LANGUAGE AND CULTURE Flashcards
CULTURE SHOCK
A feeling of confusion felt by someone visiting a country or place that they do not know
Example: It was a real culture shock to find herself in New York after living on a small island
When she first arrived, she suffered a culture shock cause she is not used to hugging when greeting somene
CULTURAL IDENTITY
The sense of belonging people have to a certain nation
Example: Even though he was borned Russian, his cultural identity is German
Peoples cultural identity has to be the first thing to take into account on al international argument about territory
CUSTOM
The whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life
Example: In my country, it’s the custom (for women) is to get married in white
Kissing while greeting is a custom which is beginning to die out due to the pandemic
TRADITIONS
A belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time, or all of these beliefs, etc. in a particular society or group
Example: Fireworks have long been an American tradition on the Fourth of July
We decided to break with tradition this year and go away for Christmas
MELTING POT
A place where many different people and ideas exist together, often mixing and producing something new
Example:
HIGHBROW
(of books, plays, etc.) involving serious and complicated or artistic ideas, or (of people) interested in serious and complicated subjects
Example: This is a film for highbrows
Not all cientists are highbrows
LOWBROW
(of entertainment) not complicated or demanding much intelligence to be understood
Example: He regards the sort of books I read as very lowbrow
I like a lowbrow action movie once in a while
DEPICT
To represent or show something in a picture or story
Example: Her paintings depict the lives of ordinary people in the last century
In the book, he depicts his father as a violent person
ROOTED IN
Having developed from something
Example: The problems were rooted in the area’s history
Her opinions are deeply rooted in her faith
EVOCATIVE
Making you remember or imagine something pleasant or an emotional response
Example: Evocative music
The painting is so evocative, it brings me back to the 17th century
TIMELESS
Something that is timeless does not change as the years go past
Example: a timeless book/play/film/classic
Picasso’s paintings have a timeless quality
CONTEMPORARY
Existing or happening now
Example: Contemporary music/literature/art/fashion
Belonging to the same or a stated period in the past
Most of the writers he was contemporary with were interested in the same subjects
INNOVATIVE
Using new methods or ideas
Example: She was an imaginative and innovative manager
The techniques of the painting are very innovative, no one could have thought of that before
STARTLING
Causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
Example: He made some startling admissions about his past
It is startling the combination of colours the painter did in his work of art, I never expected a painter of that time to make use of those colours
ARRESTING
Very attractive in a way that attracts a lot of attention
Example: An arresting-looking woman
The writer has an arresting style
COMPELLING
Very exciting and interesting and making you want to watch or listen
Example: I found the whole film very compelling
The book was so compelling that I finished it in a day
DISPROVE
To prove that something is not true
Example: The allegations have been disproved
There is no evidence to disprove or prove the alegations she made
CONFUTE
To prove a person or an argument to be wrong
Example: Theories which will eventually be confirmed or confuted by experience
Vulnerable, uninformed wives have hardly been in a position to confute men
IMPLAUSIBLE
Difficult to believe, or unlikely
Example: The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible
The plot of the novel involving a 23-year-old brain surgeon, is implausible to begin with
DEROGATORY
Showing strong disapproval and not showing respect
Example: He made some derogatory comment/remark about her appearance
He referred to the survivors in derogatory terms
DEMISE
**The end of something that was previously considered to be powerful, such as a business, industry, or system
Example: The demise of the company was sudden and unexpected
**The death of a person
Example: His demise affected everyone in the family
QUERY
A question, often expressing doubt about something or looking for an answer from an authority
Example: If you have any queries about your treatment, the doctor will answer them
Most of the job involves sorting customers out who have queries
LINGUA FRANCA
A language used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages
Example: The international business community sees English as a lingua franca
Some people believe that in the future, Chinese will be the new lingua franca
PREFACE
Something that comes before and introduces a more important thing, esp. an introduction at the beginning of a book that explains its aims
Example: Each work is prefaced by a descriptive note and concludes with an author’s note
We’re hoping these talks could be a preface to peace
UNCULTIVATED
Someone who is uncultivated has not had a good education and may not know a lot about art, music, painting, etc
Example: We must always remember that he was not an ignorant or uncultivated soldier
He is a bit uncultivated due to the fact that his parents couldn’t afford a proper education
UNASSAILABLE
In such a strong position that cannot be defeated, attacked, doubt or argued with
Example: The president looked unassailable with over 60 percent of the vote
The conclusions were unassailable
MIGHTY
Very large, powerful, or important
Example: Their mighty army marched on Moscow
He held the baby in his mighty hands
CONVERSELY
In an opposite way
Example: Poor health is accepted as an attribute of normal ageing. Conversely, youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health
Capitalism can be seen as the best organization system or conversey, the worst thing that we hae implemented in the world
COERCION
The use of force to persuade someone to do something that they are unwilling to do (uso de la fuerza)
Example: He claimed the police had used coercion, threats, and promises to obtain the statement illegally
The use of coercion by the goverment is one of the most anti-democratic actions that can be made.
UNDERPLAY
To make something such as a dangerous situation seem less important or dangerous than it really is
Example: While not wanting to underplay the seriousness of the situation, I have to say that it is not as bad as people seem to think
The president tried to underplay the hole economic situation but the crisis was very obvious
ENDURING
Existing for a long time
Example: The enduring appeal of cartoons
I hope that the friends I make here endure for ever.
WITHER
To slowly disappear, lose importance, or become weaker
Example: This country is in danger of allowing its industrial base to wither away
The forces have wither over time
UNCLUTTERED
(of a room, etc.) not having too many objects in it, and looking tidy; not containing too many small details or different parts
Example: A clean, uncluttered home will always appear elegant
The website has been given a new, uncluttered design
UNBEATABLE
Unable to be defeated or improved because of excellent quality
Example: The 23-year-old US tennis star looks unbeatable this season
This is an unbeatable pizza, the best I’ve ever tried
DISAGREEABLE//AGREEABLE
Unpleasant//Pleasant
Example: She said some very disagreeable things
A disagreeable young man
We spent a most agreeable evening by the river
UNBIASED
Able to judge fairly because you are not influenced by your own opinions
Example: She has an unbiased opinion
She gave me some useful unbiased advice
AUSPICIOUS
Suggesting a positive and successful future
Example: They won their first match of the season 5–1 which was an auspicious start/beginning
Our first meeting was not auspicious - we had a huge argument
INAUSPICIOUS
Showing signs that something will not be successful or positive
Example: After an inauspicious start, Scotland went on to win the match
The meeting of the minister of economy with the mamagers of the FMI was very inauspicious
GLOBAL INFLUENCE
Influence produced globally
Example: The USA is the principal center of global influence, almost every country in the world follows their trends
INAPT
Not suitable for the situation
Example: His comments were perhaps inapt
His actions were rather inapt, howeaver, his intentions were good
OVERPLAY
To make something seem more important than it really is
Example: I think she’s overplaying the significance of his remarks
OVERPLAY
To make something seem more important than it really is
Example: I think she’s overplaying the significance of his remarks
The president is overplaying his archivements making it seem tht he does everything right
CULTURE VULTURE
Someone who is very interested in music, art, theatre, etc.
Example: If you’re a culture vulture, New York has everything you could want - opera, theatre, museums, and more
I consider myself a culture vulture, I love literature, music, art and movies, form all timelines.
INTO THE BARGAIN
In addition to other facts which have been mentioned previously
Example: Our latest recruit is an excellent analyst, and a very good manager into the bargain
Dickens was a colourful character and a gifted writer into the bargain
WELL AND TRULY
Completely
Example: We got well and truly lost when we were looking for the MET in NYC
The party was well and truly over when he arrived
EVER SUCH
Used as a more forceful way to say “such”
Example: He’s ever such a nice person
When I was younger I used to read ever such a lot of detective stories
PIONEER
A person who is one of the first people to do something
Example: Mery Curie was one of the pioneers of modern science
Adam Smith was the pioneer of capitalism
VIVID SNAPSHOTS
(on a novel/book)Very clear idea of what the novel is like
Example: This book has very vivis snapshots of reality
WARTS AND ALL
Describing or including all the bad qualities in a person’s character, with no attempt to hide them
Example: He tried to paint the president as he really was, warts and all
Warts and all, that is no small achievement in a field so full of comparative research
PRONE TO STROPPINESS
Likely to be bad tempered or easily anoyed
Example: Luci is very prone to stroppiness, she yelled Tom the other day just because he unplagged her headphones
I tried to control myself, but I am afraid I can be very prone to stroppiness sometimes
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Very compatible, borned to be toghether, etc.
Example: They seemed like a match made in heaven, I can’t understand why they broke up
You will realise thet the characters are a match made in heaven from the first moment you see them toghether
WILL THEY WON’T THEY RELATIONSHIP
They go back and forth in a relationship (van y vuelven)
Example: They are living a will they won’t they relationship, I can’t keep track of them
GONE VIRAL
Made extremely public, especialyon the internet
Example: His video went viral
Her naked photos went viral, I can’t iimagine how she must be feeling
PUBLISHING PHENOMENON
best-seller//blockbuster
Example: What made the book a publishing phenomenon was its format
Her book is a publishing phenomenon, everyone in the UK is reading it
