ENGLISH IN THE MODERN WORLD
Текст 1
Modern English in the modern world
Since the time of Shakespeare, English has continued to change. Settlers from Britain moved across the world – to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, India, Asia and Africa, and in each place, the language changed and developed, and took in words from other languages. For example, “kangaroo” and “boomerang” are native Australian words, “shampoo” and “pyjamas” came from India.
With the increase in communication, travel, radio and television, British, American and other “Englishes” have mixed. And words from many other languages – French, German, Spanish, Arabic, even Nepali – have been borrowed. So English continues to change and develop, with hundreds of new words arriving every year. For better or worse, it has truly become the world’s international language.
It has become the language the science, air traffic control, the world of computers, and most of the Internet. And in many countries, where there are other competing languages and people groups, English has been chosen as a common second language. This has happened in Nigeria and Ghana.
This may not seem fair to other important and valuable languages which are also international! For example, those of us who know and love France, realize that the French regret the way their language may not be so much of an international language as it used to be. And It is sad that English people are often lazy, and don’t bother to learn other languages!
So, for many jobs and situations, English has become an essential gateway. If you are learning it – best wishes and we hope you enjoy it!
Ответьте на вопросы:
Why have British, American and other “Englishes” mixed?
What language has English become?
Текст 2
Made easy
This month Travel and Technology looks at two machines which make language easy.
The Lingo Global 29 is a small computer. It knows 2 9 languages, and it can translate more than 58,000 useful phrases and 580,000 words. To use the Lingo Global 29, type a word in one language and then choose the language you want for the translation. With the Lingo Global 29, you can read the translation, but you can't hear it.
The Lingo Global 29 also has a calculator and a clock. It can even tell you the time in 200 cities around the world.
The Phraselator
The Phraselator is a translation machine. It can translate phrases from one language into another language. But the Phraselator is different, because it can hear a phrase and then say the translation for that phrase in a different language. It's easy to use the Phraselator. First, say your phrase into the microphone. The computer inside the Phraselator translates the phrase and then says the phrase in the other language. You can hear the new phrase. Today the Phraselator can translate English to other languages, but it can't translate other languages to English.
Данные предложения о Lingo Global 29 (LG) или the Phraselator (Р)?
It knows 29 languages.
To use the machine, you type words or phrases.
It has a clock.
It has a microphone.
You hear the translation of the phrase.
To use the machine, you say phrases.
It can tell the time in different cities.
It says words or phrases.
Вставьте по смыслу слова в текст.
type in a word
translates
microphone
pronunciation [x2]
phrasebook
choose the language
The Languages Box is a new pocket translation machine. It (1) six languages and 50.000 words. You (2) in one language and then (3) you want the translation in. The Language Box can also translate phrases, but not sentences, with the (4). To help you practice your (5) you can say a word into the (6) then listen and compare it to the correct (7). The Language Box doesn’t have a dictionary.
Вставите в предложения can or can't
1 With the Language Box you translate 100,000 words.
The Language Box translate sentences.
You______practise your pronunciation.
The Language Box____translate six languages.
You______translate phrases with the Language Box.
You____hear the correct pronunciation.
You_____find a dictionary on the Language Box.