I. The British Commonwealth of Nations

ФАКТЫ, КУЛЬТУРА, ТРАДИЦИИ

 

Методические указания

 

 

Омск

Издательство ОмГТУ

Составители: М. В. Ласица, С. В. Богомолов

 

 

В издании представлен страноведческий материал по англоговорящим странам, в первую очередь Великобритании и США, который знакомит студентов с историей, культурой, обычаями, традициями, существующими в странах изучаемого языка.

Для студентов I–II курсов всех специальностей.

 

 

Печатается по решению редакционно-издательского совета

Омского государственного технического университета

 

© ОмГТУ, 2014

Unit I THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

 

Introduction

The Best-Known Language on Earth

English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world (3rd after Chinese and Hindi). It has spread far and wide due to 2 main factors: 1) Britai’^҆s growing number of colonies, which by the 19th century accounted for one quarter of the world’^҆s population and 2) American global influence. Nowadays English is accepted as a go-between language, or lingua franca, for international business and politics. Although English is only the 3rd most-spoken language in the world, according to many estimatesit comes close to being the best-known language on Earth.

English is spoken on all the inhabited continents. It is the official language (either de jure or de facto) in 54 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities. Mostly English is spoken in the states of the British Commonwealth (the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, India, etc.), in Ireland and the USA (both don’t belong to the Commonwealth) and in the US Insular Area (American Samoa, Guam, US Virgin Islands, etc.) In the USA there is no law about the official language, English is the official language there de facto.

to spread – распространиться

due to – вследствие, благодаря

account for – насчитывать

go-between – посреднический

lingua franca – язык-посредник, лингва франка

estimate – оценка

sovereign – суверенный, независимый

non-sovereign entity – зависимая территориальная единица

de facto – де-факто, фактически

de jure – де-юре, юридически

 

I. The British Commonwealth of Nations

 

Fast Facts Headquarters: Marlborough House London, UK Official language:English Membership: 53 states Head: Queen Elizabeth II Establishment: · Statute of Westminster, 11 December 1931 · London Declaration, 28 April 1949 Flag:

The British Commonwealth that dates back to the mid 20th century with the decolonization of the British Empire is a voluntary association of 53 states and territories that have been or still are ruled by Britain. Independent states are “full members of the Commonwealth”. Among these states are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Barbados, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK, etc. Among dependent territories are Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, British Antarctic Territory, the British Virgin Islands and others.

Under the formula of the London Declaration (1949), Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth. Besides, 16 members of the Commonwealth (the Commonwealth realms) recognize the Queen as their monarch. Thus, Elizabeth II is:

Queen of Antigua and Barbuda

Queen of Australia

Queen of the Bahamas

Queen of Barbados

Queen of Belize

Queen of Canada

Queen of Grenada

Queen of Jamaica

Queen of New Zealand

Queen of Papua New Guinea

Queen of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Queen of Saint Lucia

Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Queen of the Solomon Islands

Queen of Tuvalu

Queen of the United Kingdom

However, when the monarch dies, the successor to the crown does not automatically become Head of the Commonwealth.

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