Englisch 22-11-2014

Mock class test

Foto: The Financial Times journalist Simon Kuper

Tasks 1. Summarize the main ideas of Simon Kuper’ article on the role of proper English and today. (comprehension; 16 Punkte)

2. Explain how the author uses rhetorical strategies and stylistic devices to convince the readers of his view of Globish. (analysis; 24 Punkte)

3. “They speak ’Globish’ – a simple, dull, idiom-free version of English with a small vocabulary.” (ll. 19-20) Write a letter to the editor of the Financial Times in which you comment on Kuper’s view of Globish. (evaluation, re-creation of text 20 Punkte)

Informationen Erlaubte Hilfsmittel: • Wörterbuch Englisch-Deutsch; Deutsch-Englisch • Unterrichtsmaterialien Wintersemester 2014/15 • Wörterbuch für Studierende ohne Muttersprache Deutsch

Tipps und Hinweise: • Analysiere in der zweiten Teilaufgabe mindestens drei Stilmittel und erkläre wie sie die Meinung des Autors unterstützen. • Verwende in der dritten Teilaufgabe mindestens drei Argumente für deine Position.

Why proper English rules OK by Simon Kuper, Financial Times, 8 October 2010. 1 Of course native speakers of English aren’ more intelligent than foreigners. But in a ‘Globish’ world they sound it. „To be born an Englishman,“ Cecil Rhodes supposedly said, „is to win first prize in the lottery of life.“ But the old imperialist 1 was wrong. What he should have said was, 5 “To be born an English-speaker …” The global rise of bad English is helping us native speakers rise. I first realised our advantage at a conference last year. The speakers came from across northern Europe, but they all gave their talks in English – or a sort of English. Germans, Belgians and French people would stand up and, in monotones and 10 distracting accents, read out speeches that sounded as if they’ been turned into English by computers. Sometimes, the organisers begged them to speak their own languages, but they refused. Meanwhile the conference interpreters sat idle in their booths. Each new speaker lost the audience 2 within a minute. Yet whenever a native 15 English-speaker opened his mouth, the audience listened. The native speakers sounded conversational, and could make jokes, add nuance. They weren’t more intelligent than the foreigners, but they sounded it, and so they were heard. Here, in microcosm 3, was a nascent 4 international hierarchy: native English-speakers rule. English has been invading international settings since at least 1919, when the Treaty 20 of Versailles was written in English as well as French. […] Today about one in four humans speak at least some English, according to the British Council. Many more want to learn it. Robert McCrum, co-author of The Story of English, hails “the apparent realisation of one of mankind’s oldest dreams – the end of Babel 5.” 25 Of course, most of these new speakers don’t speak proper English. They speak “Globish” – a simple, dull, idiom-free version of English with a small vocabulary. Most Europeans at my conference, for instance, spoke Globish. Speakers of Globish often struggle to understand native English. They are confused by idioms, half-sentences, references to ancient TV programmes, or simply the British habit of not saying what 30 you mean. […] Let’s say native English-speakers can learn Globish in days. […] In a Globish world, the native English-speaker triumphs. When you need to drop into Globish 6, you can. But when subtley or speed is required, you beat them. Moore says native English-speakers often steer conversation, using phrases like, “Can I just jump in 35 here …” 7 and, “So what we’re saying is …” 8 Foreigners sit mutely, trying to follow what’s being said. This now happens even in Brussels, especially since the non-French-speaking eastern Europeans joined in 2004. Today most of the European Commission’s spokespeople speak English. Brits 9 and Irish draft many official documents, because writing decent English 10 is a strain 11 for everyone else. So native-speakers quietly shape debate. The same happens in multinational companies, says Moore. The strategy for native English-speakers is clear. Learn a bit of extra Globish, and Bob’s your uncle 12 .” (481 words)

Vocabulary 1. old imperialist = a person who believed in Britain’s superiority over other nations, and in the British right to colonize them; 2. to lose the audience = to lose the audience’s attention; 3. microcosm = a miniature example of a much larger phenomenon; nascent = very early; 5. Babel = According to the Bible, Babel was the place where God first made people speak different languages and then scattered them across the earth, so that they wouldn’t be able to achieve too much; 6. to drop into (Globish) = to suddenly change language and start speaking (Globish); 7. Can I just jump in here … = Can I interrupt?; 8. So what we’re saying is … = So, a summary of what you mean is …; 9. Brits = British people; 10. decent Englisch = quite good English; 11. a strain = a struggle, difficult; 12. Learn a bit of extra Globish, and Bob’s your uncle = everything will be OK.