(EsPCEx - 2017)
Military operations in megacities
A linguistic perspective
The challenge of conducting future military operations within megacities (cities with populations over ten million) lies in understanding the dynamic and multidimensional complexities of these urban areas. Military operations in megacities, whether combat-oriented or otherwise, will be similar to those in other urban environments, but will be complicated by factors unique to the megacity environment.
First and foremost, megacities are largely multilingual. While this can be said of large cities in general, the scale of multilingualism in megacities magnifies its effects. For instance, in New York City (NYC) – a metropolitan megacity of over eighteen million people – nine foreign languages are spoken by communities of one hundred thousand or larger. Language also plays a role in determining one’s identity and the language community in which one decides to live. For example, the majority of Russian speakers in NYC tend to live in south Brooklyn and Staten Island, while Chinese speakers tend to cluster in Manhattan and Sunset Park. In megacities, language, culture, and regional context go hand in hand and often reach beyond ethnic identities.
In order to fully understand the context of a megacity, we must understand the role of the languages used in its communities. How _____(1) language communities interact in megacities? What tensions ______(2) caused by multiple language communities in urban space? What role ______(3) language play in the power structures (government or otherwise) of megacities?
Adapted from Military Review – Jan/Feb 2016
Choose the statement in which the word lies is used with the same meaning as in paragraph 1.
He lies in the sun for too long.
His skill lies in his ability to communicate.
I can tell from her face that she lies.
A giant crocodile lies in wait for its prey.
This item always lies over for a next meeting.
Gabarito:
His skill lies in his ability to communicate.
A questão pede para assinalar em qual das alternativas o verbo lie é usado com o mesmo sentido que no primeiro parágrafo.
"The challenge of conducting future military operations within megacities [...] lies in understanding the dynamic [...] of these urban areas." = O desafio de conduzir futuras operações militares dentro das megacidades está em compreender a dinâmica dessas áreas urbanas.
Aqui, o verbo lie é traduzido como estar, no sentido de residir, situar, existir (o desafio situa-se em compreender a dinâmica). A única alternativa em que o verbo é usado nesse mesmo sentido é a letra B.
A: He lies in the sun for too long. = Ele fica no sol por muito tempo.
B: His skill lies in his ability to communicate. = A habilidade dele está em sua capacidade de comunicação.
C: I can tell from her face that she lies. = Eu posso dizer pelo rosto dela que ela mente.
D: A giant crocodile lies in wait for its prey. = Um crocodilo gigante está à espera de sua presa.
E: This item always lies over for a next meeting. = Este item sempre fica para uma próxima reunião.