8/6 (Wed.) Human Physical Appearance (Host: Sherry Liao)

[Sherry Liao]

Dear YOYOs,

As you may have known, this August, we are going to go through some topics related to the theme "beauty" for a whole month. The nature of beauty may be multidimensional; however, for the first meeting to discuss this topic, I would like to start from something visible to the naked eyes. Let's talk about some issues with regard to external forms of human beings.

We are always taught not to make comments on people’s appearance. There is a popular proverb that goes, "Beauty is only skin deep", which indicates that physical beauty is merely superficial. Also, a post on our forum has mentioned that "Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart." (The complete description is available here.) However, despite all these classic sayings, no one can ignore the fact that no matter you like it or not, our appearance does more or less play a role in all societies, regardless of gender, race, or social rank.

Studies have shown that beautiful people have advantages in all aspects. Researchers have discovered that good-looking students get more attention and higher grades from their teachers, that attractive patients gain more personal care from their doctors, and that handsome criminals receive lighter sentences than their mediocre counterparts. Moreover, a study has shown that on average, plain people earn less at work than ordinary-looking people do, while good-looking people get higher pay than people with average looks.

What makes the discrimination? "Good-looking men and women are generally judged to be more talented, kind, honest and intelligent than their less attractive counterparts," Dr. Gordon Patzer, who has spent more than three decades studying and writing about physical attractiveness, said in an interview with CNN. "Controlled studies have shown people go out of their way to help attractive people — of the same and opposite sex — because they want to be liked and accepted by good-looking people."

However, there stand some counterexamples that attractive people do not always get the benefit. Some people are prejudiced against good-lookers and assume that they are trivial or brainless, which sometimes cause them to lose out on jobs. Also, some of the world's most successful people have not met the standard of beauty, and business legends are often of average height (for example, Bill Gates stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall) or even shorter.

In any case, there have been loads of people willing to pursue outside beauty at any cost, and chances are that there will be endless successors. A radical way to chase after physical beauty is "cosmetic surgery" (or "plastic surgery"), which involves reshaping parts of the body for the purpose of enhancing a person's appearance.

Cosmetic surgery not only works for those who are not satisfied with their preordained looks, but provides significant outcome as anti-aging treatments. As aging is an unavoidable process that everyone would face, many people are trying many varied methods to slow it down. In addition to eating healthy, getting physical exercise and avoiding stress, many people also consider cosmetic surgery a quick and effortless way to maintain their looks.

According to statistics by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Sorry I cannot find related statistics of Taiwan), there were nearly 11.7 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures performed in the United States in 2007. The most popular surgical procedures are liposuction, breast augmentation and eyelid surgery; while the most taken non-surgical procedures are Botox injection, hyaluronic acid and laser hair removal.

Is pursuing physical attractiveness a myth about beauty? As the classic line in the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs goes, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" This quote resonates with a world of young ladies, older women, and even men. However, when one is crazed about getting more beautiful, never forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As Shakespeare wrote:

Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues

The question is, how would you cater to each eye?

Reference:
Beauty is in the eye of the culture
http://www.thecampusword.com/content/view/2756/593/
Do pretty people earn more?
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/Careers/07/08/looks/
Reconstructive Plastic / Cosmetic Surgical Procedures
http://www.the-cosmetic-surgery-directo ... dures.html
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Research
http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgerystatis ... #2007-NEWS
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/59100.html

Further reading:
In the beholder's eye
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.ph ... Q5MTgzMjgx
Students on the street: How do you feel about plastic surgery?
http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com ... 0957.shtml
On TV: Botox. Face-lifts. Reconstructive surgery.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... 8945.story

Session I
1. Do you believe beautiful people have advantages in all aspects of life? Why or why not? Please provide examples to support your viewpoints.
2. Which gender do you think is more likely to judge other people by their appearance? Nowadays more and more men are willing to spend lots of money and effort on pursuing physical beauty as many women do. In your opinion, is it worthwhile for either to do so?
3. Do you know any people around you who have ever taken any cosmetic surgery? Which treatments did they have? Also, what is your position on cosmetic surgery?

Session II
Are you good at describing people's appearance? Let's play a game to practice your describing language!

The activity contains two parts - discussion and presentation:

Discussion time:
Each group shall choose 4-5 attendants (from any group) secretly and try to particularize their appearances. The features can be their physical appearance, clothing or any outside characteristics you observe (but without judgment, please).

Presentation time:
Each group takes turns to present the features of each target (one feature from each person) on the stage. The audience shall guess who the target is according to the description.

Note:
You can describe people's gender, length of their hair or color of their clothes which distinguish themselves from others; however, I would suggest that you start from something requiring careful observation, to make the game more interesting and challenging. Furthermore, if you guess it right, I will prepare little gifts for the winners as an encouragement! So don't miss the game!

Agenda
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings and free talk among members and guests /taking individual orders/getting newcomers' information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening remarks/ Brief self-introduction/ Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:40pm First discussion session (Question 1, 2 and 3)
7:40 ~ 7:50pm First summarization
7:50 ~ 8:00pm Regrouping & instruction giving
8:00 ~ 8:10pm Break time (Intermission)

(Session II)
8:10 ~ 8:30pm Second discussion session
8:30 ~ 8:50pm Presentation time
8:50 ~ 9:00pm Concluding remarks/feedback from newcomers/ announcements

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聚會時間：2008/8/6 (星期三) 請準時 6:45 pm 到 ~ 約 9:00 pm 左右結束
聚會地點：日安。KAFFA 北市南京東路三段303巷24號 (02)2719-7895
捷運南京東路站（木柵線）
走法: 出捷運南京東路站後, 順著慶城街直走 3 分鐘到 "萊爾富便利超商" 時, 右轉直走 30 公尺即可看到 "日安。KAFFA"

給新朋友的話：
1. 請事先準備2~3分鐘的英語自我介紹；討論完畢後可能會請你發表1~2分鐘的感想(feedback)。
2. 請事先閱讀討論主題相關內容以及host所提的問題，並事先寫下自己所欲發表意見的英文。
3. 來之前請先讀一下討論主題，思考一下如何回答及討論。
4. 在正式加入之前（繳交可退還之保證金NT$1,000)，可以先來觀摩三次。

[Sherry Liao]

The following is a compilation of expressions to describe physical appearance, which may be useful in the activity of Session II:

Age:
(Ex. He must be thirtyish. 他一定有30歳了)
old (negative) / older (neutral)
young
elderly
middle-aged
in his twenties
about forty years old.

teenager
wrinkly 老人
----------------------------------------------------------
Height:
(Ex. She is tall. / She is tallish.)
of medium height
short / tiny
shortish
medium / medium height
reasonably tall for a woman
----------------------------------------------------------
Weight 體重 / Figure 體形, 體態 / Build 體格;體型:
(Ex. She is slim.)
slim (positive) 苗條
obese
overweight (negative) / a bit overweight (neutral)
fat (negative) / heavy-set (neutral)
skinny (negative)
thin (negative)
bony
frail 身體虛弱的
sick
strong
brawny 肌肉結實的
hefty 肌肉發達的
heavily-built
well-built / muscular 肌肉發達的;體格健美的
sturdy 健壯的,結實的
solid 結實的
of average build / medium build
slightly built
slender (positive) 苗條
plump (neutral) 豐滿的
stocky (neutral) 矮胖的;健壯結實的
stout 矮胖的
curvy 曲線美的
flat / small-breasted
large-breasted
small
petite 個子小的,嬌小的
gigantic 巨大的,龐大的
rounded 豐滿的

(Ex. She has a thin waist. 她的腰很細)
He has a good weight. (not stick thin but not overweight)
a beer belly 大肚子;啤酒肚
a hunchback 駝背
big hips
nice shapely legs
firm belly muscles 結實的腹部
a lovely figure
a slender figure 身材苗條
an attractive figure 曲線迷人
a heavy build 軀體龐大
rosy plump cheeks 面頰紅紅胖胖的

anorexic 患厭食症的人

(To be continued.)

[Sherry Liao]

Type of hair
(Ex. She has long hair. /Her hair is long.
He has no hair. / He is bald. / He has a bald head.)
short
medium length
shoulder-length
neatly-trimmed
frizzy 鬈曲的
curly
crimped 鬈曲的
wavy
straight
lank 平直的
dull 呆板的
greasy 油膩的
spiky
stiff 粗硬的
buzzed 茂密的
shaved
parted (center part 中分; left part 左邊旁分; right part 右邊旁分)
neatly-combed 梳理整齊的
tamed 柔順的
cropped 剪短的
Layered 打層次的
Thinned 打薄的
permed
colored / dyed 染髮
highlighted 挑染
thick
rich
strong
healthy
shiny
damaged
thin
receding

fringe 瀏海
pigtails 辮子
braids 髮辮,辮子
ponytail 馬尾式辮子
bun 圓髮髻
pageboy 長及肩而尾端內捲的髮型
bob 清湯掛麵髮型
bowl cut 傻瓜頭
crew-cut 平頭
split ends 分岔
dandruff 頭皮屑
wig / toupée 假髮

pull her hair back
put her hair up (with a clip or an elastic band)

(Ex. He has moustache.)
moustache / mustache 髭(人中部位); 八字鬚
beard 山羊鬍
goatee 山羊鬍
stubble 鬍渣

(Ex. He is bearded.)
sideburned 蓄落腮鬍的 (sideburns落腮鬍)
unshaven
clean-shaven

[Sherry Liao]

Skin feature 皮膚
(Ex. She has freckles skin. / She has freckles.
She has wrinkles skin. / Her face was seamed with wrinkles. 她臉上佈滿皺紋)
wrinkles
freckles 雀斑
pimples / acne 面皰
blackheads 黑頭粉刺
moles 痣
warts 疙
a birthmark 胎記
spots 疤, 痣, 面皰
smooth
spotless
silky
smooth
smooth-cheeked / smooth-faced
creamy
baby-soft
glowing
paper-thin
translucent 半透明的
rough 粗糙的
callused 有繭的
weather-beaten 飽經風霜的/曬黑的
dry
----------------------------------------------------------
Type of complexion 膚色
(Ex. He has brownish skin. / He is brown-skinned.)
light-brown
dark
fair 白皙的
tanned / sun-tanned
lightly tanned
(very) pale
rosy / pink-cheeked 紅潤的
ruddy 紅潤的

has a dark complexion 膚色黝黑
has a fair complexion 膚色白皙
----------------------------------------------------------
Face shapes 臉型
(Ex. She has (got) a thin face. /She is thin-faced.)
heart-shaped 心形臉的 / heart face shape
round 圓臉的 / round face shape
oval 鵝蛋臉的 / oval face shape
square 方形臉的 / square face shape
triangular 三角形臉的 / triangular face shape
oblong 橢圓形臉的 / oblong face shape
diamond 菱形臉的 / diamond face shape
long
broad
chubby / chubby-cheeked / podgy
bloated 浮腫的
be bony 瘦削的;骨瘦如柴的

bony face 顴骨突出的臉型
a double chin 雙下巴
hollow cheeks 凹陷的雙頰
a dimple 酒窩
----------------------------------------------------------
Facial expression 表情
cherubic 無邪的
deadpan 面無表情的
doleful / sad 悲傷的;憂鬱的
serious
smiling / happy
worried
frightened
surprised

a smile
a smirk
a frown 皺眉

[Sherry Liao]

Eyebrows 眉毛
(Ex. She has bushy eyebrows.)
arched 弓型的
curved 弧型的
bushy 濃密的
thick
thin
----------------------------------------------------------
Eyelashes 睫毛
(Ex. She has curly eyelashes. 她有捲捲的睫毛)
long
thick
curly
false eyelashes
----------------------------------------------------------
Eye
She has (got) big eyes
round
almond-shaped / almond-eyed 杏眼的
narrow
close-set 兩眼相距較近的
big
alert
sexy
sharp 銳利的
slitty 瞇瞇的
watery 淚汪汪的;水汪汪的
sunken / deep-sunken 凹陷的, 深邃的
protruding / bulging 凸出的
big
bright 明亮的
bright-eyed
slanted (slant up 眼角向上; slant down 眼角向下)
squinty 斜視的
dark eyes 黑色的眼睛 (black eye 黑眼圈)
beady-eyed 晶亮如珠的;目光銳利的
bloodshot 充血的
cross-eyed / squint斜視的;鬥雞眼的
blind
shifty 機智的; 詭詐的

iris 虹 (colored part of the eyeball)
crow's feet 眼角魚尾紋
----------------------------------------------------------
Nose (schnozzle - colloquial AE; hooter / conk - colloquial BrE)
(Ex. She has a straight nose. 鼻子挺直)
high-bridged/ high 高鼻子
big / large
small
broad
flat / pug
sharp
button
fake
pointed 尖的
bulbous 球根狀的
hooked 鉤狀的
turned-up / snub 獅子鼻的
lopsided 傾向一側的; 不對稱的
----------------------------------------------------------
Lips 嘴唇
(Ex. She has full lips.)
full
thin
Upturned (嘴角)向上的
Downturned (嘴角)向下的
pouting 噘嘴
pursed 噘起
well-defined
harelip / chapped lips 兔唇
----------------------------------------------------------
Teeth
(Ex. She has healthy teeth.)
healthy teeth
damaged teeth
buckteeth 齙牙
false teeth
(tooth) braces (牙齒) 矯正器 (She has braces on her teeth. 她牙齒上戴著矯正器)

chattered (發抖時牙齒)格格響 (My teeth are chattering.)

[Sherry Liao]

General
(Ex. He is average looking; not so fat; not so thin.)
She is pretty.
pretty / fabulous
attractive
good-looking
lovely and charming
nice and friendly
beautiful
handsome
a hunk
smart
tidy 整潔的
elegant / graceful
well-dressed
athletic / sporty
scruffy 不整齊的;骯髒的
shabby 邋遢的,骯髒的
untidy-looking / messy-looking 不修邊幅的
unattractive
ugly (negative) / plain (neutral)
pale
cool
energetic 精力旺盛的
assertive 獨斷的
mysterious / mystical
healthy
fashionable / stylish
weird
sinister 陰險的
dead
delicate 纖細的

[Kooper]

Type of hair

receding

If your hair recedes, you gradually lose the hair at the front of your head. [Longman]
Ex: He was in his mid0forties, with a receding hairline,

[Kooper]

----------------------------------------------------------
Weight 體重 / Figure 體形, 體態 / Build 體格;體型:

skinny (negative)
thin (negative)

anorexic 患厭食症的人

Words used to describe people who are too thin to look attractive:
emaciated: extremely thin from lack of food or illness
Ex: The prisoners were ill and emaciated.

skinny: very thin, especially in a way that is unattractive
Ex: Some super models are far too skinny.

My understanding is THIN is a neutral word when used to describe people, not showing disapproval.
thin: having little fat on your body [Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English]

[Sherry Liao]

----------------------------------------------------------
Weight 體重 / Figure 體形, 體態 / Build 體格;體型:

skinny (negative)
thin (negative)

anorexic 患厭食症的人

Words used to describe people who are too thin to look attractive:
emaciated: extremely thin from lack of food or illness
Ex: The prisoners were ill and emaciated.

skinny: very thin, especially in a way that is unattractive
Ex: Some super models are far too skinny.

My understanding is THIN is a neutral word when used to describe people, not showing disapproval.
thin: having little fat on your body [Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English]

I agree "thin" should be a neutral word, especially when it comes to describing men or some "academic" usage.

But sometimes... women are more sensitive to wording...

[Sherry Liao]

CLOTHES VOCABULARY
anorak (帶有風帽的)禦寒外套
bell bottoms 喇叭褲
belt
beret 貝雷帽
bikini / two-piece
blouse 短上衣
boots
bowtie 蝶形領結
bra / brassiere
braces 褲子吊帶
button
cap
casual clothes
cardigan (胸前開釦)羊毛衫
camisole 細肩帶(衣服)
crop pants
coat
culottes 褲裙
cut offs (褲管裁切掉的)短褲
laces 鞋帶
capri pants / capris 七分褲
cufflinks 袖口的鏈扣
denim skirt 牛仔裙
dinner jacket (男士無尾半正式)晚禮服
dress
dressing gown 浴衣
dress shirt
fur coat 毛皮外套
gloves
handkerchief handkerchief
hat
Hawaiian shirt
high heels
hooded jacket 連帽外套
jacket
jeans
jean skirt
jersey 平針織物
jumper 無袖背心裙
knickers 燈籠褲
knit jacket 針織薄外套
leggins / legging
life jacket 救生衣
nightdress 女睡袍
miniskirt
overall
panties (knickers) 短內褲
pants
pleated skirt 百摺裙
polo shirt
pullover 套衫
pumps 無帶淺口有跟女鞋
pyjamas
raincoat
sandals
scarf
shirt
shoes
shorts
skirt
slacks 寬鬆的長褲, 便褲
slippers
socks
sport shirt
straight-leg pants 直筒褲
stockings 長襪
suit
suspender (褲子或裙子的)背帶
sweater
sweatshirt 寬鬆無領長袖運動衫
T-shirt / tee-shirt
tank top 無袖上衣, 背心
tank suit / one-piece 一件式泳衣
thongs 人字涼鞋
tie / neck tie
tights 貼身襯衣
tracksuit 運動服
trousers
tube top (婦女用的)筒狀彈力胸圍
underpants 襯褲;內褲
underwear
uniform
vest 背心, 馬甲 (美)
waistcoat 背心 (英)
wetsuit 保溫潛水服
wool vest 毛背心
windbreaker 風衣
zip / zipper 拉鍊

[Sherry Liao]

Patterns
polka dot 圓點花樣
striped 條紋的
checked 格子花紋的 (如西洋棋盤)
plaid 有格子圖案的 (十字條紋)
print 印花圖案
solid 純(顏色)的; 單一(顏色)的
flowered 有花的圖案的
----------------------------------------------------------
Fabric
denim
twill 斜紋織品
wool
cotton
tweed 粗花呢布
polyester
corduroy 燈芯絨
fleece 羊毛
spandex
leather
----------------------------------------------------------
Glasses
She wears glasses. / She is wearing glasses.
glasses
contact lenses
She is long-sighted.
long-sighted. 遠視的
short-sighted 近視的
----------------------------------------------------------
General
(Ex. She is wearing smart clothes.)
smart clothes
elegant clothes
casual clothes
shabby clothes
jewellery

[Rock]

Wow, I think Sherry is going to be our no.1 writer on this forum. This one is so detailed and informative. I can't wait until Wednesday to discuss it.

Talk about the benefits of beauty, sometimes it's a matter of life or death. If Luis can only save one of the three ladies from a sinking ship, I'm sure he will chose the prettier one.

[Sherry Liao]

Types of cosmetic surgery
double eyelid surgery / get an eye job (colloquial) 割雙眼皮
cosmetic nose surgery / get a nose job (colloquial) 隆鼻
breast enlargement / breast augmentation / get a boob job (colloquial) 隆乳
bone contouring 削骨
liposuction 抽脂

botox (botulinum toxin) 肉毒桿菌
hyaluronic Acid 玻尿酸
laser hair removal 雷射除毛
facelift 拉皮
microdermabrasion 微晶換膚
laser skin resurfacing 雷射磨皮; 雷射換膚

[Sherry Liao]

Wow, I think Sherry is going to be our no.1 writer on this forum. This one is so detailed and informative. I can't wait until Wednesday to discuss it.

Thanks. I really look forward to your presence.

Talk about the benefits of beauty, sometimes it's a matter of life or death. If Luis can only save one of the three ladies from a sinking ship, I'm sure he will chose the prettier one.

What???!!!! Is that why my dad had asked me to learn how to swim???

[Luis Ko]

Wow, I think Sherry is going to be our no.1 writer on this forum. This one is so detailed and informative. I can't wait until Wednesday to discuss it.

Talk about the benefits of beauty, sometimes it's a matter of life or death. If Luis can only save one of the three ladies from a sinking ship, I'm sure he will chose the prettier one.

yeah, it's really a good question to think about haa.