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| Some people still study Latin, but usually in expensive private schools |
媒體英語(yǔ)會(huì)帶大家一起學(xué)習(xí)BBC撰稿人在報(bào)道世界大事時(shí)常用到的單詞和短語(yǔ)。
Background: 如今只有私立學(xué)校和高等學(xué)府教授拉丁語(yǔ)。不過英國(guó)人有的時(shí)候會(huì)把一些拉丁詞語(yǔ)當(dāng)作速記來使用，特別是在法律和正式文件中。有些詞比如 et cetera 和 via 都廣為使用。但有些詞語(yǔ)對(duì)有些人來說則相當(dāng)陌生。現(xiàn)在英國(guó)一些地方議會(huì)決定禁止其員工在講話時(shí)和書面語(yǔ)中使用拉丁語(yǔ)，不過此舉很具爭(zhēng)議。
Questions:請(qǐng)?jiān)诼犗旅驿浺舻臅r(shí)候試著回答這些問題。這是一個(gè)用來幫助你提高聽力技能的練習(xí)。
1. True or False: It can be easier to use Latin than ordinary English words.
2. True or False: Some local councils say that Latin is generally used by working class people.
3. Are some linguists unhappy about the change?
4. Might the debate about Latin continue for a long time?
Click here for answers
Latin Ban 禁止使用拉丁語(yǔ)
Bona fide 真正的/真實(shí)的, ad lib 即興撰造, quid pro quo 補(bǔ)償物/交換物... English is full of Latin words and phrases which are used as a kind of shorthand 速記.
But some local councils say that Latin is elitist and discriminatory 具優(yōu)越感和帶有歧視的, because people might not understand it - particularly if English isn't their first language.
Bournemouth council in the south of England is the latest local authority 地方當(dāng)局 to draw up a list 制定了一分清單 of nineteen phrases which its staff are no longer allowed to use, verbally or in official correspondence 口語(yǔ)或正式書信.
Other local councils have banned QED 這就是所要證明的 and ad hoc 特別的. The move has prompted derision 嘲笑 among some linguists.
We asked Dr Peter Jones, the co-founder of the charity Friends of Classics to imagine that he was a civil servant in charge of implementing 實(shí)施 the ban. What sort of memo 備忘錄 might he have to write?
“You will be aware that a number of councils has decided that all Latin words and phrases should be subject to a veto 否決, e.g. 'e.g.', et cetera 等等. Ergo 所以/因此, some will think this hocus-pocus 戲弄/欺騙, but I say you cannot allow the status quo 現(xiàn)狀 to remain as it is".
But the move has been welcomed by the Plain English Campaign which says some officials only use Latin to make themselves feel important.
A campaign spokesman said the ban might stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation 縮寫 'e.g.' with the word egg. The debate may well continue ad nauseam 冗長(zhǎng)乏味的.
GLOSSARY 詞匯表 (收聽發(fā)音, 請(qǐng)單擊英語(yǔ)單詞)
Answers
1. True or False: It can be easier to use Latin than ordinary English words.
True – Latin is used as a shorthand.
2. True or False: Some local councils say that Latin is generally used by working class people.
False – Latin is seen as elitist.
3. Are some linguists unhappy about the change?
Yes – it has prompted derision from some linguists.
4. Might the debate about Latin continue for a long time?
Yes – it may well continue ad nauseam.
