SECTION 1. The idea of predication and reference; nouns, noun groups, predicates. Noun Substitution.

1.1. Commentaries and explanations.

1.1.1. Naming things

1.1.2. Predication as a means of sense catenation (chaining).

1.1.3. Identity patterns

1.1.4. . Identity patterns particulars

1.2. Assignments

1.2.1. What is the speaker’s / speakers’ problem (the problem specified in the message)? Name it in the form of a noun phrase.

1.2.2. Make mini-dialogues imitating the pattern

1.2.3. Rephrase the italicized fragments using words with similar meaning from 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. Make changes of the sentence structure if necessary.

1.2.4. Review and activate some vocabulary items used in 1.1. Make meaningful statements matching up the parts given in columns I and II.

1.2.5. Discuss the main issues given in 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 focusing on the following questions.

1.2.6. Choose the closest association. In this task, you will give definitions matching proper synonyms given in the second and fourth columns of Table 1. Before you start doing so, study the following excerpt and reflect on it.

1.2.7. Modify choosing the right determine.

1.2.8. Give names relying on the descriptions below. Some of them can refer to the same nouns. Choose proper indefinite determiners.

1.2.9. Retrieve a situation relying on the things mentioned.

1.2.10. Read the text and comment on the issues at stake. Discuss the points which seem disputable. Give your own examples of common noun phrases relevant to the search terms displayed on the Net.

1.2.11. Generic or referential? Use proper determiners (an indefinite article, a definite article, no-article, a possessive, a quantifier) to complete the following sentences.

1.2.12. Noun Substitution: Synonyms. Varying synonyms we slightly change the entire meaning. Substitute the italicized nouns by their synonyms choosing them from the given hints.

1.2.13. Are you a good matchmaker? Match up the given statements and responses to them. You may also give your own ones.

1.2.14. Discuss the following issues asking and answering questions like those given below.

1.2.15. Subtle nuances of meaning of a word we never look up in a dictionary: develop your vocabulary skills learning and saying things.

1.2.16. Read, reflect and comment specifying identity patterns.

1.2.17. Practice identity pattern comprehension: read and comment on the “ingredients” of the framework in each example.

1.2.18. Identity gets trickier: specify the identity pattern constituents in each example.

1.2.19. Specify identity patterns working through the text. Use vocabulary notes for better understanding of some special terms (see 1.2.6 for revision).

SECTION I

The idea of predication and reference; nouns, noun groups, predicates.

Noun Substitution

Understanding thought provides insight into what shapes our thought,

a form of insightful self-understanding that opens up a particular form of freedom. J. Anderson

1.1. Commentaries and explanations

1.1.1. Naming things: we name, call, give a name to, dub, label, term, be referred to as, title / entitle, identify, specify, denominate, denote, designate, indicate, modify or typify.

“ The most basic entities of our thoughts are the ones named by nouns – our concepts of people, things, and stuff. Nouns are the easiest words to identify across languages, are usually the first words learned by babies, and the labels of the most stable and best understood human concepts.” (D. Gentner, S.Pinker).

What kinds of words are most important for understanding and communicating? Do you think they are nouns? Can we really communicate uttering nouns only? At first sight it seems quite possible to us because an utterance like “A problem?” is very common in communication. Consider the following example:

“My car? So much hassle! Insurance, tax, repairs.”

At first glance it confirms the possibility of using just nouns for conveying a message. On second thought we realize that the string of nouns is formed by skipping some words that give information about the things being talked about. In the course of our further work we will call them predicates. If we try to restore the predicates missed out in our example we might get something like:

Do you want to know what I think about my car? Oh, it gives so much hassle! I have to buy insurance, pay tax and make repairs.

Thus, we actually do not just or even mainly restore the skipped predicates although we might. We retrieve them trying to find suitable options which can be varying.

Don’t ask me about my car! I’ve got so much hassle because of it. Insurance is pretty expensive, to say nothing of high tax and minor repairs.

So, when we try to bring the skipped predicates back we rely on our knowledge and understanding of the issue at stake (the context) and join things up by the force of our intellect. The more common the situation is and the more established the collocations are, the fewer options we consider. If the circumstances are common enough, the main meaning is usually clear despite a possible variance in the actual word choice. Analyzing the example given above we understand that the speaker finds his or her car a problem rather than a convenience. The things mentioned – insurance, tax, repairs – cluster about the idea of “car” dubbed as “hassle”. The nouns mentioned are often used in particular combinations. That is, they form common collocations: have (got) hassle, buy insurance, pay tax, make repairs. These vary depending on the speaker’s preference: (My car) hassles me. I am to have insurance on my car. I have to carry out (do) repairs. But the gist does not change noticeably. Taken out of context nouns pronounced can refer to various facts and consequently do not always convey a precise meaning. For instance a scrap of conversation like “…the order …”, “…fashion …”, … spider…” or “… tape…” , though referring to a class of individual objects, will hardly make any sense to you - you don’t know what it is all about.

Conclusion. Words that normally make sense in the framework of predication are either expressed by particular words or implied by meaningful omission..