Territoire et mémoire

I. Vocabulaire

1. History : l'histoire

• an event : un événement

• a landmark : un monument/ un événement majeur/ une date importante

• a place : un lieu

• past : le passé

• future : le futur

• timeline : la chronologie

• official history : l'histoire officielle

• an authorized biography : une biographie officielle

• historical objectivity : l'objectivité historique

• propaganda : la propagande

• historians : les historiens

• an architect : un architecte

• to restore : restaurer

• a world heritage site : un site classé au patrimoine mondial

• a historic district : un quartier historique

• built heritage : patrimoine bâti

• legacy : l'héritage

• to inherit : hériter

• the Second World War : la Seconde Guerre mondiale

• the civil war : la guerre civile

• amnesty : l'amnistie

• to grant amnesty to : amnistier

• the scars of the war : les traces de la guerre

• a war memorial : un monument aux morts

• slavery : l'esclavage

• a slave : un esclave

Ex. : The American Civil War lasted 4 years.
La guerre civile américaine a duré 4 ans.
Ex. : The slave trade was officially abolished in 1808 in the US.
Le commerce des esclaves a été officiellement aboli en 1808 aux Etats-Unis.
Ex. : The Statue of Liberty was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1984.
La Statue de la Liberté a été classée au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1984.
Ex. : Mandela Day celebrates Nelson Mandela's life and legacy.
Le « Mandela Day » commémore la vie de Nelson Mandela et l'héritage qu'il a laissé.
Ex. : The Gherkin is one of the most recognizable landmarks in central London.
Le « Cornichon » est l'un des bâtiments les plus reconnaissables du centre de Londres.
Ex. : Restoring a historic building requires funding.
Un financement est nécessaire pour restaurer un bâtiment historique.

2. Memory : la mémoire

• collective memory : la mémoire collective

• to remember : se souvenir

• duty of remembrance : le devoir de mémoire

• to remind someone of something : rappeler quelque chose à quelqu'un

• a reminder : un rappel

• to forget : oublier

• to learn by heart : apprendre par cœur

• a tribute : un hommage

• to pay tribute to : rendre hommage à

• oblivion : l'état d'oubli

• to sink /fall into oblivion: tomber dans l'oubli

• amnesia : l'amnésie

• dedicated to someone's memory : en souvenir de

• to commemorate : commémorer

• to honour : honorer

Ex. : President Trump paid tribute to 9/11 victims and heroes.
Le président Trump a rendu hommage aux victimes et héros du 11 septembre.
Ex. : It is important to remember those who fought for the freedom we enjoy.
Il est important de se souvenir de ceux qui se sont battus pour la liberté dont nous profitons.
Ex. : He reminds me of my cousin.
Il me fait penser à mon cousin.
Ex. : The ceremony reminds us that freedom was won through the sacrifices of our ancestors.
La cérémonie nous rappelle que la liberté a été gagnée grâce aux sacrifices faits par nos ancêtres.

II. Questions d'expression types

1. Why is it important to study history?

• It is important to study history because it makes us understand us how we evolved.

• Understanding history is essential for a good understanding of the condition of human beings.

• Besides, studying history helps us to better understand current events from different perspectives.

• It is only through reading history that we appreciate the achievements of humanity as well as our failures.

• We study history to remember our heroes and villains.

• I think that the main reason for studying history is to ensure that we don't repeat the same mistakes.

• We should learn from the past in order to have a better future.

• Studying history can be useful when taking decisions today in similar situations.

• Certain past events can serve as inspirations for people who find themselves dominated/ outnumbered by their opponents.

• History teaches us to distinguish right from wrong.

2. Is forgetting beneficial or harmful?

• Memories are precious and we don't want to lose them.

• Memory It is essential to remember past events so as not to repeat the same mistakes again and again.

• Remembering the victims of genocide contributes to preventing history from repeating itself.

• When we lose our memory we lose our identity.

• However, I am convinced that forgetting can also be beneficial.

• Forgetting enables our brain to remember important information.

• Forgetting allows new information to replace irrelevant information.

• There is evidence that forgetting is a vital part of healthy brain function.

• Forgetting can provide relief for people who do not want to relive unpleasant memories.

• Some psychologists have asserted that forgetting helps people to be happy.