A
The best-known example of outer influence causing language change is the “Americanization” of world culture,which has caused English words to appear all over the world.The effect is most noticeable in pop music.Foreign groups often record in English,and the words are picked up and repeated everywhere,even by children who otherwise have little or no command of the language.I once met a Brazilian child of about ten who could count “one,two,three”,but only by adding the words “o’clock,four o’clock rock” at the end.
Some people are often strongly critical of the influence of English on their language—especially when an English word replaces a traditional word.In 1977,France passed a law banning the use of English words in official situations if an equivalent (意义相同的) French expression existed—but the law seemed to be honoured more in the breaking than in the observing.Some other countries have considered introducing a similar law despite the evidence that such laws have very little effect,and that the arrival of loan words (外来词) can greatly enrich a language (as indeed in the case of English itself,which has a long history of welcoming foreign words)
However,not everyone is critical.In particular,commercial firms and advertisers are well aware of the potential selling power that the use of English vocabulary can bring.In Japan,English is even used in television commercials,despite the fact that the majority of viewers would not understand exactly what was being said: the excellence implied by the mere use of English is apparently enough to command the strategy to the advertisers.
Most of the influence of English is upon the vocabulary of foreign languages,but surveys are slowly bringing to light several cases where word order or word structure has been affected.Sentences of the type “The book sells well”,using an active construction for a passive meaning,have begun to appear in Danish (Bogen soelger godt).Several languages keep the English plural ending when they make use of a loan word,and do not translate it into the native form,e.g.drinks.There are many other such cases.
1.Why could the Brazilian child speak “one,two,three” in English?
A.Because he had seen these words everywhere in the street.
B.Because he had learnt how to tell the time in English.
C.Because he had made himself master of English.
D.Because he had heard these words in songs a lot.
2.What can we infer about the law passed in France in 1977?
A.It was strict. B.It was unfair.
C.It was often ignored. D.It was strongly opposed.
3.Why do some Japanese commercials use English?
A.To follow the American trend. B.To become world-famous.
C.To enrich Japanese. D.To increase sales.
4.How is the last paragraph mainly developed?
A.By providing examples. B.By making comparisons.
C.By explaining grammar rules. D.By analyzing language change.
语篇解读:本文是议论文。文章讨论了英语对其他语言的影响。
答案及剖析:
1.D 推理判断题。根据第一段中的Foreign groups often record in English ...but only by adding the words ‘o’clock,four o’clock rock’ at the end可知,文中提到的这个巴西小孩可能本身不太会说英语,但是由于含有这些英语数字的歌曲不断重复播放,所以他学会了说这些数字。
2.C 细节理解题。根据第二段中的but the law seemed to be honoured more in the breaking than in the observing及such laws have very little effect可知,人们经常不遵守这项法律。
3.D 推理判断题。根据第三段中的the potential selling power that the use of English vocabulary can bring及the excellence implied by the mere use of English可知,广告中使用英语能让人感觉该产品很出色,激发人们的购买欲。
4.A 写作手法题。最后一段中通过“主动结构表达被动意义”和“保留表示复数的词尾”两个例子来说明英语对其他语言的语序或结构也有影响。
