Unit 15 In a Manner of Speaking

Part I Listening & Speaking Activities Part II Reading & Language ActivitiesPart III Extended Activities

Unit 15 In a Manner of Unit 15 In a Manner of SpeakingSpeaking

• Brainstorming• Listening • Speaking

Part I Listening & Speaking Activities

• Expressions of being common and average: typical, commonplace, prevailing, regular, customary,

conventional, orthodox, traditional, stereotyped, ritual, routine

• Expressions of being unconventional: unorthodox, original, individual, idiosyncratic,

dissenting, independent-minded, abnormal, odd, queer, unusual, quaint, weird, peculiar, bizarre, curious

• Expressions of making cultural mistakes: faux pas, misconception, misinterpretation,

misunderstanding, blunder, slip-up, a slip of the tongue, gaffe

Brainstorming (1)

• Expressions of cultural conflicts: cultural differences, cultural shock,

cultural clashes, cultural divides

Brainstorming (2)

• Expressions for showing sympathy in cross-cultural communication:

be tolerant about differences, be sympathetic to, pardon sb. for ignorance, forgive unintentional offences, mutual understanding, be open-minded, be indulgent to sb

• What do you know about the cultural differences between China and Western countries, especially English speaking countries?

• How can one cope with cultural differences?

Cross-cultural Awareness

• Do you know any differences and similarities between the East and the West in connotations ( 涵义 ) that colours hold?

• Chinese: happiness, luck, glory, power, etc.

(e.g. 红运、红利、红榜、红人、红头文件 ) English: terror, war, or debt. (e.g. go into red

ink; be in red; red tape) Note: green-eyed; be green with envy

• Both derogatory meanings (e.g. black market, blackmail, black sheep, 黑市、黑帮、黑心 )

• English: unhappiness or fear (e.g. be in the blues, feel blue, turn blue with fear)

Chinese: peace, tranquility, harmony

• Chinese Ideology: collectivism Communication beat about the bush Response to a praise: “No, I’m not good

enough.” Food: taste, color, shape,

texture 好吃 Subject for conversation: personal affairs Sense of time less punctual

• Western Ideology: individualism Communication: call a spade a spade Response to a praise: “Thanks. I’m so happy

that you say that.” Food: balance of nutrition 吃

好 Taboos in conversation: personal questions Sense of time: up to time

More Differences

Express one’s opinions Life style

Punctuality Interpersonal relations

Express anger Queuing

Ego In a restaurant

Sightseeing Encountering obstacles

Three meals a day An elder’s company

leadership Child

• Pre-listening questions: (1) What do you think of foreign

teachers? (2) What difficulties do you suppose

they would probably meet with in China or in teaching ?

(3) What can the Chinese learn from them?

(4) What can they learn from the Chinese?

Listening -- Foreign teachers in China

• Listen to the recording and answer the following questions:

(1) According to Lu Xun, in what two ways have Chinese people looked at foreigners?

- either looking up to them as gods or down on them as beasts.

(2) How does the speaker explain the statement “foreigners in China live the best and worst of lives”?

- they feel they are both ________________and ______ in the struggle of an ancient culture now both ________ and _______ Westernization. It is true that sometimes they are treated like a ____________, but very often they feel they were _________________, welcomed and _________________.

(3) Why do students and teachers feel these contradictions more keenly than most?

- they enter into the deepest social relationship in Chinese culture other than that of family. Yet they enter as outsiders.

(4) What are its cost and its prize? - an experience as powerful in its joy as its frustrations;

an understanding closer to the centre of Chinese life than anyone else can claim.

honoured individuals

pawnsembracing resisting

King or Queenmade into buffoons

kept at arm’s length

(5) What kind of frustrations await foreign language teachers? - sudden changes in course schedules, lack of textbooks,

ignorance of the fundamentals and foundations of Western High Culture.

(6) What might be the reason? - the primary motive to major in a foreign language is to get a

good paying job. Too few have a real interest to know Western culture, its history, its artistic and intellectual traditions for their own sake.

(7) Why is cross-cultural understanding important for China and its people?

- cross-cultural _____ of understanding is necessary for China as a world power to _____ in the 21st century’s global culture and global economy; and __________ understanding can deep one’s _______, expand one’s __________ of foreign ways, increase one’s _____________, and can lead to an ________ of what ___________ meant when he said “_______________, brothers and sisters”

depththrive

cross-cultural humanitytolerance

intellectual depth

awareness ConfuciusAll under Heaven

(8) What other problems and novel things may foreign teachers encounter in China?

- relative physical deprivation: without heat or electricity, little or no access to cars or evening entertainment

taste inedible objects from sea slugs to dogs; experience exotic sights, sounds and smells; learn about overcrowding and life in an economy of scarcity

(9) What will happen to them since foreigners are a racial minority?

- they will be stared at and pointed at and endlessly interrogated about their age and income.

(10) What are the three things about China that intrigue foreigners?

- its warm people, astonishing landscape and fascinating culture.

• Pre-reading Task• Read the Text• Words & Expressions• Language Work (C)

Part II Reading & Language Activities

• Would you marry a foreigner? Why or why not? What are the advantages and challengers of a cross-culture marriage?

• To be a good communicator in cross-cultural communication, what elements are important besides having a good command of the language?

Pre-reading Task

• Which variety of English do you speak?

• Do you know any differences between British English and American English? "The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language.“ (Oscar Wilde)

"We (the British and Americans) are two countries separated by a common language.“ (G.B. Shaw)

US• color• flavor• check• center• maneuver• tire• aging• jail• traveled /traveler• story /storied• wagon• toward

GB• colour• flavour• cheque• centre• manoeuvre• tyre• ageing• gaol• travelled / traveller• storey /storeyed• waggon• towards

SPELLING

US• fall• baggage• cookie• store• gasoline• truck• sidewalk• doghouse• ground beef• bedspread• eggplant• baby carriage• garbage truck• freight train

GB• autumn• luggage• biscuit• shop• petrol• lorry• pavement• kennel• mince• counterpane• aubergine• pram• dust cart• goods train

VOCABULARY ＆ USAGE (1)

US• mail a letter• please write me.• rent a car• on the weekend• art museum• installment plan• street-car, trolley-car• eraser• the first floor• skillet• restroom, washroom• pants• pants• sweater• two weeks

GB• post a letter• Please write to me.• hire a car• at the weekend• art gallery• hire-purchase• tram(-car), trolleybus• rubber• the ground floor• frying pan• lavatory, toilet• trousers• underwear pants• jumper• a fortnight

VOCABULARY ＆USAGE (2)

• 1. (US) England has (...) played well today, even if it lost. (GB) England have played well today, even if they lost. • 2. (GB) Have you got your grade in history yet? (US) Have you gotten your grade in history yet? • 3. (GB) We lived in the High Street. (US) We lived on Main Street. • 4. (GB) I have got a car. (U.S.) I have a car. I got a car. (different implications) • 5. (GB) One is different to the other.

(US) One is different than the other. (Common) One is different from the other.

GRAMMAR

• Questions for skimming: 1. What is the author’s intention of writing this text? - to present the differences between British English

and American English. 2. What tone has been generally adopted by the

author? - humorous.

• Questions for close reading: 1. Why do many Americans find themselves

linguistically uncomfortable when they arrive in the UK? - Their mother tongue is inadequate in dealing with

the complexity of the English language. Their utterance is merely a sort of vocal noise and is regarded as quaint and imprecise, and at worst as misleading and noisy.

Read the text – In a Manner of Speaking

2. What happened when the author was having lunch at a country club? 3. What does the author think of Oscar Wilde’s comment? Who does he

think should be responsible for the linguistic gap within the same language? Why?

- “he couldn’t have been more right.” It is entirely the fault of the British. First of all, they always take delight in perplexing foreigners. In addition, many of the differences were intentionally created by the British because they wanted to create some linguistic differences to distance themselves as parent nation from their colonial offspring.

4. What examples did the author use to give credence to his claim that the British take a pleasure in confusing foreigners?

- cricket match, nonsense verse, off-the-wall humour, no written constitution, celebrating the Queen’s birthday in June, a language as ineffably illogical and idiosyncratic as English (e.g. different ways of pronunciation of “ough”, “goodbye” from “God-be-with-you”, “colonel” pronounced with “r”)

5. How have the British tried to distance themselves from the Americans, their colonial offspring? Examples?

- pronouncing “lieutanent”, “tomato”, “waistcoat” differently, “the first floor” to refer to the upstairs floor, “underwear”, “cookie”, “linctus”, etc.

6. What does the author mean by “half a beat behind in almost any conversation” What causes the situation to arise?

- Americans have to take a longer time than usual to make out the exact meaning of what their British partners have uttered, because of the Briton’s strange ways of pronouncing certain vowels and consonants.

7. What does the author think of the remark in the guidebook An Anglo-American Interpreter?

- Though he thinks it is an exaggeration and does not believe it, the writer admits that differences in vocabulary can make communication between Britons and Americans difficult and cause endless confusion.

5. How have the British tried to distance themselves from the Americans, their colonial offspring? Examples?

- pronouncing “lieutanent”, “tomato”, “waistcoat” differently, “the first floor” to refer to the upstairs floor, “underwear”, “cookie”, “linctus”, etc.

6. What does the author mean by “half a beat behind in almost any conversation” What causes the situation to arise?

- Americans have to take a longer time than usual to make out the exact meaning of what their British partners have uttered, because of the Briton’s strange ways of pronouncing certain vowels and consonants.

7. What does the author think of the remark in the guidebook An Anglo-American Interpreter?

- Though he thinks it is an exaggeration and does not believe it, the writer admits that differences in vocabulary can make communication between Britons and Americans difficult and cause endless confusion.

8. How does the author argue for the superiority of American English in its clarity of meaning?

- American expressions are nearly always self-explanatory. Even if you have never been to the U.S., you are likely to figure out the meaning of an expression. E.g. sidewalk (self-evident) vs. pavement (offering no hint of its meaning)

9. What is the peculiar habit of the British people in their discourse?

- They never say what they mean. Their speech is often characterized by studied ambiguity. Sometimes the meaning could be far from its literal meaning (a flight from literalness); sometimes the meaning could be precisely opposite to what is said.

10. What has the author learned after he married his British wife? - table a motion; courgette, aubergine, pudding, momentarily,

“You are a brick”, “Bob’s your uncle”.

• Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel The Picture of Dorian Gray ( 《道林 ·格雷的画像》 ).

• Known for his biting wit, one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day.

• The Importance of Being Earnest ( 《贵在真诚》 ).

• Aestheticism: in the late Victorian period from around 1868 to 1901generally considered to have ended with the trial of Oscar Wilde (which occurred in 1895).

• a dramatic downfall - imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men.

• After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain.

Oscar Wilde (1854 –1900)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. 我们都在阴沟里，但仍有人仰望星空。

• Sometimes known as “the Queen's Birthday”, celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries.

• The exact date varies from country to country, and it does not usually mark the real birthday of the sovereign.

• Most Commonwealth Realms release a Birthday Honours List ( 英国女王生日荣誉清单 ) at this time.

Queen's Official Birthday

• In the United Kingdom, the Queen's Official Birthday is now celebrated on the first, second, or third

Saturday in June. • The Queen's Official Birthday does

not coincide with when she was born (21 April 1926). It is the Anniversary of her Coronation on June 2, 1952.

• It is marked in London by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour ( 皇家军队阅兵 ), which is also known as the Queen's Birthday Parade.

• In British diplomatic missions the day is treated as the National Day of the United Kingdom.

• Although it is not celebrated as a specific public holiday in the UK (as it is not a working day), civil servants are given a "privilege day" at this time of year, which is often merged with the Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May) to create a long weekend, which was partly created to celebrate the Anniversary of the Monarch's Coronation.

• be up to doing sth. [physically or mentally capable of sth] e.g. I don’t feel up to the job.• intricacies [complicated details] e.g. I enjoyed the film, but I couldn't follow all the intricacies of

the plot.• unsettling [disturbing, causing anxiety] e.g. One of the film's many unsettling images is of a child

playing with her father's gun.• at best …, at worst … [ 最好能 / 会… , 最坏能 / 会… ] e.g. The food was bland at best, and at worst completely

inedible.• innocuous [completely harmless] e.g. Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous.

Words & Expressions (1)

• charge … with … [fill … with emotions or feelings] e.g. The room was charged with hatred. • consult [refer to] e.g. He paused to consult his notes, and then proceeded with his

questions. • foreboding [a feeling that something very bad is going to happen soon] e.g. There's a sense of foreboding in the capital, as if fighting might at

any minute break out.• be with sb. [understand what someone is saying] e.g. You look puzzled - are you with me?• stand one’s ground [refuse to be pushed backwards, or to maintain your beliefs in an

argument] e.g. Clare stood her ground in the meeting and refused to be intimidated

even when Michael got angry.


• unwitting [unintentional]• perplex [confuse, bewilder, puzzle]• take a pleasure in doing … [take delight in …] e.g. Why do so many boys take pleasure in torturing insects and small

animals.• off-the-wall [outlandish, eccentric, freaky]• ineffably [unutterably]• idiosyncratic [peculiar to the individual] e.g. The film, 3 hours long, is directed in his usual idiosyncratic style.• without the faintest hint of … [without demonstrating a bit of …]


• self-consciousness [uneasiness, embarrassment]• spawn [cause … to grow] e.g. The new economic freedom has spawned hundreds of new small

businesses.• distance … from … [make oneself become less involved or connected with …] e.g. The leader has recently distanced himself from the extremists in the

party.• date from [date back to] e.g. The history of public education in the United States dates from the

society of the early pioneers. • with the best will in the world [“I would like to if I possibly could” 尽管想往好处做 ] e.g. With the best will in the world, I can't employ him in the shop unless I

can trust him.


• take to doing … [start doing … habitually] e.g. He's taken to staying out very late.• lop off [cut off]• dispense with [get rid of something or someone or stop using them because you do

not need them] e.g. They've had to dispense with a lot of luxuries since Mike lost his

job.• in consequence [as a result]• half a beat behind ... [ 慢半拍 ]• go so/as far as to do … [go to extreme or surprising limits in dealing with sth] e.g. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he’s a liar.


• muddled [(of things) badly organized; (of a person) confused] e.g. He became increasingly muddled as he grew older.• tally [a record or count of a number of items] e.g. Will you keep a tally of the number of customers going in

and out?• on the face of things [ 从表面状况来说 ]• acquaintance [a person that you have met but do not know well]• inquire of sb about sth. [ask sb. about sth.] e.g. The director inquired of me about our work. Shall I inquire about the price of tickets?

A committee was appointed to inquire into the allegations.


• telling [adj. showing the truth about a situation or showing what someone really

thinks] e.g. The number of homeless people is a telling comment on the state of

society. • self-explanatory [easily understood from the information already given and not needing further

explanation]• make/have a game stab at … [attempt to do something risky] e.g. I'd never tried snorkelling before but I had a stab at it while I was in

Greece.• quintessential [most typical or important]• unsolicited [not requested]• studied [adj. (only before noun) deliberately and intentionally done] e.g. She spoke with studied politeness.


• Given … [Considering …] e.g. Given his age, he's a remarkably fast runner.

Given (the fact) that a prospective student is bombarded by prospectuses, selecting a suitable course is not easy.

• make a gaffe [make a faux pas] e.g. I made a real gaffe - I called his new wife 'Judy' which is the

name of his ex-wife.• nuances [slight difference] e.g. The painter has managed to capture every nuance of the

woman's expression.• fathom [understand]• liken … to … [consider as similar] e.g. Life can be likened to a journey with an unknown

destination.


• be equivalent to … [equal in value, amount, meaning, importance] e.g. Is $50 equivalent to about £30?• drop by/in [visit] e.g. Drop by and pick up that book sometime.


• 1. a. I have nothing in common with Jane. b. She said John had a lot in common with Tom but I

think they are quite different. c. “How much do you two have in common?” John asked.

• 2. a. Those naughty boys take pleasure in torturing small animals.

b. The snobbish man took great pleasure in reminding us of our poverty.

c. He is an arrogant person and takes great delight in proving others wrong.

• 3. a. These stones date from the days of the dinosaurs. b. This tradition dates from medieval times as far as I

know. c. The present city hall dates back to the 1880s.

Language Work (C-1)

• 4. a. He’s taken to smoking cigars, sleeping late and going out for a walk in the evening.

b. My father took to eating more vegetables when he learned that too much fat was harmful to his heart.

c. He has taken to wearing leather jackets since he moved to this part of the country.

• 5. a. Their Department of Commerce is equivalent to our Bureau of Economic Development.

b. $100 is equivalent to about £60. c. His behavior was equivalent to treason.

• 6. a. If you are in this area, please drop by for a cup of tea.

b. If there’s anything you want to see, just drop by. c. When I’ve finished shopping, I’ll drop by for a chat.

Language Work (C-2)

• Dictation• Read More• Words & Expressions• Translation• Cultural Information

Part III Extended Activities

Most European countries have multi-racial societies owing both to historical and geographical factors. Military conquests, persecution and economic hardship have all contributed to waves of immigration.

Early British history highlights the influence of the Romans, the Vikings, the Saxons and the Normans. More recently, we have opened our doors to people from our former colonies seeking jobs, refugees seeking political asylum and other members of the European Community.

Racial integration has been successful in many areas of Britain. Intermarriage between people of similar cultures is now very common. The popularity of Chinese and Indian food and support for events such as the Notting Hill Carnival show a further acceptance of cultural differences.

However, good race relations have proved more difficult where there has been large-scale immigration involving dissimilar cultures, especially in areas of social deprivation - for example, where there is poor housing and high unemployment. Not only do immigrants become scapegoats for the problems of these areas, but they, themselves, may be reluctant to integrate for reasons of religion or cultural identity.

Dictation

• Questions for reading comprehension: 1. What problems once bothered the writer when she was

seeing her guests off? - She couldn’t find the right phrases to say. All she could do

was to smile and bow like a Japanese. 2. What are the characteristic features of partings for the

Chinese? - Partings involve a certain amount of ritual and a great deal

of one-upmanship; the Chinese feel they must see a guest off to the farthest feasible point; for a less important or perhaps a younger guest, the hostess may simply say “I won’t see you off, all right?” and the guest will assure the host that he would never think of putting him to the trouble of seeing him off. If the gust is important, the host or the hostess, or both, will insist on seeing him/her off, disregarding the guest’s repeated protests of “Don’t bother to see me off.” Even if the guest tries to go quicker to discourage the host from following, the host still endeavours to show his hospitality by quickening his steps as well.

Read More – Straddling Cultural Divides with Grace (1)

3. In addition to partings, what are the three examples the author uses to illustrate the cultural differences between the Chinese and Americans?

- the response to compliments; the parents’ attitude to the achievements of their children; the Chinese take pride in “modesty” whereas Americans value “straightforwardness”.

4. What suggestion does the author offer to deal with this issue (cultural differences)?

- Cultural differences should be studied up on before interacting with Chinese so as to learn the signals and how to respond.

Read More – Straddling Cultural Divides with Grace (2)

Words & Expressions• Sth. will do [be enough, acceptable, suitable for …] e.g. Will this room do or would you prefer one with a shower?• smooth over [make problems, difficulties or disagreements less serious or easier to solve] e.g. Would you like me to try to smooth things over between you and your

parents?• fluster [nervousness and confusion] e.g. The important thing when you're cooking for a lot of people is not to get

in a fluster.• graciousness [courtesy and politeness; excellence of manners or social conduct]• pick up [learn] e.g. Don't bother with the computer manual - you'll pick it up as you go

along.

• one-upmanship [ 胜任一筹 ]• put sb. to the trouble of doing sth. [make sb. get into the trouble of doing …] e.g. I don't want to put you to any trouble.• to no avail [in vain] e.g. We tried to persuade her not to resign, but to no avail . My attempts to improve the situation were of little/no avail.• A and B are at polar opposites [A and B share little in common]• apologize/thank profusely [… repeatedly]• hold true [be true/applicable] e.g. It is universal truth that holds true for the whole world.

• take pride in … [feel very pleased about something or someone you are closely

connected with…] e.g. If you don't take professional pride in your work, you're

probably in the wrong job.• incensed [enraged] e.g. The editor said a lot of readers would be incensed by my

article on abortion.• take one’s word [believe what one says] e.g. I can’t prove it—you’ll have to take my word for it.• study up on … [examine or look into …]

1. She seems to take little pleasure / delight in doing such things.

2. The professor told us that the tradition of landscape painting could date back to / date from the prehistoric age.

3. Having attended the lecture given by the famous writer, he decided to give up medicine and take to writing.

4. Let’s dispense with the formalities and go straight into the discussion.

Let’s not stand on ceremony but go into the discussion right away.

5. Those animals run extraordinarily fast and, in consequence, their hunting methods are very effective.

6. The police searched every house in the district for the escaped criminal, but to no avail.

7. Parents tend to take pride in their children’s achievements.

Translation

• Who is a Yankee? -to Southerners, it means a Northerner; to foreigners, it

means an American; specific meaning, it refers to people who live in New England

• What is a Puritan? - a member of a religious group who objected to the rituals of the Church of England. • What are the typical characteristics of Yankees? - honest, shrewd, realistic, to-the-point, practical rather

than romantic, untalkative, thrifty, principled, independent.

• What shaped such characteristics of the Yankee? - they are shaped in party by the history and geography

of the region. • Can you name some representatives of Yankees? - Calvin Coolidge, Frederick Tudor, etc.

Cultural Information – The New England Yankee

Documents

Unit 15 In a Manner of Speaking