Belarus accused of 'hijacking': BBC News Review

Hello and welcome to News Review from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.

Joining me today is Catherine. Hi Catherine.

Hello Neil and hello everybody.

Yes, today's story: the country of Belarus has been

accused of hijacking an aeroplane in order to arrest a political opponent.

If you want to test yourself on any of the vocabulary that

we teach you in today's programme,

there's a quiz on our website at bbclearningenglish.com.

Now, let's find out some more about the story from this BBC News report:

Yes, a Ryanair plane going from Greece to Lithuania

was diverted to Belarus on Sunday.

Now, activists say that this was done in order to arrest a person who is

critical of the Belarus government. European nations reacted angrily,

saying that this is an act of state terrorism on the part of Belarus.

The opposition journalist, Roman Protasevich,

was arrested before the plane was allowed to fly again.

Now, Belarus media said that a MiG-29 fighter plane escorted the

jet to Minsk because of a bomb scare,

but on searching the plane no explosives were found.

You've been looking around, Catherine, at this story.

You found some really interesting vocabulary

that's useful to talk about the story. What have you got?

Three words today, Neil. We have: 'condemn', 'outcry' and 'exiled'.

'Condemn', 'outcry' and 'exiled'. OK.

Let's start with your first word there, please, in the first headline.

And we're starting with iNews – the headline:

'Condemn' – say publicly that something is morally wrong.

Yes. Now, we say this word 'condemn'. It is spelt: C-O-N-D-E-M-N.

So, there is a silent 'n' at the end of this word.

You write 'n' but you just say 'condemn'.

OK. It's not just lazy pronunciation then?

I shouldn't try to say: 'condemn...neh'.

It's a bit difficult, isn't it,

to say 'condemn...neh'! So, no – you just say 'condemn'.

It's spelt... it's actually the same as the word 'damn' – D-A-M-N – is

just pronounced 'D-A-M' – 'damn'. And 'condemn' is the same: 'condemn'.

OK... Now, if we 'condemn' someone, this is really, really serious, isn't it?

It is, yes. When you 'condemn' someone or something,

you're saying that this is... you're saying it's really, really

wrong and bad and should not happen. It's a very, very strong criticism.

So, reserve it for really strong things, you know.

Things like racism: you can 'condemn' racism. You can 'condemn',

you know, really serious crimes. People 'condemn' acts of terrorism.

It's saying that something is very, very, deeply wrong.

Yeah. And you can 'condemn' someone or something.

You can also 'condemn someone to' something. What's that about?

Right. Slightly different use of the word 'condemn'.

If you 'condemn someone to' something,

it's a way of describing a punishment.

So, you can 'condemn someone to death', if they have committed a murder for

example. Or you can 'condemn someone to' a long time of imprisonment,

because of a serious crime they've committed.

We also use it in a lighter sense, you know.

You can say, 'I've been condemned to work in the basement for the

next three weeks!' So, it's a more jokey use of the word but 'condemn'

is generally used very strongly for very, very serious issues.

Yeah. And there's a noun form and the noun form contains the reason why

we have this strange spelling, with the 'n' at the end: 'condemnation'.

Yes... yes, 'condemnation'. And there you pronounce the 'm'

and the 'n' in the noun form: 'condemnation'.

Yeah. Often used with 'receive': 'received condemnation'.

Yes. Or you can 'give condemnation', yes.

Yeah. OK. Well, let's get a summary:

OK. Well, on the topic of 'condemnation',

there was a lot of 'condemnation' on various sides with the Harry,

Meghan, Oprah, Royal Family story, wasn't there?

There was, yes: lots of 'condemnation',

lots of people saying that other people were doing things

that are wrong. If you want to find out more about the

Harry-Meghan interview with Oprah, just click the link down there.

OK. Let's have a look at your next headline please, Catherine.

Yes, we're here in UK with the Guardian – the headline:

'Outcry' – strong expression of anger at an action.

Yes, 'outcry'. It's a compound word,

made of the two words 'out' and 'cry',

but we write them all together

and we say them both together as 'outcry': O-U-T-C-R-Y.

Now, an 'outcry' is a noun. It is when a lot of

people complain or protest angrily and emotionally at a situation.

So, we often use the word 'public outcry' to describe a situation

where a lot of people are complaining about something that's happening.

Yeah. Now, as you pointed out, the second part of the word contains

'cry'. Now, we're not talking about tears 'crying' here, are we?.

But it's a useful way of thinking about it,

maybe, because there's strong emotion involved.

Yes. I mean, crying... you know,

'to cry' means when water comes out of your eyes because you're upset.

It can also mean – 'to cry' can mean to shout loudly. So, the idea

of loudness and the idea of emotion really captures the idea of 'outcry'.

It's like I said, you know: it's an angry, vocal protest

from a lot of people complaining about something that's happened.

Yeah. Like the European Super League, for example.

Yes, when the announcement of the European Super League,

a couple of months ago, happened, there was a massive 'outcry': a lot

of people protested and said that this is wrong and they didn't want it.

Yeah. Now, you've already pointed out that 'outcry'

is a countable noun: we can use it with 'an'. Also,

we use it uncountably sometimes... to describe the general state.

You can do.... Yeah, you can say, 'There'll be outcry!'

Or, 'There was outcry about something.'

Yes, so it can be countable: there is

'an outcry', or you can talk about 'the outcry' or 'the public outcry'.

Or you can just say 'outcry'.

OK. Well, let's get a summary:

I've already mentioned it: the Super League.

The idea of a European Football Super League caused 'outcry'.

There's a story that our viewers can follow, can't they?

Yes, just click the link down in the comments there –

down near the comments and you will go to the story.

OK. Let's now have our next headline please.

And we're in the UK with the Telegraph:

'Exiled' – forced to live in another country for political reasons.

Yes, OK. This word is spelt: E-X-I-L-E-D.

Now, I pronounce this word with a 'keh' sound

at the beginning: 'exiled'. Neil, how do you pronounce it?

I say 'exiled': 'egg-zeh'...'gzeh'.

'Exiled'. Am I wrong? Are you wrong? Who's right?

We're both right. There's no need to argue;

  there will be no 'outcry' over this.

There are two ways you can pronounce this word: 'EKK-SILED'

or 'EGG-ZILED'. So, with 'kseh' or with a 'gzeh' sound.

They're both fine. It's really up to you: 'exiled' or 'exiled'.

You will hear both pronunciations. They have the same meaning.

Yeah. Now, this word in this headline is an adjective. It's formed from

a passive verb though, which is a quite common way of doing things.

Yes, passive adjective. If you have an adjective... a verb

which is often used in the passive form – we can use it as an adjective.

So, 'to exile' somebody in the active form means to force them or

to send them or to require them to live outside their home country,

usually because they have political views which are

not acceptable in their home country.

So, if you are sent away – if the government sends you away,

it 'exiles you', but you can say: 'I was exiled by the government.' So,

often used in the passive: 'exiled'.

Yeah. And then used with the preposition 'in':

to 'live in exile' and 'exile' as a noun there.

Yes, you can 'live in exile', you can 'be in exile', you can be 'sent into

exile' as well. So, lots of different prepositions we use with this word.

Yeah, and also the person is 'an exile'.

'An exile' is a person who has been 'exiled'.

OK. Well, let's get a summary of that:

Time now for a recap of our vocabulary please, Catherine.

Yes, we had: 'condemn' – say publicly that something is morally wrong.

We had: 'outcry' – a strong expression of anger at an action.

And 'exiled' – forced to live

in another country for political reasons.

If you want to test yourself,

there is a quiz on our website at bbclearningenglish.com

and of course we are all over social media – check us out there.

Stay safe and see you next time. Goodbye.

Bye!