Transcript American English

1. Introduction of the new words:
- distinctive [dɪs'tɪŋ(k)tɪv] особливий
- to borrow['bɔrəʊ] - запозичати
- feature['fi:ʧə] – риса/особливість
- peculiar[pi'kju:liə] – своєрідний
- to constitute['kɔnstitju:t] – створювати /засновувати - flavour['fleivə] - особливість
- soil[soil] - територія
- loans[ləʊn] - запозичення
- retain[ri'tein] – зберігати
- nevertheless[ne̱və(r)ðəle̱s] однак
2. Read & translate the sentences with the new words:
1. Each language has its distinctive features, doesn’t it?
2. The distinctive feature of this language is a difficult grammar.
3. These words constitute specific features of the language.
4. First Europeans stepped on the American land in the 17th century.
5. These words have retained their meaning since those old times.
6. American English has borrowed many words from Spanish.
7. These words have their own peculiar flavour.
8. There are also some translation-loans of Indian origin.
1. Read & translate the text:
Shaw said that America & England are the two nations separated by the same language.
It is quite true that the vocabulary used by American speakers has distinctive features of its own. More
than that: there are whole groups of words which belong to American vocabulary exclusively & constitute
its specific feature. These words are called Americanisms.
The first group of such words may be described as historical Americanisms.
At the beginning of the 17th с the first English migrants began arriving in America in search of new and
better living conditions. It was then that English was first spoken on American soil, and it is but natural
that it was spoken in its 17th c. form. For instance, the noun fall was still used by the first migrants in its
old meaning "autumn", the verb to guess in the old meaning "to think", the adjective sick in the meaning
"ill, unwell". In American usage these words still retain their old meanings whereas in British English
their meanings have changed.
These and similar words, though the Americans and the English use them in different meanings, are
nevertheless found both in American and in British vocabularies.
The second group of Americanisms includes words which one is not likely to discover in British vocabulary. They are specifically American, and we shall call them proper Americanisms. Later proper
Americanisms are represented by names of objects which are called differently in the United States & in
England. E. g. the British chemist's is called drug store or druggist's in the United States, the American
word for sweets (Br.) is candy, luggage (Br.) is called baggage (Amer.), underground (Br.) is called
subway (Amer.), lift (Br.) is called elevator (Amer.), railway (Br.) is called railroad (Amer.), carriage
(Br.) is called car (Amer.), car (Br.) is called automobile (Amer.).
American vocabulary is rich in borrowings. The principal groups of borrowed words are the same as were
pointed out for English vocabulary. Yet, there are groups of specifically American borrowings which
reflect the historical contacts of the Americans with other nations on the American continent.
These are, for instance, Spanish borrowings (e. g. ranch, sombrero, canyon, cinch), Negro borrowings (e.
g. banjo) and, especially, Indian borrowings. The latter are rather numerous and have a peculiar flavour of
their own: wigwam, squaw, canoe, moccasin, toboggan, caribou, tomahawk. There are also some translation-loans of Indian origin: pale-face (the name of the Indians for all white people), war path, war paint,
pipe of peace, fire-water.
1. Find in the text English equivalents for the following word combinations: основні групи
запозичених слів, історичні контакти з іншими націями, перші емігранти, старе значення,
дієслово та іменник, все ще зберігати старе значення, використовувати в різних значеннях,
представляти назви об’єктів, бути багатим на запозичення, належати до американського
словника, трубка миру та бойовий окрас, кращі умови для життя, змінити значення слова,
називатись по різному, доволі багато численні, відображати історичні контакти; інші нації
американського континенту; друга група американізмів; схожі слова; американське
використання цих слів; шукати кращі умови для життя; розділені однією мовою; історичні
американізми;
2. Complete the following sentences:
1. American vocabulary has …
2. There are whole … belong to…
3. The first … of … are historical…
The first emigrants from … arrived in … in … century.
The old meaning of … are still …
Noun … meant autumn in its old …
The second group of … are…
The British chemist's is called…
Proper Americans call the objects…
American vocabulary is …
Borrowings reflect …
Specifically American borrowings reflect…
Match two columns & complete the word combinations:
1. to be separated
a) їх старе значення
2. to have
b) історичні контакти
3. to begin
c) першими емігрантами
4. to use
d) прибувати в Америку
5. to retain
e) як історичні американізми
6. to be rich in
f) американський словник
7. to reflect
g) однаковою мовою
8. to be described
h) по-різному в США та В.Британії
9. to belong to
i) нові та кращі умови життя
10. to be called
j) запозичення
11. to search
k) особливі риси своєї мови
12. to be used by
l)першими емігрантами
4. Translate the sentences into English:
1. Перші емігранти прибули в Америку у 17 у пошуках нового життя.
2. Американці та англійці розмовляють різними мовами, чи не так?
3. Американський словник багатий на запозичення.
4. Існує дві групи американізмів.
5. Слова «ранчо та сомбреро» запозичені з іспанської.
6. Специфічні американізми не мають місце в англійському словнику.
7. В американському англійському багато слів запозичених від індіанців.
8. Якщо ви розмовляєте англійською американці вас добре зрозуміють.
9. Американці та англійці називають однакові предмети по-різному.
10. Американці досі використовують англійську 17 сторіччя, чи не так?
Grammar: Past Simple or Present Perfect
1. Put the verbs into Present Perfect or Past Simple.
1. We (to travel) around Europe last year. 2. My father knows so much because he (to travel) a lot. 3.1 (to
see) Pete today, 4. She (to see) this film last Sunday. 5. Alex (to meet) his friend two hours ago. 6.1 just
(to meet) our teacher. 7. The children already (to decide) what to do with the books. 8. Yesterday they (to
decide) to help their grandmother. 9. Helen speaks French so well because she (to live) in France. 10. She
(to live) there last year. 11. The rain (to stop) and the sun is shining in the sky again. 12. The rain (to stop)
half an hour ago. 13. Mary (to buy) a new hat. 14.1 (to buy) a pair of gloves yesterday. 15. The wind (to
blow) off the man's hat, and he cannot catch it. 16. The weather (to change), and we can go for a walk. 17.
The wind (to change) in the morning.
2. Put the verbs into Present Perfect or Past Simple.
1. I already (to do) my homework. Now I can go for a walk. 2. I (to do) my homework yesterday. 3. He
just (to come) home. 4. He (to come) home a minute ago. 5. Nick (to play) football yesterday. 6. She
already (to come) from school. Now she is doing her homework. 7. I (to read) this book last year. 8. I (to
read) this book this year. 9.1 never (to be) to Washington. 10. You ever (to be) to New York? 11. You
ever (to see) the eruption of a volcano? 12. I (not yet to eat) today. 13, He (not to eat) yesterday. 14. You
(to play) the piano yesterday? 15. You (to play) the piano today? 16. What you (to prepare) for today? 17.
Look at this bird-house. Mike (to make) it himself. He (to make) it last Sunday. 18. Where you (to put)
my pen? I cannot find it. 19. You (to see) Mary today? 20. When you (to see) Mary? — I (to see) her last
week. 21. Your mother (to promise) to take you to the theatre? 22. Look at my new dress! I (to make) it
myself. 23. He is not at school today, he (to fall) ill. — When he (to fall) ill? — He (to fall) ill yesterday.
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