Neil: Hello, and welcome to 6 Minute
English. I'm Neil.
Rob: And hello, I'm Rob.
Neil: Now, then, Rob, what do you
know about unicorns?
Rob: Ah, well, the unicorn is a
fantasy creature from history. In our
tradition it looks like
a white horse with a single
spiral horn coming out of its head.
Why do you ask?
Neil: Well, funnily enough, unicorns
are the topic of this programme.
Before we learn more
though, a question. What do we call
the study of legendary creatures
like the Loch Ness Monster,
Big Foot and unicorns? Is it:
a) Cryptozoology, b) Protozoology,
or c) Paleozoology?
Have you got any idea about that, Rob?
Rob: Ah, well, I know this because it was
the topic of a 6 Minute English
programme a while back, in 2008,
to be exact. So I think I'll keep
the answer to myself.
Neil: OK, well for everyone else, we'll
have the answer later
in the programme. Over the
last few years unicorns have been
popping up all over the place -
On T-shirts, in movies, as
toys and even in political conversations.
Why is this? Natalie Lawrence is a natural
historian. She appeared on the BBC's
Woman's Hour programme to discuss
the topic. Listen out for the answer
to this question: Why does she say people
used to drink out of unicorn horns?
Natalie Lawrence: Those original stories
were developed in a time when
magic actually existed
in the world. The world was still very
enchanted... the idea that the unicorn
is a very strong animal and also
that could achieve magical feats, so
unicorn horn used to be seen as
a panacea for all sorts of ills and a guard
against poison. So people used
to drink out of unicorn horn cups
to prevent themselves getting poisoned,
and I think that idea of
it being magical and having
magical powers has still
come through today.
Neil: Why did they drink from
unicorn horn cups?
Rob: Well, they were supposed to have
magical powers so people drank
from them so they wouldn't
get poisoned.
Neil: Yes, she said they could perform
magical feats. A feat is something
that is difficult to do or achieve -
like recording this programme
without making a mistake,
that's a real feat!
Rob: Well, we usually do it. It must
just be unicorn magic.
Neil: No, just the magic of editing, Rob!
Now, she also said that
unicorn horn was seen
as a panacea. What does that mean?
Rob: A panacea is another word for a cure
- something that can protect you
from illness or help you recover
if you are sick. But is all this true,
about the unicorn horn?
Neil: Well, seeing as how unicorns don't
and never have existed, it's unlikely
to be true.
She says these stories come from a time
when the world was enchanted.
This means it was a time when
people believed in magic and
the possibility of mysterious creatures
from mysterious parts of the world.
It seems as if these days people are
looking for a bit of magic, a bit
of enchantment in their lives.
The unicorn has also come to be
a term commonly used in
politics to refer to unrealistic ideas
and plans. Why is this?
Here's Natalie Lawrence again.
Natalie Lawrence: Because it's
such a potent cultural symbol at the
moment it's being deployed
in one of the most pressing issues of our
time, as well, so... and the idea of the UK
trying to be its own
special unicorn potentially...
Neil: So Rob what is she
talking about here?
Rob: Well, we are in a very complicated
time politically in the UK at the moment.
She says they are
pressing times. A term which means
something important but difficult has to
be done in a very short time.
A pressing matter is an important
one that has to be dealt with urgently.
Neil: Now, at the time of recording
our parliament can't agree
on the current pressing matter
of Brexit and each side says the other
has unicorns. There's nothing special
or magical about these unicorns -
it's a negative comment - a unicorn
is a fantasy idea - a plan that
has no chance of working,
Rob: She says unicorns are a potent
symbol - which means they are a very
strong and recognisable symbol.
Neil: And this symbol is being used, or as
she said being deployed. This is the same
word that would be used when you
send a military force somewhere.
You deploy the army in a
military conflict, and in the current
political conflict they are deploying
the word 'unicorn'!
Here's Natalie Lawrence again.
Natalie Lawrence: Because it's such
a potent cultural symbol at the moment
it's being deployed in one of the most
pressing issues of our time, as well, so...
and the idea of the UK
trying to be its own
special unicorn potentially...
Neil: Right, our pressing matter now is the
vocabulary review. Before that though, the
answer to this week's question:
What do we call the study of
legendary creatures like the
Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot
and unicorns. Is it:
a) Cryptozoology, b) Protozoology,
or c) Paleozoology? Rob, you knew the
answer to this, didn't you?
Rob: I did, yes. If you look back at
our archive to September 2008
you will find an episode
all about a) Cryptozoology.
Neil: Well done, if you got that right -
particularly if you remember that
programme! Now, vocabulary
from this programme. There was
enchanted to talk about a time
when magic was believed to be real.
Rob: A feat is something that is
very difficult to achieve and
a panacea is a cure.
Neil: Something that's potent is strong
and powerful and if you
deploy something, you
use it, you put it into operation.
Rob: And something pressing is urgent,
it needs to be done soon.
Neil: Right, that's it from us for now.
Hope you can join us again soon.
If you can't wait, you can find
bbclearningenglish on social media,
online and on our very own app.
Bye for now.
Rob: Bye bye!