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Е. В. Захарова язык и культура великобритании в условиях европейской интеграции предисловие данное учебное пособие

Вид материалаУчебное пособие
Unit ix. through what channels can the national sense of difference survive?
Ii. vocabulary focus
Iii. interpretation
Iv. creative writing
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UNIT IX. THROUGH WHAT CHANNELS CAN THE NATIONAL SENSE OF DIFFERENCE SURVIVE?


I. READING COMPREHENSION


A. Pre-reading Task. Answer the following questions:


1) Do you know how it came that the heir to the British throne is called Prince of Wales?

2) Do you know any national symbols of Wales?


B. Now read and translate the text. You can make use of words and word-combinations given below:


Be incorporated – быть включенным ( в состав что-либо)

Revival – возрождение

Dissent – инакомыслие

Collapse – крушение, падение, распад

Heartland – сердце страны

Invest – вводить в должность

Channel – направить в какое-либо русло

Loyalty- верность

Proclaim – объявить, провозгласить

Compulsory – обязательный

Notable – выдающийся

Chapel – часовня

Emerge – появляться

Nickname – давать прозвище

Retreat – отход, отступление


Wales was conquered by the English 700 years ago and incorporated into a single political and administrative system with England in the sixteenth century. However, the Welsh sense of difference survived. A cultural self-consciousness was awaked in the mid-nineteenth century, through the revival of literature in Welsh and the literary and music festivals, for which Wales became famous. It was also awakened through higher education which emphasized Welsh identity. From 1900 onwards identity was also expressed through rugby football, which became a sport of national importance.

Welsh society in the nineteenth century was divided between the dominant Anglo-Welsh culture of the rich land-owning class, and the culture of the ordinary, mainly Welsh-speaking people. Dissent from the Anglo-Welsh and from mainstream English life has remained a vital aspect of Welsh identity .Until the Second World War its religious expression was through ‘non-conformism’, attendance at Methodist and Baptist chapels rather at Anglican churches. Political dissent was expressed through support for Labour.

When in 1950s 23 Welsh coal mines were closed it led to a collapse of valley communities and much of the vital culture of Welsh heartland disappeared. One veteran nationalist wrote in the 1960s, ‘We Welsh are not just being denied self-expression as a nation today…. we are fighting in the last ditch for our very identity’.

The London government responded by delegating some administrative responsibility, with the appointment in 1964 of a Secretary of State for Wales. It also used the Royal Family as a symbol of British unity. In 1969 Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Caernarfon Castle. The ceremony had been invented in 1911 to channel Welsh national feeling back to loyalty to the United Kingdom. The castle, however, had been built by the English King Edward I in his conquest of the Welsh, and inside its walls he had proclaimed his own baby son Prince of Wales in 1284. Not surprisingly, some Welsh found the ceremony symbolic of English rule, not Welsh identity.

There are only 2.9 million Welsh, and they have struggled to maintain their identity in the second half of the twentieth century. They have had to do this not only against the political might of London, but also the erosion of Welsh culture through English radio and television. Take, for example, the use of the Welsh language. At the end of the nineteenth century over 50 per cent still spoke Welsh as their first language. Since then the decline has been dramatic. Because of fears that the language might disappear completely, Welsh language study has become compulsory in Welsh schools, and there is now Welsh medium radio and television. As a result 19 per cent still use Welsh, mainly in the north west and mid-Wales and many more over a wide area now understand it. The survival of the Welsh language is the most notable way in which the Welsh keep their special identity.

Welsh nationalism remains essentially a cultural movement. The language, festivals, male-voice choirs, chapel attendance and rugby football were all traditional symbols of Welsh identity and pride. Yet apart from the language and rugby football the rest have either disappeared or are in rapid decline, leaving high unemployment and low morale in much of southern Wales. Yet Wales attracts more foreign investment than most other parts of Britain, and is largely free of English class consciousness. Yet a new elite has emerged, nicknamed Crachach (‘upstarts’ or ‘snobs’) who are resented by many Welsh who speak only English. However, for both groups it is difficult to resist the waves of homogeneous culture from England and further afield, and many Welsh have a sense of retreat.


C. Write down the main points of the passage making an outline of the text.


II. VOCABULARY FOCUS


A. Translate the following word-combinations into Russian:


Self-consciousness; to be awakened; mainstream; to deny smb smth; ditch; to respond; to delegate; chapel attendance; apart from; class consciousness.


In which situations are they given in the text? Reproduce them.


B. Find the English equivalents in the text:


Высшее образование; доминирующий; класс землевладельцев; жизненно важный аспект; угольные шахты; замок; неудивительно; политическая мощь; культурное движение; привлекать иностранные капиталовложения.


Think of your own sentences with these expressions.


C. Match the words which collocate with each other:

1. administrative a. movement

2. political b. unemployment

3. cultural c. might

4. rapid d. responsibility

5. high e. decline


D. Match the words which are close in their meaning:

1. decline a. obligatory

2. incorporated b. celebrated

3. loyal c. included

4. compulsory d. drop

5. notable e. faithful


E. Match the words having the opposing meaning:

1. loyal a. rise

2. decline b. separated

3. compulsory c. commonplace

4. incorporated d. treasonous

5. notable e. optional


F. Match the words and their meanings:

1) strong disagreement, especially with what people in authority think or what the majority of people think

a. loyalty

2) support that you always give to someone or something, because of your feelings of duty and love towards them

b. compulsory

3) unusual or interesting enough to be mentioned or noticed
c. chapel

4) smth that must be done, because of a rule or law
d. dissent

5) a small church, or a special room used as a church where Christians can pray or worship
e. notable



G. Translate the following sentences into Russian:


1) He banned political parties and crushed dissent.

2) She inspires great loyalty among her staff.

3) 1998 was notable for the fact that British teams performed badly.

4) School uniform is no longer compulsory in many British schools.

5) The hospital has its own chapel.


H. Make the following words negative, translate them (un-; dis-; ir-; in-):

1. ____ responsible

2. ___ loyalty

3. ___ traditional

4. ___ consciousness

5. ___ difference

6. ___ conquered

7. ___ importance


I. Insert prepositions where necessary (to; of; from; into; for):


1. incorporated ___ smth

2. to become ___ smth

3. to lead ___ smth

4. to deny ___ smth

5. loyalty ___ smth

6. to be symbolic ___ smb

7. apart ___ smth

8. to resist ___ smth


J. Complete the following sentences using the words from the box:

Identity mainstream dissent

Conquered vital notable incorporated

Heartland collapse invested survival



1. ___ from the Anglo-Welsh and from ___ English life has remained a vital aspect of Welsh___.

2. Wales was ___ by the English 700 years ago and ___ into a single political and administrative system with England.

3. When in 1951 23 Welsh mines were closed it led to a ___ of valley communities and much of the ___ culture of Welsh ___ disappeared.

4. In 1969 Prince Charles was ___ as Prince of Wales.

5. The ___ of the Welsh language is the most ___ way in which the Welsh keep their special identity.


K. In which meanings are the following words used in the text:


1) a retreat

a. a peaceful and private place where you can go in order to rest.

b. an attempt to avoid a dangerous, unpleasant or embarrassing situation, especially by moving away from it.

c. a change in a person’s or organization’s ideas, opinion, or decision after they have been criticized or opposed


2) to proclaim

a. to state smth publicly

b. to announce smth officially

c. to be a clear sign of smth

III. INTERPRETATION


A. Answer the following questions


1) What revived the cultural self-consciousness of the Welsh people? When did it start?

2) What can you say about rugby football in Wales?

3) How was Welsh nationalism expressed before the Second World War?

4) What brought about the appointment of a Secretary of State for Wales in 1964?

5) What did the ceremony of investing Prince Charles as Prince of Wales signify for most Welsh people? Why?

6) What proves that Welsh nationalism remains essentially a cultural movement?

7) Why do you think Wales attracts more foreign investment than most other parts of Britain?


B. Paraphrase the following statements. Comment on them:


1) They have had to do this not only against the political might of London, but also the erosion of Welsh culture through English radio and television.

2) For both groups it is difficult to resist the waves of homogenous culture from England and further afield, and many Welsh have a sense of retreat.


IV. CREATIVE WRITING


In 1967 the Welsh language became the second official language of Wales. It did help preserve the national identity and culture. Write a 250-word piece showing how the national cultural identity is manifested through the language.

These expressions can be used to connect the ideas in your story:


It must be admitted that in the first place

Certainly Secondly

At all events For the time being

All the same Until then

What is more It follows that

Therefore

To sum up