VOA慢速英语2021--缅甸抗议者用英文表达诉求

English First for Myanmar Protesters

"We want democracy" is written in large, white letters on a street in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon.

"Justice for Myanmar" is carved on watermelons. "Reject Military" is written on T-shirts worn by protesters.

All the messages are written in English.

A minority of Myanmar's 53 million people speak English. But, it is the language of protesters who are trying to get their message of opposition¹ to Myanmar's military government out to the world.

"Writing in English is more effective than writing in Burmese," said student Ko Ko Lwin. He told the Reuters news agency, "We want the international community to help us."

The protesters showed thousands of signs in English. Some said "Free our leader" as a call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a symbol of resistance to military rule. She has been detained for three weeks by the generals who said that last year's election was not fair.

However, the use of English by protesters is dismissed by Chit Naing. He is the Information Minister appointed by the military. The state media reported that he said, "Writing in English, asking others to help and to intervene in our country? I am not such a stupid, helpless person as to do that."

"Know the dignity of your race and parents. You are not alone. Don't disrespect the dignity of your nationality," he added.

There are over 130 ethnic² groups in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The language of the ethnic Bamar majority has been the country's official language since independence from Britain in 1948.

English as a second language

Suu Kyi, a graduate of Britain's Oxford³ University, stated that education in all languages was important. But English skills remained low in Myanmar. A 2020 study from Education First ranked Myanmar's English ability 93rd out of 100 countries measured.

International support for Suu Kyi who had spent 15 years under house arrest did little to change the military from keeping the country isolated⁴. Many suspect the same will be true again with the latest move by the military to take over the government.

"International reactions of statements and sanctions will have no effect," wrote historian and writer Thant Myint-U on Twitter.

Protesters are hoping the United States and other Western countries will help. "We need U.S. army to save our situation," said some signs held up outside the U.S. embassy this week.

There is also a social media campaign in English on Facebook and Twitter designed to gain international attention. Anti-coup⁵ supporters posted memes in English to show what is happening in Myanmar. They are also quickly answering foreign government's reactions to the situation.

"Thanks a lot Indonesia for acceptance of our wishes and our real voice," a user identified as Thandar Htun wrote on Twitter. The Twitter message followed reports that Indonesia confirmed it was not calling on the military government to hold new elections.

"Ur help can support our Myanmar citizens," another message said.

Words in This Story

carve –v. to cut into a surface to make a design or write a message

symbol –n. an object, event or person that represents a larger idea or quality

dignity –n. a way of appearing or behaving that suggests seriousness or self-control

isolated –adj. separated from others, alone

sanctions –n. actions taken in order to force a country to obey international law by limiting trade or cutting economic aid

coup (coup d'état) –n. (politics) a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence

meme –n. a picture, video or other kind of image spread widely through the internet that people find funny, interesting or to have some meaning

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

4 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

5 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。