But while other words used in the same context, such as ‘sorry’ or ‘what’, vary widely across languages, ‘huh’ remains unchanged.
The Dutch researchers recorded around 20 informal conversations in each of ten languages from around the world.
These included Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, Cha’ palaa from Ecuador, and Murriny Patha—an Australian Aboriginal language, as well as Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin.
The tapes were analysed for words that sounded like ‘huh? ’and were used to request that whatever had just been said was repeated.
All contained a version(版本)of ‘huh’. The word was also found in another 21 languages from around the globe that were studied in less detail.
While there were subtle differences in each country, all had a near-identical sound.
This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing. For instance, the Japanese for ‘dog’ is ‘inu’, while the French is ‘chien’.
It is thought that languages around the world have developed their own version of ‘huh’ because the sound is quick and simple to form, as well as being easily understood.
67. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. The word ‘huh’
B. Languages around the world
C. The changing language
【2017届江苏省高考英语一轮复习:选修8 阶段评估检测(牛津译林版)】相关文章:
★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练:选修7 unit4《Sharing》
★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(八)必修2Module 2《No Drugs》(外研版)
★ 【北京专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习方案课时作业:选修8 Unit 3 Inventors and inventions
★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (47)
★ (全国通用)2014届高考英语一轮单元复习 限时强化训练一
★ 四川省2016届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(41) Module 5 Ethnic Culture 外研版选修8
★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练:必修2 unit4《Wildlife protection》
★ 【三维设计】2017届高考英语(江苏专用)二轮复习素材:高考单词1.读美文记单词
最新
2017-04-24
2017-04-24
2017-04-24
2017-04-24
2017-04-21
2017-04-21