Learning foreign languages English as a world language Zuzana Keltnerová, C4A

Content Reasons for learning languages Typical features of English The history of English Varieties of English

Reasons for learning languages WORK AND BUSINESS TRAVEL EDUCATION BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AMONG PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR LISTENING SKILLS AND MEMORY CULTURE

Typical features of English Indo-European language family West Germanic group of languages the most widely used language the largest vocabulary → over 500 000 words in the Oxford English dictionary 3 groups of English speakers English as a first language: 375 million people English as a second language: 380 million people no declension using different endings cases differentiated by prepositions big differences between written and spoken forms

The history of English THE CELTS many centuries before the Christian era language similar to modern Welsh (Wales) or Gaelic (Ireland) or Scottish Gaelic (Scotland)

The history of English THE ROMANS 55 B.C. → Julius Caesar invaded Britain 400 years Old Latin

The history of English THE ANGLO-SAXONS 450 A.D. northern Germany Old English → similar to modern German or Dutch vocabulary of agriculture (sheep, ox, earth, dog, swine, field, work) the most common words (you, is, the, here, there)

The history of English THE 6TH CENTURY Christianity brought Latin and Greek vocabulary related to the Church (angel, devil, mass, shrine, priest, bishop) foreign words from the East (orange, pepper, India, ginger)

The history of English THE VIKINGS the 9th century Danish and Norwegian place names (Derby, Grimsby, Rugby – those that end in –by) originally Danish words (get, leg, skirt, skin, same, want, raise, root, hide)

The history of English THE NORMANS 1066 French and Latin words connected with government, law, learning and the army (royal, sovereign, ascend)

The history of English THE 12TH CENTURY Old English had been replaced by Middle English Middle English = the written version of the previously spoken Old English Geoffrey Chaucer William Shakespeare

The history of English FROM THE 14TH CENTURY ONWARDS Ancient Greek (geography, philosophy) Latin (submarine, supersonic) the invention of the printing press the publication of the authorized version of the Bible by King James in 1611

The history of English THE ELIZABETHAN ERA (THE GOLDEN AGE) British expansion into the world new words from outside Europe: → Arabic (coffee, alcohol) → Indian languages (jungle, pyjamas) → Native American languages (chocolate, tomato) → Chinese (tea)

The history of English THE 17TH CENTURY the first settlements in North America and later in Australia English as a mother tongue in all the continents of the world in each part it developed differently → many varieties of English now

STANDARD ENGLISH (BRITISH) Varieties of English STANDARD ENGLISH (BRITISH) AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH CANADIAN ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH → the language of educated English speakers which is used by the Government, the BBC or by the universities → something between Am. E. and Brit. E. → influenced by Canadian French and the Native American languages or Eskimo → isolation from the language changes in Britain → similar to British English → some differences in vocabulary → influenced by the Aboriginal language

STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH Varieties of English STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH the main differences between Standard English and American English → pronunciation, intonation, spelling, vocabulary and sometimes in grammar DIFFERENCES IN GRAMMAR Have you got? X Do you have? at the weekend X on the weekend

STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH Varieties of English STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH DIFFERENCES IN PRONUNCIATION [a:] = [æ] class [klæ:s] [o] = [a] hot [hat], not, coffee, doctor [daktə] [a] = [ə] hurry [həri], courage [kəridž] [ju:] = [u:] student [stu:dənt], due [du:], new [nu:] either [ˈiːðə]

STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH Varieties of English STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH DIFFERENCES IN SPELLING Am. E. tends to be shorter and simpler colour X color travelled X traveled dialogue X dialog programme X program theatre X theater

STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH Varieties of English STANDARD ENGLISH X AMERICAN ENGLISH DIFFERENCES IN VOCABULARY STANDARD ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH rubbish/litter garbage/trash film movie holiday vacation shop store flat apartment pavement sidewalk trousers pants purse/wallet billfold lift elevator

Cockney rhyming slang Cockney = someone born in the East End of London the underworld of London´s East End secret language of people on the other side of the law COCKNEY DICTIONARY bread and honey = money → How much bread have you got? rabbit and pork = talk → He is always rabbiting about his car. loaf of bread = head → You should try using your loaf a bit more. Adam and Eve = believe → Would you Adam and Eve it? Captain Cook = book Britney Spears = beers

Resources notes and materials from English conversation lessons

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