Anglistics Study Programme CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8 Contemporary

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Anglistics Study Programme CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8 Contemporary English Language Usage Week 13 Anglistics

Anglistics Study Programme CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8 Contemporary English Language Usage Week 13 Anglistics Study Programme www. singidunum. ac. rs/admission

Anglistics Study Programme PLAN - Feedback on the second midterm test - Topic: Language

Anglistics Study Programme PLAN - Feedback on the second midterm test - Topic: Language and grammar, Language Change - Reading article: The Creators of Grammar - Listening: Prescriptive vs descriptive grammar - Source (TOEFL testing) - Work on vocabulary - tasks: English in use, transformations, word formation - Source (Complete Advanced, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge English Language Assessment, C 1) Anglistics Study Programme www. singidunum. ac. rs/admission

Anglistics Study Programme FEEDBACK ON THE SECOND MIDTERM TEST Reading task: source: https: //www.

Anglistics Study Programme FEEDBACK ON THE SECOND MIDTERM TEST Reading task: source: https: //www. examenglish. com/

Anglistics Study Programme Reading task Read the article The Creator of Grammar (source https:

Anglistics Study Programme Reading task Read the article The Creator of Grammar (source https: //www. examenglish. com/)

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check No student of a foreign language needs to be

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check No student of a foreign language needs to be told that grammar is complex. By changing word sequences and by adding a range of auxiliary verbs and suffixes, we are able to communicate tiny variations in meaning. We can turn a statement into a question, state whether an action has taken place or is soon to take place, and perform many other word tricks to convey subtle differences in meaning. Nor is this complexity inherent to the English language. All languages, even those of so-called 'primitive' tribes have clever grammatical components. The Cherokee pronoun system, for example, can distinguish between 'you and I', 'several other people and I' and 'you, another person and I'. In English, all these meanings are Q 1: In paragraph 1, why does the writer include information about the Cherokee language? A To show simple, traditional cultures can have complicated grammar structures B To show English grammar differs from Cherokee grammar C To prove that complex grammar structures were invented by the Cherokees. D To demonstrate how difficult it is to learn the Cherokee language

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some of the most recent languages evolved due to

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time, slaves from a number of different ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer's rule. Since they had no opportunity to learn each other's languages, they developed a make-shift language called a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the landowner. They have little in the way of grammar, and in many cases it is difficult for a listener to deduce when an event happened, and who did what to whom. [A] Speakers need to use circumlocution in order to make their meaning understood. [B] Interestingly, however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex language is for a group of children to be exposed to it at the time when they learn their mother tongue. [C] Slave children did not simply copy the strings of words uttered by their elders, they adapted their words to create a new, expressive language. [D] Complex grammar systems which emerge from pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented by children. Q 2 What can be inferred about the slaves' pidgin language? A It contained complex grammar. B It was based on many different languages. C It was difficult to understand, even among slaves. D It was created by the land-owners.

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf. Sign languages are not simply a series of gestures; they utilise the same grammatical machinery that is found in spoken languages. Moreover, there are many different languages used worldwide. The creation of one such language was documented quite recently in Nicaragua. Previously, all deaf people were isolated from each other, but in 1979 a new government introduced schools for the deaf. Although children were taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they began to invent their own sign system, using the gestures that they used at home. It was basically a pidgin. Each child used the signs differently, and there was no consistent grammar. However, children who joined the school later, when this inventive sign system was already around, developed a quite different sign language. Although it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children's language was more fluid and compact, and it utilised a large range of grammatical devices to clarify meaning. What is more, all the children used the signs in the same way. A new creole was born. Q 3 All the following sentences about Nicaraguan sign language are true EXCEPT: A The language has been created since 1979. B The language is based on speech and lip reading. C The language incorporates signs which children used at home. D The language was perfected by younger children.

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension exercise Some of the most recent languages evolved due to

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension exercise Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time, slaves from a number of different ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer's rule. Since they had no opportunity to learn each other's languages, they developed a make-shift language called a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the landowner. They have little in the way of grammar, and in many cases it is difficult for a listener to deduce when an event happened, and who did what to whom. [A] Speakers need to use circumlocution in order to make their meaning understood. [B] Interestingly, however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex language is for a group of children to be exposed to it at the time when they learn their mother tongue. [C] Slave children did not simply copy the strings of words uttered by their elders, they adapted their words to create a new, expressive language. [D] Complex grammar systems which emerge from pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented by children. Q 4 In paragraph 3, where can the following sentence be placed? ”It included standardised word orders and grammatical markers that existed in neither the pidgin language, nor the language of the colonizers. ” A B C D

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check At first, it would appear that this question is

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check At first, it would appear that this question is impossible to answer. To find out how grammar is created, someone needs to be present at the time of a language's creation, documenting its emergence. Many historical linguists are able to trace modern complex languages back to earlier languages, but in order to answer the question of how complex languages are actually formed, the researcher needs to observe how languages are started from scratch. Amazingly, however, this is possible. Q 5 'From scratch' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to: A from the very beginning B in simple cultures C by copying something else D by using written information

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some of the most recent languages evolved due to

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time, slaves from a number of different ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer's rule. Since they had no opportunity to learn each other's languages, they developed a make-shift language called a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the landowner. They have little in the way of grammar, and in many cases it is difficult for a listener to deduce when an event happened, and who did what to whom. [A] Speakers need to use circumlocution in order to make their meaning understood. [B] Interestingly, however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex language is for a group of children to be exposed to it at the time when they learn their mother tongue. [C] Slave children did not simply copy the strings of words uttered by their elders, they adapted their words to create a new, expressive language. [D] Complex grammar systems which emerge from pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented by children. Q 6 'Make-shift' in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to: A complicated and expressive B simple and temporary C extensive and diverse D private and personal

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check No student of a foreign language needs to be

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check No student of a foreign language needs to be told that grammar is complex. By changing word sequences and by adding a range of auxiliary verbs and suffixes, we are able to communicate tiny variations in meaning. We can turn a statement into a question, state whether an action has taken place or is soon to take place, and perform many other word tricks to convey subtle differences in meaning. Nor is this complexity inherent to the English language. All languages, even those of so-called 'primitive' tribes have clever grammatical components. The Cherokee pronoun system, for example, can distinguish between 'you and I', 'several other people and I' and 'you, another person and I'. In English, all these meanings are summed up in the one, crude pronoun 'we'. Grammar is universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is. So the question which has baffled many linguists is - who created grammar? Q 7 Which sentence is closest in meaning to the highlighted sentence? ”Grammar is universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is. ” A All languages, whether they are spoken by a few people or a lot of people, contain grammar. B Some languages include a lot of grammar, whereas other languages contain a little. C Languages which contain a lot of grammar are more common that languages that contain a little. D The grammar of all languages is

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf. Sign languages are not simply a series of gestures; they utilise the same grammatical machinery that is found in spoken languages. Moreover, there are many different languages used worldwide. The creation of one such language was documented quite recently in Nicaragua. Previously, all deaf people were isolated from each other, but in 1979 a new government introduced schools for the deaf. Although children were taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they began to invent their own sign system, using the gestures that they used at home. It was basically a pidgin. Each child used the signs differently, and there was no consistent grammar. However, children who joined the school later, when this inventive sign system was already around, developed a quite different sign language. Although it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children's language was more fluid and compact, and it utilised a large range of grammatical devices to clarify meaning. What is more, all the children used the signs in the same way. A new creole was born. Q 8 All of the following are features of the new Nicaraguan sign language EXCEPT: A All children used the same gestures to show meaning. B The meaning was clearer than the previous sign language. C The hand movements were smoother and smaller. D New gestures were created for everyday objects and activities.

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some linguists believe that many of the world's most

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Some linguists believe that many of the world's most established languages were creoles at first. The English past tense –ed ending may have evolved from the verb 'do'. 'It ended' may once have been 'It end-did'. Therefore it would appear that even the most widespread languages were partly created by children. Children appear to have innate grammatical machinery in their brains, which springs to life when they are first trying to make sense of the world around them. Their minds can serve to create logical, complex structures, even when there is no grammar present for them to copy. Q 9 Which idea is presented in the final paragraph? A English was probably once a creole. B The English past tense system is inaccurate. C Linguists have proven that English was created by children. D Children say English past tenses differently from adults.

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying

Anglistics Study Programme Comprehension check Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf. Sign languages are not simply a series of gestures; they utilise the same grammatical machinery that is found in spoken languages. Moreover, there are many different languages used worldwide. The creation of one such language was documented quite recently in Nicaragua. Previously, all deaf people were isolated from each other, but in 1979 a new government introduced schools for the deaf. Although children were taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they began to invent their own sign system, using the gestures that they used at home. It was basically a pidgin. Each child used the signs differently, and there was no consistent grammar. However, children who joined the school later, when this inventive sign system was already around, developed a quite different sign language. Although it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children's language was more fluid and compact, and it utilised a large range of grammatical devices to clarify meaning. What is more, all the children used the signs in the same way. A new creole was born. Q 10 Look at the word 'consistent'. This word could best be replaced by which of the following? а. natural b. predictable c. imaginable d. uniform

Anglistics Study Programme Watch the video How important is grammar? https: //www. youtube. com/watch?

Anglistics Study Programme Watch the video How important is grammar? https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=S 7 M 6 RSuk Wt. Y

Anglistics Study Programme The greengrocer’s apostrophe and the ‘ten items’ supermarket sign. MEGAN PIKE

Anglistics Study Programme The greengrocer’s apostrophe and the ‘ten items’ supermarket sign. MEGAN PIKE investigates our continuing obsession with language ‘correctness’ Once upon a time, ‘silly’ used to refer to things which were blessed or worthy, and ‘nice’ made reference to someone who was silly. The English language is forever evolving and changing…. Fact! So why do people fight so hard to preserve and maintain this ‘perfect’ English language? Why do they continue to fight a losing battle? Firstly, we should address exactly who these people are: they are often referred to as prescriptivists (although others may have a slightly different name for them). When there is a grammar mistake on a Facebook post, they will be there to comment. When Tesco’s say ‘ten items or less’ rather than ‘ten items or fewer’, you can guarantee they will have their pens at the ready to complain. They believe that the English language should be regulated, and that a correct way of speaking and writing should be ‘prescribed’ (Crystal, 2006). But the real question is, do they have a point Aitchson explored how people’s obsession with maintaining the language stems from the fears and worries that come with language change. With three (slightly overlapping) ideas she explains the main concerns with the English language with what she labels ‘the damp spoon syndrome’, ‘the crumbling castle effect’ and ‘the infectious diseases theory’. In all of these ideas the English language is referred to as a physical entity that can be tarnished in some way. From new words coming in to the language being described as a disease to colloquial language being related to the same laziness that would cause someone to use a wet spoon to get sugar, these accusations paint language change in a vividly negative way.

Anglistics Study Programme On the other end of the spectrum you have the descriptivists.

Anglistics Study Programme On the other end of the spectrum you have the descriptivists. They believe in the observation of language change rather than attempting to regulate (Trask). The OED often referred to as the ‘authority’ on the English language, are themselves descriptivist. Over the past 150 years they have documented the change of English over the last 1, 000 years. Because of this we can now trace the origins of over 600, 000 words (OED, 2016). They aim to change with the language, not cause a change in language. Many linguists support this approach to language change, with Lakoff reporting that as long as language change comes from within and is an unconscious process rather than an attempt to manipulate the language, then language change is healthy. If we take language in its bare form, as a form of communication, then as long as the change does not hinder communication, then surely change is good. David Crystal (2006, p. 455) explains this idea through the example of the ‘greengrocer’s apostrophe’. If a greengrocer was to misuse an apostrophe on his sign displaying what he has in the shop, it would have no effect on the legibility or connotations of the sign. Whether he sells ‘potatoes’’ or ‘potatoe’s’, the place of the apostrophe does not affect the message, so why should it matter? The message is still conveyed, therefore the texts meets its purpose.

Anglistics Study Programme However, although there are many positives to allowing language change, prescriptivists

Anglistics Study Programme However, although there are many positives to allowing language change, prescriptivists have a point. There are many cases of careless punctuation that, for example, would confuse the message behind it and therefore lose clarity. For example, there is a very big difference between ‘let’s eat, grandma’ and ‘let’s eat grandma’! The comma is essential for differentiating between eating with grandma or eating grandma. There is also the issue of how far should we let change happen. In 2015 the Oxford English Dictionary made its word of the year a ‘crying with laughter emoji’ (OED, 2016), and even many open minded people would agree that this is perhaps pushing it too far. Obviously, there is no stopping language change, and generally I tend to side more with descriptivism. However, sometimes the careless use of a comma, lack of a full stop or misapplication of a word can result in major misunderstandings and, at times like this, it makes far more sense to side with the prescriptivists. Hence, if the best aspects are taken from both extremes of the debate then we can reach a balance, which will allow the language to grow without loss of legibility. MEGAN PIKE, English Language undergraduate, University of Chester

Anglistics Study Programme

Anglistics Study Programme

Anglistics Study Programme Watch the video https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Bbqkjch. Oww 8

Anglistics Study Programme Watch the video https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Bbqkjch. Oww 8

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Transformations For questions 1– 7, complete the second sentence so

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Transformations For questions 1– 7, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given. 1. I’ve never been at all interested in learning to play a musical instrument. SLIGHTEST I’ve never had the slightest interest in learning to play a musical instrument. 2. Susan picked the baby up gently, because she didn’t want to wake him. TO Susan picked the baby up gently so _______ him. 3. They were able to creep away unobserved because it was very dark. OWING They were able to creep away unobserved ______ it was very dark.

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Transformations 4. The car was redesigned and, as a result,

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Transformations 4. The car was redesigned and, as a result, sales rose rapidly. RESULTED The successful redesigning of the car ______in sales. 5. Despite improving his performance, Smith is still not in the top three for the 10, 000 metres. LED The improvement in Smith’s performance ____in the top three for the 10, 000 metres. 6. You should make the sauce thicker if you want to improve the flavour. THICKEN You’ll ____ order to improve the flavour. 7. After several years, heavy traffic caused the bridge to collapse. DUE The collapse _____ several years of heavy traffic.

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Word formation Becoming an independent language learner In an _______(EDUCATE)

Anglistics Study Programme Task: Word formation Becoming an independent language learner In an _______(EDUCATE) context, the term ‘learner independence’ has gained _______(INCREASE) importance in recent years. It is of particular ____ (RELEVANT) to language learning. While some people seem to have an almost (INSTINCT) flair for languages, there are in fact strategies that everyone can adopt to _______(MAXIMUM) their skills and learn a foreign language more _______(EFFECT). The main thing to remember is that becoming a truly independent learner ultimately depends above all on taking ____(RESPONSIBLE) for your own learning and being prepared to take every opportunity available to you to learn. You also increase your chances of success by learning according to your own needs and interests, using all available resources. Research shows that learners who adopt this approach will _______(DOUBT) manage to ____(BROAD) their language abilities considerably and as a result are more likely to achieve their (OBJECT) in the longer term.

Anglistics Study Programme – Legal fight hits music pirates The global recording industry has

Anglistics Study Programme – Legal fight hits music pirates The global recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal _____ (1) against people suspected of sharing music files on the internet. The latest move by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) _____(2) 2, 100 alleged uploaders using peer-to-peer (P 2 P) networks in 16 nations ______(3) the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Thousands of people have agreed to pay compensation since the campaign began. In the US, civil lawsuits have been brought against more than 15, 597 people ______(4) September 2003 and there have been 3, 590 settlements. 'This is a significant escalation of our enforcement actions against people who are uploading and distributing _____ (5) music on p 2 p networks, ' said IFPI chief John Kennedy. 'Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men in their 20 s or 30 s - have learnt to their _____ (6) the legal and financial risks involved in file-sharing copyrighted music in large quantities. ' Individual cases are generally brought by the national associations ____ (7) the recording industry, and in some cases by the labels, as civil complaints. The UK record industry has so far brought 97 cases, with a(n) ____ (8) 65 covered by the latest action. More than 140, 000 in compensation has been paid to the British Phonographic Industry by 71 individuals. 1. a. action b. activity c. acting d. acts 2. a. aimed b. targeted c. directed d. pointed 3. a. such b. with c. including d. throughout 4. a. during b. throughout c. since d. in 5. a. copyrighted b. registered 6. a. benefit b. charge 7. a. for b. working c. representing d. inside 8. a. newly b. addition c. further d. another c. trademark c. cost d. illegal d. fortune

Anglistics Study Programme

Anglistics Study Programme