29/07/2017 In some parts of the world it is increasingly popular to research the history of one’s own family. Why do people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?
Outline:
Reasons of research into family history:
- Family history should be kept to ensure connections among people sharing the same ancestors. Compiling the family tree of several generations, family history book: ancestors, how many people in the family trees, branches, their places of living, address, phone numbers => connect to family members everywhere
- Keep traditions through death anniversaries of ancestors.
- Learn from past stories
Positive development:
- connect people of the same clan à opening opportunities for mutual support.
- Show respect to traditions à keep generations in solidarity beholding the same origin and ancestors.
- Medical record helps identify, prevent, and treat genetic problems to save lives.
Vocabulary:
retrospective | ˌrɛtrəʊˈspɛktɪv | a. hoài niệm |
recollection | ˌrɛkəˈlɛkʃən | n. hồi tưởng |
substantial | səbˈstænʃəl | a. quan trọng |
compilation | ˌkɒmpɪˈleɪʃən | n. sự soạn thảo |
descendants | dɪˈsɛndənts | n. con cháu |
bond-enhancing events | bɒnd-ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ ɪˈvɛnts | n. sự kiện nối kết |
death anniversaries | dɛθ ˌænɪˈvɜːsəriz | n. đám dỗ |
ancestors | ˈænsɪstəz | n. tổ tiên ông bà |
reside | rɪˈzaɪd | n. định cư |
Close cousin marriage | kləʊs ˈkʌzn ˈmærɪʤ | n. hôn nhân cận huyết |
genetic disorders | ʤɪˈnɛtɪk dɪsˈɔːdəz | n. rối loạn gien |
shed light on | ʃɛd laɪt ɒn | v. làm sáng tỏ cái gì |
plausible | ˈplɔːzəbl | a. đúng đắn, hợp lý |
scatter | ˈskætə | v. rải rác |
consolidation | kənˌsɒlɪˈdeɪʃən | n. sự củng cố |
reminiscence | ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsns | n. sự nhớ lại |
in the face of | ɪn ðə feɪs ɒv | n. ngay trong tình hình |
long for | lɒŋ fɔː | n. ao ước |
Studying family history is becoming more popular among people in this modern life. This is not a retrospective move for recollection of family events, but many reasons stand behind it, and plenty of positive impacts have been made by this trend.
People can find substantial benefits in researching family history. The result of that can be the compilation of the family tree and family history book which usually contains information of the furthest ancestors and their descendants through multiple generations, and may also include current addresses and phone numbers of the members. This helps connect people in the family that may extends for even 10 generations or more. Besides, if the family has this document, it is easier for members to organize bond-enhancing events for special occasions like death anniversaries of ancestors. In addition, in case of families whose members move to different locations to reside, studying the family history may help them to avoid close cousin marriage and thus avoid genetic disorders. Also, very important in research about the family are the past stories of success and failures of previous generations which can shed light on what people should do and avoid.
This is a plausible development for many reasons. First, research into family history can connect people in the same clan, and this opens up opportunities for mutual support among distant relatives who scatter around the globe. Second, tracing back to the furthest ancestor also supports the consolidation of family traditions with important dates of anniversaries, traditional professions of ancestors, and the reputation of ancestors as outstanding historical figures. The reminiscence of these facts will keep generations in solidarity and raise their awareness and pride in beholding their origin. Third, in the face of a general decline in people’s health, some complicated diseases are found to be genetically relevant, and in such cases, a medical record of family members will help identify, prevent, and treat serious health problems and save lives.
In conclusion, researching family history has every aspect worth appreciating to inform people of their origin, increase family bonds, avoid marriage of close cousins, cope with genetic problems, learn from past lessons, and uphold traditions and family pride. Therefore, it is unquestionably one of the most valuable developments one should long for. (375 words)
