American and British Culture Tour

Author: Bai Shuqin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book introduces the study of English and its background knowledge, covering various aspects of British and American cultures, including literature, history, politics, religion, education, and notable figures. The purpose is to broaden students' horizons, expand their knowledge, and overcome comprehension barriers caused by a lack of contextual background. Contemporary applied linguistics particularly emphasizes the importance of extralinguistic knowledge or background information, arguing that mere language data is insufficient. The writing of this book focuses on accuracy and natural language, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. In terms of content, it emphasizes timeliness and up-to-date materials, effectively blending knowledge with interest to make it highly readable. It serves as an excellent tool for improving readers' English proficiency and expanding their knowledge. The target audience for this book is learners with intermediate or above English proficiency, suitable for college/university students or self-learners of English. The book consists of ten chapters, each exploring a different theme. Each chapter is introduced in English and divided into several sections. After each section, there are annotations that provide Chinese translations for proper nouns students may be less familiar with, along with brief background introductions. The text also includes a few linguistic annotations to explain language points that students may misunderstand or find difficult to look up. For other general vocabulary, learners can make reasonable inferences based on the context or use an English dictionary to resolve them on their own.