Lesson 1: Il Tamigi e la sua storia

DeAEnglish – Livello B1.2 Some History Watch & Learn Lesson 1: Il Tamigi e la sua storia

Dialogo
Approfondimenti

Dialogo

Gordon: Hi. My name’s Gordon Sinclair. I’m a TV journalist, and this is my first big presentation job. It’s for a programme on the ‘History Today’ channel, called ‘Great Cities of Europe’, ‘which is watched by about two million people. I’m going to interview Professor Colin Drummond, who’s an expert on the history of London and the River Thames. I’m really excited, but tremendously nervous, too. The producer’s a friend of my father’s which is a big advantage… but even if he is my father’s friend, I still need to do the job well! Anyway, here goes…

Gordon: Well, Professor, could you start by telling us a little about the River Thames itself?

Professor: It’s a fascinating subject. The River Thames has been called ‘liquid history’, and that’s a very good description. It’s the reason why London was founded and became so successful. The ancient city of Londinium was established in AD 43 by the Romans at the highest point reached by the tide at the time.

Gordon: And is the river still an important part of the city’s life?

Professor: Oh, yes, of course. It’s used by thousands of people every day, for business and for pleasure. It’s like London’s High Street! But as I was saying….

Technician: Hold it, the sound’s being distorted by the wind. We are going to fix it, before you continue.

Professor: You know, Gordon, I could say a lot more about the River Thames in Roman times.

Gordon: Oh, yes, that would be great, but I’ve been told to keep the explanations quite short. This is popular history, not an academic lecture! Ha, ha! I’m sure you understand, Professor.

Professor: Well, if you say so. I must say, this is all very exciting!

Gordon: Well it can be, I suppose, but it’s all in a day’s work for me!

Technician: OK, Gordon, you can carry on!

Gordon: Righto, professor. We’re standing in front of the Houses of Parliament and the tower of Big Ben. How old is the building, exactly?

Professor: Well, I think that first I should point out that Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower… but to return to your question, the Houses of Parliament contain hundreds of years’ worth of history. In 1066 it became the home of William the Conqueror and his court, and it was the main residence of the English kings for 400 years, until Henry VIII. Since then it’s been the country’s administrative centre, and I think thatin hundreds of years’ time it will still be the centre of political life. Unfortunately, everything except Westminster Hall was burnt down in the great fire of 1834 and the present building was designed by Sir Charles Barry and completed in the 1840’s.

Gordon: Thank you, Professor, that was fascinating… but can you tell us some more about the bridges across the River Thames, like, for example, the er…Hammerith… the Hammer… Smammerith…the Hammersmith…

Professor: Do you mean the Hammersmith Bridge?

Gordon: Yes, Hammer… Hammer… I’m really sorry, everyone. Half an hour’s practice and I still can’t say it properly! I must get this one right!

Voice over: OK, everyone, take 15! And action!

Gordon: Thank you, Professor, that was fascinating… but can you tell us a little about the bridges across the Thames. I’m really sorry, everyone. I’ll do it right next time… honestly. Let’s just forget about the bridges and we’ll talk about the Tower of London…

Voice over: OK, everyone, let’s try again… take 16!

Approfondimenti

‘History Today’ channel – canale ‘La storia oggi’

Nota che il canale televisivo si chiama channel, mentre il canale navigabile artificiale è canal. The Channel è il canale della Manica.

Nota la differenza fra story, storia intesa come ‘racconto’, e history che è ‘la storia’.

The producer’s a friend of my father’s. – Il produttore è un amico di mio padre.

Nota la costruzione del possessivo: a friend of mine, ‘un mio amico’, a friend of hers, ‘un suo amico (di lei), e, quindi, in assenza di pronome possessivo si aggiunge il genitivo sassone: a friend of my mother’s, ‘un’amica di mia madre’.

At the highest point reached by the tide at the time – sul punto più alto raggiunto dalla marea a quel tempo

Tide vuol dire ‘marea’, high tide è ‘alta marea’, low tide o ebb tide ‘bassa marea’.

I should point out that Big Ben is the name of the bell – Dovrei sottolineare che Big Ben è il nome della campana

To poin out significa ‘far notare’, ‘far rilevare’, ma anche ‘indicare’: he pointed out to me where the hotel was, ‘mi indicò dov’era l’hotel’.

Everything except Westminster Hall was burnt down in the great fire of 1834 – tutto tranne Westminster Hall bruciò nel grande incendio del 1834

Il verbo to burn down significa ‘dare alle fiamme’, ‘distruggere con il fuoco’. Fire vuol dire ‘fuoco’, ‘incendio’, l’espressione to set the Thames on fire significa ‘fare qualcosa di eccezionale’, electric fire è la ‘stufa elettrica’: mentre l’espressione to fall out of the frying pan into the fire equivale a ‘cadere dalla padella alla brace’.

The present building was designed by Sir Charles Barry – l’attuale edificio fu progettato da Sir Charles Barry

Nota anche qui l’uso di by nella frase passiva, laddove in italiano usiamo ‘da’. To design significa ‘progettare’ e design vuol dire ‘piano’, ‘progetto’, oltre che ‘design’, ‘progettazione’: Italian design is known all over the world, ‘il design italiano è noto in tutto il mondo’.