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CHARLESTON
DORIS DAY
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH
LONDON 2012: Perverting the Olympic Spirit
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ECONOMICS: GERMAN LESSONS?
CONTENTS
THINK IN ENGLISH MAGAZINE
EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to Think 148. Our biggest theme this issue is the Olympic Games. We take a light-hearted look at everything that’s wrong with the Olympics on pp. 24-25. Then, on pp. 18-19 we go back and look at what the original Ancient Greek Olympics were really like. The sports theme continues on pp. 30-31 where we have a look at some bits of vocabulary that could be useful if you are in an English-speaking sports context. Then on pp. 36-37 we look at the vocabulary of sport and how sports words interrelate with each other. Finally, on the bookmark we illustrate the words for different sports venues. A second focus is the monarchy. In a fascinating article John explains why he is one of the many Britons who have fallen back in love with the British monarchy over the last decade. Meanwhile on the CD the debate deals with the question of constitutional monarchy or republic (CD tracks 1-8). Other features include an excellent piece by Professor Franklin on a bizarre English custom (p. 10) and the second part of our psychology test about Shakespearean characters on pp. 14-17. Moving across the Atlantic Nicole introduces us to the old (by US standards) city of Charleston (pp. 11-13), which she visited recently, while Marina has dissected the life of America’s Sweetheart, Doris Day (pp. 26-27) in a great cinema piece. There’s a lot more to keep you avidly reading and listening. Remember this magazine covers two months in Spain.
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See you next issue, Nick Franklin, editor NickAtThink@gmail.com MAGAZINE ABBREVIATION & SYMBOLS KEY Listening: there is a recording on the CD connected to the text.
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ISSUE 148
CURRENT AFFAIRS 4 News & Anecdotes 6 Science 7 Internet – The Social Media Office 8 Economics – The German Economy 10 Society – Half a Pig for a Happy Marriage CULTURE 11 Travel – Charleston: the Sexiest City 14 Theatre – Which Shakespearean character are you? 18 History – Olympic Origins 20 Politics – Confessions of a Neo-Monarchist 22 Song – Red, Red Rose....................................... 24 Feature – Olympic Swindle 26 Cinema – Doris Day: America’s Sweetheart LANGUAGE 28 Language – Metaphorically Speaking 30 Functional – Sports Talk 32 Pronunciation – Context & Stress Shift................................................................. 34 Translation – Error Detectives 36 Word Building – Sports Families 38 Words/Idioms – It does Matter 41 Crossword 42 Miscellany..................................................................... 43 Subscription form 44 Back issues’ coupon 45 Tapescripts................................................................... 51 Next month Bookmark – Sports Venues
Exercise: there is an exercise in the subscribers’ exercises relating directly to the text.
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Subject link: there is a related article on the pages given.
Abbreviations:
sth. = something, s.o. = someone, swh. = somewhere
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CURRENT AFFAIRS | ECONOMICS
Deutschland über Alles1
THE GERMAN ECONOMY
BY DOUGLAS JASCH douglasjasch@douglasjasch.com, twitter: @douglasjasch
Germany’s European partners2 are in the invidious3 position of being forced to impose tough4 austerity measures on their citizens in an attempt5 to repair their economies. Most of Europe is suffering from the economic woes6 of a troubled world financial system – but not the German economy, which is going like gangbusters7.
Germanic Statistics
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A Lower Euro Part of the German success story is attributable to the lower Euro. The Euro has fallen 15% against the US dollar since 2008. Therefore17, European exports have become cheaper for the rest of the world. This has been particularly good news for Germany because of its high level of exports, which have effectively become 15% cheaper because of the lower Euro. Yet 18 the reasons for German success go much deeper than this. to label – dub, call to hover – float 21 to be struggling – be in
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difficulties due to – because of 23 wages – salaries, pay 22
The ‘Sick Man of Europe’ In the 1990s the Anglo press labelled19 Germany the sick man of Europe. At that time the US was enjoying the fruits of the technology boom. The era created the first generation of Internet titans, from AOL to Yahoo. Unemployment hovered20 at around five percent and U.S. consumers couldn’t stop consuming. Back then, the German economy was struggling 21 due to22 the recent unification with the much poorer East Germany. The country had inflexible labour laws, uncompetitive wages23, and high24 rates of long-term unemployment. At the same time the other economies in Europe were booming. Unemployment in Britain was 4.9% compared to Germany’s 10.5% in 2003. Fast-forward to today, and t he situation has been reversed. The global recession has exposed the vulnerabilities of the American consumer. Unemployment in the US is at 9%. By contrast, the German economy is performing extremely well, despite Germany ’s high ta xes and high wages. In fact, the fate25 of the European Union is largely26 in the hands of Chancellor Angela Merkel through financial Angela Merkel bailout packages27. PHOTO BY PETER WEIS
“Germany above all else” – the first line of the German National Anthem since 1922 (written in 1841) 2 partner – associate 3 invidious – (false friend) unpleasant, difficult, undesirable 4 tough – (in this context) severe, strict 5 attempt – effort 6 woes – problems, difficulties 7 to be going like gangbusters – (US English) advance vigorously 8 largest – biggest 9 GDP – gross domestic product, national production 10 to account for – represent 11 output – production 12 to build up (build-built-built) – accumulate 13 trade surplus – excess of exports over imports 14 to allow – permit, enable 15 20-year low – the lowest level in two decades 16 out of step with – out of synch with, different from 17 therefore – hence, for this reason 18 yet – (in this context) however 1
Germany is the largest 8 national economy in Europe, the fourth-largest by nominal GDP9 in the world. It is the world’s second largest exporter with exports accounting for10 more than onethird of national output11. This has resulted in the country building up12 an enviable trade surplus13 of €158 billion at a time when most other European economies are restructuring in an attempt5 to become more competitive to allow14 them to increase their exports. Average German unemployment is at 6.7%, a 20-year low15. Other countries have much higher unemployment with the 17 Eurozone nations averaging 10.7%. Given all of this, the obvious questions are: why is the German economy so out of step with16 the rest of Europe and are there lessons from Germany that can be learnt by the rest of us?
PHOTO BY EUGEN NOSKO
high – elevated, pronounced 25 fate – destiny, future 24
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largely – more or less bailout package – rescue strategy
THINK IN ENGLISH ISSUE 148
CULTURE | TRAVEL
Charleston America’s Sexiest City BY NICOLE JEWELL
There’s no doubt about it: Charleston /ˈʧa:rlstən/, South Carolina is one of the few southern cities that’s still proud to be southern. This elegant city is filled with ‘born-and-bred’ locals1 that wholeheartedly2 embrace true Southern values. But don’t let their location on the map fool3 you. Charlestonians aren’t stereotypical southerners Charleston,SC whose slow southern drawl4 can sometimes be misconstrued5 as uncultured; their twangy6 southern accent has a deliberate haughtiness to it7, brimming with8 both flirty9 charm10 and social grace. In fact, Charleston was recognized in the late 1990s as the ‘bestmannered11’ city in the USA and just12 last year, this sophisticated city was named “America’s sexiest city” by Travel and Leisure Magazine. So just13 what makes this city such a sexy, well-mannered11 paradise?
Horse-and-buggy tours
Maine
Minnesota
New New York Vermont Hampshire
Wisconsin
Michigan
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Pennsylvania
Iowa
New Jersey
Ohio
Delaware
Illinois
Maryland
Indiana
Virginia
West Virginia
s Missouri
Kentucky
North Carolina
Tennessee
Arkansas
South Carolina
Mississippi Louisiana
Georgia
Alabama
Florida
How to See Charming Charleston Without a doubt, the best way to enjoy this city is to walk it. A good walking tour might last14 twoto-three hours, although horse-and-buggy15 tours are also popular and might be a little easier on the feet16 . Either way, all tours will include a stop at the many historic monuments Charleston has to offer as well as some of the water-front antebellum17 mansions the city is famous for. Charleston is one of America’s most historically relevant cities, dating back to 1670.18 It’s this vibrant history and southern charm10 that makes Charleston such an incredible place to visit.
The Holy City and its Old Money First and foremost19 , it’s impossible to visit Charleston and not notice the number of churches and steeples20 that soar21 above the city’s low skyline22 . Since its founding, the city has served as a haven 23 for various persecuted religions from all over the world. Religious houses flourished in early Charleston and it was this religious tolerance that earned the city its first moniker24, ‘the Holy City’. St. Michael’s Anglican Church is the oldest surviving church in the city and still holds services25 throughout26 the week. The United Methodist Church is also worth a visit27 because it was one of the first churches to be established by free black Charlestonians and slaves28 in 1797.
St. Philips Church born-and-bred locals – residents who have lived in the city all their lives 2 wholeheartedly – enthusiastically, emphatically 3 to fool s.o. – deceive s.o., (in this context) cause s.o. to come to an erroneous conclusion 4 drawl – slow way of speaking, lethargic speech 5 to misconstrue – misinterpret 6 twangy – nasal 7 to have a deliberate haughtiness to it (have-had-had) – be
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intentionally haughty (= snobbish, pompous) 8 to be brimming with – be full of 9 flirty – seductive, flirtatious, coquettish 10 charm – allure, glamour, charisma 11 well-mannered (well-/better-/ best-) – polite, courteous 12 just – (in this context) only 13 just – (in this context) exactly (what is it that) 14 to last – continue for 15 buggy (US English) – carriage (see photo)
easier on the feet – less arduous for one’s feet 17 antebellum – from before the Civil War, pre-1860 18 it was named for (= in honour of) Charles II of England (i.e. Charles’ town) 19 first and foremost – more than anything else 20 steeple – the pointed tower of a church 21 to soar – rise, ascend 22 skyline – silhouette of a city against the 16
horizon haven – refuge 24 moniker – informal name, nickname 25 to hold services (hold-held-held) – celebrates the Eucharist 26 throughout – (in this context) every day of 27 is also worth a visit – should also be visited 28 slave – (in this context) person abducted from West Africa and forced to work in the Americas (or a descendant of such a person) 23
ISSUE 148 THINK IN ENGLISH 11
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CULTURE | GREAT THEATRE/PSYCHOLOGY TEST
Which Shakespearean Character Are You? SHAKESPEARE’S MEN
Last month we asked female readers to determine which Shakespearean character they were most like1 by choosing between a list of (made-up2) statements3 by some of Shakespeare’s leading female characters. Now it’s the boys’ turn. Which of these people do you most resemble?
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For me life is a game and the point of any game is to win. My victories in the game of life are based on my boundless4 energy and my verbal dexterity5. Like everything else, love is a question of competition, of winners and losers. When I woo6 I am playful and a great actor, but the ultimate 7 goal 8 is the submission of my love interest9. If she behaves10 in a way that is unacceptable, I show her that I can behave even more outlandishly11. I am the alpha male and she must submit to12 my authority in the interests of domestic peace in a loving home.
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I am increasingly frustrated with the world, which I understand less and less. In the past people simply did things because they knew it was their responsibility to do them. Now they expect you to explain why they have to do them. In my day13 people respected experience and authority, now people only seem to respect money and power. My frustration with the modern world is sometimes manifested in bouts14 of uncontrollable rage15. to be most like – be most similar to made-up – invented, imaginary 3 statement – declaration 4 boundless – limitless, infinite 5 dexterity – ability, talent, skill 6 to woo – court, romance 7 ultimate – (false friend) definitive 8 goal – objective 9 love interest – lover, (in this context) girlfriend 10 to behave – act 11 outlandishly – ludicrously, preposterously 12 to submit to – conform to, accept 13 in my day – in the past, when I was young 14 bout – outburst, fit, eruption 15 rage – anger, fury
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I am a great team leader because people follow me as their friend. I am affable and popular with both men and women. I also have no problem mixing in a variety of social contexts. However, my charmed16 life has begun to unravel17 because I have fallen in love. As a result of this new passion I have neglected18 not only my wife and family but also my other responsibilities.
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I’ve always been a fun-loving guy, a bit of a clown really. I enjoy spending time with my mates19 and sex with women. You could say I’m a bit of a misogynist but really I laugh at romantic love rather than20 at women. Marriage is something that separates you from your pals21 and traps22 you. However, just recently a woman has moved centre stage23 in my life. Initially, she was my verbal sparring partner24 and we were insulting each other all the time. But I’ve come to realize25 that she’s my intellectual equal and I enjoy being with her more than with my mates. I was destined to be a confirmed bachelor26 – what’s happening to me? charmed – lucky, fortunate, easy to unravel /ʌnˈrævəl/ – fall apart, collapse, disintegrate 18 to neglect – be negligent towards, abandon 19 mate – male82 friend 20 rather than – as opposed to, instead of 21 pal – mate19 22 to trap – ensnare, imprison 23 to move centre stage – become the central focus 24 verbal sparring partner – s.o. who you enjoy arguing with 25 to come to realize (come-came-come) – become conscious 26 confirmed bachelor – man who will never marry
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Hamlet
King Lear THINK IN ENGLISH ISSUE 148
CULTURE | FEATURE
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THE OLYMPIC SWINDLE1. For the last 30 years the Olympic Games have been primarily a televised event. In other words it encourages2 a few hundred people to take exercise and many millions to spend more time in front of the TV being patriotic couch potatoes3. But the pernicious thing about the Olympics is that it is a selectively televised event. You only fully realize 4 this when you live in another country during the Olympics. However, you can get some feel for5 it when they occasionally show you the medals table6. It’s rather7 disconcerting, so they don’t do it very often. The thing is, if you watch the Olympics in a reasonable sized country, the local athletes seem to be winning all over the place8 or at least picking up silvers and bronzes. Then, weirdly9, when they fleetingly10 show you the medals league you see that your motherland11 is ranked12 a dismal13 19th (or whatever). What’s happened? Well, it’s quite simple. There are scores of ridiculous sports at the Olympics, so there have got to be a few that any country is good at.14 The national television of swindle – fraud to encourage – stimulate, urge, incite 3 couch potato – s.o. who does very little exercise 4 to realize – (false friend) become conscious of 5 feel for – idea of, intuition of 6 medals’ table – ordinal list of how many medals each country has won 7 rather – quite, somewhat, surprisingly 8 all over the place – everywhere, (in this context) in many different sports 9 weirdly – disconcertingly, strangely 10 fleetingly – briefly, for a moment 11 one’s motherland – one’s patria, one’s country 1 2
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each nation then televises these sports and carefully ignores others, so that all around the world everyone can feel that pleasant tingle15 of patriotic pride. That’s why the Olympics are so much more enjoyable than the soccer World Cup or the Eurovision Song Contest16 – every country’s a winner. By the same token17, if you ever want an antidote to patriotism, just watch the Olympics in another country.
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MONEY. In the past the Olympics was about amateurs in the ‘Free World’ competing against professional fulltime athletes from the Communist Bloc. The Soviets won this aspect of the Cold War and now most participants in the Olympics are – in one sense or another – professionals. So what? Well, Olympic success18 is more and more about money and it’s more and more about return on investment19. When a country needs Olympic success, it spends more on preparing for the Olympics and the result is more medals. This is clearest in the case of the host country20, the only place in which a significant number to rank – classify dismal – depressing, mediocre, uninspiring I bet you £5 that cheerleading and poledancing are Olympic sports within50 my lifetime! 15 tingle – sensation 16 contest – competition 17 by the same token – by the same logic, for the same reasons 18 success – (false friend) victories, triumphs 19 return on investment – spending money effectively in terms of a desired result 20 host country – country in which the Olympics is being celebrated in a specific year 21 to be glued to the TV set – be watching TV 12
of people are watching the sports live (as opposed to on TV). Host countries spend much more than usual on preparing for the Games and so they come out with many more medals than they usually do. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to spend two weeks glued to the television set21 just to see which countries have invested most in sport. One thing I can tell you; no developing nation will win the pole-vaulting 22 because the fibreglass23 poles are really expensive.
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SAUDI ARABIA. OK, I get it 24 . The Olympics is about the world’s nations coming together in peace and so politics should be kept out of it. I understand that for most people that’s a good enough reason to interact with countries that have the death penalty25 and forced marriage, places where gay people are put in prison or put to death, countries where torture is routine. Sport should be above and outside26 such matters27, I do get it. Even if our brotherly love for the rest of Mankind28 is expressed competitively in a petty29 nationalistic context, I understand.
constantly pole-vaulting – fibreglass – strong light material made out of a special type of glass 24 to get it (get-got-got) – (in this context) understand 25 the death penalty – capital punishment 26 above and outside – beyond, unaffected by 27 matter – question, theme, controversy 28 Mankind – humanity 29 petty – inconsequential, trivial
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THINK IN ENGLISH ISSUE 148
PHOTO BY WILLIAM WARBY
SEVEN REASONS Not TO ENJOY THE OLYMPICS
LANGUAGE | WORDS/IDIOMS
It Does Matter!
‘Matter’ is one of those words which crops up1 all over the place2 in English under a number of different guises3. Not only can it be an uncountable4 and a countable5 noun as well as a verb, ‘matter’ also appears in a dozen or so different idioms. This is a word that matters6. Non-count ‘Matter’ The word ‘matter’ is directly related to ‘material’, through their common origin, the Latin word materia, which meant ‘substance’. As an uncountable noun ‘matter’ means precisely ‘substance’ and the word is used in astrophysics (along with7 ‘dark matter’ and ‘anti-matter’). Non-count ‘matter’ also appears in the following expressions: ❯❯ grey matter = the brain: e.g. He hasn’t got much in the way of8 grey matter but he’s a sweet guy9.
question16, point17 or case18) or because they are somewhat19 vague20 terms (e.g. affair, business, situation or thing). Often the best synonym for ‘matter’ depends on the phrase it is used in: ❯❯ the heart of the matter ❯❯ the crux of the matter = the key point of the theme under discussion21: e.g. We need to get to the heart of the matter. ❯❯ a matter of luck = a question of luck
to crop up – appear, pop up all over the place – everywhere 3 under different guises – (in this context) in different forms 4 uncountable (adj.) – non-count, mass, that cannot be counted 5 countable (adj.) – count 6 to matter – be important 7 along with – together with 8 in the way of – as regards, in terms of 9 guy (US English) – bloke (UK English), man
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Colourful ‘grey matter’
willpower – determination to overcome (-come/-came/-come) – triumph over, conquer 12 you are much more likely to – it is much more probable that you will 13 to come across (come-came-come) – encounter 14 topic – (false friend) theme, subject, focus of a debate 15 subject – (false friend) theme, question being debated. In fact, we often use the expression ‘subject matter’ to refer to the theme 10
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❯❯ the matter in hand (UK English) ❯❯ the matter at hand (US English) = the point in question, the subject15 under analysis
❯❯ as a matter of course = automatically, in the normal course of events: e.g. I never have to remind him to do it. He does it as a matter of course.
Count ‘Matter’
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❯❯ that’s another matter (altogether) = that’s a completely different topic14
❯❯ for that matter = in fact. This expression is used to mention that something else is also true: e.g. I’ve never tried to hide22 what I thought about him from you, or from anyone else for that matter. e.g. I don’t like Dalí... or any surrealist painters for that matter.
❯❯ mind over matter = the use of willpower10 to overcome11 physical problems; the use of one’s mind to control the physical universe telepathically: e.g. The last five kilometres of a marathon are purely a question of mind over matter.
However, you are much more likely to12 come across13 ‘matter’ as a count noun. Countable ‘matter’ is perhaps easiest to translate as ‘theme’. In this general sense ‘matter’ has a number of synonyms, many of which cause problems either because they are false friends (e.g. topic14, subject15, PHOTO BY EVAN89
Matter, dark matter and anti-matter
❯❯ be a matter of life or death = be a question of vital importance, be a very serious subject: e.g. Quick, call the emergency services and tell them it’s a matter of life or death. or focus of a text or a work of art. question – (in this context) theme 17 point – (false friend) most important fact, central theme 18 case – instance, situation 19 somewhat – quite, rather, fairly 20 vague – (false friend) imprecise 21 under discussion – (false friend) under debate, being talked about 22 to hide (hide-hid-hidden) – conceal, camouflage 16
THINK IN ENGLISH ISSUE 148