Politics, culture, society: Britain-Past, present and future Vocabulary

Der Akzent, die Aussprachefärbung

Accent

An accent may reveal where someone grew up

Gewählt, durch Wahl bestimmt

elected

Members of the House of Commons are elected by the public

Der Austritt, der Rückzug

withdrawal

The UKs withdrawal from the EU changed its political relationships

abstimmen, wählen

To vote

Citizens vote for a candidate rather than directly for a prime minister

die Übertragungvon Befugnissen, Dezentralisierung

devolution

Devolution gives regional institutions power over certain policy areas

aufsteigen, sich hocharbeiten

to move up

It can be difficult to move up without money or useful contacts

Der Wahlkreis, das Wahlgebiet

constituency

Each constituency elect a representative

bestehen aus, sich zusammensetzen aus

to be made up of

The UK is made up of four constituent countries

das Vermächtnis, die Nachwirkung

legacy

The legacy of colonialism remains visible in many societies

Wiederstand leisten, sich widersetzen

to resist

Local communities continued to resist foreign rule

die Lebensunterhaltungskosten

cost of living

The rising cost of living puts pressure on many households

durch, quer durch, im gesamten

across

Accents vary greatly across the country

die Privatschule mit Schulgebühren

fee-paying school

Only a small share of children attend a fee paying school

Ein Gesetz verabschieden

to pass a law

Parliament can pass a law after both houses have debated it

das Überseegebiet, das Gebiet in Übersee

overseas territory

Some overseas territories still have links to Britain

bleiben, weitehin bestehen

to remain

Many voters wanted the UK to remain in the EU

Das Kabinett, die Ministerrunde

cabinet

Senior ministers meet in the cabinet to discuss policy

herabsetzen auf, geringschätzen

to look down on

Nobody should look down on someone because of their accent

der Gesetzentwurf, die Vorlage

bill

A bill must pass several stages before it becomes a law

ländlich, das Land betreffend

rural

Rural areas often face different challenges from large cities

der Binnenmarkt, gemeinsame Markt

single market

Companies value easy access to the single market

klassenbewusst, standesbewusst

class - conscious

British society is often described as highly class -conscious

der Monarch, die Monarchin

monarch

The monarch performs important ceremonial duties

mit Schwierigkeiten kämpfend, angeschlagen

struggling

Struggling communities often demand greater investment

die Zwangsarbeit, erzwungene Arbeit

forced labour

Forced labour enriched colonial rulers and trading companies

einmarschieren, in ein Land eindringen

to invade

An army may invade a territory by force

die Oberschicht, gesellschaftliche Elite

upper class

The upper class has historically been linked with inherited wealth

regieren, lenken

to govern

A party needs enough support in parliament to govern effectively

der Aufstand, die Erhebung

uprising

An uprising can challenge the authority of a ruiling power

berurteilen, einschätzen

to judge

People may judge others by their clothes, speech or manners

die Landschaft, die ländliche Gegend

countryside

The British countryside is often linked with villages and green hills.

unabhängig werden, die Unabhängigkeit erlangen

to gain independence

Many colonies gained independence after the Second World War

die Regierung, die Staatsführung

government

The government introduces new policies and proposes laws

angrenzen an, eine Grenze haben zu

to border on

Northern Ireland borders are essential public services

ernennen, einsetzen

to appoint

The prime minister appoints the members of the cabinet

das Staatsoberhaupt

head of state

The monarch is the country s head of state

die Bevölkerung, die Einwohnerzahl

population

The population is concentrated in towns and cities

städtisch, urban

urban

Urban life has shaped British music, fashion and language

Indigene Menschen, ursprüngliche Bevölkerung

indigenous people

Indigenous people often lost land, rights and political power

sich stellen, konfrontiert sein mit

to face

The country faces economic and social challenges

die Mittelschicht

middle class

Education and occupation are often associated with the middle class

einschränken, begrenzen

to restrict

New rules may restrict the movement of workers

die Zollgrenze

customs border

A customs border can slow down the movement of goods

sich identifizieren mit, sich zugehörig fühlen

to identify with

Some people identify more strongly with their region than with the state

die soziale Mobiliät, gesellschatflicher Aufstieg

social mobility

Good education can improve social mobility

sich leisten können, bezahlen können

to afford

Many people cannot afford rising housing costs

der Brauch, die Gepflogenheit

custom

Some customs survive even with society changes

gehören zu, Teil sein von

to belong to

People do not always agree about which class the belong to

das Erbe, das Vermächtnis

heritage

Historic buildings form part of the country s cultural heritage

vielfältig, verschiedenartig

diverse

Modern Britain is culturally and socially diverse

die Erziehung, das Aufwachsen

upbringing

Her upbringing shaped the way she speaks and behaves

erblich, vererbt

hereditary

The position of the monarch is hereditary rather tahn elected

der Thronfolger, die Thronfolgerin

heir to the throne

The heir to the throne is next in the line of succession

wohlhabend, erfolgreich

prosperous

Some parts of the country are more prosperous than others

die Identiät, das Selbstverständnis

identity

National identity can change over time

ausbeuten, ausnutzen

to exploit

Colonial economies often exploited local workers and resources

das Handelsabkommen, der Handelsvertrag

trade deal

Negotiators tried to reach a trade deal that benefited both sides

jenseits von, außerhalb

beyond

The debate about Britains future goes beyond the question of Brexit

der Staatsbürger, die Staatsbürgerin

citizen

Every citizen has rights as well as responsibilities

benachteiligt, wirtschaftlich schwach

deprived

Deprived areas may receive less private investment

die Mehrheit, der größere Teil

majority

A clear majority supported the proposal

verhandeln, aushandeln

to negotiate

Both sides had to negotiate new arrangements

der Landesteil, das Teilgebiet

constituent country

Scotland is a constituent country of the UK

abhängen von, angewiesen sein auf

to depend on

The British economy depends on international trade

die Gesellschaftsschicht, soziale Klasse

social class

Social class can influence a person s opportunities ans identity

verlassen, austreten aus

to leave

A narrow majority voted to leave the EU

das Einkommen, der Verdienst

income

Income is only one factor used to describe social class

sich ansiedeln, besiedeln

to settle

British families began to settle in several colonies

der Siedler, die Siedlerin

Many settlers claimed land that was already inhabited

gewaltsam, heftig

violent

The end of foreign rule was peaceful in some places and violent in others

der Inselstaat, das Inselreich

island nation

The UK is an island nation with a long coastline

beeinflussen, sich auswirken auf

to affect

Political decisions affect different regions in different ways

der HIntergrund, die Herkunft

background

Applicants from different backgrounds may not have the same opportunities.

eigenständig, deutlich verschieden

distinct

Each part of the UK has a distinct cultural identity

der Rohstoff, das Ausgngsmaterial

raw material

Colonial powers imported raw materials from the territories they controlled

herrschen, regieren

to rule

A small colonial administration could rule a large population

das Parlament, die Volksvertretung

parliament

Parliament debates laws and holds the government to account

wohlhabend, gut situiert

well - off

Well - off families can often provide additional opportunities

die Arbeiterschicht, Arbeiterklasse

working class

The term working class traditionally referred to manual workers

unabhängig von, ungeachtet

regardless of

Everyone should have the same chances regardless of their background

die Kolonie, das abhängige Gebiet

colony

A colony was governed by a distanr foreign power

im Laufe der Zeit, mit der Zeit

over time

Attitudes towards the imperial past have changed over time

das Weltreich, das Kaiserreich

empire

At its height, the empire controlled territories around the world

gespalten, uneinig

divided

The referendum revealed a deeply divided society

Die Wahlbeteiligung

voter turnout

Voters turnout tends to be lower among younger age groups

zurücktreten, sein Amt niederlegen

to resign

A minister may resign after a serious political failure

die Küstenlinie, die Küste

coastline

Much of the population lives within reach of the coastline

kolonial, die Kolonialherrschaft betreffend

colonial

Colonial borders frequently ignored existing communities

die Parlamentswahl, die allgemeine Wahl

general election

A general election determines who can form the next government

dazugehören, zugehörig sein

to belong

Ppl may feel that they belong to several communities

der Arbeitskräftemangel, Personalmangel

labour shortage

Some industries have faced a serious labour shortage

während, wohingegen

whereas

Wealth describes financial resources, whereas class also involves education and culture

der Sklavenhandel, Handel mit versklavten Menschen

slaver trade

The slave trade caused suffering on an enermous scale

erobern, bezwingen

to conquer

European powers tried to conquer strategically important regions

die Minderheit, der kleinere Teil

minority

The law should also protect the rights of a minority

wählen, bestimmen

to elect

Voters elect members of parliament in their constituencies

die Opposition, die Gegenpartei

opposition

The opposition questions the government‘s decisions

die ungeschriebene Verfassung

unwritten constitution

Britains unwritten constitution is based on several different sources