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Posts mit dem Label Vocabulary werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Posts mit dem Label Vocabulary werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Sonntag, 7. Dezember 2008
Samstag, 6. Dezember 2008
I. Nützliche Ausdrücke
Useful expressions.
Stellungnehmen
Gründe angeben
I feel (that)...I am convinced that...I personally believe that...It seems to me (that)...I firmly believe that...As I see...What I mean is...My (point of) view of the matter/problem is...My point of view is that...From my point of view...In my opinion/view...My view/feeling/opinion is that...To my mind...It you ask me...I’m certain, that...I claim, that...I feel strongly about...what I’m getting at...I’m willing to...I must concedeI (dis)approve ...I distinguish betweenI supposeIt evokes the feeling of...I like to emphasize/highlighte...First and foremostI like to point out, that...I dislike...Undoubtedly, ….In the formerIn the latterAt first glance
The (main/basic) reasons is that...The thing/point is...There are many points of view issues to consider here.. There are several questions to think about when discussing...The issues I want to mention/discuss here are...Another point to consider is this: ...A further problem to note is...Not only..., but... also...The reason why... is that...This leads inevitably to...The next item is...both... and.../as well... as...The cause is that...We have to regard, that/Regarding, that...Indeed
Weiterführung
besides....still....also....too...then....above all....what is more ...Moreover/Furthermore...In addition...Due to...Since,…
Liste
Ähnlichkeiten, Analogien
for one thing ... (and) for another (thing) to begin with to start with Secondly, ...; Thirdly, ...; Finally, ...; Last of all, ...First/First of all...in the first/second place..next..then..finally..last but not least..to conclude...last(ly)
equally..likewise..similarly...in the same way...resembling...
Einer Meinung zustimmen
Eine Meinung ablehnen
I agree. That is (quite) right/true.I couldn’t agree more.That is just how I see it.That is exactly my own view/opinion.
I do not agree.As a matter of fact, ...I cannot accept...Actually, ... In fact, I think (that)I doubt, that
Kontrast/Gegensatz
Beispiele
either...or...but...however..yet..nevertheless....in spite of/despite...instead of ...though...on the contrary......in contrast (to ...)by contrast.....on the one hand ...on the other (hand)...Whereas...
for example (e. g.)for instance....such as...that is to say.....Supposing (that)
namely...alternatively
Ergebnisse festhalten
Zusammenfassung und abschließende Bemerkung
As a result...As a consequence...Because of this...The effect of this is that...consequently....hence....thus....accordingly
To sum up...In short/in brief/in general...On the whole, ...All in all, ...In conclusion, then, it is clear that...To conclude, therefore, it seems that...Having considered all these issues...Having outlined the main arguments...Having taken all these factors into account...I come to the conclusion that...
II. Wortschatzliste für Comprehension and Comment
II.1 Aufzählen von Ideen, Fakten und Gründen
Enumerating ideas, facts and reasons.
Start
Entwicklung
Schluss
first of all...to begin with...to start with...in the first place....the first point I would like...first and foremost
secondly – thirdly – finally..then...in the second place...moreover...furthermore...besides..in addition to that...apart from that..another factor/problem is...the next point I want to mention is...the next point to be considered is...other factors to be taken in account are....we must also take into account tha..twe should also consider the fact that...another argument is
finally..eventually...in conclusion...last of all..the final point ist..here is only one point left
II.2 Bezugnahme zu den Argumenten des Autors
Referring to the author’s arguments in a text.
the author is of the opinion thatin his opinion/view/he bases his arguments on
the author...
claims..states...suggests..implies.. refers to...alludes to..deals with..discusses..puts forward the thesis that...presents/develops/defends the thesis that...expresses his point of view...holds the view that...agrees to/with.... approves (of), is in favour of
supports/sides with/sympathizes with /criticizes/blames sb. for/ reproaches sb with sb.....accuses sb. of having done sth....questions sb....raises objections to/opposes sb...objects by pointing out....argues that...comments on...assumes a critical attitude towards sb....argues for – against...points out that...bases his arguments on...supports/illustrates his arguments
II.3 Formulierung der eigenen Meinung
Expressing your own view.
with regard to an author’s opinion in a text
his argument does not hold good
he overlooks the fact that
the author’s proposals/arguments are convincing, but he fails to take into account that...
it is true that, but...
despite/in spite all this arguments
in my opinion/from my point of view
when discussing problems in a comment
to weigh the pros and cons
as far as I can see
as for/as to/with regard to
talking of
in contrast to/contrary to
as opposed to
the question of... -->
it should be pointed out that
I would like to point out that
it should be mentioned that
I’d like to emphasize the fact
consequently
the consequence would be
the consequence is whether
the result may be
it seems to me that
on the one hand
on the other hand
in fact
as a matter of fact
strictly speaking
we can draw the conclusion that
to sum up we may say
to sum up and make the point
as far as the question of... is concerned
it might be stated that
Nützliche Satzverknüpfungspartikel
Useful particle for sentence association.
Was?
Beispiele
Gedanken hinzufügen:
in addition, further, furthermore, also, besides, in the same way
Gedanken neu formulieren:
in other words, that means, that is, that is to say
Gedankengang abschließen:
in conclusion, in brief, in short, on the whole
Reihenfolge verdeutlichen:
first, second, next, finally, in the end
Gegenteil/Kontrast ausdrücken:
yet, however, on the other hand, on the contrary, in contrast, in spite of, despite, although, though, but,
Vergleich anstellen:
similarly, in the same way, likewise, both, likewise, equally, as well as, as.... as
Schlussfolgerung ausdrücken:
consequently, therefore, as a result, hence, accordingly, thus
Einräumung ausdrücken:
although, though, even if, after all, in any case
Bedingung ausdrücken:
if, unless, provided that, in case that
Begründung/Zweck anführen:
therefore, that is why, for this reason, because, because of, since, on account of, so that, due to
Bezugnahme ausdrücken:
concerning, regarding, related to, referring to
Beispiel anführen:
For example, for instance, in other words, such as
Ort beschreiben:
among, between, here, there, where, on the right/left, in the middle, in front of, behind, nearby, in the distance, in the foreground, in the background
zeitliche Verbindung knüpfen:
now, while, as soon as, before, after, as long as, initially, previously, recently, finally, eventually, meanwhile, at the same time, at the moment, in the end, at last, since, from now on, time and again, off and on, lately, in the past
Hilfreiche Ausdrücke und Wendungen
Useful expressions and phrases.
Einstieg:
Entwicklung:
Schluss:
Personally, I think/feel...
In my opinion...
I object to...
To my mind...
First of all.../furthermore...
To begin with.../Next....
One reason for this.../Another reason...
Likewise it must be mentioned....
And above all...
This can be seen .../So, for instance, ....
In a word....
To conclude...
As a result...
Consequently
Hinführen zum Thema:
Aufzählen von Gründen:
Ziehen einer Schlussfolgerung:
Most people would agree that
Many people seem to think
It has often been said
For the majority of people
As a general statement
Literally this statement means
In the first place
Apart from that
Above all
Finally
The logical result of this is
In consequence
This suggests
For that reason
That is why
Stilistische Aufwertung mit Adverben
Stylistic revaluation with adverbs.
Englisch
Deutsch
absolutely brilliant deeply hurt entirely different extremely cold extremely interesting highly unusual particularly difficult wonderfully creative severely limited
absolut genial tief verletzt völlig anders extrem kalt äußert interessant höchst ungewöhnlich besonders schwierig wunderbar kreativ streng limitiert
Useful expressions.
Stellungnehmen
Gründe angeben
I feel (that)...I am convinced that...I personally believe that...It seems to me (that)...I firmly believe that...As I see...What I mean is...My (point of) view of the matter/problem is...My point of view is that...From my point of view...In my opinion/view...My view/feeling/opinion is that...To my mind...It you ask me...I’m certain, that...I claim, that...I feel strongly about...what I’m getting at...I’m willing to...I must concedeI (dis)approve ...I distinguish betweenI supposeIt evokes the feeling of...I like to emphasize/highlighte...First and foremostI like to point out, that...I dislike...Undoubtedly, ….In the formerIn the latterAt first glance
The (main/basic) reasons is that...The thing/point is...There are many points of view issues to consider here.. There are several questions to think about when discussing...The issues I want to mention/discuss here are...Another point to consider is this: ...A further problem to note is...Not only..., but... also...The reason why... is that...This leads inevitably to...The next item is...both... and.../as well... as...The cause is that...We have to regard, that/Regarding, that...Indeed
Weiterführung
besides....still....also....too...then....above all....what is more ...Moreover/Furthermore...In addition...Due to...Since,…
Liste
Ähnlichkeiten, Analogien
for one thing ... (and) for another (thing) to begin with to start with Secondly, ...; Thirdly, ...; Finally, ...; Last of all, ...First/First of all...in the first/second place..next..then..finally..last but not least..to conclude...last(ly)
equally..likewise..similarly...in the same way...resembling...
Einer Meinung zustimmen
Eine Meinung ablehnen
I agree. That is (quite) right/true.I couldn’t agree more.That is just how I see it.That is exactly my own view/opinion.
I do not agree.As a matter of fact, ...I cannot accept...Actually, ... In fact, I think (that)I doubt, that
Kontrast/Gegensatz
Beispiele
either...or...but...however..yet..nevertheless....in spite of/despite...instead of ...though...on the contrary......in contrast (to ...)by contrast.....on the one hand ...on the other (hand)...Whereas...
for example (e. g.)for instance....such as...that is to say.....Supposing (that)
namely...alternatively
Ergebnisse festhalten
Zusammenfassung und abschließende Bemerkung
As a result...As a consequence...Because of this...The effect of this is that...consequently....hence....thus....accordingly
To sum up...In short/in brief/in general...On the whole, ...All in all, ...In conclusion, then, it is clear that...To conclude, therefore, it seems that...Having considered all these issues...Having outlined the main arguments...Having taken all these factors into account...I come to the conclusion that...
II. Wortschatzliste für Comprehension and Comment
II.1 Aufzählen von Ideen, Fakten und Gründen
Enumerating ideas, facts and reasons.
Start
Entwicklung
Schluss
first of all...to begin with...to start with...in the first place....the first point I would like...first and foremost
secondly – thirdly – finally..then...in the second place...moreover...furthermore...besides..in addition to that...apart from that..another factor/problem is...the next point I want to mention is...the next point to be considered is...other factors to be taken in account are....we must also take into account tha..twe should also consider the fact that...another argument is
finally..eventually...in conclusion...last of all..the final point ist..here is only one point left
II.2 Bezugnahme zu den Argumenten des Autors
Referring to the author’s arguments in a text.
the author is of the opinion thatin his opinion/view/he bases his arguments on
the author...
claims..states...suggests..implies.. refers to...alludes to..deals with..discusses..puts forward the thesis that...presents/develops/defends the thesis that...expresses his point of view...holds the view that...agrees to/with.... approves (of), is in favour of
supports/sides with/sympathizes with /criticizes/blames sb. for/ reproaches sb with sb.....accuses sb. of having done sth....questions sb....raises objections to/opposes sb...objects by pointing out....argues that...comments on...assumes a critical attitude towards sb....argues for – against...points out that...bases his arguments on...supports/illustrates his arguments
II.3 Formulierung der eigenen Meinung
Expressing your own view.
with regard to an author’s opinion in a text
his argument does not hold good
he overlooks the fact that
the author’s proposals/arguments are convincing, but he fails to take into account that...
it is true that, but...
despite/in spite all this arguments
in my opinion/from my point of view
when discussing problems in a comment
to weigh the pros and cons
as far as I can see
as for/as to/with regard to
talking of
in contrast to/contrary to
as opposed to
the question of... -->
it should be pointed out that
I would like to point out that
it should be mentioned that
I’d like to emphasize the fact
consequently
the consequence would be
the consequence is whether
the result may be
it seems to me that
on the one hand
on the other hand
in fact
as a matter of fact
strictly speaking
we can draw the conclusion that
to sum up we may say
to sum up and make the point
as far as the question of... is concerned
it might be stated that
Nützliche Satzverknüpfungspartikel
Useful particle for sentence association.
Was?
Beispiele
Gedanken hinzufügen:
in addition, further, furthermore, also, besides, in the same way
Gedanken neu formulieren:
in other words, that means, that is, that is to say
Gedankengang abschließen:
in conclusion, in brief, in short, on the whole
Reihenfolge verdeutlichen:
first, second, next, finally, in the end
Gegenteil/Kontrast ausdrücken:
yet, however, on the other hand, on the contrary, in contrast, in spite of, despite, although, though, but,
Vergleich anstellen:
similarly, in the same way, likewise, both, likewise, equally, as well as, as.... as
Schlussfolgerung ausdrücken:
consequently, therefore, as a result, hence, accordingly, thus
Einräumung ausdrücken:
although, though, even if, after all, in any case
Bedingung ausdrücken:
if, unless, provided that, in case that
Begründung/Zweck anführen:
therefore, that is why, for this reason, because, because of, since, on account of, so that, due to
Bezugnahme ausdrücken:
concerning, regarding, related to, referring to
Beispiel anführen:
For example, for instance, in other words, such as
Ort beschreiben:
among, between, here, there, where, on the right/left, in the middle, in front of, behind, nearby, in the distance, in the foreground, in the background
zeitliche Verbindung knüpfen:
now, while, as soon as, before, after, as long as, initially, previously, recently, finally, eventually, meanwhile, at the same time, at the moment, in the end, at last, since, from now on, time and again, off and on, lately, in the past
Hilfreiche Ausdrücke und Wendungen
Useful expressions and phrases.
Einstieg:
Entwicklung:
Schluss:
Personally, I think/feel...
In my opinion...
I object to...
To my mind...
First of all.../furthermore...
To begin with.../Next....
One reason for this.../Another reason...
Likewise it must be mentioned....
And above all...
This can be seen .../So, for instance, ....
In a word....
To conclude...
As a result...
Consequently
Hinführen zum Thema:
Aufzählen von Gründen:
Ziehen einer Schlussfolgerung:
Most people would agree that
Many people seem to think
It has often been said
For the majority of people
As a general statement
Literally this statement means
In the first place
Apart from that
Above all
Finally
The logical result of this is
In consequence
This suggests
For that reason
That is why
Stilistische Aufwertung mit Adverben
Stylistic revaluation with adverbs.
Englisch
Deutsch
absolutely brilliant deeply hurt entirely different extremely cold extremely interesting highly unusual particularly difficult wonderfully creative severely limited
absolut genial tief verletzt völlig anders extrem kalt äußert interessant höchst ungewöhnlich besonders schwierig wunderbar kreativ streng limitiert
Sonntag, 12. Oktober 2008
Sonntag, 5. Oktober 2008
Vocabulary "Youth Culture"
Young People
youth Jugend/Jugendlicher
youths männliche Jugendliche
youngster Kind/Junge
adolescence Jugendalter
adolescent Jugendlicher
teenager Teenager
teenage (adj.) im Teenageralter
Leisure Time
free/spare time Freizeit
go out weggehen/ausgehen
go clubbing in einen Club gehen / tanzen gehen
club Club
go to a concert/gig zu einem Konzert/Auftritt gehen
venue Veranstaltungsort/Treffpunkt
pub Kneipe
party Party
go shopping shoppen/einkaufen gehen
listen to music Musik hören
drink trinken
have fun Spaß haben / sich amüsieren
chill out relaxen/abhängen
hang out sich herumtreiben
at home zu Hause
be/feel relaxed entspannt sein
Music Styles
gothic Gothic
rock Rock
pop Pop
house House
techno Techno
hip hop Hiphop
grunge Grunge
punk Punk
Youth as a Consumer Group
pocket money Taschengeld
have a weekend job einen Wochenendjob haben
consume sth. etwas konsumieren
spending power Kaufkraft
major force in the market wichtiger Marktfaktor
wield power Macht ausüben
dominate the market den Markt beherrschen
designer label Designermarke
target of marketing campaigns Zielgruppe von Marketingkampagnen
satisfy new needs neue Bedürfnisse/Wünsche befriedigen
Conformism/Individuality
peer pressure Gruppendruck
group mentality Gruppenmentalität
the in-crowd Schickeria
conform to sth. sich an etwas anpassen
outsider Außenseiter
individual (adj, n) individuell/Individuum
be different anders sein
Self-Image
self-esteem Selbstwert
concern about your image Sorge um sein Image
feel good/bad about yourself mit sich zufrieden/unzufrieden sein
misunderstood missverstanden
Appearance
looks Aussehen
trendy trendy / im Trend
attention-grabbing Aufmerksamkeit erregend
normal normal
slender schlank
thin dünn
anorexic magersüchtig
overweight (adj, n) übergewichtig/Übergewicht
blemish-free makellos
acne Akne
spots Pickel
diet Ernährung/Diät
go/be on a diet eine Diät machen / auf Diät sein
go without food auf Essen verzichten
miss/skip meals Mahlzeiten auslassen
lose weight Gewicht verlieren
gain weight zunehmen
eat healthily sich gesund ernähren
exercise (n, v) Sport / Sport treiben
do sport Sport machen
go to the gym ins Fitnessstudio gehen
do aerobics Aerobic machen
muscular muskulös
Social Involvement
idealistic idealistisch
help others anderen helfen
volunteer (n, v) Freiwilliger / etwas freiwillig tun
community service Sozialdienst
join an organization einer Organisation beitreten
change the world die Welt verändern
be environmentally aware umweltbewusst sein
get involved in sth. sich engagieren bei/für etwas
be committed to sth. sich für etwas engagieren
Drugs and Alcohol
get drunk sich betrinken
have a hangover einen Kater haben
take drugs Drogen nehmen
drug/alcohol abuse Drogen-/Alkoholmissbrauch
become addicted to sth. von etwas abhängig werden
Love/Sexuality
have a girl-/boyfriend einen Freund / eine Freundin haben
have a relationship eine Beziehung haben
be in love (with sb.) (in jdn.) verliebt sein
be crazy about sb. nach jdm. verrückt sein
be attracted to sb. sich zu jdm. hingezogen fühlen
go on a date zu einer Verabredung / einem Date gehen
have a date with sb. eine Verabredung / ein Date mit jdm. haben
pick sb. up jdn. abschleppen
have a one-track mind nur an das Eine denken
have a one-night stand einen One-Night-Stand haben
have (unprotected) sex (ungeschützen) Geschlechtsverkehr haben
pick up / get a sexually transmitted disease / STD eine Geschlechtskrankheit bekommen
get/become pregnant schwanger werden
cheat on sb. jdn. betrügen
Communication
computer Computer
virtual reality virtuelle Realität
the real world die wirkliche Welt
e-mail Email
send an attachment einen Datei-Anhang verschicken
digital camera/photo Digitalkamera/Digitalfoto
(on) the Internet (im) Internet
be/go online online sein/gehen
have access to the Internet Internetzugang haben
download sth. etwas herunterladen
chat (v, n) chatten/Chat
chat room Chatroom
play computer games Computerspiele spielen
mobile phone (BE) /cell phone (AE) Handy
text message sb. jdm. eine SMS schicken
send a text message eine SMS schicken
youth Jugend/Jugendlicher
youths männliche Jugendliche
youngster Kind/Junge
adolescence Jugendalter
adolescent Jugendlicher
teenager Teenager
teenage (adj.) im Teenageralter
Leisure Time
free/spare time Freizeit
go out weggehen/ausgehen
go clubbing in einen Club gehen / tanzen gehen
club Club
go to a concert/gig zu einem Konzert/Auftritt gehen
venue Veranstaltungsort/Treffpunkt
pub Kneipe
party Party
go shopping shoppen/einkaufen gehen
listen to music Musik hören
drink trinken
have fun Spaß haben / sich amüsieren
chill out relaxen/abhängen
hang out sich herumtreiben
at home zu Hause
be/feel relaxed entspannt sein
Music Styles
gothic Gothic
rock Rock
pop Pop
house House
techno Techno
hip hop Hiphop
grunge Grunge
punk Punk
Youth as a Consumer Group
pocket money Taschengeld
have a weekend job einen Wochenendjob haben
consume sth. etwas konsumieren
spending power Kaufkraft
major force in the market wichtiger Marktfaktor
wield power Macht ausüben
dominate the market den Markt beherrschen
designer label Designermarke
target of marketing campaigns Zielgruppe von Marketingkampagnen
satisfy new needs neue Bedürfnisse/Wünsche befriedigen
Conformism/Individuality
peer pressure Gruppendruck
group mentality Gruppenmentalität
the in-crowd Schickeria
conform to sth. sich an etwas anpassen
outsider Außenseiter
individual (adj, n) individuell/Individuum
be different anders sein
Self-Image
self-esteem Selbstwert
concern about your image Sorge um sein Image
feel good/bad about yourself mit sich zufrieden/unzufrieden sein
misunderstood missverstanden
Appearance
looks Aussehen
trendy trendy / im Trend
attention-grabbing Aufmerksamkeit erregend
normal normal
slender schlank
thin dünn
anorexic magersüchtig
overweight (adj, n) übergewichtig/Übergewicht
blemish-free makellos
acne Akne
spots Pickel
diet Ernährung/Diät
go/be on a diet eine Diät machen / auf Diät sein
go without food auf Essen verzichten
miss/skip meals Mahlzeiten auslassen
lose weight Gewicht verlieren
gain weight zunehmen
eat healthily sich gesund ernähren
exercise (n, v) Sport / Sport treiben
do sport Sport machen
go to the gym ins Fitnessstudio gehen
do aerobics Aerobic machen
muscular muskulös
Social Involvement
idealistic idealistisch
help others anderen helfen
volunteer (n, v) Freiwilliger / etwas freiwillig tun
community service Sozialdienst
join an organization einer Organisation beitreten
change the world die Welt verändern
be environmentally aware umweltbewusst sein
get involved in sth. sich engagieren bei/für etwas
be committed to sth. sich für etwas engagieren
Drugs and Alcohol
get drunk sich betrinken
have a hangover einen Kater haben
take drugs Drogen nehmen
drug/alcohol abuse Drogen-/Alkoholmissbrauch
become addicted to sth. von etwas abhängig werden
Love/Sexuality
have a girl-/boyfriend einen Freund / eine Freundin haben
have a relationship eine Beziehung haben
be in love (with sb.) (in jdn.) verliebt sein
be crazy about sb. nach jdm. verrückt sein
be attracted to sb. sich zu jdm. hingezogen fühlen
go on a date zu einer Verabredung / einem Date gehen
have a date with sb. eine Verabredung / ein Date mit jdm. haben
pick sb. up jdn. abschleppen
have a one-track mind nur an das Eine denken
have a one-night stand einen One-Night-Stand haben
have (unprotected) sex (ungeschützen) Geschlechtsverkehr haben
pick up / get a sexually transmitted disease / STD eine Geschlechtskrankheit bekommen
get/become pregnant schwanger werden
cheat on sb. jdn. betrügen
Communication
computer Computer
virtual reality virtuelle Realität
the real world die wirkliche Welt
e-mail Email
send an attachment einen Datei-Anhang verschicken
digital camera/photo Digitalkamera/Digitalfoto
(on) the Internet (im) Internet
be/go online online sein/gehen
have access to the Internet Internetzugang haben
download sth. etwas herunterladen
chat (v, n) chatten/Chat
chat room Chatroom
play computer games Computerspiele spielen
mobile phone (BE) /cell phone (AE) Handy
text message sb. jdm. eine SMS schicken
send a text message eine SMS schicken
Vocabulary "Who am I - Identity"
Aspects of Identity
appearance äußeres Erscheinungsbild
background Hintergrund
born into (a rich family) in (einer reichen Familie) geboren werden
born of/to (poor parents / a German family) als Kind (armer Eltern / einer deutschen Familie) geboren werden
region Region
national identity nationale Identität
social class soziale Schicht
upper/middle/working class Oberschicht/Mittelschicht/Arbeiterschicht
racial/ethnic identity ethnische Identität
ethnicity Ethnizität/Volkszugehörigkeit
mixed ethnic background gemischter ethnischer Hintergrund
of mixed ancestry von gemischter Herkunft/Abstammung
religious identity religiöse Identität
upbringing Erziehung
education Bildung/Erziehung
hereditary angeboren/erblich
acquired erworben
Personality
have/show personality traits Persönlichkeitszüge haben
self-confidence Selbstvertrauen
self-confident selbstsicher
assertive bestimmt/durchsetzungsfähig
aggressive aggressiv
self-awareness Selbstkenntnis
shape an individual’s personality die Persönlichkeit einer Person formen
attitudes Einstellungen/Haltungen/Gesinnungen
beliefs Überzeugungen
(stick to your) principles seinen Prinzipien treu bleiben
morals Moral/Sitten
interests Interessen
be interested in sth. sich für etwas interessieren
share values Werte teilen
role model Rollenvorbild
find yourself sich selbst finden
deny your origins seine Wurzeln/Herkunft verleugnen
Sexuality
gender identity Geschlechtsidentität
sexual identity sexuelle Identität
sexual orientation sexuelle Orientierung
heterosexual heterosexuell
homosexual homosexuell
bisexual bisexuell
enter into / end a relationship eine Beziehung beginnen / beenden
Strengths
realize your full potential sein volles Potenzial entfalten
have a positive outlook on life eine positive Lebenseinstellung haben
find fulfilment in sth. Erfüllung in etwas finden
ambition Ehrgeiz
ambitious ehrgeizig
aim high sich hohe Ziele setzen
achiever Erfolgstyp
seek self-fulfilment/happiness Selbsterfüllung/Glück suchen
be good/talented at sth. gut in / begabt für etwas sein
work hard for sth. hart für etwas arbeiten
focus on sth. sich auf etwas konzentrieren
strong point Stärke
self-confidence/self-respect Selbstvertrauen/Selbstachtung
overcome a problem ein Problem überwinden
mature reif
self-assured selbstbewusst
feel accepted sich akzeptiert fühlen
Weaknesses
self-doubt(s) Selbstzweifel
lack of self-confidence/self-respect mangelnde(s) Selbstvertrauen/Selbstachtung
shortcomings Schwäche/Fehler
self-consciousness Unsicherheit/Gehemmtheit
go/pass through an identity crisis eine Identitätskrise durchleben
have an inferiority/superiority complex einen Minderwertigkeits-/Überlegenheitskomplex haben
failure Scheitern/Versagen/Versager
fail in sth. bei etwas scheitern
be nervous/uncertain/confused about sth. nervös/unsicher/verwirrt bei einer Sache sein
feel threatened by sth. sich von etwas bedroht fühlen
feel like an outsider sich wie ein Außenseiter fühlen
be a snob ein Snob sein
Goals/Ambitions
have realistic goals realistische Ziele haben
achieve your goals seine Ziele erreichen
find a dream job einen Traumjob finden
pursue a dream einen Traum verfolgen
consider your options über die eigenen Möglichkeiten nachdenken
appearance äußeres Erscheinungsbild
background Hintergrund
born into (a rich family) in (einer reichen Familie) geboren werden
born of/to (poor parents / a German family) als Kind (armer Eltern / einer deutschen Familie) geboren werden
region Region
national identity nationale Identität
social class soziale Schicht
upper/middle/working class Oberschicht/Mittelschicht/Arbeiterschicht
racial/ethnic identity ethnische Identität
ethnicity Ethnizität/Volkszugehörigkeit
mixed ethnic background gemischter ethnischer Hintergrund
of mixed ancestry von gemischter Herkunft/Abstammung
religious identity religiöse Identität
upbringing Erziehung
education Bildung/Erziehung
hereditary angeboren/erblich
acquired erworben
Personality
have/show personality traits Persönlichkeitszüge haben
self-confidence Selbstvertrauen
self-confident selbstsicher
assertive bestimmt/durchsetzungsfähig
aggressive aggressiv
self-awareness Selbstkenntnis
shape an individual’s personality die Persönlichkeit einer Person formen
attitudes Einstellungen/Haltungen/Gesinnungen
beliefs Überzeugungen
(stick to your) principles seinen Prinzipien treu bleiben
morals Moral/Sitten
interests Interessen
be interested in sth. sich für etwas interessieren
share values Werte teilen
role model Rollenvorbild
find yourself sich selbst finden
deny your origins seine Wurzeln/Herkunft verleugnen
Sexuality
gender identity Geschlechtsidentität
sexual identity sexuelle Identität
sexual orientation sexuelle Orientierung
heterosexual heterosexuell
homosexual homosexuell
bisexual bisexuell
enter into / end a relationship eine Beziehung beginnen / beenden
Strengths
realize your full potential sein volles Potenzial entfalten
have a positive outlook on life eine positive Lebenseinstellung haben
find fulfilment in sth. Erfüllung in etwas finden
ambition Ehrgeiz
ambitious ehrgeizig
aim high sich hohe Ziele setzen
achiever Erfolgstyp
seek self-fulfilment/happiness Selbsterfüllung/Glück suchen
be good/talented at sth. gut in / begabt für etwas sein
work hard for sth. hart für etwas arbeiten
focus on sth. sich auf etwas konzentrieren
strong point Stärke
self-confidence/self-respect Selbstvertrauen/Selbstachtung
overcome a problem ein Problem überwinden
mature reif
self-assured selbstbewusst
feel accepted sich akzeptiert fühlen
Weaknesses
self-doubt(s) Selbstzweifel
lack of self-confidence/self-respect mangelnde(s) Selbstvertrauen/Selbstachtung
shortcomings Schwäche/Fehler
self-consciousness Unsicherheit/Gehemmtheit
go/pass through an identity crisis eine Identitätskrise durchleben
have an inferiority/superiority complex einen Minderwertigkeits-/Überlegenheitskomplex haben
failure Scheitern/Versagen/Versager
fail in sth. bei etwas scheitern
be nervous/uncertain/confused about sth. nervös/unsicher/verwirrt bei einer Sache sein
feel threatened by sth. sich von etwas bedroht fühlen
feel like an outsider sich wie ein Außenseiter fühlen
be a snob ein Snob sein
Goals/Ambitions
have realistic goals realistische Ziele haben
achieve your goals seine Ziele erreichen
find a dream job einen Traumjob finden
pursue a dream einen Traum verfolgen
consider your options über die eigenen Möglichkeiten nachdenken
Vocabulary "The Family"
Family Members
relative Verwandter
relation Verwandter
wife Ehefrau
husband Ehemann
parent(s) Elternteil (Eltern)
mother Mutter
father Vater
sister Schwester
brother Bruder
half-sister/brother Halbschwester/-bruder
sibling das Geschwister
twin(s) Zwilling(e)
child Kind
daughter Tochter
son Sohn
stepmother/stepfather Stiefmutter/Stiefvater
stepsister/ stepbrother Stiefschwester/ Stiefbruder
stepson/stepdaughter Stiefsohn/Stieftochter
in-laws angeheiratete Verwandtschaft
mother-in-law/ father-in-law Schwiegermutter/ Schwiegervater
sister-in-law/ brother-in-law Schwägerin/ Schwager
daughter-in-law/ son-in-law Schwiegertochter/ Schwiegersohn
aunt Tante
uncle Onkel
niece Nichte
nephew Neffe
cousin Cousin/Cousine
grandmother/ grandfather Großmutter/ Großvater
grandchild Enkelkind
granddaughter/ grandson Enkelin/Enkel
great-grandmother/ great-grandfather Urgroßmutter/ Urgroßvater
Near-Family
godparent(s) Pate/Patin, (Paten)
godmother Patentante/Taufpatin
godfather Patenonkel/Taufpate
goddaughter Patentochter
godson Patensohn
Family Structures
a married couple verheiratetes Paar
a couple Paar/Pärchen
nuclear family Kernfamilie
one-/single-parent family Familie mit alleinerziehendem Elternteil
a childless couple kinderloses Paar
an adopted child adoptiertes Kind
natural/adoptive parents leibliche Eltern / Adoptiveltern
extended family Großfamilie / weiterer Familienkreis
an only child Einzelkind
gay/same-sex couple gleichgeschlechtliches Paar
gay/same-sex partnership gleichgeschlechtliche Partnerschaft
be related to sb. mit jdm. verwandt sein
Planning a Family
family planning Familienplanung
adopt a child ein Kind adoptieren
be adopted adoptiert werden/sein
surrogate mother Leihmutter
artificial insemination künstliche Befruchtung
sperm bank Samenbank
test-tube baby ‘Retortenbaby’
clone a human being ein menschliches Wesen klonen
Parents and Children
bring sb. up jdn. aufziehen
raise sb. jdn. großziehen
look after sb. sich um jdn. kümmern
take care of sb. auf jdn. aufpassen
support sb. jdn. (finanziell) unterstützen
educate sb. jdn. erziehen/(aus-)bilden
have good/bad relations with sb. gute/schlecht mit jdm. auskommen
have a good/bad relationship (with sb.) eine gute/schlechte Beziehung zu jdm. haben
get on well with sb. gut mit jdm. klarkommen/zurechtkommen
be strict with sb./ about sth. mit jdm. / in einer Sache streng sein
lay down the law Vorschriften machen
allow sb. to do sth. jdm. erlauben, etwas zu tun
check up on sb. jdn. kontrollieren
obey sb. jdm. gehorchen
(dis)obedience (Un)Gehorsam
rebel against sb. gegen jdn. rebellieren
obey/break rules Regeln befolgen/brechen
Providing for a Family
support your family (financially) seine Familie (finanziell) unterstützen
main breadwinner Hauptverdiener
homemaker Hausfrau
single/double income Einzel-/Doppelverdienst
pay maintenance (to sb.) (für jdn.) Unterhalt zahlen
childcare Kinderbetreuung
childcare support Kindergeld
Living Together/Apart
live together zusammenleben
move in with sb. mit jdm. zusammenziehen
be engaged to sb. mit jdm. verlobt sein
get married heiraten
fiancé Verlobter
fiancée Verlobte
get married heiraten
be married verheiratet sein
start a family eine Familie gründen
be happily/unhappily married glücklich/unglücklich verheiratet sein
divorce sb. sich von jdm. scheiden lassen
get divorced sich scheiden lassen
be divorced geschieden sein
separate (from sb.) sich (von jdm.) trennen
be separated getrennt sein
break up (with sb.) sich (von jdm.) trennen
live by yourself allein leben
live alone allein leben
stay/remain single alleinstehend bleiben
bachelor Junggeselle
widow Witwe
widower Witwer
live at home zu Hause leben
live under one roof unter einem Dach leben
leave home zu Hause ausziehen
relative Verwandter
relation Verwandter
wife Ehefrau
husband Ehemann
parent(s) Elternteil (Eltern)
mother Mutter
father Vater
sister Schwester
brother Bruder
half-sister/brother Halbschwester/-bruder
sibling das Geschwister
twin(s) Zwilling(e)
child Kind
daughter Tochter
son Sohn
stepmother/stepfather Stiefmutter/Stiefvater
stepsister/ stepbrother Stiefschwester/ Stiefbruder
stepson/stepdaughter Stiefsohn/Stieftochter
in-laws angeheiratete Verwandtschaft
mother-in-law/ father-in-law Schwiegermutter/ Schwiegervater
sister-in-law/ brother-in-law Schwägerin/ Schwager
daughter-in-law/ son-in-law Schwiegertochter/ Schwiegersohn
aunt Tante
uncle Onkel
niece Nichte
nephew Neffe
cousin Cousin/Cousine
grandmother/ grandfather Großmutter/ Großvater
grandchild Enkelkind
granddaughter/ grandson Enkelin/Enkel
great-grandmother/ great-grandfather Urgroßmutter/ Urgroßvater
Near-Family
godparent(s) Pate/Patin, (Paten)
godmother Patentante/Taufpatin
godfather Patenonkel/Taufpate
goddaughter Patentochter
godson Patensohn
Family Structures
a married couple verheiratetes Paar
a couple Paar/Pärchen
nuclear family Kernfamilie
one-/single-parent family Familie mit alleinerziehendem Elternteil
a childless couple kinderloses Paar
an adopted child adoptiertes Kind
natural/adoptive parents leibliche Eltern / Adoptiveltern
extended family Großfamilie / weiterer Familienkreis
an only child Einzelkind
gay/same-sex couple gleichgeschlechtliches Paar
gay/same-sex partnership gleichgeschlechtliche Partnerschaft
be related to sb. mit jdm. verwandt sein
Planning a Family
family planning Familienplanung
adopt a child ein Kind adoptieren
be adopted adoptiert werden/sein
surrogate mother Leihmutter
artificial insemination künstliche Befruchtung
sperm bank Samenbank
test-tube baby ‘Retortenbaby’
clone a human being ein menschliches Wesen klonen
Parents and Children
bring sb. up jdn. aufziehen
raise sb. jdn. großziehen
look after sb. sich um jdn. kümmern
take care of sb. auf jdn. aufpassen
support sb. jdn. (finanziell) unterstützen
educate sb. jdn. erziehen/(aus-)bilden
have good/bad relations with sb. gute/schlecht mit jdm. auskommen
have a good/bad relationship (with sb.) eine gute/schlechte Beziehung zu jdm. haben
get on well with sb. gut mit jdm. klarkommen/zurechtkommen
be strict with sb./ about sth. mit jdm. / in einer Sache streng sein
lay down the law Vorschriften machen
allow sb. to do sth. jdm. erlauben, etwas zu tun
check up on sb. jdn. kontrollieren
obey sb. jdm. gehorchen
(dis)obedience (Un)Gehorsam
rebel against sb. gegen jdn. rebellieren
obey/break rules Regeln befolgen/brechen
Providing for a Family
support your family (financially) seine Familie (finanziell) unterstützen
main breadwinner Hauptverdiener
homemaker Hausfrau
single/double income Einzel-/Doppelverdienst
pay maintenance (to sb.) (für jdn.) Unterhalt zahlen
childcare Kinderbetreuung
childcare support Kindergeld
Living Together/Apart
live together zusammenleben
move in with sb. mit jdm. zusammenziehen
be engaged to sb. mit jdm. verlobt sein
get married heiraten
fiancé Verlobter
fiancée Verlobte
get married heiraten
be married verheiratet sein
start a family eine Familie gründen
be happily/unhappily married glücklich/unglücklich verheiratet sein
divorce sb. sich von jdm. scheiden lassen
get divorced sich scheiden lassen
be divorced geschieden sein
separate (from sb.) sich (von jdm.) trennen
be separated getrennt sein
break up (with sb.) sich (von jdm.) trennen
live by yourself allein leben
live alone allein leben
stay/remain single alleinstehend bleiben
bachelor Junggeselle
widow Witwe
widower Witwer
live at home zu Hause leben
live under one roof unter einem Dach leben
leave home zu Hause ausziehen
Vocabulary "Personal Identity"
Topic Vocabulary ‘Personal Identity’
Aspects of Identity
appearance
background
born into (a rich family)
born of/to (poor parents / a German family)
region
national identity
social class
upper/middle/working class
racial/ethnic identity
ethnicity
mixed ethnic background
of mixed ancestry
religious identity
upbringing
education
hereditary
acquired
Personality
have/show personality traits
self-confidence
self-confident
assertive
aggressive
self-awareness
shape an individual’s personality
attitudes
beliefs
(stick to your) principles
morals
interests
be interested in sth.
share values
role model
find yourself
deny your origins
Sexuality
gender identity
sexual identity
sexual orientation
heterosexual
homosexual
bisexual
enter into / end a relationship
Strengths
realize your full potential
have a positive outlook on life
find fulfilment in sth.
ambition
ambitious
aim high
achiever
seek self-fulfilment/happiness
be good/talented at sth.
work hard for sth.
focus on sth.
strong point
self-confidence/self-respect
overcome a problem
mature
self-assured
feel accepted
Weaknesses
self-doubt(s)
lack of self-confidence/self-respect
shortcomings
self-consciousness
go/pass through an identity crisis
have an inferiority/superiority complex
failure
fail in sth.
be nervous/uncertain/confused about sth.
feel rootless
feel threatened by sth.
feel like an outsider
be a snob
Goals/Ambitions
have realistic goals
achieve your goals
find a dream job
pursue a dream
consider your options
Aspects of Identity
appearance
background
born into (a rich family)
born of/to (poor parents / a German family)
region
national identity
social class
upper/middle/working class
racial/ethnic identity
ethnicity
mixed ethnic background
of mixed ancestry
religious identity
upbringing
education
hereditary
acquired
Personality
have/show personality traits
self-confidence
self-confident
assertive
aggressive
self-awareness
shape an individual’s personality
attitudes
beliefs
(stick to your) principles
morals
interests
be interested in sth.
share values
role model
find yourself
deny your origins
Sexuality
gender identity
sexual identity
sexual orientation
heterosexual
homosexual
bisexual
enter into / end a relationship
Strengths
realize your full potential
have a positive outlook on life
find fulfilment in sth.
ambition
ambitious
aim high
achiever
seek self-fulfilment/happiness
be good/talented at sth.
work hard for sth.
focus on sth.
strong point
self-confidence/self-respect
overcome a problem
mature
self-assured
feel accepted
Weaknesses
self-doubt(s)
lack of self-confidence/self-respect
shortcomings
self-consciousness
go/pass through an identity crisis
have an inferiority/superiority complex
failure
fail in sth.
be nervous/uncertain/confused about sth.
feel rootless
feel threatened by sth.
feel like an outsider
be a snob
Goals/Ambitions
have realistic goals
achieve your goals
find a dream job
pursue a dream
consider your options
Defining Democracy
DEFINING DEMOCRACY
Government of the People
Democracy may be a word familiar to most, but it is a concept still misunderstood and misused in a time when totalitarian regimes and military dictatorships alike have attempted to claim popular support by pinning democratic labels upon themselves. Yet the power of the democratic idea has also evoked some of history's most profound and moving expressions of human will and intellect: from Pericles in ancient Athens to Vaclav Havel in the modern Czech Republic, from Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence in 1776 to Andrei Sakharov's last speeches in 1989.
In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. For this reason, it is possible to identify the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, human rights, and equality before the law that any society must possess to be properly called democratic.
Democracies fall into two basic categories, direct and representative. In a direct democracy, all citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials, can participate in making public decisions. Such a system is clearly only practical with relatively small numbers of people--in a community organization or tribal council, for example, or the local unit of a labor union, where members can meet in a single room to discuss issues and arrive at decisions by consensus or majority vote. Ancient Athens, the world's first democracy, managed to practice direct democracy with an assembly that may have numbered as many as 5,000 to 6,000 persons--perhaps the maximum number that can physically gather in one place and practice direct democracy.
Modern society, with its size and complexity, offers few opportunities for direct democracy. Even in the northeastern United States, where the New England town meeting is a hallowed tradition, most communities have grown too large for all the residents to gather in a single location and vote directly on issues that affect their lives.
Today, the most common form of democracy, whether for a town of 50,000 or nations of 50 million, is representative democracy, in which citizens elect officials to make political decisions, formulate laws, and administer programs for the public good. In the name of the people, such officials can deliberate on complex public issues in a thoughtful and systematic manner that requires an investment of time and energy that is often impractical for the vast majority of private citizens.
How such officials are elected can vary enormously. On the national level, for example, legislators can be chosen from districts that each elect a single representative. Alternatively, under a system of proportional representation, each political party is represented in the legislature according to its percentage of the total vote nationwide. Provincial and local elections can mirror these national models, or choose their representatives more informally through group consensus instead of elections. Whatever the method used, public officials in a representative democracy hold office in the name of the people and remain accountable to the people for their actions.
Majority Rule and Minority Rights
All democracies are systems in which citizens freely make political decisions by majority rule. But rule by the majority is not necessarily democratic: No one, for example, would call a system fair or just that permitted 51 percent of the population to oppress the remaining 49 percent in the name of the majority. In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guarantees of individual human rights that, in turn, serve to protect the rights of minorities--whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation. The rights of minorities do not depend upon the goodwill of the majority and cannot be eliminated by majority vote. The rights of minorities are protected because democratic laws and institutions protect the rights of all citizens.
Diane Ravitch, scholar, author, and a former assistant U.S. secretary of education, wrote in a paper for an educational seminar in Poland: "When a representative democracy operates in accordance with a constitution that limits the powers of the government and guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, this form of government is a constitutional democracy. In such a society, the majority rules, and the rights of minorities are protected by law and through the institutionalization of law."
These elements define the fundamental elements of all modern democracies, no matter how varied in history, culture, and economy. Despite their enormous differences as nations and societies, the essential elements of constitutional government--majority rule coupled with individual and minority rights, and the rule of law--can be found in Canada and Costa Rica, France and Botswana, Japan and India.
Democratic Society
Democracy is more than a set of constitutional rules and procedures that determine how a government functions. In a democracy, government is only one element coexisting in a social fabric of many and varied institutions, political parties, organizations, and associations. This diversity is called pluralism, and it assumes that the many organized groups and institutions in a democratic society do not depend upon government for their existence, legitimacy, or authority.
Thousands of private organizations operate in a democratic society, some local, some national. Many of them serve a mediating role between individuals and the complex social and governmental institutions of which they are a part, filling roles not given to the government and offering individuals opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.
These groups represent the interests of their members in a variety of ways--by supporting candidates for public office, debating issues, and trying to influence policy decisions. Through such groups, individuals have an avenue for meaningful participation both in government and in their own communities. The examples are many and varied: charitable organizations and churches, environmental and neighborhood groups, business associations and labor unions.
In an authoritarian society, virtually all such organizations would be controlled, licensed, watched, or otherwise accountable to the government. In a democracy, the powers of the government are, by law, clearly defined and sharply limited. As a result, private organizations are free of government control; on the contrary, many of them lobby the government and seek to hold it accountable for its actions. Other groups, concerned with the arts, the practice of religious faith, scholarly research, or other interests, may choose to have little or no contact with the government at all.
In this busy private realm of democratic society, citizens can explore the possibilities of freedom and the responsibilities of self-government--unpressured by the potentially heavy hand of the state.
THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
Sovereignty of the people.
Government based upon consent of the governed.
Majority rule.
Minority rights.
Guarantee of basic human rights.
Free and fair elections.
Equality before the law.
Due process of law.
Constitutional limits on government.
Social, economic, and political pluralism.
Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.
Government of the People
Democracy may be a word familiar to most, but it is a concept still misunderstood and misused in a time when totalitarian regimes and military dictatorships alike have attempted to claim popular support by pinning democratic labels upon themselves. Yet the power of the democratic idea has also evoked some of history's most profound and moving expressions of human will and intellect: from Pericles in ancient Athens to Vaclav Havel in the modern Czech Republic, from Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence in 1776 to Andrei Sakharov's last speeches in 1989.
In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. For this reason, it is possible to identify the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, human rights, and equality before the law that any society must possess to be properly called democratic.
Democracies fall into two basic categories, direct and representative. In a direct democracy, all citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials, can participate in making public decisions. Such a system is clearly only practical with relatively small numbers of people--in a community organization or tribal council, for example, or the local unit of a labor union, where members can meet in a single room to discuss issues and arrive at decisions by consensus or majority vote. Ancient Athens, the world's first democracy, managed to practice direct democracy with an assembly that may have numbered as many as 5,000 to 6,000 persons--perhaps the maximum number that can physically gather in one place and practice direct democracy.
Modern society, with its size and complexity, offers few opportunities for direct democracy. Even in the northeastern United States, where the New England town meeting is a hallowed tradition, most communities have grown too large for all the residents to gather in a single location and vote directly on issues that affect their lives.
Today, the most common form of democracy, whether for a town of 50,000 or nations of 50 million, is representative democracy, in which citizens elect officials to make political decisions, formulate laws, and administer programs for the public good. In the name of the people, such officials can deliberate on complex public issues in a thoughtful and systematic manner that requires an investment of time and energy that is often impractical for the vast majority of private citizens.
How such officials are elected can vary enormously. On the national level, for example, legislators can be chosen from districts that each elect a single representative. Alternatively, under a system of proportional representation, each political party is represented in the legislature according to its percentage of the total vote nationwide. Provincial and local elections can mirror these national models, or choose their representatives more informally through group consensus instead of elections. Whatever the method used, public officials in a representative democracy hold office in the name of the people and remain accountable to the people for their actions.
Majority Rule and Minority Rights
All democracies are systems in which citizens freely make political decisions by majority rule. But rule by the majority is not necessarily democratic: No one, for example, would call a system fair or just that permitted 51 percent of the population to oppress the remaining 49 percent in the name of the majority. In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guarantees of individual human rights that, in turn, serve to protect the rights of minorities--whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation. The rights of minorities do not depend upon the goodwill of the majority and cannot be eliminated by majority vote. The rights of minorities are protected because democratic laws and institutions protect the rights of all citizens.
Diane Ravitch, scholar, author, and a former assistant U.S. secretary of education, wrote in a paper for an educational seminar in Poland: "When a representative democracy operates in accordance with a constitution that limits the powers of the government and guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, this form of government is a constitutional democracy. In such a society, the majority rules, and the rights of minorities are protected by law and through the institutionalization of law."
These elements define the fundamental elements of all modern democracies, no matter how varied in history, culture, and economy. Despite their enormous differences as nations and societies, the essential elements of constitutional government--majority rule coupled with individual and minority rights, and the rule of law--can be found in Canada and Costa Rica, France and Botswana, Japan and India.
Democratic Society
Democracy is more than a set of constitutional rules and procedures that determine how a government functions. In a democracy, government is only one element coexisting in a social fabric of many and varied institutions, political parties, organizations, and associations. This diversity is called pluralism, and it assumes that the many organized groups and institutions in a democratic society do not depend upon government for their existence, legitimacy, or authority.
Thousands of private organizations operate in a democratic society, some local, some national. Many of them serve a mediating role between individuals and the complex social and governmental institutions of which they are a part, filling roles not given to the government and offering individuals opportunities to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.
These groups represent the interests of their members in a variety of ways--by supporting candidates for public office, debating issues, and trying to influence policy decisions. Through such groups, individuals have an avenue for meaningful participation both in government and in their own communities. The examples are many and varied: charitable organizations and churches, environmental and neighborhood groups, business associations and labor unions.
In an authoritarian society, virtually all such organizations would be controlled, licensed, watched, or otherwise accountable to the government. In a democracy, the powers of the government are, by law, clearly defined and sharply limited. As a result, private organizations are free of government control; on the contrary, many of them lobby the government and seek to hold it accountable for its actions. Other groups, concerned with the arts, the practice of religious faith, scholarly research, or other interests, may choose to have little or no contact with the government at all.
In this busy private realm of democratic society, citizens can explore the possibilities of freedom and the responsibilities of self-government--unpressured by the potentially heavy hand of the state.
THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY
Sovereignty of the people.
Government based upon consent of the governed.
Majority rule.
Minority rights.
Guarantee of basic human rights.
Free and fair elections.
Equality before the law.
Due process of law.
Constitutional limits on government.
Social, economic, and political pluralism.
Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.
Freitag, 19. September 2008
List "Analysis"
Vocabulary of Analysis
1. Linking words for essays, reports, papers
listing: firstly, secondly ...
to begin / start with ..., to conclude with
in the first place, in the second place
next , then , finally, last(ly)
to conclude ...
last but not least ...
to summarise , to sum up
adding: also, too, then
furthermore ...
moreover ...
in addition to that ...
above all ......
what is more ...
comparing: equally, likewise, similarly, in the same / a different way
compared to / with, in comparison with
as ... as , both ... and ...
you can´t compare it with ...
concluding: all in all...
in conclusion ...
to sum up ...
I draw the conclusion / arrive at the conclusion that ...
I conclude ...
consequently ..
exemplifying: for example (e.g.), for instance
that is (i.e.)
that is to say
... such as ...
namely ...
result: consequently
hence
therefore
thus
as a result
because of that ...-
that´s why ...
reformulating: to put it another way
in other words
alternative on the one hand... , on the other hand ...
contrasting: on the contrary
in contrast to that
but , yet, however
nevertheless ...
whereas ..., while ...
neither .... nor ...
on the one hand ..., on the other hand ...
concession: besides, however, still, though,
in spite of that, despite that
admittedly ,if , unless (if not)
2. Giving one´s own opinion
In my view; To my mind, In my opinion, As I see it,
I think that , I believe that , I have come to the conclusion that,
I would not say that ..., Therefore I cannot agree with ...,
I am doubtful whether / certain that ...
According to the text ...
It seems to me that ...
Another argument is that ...
As far as I am concerned, ....
One reason is that ...
I would say that ...
As we have seen, ...
As we know from ...., ...
For all these reasons I would support the view that ...
As a result ...
In short ...
With regard to ...
It is for this reason that I think ...
I am convinced that ...
I feel that ...
1. Linking words for essays, reports, papers
listing: firstly, secondly ...
to begin / start with ..., to conclude with
in the first place, in the second place
next , then , finally, last(ly)
to conclude ...
last but not least ...
to summarise , to sum up
adding: also, too, then
furthermore ...
moreover ...
in addition to that ...
above all ......
what is more ...
comparing: equally, likewise, similarly, in the same / a different way
compared to / with, in comparison with
as ... as , both ... and ...
you can´t compare it with ...
concluding: all in all...
in conclusion ...
to sum up ...
I draw the conclusion / arrive at the conclusion that ...
I conclude ...
consequently ..
exemplifying: for example (e.g.), for instance
that is (i.e.)
that is to say
... such as ...
namely ...
result: consequently
hence
therefore
thus
as a result
because of that ...-
that´s why ...
reformulating: to put it another way
in other words
alternative on the one hand... , on the other hand ...
contrasting: on the contrary
in contrast to that
but , yet, however
nevertheless ...
whereas ..., while ...
neither .... nor ...
on the one hand ..., on the other hand ...
concession: besides, however, still, though,
in spite of that, despite that
admittedly ,if , unless (if not)
2. Giving one´s own opinion
In my view; To my mind, In my opinion, As I see it,
I think that , I believe that , I have come to the conclusion that,
I would not say that ..., Therefore I cannot agree with ...,
I am doubtful whether / certain that ...
According to the text ...
It seems to me that ...
Another argument is that ...
As far as I am concerned, ....
One reason is that ...
I would say that ...
As we have seen, ...
As we know from ...., ...
For all these reasons I would support the view that ...
As a result ...
In short ...
With regard to ...
It is for this reason that I think ...
I am convinced that ...
I feel that ...
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