English language

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
No living man as a social being can exist without knowledge of foreign languages at present. The need to speak at least one foreign language is great.

We have felt in our country especially after the events of November Velvet Revolution. There`s not only the possibility to travel to foreign coutries both privately or organized. In such causes it is surely much more comfortable when one can make oneself understood in ordinary everyday situations such as doing shopping, booking, or buying the tickets or ordering the meals in the restaurant.

In the last time it became the reality that in almost each qualified proffesion one has to use actively or passively the foreign language. In computer technics, in electrotechnics as well as in medicine and agriculture one needs to know new knowledge. And this is possibely only by studying the foreign literature.

But we can use our knowledge of foreign language also in our spare time. There is a lot of attractive, interesting or amusing programs in TV broadcasting in original language.

There are also possibilities in the last years to find some season work abroad (such as au-pair girl), when the foreign language is unthinkable necessity.

ENGLISH AS A WORLD LANGUAGE.
English is still the most used language in the world. Nowadays about 420 million people use English. It has become a world language – it is used not only as a native language but also for practical purposes – in administrative, business, technology, sport, education, etc. English is very often used in the world of computers. It is also the language of communication for all seaports and airports.

English is spoken in the English speaking coutries. This term is used for the countries where the majority of population speaks English as their mother tongue. They are : Great Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Besides these coutries there are large areas where English is spoken as a second language e.g. India, Pakistan, the Republic of Southe Africa and other african countries. Generally speaking, English is spoken in the USA, Ireland and in the Commonwealth countries.

THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS is a voluntary association of Britain and 47 her former colonies.(About 1 200 million people.) founding members were Britain, Canada, Newfounndland, Australia and New Zealand.

Later the Commonwealth included many African, Asia, South American and Caribbean nations. The Queen of England is the formal head in 7 states – dominions, e.g. in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The English language is of Germanic origin.
It is made up of the Celtic, Latin and Anglo – Saxon. It is a mixture of these three languages that were brought into Britain by the different tribes. English also borrowed words from many other languages – French, Spanish, even Czech (word robot) and other languages are influenced by the English vocabulary as well.

There are 5 main types of english witch differ in pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary. There are : British English, American English, Australian English., Indian English and African English.

In the past many British people had gone to America because they wanted to find a job there. These people simplyfied english language and so American English rose. It differs from British English in :

a) grammar :
BE : A patient is in the hospital. AE : A patient in the hospital.
BE : Have you got a pen ? AE : Do you have a pen ?
BE : Will or shall can be used with I/we : I will/shall be late.
AE : Shall is unusual : I will be late.
BE : .. at the weeknd/ .. at weekends AE : .. on the weekend/ .. on weekends
BE : .. in a street ... AE : .. on a street ...

b) pronunciation :
BE : a - can`t, class, last, after, answer, dance, example ...
AE : ae - can`t, class, last , after, answer, dance, example ...
BE : closed o – not, doctor, dollar, top, conversation ...
AE : very opened o – not, doctor, dollar, top, conversation ...
BE : t – city, get out, letter ...
AE : d – city, get out, letter ...

c) spelling :
BE : colour, harbour, centre, theatre ...
AE : color, harbor, center, theater ...
BE : travellig, proggramme, catalogue, cheque, storey ...
AE : traveling, program, catalog, check, story .. d) vocabulary : BE AE
flat apartment
lift elevator
pavement sidewalk
shop store
cinema movie – theater
bill check
post mail
lorry truck
petrol gas
motorway freeway / expressway
railway railroad
underground subway
autumn fall
holiday vacation
trousers pants.