1、语言中的性别偏见语言是一个非常强大的元素。它是沟通最常用的方法。然而，语言常常被误解和曲解，因为语言是一个有着大量细微差别的非常复杂的机制。有时候当和某个人交谈时，我们必须考虑此人的语言谱系。有些人使用的语言被认为带有偏见。这带来了关于语言使用的问题：是语言导致了偏见还是语言只是使用者一直存在的偏见的反映？有人相信我们在日常对话中使用的语言本身就是带有偏见的。比如，他们感到“mailman”这个词就是排除了女性邮递员的。还有人认为语言是人们内心偏见的反映。也就是说，人们在对话中选择使用的词汇就代表着他们内在的偏见。英语语言中曾经存在过，目前仍然有一些固有的对女性性别歧视的词语（有些词因为“政治
2、上正确”浪潮的到来已经发生了改变）。比如，(在 Merriam-Webster字典中) 那个调查（来自学生或消费者的）书面投诉，把发现写成报告，协助达成公平公正协议的人是“ombudsman”，但是在印第安那州立大学使用的词是“ombudsperson”。这是一个在英语语言中存在性别偏见的例子。语言上的安排使得男性等同于地位尊贵，而女性则是被男性支配和命令的服务型地位。所以用来传递男性优越的语言通常反映了男性的优势地位和女性的从属地位。甚至在关系中，家里的男性通常就被认为是“当家人”，哪怕是一个四岁的孩子。一个四岁的男孩，仅仅因为他的性别，就比他的可能接受过高等教育并且智商很高的妈妈更合格和更
3、有能力处理家里的各种事务，这样的说法很侮辱人。这种情形中肯定存在不平等。在美国文化里，女人的价值在于她身体的魅力，而男人的价值在于他的体力和成就。在配对词的例子中偏见是很明显的。男性的词总是放在女性的词的前面，比如以下例子：Mr. and Mrs., his and hers, boys and girls, men and women, kings and queens, brothers and sisters, guys and dolls, and host and hostess. 这显示了许多英语词汇的用法也是造成英语语言中存在偏见的因素。Alleen Pace Nilsen 注意
4、到一些例子，女性被看成是被动的而男性是主动的和促使事情达成的人。她用了婚礼的例子。在婚礼开始的时候，父亲被问到是谁要嫁女，他回答，“是我。”在这点上 Nilsen 认为是性别偏见在作怪。女性被当成一件东西从一个男人（父亲）手里交到另一个男人（准丈夫）手里的传统观念一直在起坏影响。另一个例子是在性关系中。当男性娶女性时，女性成为了新娘。男性拿走了女性的处女之身而女性失去了她的处女之身。这里的意思是她无能，显然是性别原因，她无法保住本属于她的东西，这样加强了男性的能力和权力来获取并不属于他的东西。按照语言学上的区别，做一个男人被认为是一种荣耀。因为遗传原因被赋予特质成为一个男人就像是上帝给与的仁慈
5、和无功受禄。与作为一个男性相关的积极内涵远远大过一个女性。Nilsen 给出了“shrew”和“shrewed”的例子。 “shrew”（地鼠）这个单词原来指一种身体很小但特别恶毒的动物。但是，在尼尔森的词典里，“shrew”的意思是一个“脾气极坏、骂骂咧咧的女人”。然而单词“shrewed”， 来自于同一词根，被定义为“具有聪明的明辨意识的（精明的）”。 在她的字典里，“shrewed”收录的例子是一个精明的男性商人。人们一般也不会责备小姑娘是“假小子”，但是会用这个词来嘲笑玩布娃娃或骑女孩自行车的小男孩。在朋友之间进行的对话里，你有时会听到“babe”,“broad”和“chick”这样的
6、单词。这些词是有关女性的或指向女性的。当然人们有权力使用这些词来反映女性，但有那么多可选择的词可以用为什么还要用这些词呢？语言是交流最强大和最有效的工具，它也是毁灭的最有效武器。尽管在英语中有偏见存在，在认识这些偏见上现在已经有了相当的改变，人们正式制定了一些必须的改变，这样它们可以在全社会执行。人们做出合理的内在调整来使用合适的，能有效包含两种性别的语言是很有必要的。我们可以给语言的使用加以限定。在语言范围里我们允许使用什么和什么是合适的取决于我们的决定。Text comprehensionIV. Explain in your own words the following sentenc
7、es.1. Language is an intricate system capable of expressing subtle differences in meaning, emotion, attitude and so on.2. The words people choose to use in conversation show the prejudices they hold within themselves.3. Nilsen argues that, at the beginning of a wedding ceremony, when the father is a
8、sked who gives the bride away and he answers, “I do,“ sexual prejudice shows itself. 4. To be born a man, with the mark of “male,“ is almost like receiving grace, a favor from God one doesnt actually deserve.VocabularyI. Explain the underlined part in each sentence in your own words.1. consider / ta
9、ke into consideration2. by its very nature3. mens superiority4. the reason that leads to5. begins to exercise an influence6. in connection withII. Fill in the blank in each sentence with a word or phrase taken from the box in its appropriate form.1. bias2. perpetuate3. oriented4. achievements5. exal
10、ts6. misinterpreted7. In reference to8. yielded9. tempers10. supremacyIII. Choose a word that best completes each of the following sentences. 15 CDABC 6 10 AABCD IV. Fill in each blank with one of the two words from each pair in its appropriate form and note the difference in meaning between them.1.
11、 (Both words refer to an unfair, irrational, or unexamined attitude towards issues or people based on generalized preconceptions. Prejudice refers to a dislike or even hatred for a particular group, race, or religion, in a largely unexpressed or even unknown manner. Bias points to a predisposition e
12、ither for or against something. Where prejudice can indicate a fixed, inflexible attitude, bias might suggest only a tendency to take a given view.)a. bias b. prejudice c. bias d. prejudice2. (Request suggests a courteous statement of desire, and it is frequently used as a euphemism for “demand“ in
13、order to hide the latters harshness. Claim suggests that a right is being asserted or one has the right to something.)a. requested b. claim c. requested d. claim3. (Both verbs apply to things that are brought or fastened together. Connect is used of things that come into contact at some point while
14、clearly remaining separate. The word may also suggest a contact that results in the transfer of power from a source to a receiver. Attach applies to the fastening on of a part to a whole, of a lesser thing to a greater, or of something movable to something fixed.) a. connecting b. connected c. attac
15、hes d. attached4. (Example may indicate something physically presented as a specimen, and more often it suggests the citing of supplementary material. The word often implies brief citations given for clarity rather than to corroborate a thesis. Instance points to particular or concrete examples or o
16、ccurrences.)a. instances b. example c. instances d. exampleV. Give a synonym or an antonym of the word underlined in each sentence in the sense it is used.1. strong (mighty, forceful)2. understand (comprehend, interpret)3. entertain (cherish, nurture)4. include (embrace)5. unbiased (just, balanced)6
17、. inferiority (subservience)7. conventional (common, usual, habitual)8. little (small, inconsiderable, insignificant)VI. Rephrase each of the following sentences with the word given in capital letters.1. The aircraft can carry 480 people excluding the crew and cabin staff. 2. His poetry conveys a gr
18、eat sense of religious devotion. 3. The judge decided that allowing the videotape as evidence would be prejudicial to the outcome of the trial. 4. It seems hes not solely to blame for the accident. 5. The political disparity between the two communities is obvious. 6. At the ceremony many speakers ex
19、alted his lifetime contribution to the movie industry.7. In the last two to three years, drinkers have become more discerning and are now enjoying a wider variety of beer of better quality. 8. The changes to the national health system will be implemented next yearGrammarII. Complete the following se
20、ntences using the appropriate relative words. Use a preposition where necessary.1. that (“That“ is preferred when the antecedent is “anything.“)2. who / whom / - (“Who“ is more natural; “whom“ is very formal.) 3. that / which4. when / at which / -5. whereby / in which / by which 6. whose (“Whose“ ca
21、n be used when the antecedent is non-personal.)7. why / that (“Why“ is formal.)8. that / - (“That“ is preferred when the antecedent is modified by an adjective in the superlative degree.) 9. whom10. that / - (“That / -“ is used when the relative word functions as a complement in the relative clause.
22、) III. Combine the two sentences in each group into one, using a relative clause. 1. The extra work she took on was starting to affect her health. (The relative word can be omitted when it functions as the object.)2. Adam, whose novel the TV series is based on, will appear in the first episode. (Sin
23、ce the antecedent is a proper noun, which is definite in reference, the relative clause modifying it is nonrestrictive.)3. The trees which / that were blown down in last nights storm are being cut down. 4. Dorothy was able to switch between German, Polish and Russian, all of which she spoke fluently
24、. 5. The hurricane, which caused such damage in the islands, has now headed out to sea. 6. The house which / that is next to ours is for sale. 7. Neil Smith, whose parents are both teachers, won first prize in the competition. 8. They climbed up to the top of a large rock, from which they got a good
25、 view. IV.Put the verbs into the most appropriate form.1. hear, will suppose, no longer wish (We use the present tense in the adverbial clause to refer to the future time.) 2. will cover 3, are you going (The present progressive expresses the arrangement for the future.) 4. are going to invite, 5. w
26、ill be attended to, 6. am going to watch (“Be going to“ expresses the speakers intention.)VI. TranslationI. Translate the following sentences into Chinese.1. 甚至在亲属关系上，家中的男人常被称为“当家的”，即便只不过是个四岁的娃儿。2. 在美国文化里，女人的价值在于她身体的魅力，而男人的价值在于他的体力和成就。3. 这说明：由于性别的原因，女人无法把握属于自己的一部分，却使得男人能够理所当地获取并不属于他的东西。4. shrew(鼩鼱)这
27、个单词原来指一种身体很小但特别恶毒的动物。但是，在尼尔森的词典里 shrew 的意思是一个“脾气极坏、骂骂咧咧的女人”。II.Translate the following sentences into English.1. I marvel at the poets ability to express different nuances of feeling.2. Although you have good teachers and a favorable environment, it is your personal effort that comes into play in th
28、e success of your English studies.3. As English majors, we need to have a keen awareness of the subtle differences between word meanings.4. Some new policies in the educational system will be implemented next year. 5. It is unfair to identify popular culture with vulgar culture.6. He believes that a
29、 person should be noble-minded, but not money-oriented all the time. 7. The Middle East is generously endowed with petroleum.8. The school authorities are holding a meeting in reference to the construction of a new gymnasium. 9. But for his personal visits to the third-world countries, he would not
30、have believed such disparity in the living standards between the rich and the poor.10. No one came to claim the welfare lottery bonus of 5 million yuan RMB, not even to the last day.Integrated skillsI. DictationA major topic of sociolinguistics / is the connection, if any, / between the structures,
31、vocabularies, / and ways of using particular languages / and the social roles of the men and women / who speak these languages. / Do the men and women who speak a particular language / use it in different ways? / If they do, / do these differences arise from the structure of that language, / or alte
32、rnately, / do any differences that exist / simply reflect the ways / in which the sexes relate to each other in that society, / whatever the reason? / These issues have generated / a considerable amount of thought and discussion / in the last decades of the twentieth century. II. Fill in each blank
33、in the passage below with ONE word you think appropriate.1. restricted 2. where 3. when 4.items 5. drew6. vocabulary 7. male 8. marked 9. with 10.sourceWritingRevise the following sentences to state their meaning in fewer words.(The following versions are for reference only. Students may propose var
34、ious versions of their own. As long as they are grammatically correct and semantically sensible, they are acceptable.)1. Historically, information theory was developed to find fundamental limits on compressing reliably communicating data.2. He dropped out of school to support his family.3. The bus c
35、ompany will probably announce its new schedule in the next few days.4. Rarely will you find someone who has never told a deliberate lie.5. Disobeying safety regulations causes trouble.6. Students think that the most important subjects are those that will be useful after graduation. 7. Soon college f
36、reshmen must realize that they need to contact their advisors about their choices of majors.8. We dont know why the door was left open.9. When will a downturn in the stock market affect society?10. He failed in the examination because he did not work hard enough.ListeningTranscript Differences betwe
37、en Boys and GirlsDo you believe that only boys do well in science? Does it seem to you that girls have better vocabularies than boys? In your opinion, are boys better at building things? If your answer to each of those questions is “Yes,“ you are right, according to an article in Current Science.On
38、the average, males score higher on tests that measure mathematical reasoning, mechanical ability, and problem-solving skills. Females show superior ability in tests measuring vocabulary, spelling, and memory. It is known that bones, muscles, and nerves develop faster in baby girls. Usually, too, bab
39、y girls talk at an earlier age than boys do. Scientists think there is a physical reason for this. They believe that nerves in the left side of the brain develop faster in girls than in boys. And it is this side of the brain that strongly influences an individuals ability to use words, to spell, and
40、 to remember things.By the time they start school, therefore, little girls have an advantage that boys do not have. Girls are physically more ready to remember facts, to spell, and to read. These, of course, are skills that are important in elementary school.But what have the boys been doing in the
41、years before starting school? They have been developing something called aggression. An aggressive person has courage and energy. He feels strong and independent. He is often the first one to start a fight.Consequently, it is easy to understand why little girls often perform school tasks better than
42、 boys, especially if the task requires sitting still, obeying commands, and accepting the teachers ideas. A girl may pass easily through the first few grades. While boys of her age bring home low marks, the girl may easily get good grades. Girls seem to have “better brains“ in school. Why, then, do
43、so few girls become great scientists? Why is the most important thinking in adult society done by men?According to scientists, the answer is again aggression. Because boys are aggressive, they refuse to accept other peoples solutions; they insist upon solving problems for themselves. Thus, while lit
44、tle girls are getting high marks in school for remembering what the teacher has told them, little boys are learning to think in more independent ways.In the adult world, the aggressive person is usually the one who gets the big salary, the great responsibility, the powerful job. And since males are
45、trained at an early age to be aggressive, males are more often chosen for key positions.Many people believe this situation is wrong. They think women could be successful in science and industry if they were trained to be independent and problem-solving, as boys are.Girls Boysbones, muscles, and nerv
46、es aggressiontalking courage, energyremember facts, spell, read strong, independentvocabulary, mathematical reasoning, spelling, memory mechanical ability, problem-solving skillssitting still, obeying commands, other peoples scientists solutionsaccepting the teachers ideas solving problemsindependen
47、tscientists thinking, big salary, great responsibilitypowerful job, key positions Text comprehensionIV. Explain in your own words the following sentences.1. Language is an intricate system capable of expressing subtle differences in meaning, emotion, attitude and so on.2. The words people choose to
48、use in conversation show the prejudices they hold within themselves.3. Nilsen argues that, at the beginning of a wedding ceremony, when the father is asked who gives the bride away and he answers, “I do,“ sexual prejudice shows itself. 4. To be born a man, with the mark of “male,“ is almost like receivin
