西方-文化背景第五部分.docVIP

Part V Language and Art 语言和艺术 1.English Language 英语语言 Old English (5th — 12th) :the language spoken by the ancient Germans was called Anglo-Saxon English or old English. Middle English (12th ___ 15th) :the middle English period began soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The coming of the Normans with their French language also influenced the English spelling. During the period, an astonishing number of French words were carried over into English while Latin words continued to flow in, but mainly for stylistic device in writing, especially by poets. Modern English (15th___): the quality of the English language was greatly improved by extensive borrowing which enabled it to have a large vocabulary for various purposes. The expansion of the British Empire helped to spread English into many countries and places all over the world. Today English is regarded as the most important international language. 英语属印欧语系，日耳曼语族，西日耳曼语支。英语的发展经历了三个阶段。第一个阶段是古英语时期，从公元5世纪到12世纪，这一时期的英语又称“盎格鲁—撒克逊语”。 第二阶段为中古英语时期，即从12世纪到15世纪。法语在这一时期对英语影响很大。中古英语在拼写 发音方面较古英语发生了很大变化，由于借用了法语和拉丁语的大量词汇，中古英语同义词十分丰富，许多仍沿用至今。第三阶段为现代英语时期。由于英帝国的扩张，英语也随之传播到世界的各地。今天英语已成为一门重要的国际语言。 2.natural and man-built spectacle 自然人文景观 Big Ben 大本钟 Tourists in London have certainly at some time heard the chimes of Big Ben on the radio. In reality this is the name of the great bell which sounds the hours, but we usually think of it as being the clock itself. It is so big that each of the minutes around its face is a foot square. It dominates the clock tower of the magnificent House of Parliament. 到过英国伦敦的游客一定还对广播中传出的大笨钟报时印象深刻。人们会以为它只是一套虚拟的报时系统，而实际上大笨钟是确有其物的。 大笨钟位于伦敦议会大厦的塔楼里。该钟直径2.7米，高2.3米，重13.5吨，是伦敦的标志之一。1923年英国广播公司第一次把这里的钟曲传到世界各地。大笨钟有四面，每面直径宽7米，时针和分针的长度分别为2.75米和4.27米。大笨钟走时非常准确，一年内的误差很少超过1秒。 Buckingham palace 白金汉宫 Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Queen, which serves as both her home and office. Buckingham palace is originally known as Buckingham House. It was built in the 1700s for the first Duck of Buckin