3. 主讲课文 On National Prejudices

UNIT3  CulturalDifferencesPartOne ActivationTopic-relatedWordsChoosetheadjectivesthatyouthinkdescribethenationalitieslistedbelow.Usethewordstomakesentencesthatdescribenationalstereotypeasintheexamples.ChineseBritishAmericanFrenchGerman  Spanish  Russiane.g.TheChinesearestereotypicallyseen(regarded/deemed)as…TheBritishareoftenbelieved(thought/considered/)tobe…punctualoutgoingconservativeaggressivealcoholicemotionalimpetuousnationalistictalkativepolitegluttonoussophisticatedromanticfashionablesociablefrugalpassionateformalrespectfulhumorousseriousarrogantpragmaticcasualindustriouslazyquietjudiciousrigidhospitablePartTwo Warm-upActivityReadandThinkHollywoodoftenresortstonationalstereotypeswhenportrayingmovievillains.FromasadisticformerKGBoperativeinTheAvengerstotheRussianevildoersinAGoodDaytoDieHard,therehascertainlybeennoshortageofRussianvillainsonscreenrecently.“RussiawasrepresentedoftenasageopoliticalthreattotheWest,”saysJamesChapman,ProfessorofFilmStudiesattheUniversityofLeicester.Russianpoliticiansandfilmmakershavenowmadecleartheirdispleasure.BatuKhasikov,amemberoftheculturecommitteeattheupperchamberofthenation’sfederalassembly,hadstatedthat“movieswhereeverythingrelatedtoRussiaisovertlydemonizedorshowninaprimitiveandsillywayshouldbebannedfromtheatricaldistribution.”TheRussiansmightbethevillainofchoicerightnowbutoverthedecadesmanydifferentracesandnationalitieshavehadtheirmomentintheevildoerspotlight.AroundthetimeofWorldWarII,forobviousreasons,GermansappearedasvillainsinUSfilms-asdidtheJapanese.AnothergroupthathasbeendemonisedfordecadeswithvaryingdegreesofintensityisArabs.IntheArab-AmericancommunityHollywood’sdepictionsoverthedecadeshavebeenseenassufferingfromthe‘3BSyndrome’,inwhichArabswereshowntobeeitherbellydancers,billionairesorbombers.Inthewakeofthe9/11attackstherewasgrowingconcernamongArab-Americansthattheywerebeingtypecastasterrorists.ChinahascontributeditsshareofmovievillainsgoingbacktothetimewhenFuManchuappearedasadistrustfulChinesecharacterintheearlydaysoftalkingcinema.WhenMGMreleasedTheMaskofFuManchu1932theChineseembassyintheUSdeliveredaformalcomplaintbecausethetitlecharacterwasdepictedwithsuchhostility.WhatdoyouthinkofnationalstereotypesinHollywoodmovies?PartThree  TextOnNationalPrejudices1OliverGoldsmith○1[1]AsIamoneofthatsaunteringtribeofmortals,whospendthegreatestpartoftheirtimeintaverns,coffeehouses,andotherplacesofpublicresort,Ihavetherebyanopportunityofobservinganinfinitevarietyofcharacters,which,toapersonofacontemplativeturn,isamuchhigherentertainmentthanaviewofallthecuriositiesof1Thistextistakenfromartornature.Inoneofthese,mylaterambles,Iaccidentallyfellintothecompanyofhalfadozengentlemen,whowereengagedinawarmdisputeaboutsomepoliticalaffair;thedecisionofwhich,astheywereequallydividedintheirsentiments,theythoughtpropertorefertome,whichnaturallydrewmeinforashareoftheconversation.[2]Amongstamultiplicityofothertopics,wetookoccasiontotalkofadifferentcharactersoftheseveralnationsofEurope;whenoneofthegentlemen,cockinghishat,andassumingsuchanairofimportanceasifhehadpossessedallthemeritoftheEnglishnationinhisownperson,declaredthattheDutchwereaparcelofavariciouswretches;theFrenchasetofflatteringsycophants;thattheGermansweredrunkensots,andbeastlygluttons;andtheSpaniardsproud,haughty,andsurlytyrants;butthatinbravery,generosity,clemency,andineveryothervirtue,theEnglishexcelledalltheworld.[3]Thisverylearnedandjudiciousremarkwasreceivedwithageneralsmileofapprobationbyallthecompany--all,Imean,butyourhumbleservant;who,endeavoringtokeepmygravityaswellasIcould,Ireclinedmyheaduponmyarm,continuedforsometimesinapostureofaffectedthoughtfulness,asifIhadbeenmusingonsomethingelse,anddidnotseemtoattendtothesubjectofconversation;hopingbythesemeanstoavoidthedisagreeablenecessityofexplainingmyself,andtherebydeprivingthegentlemenofhisimaginaryhappiness.[4]Butmypseudo-patriothadnomindtoletmeescapesoeasily.Notsatisfiedthathisopinionshouldpasswithoutcontradiction,hewasdeterminedtohaveitratifiedbythesuffrageofeveryoneinthecompany;forwhichpurposeaddressinghimselftomewithanairofinexpressibleconfidence,heaskedmeifIwasnotinthesamewayofthinking.AsIamneverforwardingivingmyopinion,especiallywhenIhavereasontobelievethatitwillnotbeagreeable;so,whenIamobligedtogiveit,Ialwaysholditforamaximtospeakmyrealsentiments.Ithereforetoldhimthat,formyownpart,Ishouldnothaveventuredtotalkinsuchaperemptorystrain,unlessIhadmadethetourofEurope,andexaminedthemannersoftheseseveralnationswithgreatcareandaccuracy:that,perhaps,amoreimpartialjudgewouldnotscrupletoaffirmthattheDutchweremorefrugalandindustrious,theFrenchmoretemperateandpolite,theGermansmorehardyandpatientoflabourandfatigue,andtheSpaniardsmorestaidandsedate,thantheEnglish;who,thoughundoubtedlybraveandgenerous,wereatthesametimerash,headstrong,andimpetuous;tooapttobeelatedwithprosperity,andtodespondinadversity.[5]IcouldeasilyperceivethatallofthecompanybegantoregardmewithajealouseyebeforeIhadfinishedmyanswer,whichIhadnosoonerdone,thanthepatrioticgentlemanobserved,withacontemptuoussneer,thathewasgreatlysurprisedhowsomepeoplecouldhavetheconsciencetoliveinacountrywhichtheydidnotlove,andtoenjoytheprotectionofagovernment,towhichintheirheartstheywereinveterateenemies.Findingthatbythismodestdeclarationofmysentiments,Ihadforfeitedthegoodopinionofmycompanions,andgiventhemoccasiontocallmypoliticalprinciplesinquestion,andwellknowingthatitwasinvaintoarguewithmenwhoweresoveryfullofthemselves,Ithrewdownmyreckoningandretiredtomyownlodgings,reflectingontheabsurdandridiculousnatureofnationalprejudiceandprepossession.[6]Amongallthefamoussayingsofantiquity,thereisnonethatdoesgreaterhonourtotheauthor,oraffordsgreaterpleasuretothereader(atleastifhebeapersonofagenerousandbenevolentheart)thanthatthephilosopher,who,beingaskedwhat"countrymanhewas,"repliedthathewasacitizenoftheworld.Howfewtherearetobefoundinmoderntimeswhocansaythesame,orwhoseconductisconsistentwithsuchaprofession!WearenowbecomesomuchEnglishmen,Frenchmen,Dutchmen,Spaniards②,orGermans,thatwearenolongercitizensoftheworld;somuchthenativesofoneparticularspot,ormembersofonepettysociety,thatwenolongerconsiderourselvesasthegeneralinhabitantsoftheglobe,ormembersofthatgrandsocietywhichcomprehendsthewholehumankind.[7]Didtheseprejudicesprevailonlyamongthemeanestandlowestofthepeople,perhapstheymightbeexcused,astheyhavefew,ifany,opportunitiesofcorrectingthembyreading,traveling,orconversingwithforeigners;butthemisfortuneis,thattheyinfecttheminds,andinfluencetheconductevenofourgentlemen;ofthose,Imean,whohaveeverytitletothisappellationbutanexemptionfromprejudice,which,however,inmyopinion,oughttoberegardedasthecharacteristicalmarkofagentleman:forletaman'sbirthbeeversohigh,hisstationeversoexalted,orhisfortuneeversolarge,yetifheisnotfreefromnationalandotherprejudices,Ishouldmakeboldtotellhim,thathehadalowandvulgarmind,andhadnojustclaimtothecharacterofagentleman.Andinfact,youwillalwaysfindthatthosearemostapttoboastofnationalmerit,whohavelittleornomeritoftheirowntodependon,thanwhich,tobesure,nothingismorenatural:theslendervinetwistsaroundthesturdyoakfornootherreasonintheworldbutbecauseithasnotstrengthsufficienttosupportitself.[8]Shoulditbeallegedindefenseofnationalprejudice,thatitisthenaturalandnecessarygrowthoflovetoourcountry,andthatthereforetheformercannotbedestroyedwithouthurtingthelatter;Ianswer,thatthisisagrossfallacyanddelusion.Thatitisthegrowthoflovetoourcountry,Iwillallow;butthatitisthenaturalandnecessarygrowthofit,Iabsolutelydeny.Superstitionandenthusiasmtooarethegrowthofreligion;butwhoevertookitinhisheadtoaffirmthattheyarethenecessarygrowthofthisnobleprinciple?[9]IsitnotverypossiblethatImaylovemyowncountry,withouthatingthenativesofothercountries?ThatImayexertthemostheroicbravery,themostundauntedresolution,indefendingitslawsandliberty,withoutdespisingalltherestoftheworldascowardsandpoltroons?Mostcertainlyitis:andifitwerenot--ButwhyneedIsupposewhatisabsolutelyimpossible?--butifitwerenot,Imustown,Ishouldpreferthetitleoftheancientphilosopher,namely,acitizenoftheworld,tothatofanEnglishman,aFrenchman,aEuropean,ortoanyotherappellationwhatever.(TotalWords:1244)NotestotheText①OliverGoldsmith(1728-1774):anAnglo-Irishnovelist,poet,essayist,anddramatist.Afterhishighereducation,GoldsmithtriedvariousprofessionsandthensetoutonawalkingtourofFlanders,France,SwitzerlandandNorthernItalyintheearly1750s.In1756,hesettledinLondonandbeganhiswritingcareer.Hisessay“OnNationalPrejudices”wasfirstpublishedintheBritishMagazine,August1760.②CitizenoftheWorld:anidealthatdatesbacktotheancientGreekphilosopherDiogenesofSinopeinthe3rdcenturyBC.Ifsomeoneaskedhimwherehecamefrom,hewouldonlyreply,“Iamacitizenoftheworld.”Thiswasaradicalclaiminaworldwhereaman’sidentitywasintimatelytiedtohiscitizenshipofaparticularcity-state.NewWordsandExpressionssaunter/ˈsɔ:ntə(r)/v.towalkinaslowrelaxedway漫步,闲逛contemplative/kənˈtemplətɪv/a.deeplyorseriouslythoughtful 沉思默想的；深思熟虑的ramble/ˈræmbl/n.alongwalkforpleasure漫步multiplicity/ˌmʌltɪˈplɪsəti/n.agreatnumberandvarietyofsth.多数，多样avaricious/ˌævə'rɪʃəs/n.immoderatelydesirousofacquiringe.g.wealth贪财的,贪婪的sycophant/ˈsɪkəfant/n.Apersonwhoactsinanexcessivelyobedientorattentivemannertowardssomeoneimportantinordertogainadvantage. 谄媚者，拍马屁者sot/sɒt/n.Ahabitualdrunkard醉鬼，酗酒者clemency/'klemnsi/n.kindnessshowntosbwhentheyarebeingpunished;willingnessnottopunishsbsoseverely仁慈,宽厚,仁厚approbation/ˌæprəˈbeɪʃn/n.approvaloragreement认可,嘉许ratify/ˈrætɪfaɪ/v.tomakeanagreementofficiallyvalidbyvotingfororsigningit使正式生效,批准,认可suffrage/ˈsʌfrɪdʒ/n.(archaic)Avotegiveninassenttoaproposalorinfavouroftheelectionofaparticularperson.投票peremptory/pəˈremptəri/a.(especiallyofsb’smannerorbehaviour)expectingtobeobeyedimmediatelyandwithoutquestionorrefusal专横的,不容反抗的strain/streɪn/n.(formal)themeaningofwhatyouaresayingorwriting,orthewayitisexpressed表达方式,口吻,语气notscrupletodosth.tobewillingtodosth.evenifitmightbewrongorimmoral顾忌,不迟疑frugal/ˈfru:gl/a.usingonlyasmuchmoneyorfoodasisnecessary节俭的staid/steɪd/a.serious,dullandold-fashioned;conservative一本正经的, 古板的,不保守的sedate/sɪˈdeɪt/a.slow,calmandrelaxed 安静的, 镇静的elate/ɪ'leɪt/v.fillwithhighspirits;fillwithoptimism  使欢欣despond/dɪˈspɒnd/v.loseconfidenceorhope;becomedejected沮丧, 失去勇气contemptuous/kənˈtem(p)tʃʊəs/a.feelingorshowingthatsb/sthiscompletelyworthlessandcannotberespected鄙视的,表示轻蔑的inveterate/ɪnˈvetərət/a.(ofabadfeelingorhabit)doneorfeltforalongtimeandunlikelytochange（恶感、陋习等）根深蒂固的,由来已久的forfeit/ˈfɔ:fɪt/v.(haveto)loseorgiveupsthasaconsequenceoforpunishmentforwrongdoing （因为做错事）失去或放弃（另一事物）reckoning/ˈrek(ə)nɪŋ/n.(archaic)abilloraccount,oritssettlement 账单antiquity/ænˈtɪkwəti/n.thestateofbeingveryoldorancient 古代benevolent/bəˈnevələnt/a.(especiallyofpeopleinauthority)kind,helpfulandgenerous仁慈的,乐善好施的petty/'peti/a.smallandunimportant小规模的, 不重要的appellation/ˌapəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/n.(formal)anameortitle 称号,名称,称呼allege/əˈledʒ/v.(onlypassive,formal)statesthasafactbutwithoutproof;giveasanargumentorexcuse（只用于被动语态，正式）（无证据地）陈述、宣称、声称（某事）;辩解poltroon/pɒlˈtruːn/n.(olduse,disapproving)acoward胆小鬼,懦夫