4
LANGUAGE
1
Discuss these questions with a partner.
1
Does your first (or main) language have many
different accents or dialects? If yes, how do people
in your country feel about them?
2
Is your first language spoken in any other countries?
Which ones?
3
Is there a standard form of your first language? If yes,
how do you know it is the standard form?
2
4
Henry Hitchings is an author and expert
on the English language. Watch the interview with
Henry. Does he believe that British English is the best
language for global communication?
3
a
Read these six opinions from different people
about the English language. Do you think Henry
Hitchings would agree (A) or disagree (D)?
1
‘A language belongs to every person who can
speak it.’
2
‘Globish is a good word for the international English
that business people use.’
3
‘In the future, people will learn to speak two forms
of English.’
4
‘Native speakers of English should simplify their
language in international communication.’
5
‘English will not be the only language of global
communication in the future.’
6
‘In the future, the most important changes in the
English language will come from the USA.’
3
b
Watch again and check your answers to
Exercise 3a. What differences are there between the
sentences in Exercise 3a and Henry’s opinions? What
additional information does he give?
4
Work in small groups and discuss. People today
speak one or more of the world’s 6,000–7,000
languages. However, around 500 languages may soon
become extinct.
•
Is it important to have a variety of different languages in
the world? Why?/Why not?
•
Should governments spend money on protecting
traditional languages? Why?/Why not?
•
Would you learn a foreign language even if you didn’t
have to? Why?/Why not?
5
ADVERTISING
1
You are going to watch an interview with Vena
Raffle, Head of Investigations at the Advertising
Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK. Look again
at the text on page 158. Why did the ASA ban an
advertisement with American actress Julia Roberts?
2
a
Before you watch, what do you think Vena Raffle
might talk about? Choose four topics from this list.
a
What the ASA is, and why it exists
b
What kind of people make complaints
c
What happens to a complaint at the ASA
d
Examples of bad adverts
e
The name of a specific company (e.g. Le Rêve)
f
Advice on how to make a good advert
g
The future of the ASA
2
b
5
Watch the interview. Which four topics
above did Vena discuss? What can you remember
about each one?
3
a
Match these key words from the interview with
their meanings 1–5.
claim council department evidence ruling
1
a group of people that are chosen to make rules,
laws or decisions, or to give advice
2
acts or signs that show clearly that something exists
or is true
3
a statement that something is true
4
an official decision
5
one of the groups of people who work together in
a particular part of a large organisation such as a
university or company
3
b
Watch again and make notes to help you complete
these sentences.
1
If the complaint is quite simple, the
Department will deal with it.
2
If the council agrees with a report from Vena’s
department,
will be made.
3
If an advert is misleading, it will be
to make
a decision.
4
If an advertiser does not
, the ASA will put a
ruling on their website.
4
Work in small groups. In your opinion, why might
a company choose to make an advert that they know
will offend some people?
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