on 76 relevant songs.
研究人員搜尋英文歌曲中有關年齡或老化的歌詞資料庫，並選定76首相關歌曲。
They found three major categories of depictions of aging："contented and celebrated," "pitiful and petulant" or "frail and flagging." Only 21 songs took a positive view of aging, while 55 took a negative view.
他們發現老化的描述有3大類：「滿足、歡愉的」、「可憐、乖僻的」或「體虛、脆弱的」。只有21首歌對老化持正面觀點，55首則採負面看法。
新聞辭典
downer：名詞，令人沮喪的人或物。例句：The news of his friend’s death was a real downer.（他朋友的死訊確實是令人沮喪的消息。）
get across：片語，解釋清楚、使人瞭解。例句：She gets across well.（她能清楚表達自己的意思。）
settle on：片語，選擇、決定。例句：Have you settled on a place where we meet?（你決定我們碰面的地點了嗎？）
