Unit8

1. Unit8 Ethnic Identity

2. In this chapter, you will learn how to

3. READING MATERIALS Reading 1. Ethnic Boundary Markers Reading 2. The Problems of States and Nationalities

4. Reading 1 Ethnic Boundary Markers

5. Think and Discuss • Which ethnic group do you belong to? • How do you distinguish people of one ethnic group from another?

6. There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han ethnic group is the largest, living all over the country with the compact communities in the Huanghe, Changjiang and Zhujiang valleys and the Songhua-Liaohe Plain of the northeast. The other ethnic groups are the minority nationalities, inhabiting 60 percent of the country's total area and living mainly in the border regions. All ethnic groups are like equal brothers and sisters in a happy family. Ethnic groups are different from each other in language, religion, physical appearance and particular cultural traits.

7. “Ethnic” Words ethnic group ethnic boundary marker ethnic identity

8. ethnic group people of the same race or nationality who share a distinctive culture • ethnic boundary markerovert factors used to demonstrate or denote group members • ethnic identity extent to which one identifies with a particular ethnic group; one’s sense of belonging to an ethnic group and the part of one’s thinking, perceptions, feelings, and behavior that is due to ethnic group membership. 4 major components of ethnic identity: ethnic awareness, ethnic self-identification, ethnic attitudes and ethnic behaviors

9. Survey Reading 1 to Find out • the four ethnic boundary markers • the examples cited to show how each marker is used to distinguish ethnic groups • the examples cited to showwhen a marker doesn’t work

10. the first marker LANGUAGE

11. Hopis and Navajos speak their language alone BUT Serbs and Croats both speak Serbo-Croatian; The Irish may speak Gaelic or English; Ethnic Germans may speak Polish or Russian other than German

12. the second marker RELIGION

13. Jews adhere to Judaism; Sikhs adhere to Sikhism; Serbs and Croats adhere respectively to Eastern Orthodox and Catholics BUT A Chinese person may adhere to Muslim, Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism or Marxist atheism

14. Major World Religions

15. Christianity • Christianity started 2,000 years ago in Judea (present-day Israel) with Jesus Christ and His faithful group of disciples. • There are about 2 billion Christians in the world.

16. Buddhism • Founded by Buddha Shakyamuni 2,500 years ago • Buddhist way of life: meditation

17. Islam • Islam started 1,400 years ago in Saudi Arabia. • It is embraced by Arabs, Persians, Turks, Africans, Indians, Chinese, Malays, and numerous smaller units. • It now has around 1,200 million adherents. • Muslims believe that there is only one God, whose name in the Arabic language is Allah. God had special messengers or prophets. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad were God's prophets.

18. the third marker PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

19. Malays, East Indians and Chinese in Malaysia are distinguished by physical characteristics BUT Germans, Dutch, Danes and other northern European ethnic groups, Zulus and Swazis, Chinese and Koreans, Choctaw and Chichasaw Indians share similar physical characteristics; at a lower level of identity, physical characteristics alone are not enough to distinguish between ethnic groups

20. the fourth marker CULTURAL TRAITS

21. Scottish Americans wear kilts; German Americans wear lederhosen; Native Americans wear “Indian clothes”; Guatemalan clothing styles indicate two levels of ethnic identity

22. Outline for Reading 1 • Combinations of ethnic boundary markers are used to distinguish one ethnic group from another. • A. Native language frequently serves as an ethnic boundary marker. • B. In many cases, religious differences may be the most important marker of ethnic identity. • C. It is likely to identify ethnic groups by their physical characteristics. • D. Cultural traits remain the most important, diverse and complex category of ethnic boundary markers.

23. overt covert denote connote Overt factors used to demonstrate or denote group membership are called ethnic boundary markers. (Line 2)

24. overta. open and observable overt hostility coverta. not open, secret a covert glance

25. denotev.(denotation n.) vt. mean The word “plump” denotes fat. vt. mark; indicate; signify A frown often denotes ________. (impatience/anger/confusion) A quick pulse often denotes ________. (fever/heart problem/excitement) connote(connotation n.) vt. imply in addition to literal meaning The word “plump” connotes cheerfulness.

26. Because they serve to distinguish members from all other groups, a single boundary marker seldom is sufficient. (Line 5) distinguish v.(distinguished adj.) • Can you distinguish the different musical instruments playing now? • A person at his age should be able to distinguish between right and wrong. • Speeches distinguish man from animals. • Liu Xiang distinguished himself asthe winner of the “heaviest” gold medal/ by winning the men’s hurdles at the 2004 Olympics.

27. ……, Hopi and Navajo members are readily distinguished by their language alone. (Line 13) readilyadv. easily; willingly; promptly • Computers make data readily available to users. • I readily believe that she is lazy at home--- she is very lazy at school. • In case of emergency, he could respond readily. (He has a ready response.)

28. Conversely, a person may be Irish and speak either Gaelic or English as his or her native language. (Line 19) Expression to show opposition of two things or situations: but, yet, however, despite, in spite of, though, although, even though, otherwise, rather, whereas, nonetheless, nevertheless, in contrast, alternatively, for all that, on the one hand, on the other hand

29. But in many cases, religion and ethnic group more or less correspond. (Line 28) correspondvi. • to be similar or equivalent • The American Congress corresponds to the British Parliament. • to be in agreement, harmony, or conformity • Her job corresponds with her interests. • to communicate by letter • They corresponded with each other all the time. (They held correspondence with each other all the time.)

30. Similarly, the Sikhs in India constitute both a religious and an ethnic group. (Line 30) constitutevt. • Twelve months constitute a year. • Correct grammar and sentence structure do not in themselves constitute good writing. • He constituted a direct threat to the children.

31. A similar situation is found in those regions of the world in which populations have been in long association with one another. (Line 40) association n. • I benefited much from my association with him. • This concert is sponsored by the Arts Council in association with several local businesses.

32. For the sake of brevity, we will limit our discussion to one trait--- clothing. (Line 66) for the sake of • For the sake of safety, you must keep all medicines away from children. • She stopped smoking for her own sake.

33. Difficult Sentences 1. However, just because two populations share a common language does not mean they share a common identity, any more than the fact that two populations speak different languages means that they have two distinct identities. Two populations who share a common language do not necessarily share a common identity; likewise, two populations who speak different languages do not necessarily have different identities.

34. 2. The significance or lack of significance of physical characteristics in ethnic identity may also vary with the level of ethnic identity. How significant physical characteristics are as a significant marker of ethnic identity depends on on which level the ethnic group members share their characteristics.

35. 3. The major world religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism encompass numerous distinct ethnic groups, so that the religious affiliation does not always indicate ethnic affiliation. The members of a religion may come from many different ethnic groups, so a religious group is not necessarily an ethnic one.

36. Reading 2 The Problems of States and Nationalities

37. Think and Discuss • Can you name some ethnic conflicts? • What caused so many conflicts?

38. Ethnic Conflicts in Israel and Palestine The two nationalities, Israelis and Palestinians, claim the same geographical region as their legitimate homeland.

39. Peace efforts for the resolution of the ethnic conflicts in Israel and Palestine UN Security Council Resolution 242 (Nov. 22, 1967) UN Security Council Resolution 338 (Oct. 22, 1973) Geneva Peace Conference (Oct. 21, 1973) UN Assembly Resolution 3236 (Nov. 11, 1974) David Camp Agreement (Sept. 17, 1978)

40. Ethnic conflicts in Northern Ireland The Scotch-Irish have emerged over the past 400 years as a distinct nationality who claim the northern part of Ireland as their homeland. In contrast, the Irish see the area as an integral and inalienable part of the Irish homeland.

41. Outline for Reading 2 • Ethnic conflicts are not between sub-national groups but between distinct nationalities and they illustrate the strength of nationalist sentiments. • A. Ethnic conflicts in Northern Ireland • B. Ethnic conflicts in Israel and Palestine • II. Ethnic conflicts are common in the modern world. • Reason: the populations of most countries encompass a number of distinct nationalities. • III. Ethnic conflicts are complicated. • Reason: Current political boundaries for most of the world are legacies of European colonialism and expansion. European powers made little attempt to redefine political boundaries when they granted independence to their colonies.

42. Words and Expressions

43. Falsely equating country of origin with ethnic nationality, …… (Line 3) equate vt. to consider or treat as equal It’s a mistake to equate wealth with happiness. I am not equating you and him. vt. to make … equal to equate imports and exports.

44. Bombings, ambushes, and assassinations have claimed the lives of more than 2,200 persons, and no end appears in sight. (Line 27) claimvt. • The accident claimed her life. • (to take) • Has anyone claimed the watch? • (to ask for on the basis of right, authority or accomplishment) • A caller to the broadcasting station claimed responsibility for the bombing. • (to state to have) • The matter claims our attention. • (to call for) • Don’t claim to know what you don’t know. • (to maintain)

45. Only a handful of countries are peopled by members of a single nationality and are thus ethnically homogeneous. (Line 58) handfuln. a few a handful of people/days Words ending with –ful indicating the amount: a handful of sand a mouthful of sweet air a spoonful of hot soup

46. people vt. to inhabit The region is sparsely/densely peopled. vt. to supply or fill with people Europe largely peopled America. 在美国大部分人来自于欧洲. vt. to fill with Dreams peopled his idle hours.

47. homogeneous: of the similar nature or kind homo-:same; alike homograph 同形异义词 record n./record v. August n./august a. homophone同音词 knew/new night/knight homonym同音异义词 fair n./fair a. bear n./bear v.

48. Through this agreement, the English, French, Germans, Belgians, and other European powers assumed sovereignty over lands …… (Line 67) assume vt. to take control of Hitler assumed power in 1934. vt. to take into partnership, employment, or use The researcher assumed a new partner.

49. assume vt. to take to or upon oneself, undertake When did the president assume office? vt. to pretend to have or be She assumed an air of confidence in spite of her dismay. vt. to take as granted or true, suppose He assumed the report (to be) valid. Farmers will have a bumper harvest, assuming that the weather is favorable.

50. Nor was Africa the only continent to have boundaries imposed by Europeans. (Line 70) nor等具有否定意义的词或词组居于句首时句子倒装 nor, never, seldom, rarely, little, hardly, scarcely, not until, by no means, in no time, under no circumstances, under no condition, in no way, in no case, in vain, at no time, neither…(nor), no sooner…(than), hardly…(when), barely, on no account, not a bit, nowhere, not only…(but also), not often, etc.