63. The Dying Languages p. 435

 

　　Today, more people than ever before are speaking to each other through satellite television, cellulartelephones and computers. This means that people from different parts of the world need to be able tocommunicate in the same language. That language happens to be English.
Because of this, experts have predicted that more than half of the world's 6,000 languages may die outin the next century. Already almost all Californian Native American languages are in danger of extinction¹.
They are being swallowed up by English and other language. It is a pity, but that is one of the prices ofmodernization.

 

Don't use dirty/bad language 脏话  (language = speech)
I am dying to see the movie with Madonna.
than ever before = than ever = than before
handy 方便的
Bruce wrote a letter to Peter in English.
sector² = area
It happens that I have 20 dollars.  演变: I happen to have 20 dollars.
die out = become extinction 绝迹
Native American 土著人   native American 美国出生的        a native zhuang
capitalize 将...大写
 

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。