英语国家概况谢福之chapter-1

1、Union Flag or Union JackChapter OneGeography, People and Language ContentsGeographyIPeopleIIThe English LanguageIIII Geography1. Geographical Feature2. Climate3. Major Cities15324EnglandWalesThe Republic of IrelandScotlandNorthern IrelandEdinburghCardiffLondonBelfastDublinComponentsEnglandScotlandWa

2、lesNorthern IrelandEngland: it consists of lowland terrain（低地地形）, with some mountainous terrain(山区地形) in the north-west, north and south-west.EnglandEnglandoccupiesthelargest.Ithasanareaof130,281squarekilometreswhichtakesupnearly60%ofthewholeisland.England is in the southern part of Great Britain. I

3、t is the most populous and wealthiest part of the country.Capital:LondonEngland Highly urbanized -80% of population living in cities -only 2% working in agriculture Dominance in: size/ culture/ economy -take England for UK the Thames River泰晤士河 The second longest river: Thames (346 square kilometers)

4、 Lake Districta scenic spotin North West EnglandA popular holiday destinationbeing famous for its lakes and its mountains its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and other poets.Lake District Scotland: Its geography is varied, with lowlands in the south

5、 and east and highlands in the north and west. ScotlandScotland, with an area of 78,772 squre kilometers, occupies the northern part of Britain.Tourism is one of the most important industries. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the beauty of Scottish scenery, to drink Scotch whisky and t

6、o see Scotsmen wearing kilts and playing bagpipes.BenNevis(本尼维斯山): thehighestmountaininBritain(1343m)islocatedhereThe Clyde River (克莱德河) is the most important river in ScotlandEdinburghisthecapitalofScotland.The highlands in Scotland：sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the regio

7、n, and including the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis Ben Nevis(1 343 meters high) Wales: Its mostly mountainous,takeing up less than 9% of the whole island. South Wales is less mountainous than North and Mid Wales. WalesIthasanareaof20,780squarekilometreswhichtakesuplessthan9%ofthew

8、holeisland. The longest river: Severn River塞文河 (354 square kilometers) Snowdonia(1,085m)inthenorthwestisthehighestmountaininWales.ThecapitalofWalesisCardiff. Northern IrelandNorthernIrelandisafourthregionoftheUnitedKingdom.Ittakesupthenorthernone-sixthofthe island of Irelandandhasanareaof14,135squar

9、ekilometresLoughNeagh is the largest lake in the British Isles (396 square kilometers)BelfastisthecapitalofNorthernIreland. Northern IrelandSmallest among the four nations in BritainMostly rural, low hills, beautiful lake in the south-west, rugged coastline(多岩石的海岸线)Giants causeway (巨人之路) (1)The 8th

10、Natural Wonder of the World (suburb of Belfast)，Sixty million years ago Giants causeway（2）Prodigious skills (鬼斧神工) of Nature:2. ClimateMain characteristics: Temperate, with warm summers, cold winters and plenty rainfallThree major features: Winter fog Rainy daysInstability/changeability 3. Major Cit

11、ies LondonThe River Thames the capital of England and of Great Britain the political center of the Commonwealth(英联邦) a major port one of the worlds leading banking and financial centers. London -seat of government -center of culture -business center - industrial center -largest population -home to a

12、ll media -galleries, theatres, museums -combining functions of New York, Washington & Los Angeles -One of the four leading cities in the world: New York,Paris, TokyoLondonThe capital, the largest port and the largest city in BritainThe City of London +Inner London + Outer London= Greater London（大伦敦）

13、The commercial center: the West End（伦敦西区）The political center: the City of Westminster (Downing street唐宁街, Buckingham Palace白金汉宫)The cultural center: London University (the biggest)The center of Labor Movement (Chartism)宪章运动The Olympics games to be held here in 2012Landmarks & Symbols of LondonBucki

14、ngham PalaceBuckingham Palace ST Pauls Cathedralan Anglican cathedral the seat of the Bishop of London one of Londons most famous and most recognisable sights Big Benthe largest four- faced chiming clock,the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world,Its celebration of its 150th anniversar

15、y in May 2009 Westminister Abbeya large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, Londonthe traditional place of coronation and burial site for monarchs of Commonwealth Realms Landmarks & Symbols of London The palace of WestminsterThe London Eyea height of 135metres (443ft), the largest Ferris wheel in

16、 Europethe most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, Landmarks & Symbols of LondonLondon EyeTower Bridgean iconic symbol of London Carries motor vehicles, cyclists, pedestriansCrosses ThamesTotal length 244metres (801ft)Opened 30 June 1894British Museum 大英博物馆 Major CitiesEdinburgh

17、Capital of Scotlandadministrative, financial, legal, medical and insurance center of Scotlandbeautiful scenery renowned architectureEdiburgh castleThe symbol of Ediburghsituated on a mound of volcanic rock one of Scotlands oldest castles, unequalled in the whole of the British Isles a remarkable for

18、tress（堡垒）, the historical interest of and former royal residence,visited annually by approximately one million people No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle The new city of EdinburghCastles in EdiburghAirth castleA 14th century castle , a spa and a Scottish castle acco

19、mmodation , one of the most popular places for Scottish castle weddings. Stirling castleabout 30 miles from Glasgow and 40 miles from Edinburgh A long history,an important fortification and the site of many sieges and battles, standing out for its imposing location and storied history Landmarks & Sy

20、mbols of EdinburghEdinburgh CastlePalace of HolyroodMajor CitiesCardiff Europes youngest capital cityhas been the capital city of Wales for around 50 yearshome to an enormous amount of urban regeneration and restoration has recently become one of the most fashionable cities in the United Kingdom.Lan

21、dmarks & Symbols of CardiffCardiff City HallLandmarks & Symbols of CardiffMillennium StadiumCardiff Castle Cardiffalbert clock Major CitiesBelfast City Hall the second largest city capital of Northern Ireland an important historic cityLandmarks & Symbols of BelfastBelfast Castlethe wheel of BelfastB

22、elfast city hall II People Overall population: over 63 millionsDistribution:England: about 53 millionScotland:around 5.2 millionWales: around 3.1 millionNorthern Ireland: around 1.8 millionEthnicityThe majority of this population are descendents of the Anglo-Saxons Most people in Wales and Scotland

23、are descendents of the Celtic people The Irish people were also Celtic in originimmigrants (Italians, Greek, Australians, New Zealanders, Africa, Asia)Ethnic Compositionthe English 英格兰人the Scottish 苏格兰人the Welsh 威尔士人the Irish 爱尔兰人 The ancestors of the English are Anglo-Saxons. Percentage of total UK

24、 Population Ethinc Groups of totalWhite British 85.7%White Irish 1.2%White (other) 5.3%Mixed race 1.2%Indian 1.8%Pakistani 1.3%Bengali 0.5%Other Asian (non-Chinese) 0.4%Black Caribbean 1.0%Black African 0.8% Black (others) 0.2%Chinese 0.4%Other 0.4%The difference in character The Welsh are emotional

25、 and cheerful people. They are music lovers and are proud of their past.威尔士人感情丰富，情绪高涨，热爱音乐，为过去感到自豪。The Scots are said to be a serious, cautious and thrifty people, and they are also hospitable, generous and friendly.苏格兰人通常被认为严肃、谨慎而且节俭，但是他们同样也热情、大方且友好。The Irish are full of charm and vivacity. 爱尔兰人充满魅

26、力，生性活泼。 III The English Language1. Old English2. Middle English3. Modern English 4. Standard English1. Old English (5th 11th)Language of Angle-SaxonsInfluenced byOld NorseLatin and Greek words Danish wordsBeowulfThe most famous work from the OldEnglish period is the epic poem ”Beowulf”(approximately

27、 AD 900)Hwt! We Gar-Dena in geardagum,eodcyninga, rym gefrunon,hu a elingas ellen fremedon.Oft Scyld Scefing sceaena reatum2. Middle English (11th 15th )Status French replaced English as the official language, and English became the Language of lower class big pork sheep mutton cattle beefDevelopmen

28、t English increased in importance after the Black DeathThe Canterbury Tales written by Geofery Chaucer, 14 the centuryWhan that Aprill, with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour;Geoffrey Chaucer3

29、. Modern English (15th )The printing pressbrought standardization of EnglishSamuel Johnsons dictionaryestablished a standard form of spellingRenaissanceassimilated foreign words throughout the Renaissance The Industrial Revolutionnecessitated the introduction of new words for new things and ideasThe rise of the British Empir