Callum: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Callum.
Jennifer: And I’m Jennifer.
Callum: Now Jennifer, how squeamish are you?
Jennifer: Squeamish?
Callum: Yes, squeamish. For example, how do you feel when you see blood?
Jennifer: Well it depends on whether it’s mine or not! But generally I don’t have a
problem with the sight of blood, why?
Callum: Well the topic of today’s programme is blood and in particular how in some
countries, particularly in Asia, your blood type can play an important part in your
life. Do you know what your blood group, also called your blood type, is?
Jennifer: I think that I’m blood type O but I can’t remember for sure. Do you know?
Callum: Er, I haven’t the foggiest idea what my blood type is. Do you actually know what
the main groups are though?
Jennifer: Well I certainly know that O is one of them and I think A too. Erm, not sure
about the rest.
Callum: Well there’s A, AB, B and O are the four main classifications. I mean I’m no
doctor, no scientist but that’s what I understand are the main classifications.
And before we explore this topic a little more here’s your question. When were
these four blood groups first classified with the names, A, AB, B and O? Was it:
1899, 1909, 1919 or 1929
Jennifer: Well I imagine they’ve been around for quite some time so I will say 1899.
Callum: OK, we’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012
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Our World Service colleague Ruth Evans has made a fascinating programme
about the topic of blood groups and how they are used by some people in Japan.
Here she is describing the importance of blood groups. Of course blood and
blood groups are important in medicine and science, but what other areas does
she say blood groups can influence? Here’s Ruth Evans.
Ruth Evans
Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications
for life, work and love.
Callum: So Jennifer, as well as medicine and science, what else can blood type influence?
Jennifer: She says that blood can be important to life, work and love. I can see how blood
is important to life – we all need blood – but I’m not sure how it is connected to
work and love.
Callum: Well let’s listen to a bit more from Ruth, she goes on to explain the connection.
Ruth Evans
Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications
for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from
matchmaking to getting a job.
Callum: She says “What’s your blood type?” is a key question. What does she mean by
that – a ‘key’ question?
Jennifer: A ‘key’ question is an important question. She says blood type is important to
‘matchmaking and getting a job’.
Callum: Matchmaking?
Jennifer: Yes, finding a boyfriend or girlfriend.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012
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Callum: Mmm, not very romantic is it? You can imagine the situation, you’re out a bar,
you meet someone, you say: “Hi, would you like a drink? Would you like to
dance? What’s your blood type? ”
Jennifer: Well I’ve definitely never had that chat-up line before. It’s not really very
romantic, no.
Callum: Let’s listen to some more of Ruth who explains why blood types are important.
Ruth Evans
“What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from matchmaking to getting a
job. A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and personality.
Callum: She says that blood type is popularly believed to determine temperament and
personality. Tell us about temperament.
Jennifer: Your temperament describes your natural character – whether you are usually
cheerful, pessimistic, friendly, reserved, outgoing and so on. And Ruth says that
in Japan blood type is popularly believed to determine – or decide – your
temperament. I think the phrase ‘popularly believed’ is interesting here.
Callum: Why’s that?
Jennifer: Well if you say that something is ‘popularly believed’ it means that it’s not a
proven scientific fact – it’s just something that a lot of people believe, even if
there is no real evidence for it.
Callum: Let’s listen to all of Ruth again.
Ruth Evans
Here in Japan blood isn’t just important for medicine and science, it’s also got big implications
for life, work and love. “What’s your blood type?” is often a key question in everything from
matchmaking to getting a job. A person’s blood type is popularly believed to determine
temperament and personality.
Callum: Do you think there is something to this? Do you think your blood type can
determine your personality?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2012
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Jennifer: I think it’s a really interesting question. I think it could be possible. What about
you? What do you think?
Callum: Do you want a diplomatic answer?
Jennifer: I think that’s best!
Callum: Personally I’m a sceptic. I find it hard to believe that my character could be
determined by the blood that flows around my body. But then I don’t believe in
astrology either – that the position of the stars and planets in the sky when you
are born can determine your temperament or personality. It seems to me these
are quite similar theories, neither of which has any scientific background – yet
are popularly believed in different parts of the world.
Anyway, it’s nearly time for us to go – but before that it’s time to get the answer
to this week’s question. The question was: In what year were blood groups
described with the groupings A, AB, B and O?
And Jennifer you chose?
Jennifer: 1899
Callum: And the correct answer was, in fact, actually, 1909. But just a stab in the dark,
you were right it was quite, quite early on.
For now, that’s all from this week’s 6 Minute English. Thank you very much
Jennifer.
Jennifer: You’re welcome
Callum: Goodbye.
Jennifer: Bye.
