25_Do_the_English_Speak_English
25 Do the English Speak English¶
I arrived in London at last. The railway station was big, black and dark. I did not know the way to my hotel, so I asked a porter. I not only spoke English very carefully, but very clearly as well. The porter, however, could not understand me. I repeated my question several times and at last he understood. he answered me, but he spoke neither slowly nor clearly. 'I am a foreigner,' I said. Then he spoke slowly, but I could not understand him. My teacher never spoke English like that! The porter and I looked at each other and smiled. Then he said something and I understood it. 'You'll soon learn English!' he said. I wonder. In England, each person speaks a different language. The English understand each other, but I don't understand them!
我终于到了伦敦。火车站很大，又黑又暗。我不知道去饭店的路该怎么走，于是向一个搬运工打听。 我的英语讲得不但非常认真，而且咬字也非常清楚。然而搬运工却不明白我的话。 我把问话重复了很多遍，他终于听懂了。他回答了，但他讲得既不慢也不清楚。 "我是个外国人，"我说。于是他说得慢了，可我还是听不懂。我的老师从来不那样讲英语！ 我和搬运工相视一笑。接着，他说了点什么，这回我听懂了。 "你很快就会学会英语的！"他说。我感到奇怪。 在英国，人们各自说着一种不同的语言。英国人之间相互听得懂，可我却听不懂他们的话！
Words¶
- porter /ˈpɔrtɚ/ 搬运工
- several /ˈsɛvrəl/ 几个
- foreigner /ˈfɔrənɚ/ 外国人
- wonder /ˈwʌndɚ/ 惊讶
- railway /ˈrelˌwe/ 铁路
Expressions¶
- arrive in 到达
- at last 终于
- not only... but... as well 不仅……而且……
- several times 几次
- each other 互相
并列连词¶
- and, but, or, so 同一主语情况下主语不必重复
- both... and, either... or, neither... nor
- either... or 连接主语时就近一致 Either the teacher or the students are wrong.
- neither... nor 连接主语时就近一致 Neither dad nor mum is at home today
- not only… but also (as well)
- 连接主语时就近一致 Not only the doctor but also the patients do not know about it.