大学英语初级听力文本Unit22-23.docVIP

Lesson 22 Class in Britain and America Christine: Harry, as an American, have you noticed any strong class distinctions in English society since youve been here? Harry: Strong class distinctions? Yes, they havent changed at all—thats what—thats what amuses me—in fifteen years or fourteen years—that the stratification is exactly the same as it was when I first came. Its extraordinary that it pervades everything. Anna: What is class distinction? Because I dont know whether its what job they do or ... Harry: Its peoples accents. In Pygmalion, you know, it goes back to, as soon as you open your mouth in England youre immediately you know placed. Anna: Do you mean that there arent different accents in America? Harry: Not—of course there are different accents—but theyre not as—theyre not nearly as clearly defined. Anna: But I mean, dont—doesnt a certain strata of American society use perhaps more slang than another one? More correct? Harry: Not the way they do in England. In England they seem to really stick together. I mean I went the other week for the first time in my life to a point-to-point and I couldnt believe what I found. There I was in the middle of Lincolnshire and we went through muddy fields and suddenly we came upon this parking lot with nine thousand Range Rovers in it and everyone going Oh, hello darling. How are you? you know and it was hilarious I mean and they were all you know this meeting of the clan and that certainly doesnt happen in America and all those people spoke the same way. Barrie: But that—yes, I live in the middle of the country in the south and I must say when I moved there I noticed—I mean of course Id been aware of class before that but I had no idea that the lines between them were so rigid. I lived on an estate of a very big and successful farm until recently, and so the farm of course was run by the landed gentry who all went hunting and to point-to-point and all the rest of it. I lived next door to the groom who was