Lesson 6

6.1 Listen to the text and think up 10 questions about an English speaking country.

English Speaking Countries

Like Russian, English belongs to Indo-European family of languages. English is spoken in many countries all over the world. The most noted of them are United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland, United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In these states English is official and understood by majority of people. English is one of official languages of the United Nations Organization. Nowadays in Western society English is widely recognized as language for international communication.

The United Kingdom is homeland of English. The country and the language are inseparable in minds of people. The language evolved from languages of ancient Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes).Hermanic tribes conquered Britain inhabited by Celtic folks, such as Britons, in V-VI centuries A.D. English retains some words of Celtic origin: slogan, basket, car, etc. Some Celtic languages, such as Welsh, are still alive in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom occupies the British Isles next to the shore of Northwestern Europe. It’s separated from Europe by the English Channel. The UK is washed by the Atlantic Ocean from west, by the Northern Sea from north, and by the Celtic Sea from southwest. The Irish Sea is between Great Britain and Ireland. The country is linked to the continent by the railway tunnel under bottom of the English Channel. The capital of the UK is the city of London.

Great Britain consists of three major parts: Scotland, England, and Wales. The population of the UK is over 60 million, 99% of people are literate. Politically the UK is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is deeply respected by English people, but she plays just ceremonial role and have no real power. Bicameral Parliament is established. Currently there are three most powerful political parties in the country: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal Democrat. Labourites headed by the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown are ruling now. The UK is a member of the Commonwealth, the European Union and the Security Council of the United Nations.

Today the United Kingdom is developed country. It has intensive mechanized agriculture. Industries produce metals, chemicals, textiles, machine tools, electronics and communications equipment, various industrial equipment, ships, aircraft, motor vehicles and other goods. In 2005 the UK consumed 348.7 billion kWh of electricity. Services make major share of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Some of the famous British were the scientist Isaac Newton, the engineer James Watt, the poets George Byron and William Shakespeare, the admiral Horatio Nelson, the politician Winston Churchill.

There are many less prominent and less developed countries on Earth, where the English language plays significant role. Usually such countries are former colonies of the British Empire. Uganda is an example. There English is official national language, it’s taught in grade schools and used in courts and by most newspapers.

Uganda is situated in Eastern Africa. Its neighbours are Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. It’s washed by Lake Victoria from southwest. Uganda is a unitary state with capital in Kampala. Slightly more than 31 million people live in Uganda, only 66.8% of them are literate. Uganda is member of the Commonwealth and the UN. The country formed as a protectorate of Britain. It included African states: Buganda, Ankole, Toro and some more. The colony was growing plants, mainly coffee and cotton, for export. These two plants are depicted on modern national coat of arms of Uganda. In 1962 Uganda was declared independent state. President (currently Yoweri Kaguta Museveni) is head of state. The country has unicameral parliament: the National Assembly. Presidential and legislative elections are non-party and multiparty political system itself was legalized just recently, in 2005. Uganda is weakly economically developed. Most important sector of the economy is agriculture. Agriculture contributes to 30.2% of GDP, 82% of the work force is employed in it (0.9% and 1.4% respectively in the UK). Main commodity for export is coffee. In 2005 Uganda consumed 1.674 billion kWh of electricity.

6.2. Look at the map below and name as many countries of the English- speaking world as you can. Keep in mind that countries where English is an official language, or national language are in black, and countries in grey are non-speaking English countries.

Fig. English speaking world

6.3. Think up 10 questions about an English speaking country. Ask your partner 10 questions you have made up. Tell the class the answers you got.

6.4. Get ready to speak about any English speaking country. Explain your choice. Prepare a presentation on the chosen topic.