[ti:Avant-garde and Vanguard]
[al:Ask a Teacher]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-09-21]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Mohammadreza about the usage of the words "avant-garde" and "vanguard."
[00:14.87]Dear Teacher,
[00:16.81]Could you please explain (the) meaning of avant-garde and vanguard? And what's the difference?
[00:25.51]Thank you for writing to us, Mohammadreza. I'm happy to answer this question.
[00:32.32]We use both of these words to help us describe new ways of doing things or the people involved in those new methods.
[00:44.41]However, we can use "vanguard" for more situations than "avant-garde." 
[00:53.40]"Avant-garde" mostly describes the newest styles in the arts - such as writing, music, painting and filmmaking.
[01:05.72]It can also describe the people who make those new styles. 
[01:11.62]Consider these examples:
[01:15.50]To some listeners, the music of avant-garde composers may sound strange.
[01:22.51]Her paintings fit within the avant-garde style of the 1960s.
[01:29.10]We usually use the definite article "the" before "avant-garde" to describe the people involved in the new style, as in the following example:
[01:43.95]This style of filmmaking became popular among the avant-garde.
[01:50.09]Note that we can use "avant-garde" as either a noun or an adjective.
[01:57.78]However, "vanguard" is almost always a noun.
[02:03.47]"The vanguard" often refers to the people leading new developments. 
[02:11.40]When we use the term "the vanguard," we usually use the prepositions "at," "in," or "among" before it, as in these examples:
[02:26.02]The research team works at the vanguard of computer science.
[02:31.19]The university students were in the vanguard of political change.
[02:37.31]She is among the vanguard of doctors supporting the new treatment.
[02:44.08]"Vanguard" also means the advance guard of an army that goes ahead of the main group.
[02:52.35]Both "avant-garde" and "vanguard" come from the French language. 
[02:59.29]In fact, English has hundreds of words that come from French.
[03:05.45]Some examples include coup-d'état, chef, chic, and chauffeur.
[03:13.65]For our readers and listeners, do you have a question about American English? 
[03:21.02]Perhaps you would like to know how American English has changed over the years.
[03:27.47]Or maybe you just need to know how to use particular words.
[03:33.39]Whatever your question may be, send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
[03:43.96]And that's Ask a Teacher.
[03:47.52]I'm Andrew Smith.