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English as an International Language

English as an International Language. 1) History. Invaders. influence on the creation of language C elts (700-400 BC) – N orth and W est Romans (from 43 AD) – names (Man)-chester, (Lan)-caster, (Lei)-cester (castra = camp)

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English as an International Language

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  1. English as an International Language

  2. 1) History

  3. Invaders • influence on the creation of language • Celts (700-400 BC) – North and West • Romans (from 43 AD) – names (Man)-chester, (Lan)-caster, (Lei)-cester (castra = camp) • Anglo-Saxons (from 410 AD) – Angle-land => England; (Birming)-ham, (Brigh)-ton • Vikings (from 800 AD) – North-East • Normans (1066) (Battle of Hastings)

  4. Creation of the English Language • mostly mixture of Anglo-Saxon language (Germanic) and French • Anglo-Saxons – farmers; French – nobility => today: French origin: more formal words; Anglo-Saxon origin: more“common” words

  5. Anglo-Saxon Influence: French Influence: infant maternal fraternity comprehend cemetery beef (boeuf) mutton (mouton) pork (porc) • child • motherly • brotherhood • understand • graveyard • cow • sheep • pig

  6. English today • main language in 30 countries • about 375 million people – 1st language • over 70 other countries – official language • 2nd language for 350 million people • 1/2 Europeans can have a proper conversation • a billion people - learning

  7. Importance of English • top language of travel and tourism • internet – 80% of the world‘s website • language of science, air communication business…

  8. some interesting facts • Oxford English Dictionary – 300 000 entries • an educated English speaker uses about 30 000 • the longest word:pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis • the most frequent letter: e • the most frequent sound: “schwa sound” / ɘ/

  9. Varieties of English • Standard English – the type of English suitable for broadcasting by the BBC • RP – Received Pronunciation – a social accent, not a regional one (traditionally: educated, southern, white male English) • used by the BBC when it began broadcasting-> BBC English (Queen‘s English) • now: correct grammar & vocabulary, any accent

  10. Some Regional Dialects • Cockney: London working class • Scots: South Scotland - wants to be recognized as a separate language (you can find more here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/southwestandayrshire/voices/index.shtml?clip=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/strathclyde/voices/index.shtml?clip=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/highlandsandnorthernisles/voices/index.shtml?clip=1) • misunderstandings: S/N E: Aye /ai/ C:Eh? /ai/

  11. a Scottish joke :

  12. Dinna tak a draughtoottheriffle, laddie; tis Don‘t take a drink outofthestream, friend, it‘spoorlywithedregs o makye.dirtywiththefaecesof my cattle.

  13. American English British American Did you ever go to Europe? Do you have an apartment? theater kilometer color Grammar: • Have you ever been to the USA? • Have you got a flat? Spelling: • theatre • kilometre • colour Ghoti (tough women‘s action) (G.B. Shaw)

  14. American | British pedestrian tunnel | subway sidewalk | pavement pavement | road surface elevator | lift pants | trousers pissed | pissed off, angry drunk | pissed solicitor | door to door salesman lawyer | solicitor attorney | barrister (obhájce, právní zástupce lower and higher courts) realtor | estate agent suspenders | braces garter belt | suspenders ( podvazkový pás) diaper | nappy (plenka) American | British • (car) hood | bonnet • (car) trunk | boot • (electrical) ground | earth • gas | petrol • eraser | rubber • rubber | condom • (#) pound | hash • (£) sterling | pound • (dollar) bill | (pound) note • (restaurant) check | bill • (potato) chips | crisps • Frenchfries | chips • fanny | bum • pussy | fanny • bum | scrounger(somrák) • cigarette | fag • fag | poof (gay) • subway | underground, tube, metro

  15. Somepossiblemisunderstandings: Example of an embarrassed Brit in the US Sitting at the bar, pencil in hand, struggling with the New York Times crossword, the Brit yells "Hi there, anyone got a rubber they can lend me?", and wonders why he is getting many odd looks. Example of an embarrassed American in the UK An American girl was at a party in London, but was suffering from some discomfort in the tight pair of jeans she was wearing, said "Geez, I got this terrible itch in my fanny." and wondered why the conversations all around her had stopped. G. B. Shaw: “Two countries divided by a common language”

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