外研版 必修5 module1 Cultural Corner.pptVIP

厄诺·韦伯斯特 Noah Webster厄诺·韦伯斯特(1758-1843)：他不仅是美国词典编纂者、课本编写者，还是拼写改革宣导者和政治家，被誉为“美国学术和教育之父”。他于1828年编纂了一本韦氏大词典，收集了七万多个词条，是第一本美国英语字典。在美国，他的名字等同于「词典」 美国独立之初，大约有60%的人说英语，并且口音各不相同。其他人说德语、瑞典语和荷兰语。肯德尔说，当时身为教师的韦伯斯特认为我们应该说美国英语。韦伯斯特的拼写方法更适合人们透过发音记住单词写法。例如，他把「centre」变成「center」；删除传统英语中的「u」，把「colour」变为「color」；去掉「musick」单词中多余的字母「k」。 Module 1  British and American English Cultural Corner Have you ever used this dictionary before? Do you know who writes it? Noah Webster a teacher who graduated from Yale University in 1778 Read the passage and answer the questions. 1. What reasons did Webster have for writing an American dictionary? He wanted to simplify the spelling of English and make it look different from British English. 2. Can you see any similarities between Webster’s work and attempts to simplify Chinese? The work of simplifying Chinese has made it convenient for people to read, understand and use the Chinese language. So has Webster’s work for American people. Language points We have really everything in common with America nowadays. have … in common 有…共同之处 I have nothing in common with Jane. They have something in common in this connection. It doesn’t make much of a difference whether a teacher speaks British or American English. make a difference 有影响，起(重要)作用 The sea air has made a difference to her health. 如果你那么做的话，那将起到重要的作用 If you do so, it will make a great difference. make no difference 没有关系，没有重要性 Whether he is here or not will make no difference to our work. 你是否走对我来说没关系 It makes no difference to me whether you go or not. For Americans things are a little bit easier, thanks to the work of Noah Webster, a teacher who graduated from Yale University in 1778. thanks to 多亏, 幸亏 Thanks to his help, or I can’ t make a progress. It was thanks to your timely help that we accomplished the task on time. As a young man he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence, … fight against 和…作斗争 We must all fight against cruelty and unfairness.