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Japanese
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04:14 |
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J01 |
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Words and Their Stories -- a program in Special English. Every word has
its own story. Today's word is "Yankee," a nickname for Americans. Where
did the word come from? What does it mean? And how did it get into the
language?
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J02 |
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A number of people believe that the word "Yankee," comes from a Scottish
word meaning sharp and clever. But most experts agree that the word
"Yankee " came from Holland.
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J03 |
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Many years ago, the Hollanders who made cheese were called "John Cheese"
by the Germans. Now some of these Hollanders came to America in the early
1600's. They settled near the New England colonists. The Hollanders were
great farmers, and they laughed at the colonists in the North who tried to
build farms in the mountain rocks. And so, the Hollanders gave their own
nickname "John Cheese," to the New England colonists. This explanation
becomes more believable when one considers the name "John Cheese." In the
language of the Hollanders it was spelled J-a-n K-e-e-s. It was pronounced
"yan kees "
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J04 |
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During the American Civil War the nickname "Yankee," took on a wider
meaning. The soldiers in the Northern states were called "Yankees" by the
men of the Southern army. During World War I the nickname "Yankee," spread
to Europe. The word was shortened to "Yank." And the words, "The Yanks are
coming," brought tears and joy to the peoples of the Allied nations.
Today, the word, "Yankee," is known throughout the world as another name
for an American.
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J05 |
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Of course, one cannot talk about the word, "Yankee," and not mention the
word, "Doodle," or Yankee Doodle. This word also has a story. It is said
that a British army doctor, Richard Schucksburgh, wrote Yankee Doodle to
poke fun at the colonial troops. The British army, always neat in its
bright red uniforms, looked down on the rough colonial soldiers who really
were not soldiers at all but farmers with clubs and old guns -- angry farmers
who rebelled against the high British taxes. One day British Army Colonel
Hugh Percy set out to attack the colonial settlements of Lexington and
Concord. Percy marched his men out of Boston to the tune of Yankee Doodle.
At Concord, however, the rough colonial farmers defeated the British. The
farmers -- now true soldiers -- marched with pride to Boston to the tune
of Yankee Doodle. And ever since that day in 1775, Yankee Doodle has
become an American marching song.
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Voice of America
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