OBSERVATIONS ON AMERICAN ENGLISH访美笔记美国英语中的一些用法.ppt

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * walk one’s bike * yard sale * Summary I. Acquisition of a native language and learning a foreign language: Differences Native language: Meaning directly associated with objects, concepts and events in reality Foreign language: Meaning through another word or set of words (equivalents from native language or synonyms from the foreign language), not directly associated with reality * II. My first-hand experience of English What it meant for me What I did Talking and mixing with the native speakers Observation: I was on the alert to watch for the uses of the language and took notes. * What I watched for 1. Words and expressions that were most often and most typically used in daily spoken English. 2. Words and expressions that were new to me. 3. Words and expressions that might be unique to the American context. * III. Characteristics of American English 1. Simple and brief: acronyms, clipped words. 2. Informal: some slang expressions widely used and generally accepted. 3. Varied: change of the language beginning with the young generation. * IV. Examples 1. Common words and expressions re-examined. 2. American colloquialisms. 3. Miscellaneous. * THANK YOU * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Up Down * wine and dine to wine and dine them Wining and dining is a common practice with big companies. * way Their income is way above mine. I was too lazy to walk to get some soap way down in the utility room. * 2. American colloquialisms * could-be - That would be twenty thousand something dollars a year. - Could-be. You can never tell how much they will charge you for college education. * dream come true For him it is American dream come true. * guy Man (young or old): I know you guys are busy. That guy over there is my brother. * kid grandkid * no big deal It’s no big deal (There is nothing to worry about). * nuts Used to expre