Себина Е.В.
UNDERSTANDING ENGLISH *
Аннотация:
this article examines written and spoken English, analyzes some contractions used in business letters, sporting language and demonstrates that in English pronunciation there are more exceptions than rules
Ключевые слова:
formal style, understand, pronunciation, exception, must, modal verbs, language
Style in written English: Written English is still a good deal more formal than spoken English. Contractions freely used in speech, such as I'll, they'd, shan't and won't, as well as extravagant idiom and slang, are only written when the tone is intended to be conversational, as in a letter to a friend, for instance. Business letters are kept brief and clear; jargon and elaborate phrases of the ''I remain your most obedient servant” kind are not considered good English. Official, and especially legal, documents, however, still tend to use the longest words and most tortuous sentences. Writers offering advice—gardening and cookery experts, for instance— instruct us in the imperative, and anybody selling anything may praise his own wares, providing he doesn't contravene the Trades Descriptions Act (the law forbidding false claims). Test yourself Bearing these idiosyncrasies of style in mind, can you identify the following extracts? There are two letters, one to a friend and one to a newspaper; an advertisement; a report from the sports pages of a magazine; a parking ticket (issued for the illegal parking of a car); and advice from a cookery writer. First make the pastry by lightly rubbing the fats into the flour with your fingertips and lifting the mixture up high to let the air in. Then gently mix to a dough with cold water. Roll into a ball, place it in a polythene bag and leave it in the refrigerator for an hour. This is just to let you know that all being well we'll be dropping in to see you on Saturday. I hope this is O.K., but if you have other plans let us know. John sends his love and so do the children. They are growing so fast you won't know them. The most magnificent flats in London for quality, value—and the view. Each superb flat has an exquisite view of the Thames that has to be seen to be appreciated, 2-4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and private terrace. Amenities include garaging, saunas, indoor pool, resident porter, lifts and landscaped gardens. You talk about dogs transmitting disease to human beings. Fair enough. But may I mention that human beings transmit radioactivity and pollution, among other unpleasant things, to their fellow human beings—and probably to dogs too. If before the end of 21 days from the date of this notice the sum of £2 (being the fixed penalty for the offence) is paid to the Chief Clerk, Marylebone Magistrates' Court, the Police will not take proceedings for the offence and any liability to conviction of the offence will be discharged. The British women's athletics team have suffered three withdrawals through injury which could diminish their chances of qualifying for the final of the European Cup in their semi-final at Sofia next Sunday. Hints on pronunciation These verses demonstrate what every student knows—that in English pronunciation there are more exceptions than rules! I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough. Others may stumble but not you On hiccough, thorough, lough and through. Well done! And now you wish, perhaps. To learn of less familiar traps? Beware of heard, a dreadful word. That looks like beard and sounds like bird. And dead; it's said like bed, not bead For goodness' sake don't call it "deed”; Watch out for meat and great and threat (They rhyme with suite and straight and debt). A moth is not a moth in mother Nor both in bother, broth in brother, And here is not a match for there Nor dear and fear for bear and bare; And then there's dose and rose and lose— Just look them up—and goose and choose. And cork and work and card and ward And font and front and word and sword And do and go and thwart and cart— Come, come, I've hardly made a start! A dreadful language! Man alive. We have to start it when we're five. Must you use “must”? "I must have more English lessons", is a cry often heard among students of the language. "I must study harder because I must take my examination next June." Must, in short, becomes a very overworked word. They would understand a native speaker who said, "I ought to have more lessons because I have to take my examination next June", but they find it difficult to judge for themselves the distinctions between must, should, have to and ought. First, consider MUST. It carries an idea of immediacy and urgency which is part of its appeal to the often frustrated learner. Basically it has two meanings. The first is that of necessity. "You must hurry up if you don't want to be late for the concert." "She must make up her mind quickly." The second meaning is of there being no alternative.
Номер журнала Вестник науки №12 (21) том 1
Ссылка для цитирования:
Себина Е.В. UNDERSTANDING ENGLISH // Вестник науки №12 (21) том 1. С. 60 - 65. 2019 г. ISSN 2712-8849 // Электронный ресурс: https://www.вестник-науки.рф/article/2343 (дата обращения: 19.04.2024 г.)
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