英语听力精选进阶版 14494

Language extinction¹

Money influences the development of culture

5 September 2014

Economic development is causing the extinction of some languages, scientists believe.

A study has found that minority languages in the most developed parts of the world, including North America, Europe and Australia, are most at threat. The research is published in the journal 'Proceedings² of the Royal Society B'.

Reporter:

Rebecca Morelle

Report

(words spoken in the language Upper Tanana)

This is Upper Tanana. It's spoken by fewer than 25 people in Alaska and may soon vanish. Scientists say that regions like this in North America, as well as areas in Europe and Australia are now hotspots for language extinctions. A study shows that the more successful a country is economically, the more rapidly minority tongues are lost, as one national language comes to dominate³ educational and political systems. 

(words spoken in Bahing)

The team also found that languages in the Himalayas could be at risk, such as Bahing in Nepal which has less than ten speakers. And some found in the tropics⁴ are also disappearing. Rapid economic growth in these regions is thought to be driving this loss. 

The scientists say that greater protection is needed.

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

3 dominate   

v.支配，统治，高出，俯视，在...中占首地位

参考例句：

• They had the ambition to dominate this small country.他们有控制这个小国的野心。
• The strong usually dominate over the weak.强者常常支配弱者。

4 tropics   

(名)热带

参考例句：

• The disease is thought to have originated in the tropics. 这种疾病据说起源于热带地区。
• I went to the tropics for the first time last year. 我去年第一次去了热带地区。