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19
set aside for the professional development of local teachers and for the de-
velopment of developing regionally appropriate ELT curricula.
I. Make a list of items discussed in the text.
II. Do you agree that specific cultural identities can be represented
by new varieties of English?
III. What is a lingua franca?
IV. What is your opinion concerning the matter that various re-
gional varieties of English might be taught in schools, rather than an ex-
ternal «native speaker» variety?
V. What is the aim of learning foreign language in the author’s and
your viewpoint?
VI. Should a non-native English speaker stick to «Anglo» values
when speaking English? Why / why not?
VII. Render the text.
2. Read the article and formulate what a Canadian’s language problems
are.
A CANADIAN'S LANGUAGE PROBLEMS
«Perplexed» is the word which best describes the scale of the Cana-
dian in Britain. As a Canadian staying in London, I'm only too aware of
this state of perplexity. A Canadian is neither one thing nor the other. The
English, for instance, think he is an American, while the Americans think
he is English. He himself is confused and uncertain, and nowhere is this
more evident than in his speech. He has been brought up to speak English
with an American accent, but at the same time, he has been taught to ad-
mire the way English is spoken in England. In other words, he's torn be-
tween the way be speaks English and the way he thinks English should be
spoken. And this conflict makes him wonder who and what he is.
Is there anything more galling for a Canadian than to be introduced
as «from America» at an English party, or to be asked «What part of the
States do you come from?» So Canadians abroad festoon themselves with
flags and maple leaves in the hope of preventing the inevitable misinterpre-
tation of their accent.
The problem is more acute for the Canadian living in Britain. Daily
he is faced with decisions which call his speech and his identity into ques-
tion.
20
Do I buy my groceries in a store as I would at home or in a shop as
the English do? Do I ask for a package of cookies like the Americans or a
packet of biscuits like the English? Do I eat candies or sweets when I am
hungry? It's like trying to speak another language. Of course the English
often help him out, so that when he asks for a can of corn, they reply, «Oh,
you mean a tin of sweet-corn».
And what does he say if he steps on someone's toe? Now if an Eng-
lishman steps on your toe, he says «Sorry», I'd say «Excuse me». If he
doesn't understand you and wants you to repeat what you've said (which
often happens when he's speaking to North Americans), he still says
«Sorry». I'd say «I beg your pardon». The English, in fact, say «Sorry» at
every opportunity. Yet, they say absolutely nothing in reply to «Thank
you» whereas North Americans always reply «You arc welcome».
What does it matter which word you use as long as your meaning is
clear? I reply that it does matter, if you are in London.
Such decisions have far-reaching consequences. You have to decide
whether to maintain your own accent and vocabulary in the face of the way
the English speak, or to abandon your own language, the very words you
learned at your mother's knee.
Some Canadians completely collapse under the strain. One Canadian
friend who become fed up with being mistaken for an American, feeling
inferior to the English, and weighing up every word he spoke, decided to
opt wholeheartedly for an English accent. He hoped that this would put an
end to his perplexity. He learned to say «Sorry» for everything and to call a
cookie a biscuit. But even he was defeated in the end. Once, when an old
lady asked him to help her across the street, he uttered the single word
«Sure». «Oh», said the Englishwoman, «surely you’re from America».
I. Why do you think Canadians are so worried being wrongly identi-
fied?
II. Match the following words to the definitions: uncertain, confused,
strain, perplexed.
a. unable to understand clearly what someone is saying or what is
happening
b. confused and worried by something that you do not understand
c. showing the effects of worry or too much work
d. not sure or feeling doubt
III. What language peculiarities can show a Canadian up?
set aside for the professional development of local teachers and for the de- Do I buy my groceries in a store as I would at home or in a shop as
velopment of developing regionally appropriate ELT curricula. the English do? Do I ask for a package of cookies like the Americans or a
packet of biscuits like the English? Do I eat candies or sweets when I am
I. Make a list of items discussed in the text. hungry? It's like trying to speak another language. Of course the English
II. Do you agree that specific cultural identities can be represented often help him out, so that when he asks for a can of corn, they reply, «Oh,
by new varieties of English? you mean a tin of sweet-corn».
III. What is a lingua franca? And what does he say if he steps on someone's toe? Now if an Eng-
IV. What is your opinion concerning the matter that various re- lishman steps on your toe, he says «Sorry», I'd say «Excuse me». If he
gional varieties of English might be taught in schools, rather than an ex- doesn't understand you and wants you to repeat what you've said (which
ternal «native speaker» variety? often happens when he's speaking to North Americans), he still says
V. What is the aim of learning foreign language in the author’s and «Sorry». I'd say «I beg your pardon». The English, in fact, say «Sorry» at
your viewpoint? every opportunity. Yet, they say absolutely nothing in reply to «Thank
VI. Should a non-native English speaker stick to «Anglo» values you» whereas North Americans always reply «You arc welcome».
when speaking English? Why / why not? What does it matter which word you use as long as your meaning is
VII. Render the text. clear? I reply that it does matter, if you are in London.
Such decisions have far-reaching consequences. You have to decide
2. Read the article and formulate what a Canadian’s language problems whether to maintain your own accent and vocabulary in the face of the way
are. the English speak, or to abandon your own language, the very words you
learned at your mother's knee.
A CANADIAN'S LANGUAGE PROBLEMS Some Canadians completely collapse under the strain. One Canadian
friend who become fed up with being mistaken for an American, feeling
«Perplexed» is the word which best describes the scale of the Cana-
inferior to the English, and weighing up every word he spoke, decided to
dian in Britain. As a Canadian staying in London, I'm only too aware of
opt wholeheartedly for an English accent. He hoped that this would put an
this state of perplexity. A Canadian is neither one thing nor the other. The
end to his perplexity. He learned to say «Sorry» for everything and to call a
English, for instance, think he is an American, while the Americans think
cookie a biscuit. But even he was defeated in the end. Once, when an old
he is English. He himself is confused and uncertain, and nowhere is this
lady asked him to help her across the street, he uttered the single word
more evident than in his speech. He has been brought up to speak English
«Sure». «Oh», said the Englishwoman, «surely you’re from America».
with an American accent, but at the same time, he has been taught to ad-
mire the way English is spoken in England. In other words, he's torn be-
I. Why do you think Canadians are so worried being wrongly identi-
tween the way be speaks English and the way he thinks English should be
fied?
spoken. And this conflict makes him wonder who and what he is.
II. Match the following words to the definitions: uncertain, confused,
Is there anything more galling for a Canadian than to be introduced
strain, perplexed.
as «from America» at an English party, or to be asked «What part of the
a. unable to understand clearly what someone is saying or what is
States do you come from?» So Canadians abroad festoon themselves with
happening
flags and maple leaves in the hope of preventing the inevitable misinterpre-
b. confused and worried by something that you do not understand
tation of their accent.
c. showing the effects of worry or too much work
The problem is more acute for the Canadian living in Britain. Daily
d. not sure or feeling doubt
he is faced with decisions which call his speech and his identity into ques-
III. What language peculiarities can show a Canadian up?
tion.
19 20
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