Page 92 - English v1.indd

True or False. Why?
UNIT 14 Franglais Listen to the text and discuss the topic. T or F
1. … Franglais is a language.
I heard a programme on the French radio the other day. It was a very 2. … Hoggish (page 75) is a similar problem as dealt with by the speaker.
amusing account of "Franglais", which is the name given in France to the 3. … “Struck by” means somebody is hit.
strange mixture of French and English words some French people use. They 4. … The French are concern about the many words coming from English.
talk about 'le meeting', 'le camping', 'le parking', and 'le weekend'. They eat 5. … It is not possible to keep a language pure.
'un sandwich' at 'le bar' and perhaps drink `un whisky' at the same time. These 6. … The more the people meet the more the languages will resemble.
words have not come into French overnight; many of them have been used for 7. … Hungarians are similarly to the French are concern about their language.
years. Even so, an English- speaking person cannot help being struck by the 8. … Regulations will keep a language pure.
large number of English, or perhaps American, words in French. No doubt the 9. … English is a good example of a pure language.
same is true of other languages.
Some French people are very concerned about this corruption of their Questionnaire: opinions for and against
language by foreign words. We can sympathise with them. It often annoys us Read through the sentences below.
in Britain to hear American words and expressions being used instead of Put a circle around the number which most closely coincides with your opinion.
perfectly good native ones. Why, we say, should people talk about a radio Before starting, look at the three options and always choose one.
antenna when we have the word aerial? Why must they use the American
expression he thought up that plan instead of he thought of that plan? There are Topics: Answers:
countless examples in English. 1. Wars never solve the problem. 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
The remedy for being too depressed about the corruption of one's 2. After death nothing continues. 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
language is to study its history. Certainly anybody who studies the history of 3. Men and women will never be 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
the English language, even for only a few hours, will laugh at the idea of equal.
4. The issue of the language is a 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
corrupting it. There never was a time when English was not being modified in
one way or another. And the words we have taken from abroad. We are the most important one in the life of
every country.
biggest linguistic thieves in the world! Nearly all our military words, like 5. The ‘good old days' were much 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
regiment, captain, bayonet, are French, Our musical and artistic terms, such as better.
rondo, fresco, violin, come from Italy. We have words from Arabic, like algebra, 6. Young people should not get 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
words from Chinese, like tea. Most of our learned words come from Greek, like married before 21.
democracy and telescope, or Latin, like superannuation and vitality. We use 7. Most people keep pets in lack of 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
Africans words like trek, American Indian words like moccasin. Spanish words, making proper relationships.
Russian words, Dutch words, Scandinavian words - and the polar bear recently 8. The United Europe is a waste of 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
born at the London Zoo has been given an Eskimo name! It is quite impossible to time and money.
'corrupt' English. 9. Criminals should be cured, not 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
Really it is no more feasible to keep a language pure than to keep the punished.
10. There is too much fuss made 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
sands of the seashore dry. As different people meet and exchange ideas they about climate change
are bound to exchange words and expressions. And the more they meet, the more nowadays.
will their languages resemble one another. English took words from all over the 11. Euthanasia is the good solution. 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
world in the days of the sailing ship and the horse. How much more rapidly must 12. One must always call a spade a 1. I agree, 2. I cannot decide, 3. I disagree,
this process continue in the age of the giant jet airliners and communication spade.
satellites!
I used an expression just now: struck by. This means impressed by. We • Compare your answers with the answers of the student next to you and define the
say when I met my uncle I was struck by his resemblance to my father. differences. Make a report where you can agree and where you cannot.
Be careful how you use this expression. I once read an essay written by a boy • Which topic do you consider interesting enough to discuss? Why?
who wrote: When I arrived in London I was struck by the underground train. • When you have finished, discuss your answers. Remember to give reasons for
your opinion - and argue trying to convince the student or the others.
• Write a composition about one of the topics above.

Composition topics: Importance of keeping the language uncorrupted. The language of a
country cannot be corrupted. Language should not be a topic in politics.
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