Some people still study Latin, but usually in expensive private schools

Background: 如今只有私立学校和高等学府教授拉丁语。不过英国人有的时候会把一些拉丁词语当作速记来使用，特别是在法律和正式文件中。有些词比如 et cetera 和 via 都广为使用。但有些词语对有些人来说则相当陌生。现在英国一些地方议会决定禁止其员工在讲话时和书面语中使用拉丁语，不过此举很具争议。

Questions:请在听下面录音的时候试着回答这些问题。这是一个用来帮助你提高听力技能的练习。

1. True or False: It can be easier to use Latin than ordinary English words.

2. True or False: Some local councils say that Latin is generally used by working class people.

3. Are some linguists unhappy about the change?

4. Might the debate about Latin continue for a long time?

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Latin Ban 禁止使用拉丁语

Bona fide 真正的/真实的, ad lib 即兴撰造, quid pro quo 补偿物/交换物... English is full of Latin words and phrases which are used as a kind of shorthand 速记.

But some local councils say that Latin is elitist and discriminatory 具优越感和带有歧视的, because people might not understand it - particularly if English isn't their first language.

Bournemouth council in the south of England is the latest local authority 地方当局 to draw up a list 制定了一分清单 of nineteen phrases which its staff are no longer allowed to use, verbally or in official correspondence 口语或正式书信.

Other local councils have banned QED 这就是所要证明的 and ad hoc 特别的. The move has prompted derision 嘲笑 among some linguists.

We asked Dr Peter Jones, the co-founder of the charity Friends of Classics to imagine that he was a civil servant in charge of implementing 实施 the ban. What sort of memo 备忘录 might he have to write?

“You will be aware that a number of councils has decided that all Latin words and phrases should be subject to a veto 否决, e.g. 'e.g.', et cetera 等等. Ergo 所以/因此, some will think this hocus-pocus 戏弄/欺骗, but I say you cannot allow the status quo 现状 to remain as it is".

But the move has been welcomed by the Plain English Campaign which says some officials only use Latin to make themselves feel important.

A campaign spokesman said the ban might stop people confusing the Latin abbreviation 缩写 'e.g.' with the word egg. The debate may well continue ad nauseam 冗长乏味的.

GLOSSARY 词汇表 (收听发音, 请单击英语单词)

Answers

1. True or False: It can be easier to use Latin than ordinary English words.

True – Latin is used as a shorthand.

2. True or False: Some local councils say that Latin is generally used by working class people.

False – Latin is seen as elitist.

3. Are some linguists unhappy about the change?

Yes – it has prompted derision from some linguists.

4. Might the debate about Latin continue for a long time?

Yes – it may well continue ad nauseam.