Lesson-1-Pub-Talk-and-the-King's-English-酒肆闲聊和国王英语

1、Lesson OnePub Talk and the Kings English 演示者：八音魔琴 Lead-in QuestionWhat is pub talk? free and relaxed talk/gossip without fixed topics or prepared plans; full of dialects, slangs or ungrammatical languageWhat is the Kings English?standard/correct English as to grammar and pronunciation. i.e. good Eng

2、lish which everyone should try to imitate. Another similar term is the Queens English”.ContentsBackground Information The author-Henry Fairlie The history of English Writing StyleDetailed LearningRhetorical DevicesLanguage FeaturesExercisesBackground information-the author The author: Henry Fairlie

3、Henry Jones Fairlie (January 1924 London, England February 1990 Washington, D.C.) was a British political journalist and social critic. The author: Henry Fairlie He spent 36 years as a prominent freelance writer on both sidesof the Atlantic, appearing in The Spectator,The New Republic,The Washington

4、 PostThe New Yorker, many other papers and magazines. Most widely held works by Henry Fairlie1.The Life of Politics2.The Kennedy Promise3.The Spoiled Child of the Western World4.The Parties: Republicans and Democrats in This Century5.The Seven Deadly Sins Today七宗罪6.Bite the Hand That Feeds YouThe hi

5、story of English Three stages of English:The Old English/ Anglo-Saxon English (449-1066)The Middle English /French- influenced English (1066-1500 )The modern English (1500- the present): Early modern English (1500-1800) Late modern English (1800-the present)The history of EnglishOld English (449-106

6、6 AD): In 449(In the 5th century), the Angles安格鲁人, Saxon, and Jutes朱特人 from Northwest of Germany conquered the most part of England. Middle English (1066-1500): In 1066, William, the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, invaded and conquered England. (the Norman Conquest) For a period there was a kind o

7、f linguistic class division, where the lower classes spoke English and the upper classes spoke French. In the 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. Some pictures about the Norman ConquestThe history of EnglishEarly Modern English (1500-1800): From t

8、he 16th century, the British had contact with many peoples from around the world. Many Latin and Greek words and phrases entered the language during Renaissance. Spelling and grammar became fixed, and the dialect of London became the standard. In 1604 the first English dictionary was published.Late

9、Modern English (1800-Present): the English colonizationklnazen of different countries resulted in the creation of a variety of English: American English, Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English and Indian English. Late Modern English has many more words creat

10、ed from the Industrial Revolution and technology, and adopted foreign words from many countries. The history of EnglishWriting style a piece of expositionWhat is pub talk?What is Kings English?conversation held in the public housestandard EnglishWriting style The title: Pub Talk and the Kings Englis

11、hRelationship?pub talkkings Englishwhat makes good conversation.Detailed Learning Para. 11.Conversation is the most sociable of all human activities. 1). sociable: friendly or agreeableMore than any other human activities, conversation helps to promote communication and friendship among people.Detai

12、led Learning Para. 12. And it is an activity only of humans.Conversation is an activity which is found only among human beings. (Animals and birds are not capable of conversation.)Detailed Learning Para. 1However intricate the ways in which animals communicate with each other, they do not indulge in

13、 anything that deserves the name of conversation.1) However intricate: no matter how complicated2)indulge in: a. become involved in 卷入、涉及 I dont indulge in idle gossip. 。 b. allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of 使沉溺于 He indulges in drinking and smoking. 。3) deserve the name of: be worthy of the nam

14、e of Yunnan deserves the name of paradise on earth.Detailed Learning Para. 1However intricate the ways in which animals communicate with each other, they do not indulge in anything that deserves the name of conversation.No matter how complicated the ways in which animals communicat with each other,

15、they are not worthy of the name of conversation.Detailed Learning Para. 2The charm of conversation is that it does not really start from anywhere, and no one has any idea where it will go as it meanders or leaps and sparkles or just glows. 1)*meanders or leaps: (like a stream) flow in a winding and

16、aimless way or flow/move swiftly and joyously forward2)*sparkles or just glows: (like fire) to burn brightly throwing off sparks or to burn steadily without flamemixed metaphor混合隐喻a combination of two or more incompatible metaphors, which produces a ridiculous effect Detailed Learning Para. 2The cha

17、rm of conversation is that it does not really start from anywhere, and no one has any idea where it will go as it meanders or leaps and sparkles or just glows. 闲谈的引人人胜之处就在于它没有一个事先定好的话题。它时而迂回流淌，时而奔腾起伏，时而火花四射，时而热情洋溢，话题最终会扯到什么地方去谁也拿不准。Detailed Learning Para. 2Conversation is not for making a point.Conv

18、ersation is not for persuading others to accept our idea or point of view.Detailed Learning Para. 2There is no winning in conversation. In a conversation , we may argue but we dont need to prove that we are right and they are wrong.Detailed Learning Para. 2In fact, the best conversationalists are th

19、ose who are prepared to lose. In fact, the people who enjoy and are really skillful at conversation will not argue to win or force others to accept their point of views. Detailed Learning Para. 2Suddenly they see the moment for one of their best anecdotes, but in a flash the conversation has moved o

20、n and the opportunity is lost.1) anecdotes: a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person轶事， 趣闻Suddently they find an opportunity to talk about one of the amusing or interesting stories, but soon they lose the opportunity to talk about it because the conversation has moved on

21、to other topics.Detailed Learning Para. 3Perhaps it is because of my upbringing in English pubs that I think bar conversation has a charm of its own. Upbringing: the training and education received while growing up. Here and exaggeration of the author because he didnt grow up in a pub. He was only a

22、 frequent visitor of pubs.Perhaps it is because I have spent so much of my time in English pubs that I think bar conversation has a special charm.或许是由于我从小混迹于英国小酒馆的缘故吧，我觉得酒瞎里的闲聊别有韵味。Detailed Learning Para. 3Bar friends are not deeply involved in each others lives. They are companions, not intimates.

23、companions: persons who share the same interests or tastes志趣相投者They meet each other for a drink in the bar, but they are not intimate friends for they are not deeply absorbed in each others lives.Detailed Learning Para. 3The fact that their marriages may be on the rocks, or that their love affairs h

24、ave been broken or even that they got out of bed on the wrong side is simply not a concern. 1)*on the rock(colloquial): to be in a condition of ruin; bunkrupt metaphor comparing a marriage to a ship wrecked on the rocks2)*get up on the wrong side of the bed: (idiomatic expression) be in a bad temper

25、 for the day心情不佳Its not a concern or interest for the others whether their marriages are breaking up, or their love affairs have been broken or they are just in a bad temper or unhappy for the day.Detailed Learning Para. 3The fact that their marriages may be on the rocks, or that their love affairs

26、have been broken or even that they got out of bed on the wrong side is simply not a concern. 他们之中也许有人面临婚因破裂，或恋爱失败，或心情不佳的事，但别人根本不管这些Detailed Learning Para. 3They are like the musketeers of Dumas who, although they lived side by side with each other, did not delve into each others lives or the recesse

27、s of their thoughts and feelings.1)*musketeers:allusion from Dumas the seniorThe three Musketeers in Dumas novel are very close friends. They supported each other yet they were not interested in or tried to find out anything about each others private life. DumasAlexandre Dumas, a French writer of th

28、e 17th centuryThe Three MusketeersWhite and BlueThe Count of Monte CristoThe Black TulipDetailed Learning Para. 3Detailed Learning Para. 3They are like the musketeers of Dumas who, although they lived side by side with each other, did not delve into each others lives or the recesses of their thought

29、s and feelings.2) delve into: explore; probe into探索、挖掘3) recesses: deep, remote and secret places隐秘之处Bar friends, like the three musketeers in Dumas novel, do not probe into each others lives nor do they try to find out the deep thoughts and feelings of their drinking companions. Detailed Learning P

30、ara. 3They are like the musketeers of Dumas who, although they lived side by side with each other, did not delve into each others lives or the recesses of their thoughts and feelings.他们就像大仲马笔下的三个火枪手一样，虽然朝夕相处，却从不过问彼此的私事，也不去揣摸别人内心的秘密。Detailed Learning Para. 4It was on such an occasion the other evenin

31、g, as the conversation moved desultorily here and there, from the most commonplace to thoughts of Jupiter, without any focus and with no need for one, that suddenly the alchemy of conversation took place, and all at once there was a focus.1) desultorily: desultory: aimless; unfocused2) alchemy: the

32、form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages, which was especially concerned with trying to discover ways to change ordinary metals into gold.a figurative use, meaning the miraculous change of a thing into something better; magic/miracleDetailed Learning Para. 4It was on such an occasion the other e

33、vening, as the conversation moved desultorily here and there, from the most commonplace to thoughts of Jupiter, without any focus and with no need for one, that suddenly the alchemy of conversation took place, and all at once there was a focus.The conversation moved forward aimlessly without a fixed

34、 subject. They talked about the most common things and also made some remarks about the planet Jupiter. Then suddenly a magical change took place and there was a focus/subject to talk about.Detailed Learning Para. 4It was on such an occasion the other evening, as the conversation moved desultorily h

35、ere and there, from the most commonplace to thoughts of Jupiter, without any focus and with no need for one, that suddenly the alchemy of conversation took place, and all at once there was a focus.有一天晚上的情形正是这样。人们正漫无边际地东扯西拉，从最普通的凡人俗事谈到有关木星的科学趣闻。没有主题，事实上也不需要有一个主题。可突然间大伙儿的话题都集 中到了一处，中心话题奇迹般地出现了。Detaile

36、d Learning Para. 4I do not remember what made one of our companions say it -she clearly had not come into the bar to say it, it was not something that was pressing on her mind - but her remark fell quite naturally into the talk. 我记不起她那句话是在什么情况下说出来的她显然不是预先想好把那句话带到酒馆里来说的，那也不是什么非说不可的要紧话我只知道她那句话是随着大伙儿的话

37、题十分自然地脱口而出的。Detailed Learning Para. 6The glow of the conversation burst into flames. The conversation became spirited (生机勃勃的) and exciting. metaphor Conversation is compared to a fire.此语一出，谈话立即热烈起来Detailed Learning Para. 6That would settle it.By looking up reference books one could settle the right

38、or wrong of an argument.Detailed Learning Para. 6 but conversation does not need to be settled; it could still go ignorantly on. However, there is no need to decide who is right or wrong in a conversation. It could go on without anyone knowing who was right or wrong.Detailed Learning Para. 7It was a

39、n Australian who had given her such a definition of the Kings English, which produced some rather tart remarks about what one could expect from the descendants of convicts.1) tart: sharp,cutting,bitter,sarcastic2)descendents of convicts: offspring of the prisoners in Australia, implying that the Aus

40、tralians are crude, uneducated people. Detailed Learning Para. 7It was an Australian who had given her such a definition of the Kings English, which produced some rather tart remarks about what one could expect from the descendants of convicts.When the speaker explained that the definition was given

41、 to her by an Australian, her listeners immediately made some sharp replies, saying it was not surprising to hear Australians talk such nonsense because they were descendents of convicts/crimials.告诉她“标准英语”应作那种解释的原来是个澳大利亚人。得悉此情，有些人便说起刻薄话来了，说什么囚犯的子孙这样说倒也不足为怪。Detailed Learning Para. 8Look at the langua

42、ge barrier between the Saxon churls and their Norman conquerors.1)churl: persant; a person with low birthThe Norman rulers, kings and nobles, spoke French and the conquered Saxons peasants spoke English and refused to learn the French of their masters, hence they had difficulty communicating with ea

43、ch other.Detailed Learning Para. 8The conversation was on wings. metaphor comparing conversation to a bird flying and soaring.The conversation soon became spirited (生机勃勃的) and exciting.闲聊依旧热火朝天。Detailed Learning Para. 9Even if our menus were not wirtten in French out of snobbery, the English we used

44、 in them would still be Norman English. What all this tells us is of a deep class rift in the culture of England after the Norman conquest.1) snobbery: snob a person with an exaggerated respect for high social position or wealth who seeks to associate with social superiors and dislikes people or act

45、ivities regarded as lower class势利，敷衍趋势2) rift: break/crack/gapDetailed Learning Para. 9Even if our menus were not wirtten in French out of snobbery, the English we used in them would still be Norman English. What all this tells us is of a deep class rift in the culture of England after the Norman co

46、nquestAfter the Norman conquest, the Norman kings and nobles used French and tried to impose this language on the conquered English who persisted in using their own language. This resulted in a widening of the class gap in the culture of England.Detailed Learning Para. 10The peasants were allowed to

47、 eat the rabbits that scampered over their fields and, since that meat was cheap, the Norman lords of course turned up their noses at it.1) scamper: run with quick light steps out of fear or excitment2) turn up ones nose at sb/sth: look down on/upon; scornDetailed Learning Para. 11As we listen today

48、 to the arguments about bilingual education, we ought to think ourselves back into the shoes of the Saxon peasant. 1)into the shoes: to think as if one were another person换位思考 (The original expression is to be in anothers shoes, meaning to be in anothers position.)eg. If I were in your shoes I would

49、 take the job in London.When we listen to the advantages and disadvantages of bilingual education, we should think as the Saxon peasant did when two languages were being used in England.Detailed Learning Para. 11The new ruling class had built a cultural barrier against him by building their French a

50、gainst his own language.The new ruling class, by using French instead of English, made it difficult for the English to understand or accept the culture of the rulers.新的统治阶级把法语用来对抗撒克逊农民自己的语言，从而在农民周围筑起一道文化障碍。Detailed Learning Para. 11There must have been a great deal of cultural humiliation felt by th

51、e English when they revolted under Saxon leaders like Hereward the Wake. 1) huminiation: feeling humiliated or ashamed2) revolt: fight against3) Hereward: Hereward the Wake (also known as Hereward the Outlaw亡命之徒 or Hereward the Exile, c. 1035 c.1071) Anglo-Saxon patriot and rebel leader, was an 11th

52、-century leader of local resistance to the Norman conquest of England, but he was defeated and slain (1071).Detailed Learning Para. 11Detailed Learning Para. 11There must have been a great deal of cultural humiliation felt by the English when they revolted under Saxon leaders like Hereward the Wake.

53、 The English must have felt greatly humiliated/ashamed when they were forced to listen to and use a foreign language and to accept a foreign culture. So they took up arms against this cultural humiliation. The leader was Hereward the Wake.Detailed Learning Para. 11And here in America now, 900 years

54、later, we are still the heirs to it.1) heir: a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that persons death2)The reference of it is unclear. (1)It may refer to cultural humiliation. In America today we are facing the same problem that existed in England 900 years ago, the problem

55、 of having two languages (English and Spanish in some parts of the U.S.) existing side by side.The Spanish speakers feel the same cultural humiliation as the Saxons, for English being the powerful language.or (2) The English we speak and write in America today also shows the French influence of that

56、 time. We have inherited this French influence on the English languageDetailed Learning Para. 12 Strange Newes of the Intercepting Certaine Letters: archaic（a:keiik 古代的）spelling. It should read: “Strange News of the Intercepting Certain Letters.” （截获信函奇闻） thou clipst the Kings English: Middle Englis

57、h (中古英语). It should read: you clip the Kings English.Detailed Learning Para. 12Nash: Thomas Nash (1567-1601), English satirist and writer.His works: Pierce Penniless, His Supplication to the Devil贫穷的皮尔斯，他对魔鬼的恳求Summers Last Will and treatment夏天的遗嘱The Unfortunate Traveler不幸的旅客The Isle of Dogs恶犬岛Detail

58、ed Learning Para. 12Dekker: Thomas Dekker (1572-1632), English dramatist and phamphleteer. Little is known of his early life or origins except that he frequently suffered from poverty and debt.His worksThe Shoemakers Holiday鞋匠的假期The Seven Deadly Sins of LondonThe Gulls Handbook傻子手册Detailed Learning

59、Para. 12Mistress Quickly: a character (the servant) in Shakespeares play The Merry Wives of Windsor which is said to have been written at the request of Queen Elizabeth.master: referring to Doctor Caius, a French physician in the play.Detailed Learning Para. 12 . here will be an old abusing of Gods

60、patience and the Kings English, 1)abusing: It is used in two senses:1)use foul or abusive language towards 2)improper or incorrect use of language (the Kings English)2)Gods patience: No matter how patient you are, you wont be able to bear him, because he will even try Gods patience. God is more pati