1.2. Use of english

Ex. 1. Match the following words with appropriate definitions.

1. lingua franca a. hard boring work

2. interpreter’s calling b. a social mistake; an embarrassing remark

3. expertise c. a difference; failure to agree

4. simultaneous translation d. good judgment; the quality of being discreet

5. talk shop e. expert knowledge or skills in a specific field

6. bilingual f. of a statement seeming to be reasonable

7. drudgery g. a common language used in different

countries

8. bias h. nervous feelings felt by people in public

9. stage freight i. to discuss work when you are not at work

10. discrepancy j. the subjects included in the course of study

11. manual dexterity k. occupation, profession

12. plausible l. a difficult task that tests sb’s ability

13. gaffe m. an opinion that strongly favours one side

14. challenge. n. happening at the same time as sth.

15. curriculum o. the ability to do sth. skillfully and cleverly

16. discretion p. having or using two languages

Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks (1 – 20) with the correct particle or preposition where necessary.

1. Worst (1) … all, the real open-ended question was beginning to nudge (2) … my mind. 2. Previously the reason (3) … learning English had not been well defined. 3. The expansion of English resulted (4) … creating a new generation of learners who needed to keep (5) … … developments in their field. 4. Generations of languages have left daughter languages, which (6) … turn have split (7) … and developed (8) … new tongues. 5. The tantalizing goal of linguists is to delve (9) … … the distant past to find the original source of language itself. 6. Those cultural inferences are backed (10) … archaeological evidence. 7. All (11) … all, he fulfilled his social commitments (12) … his friends, got everything completely (13) … … the way. 8. There is nothing that could interfere (14) … the dedication. 9. A good learner practices a lot (15) … his own. 10.The rest will enable him really to get (16) … … work. 11. A top interpreter doesn’t only feel (17) … home (18) … a foreign language but he is confident (19) … dealing (20) … urgent problems.

Ex. 3. For questions 1-8, read the following text and then choose, from the list

(A – J), the best phrase given below. Each correct phrase may be used once. Some of the suggested answers do not fit at all.

ONE WORLD, ONE LANGUAGE

Many people feel that the only chance of breaking the foreign language barrier is (1)… . The history of ideas already provides precedents with Latin used as a medium of education in Western Europe throughout the Middle Ages and French used as the language of international diplomacy from the 17^th to the 20^th centuries.

Today, English is the main contender for the position of world lingua franca. There are few competitors. Several other languages have an important local role as a lingua franca but no comparable level of international use, such as Russian in Eastern Europe, or Spanish in South and Central America. More people in the world speak Chinese than any other language, but in the West Chinese is too unfamiliar (2) ………. . French is still widely used, but far less than it was a century ago.

Many factors contribute (3) ……….. – chiefly political and military might, economic power, and religious influence. These same factors mean that the development of a world language is not viewed with enthusiasm by those who would have (4) ………. . Such a language, it can be argued, would give its originating culture an unprecedented influence in world affairs and scientific research. For example, scientists who used it as a mother tongue would be in a privileged position. Further more, it is thought, a world language would inevitably erode the status of minority languages and pose a threat (5) ………… . Many people thus view the current progress of English towards world-language status with concern and often with antagonism.

Ironically, the main danger (6) ………. comes from within. As the language becomes used in all corners of the world so it begins (7) …………, which are used by local people as symbols of their identity. In the course of time these new varieties might become mutually unintelligible. How far this diversification will affect English cannot be predicted. It is not always easy (8) ………… that results from increased modern contacts through travel and communication. A hundred years ago, predictions were being made that British and American English would be now mutually unintelligible. Linguistic predictions have a habit of being wrong.

A to the growth of a world language

B to assimilate ideas easily

C to learn it

D to use a natural language as a world lingua franca

E to the identity of nation

F to weigh the trend towards unity

G to be a serious contender

H to develop new spoken varieties

I to the gradual spread of a language

Ex. 4. Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in parentheses.

Next week, when I (finish) (1)------- (take) (2) --------- my final examinations, I (finish, also) (3)……… one of the best experiences I (have, ever) (4)……… in my lifetime. In the last four months, I (learn) (5) ……. more about foreign cultures than I (anticipate) (6) …….. before (come) (7)…….. to the United States. (Live) (8) …….. in a foreign country and (go) (9) ……. to school with people from various parts of the world (give) (10)……. me the opportunity (encounter) (11)……. and (interact) (12)……. with people from different cultures. I (like) (13) ……. to share some of my experiences and thoughts with you.

When I first (arrive) (14) …….. I (know) (15) ……. no one and I (need) (16)…… all of my fingers (communicate) (17)…….. what I was trying to say in English. All of the international students were in the same situation. When we (can, find. not) (18)……… the right word, we (use) (19)……. strange movements and gestures (communicate) (20)…….. our meaning. (Know) (21)……. some common phrases, such as ‘How are you?’, ‘Fine, thank you, and you?’ and ‘What country are you from?, (be) (22)……. enough in the beginning for us (make) (23)…….. friends with each other. The TV room in the dormitory (become) (24)…… our common meeting place every evening after dinner. (Hope) (25) ……. (improve) (26)…….. our English, many of us tried to watch television and (understand) (27)……… what the people (appear) (28)…….. on the screen (say) (29)……, but for the most part their words were just a strange mumble to us. After a while, (bear) (30)…… and a little sad, we slowly began to disappear to our separate rooms. I thought that all of us (experience) (31)……. some homesickness. However, despite my loneliness, I had a good feeling within myself because I (do) (32)……. what I wanted to do for many years.