英美概况lecture 2.pptVIP

外国语学院 崔东 Lecture 2 General Introduction to Great Britain: (2) ----The people 1. Population 2. Nations and Languages 3. National/regional identity 4. National character/values 5. The four nations in the UK 6. Major cities 7. Some other facts 1. Population Population:61,126,832 (July2009) 3rd largest in Europe; with some 248 persons living in every sq km, about ten times that of the US.(P13.) Britain has one of the highest population densities in the world; unevenly distributed Urban-rural: urban 89.5%; rural 10.5%. Sex distribution: male 49.09%; female 50.91% Ethnic groups: white 92.1%, black 2%, Indian, Pakistani, mixed, other.(2001 census) Discussion: 1. What is the most densely populated area of Britain? 2. Which is the least densely populated? How might this be explained? England (London, Thames estuary area) is most densely populated area and Scotland is the least populated. Geographically, Scotland is a mountainous region, and therefore less populated. Other factors are historical, political and economic. London developed as a political and economic center of the United Kingdom with the development of the British Empire. This attracted people from all parts of the UK to live in the south-east. 2. Nations and Languages The main nations in Britain are the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. The English people are the descendants of Anglo-Saxons, while the Scots, Welsh and Irish are the descendants of the Celts. Early history Celts or Britons(2000 years ago) Romans (1st century A.D.) Celts regained (early 5th century) North Germany (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, started to migrate to England) Normans(11th century , from Normandy in France), later immigrants Languages 1.Origin of “English”--- the language that belongs to Angles 1) Old English (5th-12th century) 2) Middle English (12th-15th century) 3) Modern English (15th century--) 2. Gaelic (Celtic language) 3. Welsh Examples of Old English (just for fun) Broeor min My brother,… Sweostor min M