5. The future of the English language

English is now the dominant or official language in over 60 countries, and is represented in every continent. It is an official language in some thirty-four countries. The two leading normative models are British and American English. In the 21^st century English has become the international language of communication, both conventional and digital.

SEMINAR 8

KEY TERMS

variant peculiarity

feature contribution

distinction period

word-frequency lexical analogue

cultural change original variety

official language international language

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND EXERCISES

1. History of American English.

2. English usage in the UK and the USA.

3. The major differences between British and American English in spelling, pronunciation and grammar.

4. The major differences between British and American English in vocabulary.

5. Give examples of differences between BE and AE in the following areas: a) spelling; b) grammar; c) pronunciation; d) vocabulary.

6. English is the international language.

1. Translate the following into British English:

1) Pass me the cookies.

2) We’ve run out of gas.

3) One way or round trip?

4) We left the faucet on.

5) We’re leaving in the fall.

6) I hate waiting in line.

2. Define the meaning of the following words and word combinations:

Administration, the State Department, the White House, impeachment, rain check, pink slip, Thanksgiving Day, toll, perks, Broadway, yellow pages, the green berets, cover girl, community center.

3. Say which of the two words is American and which is British. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. We’ve decided to take our vacation in the autumn / fall this year.

2. At his high school the new term / semester starts next week.

3. I like biscuits and sweets / candy.

4. Put that garbage in the dustbin / trashcan.

5. The trousers look nice with that waistcoat / vest.

6. The lorry / truck came past us on the highway.

7. My apartment is on the fourth floor but I’m afraid there’s no lift / elevator.

8. The people next door are on holiday / vacation.

9. We left the car in the car park and took the subway / underground.

10. My trainers are in the wardrobe / closet.

4. What are the British English equivalents?

stand/wait in line check fall semester freeway gasoline truck

5. State which of the words are used in America, which in England.

Mail-car, mail-van, mailman, postman, mail-box, pillar-box, special delivery, express post, domestic mail, inland post, foreign mail, overseas mail, telegraph blank, telegraph form.

7. Translate the words and word-combinations into English giving two variants – British and American.

Тротуар, осень, консервная банка, каникулы, бензин, ящик для мусора, лифт, конфета, грузовик, багаж, метро, брюки, кран, почтовый ящик.

Test

1. British and American variants of English are

a) local dialects

b) regional varieties of a standard literary language

c) international model

d) communication forms

2. In American English … is used after initials or abbreviations.

a) colon

b) comma

c) semicolon

d) a period

3. When starting a formal letter, Britons usually write

a) a colon after the greeting

b) a comma after the greeting

c) a dot after the greeting

d) exclamation mark after the greeting

4. How is a tendency to read number “2579” in Britain?

a) twenty five-seventy nine

b) two, five, seven, nine

c) two thousand, five hundred and seventy nine

d) two thousand, five hundred-seventy nine

5. The two leading normative models of English are

a) Canadian and Australian

b) New Zealand and Indian

c) British and American English

d) Irish and four

6. What does the word “smart” mean in British English?

a) neat

b) impatient

c) clever

d) well dressed