赖世雄高级美国英语 lesson 11

　　Lesson 11
English in the Caribbean
加勒比海英语
When we hear the word English， we naturally think of the language spoken by those living in the United Kingdom or of the people living in England. We also often think of their language as the international language， the one spoken as a native language in Ireland， the United States， Canda， Australia， and New Zealand， countries which have had a close association with England for centuries. However， English is spoken as a native or second language in a large number of other countries which were once colonies of the British Empire.
Latin America， including Mexico， Central America， the Caribbean， and South America， is often thought of as a linguistically² homogenous³ area of Latinate languages （those languages like French， Italian， Portuguese⁴， and Spanish which originated from Latin.）。 This is generally true， as the vast majority of people there speak Spanish or Portuguese as their mother tongue. However， a number of small Caribbean island nations were also once part of the British Empire， accordingly， their citizens even after independence speak English. These nations include Antigua and Barbuda， the Bahamas， Dominica， Grenada， Jamaica， Bardados， and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Do the Caribbean English speakers speak British English？ Not exactly. All over the world where English ahs been spoken for hundreds of years by speakers of other language， certain special accents or dialects have arisen. India is famous for "Indian English"， "Irish English" is unmistakable， too. Likewise， Caribbean English has its own special paterns， vocabulary， and even grammatical forms different from the standard RP （received pronunciation， also referred to as Received Standard） of British English. These special features include a lilt or "sing-song" sound to the language， and plenty of local slang.
As only a relatively⁵ few people live on these islands， how can we hear their special dialect or accent？ One kind of pop music called reggae is the easiest way outside of befriending someone from these naions. Reggae music has been popular since the 1980s， when performers like Bob Marley of Jamaica pleasantly surprised the world with their own original reggae music as well as their interpretations⁶ of other well-known pop Anglo music. Reggae is famous for its strong， often syncopated beat， laid-back singing style， and， of course， the "island" dialect. Another perennial⁷ music favorite if calypso， which is also sung in the Caribbean island English dialect. The hit song "Yes， We Have No Bananas"， is reminiscent of this drum-heavy musical style， especially from Trinidad and Tobago.
Given the islands' historic ties to both the United Kingdom and the United States， it is little wonder that today the people of these small nations continue to use English in government， academic， business， and trade. Lacal language still exist alongside the Caribbean English dialect， too， but they are mostly the patoies of the marketplace and home. Many of the residents of this area， also referred to as the West Indies of the Antilles， have emigrated to the UK or the US and， because of their linguistic¹ prowess， have done relatively well as so-called "third world" immigrants. A few writers of contemporary renown⁸ also hail from this area， as do some sports figures.
If you plan to visit any of the above-mentioned islands for any purpose， do not worry about your language skills. Caribbean people are well-known for their friendly， patient dispositions⁹. After a few days， your ear will become attuned¹⁰ to the lilting cadence¹¹ of the lovely Caribbean English dialects， and your stay in this tropical paradise will be all the more rewarding.

1 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

2 linguistically   

adv. 语言的, 语言学的

参考例句：

• But this group is linguistically, culturally, and even genetically diverse. 但这个人群在语言上，文化上，甚至在遗传上都是多样化的。
• Like the EU, Belgium is linguistically and culturally divided. 与欧盟一样，比利时是个多语言、多文化的地区。

3 homogenous   

adj.同类的，同质的，纯系的

参考例句：

• Japan is a wealthy,homogenous,developed nation with a stable political system.日本是一个富裕的同质型发达国家，政治体制稳定。
• My family is very homogenous and happy.我们这个家庭很和睦很幸福。

4 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 perennial   

adj.终年的；长久的

参考例句：

• I wonder at her perennial youthfulness.我对她青春常驻感到惊讶。
• There's a perennial shortage of teachers with science qualifications.有理科教学资格的老师一直都很短缺。

8 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

9 dispositions   

安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质

参考例句：

• We got out some information about the enemy's dispositions from the captured enemy officer. 我们从捕获的敌军官那里问出一些有关敌军部署的情况。
• Elasticity, solubility, inflammability are paradigm cases of dispositions in natural objects. 伸缩性、可缩性、易燃性是天然物体倾向性的范例。

10 attuned   

v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音

参考例句：

• She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
• Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

11 cadence   

n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫

参考例句：

• He delivered his words in slow,measured cadences.他讲话缓慢而抑扬顿挫、把握有度。
• He liked the relaxed cadence of his retired life.他喜欢退休生活的悠闲的节奏。