In the Oscar-nominated film Up in the Air (《在云端》), as George Clooney walks through an airport, audiences can hear the familiar sound of a Chinese musical instrument – erhu.

The erhu has become more popular among Hollywood filmmakers. Many composers, directors and producers feel that this instrument can add color and emotion to their films. In the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At world’s End(《加勒比海盗3：世界的尽头》), we can hear the erhu in Chow Yun-Fat’s scenes. The erhu also appears in Kung Fu Panda and 2012. When people watch these movies, they can enjoy the sound of the erhu.

The erhu is often called “Chinese violin”, but in many ways they are different. Like the violin, the erhu is stringed(有弦的) instrument made of natural wood and played with a bow, but the violin has four strings and the erhu has only two. While the violin is played horizontally, the erhu is played vertically(垂直地). The sounds made by both instruments are different.

The erhu is said to date back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). In classical Chinese music, the erhu is known for its sad sound. The most famous erhu piece is Moonlight on Second Spring(《二泉映月》). It was written by a musician who was born blind and lived most of his short life as a homeless person.

Americans think much about time.

From childhood (童年) they learn to value time. As children, they are taught to be on time to go to school, to work and to do everything else. When they are having a good time, they say that time goes easily. When a person is dying, they say he is living on a borrowed time.

Time is money. Time is knowledge. Time is everything in America. A working American has to work hard for eight hours a day or forty hours a week. This is the working time. In his free time, he also works hard for more money. Even on Saturdays and Sundays, he also works hard as usual. In the street you can hardly see men walking slowly. They walk very fast. In fact, they are running.

They love time because time can bring them money and lots of things. But sometimes they also hate time, because they feel they become servants (仆人) of the clock.

“Colour” and “color”, “favourite” and “favorite”, “honour” and “honor”…Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a “u”? Is it because they are lazy?

Of course not. In fact, the difference in spelling was started by Noah Webster(1758-1843). He was a teacher who reformed（改革）English to make American identity（特征）stronger. Linguists（语言学家）celebrate his birthday on October 16 every year.

After the Revolutionary War(1775-1783), Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary, rather thanrely onBritish dictionaries.

He dropped the British “u” in some words. And he changed “centre” into “center” for children to learn English by spelling words more like what they sounded. He used “subway” instead of British word “underground”. Some other examples are “soccer” and “football”, “fall” and “autumn”.

Webster wasn’t shy about expressing his opinions. In defining（定义）preposterous (unreasonable), he wrote: “A republican government in the hands of female is preposterous.”

Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70, 000-word dictionary with his American-style spelling in 1828. He also added local words.

His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new country achieve unity（统一）and cultural independence at a time when most people cared about political freedom.

“He was the creator of our language and the creator of American identity,” said Joshua Kendall, who is working on a book about Webster. “He at last brought us together through our language.”