UK - People and culture

Pre-reading

• Typically Irish: Shamrocks, St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns, beer
• Typically Scottish: Kilt, bagpipe, sideburns, highland cattle, golf
• Typically English: Tea, red phone booths, English breakfast,
• Typically Welsh: Sheep, beards

The UK - an Introduction

1.

Do you think the fact that the British are islanders has had an effect on the people and their values?

No, I don't think so. Living on an island isn't necessarily a problem, at least not in our modern age where everything you need can be imported, and a visit to other European countries is just a plan trip away.

2.

In which part of the UK would you have preferred to live? Why?

I would probably live in England if I were to live in the UK. London would've been fun to visit, but I doubt I could live in a city over a longer period of time, so I might have lived on the countryside.

What have I learned today?

• Locations of big cities in the UK
• Locations and names of some rivers
• Locations and names of some lakes
• Where the different islands are located
• Where the different seas are located

English as a World Language

Checkpoints

1.

A lingua franca, like English, is a language that is used for communication by two people who doesn't speak the same native language.

2.

We say that English is the most important lingua franca because most people speak it, even if it's not an official language in their country.

3.

The British Empire was build under Queen Elizabeth and the rulers up to 400 years after her.

4.

In the first half of the twentieth century, Britain suffered great losses from the two world wars. This, and major political turmoil in Africa and the Indian sub-continent, meant that Britain lost it's position as the world's leading power.

5.

Today. the English language is still important, because when Britain lost its power, USA gained theirs and could continue the international importance.



Viewpoints

1.

Do I believe English threatens the position of national languages in small countries such as Norway? Yes. Norwegians keep adding English words to their everyday sentences, so I think English will eventually be on the same line as Norwegian.

2.

Are there any other languages which can threaten the position of English as a world language? I don't think so. English is widely spread all over the world, so if it would be replaced, it may be with Chinese, because China keeps getting more power, so it would've been a good thing to know the Chinese language.



The History of English in 10 Minutes

Comprehension questions

1.

1500 years have passed since the Romans left Britain, and after they left the English still used the language

2.

People traveled overseas and communicated in English

3.

English is a mix of over 350 languages

4.

Around 1.5 billion people speak English today

5.

A quarter of these are native English speakers

6.

A quarter of the total speak English as their second language

7.

The alphabet sounds weird and the spelling system is weird as well

8.

Singlish, Hinglish and Chinglish are mixes between English and Singaporean, Hindu and Chinese, They have such a mixed language that it's either one of the languages

9.

Because Chinese will probably soon be a world language

Difference between British and American English

Checkpoints

1.

Some words that are pronounced different:

	British	American
Dance	da-ns	dæns
Rather	'ra-dø'r	'ræthe'r
Awful	åhfol	åfoul
Car	ka-h	ka'r
Pillar	pilla-h	pille'r

2.

The five main spelling differences from British to American:

1. Some words that end in -ter in AE end in -tre in BE

Example: theater, theatre

2. Some words that end in -og in AE end in -ogue in BE

Example: monolog, monologue and catalog, catalogue

3. Some words that end in -or in AE end in -our in BE

Example: color, colour

4. Verbs that end in -ize/yze in AE end in -ise/yse in BE

Example: analyze, analyse

5. In BE, the -l at the end of a word is doubled when a new ending is added. In AE the -l is only doubled if the stress is originally in the second syllable

Example: rebel-rebelled is similar in both AE and BE, but travel-traveler in AE will in BE be travel-traveller

Language work

BE: I am knackered and I must go to the loo.

AE: I am tired and have to go to the toilet.

BE: Are there any WCs close by?

AE: Are there any bathrooms near?

BE: Must I queue up behind that bloke?

AE: Do I have to stand in line behind that guy?

BE: Is there a chemist anywhere close?

AE: Is there pharmacy nearby?

BE: I am peckish.

AE: I am starting to get hungry

BE: At the zebra crossing the lollipop lady directed us to take a diversion, but my lorry was out of petrol and it was impossible.

AE: At the zebra crossing the crossing guard directed us to take a detour, but my truck was out of gas and it was impossible

My own language work c:

Translate these sentences from BE to AE.

On the pavement outside of the shop there were loads of from sweets wrappers.

The lift up to my flat is broken.

The underground shop sells crisps and biscuits in the fall.