Why Do Americans Color But the British Colour? Thank Noah Webster

Some people collect stamps. Others collect coins. Noah Webster, Jr. collected words. He did not save just the words, of course, but also their meanings and spellings. His collection became the basis of today’s American English. Who was Noah Webster? Webster was born October 16, 1758, on a farm in West Hartford, Connecticut. His family came from the early European colonists of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Webster was interested in language even as a child. He learned to read before he started school. Most children at the time stopped their education after only a few years. But Webster continued his. He attended college at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.   During the four years Webster studied at Yale, the American colonies separated from Britain in the Revolutionary War. People at the time argued about the language of the newly independent states. Should it be English or German? After all, 10 percent of the population spoke German. Others said Hebrew should be the common language. Many schools taught Hebrew so students could read the original Judeo-Christian Bible. Webster thought the language of the American states should be English. But not British English. American English. The only problem was that such a language did not yet formally exist. People in different American states used different words, different spellings and different pronunciations.  The American Spelling Book By this time, Webster was a teacher. Most schools taught Latin, and students wrote or made oral presentations in Latin. But Webster argued that it was more practical for “merchants, mechanics, planters, etc.” to know their own language well. If they learned another language, he said, it should be a living language such as French, Italian, Spanish or German.   Webster believed improving children’s education could help build a stronger nation. In an essay, Webster wrote that Americans should study other countries’ histories and governments. That way, Americans could avoid mistakes, advance the sciences, and “add dignity” to the United States and human nature. Young Americans should also learn to use a standard and pure language, Webster said. So he decided to write a series of textbooks: a speller, a reader and a grammar. Webster published the first book, which came to be called the Blue-Backed Speller, in 1783. Webster worked hard to promote the book. He invented the modern book tour. He traveled around the country, bringing books to his public speeches. The speller immediately became a best seller. Soon it was used in schools in every state. In 1787 Webster changed the book’s name to The American Spelling Book. An important part of the method Webster taught for spelling was to divide a word into its sounds, or syllables. Thomas Dilworth’s British spelling books said that people should pronounce “ti” before a vowel as a separate syllable. That rule made them say nation as “na-ti-on” and motion as “mo-ti-on.” Webster thought the correct pronunciation was “na-tion” and “mo-tion.” Webster also thought some British spellings did not make sense. He preferred variations that some Americans were already using. So in his works, he changed musick to music and plough to plow. Some of the changes he suggested did not stay – such as changing tongue to tung and women to wimmen. But many others remained. American writer H. L. Mencken wrote in the early 20th century, “The influence of his Speller was really stupendous. It … maintained its authority for nearly a century.” In the 100 years after the Blue-Backed Speller came out, the only book to sell more copies in the U.S. was the Bible. Webster’s speller helped unify the written language of the United States.   The American Dictionary of the English Language Webster used the money he was able to earn from his speller to begin another project: a dictionary. He believed Americans needed a dictionary that reflected their own geography, political system and history. His first version, published in 1806, included about 40,000 words. His second, called the American Dictionary of the English Language, included 70,000 words. To create it, Webster learned at least the basics of over 20 languages. He also defined words that were new to American English. Many were borrowed from Native American languages, such as “skunk” and “squash.” He also gave the pronunciation of words as Americans said them. One of his definitions showed how proud Webster was of his country. He included a quote from its first leader, George Washington. After the word “American,” Webster wrote: “A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America. ‘The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism.’ Washington.” Webster’s dictionary came to be a symbol of the country’s new national identity. The website ConnecticutHistory.org points out that Webster’s efforts also marked the last time one person created a major dictionary alone. A few years after Noah Webster died, at the age of 86, two brothers gained the rights to the American Dictionary. George and Charles Merriam owned a printing and bookselling business. They were able to make, update and sell the dictionary at a less expensive price than the Webster family had. The reference book became increasingly popular in schools and homes across the U.S. Like Webster’s speller, Webster’s dictionary became the authority on American English – not just in the 19th century, but today. For example, if you are reading this article on a computer, point the mouse to any word in the story. You will see a definition from – you guessed it – Merriam-Webster.       I’m Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   standard – adj. regularly and widely used, seen, or accepted; not unusual or special pure – adj. not mixed with anything else syllable – n. any one of the parts into which a word is naturally divided when it is pronounced variations – n. something that is similar to something else but different in some way stupendous – adj. so large or great that it amazes you version – n. a form of something (such as a product) that is different in some way from other forms skunk – n. a small black-and-white North American animal that produces a very strong and unpleasant smell when it is frightened or in danger aboriginals – n.  the original people to live in an area exalt – v. to raise (someone or something) to a higher level In the quiz to the left, we have a fun spelling test for you. See if you can guess the correct spellings from Noah Webster's day. Now it's your turn. What are some American words and spellings that have surprised you? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page.  

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English in a Minute: In Over My Head

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What Is Your Achilles' Heel?

Hello! And welcome to Words and Their Stories, a VOA Learning English program about American expressions.  The Greek poet Homer has given us many phrases. A famous one is “Achilles’ heel.” On your body, your Achilles’ heel is the tendon on the back of your ankle. In spoken English, your Achilles’ heel is your weak spot. You can say either “Achilles’ heel” or “Achilles’(s) heel.” Both are correct. The Greek story of Achilles’ heel is the one Homer tells in the long poem called “The Iliad.” Here is how the story goes. When Achilles was a baby his mother bathed him in the river Styx. She believed the river had magical powers. Bathing her son in its waters, she thought, would make Achilles immortal, deathless, like a god. But one part of his body did not get wet: his heel, where his mother held him. His heel, therefore, was the one spot where Achilles could be hurt. Achilles grew up. He became a great warrior. During the Trojan War, he fought with the Greek army. None of the Trojan weapons was able to hurt Achilles. The god Apollo, however, knew of Achilles’ weak spot. Apollo told the prince of Troy, named Paris, all about it. While not actually written in “The Iliad,” legend says Paris shot an arrow at Achilles’ heel and killed him. We all have an Achilles’ heel. Even the toughest among us has a weak spot. This weakness may change as we get older. For many young people their ego, or over-confidence, could be their Achilles’ heel. For others perhaps greed is their Achilles’ heel. If I am trying to lose weight but love to eat ice cream, you could say that my love of ice cream is my Achilles’ heel. And for many people, love is their Achilles’ heel. Love leaves us helpless. Love makes us weak. People in love may find themselves doing foolish things. They may open themselves up to hurt or embarrassment. And a person who is head over heels in love is really in a weak position. This phrase, however, does not come from Greek literature. It was first used in the 14th century to mean turning a cartwheel or somersault. Today, head over heels means something that is not in its natural state or something that is felt very deeply or strongly. It is usually used to describe someone who has fallen – possibly foolishly – in love. Head over heels gives a clear picture of one who has fallen deeply and passionately in love. Close your eyes and picture what a person may look like if he or she is spinning like a wheel, turning over and over. That is heads over heels. Let’s hear this expression used in an example: Hey, have you noticed something different about John recently? What do you mean? Well, he is usually such a good student. But lately he never has his assignments done. And he seems unable to focus in class.    Well, you know he has a new girlfriend. And he is head over heels in love with her. Oh. That explains why he has been acting so strange lately. Perhaps being head over heels in love has never been your Achilles’ heel, but you can probably imagine how powerful the feeling is. Like in this song by Tears for Fears, something just happens and you are head over heels. Something happens and I’m head over heels, I never find out (un)till I’m head over heels … I’m Anna Matteo.   What is your Achilles’ heel? Let us know in the Comments section. Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  

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Wealthy Britons Get Rich Faster Than the Poor

The British government reports that the country’s richest people are increasing their wealth three times as fast as the poorest. The report is adding to worries about inequality in Britain. The Office of National Statistics says the wealth of the richest 10 percent of British households increased by 21 percent between 2012 and 2014. It says much of the increase came from a rise in private retirement payments, called pensions. The wealth of the lowest half of all households increased by just seven percent during the same time. The report said the country’s total household wealth increased 18 percent to $16.6 trillion. The richest 10 percent of households control about 45 percent of all of the country’s wealth. The poorest 10 percent control less than one percent. The Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron notes that the country has record levels of employment. And it says Britain’s economic growth is the fastest among developed economies. It says that shows living standards are improving across the country. But opposition parties say the country’s poorest people are suffering from the government’s plan to end the deficit by making large cuts to social welfare programs. I’m Caty Weaver.    Reuters reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   household – n. the people in a family or other group who are living together in one house living standards – n. the amount of wealth, comfort, and possessions that a person or group has social welfare – expression government programs for poor or unemployed people that help pay for their food, housing, medical costs, etc.  

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The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Editor's Note: We are pleased to share a traditional holiday story with you, The Gift of the Magi. You can read along and listen or watch the video.    One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it in the smallest pieces of money - pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by negotiating with the men at the market who sold vegetables and meat. Negotiating until one's face burned with the silent knowledge of being poor. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but sit down and cry. So Della cried. Which led to the thought that life is made up of little cries and smiles, with more little cries than smiles. Della finished her crying and dried her face. She stood by the window and looked out unhappily at a gray cat walking along a gray fence in a gray back yard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy her husband Jim a gift. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Jim earned twenty dollars a week, which does not go far. Expenses had been greater than she had expected. They always are. Many a happy hour she had spent planning to buy something nice for him. Something fine and rare -- something close to being worthy of the honor of belonging to Jim. There was a tall glass mirror between the windows of the room. Suddenly Della turned from the window and stood before the glass mirror and looked at herself. Her eyes were shining, but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Quickly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length. Now, Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young had two possessions which they valued. One was Jim's gold time piece, the watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in their building, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to dry just to reduce the value of the queen's jewels. So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, shining like a brown waterfall. It reached below her knees and made itself almost like a covering for her. And then quickly she put it up again. She stood still while a few tears fell on the floor. She put on her coat and her old brown hat. With a quick motion and brightness still in her eyes, she danced out the door and down the street. Where she stopped the sign read: "Madame Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." Della ran up the steps to the shop, out of breath. "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take your hat off and let us have a look at it." Down came the beautiful brown waterfall of hair. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the hair with an experienced hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della. The next two hours went by as if they had wings. Della looked in all the stores to choose a gift for Jim. She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. It was a chain -- simple round rings of silver. It was perfect for Jim's gold watch. As soon as she saw it she knew that it must be for him. It was like him. Quiet and with great value. She gave the shopkeeper twenty-one dollars and she hurried home with the eighty-seven cents that was left. When Della arrived home she began to repair what was left of her hair. The hair had been ruined by her love and her desire to give a special gift. Repairing the damage was a very big job. Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny round curls of hair that made her look wonderfully like a schoolboy. She looked at herself in the glass mirror long and carefully. "If Jim does not kill me before he takes a second look at me," she said to herself, "he'll say I look like a song girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?" At seven o'clock that night the coffee was made and the pan on the back of the stove was hot and ready to cook the meat. Jim was never late coming home from work. Della held the silver chain in her hand and sat near the door. Then she heard his step and she turned white for just a minute. She had a way of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty." The door opened and Jim stepped in. He looked thin and very serious. Poor man, he was only twenty-two and he had to care for a wife. He needed a new coat and gloves to keep his hands warm. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a dog smelling a bird. His eyes were fixed upon Della. There was an expression in them that she could not read, and it frightened her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor fear, nor any of the feelings that she had been prepared for. He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face. Della went to him. "Jim, my love," she cried, "do not look at me that way. I had my hair cut and sold because I could not have lived through Christmas without giving you a gift. My hair will grow out again. I just had to do it. My hair grows very fast. Say 'Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let us be happy. You do not know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I have for you." "You have cut off your hair?" asked Jim, slowly, as if he had not accepted the information even after his mind worked very hard. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. "Do you not like me just as well? I am the same person without my hair, right? Jim looked about the room as if he were looking for something. "You say your hair is gone?" he asked. "You need not look for it," said Della. "It is sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It is Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it was cut for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the meat on, Jim?" Jim seemed to awaken quickly and put his arms around Della. Then he took a package from his coat and threw it on the table. "Do not make any mistake about me, Dell," he said. "I do not think there is any haircut that could make me like my girl any less. But if you will open that package you may see why you had me frightened at first." White fingers quickly tore at the string and paper. There was a scream of joy; and then, alas! a change to tears and cries, requiring the man of the house to use all his skill to calm his wife. For there were the combs -- the special set of objects to hold her hair that Della had wanted ever since she saw them in a shop window. Beautiful combs, made of shells, with jewels at the edge --just the color to wear in the beautiful hair that was no longer hers. They cost a lot of money, she knew, and her heart had wanted them without ever hoping to have them. And now, the beautiful combs were hers, but the hair that should have touched them was gone. But she held the combs to herself, and soon she was able to look up with a smile and say, "My hair grows so fast, Jim!" Then Della jumped up like a little burned cat and cried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful gift. She happily held it out to him in her open hands. The silver chain seemed so bright. "Isn't it wonderful, Jim? I looked all over town to find it. You will have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it." Instead of obeying, Jim fell on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled. "Dell," said he, "let us put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They are too nice to use just right now. I sold my gold watch to get the money to buy the set of combs for your hair. And now, why not put the meat on." The magi were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. They invented the art of giving Christmas gifts. Being wise, their gifts were wise ones. And here I have told you the story of two young people who most unwisely gave for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days, let it be said that of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. Karen Leggett wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. The producer was Lawan Davis. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   negotiate - v. to discuss something formally in order to make an agreement immovable - adj. not able to be moved : firmly fixed in place expression - n.  the way someone's face looks that shows emotions and feelings magi - n. the wise men, generally assumed to be three in number, who paid homage to the infant Jesus. Matt. 2:1–12. Now it's your turn. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page about a very special gift you received.

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Afghan Journalists: Voice of Former Co-Worker on IS Radio

Sultan Aziz Ezam worked at radio stations in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province for nearly 10 years. Now, the broadcaster is reportedly the voice of the Islamic State’s new “caliphate radio.” VOA could not confirm the identity of the Islamic State radio announcer. However, local media workers recognize the voice as Ezam’s. Ezam’s former coworkers said he used to report on land issues for radio stations in the area. Now, they say he is issuing death threats from the Islamic State. Some of those threats target his former coworkers. The announcer said on IS radio, “I know the addresses of houses of all those journalists who are working with different media organizations.” Afghan journalists said they are worried about the threats. About 50 reporters work for local and international news organizations in Nangarhar province. Afghan journalists told VOA that Ezam and his brother recently left their jobs at a local radio station. They said no one had heard from Ezam until they heard his voice on Islamic State broadcasts.  Afghan government officials said they are aware of the threats against journalists. The officials also said the Islamic State radio station has not been taken off the air because of technical reasons. FM radio broadcasts by IS started recently along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The two-hour broadcast includes Quran readings and anti-government propaganda. Both the Afghan and Pakistani governments say they are looking for the broadcasters. They believe the signal is coming from a mobile transmitter in the mountains. I’m Christoper Jones-Cruise.   Noor Zahid wrote this story for VOAnews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What did you think about the rise of Islamic State radio? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   caliphate – n. a form of Islamic government led by a caliph—a person considered a political and religious successor to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad journalist – n.  a person who collects, writes and edits news stories for newspapers, magazines, television or radio mobile – adj. able to be moved transmitter – n.  a device that sends out radio or television signals

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Alibaba Buys South China Morning Post

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group announced last week that it is buying the South China Morning Post, SCMP. It is the leading English-language newspaper in Hong Kong. Joe Tsai is executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group. He said in a letter to SCMP readers that Alibaba wants the newspaper to offer “accurate and fair” reporting that will improve global understanding of China. The company said this will help Alibaba’s investors. Alibaba believes that “negative reports about China in the Western news media are hurting the company’s shares,” which are listed in the U.S., reported the New York Times. The New York Times said that Alibaba has agreed to pay about $266 million to acquire the South China Morning Post. This is a “small outlay” for Alibaba, which has annual revenue of $12 billion, according to the Times. The purchase follows other media deals by Alibaba, reported Reuters. In June, the company agreed to pay $194 million for a stake in the China Business News, a financial media firm. The South China Morning Post, which is 112 years old, had been struggling financially. SCMP, its owner, was criticized for “shaping its coverage of China with a more positive stance than other outlets,” according to TechCrunch. The New York Times described the SCMP as “a frayed institution with a depleted newsroom” and a declining readership. Alibaba plans to make all the articles free on SCMP’s website. China’s ruling Communist party has tight control over Internet use in the country. It blocks material that it considers obscene or subversive. Party censors under Chinese President Xi Jinping have been increasingly intolerant of critical reports in the domestic news media, reported the New York Times.    U.S. newspapers under new ownership Some analysts compared Alibaba’s purchase of SCMP to Amazon’s acquisition of the Washington Post in 2013. The Washington Post is one of the most famous newspapers in the United States. Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon.com, paid $250 million for the newspaper, reported the Wall Street Journal. The deal showed “the newspaper industry’s economic decline and the shift of power from old media to Silicon Valley,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Last week, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the largest newspaper in Nevada, was sold for $140 million. Billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who owns casinos and is a major donor to the Republican party, bought the paper. The Review-Journal has a conservative slant that “aligns with Republicans far more often than Democrats,” reported the Washington Post. The paper also has “outsize political influence” in Nevada, according to the New York Daily News.   I’m Mary Gotschall.   Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English from a variety of sources. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   newspaper – n. a set of large sheets of paper that have news stories, information about local events, advertisements, etc., and that are folded together and sold every day or every week accurate – adj.  free from mistakes or errors negative – adj. harmful or bad : not wanted outlay – n. an amount of money that is spent stance – n. a publicly stated opinion — usually singular frayed – v. to cause (a cloth or other material) to become worn down at the end or edge : to separate the threads of (a material) depleted – v.  to use most or all of (something important) : to greatly reduce the amount of (something) obscene – adj. very offensive in usually a shocking way subversive – adj. secretly trying to ruin or destroy a government, political system, etc. intolerant – adj.  not willing to allow some people to have equality, freedom, or other social rights outsize – adj. very large in size      

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Hold The Butter! Modern Diets Meet Holiday Traditions

Rich, heavy food is a major part of the end of the year holidays in the United States. People in the US celebrate Thanksgiving on the third Thursday of November. People around the world celebrate Christmas on December 25. Both holidays involve traditions of cooking large meals. The food at these meals usually has lots of sugar, salt and butter in it. Turkey and pie are some of the most common foods at these holidays. Terri Price has hosted a holiday party on the last Saturday before every Christmas for 30 years. "It started when my children were very, very small. In fact, there was only one of them. And it's sort of my Christmas gift to me. Many of the dishes I have been preparing for most of the 30 years." But over time, some traditions do change. The Neveldines are a family who hope to be healthier by changing what they eat. Mick Fury, the Neveldine's oldest child, said this change is important during the holidays and the rest of the year, too. "The holidays are actually, sort of, the most exciting time because it's a chance to see if we can achieve traditional dishes in a way that is organic and healthy and fun. And maybe, we don't tell people. Like, 'Hey! Here's turkey dinner!' But then, it turns out, if they love it we tell them, 'It's organic. It's great.'" Mick and his girlfriend, Michelle, try to eat only organic food. Organic food is any plant or animal food product made without the use of unnatural chemicals or processes. The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, is the part of the U.S. government that creates laws about food. The USDA began identifying which foods are organic in 2002.   Mick chose to eat only organic food after his girlfriend found she felt sick when eating gluten. Gluten is in products which include wheat. Mick began looking more closely at the ingredients in the food he bought. The amount of unnatural ingredients in most food surprised him. But, Mick is not the only Neveldine who changed their diet. Felicia Neveldine, Mick's sister, decided nine years ago to become a vegan. A vegan is a person who does not eat or use animal products of any kind. Felicia became a vegan because of her concern for the treatment of animals and the environmental effects of animal farming. She said that her change in diet also improved her health. "I used to have a lot of problems with my stomach and digestion and since I became a vegan, I feel just better every day." Choosing these special diets means the Neveldines choose their foods carefully. Mick grows a garden behind his home where he gets fresh vegetables. They also make traditional holiday food like mashed potatoes without milk or butter. This may seem like a completely new method for traditional cooking. But, Mick does not agree. He says agricultural companies began using chemicals because organic farming costs more money. "For a long time they used great food and they used great products. I hope, 20 or 30 years from now, the tradition is exactly the same, it's just done with better quality stuff." Ruth Kava is the Senior Nutrition Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health, or ACSH. The ACSH is an organization that studies issues involving food and health. Kava said that being vegetarian is also not new. "Vegetarianism has been around for probably centuries. And the thing about a vegetarian diet is that it can be lower in calories." Studies show that high calorie diets can cause people to become overweight. The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, is the top national public health organization in the U.S. A 2014 report from the CDC showed 69 percent of adults in the U.S. over 20 years old are overweight. Being overweight can lead to health problems like heart disease and cancer. But, Kava does not think modern beliefs about different diets are correct. "These diets are getting a lot of press now. And so people think that maybe they're healthier or better for you, which is not necessarily the case. A balanced diet where things are eaten in moderation is probably the best way to go." She also said that the current system for identifying organic food is not what it should be. "I think that the organic program that the USDA runs was really set up as a way to market foods and it has nothing to do with health." Faunalytics is an organization that collects research to help protect animals. A 2014 Faunalytics report said that only 2 percent of people over the age of 17 in the U.S. are vegetarian or vegan. But Google reported that people searched the word "vegan" more than ever before in 2015. Felicia thinks the more people learn, the more popular these special diets will become. "At first I would make my own things and bring my own things to holidays. But, now as other people are becoming more educated and know what it means, people really go out of their way to make sure that there's always something that I can eat" Holiday traditions may not change, but the way these traditions happen just might. I'm Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported and wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Now it's your turn. Is being vegetarian or vegan becoming popular in your country? Will modern diets change holiday traditions? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rich – adj. tasting good and making your stomach feel full turkey – n. a large American bird that is related to the chicken and that people hunt or raised for its meat pie – n. a food that consists of a pastry crust that is filled with fruit or meat dish(es) – n. food that is prepared in a particular way achieve – v. to get or reach something by working hard girlfriend – n. a woman that someone is having a romantic or sexual relationship with gluten – n. a substance in wheat and flour that holds dough together ingredient(s) – n. one of the things that are used to make a food or product digestion – n. the process by which food is changed to a simpler form after it is eaten mashed potatoes – n. a dish of potatoes that have been cooked and pressed, usually prepared with milk and butter stuff – n. used to refer to something when you do not need to name exactly what it is vegetarian – n. a person who does not eat meat calorie(s) – n. a unit of heat used to shows the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body overweight – adj. weighing more than the normal or expected amount in moderation – n. in a way that is reasonable and not excessive

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Hold the Butter! Modern Diets Meet Holiday Traditions

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English @ the Movies: 'Clean Slate'

Today's English @ the Movies phrase comes from cartoon movie "The Peanuts Movie." Poor Charlie Brown, he is the child who is always getting doing things the wrong way. Here he is talking about a "clean slate." Listen to find out what it means.

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Man Is Rescued from China's Deadly Landslide

  A 21-year-old man was pulled out alive Wednesday from the big landslide in southern China. Tian Zeming had been buried in piles of debris for 67 hours, said Chinese officials. It took rescuers three hours to reach him. Tian was weak and dehydrated when rescue workers found him, Chinese officials said. He told them his name and reported that another person was buried near him, Associated Press reported. But medical staff and rescue workers said the second person did not survive. Chinese officials said more than 70 people are missing after Sunday’s landslide in Shenzhen. The landslide buried buildings under mud and construction debris. The BBC reported that at least four bodies had been recovered by Wednesday afternoon. Chinese officials said 5,000 rescuers were working to find the missing people. Doctors said that Tian, a migrant worker from Chongqing, suffered many broken bones and other injuries. They said his condition improved after three-hours of surgery. The landslide occurred when a man-made mountain of earth and construction waste collapsed following heavy rains. The Chinese government said it is investigating the disaster. Government controlled news media reported the District Government near the landslide site had reported safety concerns months before Sunday’s disaster. I'm Mario Ritter.   Joyce Huang reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pile – n. a group of things that are put one on top of another debris – n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed rescuer – n. someone who tries to rescue people from a disaster or other bad situation. migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work collapse – v. to break apart and fall down suddenly We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1mhLS4d
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