20090619 -- English Around the World (1)

English Around the World

SC: What is a dialect?
CM: Dialects are usually thought of as being different versions of one language. Dialects may be characterized by unique pronunciations, grammar patterns and vocabulary words.

SC: How many different dialects of English are spoken around the world?
CM: English is comprised of many different dialects, not just in the United States and the United Kingdom, but also in places like India, Kenya and Singapore. There are even different dialects of American English. Depending on where you are in the United States, you might hear different words, phrases and sounds. In the South, you might hear people say “y’all”instead of “you” (plural).

They also call carbonated beverages soft drinks” rather than “soda” or “pop."
Another important dialect is spoken by many African Americans. Sometimes this dialect is called "Ebonics," but linquist call it "African-American English." This dialect is very important to American culture. Many culture terms and popular phrases like "cool," "jazz" and "chill out!" came from African-American English.

SC: Which dialect is the most common?
CM: British English was spoken most often around the world, but over time that dominance has eroded. As American culture became popular so did American English.


dialect n. 方言
eg: I couldn't understand the Chinese dialect the taxi driver was speaking.
eg: Not a lot of people can speak this regional dialect.
eg: The Italian actor spoke with a Sicilain(西西里) dialect in the movie.
eg: This folk song(民歌) was sung in a Scottish(蘇格蘭) dialect.

comprise v. 由...組合
-> made up of ...
eg: The team is comprised of some excellent basketball players.
eg: The class is comprised of students from Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.
eg: U.S. is comprised of fifty states.
= U.S. comprises of fifty states.

comprise v. 包括/包含
eg: The travel kit comprises face cleaner(洗面霜), lotion(乳液) and moisturizer(面霜).

linguist n. 語言學者
eg: Miriam worked as a linquist for three years before becoming a writer

erode v. 腐蝕/侵蝕
eg: If you cut down all the trees up there, the rain will erode the soil from hillside.
eg: The shed(小屋) was eroded by the sea wind.

erode v. 減損
eg: Her passion for work slowly eroded as she grew older.
eg: His lying gradually eroded my confidence in him.

carbonate n. 碳酸鹽
carbonated beverages 碳酸飲料

ebonics 黑人英語
由 ebony 和 phonics 拼綴而成，黑人英語 (首創於 1973 年, 指一種源於西非，豐富且具有語法一致性的美國黑人語言。主要特徵包括動詞 to be 不變位, 如 I be joking, 詞尾輔音脫落, 如 hand 讀作 han 等)

//== Grammer on the go ==//

Dialects are usually thought of as being different versions of one language.
We can say:
People usually think of dialects as being different versions of one language.

Subject + be-verb + thought of as + description of subject

Instead of saying:
People often think of cats as being indenpent and unpredictable.
-> Cats are often thought of as being indenpent and unpredictable.

Rather than saying:
People usually think of fast food as being unhealthy.
-> Fast food is usually thought of as being unhealthy.