Non-equivalent and connotative lexis typical for the British Isles

Block II

A Warming Up

1. Name three personalities or objects you associate England with;

Tea, black taxi cabs, Queen Elizabeth

2. What are the world famous traditions that bump you first when remembering English rural life?

Afternoon tea One of the most well-known English traditions is afternoon tea – light refreshments, including tea, traditionally served around 5 p. m. English people often drink tea with milk; they may or may not add sugar. Tea is usually taken along with sandwiches, crumpets, scones, cakes, jam and marmalade. Traditional tea treats also include puddings, muffins and biscuits.

Pancake Day Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is held in February or March. It is the day, preceding the first day of the 40 days long Lent. It has been celebrated in Britain for centuries. People traditionally eat a lot of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. On Pancake Day children go from house to house asking for a pancake. “Pancake races” are held all over the Britain. Contestants have to race with frying pans flipping pancakes in the air.

3. Do the words Stonehenge, Hadrian Wall, Tartan, Snowdonia seem familiar to you?

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia

Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours.

Snowdonia is a mountainous region in north west Wales and a national park.

 

4. Do you know the glorious history of Union Jack?

The first step taken in the creation of the flag of Great Britain was on 12th April 1606. When King James VI of Scotland became king of England (King James I) it was decided that the union of the two realms under one king should be represented symbolically by a new flag. Originally It consisted in the red cross of England superimposed on the white cross of Scotland on the blue background of the Scottish flag as in this illustration:

Thus we have the first flag of the union called, in fact, the "Union Flag".

What was meant to be a symbol of unity actually became a symbol of international controversy. The English resented the fact that the white background of their cross had disappeared and that the new flag had the blue Scottish background. On the other hand the Scottish resented the fact that the English red cross was superimposed on the Scottish white cross!! The old adage says you cannot please everyone but this first version of the Union Flag seemed to please no-one!!

Apparently there was an unofficial "Scottish version" that attempted to rectify the sense of injustice that the Scottish felt at this innovatory flag. A distinct reference was made to this version when the King visited Dumfries in 1618.

The controversy was destined to last!! There is conflict in the best of families!!

However, the flag was usually restricted to use at sea until the two kingdoms of Scotland and England were united in 1707. It was most probably from this use at sea that it got the name "Jack" ("Union Jack"). It was usually flown at the bow end of the ship, from the jack staff.

An attempt was made to modify the flag under Oliver Cromwell. A harp was placed in the centre, representing Ireland. However, the original design was restored along with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

The flag continued to be used in its original form until Jan. 1, 1801. At that time, with the union of Ireland and Great Britain, it became necessary to represent Ireland in the Union Flag and so the cross of St. Patrick was include thus creating the flag as we now have it. When the southern part of Ireland gained its independence in 1921 and became the Irish Free State no alteration was made to the Union Jack.

The name "Union Jack" became official when it was approved in Parliament in 1908. It was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".

 

5. Can you remember some expressions or set-phrases of either mythological or biblical origin?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

A labour of love

A leopard cannot change its spots

 

6. Can you name any persona or object that can stand for the symbol of England?

Big Ben

7. Try to find at least 5 connotative items for England and match them with the same words in Russian. Do the latter have the same meaning for Russia? Test other languages: German, French etc;

· dog connotes shamelessness or an ugly face.

· A dove implies peace or gentility.

· Home suggests family, comfort and security.

· Pushy refers to someone loud-mouthed and irritating.

· Mom and Dad when used in place of mother and father connote loving parents.

 

8. Compare Russian and English literature by finding the aphorisms of the famous writers. Try to find out whether we use the same aphorisms from English literature or we have our own meaning and author?

Every English poet should master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them.

Robert Graves

Дивишься драгоценности нашего языка: что ни звук, то и подарок: все зернисто, крупно, как сам жемчуг, и, право, иное названье еще драгоценней самой вещи. - Н. Гоголь

 

British PUBS

Pub (a shortening from Public house). This item is translated into different languages differently In Russian, for example, it is translated as пивная, закусочная, Паб, трактир, таверна. The meaning of Pub is the following: the place where types of beer are sold, so as other alcoholic drinks and snacks. There is a restaurant by the Pub in some places, but normally you can see just Pub. Pub is usually opened from 11 a.m to 3 p.m, and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. pubs are held by giant breweries. In the majority of such buildings recently was a public bar, a bar-saloon, a private bar and a laundge.

Both culturally and socially pubs differ from those of cafes and restaurants, as well as bars and canteens. There are about 60,000 pubs in England, there are pubs almost in every even the smallest village. In some p0laces, particularly the countryside, pubs play the key role in the social life of the inhabitants, close to the role of the church, for example. All the pubs have a big choice of non-alcoholic drinks. Traditionally, the windows of city pubs are made of smoke-colored or frosted glass, and so the clients of the pubs are defended from the urban life and day light. Recently there appeared a tendency to install the lighter glass into the pubs' windows, as there is a certain fashion on implicit lighter decoration

The historical realia of the given item goes back to the greatest roman invasions. The inhabitants of Britain and Ireland drank beer long before, in the Bronze Age, but the pubs started to appear with the Romans. The Romans built the roads and crossroads and this gave an opportunity for the travelers to stay in the hotels and receive some rest. When the Romans went away the new pubs continued to open. By the year of 965 there appeared so many pubs that the king Edgar passed the law according o which there couldn’t be more than one pub in one village. In that time the name for the pub was “alehouse”. The Pub “The Royal Standard of England” is the live example of Saxon alehouse.

The names of pubs in Britain introduce the definite examples of non-equivalent lexis and have a certain culture-oriented language studies value, as well as the linguistic one. They can be classified or divided in accordance with there geographical location or intention:

· location: The Three Arrows, The Cross, The Railway, The Church;

· local occupation of people: The Mason's Arms, The Cross, The Railway, The Church;

· ironical names; the smallest pub in Great Britain is called the Nutshell;

· sport pubs: The Cricketers, The Fox and Hounds, the Fighting Cocks;

· the names in honor of some famous person: The Marquis of Granby, The Lord Nelson, The Emma Hamilton;

· the allusive names: The Nowhere Inn Particular, The Dewdrop Inn, The Drift Inn;

· associations with noble or royal roots: The Royal Standard, The King's Arms, The Queen Victoria, The Duke of Cambridge, The Duke of Buckingham, The Anglesea Arms;

· two-faced names: The George and Dragon, The Goat and Compasses, The Rose and Crown, The Dog and Handgun, The Elephant and Castle, The Crow and Gate, The Rummer and Grapes;

· name of the owner of the pub: O'Neil's, To hAnrai;

· some kind of the name of any equipment: The Harrow, the Propeller, The Wheatsheaf;

· names of animals: The Red Lion, The Unicorn, The White Bear;

· historical background of the given location of the pub: The Strugglers (in Lincoln refers to how people being publicly executed by hanging would struggle for air. Ironically the famous executioner Albert Pierrepoint was landlord of the Help the Poor Struggler at Hollinwood, near Oldham, for several years after WW2, and had to hang one of his own regulars, James Corbitt. Also Ye olde Trip to Jerusalem, purportedly the oldest public house in England (Nottingham, 1189), refers to its role as a resting place for the knights of Richard I on their way to the third crusade.

 

Британские пабы

Паб (сокращение от Публичного дома). Это название переведено на разные языки по-разному. В русском языке, например, он переводится как пивная, закусочная, Паб, трактир, таверна. Смысл паба следующий: место, где продаются сорта пива, так же как и другие алкогольные напитки и закуски. Иногда при пабе имеется ресторан, но обычно вы можете увидеть только паб. Паб обычно открывается с 11 до 3 часов, а с 6 часов вечера. до 11 вечера пабы занимают гигантские пивоварни. В большинстве таких зданий недавно был общий бар, бар-салон, частный бар и прачечная.
И культурные и общественные пабы отличаются от кафе и ресторанов, а также баров и столовых. В Англии около 60 000 пабов, они есть почти в каждой, даже самой маленькой, деревне. В некоторых местах, особенно в сельской местности, пабы играют ключевую роль в общественной жизни жителей, близко к роли церкви, к примеру. Все пабы имеют большой выбор безалкогольных напитков. Традиционно окна городских пабов изготовлены из дымного или матового стекла, и поэтому посетители пабов защищены от городской жизни и дневного света В последнее время появилась тенденция к установке более светлого стекла в окна пабов, так как существует определенная мода на негласное светлое оформление Исторические реалии данного предмета восходят к величайшим римским вторжениям. Жители Британии и Ирландии пили пиво задолго до того, в эпоху бронзы, но пабы начали появляться с римлянами. Римляне построили дороги и перекрестки, и это давало возможность путешественникам остановиться в отелях и немного отдохнуть. Когда римляне ушли, новые пабы продолжали открываться. К 965 году появилось так много пабов, что Король Эдгар принял закон, согласно которому в одной деревне не могло быть больше одного паба. В то время название паба было «alehouse». Паб «Королевский стандарт Англии» является живым примером саксонского эльхауса.
Имена пабов в Великобритании приводят конкретные примеры неэквивалентной лексики и имеют определенную ценность для изучения языковой культуры, а также лингвистическую. Они могут быть классифицированы или разделены в соответствии с географическим положением или намерением:
• место: Три стрелы, Крест, Железная дорога, Церковь;
• местное занятие людей: оружие Мейсона, крест, железная дорога, церковь;
• ироничные названия; самый маленький паб в Великобритании называется ореховой скорлупой;
• спортивные пабы: игроки в крикет, лисица и гончие, боевые петухи;
• названия в честь какого-то известного человека: маркиза Гранби, лорда Нельсона, Эммы Гамильтон;
• Иносказательные названия: The Nowhere Inn Particular, The Dewdrop Inn, The Drift Inn;
• ассоциации с благородными или королевскими корнями: Королевский Стандарт, Королевское Оружие, Королева Виктория, Герцог Кембриджский, Герцог Букингемский, Ангеловское оружие;
• двуличные названия: «Джордж и дракон», «Коза и компасы», «Роза и корона», «Собака и пистолет», «Слон и замок», «Ворона и ворота», «Раммер и виноград»;
• имя владельца паба: O'Neil's, To hAnrai;
• какое-то название любого оборудования: «Борона», «Пропеллер», «Wheatsheaf»;
• имена животных: Красный Лев, Единорог, Белый медведь;
• исторический фон данного местоположения паба: «Стражники» (в Линкольне говорится о том, как люди, публично повешенные, будут бороться за воздух. По иронии судьбы знаменитый палач Альберт Пьеррейт был арендодателем «Помоги бедному вождю» в Холлинвуде, недалеко от Олдхэма, в течение нескольких лет после Второй мировой войны, и ему пришлось повесить одного из своих завсегдаев, Джеймса Корбитта. Также Ye olde Trip, предположительно старейший паб в Англии (Ноттингем, 1189), выполнял роль места отдыха для рыцарей Ричарда I на пути к третьему крестовому походу.

 

Fulfill the following tasks:

1) Translate the given article into Russian;

2) Find out more information about British pubs and share it with the group;

3) Find the equivalents of British pubs in other cultures:

4) Do we have some kind of pubs here in Russia? If we do, what are these equivalents?

5) Find the information about the menu in the pubs. If you succeed, try to compare the list of food stuff in British pubs and in other public houses in Europe and in Russia.

Task II. Read the list non-equivalent items typical for Britain, try to interpret or translate them into Russian:

 

Kilt – предмет мужской шотландской национальной одежды, традиционная одежда горцев Шотландии.

Stormont - автономный парламент Северной Ирландии

Witch s hat – ведьмин колпак (который надевали осуждённому за колдовство).

Tartan - клетчатый рисунок (шотландки) - шотландский плед

The emerald Isle – Изумрудный остров -это поэтическое название Ирландии из-за ее зеленой загородной местности.

Tailless cats – бесхвостые кошки Manx, появившиеся в результате мутации генов

St.Patrick – святой покровитель Ирландии

Tossing the caber - метание ствола (шотландский национальный вид спорта)

Hogmanay – Новый год в шотландском национальном стиле. Это масштабное событие включает в себя факельные шествия (и вообще всякого рода огненные развлечения), а также разные вечеринки, представления и аттракционы.

Tossing the stone -

Tossing the hay –

Tam o shanter – это эпическая поэма, написанная шотландским поэтом Робертом Бернсом в 1790 году.

Tweed – шерстяная ткань, эластичная, среднетяжелая, мягкая на ощупь, с небольшим ворсом.

Take away – «на вынос», с собой

The land s end – скалистый мыс на юго-западе Великобритании

Semi-detached houses – два дома, которые строят так, чтобы одна половина дома была зеркальным отражением другой.

The Dartmoor lakes – холмистая болотистая местность площадью около 954 км² в графстве Девон в Юго-Западной Англии, а также одноимённый национальный парк Великобритании.

Terraced houses – ряд стандартных домиков вдоль улицы, построенных «стенка к стенке»

Oxbridge – обобщающее понятие, составленное из названий двух наиболее престижных британских университетов: Оксфорда и Кембриджа

Sandwich man - ходячая реклама, человек-реклама

The ceremony of keys – церемония ключей в Тауэре – традиция, которая сводится к символической передаче ключей от замка на хранение.

Duke of York - британский линкор типа HMS King George V.

Londinium – город в Римской Британии, основанный около 43 года н. э. Он был основным центром торговли и власти в Римской Британии с конца II века до её разгрома в V веке. Лондиниум располагался на реке Темзе, которая обеспечивала ему связь как с морем, так и с внутренними районами Британии.

Ducks and drakes – игра, бросание плоских камешков так, чтобы они прыгали по поверхности воды

Kent – графство в Англии. Входит в состав Юго-Восточной Англии

Heath Robinson - английский мультипликатор и иллюстратор

Sfork –

Hereford - город с населением более 55 тысяч жителей на реке Уай, в Англии, центр графства Херефордшир

Linner – Еда, которую едят, когда слишком поздно на обед и слишком рано на ужин

Inspector Morse - вымышленный персонаж, герой 13 детективных романов британского писателя Колина Декстера, а также телевизионного сериала

Eisteddfod – валлийские музыкально-литературные фестивали с элементами соревнования

Jack – in – the – box - «попрыгунчик» — детcкая игрушка

Pub – пивная

Rag – and – bone man - британский соул-исполнитель

Brunch –Приём пищи между завтраком и ланчем, или поздний завтрак

Cigarette card - это торговые карты, выпущенные производителями табачных изделий для усиления сигаретной упаковки и рекламы сигарет.

High tea – послеобеденный чай

Disc parking - это система, позволяющая бесплатную парковку с ограничением по времени с помощью демонстрации парковочного диска или часового диска, показывающего время, в которое автомобиль был припаркован.

Dinner jacket –смокинг

Dinner lady – женщина, подающая обед в школе

 

 

Task XIV. Translate the following text into English using your special knowledge from the previous text. Be especially attentive with non-equivalent lexis concerning British titles. Pay a particular attention to the translation of underlined and bold words.

Титулы и звания в Англии

Высшее английское дворянство, сословие пэров, имеет пять степеней: герцог, маркиз, граф, виконт и барон. Низший, баронский титул, как правило, присваивается новым, пожизненным членам палаты лордов, получающим дворянство за заслуги перед государством. В любом случае, этот титул в обращении и церемониале опускается, вместо него используется титул лорда, который может предшествовать только наименованию титула.

Наименование титула не является фамилией, но может с ней совпадать (лорд Байрон). Вместо полного титула Baron Olivier of Brighton правильно будет сказать лорд Оливье. Имя в этих случаях всегда предшествует титулу: Альфред, лорд Теннисон, или Джордж Гордон, лорд Байрон. Титулы маркиза, графа и виконта также опускаются в неофициальном контексте и заменяются на лорд. Эти титулы, однако, обязательно звучат полностью в церемониале. Наименование титула, если оно не совпадает с фамилией, является территориальным, например Anthony Eden, Earl of Avon, и тогда правильно будет сказать лорд Эйвон.

Существуют, однако, так называемые титулы учтивости, не имеющие под собой юридической основы, среди которых тоже есть титул лорда. В этой традиционной системе старший сын герцога носит титул маркиз; старший сын маркиза - титул граф; старший сын графа - титул виконт. Младшие сыновья герцогов и маркизов носят титул лордов, но в этом случае титул предшествует имени: лорд Питер Уимси. Все дочери герцогов, маркизов и графов носят титул леди, который предшествует имени: леди Джейн или леди Джейн Сеймур. Сыновья и дочери виконтов и баронов, а также младшие сыновья графов носят титул " достопочтенный ". Существует также титул Right Honourable, который служит своего рода бесплатной добавкой к титулам графа, виконта и барона, а также стоит перед титулом лорда у младших сыновей герцогов и маркизов. Титулу маркиза предшествует в церемониале титул Most Honourable Update.

Происхождение титулов сильно варьируется. Бароны появились сразу после нормандского завоевания, но первоначально это слово означало рыцаря-вассала, прежде всего королевского. К XIII веку уже сложилось разделение на greater и lesser barons; первые и стали обладателями соответствующего титула. Первым английским виконтом стал Джон, лорд Бомонт в 1440 году.

Титул эрла (графа) - англо-саксонский, и первоначально означал управляющего некой крупной территории. Вильгельм Завоеватель пытался заменить его на титул count, но безуспешно. Титул рыцаря, дающий его обладателю право на вежливое обращение sir, является личным и не передается по наследству. Это низший дворянский титул: рыцари не входят в сословие пэров (peerage). Мало кто знает, что у этого звания есть различные степени.
Титул баронета первоначально также являлся степенью рыцарства (knight baronet), но не прижился в этом качестве.

Понятие эсквайр подразумевает в узком смысле нетитулованного дворянина, а в широком фактически эквивалентно титулу вежливости мистер. Тем не менее, эсквайр ни в коем случае не может быть обращением, и всегда следует только за фамилией, как правило в документах и письмах: Sherlock Holmes, Esq.

 

The highest English nobility, the estate of peers, has five degrees: the Duke, the Marquis, the Count, the Viscount and the Baron. The lowest, baronial title, as a rule, is appropriated to new, lifelong members of the House of Lords, who receive the nobility for their services to the state. In any case, this title in circulation and ceremonial is omitted, instead the title of lord is used, which can precede only the name of the title.
The name of the title is not a surname, but it can coincide with it (Lord Byron). Instead of the full title of Baron Olivier of Brighton, it's right to say Lord Olivier. The name in these cases always precedes the title: Alfred, Lord Tennyson, or George Gordon, Lord Byron. The titles of the Marquis, Count and Viscount also descend in an informal context and are replaced by the Lord. These titles, however, necessarily sound completely in ceremonial. The title of the title, if it does not coincide with the surname, is territorial, for example Anthony Eden, Earl of Avon, and then it will be right to say Lord Avon.
There are, however, so-called courtesy titles that do not have a legal basis, among which there is also a title of lord. In this traditional system, the eldest son of the duke wears the title of Marquis; the eldest son of the Marquis - the title of Count; the eldest son of the count is the Viscount title. The younger sons of the dukes and marquises bear the title of lords, but in this case the title precedes the name: Lord Peter Wimsey. All the daughters of the Dukes, Marquises and Counts bear the title of Lady, who precedes the name: Lady Jane or Lady Jane Seymour. The sons and daughters of the viscounts and barons, as well as the youngest sons of the counts, bear the title "venerable". There is also the title of Right Honourable, which serves as a kind of free addition to the titles of Count, Viscount and Baron, and also stands before the title of Lord of the younger sons of the Dukes and Marquises. The title of the Marquis is preceded in the ceremony by the title of Most Honourable Update.
The origin of titles varies greatly. Barons appeared immediately after the Norman conquest, but originally this word meant a knight-vassal, primarily a royal one. By the 13th century, there had already been a division into greater and lesser barons; the first and became holders of the corresponding title. The first English viscount was John, Lord Beaumont in 1440.
The title Earl - Anglo-Saxon, and originally meant the manager of some large territory. William the Conqueror tried to replace him with the count, but without success. The title of the knight, giving his owner the right to a polite treatment sir, is personal and not inherited. This is the lowest noble title: knights do not belong to the peerage class. Few people know that this title has different degrees.
The baronet title was also originally a knight baronet, but did not get accustomed to it.
The concept Esquire means in the narrow sense of a non-titled nobleman, and in broad terms it is actually equivalent to the title of politeness, Mr.. Nevertheless, Esquire can not be treated in any way, and always follows only the surname, usually in documents and letters: Sherlock Holmes, Esq.

 

Task XV. Here is the list of the most notorious orders of the British Empire. Match the English names with their Russian equivalents (mind the pronunciation):

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, 1687 Орден Чертополоха

The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, 1788 Орден Св. Патрика

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, 1399 Орден Бани

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, 1861 Орден «Звезда Индии»

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, 1818 Орден Св. Михаила и Св. Георгия

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, 1877 Орден Индийской Империи

The Royal Victorian Order, 1896 Орден королевы Виктории

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1917 Орден Британской империи

 

 

Task XX. The idioms and proverbs. Down page you can see a list of well-known and widely used set expressions and proverbs. Match the proverb or expression with its explanation that is to the right. Translate the Russian sentences given below using the following list.

 

To slip somebody s memory - To escape from the memory

At snail s pace - To be very slow

To turn somebody on -To interest

To kill two birds with one stone - To do two things together

It rings a bell - To sound familiar

To make quite a name of somebody - To give the exactly right answer

To hear it through the grapevine - To hear the information through some roomers

From rags to riches - To get some fortune from nowhere

To make a mountain out of a molehill - To exaggerate

To snowball - To increase

Straight form the horse mouth - From the authoritative sources

To race somebody s brains - To think about something very hard

To have no idea which end is up - To be uncertain

To know something like the back of his hand - To know extremely well

To be on the tip of somebody s tongue - Something one can almost remember

To be not able to make head and tail of something - To have absolutely no idea

To know the ropes - To know all the aspects

I haven’t got a clue - Not to understand

To carry coals to Newcastle - To take something to the place where there are tones of the same

What is bugging you? - What are you thinking about so hardly?

On the wave length - To have the same sort of idea

To breath a word - Not to say a word

A friend in need is a friend indeed - Only a real friend can help you

To hope against hope - Not to loose the desire to live and love

To put two and two together - To make a deduction from the evidence

To loose the train of mind - To forget the idea

To take the words right out of my mouth - The exactly what I was going to tell

Put somebody s finger on it - To be too difficult for somebody

To belt somebody - To be totally confused

To be over somebody - To get good reputation

 

1. Я знаю наверняка, что ничего хорошего из этого не получится!

I know like the back of his hand that nothing good will come of it.

2. Это похоже на то, что мы видели в прошлом году в музее в Лондоне! Ну, точно, я именно это и собирался сказать!

This is similar to what we saw last year at the museum in London! Well, exactly, you took the words right out of my mouth!

3. …таким образом, эта теорема не требует никаких доказательств. – Вы дали совершенно правильный ответ!

... thus, this theorem does not require any evidence. You made quite a name of this!

4. Я полностью разделяю вашу точку зрения! В этом платье нет ничего такого! Модное, но безвкусное!

I’m absolutely on the wave length with you! There is nothing in this dress! Fashionable, but tasteless!

5. Говорят, Джордж Клуни женился;

To hear it through the grapevine George Clooney has married

6. «Финансовые ведомости» сообщили, стало известно из достоверных источников, что президент Франции посетит Испанию в конце месяца;

"Financial statements" reported, straight form the horse mouth that the French president will visit Spain at the end of the month

7. Знаменитый сыщик Шерлок Холмс всегда говорил: «Чтобы распутать дело необходимо собрать все улики и сделать лишь одно верное умозаключение»;

The famous detective Sherlock Holmes always said: "In order to unravel the case it is necessary to collect all the evidence and put two and two together.

8. Я знаю все детали этого отвратительного убийства. Я настолько неуверенно себя чувствую, что не знаю, смогу ли распутать это дело;

I know all the details of this disgusting murder. I have no idea which end is up and I do not know if I can untangle this case

9. Я совершенно забыла то, о чем хотела разговаривать с папой. Надеюсь, что когда мы увидимся, я вспомню все;

I lost the train of mind what I wanted to talk about with my dad. I hope that when I see him, I will remember everything

10. Когда Джейн встретила мистера Брокльхерста в гостиной, он стал задавать ей вопросы, смысл которых она совершенно не понимала;

When Jane met Mr. Brocklehurst in the living room, he began to ask her questions, the meaning of which she hadn’t got a clue;

11. Математика, химия и физика всегда были космическими предметами для Льва. Он абсолютно ничего не смыслил в этих теоремах, формулах и элементах;

Mathematics, chemistry and physics have always been space objects for Leo. He wasn’t be able to make head and tail of anything in these theorems, formulas and elements

12. Годы, проведенные в школе, навсегда исчезли из памяти Дэвида;

Years spent in school, forever slip David’s memory

13. Когда он сел отвечать, все правильные ответы выскочили из его головы. Он напрягал память даже для того, чтобы вспомнить элементарные слова;

When he sat down to answer, he loose the train of mind. He strained his memory even to remember the elementary words;

14. Миссис Роббинс не имела не малейшего представления о том, как жарить котлеты, месить тесто или солить огурцы! Она была совершенно не приспособлена к семейной жизни!

Mrs. Robbins wasn’t able to make head and tail how to fry cutlets, knead dough or salt cucumber! She was completely unsuited to family life!

15. Эта девушка меня сильно заинтересовала. Я слышал, она закончила Гарвард. В этом институте у меня хорошая репутация. Думаю, она меня знает, и мы поладим;

This girl was very interested in me. I heard she graduated from Harvard. I’m over in this institute. I think she knows me, and we will get along.

16. Моя маленькая дочка вытирала пыль, а сын подметал пол. Пока я мыла посуду мы успели сделать одновременно тысячу вещей;

My little daughter wiped the dust, and my son swept the floor. While I was washing dishes, we killed two birds with one stone

17. Дела навалились, как снежный ком. Не знаю, успею ли я все сделать до четверга;

Cases snowballed. I do not know if I will have time to do everything until Thursday;

18. Роб совершенно ничего не понимал в амурных делах. Когда Триша подошла к нему совсем близко и задала наивный вопрос о занятиях, он совершенно запутался и не знал, что ответить;

Rob did not understand anything at all in amorous affairs. When Trisha approached him very close and asked a naive question about his studies, he belted himself and did not know what to say;

19. Этот неразрешимый вопрос ел его изнутри и даже ночью он не мог уснуть, думая об этом;

This insoluble question bugging him and even at night he could not sleep, thinking about it

20. Циркач выполнял такие сложные трюки, что в зале царила мертвая тишина.

The circus performed such complex tricks that the hall breathed a word

21. Эта улица забита книжными магазинами. Открыть еще один все равно, что поехать в Тулу своим самоваром!

This street is full of bookstores. Open another one is the same to carry coals to Newcastle!

22. Миссис Молли Браун была на Титанике единственной женщиной- миллионершей. Она вышла замуж за Роберта Брауна, разбогатевшего на золотых раскопках. Моя мама называла ее «новомодной богачкой»;

Mrs. Molly Brown was on Titanic the only woman millionaire. She married Robert Brown, who became rich on gold excavations. My mother called her "From rags to riches ";

23. Она такая паникерша! Всегда делает из мухи слона и наводит суматоху в коллективе;

She's such an alarmist! Always makes a mountain out of a molehill and leads a commotion in the team

24. Что ты плетешься как черепаха. Если бы ты надела туфли без каблуков, мы бы дошли в два раза быстрее!

You are at snail’s pace! If you put on shoes without heels, we would have reached twice as fast!

25. «Надежда умирает последней» - даже если ты не поступишь в этом году, ты подготовишься и тебя возьмут в следующем!

“To hope against hope” - Even if you do not enter this year, you will be prepared and you will be taken in the next!

Task XXI. Here is a list of idiomatic expressions. They are not completed. Make them complete by matching each with the necessary picture to the left (the pictures are placed in disorder). Your correct translation of the pictures will complete the expressions.

As strong as a horse

As good as gold

As mad as a hatter

As pretty as a picture

As blind as a bat

As old as the hills

As light as a feather

As deaf as a post

As hard as nails

As solid as a rock

As cool as a cucumber

As free as a bird

As fit as a fiddle

As quiet as a mouse

Task XXII. The “connotative lexis” exercise. Down page you can see combinations of words, idiomatic expressions, or just constructions. All of them bear the “color” aspect. Decide where there is a connotative adjective, and where is just a simple one.

Red

To be as red as a beetroot

To catch red-handed

To be out of the red

To see red

To get into the red

Red-blooded

Black

Black sheep

To be in the black

Black and white

Work like a black

To black something out

Blue

Once in a blue moon

Blue-collar

Out of the blue

The boys in the blue

To blue

Green

Green-eyed monster

Green card

The rub of the green

White

To show the white feather

White as a sheet

White lie

White as snow

A white elephant

White-out

A white sepulcher

Yellow

A yellow streak

Yellow – bellied

Brown

As brown as a berry

Brown study

To brown off

To become brown

Round Table Talk

Pattern 1. Brave Heart.

1. Your task: The advantages and disadvantages of the script (is it true to real facts, whether there are too many battle scenes, too much blood or v.v. too much love etc.);

2. Your task: The cast (if you were a director, whom would you invite?);

3. Your task: Sophie Marceau (was she worth inviting);

4. Your task: Mel Gibson as an actor. Is he OK in directing);

5. Your task: The triangle of Long Shanks – the king of England, his son and the princess (who was the winner at last, who fall, who cheated?);

6. Your task: The Scotch. Their appearance, behavior, life conditions, customs etc. Are they coincide you imagine them to be?

7. Your task: The Camera Work. Was it worth Oscar?

8. Your task: The first and the second love of William Wallace;

9. Your task: If the movie ended happily, your attitude would change?

10. Your task: The final episode. The injustice or reality? Describe your feelings;

11. Your task: Personal sacrifice in the name of love or in the name of country;

12. Your task: The “first night” restrictions. The scene of Wallace′ s friend wedding. Describe the faces;

13. Your task: The “first battle” episode. Did it come up to your expectations?

14. Your task: The “Killing the murderer of Wallace′ s first wife” episode. What was the purpose: the revenge or war beginning?

15. Your task: You are the Round Table Speaker. Think of no less than 20 notions to the audience. Be ready to lead the table. Be ready to fulfill the pauses. Be ready to prepare the introductory and final short speeches. Your work would be given a definite plus, if you succeed (A certain advice for you: try not to utter your replicas by heart. Prepare the folder with all the necessary words in written form. It will be easier for you to lead the round table and the form of your conference will be better);

16. Your task: William′ s childhood. What are your ideas of children casting in the film?

17. Your task: Was it worth attacking England knowing beforehand that the victory was a myth?

18. Your task: Patrick McGeehan as “Red”, William′ s best friend. Do you think him to be a real Scotch? His appearance! Ignorance, naivety, devotedness, sincerity, power – do these qualities correspond the hero?

19. Your task: You are a journalist. Be ready to ask at least 15 “puzzled” questions (one for each of the reporters) to the auditory. You have to compound a statistics of people who adore the movies and of those who dislike it. You are not to show your personal attitude. You are to find out the people opinion only. (Be ready to produce your article with a title.) Your work would be given a definite plus, if you succeed;

20. Your task: You are a counter. You have to write praise or a prosecution article. You have to decide who won in today′ s Round Table. Be ready to name at least 5 candidates who prepared the best “opinion report”. You are to decide who will have a credit plus. (Take sheets of paper in order to fix down everything you guess is worth fixing. Be ready to produce your article with the title). Your work would be given a definite plus, if you succeed.

Pattern 3. The Queen.

 

1. Comment on the title of the billboard (mind the underlined phrase);

2. Queen Mother and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: relationships, dialogues, appearance, influence, hereditariness;

3. Why you think they still appeared in front of the British people (comment on the picture);

4. Prince Charles and Tony Blair: what united them? (comment on the picture) (tactile language, explain it);

5. The relationships inside the family: boys and their father after the tragedy (comment on the picture);

6. The queen at work. What are her usual duties?

7. Describe the persona of Prince Charles. What kind of a man he is. His position in the film. His position in the real life. Any differences?

8. Is it permitted for the queen to cry? What was the reason? Comment on the picture;

9. The family together in the church. Faces. Were they united? Was it a real tragedy for them? Why they went to the church?

10. The rituals in the family. What do you think about the institution of monarchy in UK? Is it an outdated one? What is the future? What is the position of Tony Blair in the film, and any preceding or consequent Prime Minister?

11. The every day life of Her Majesty? What are her habits and customs? Describe her day. Comment on the picture;

12. The final episode of the film. Comment on the dialogue. Comment on the picture. Is it a positive one?

Task XXIV. Write a culture-oriented linguistic article. For detailed information on structure and visual design see Attachment I. Here are the possible themes:

ü Cities of England – Manchester, Liverpool, Bath, Windsor;

ü Glasgow – the second capital of Scotland;

ü London – the capital of England;

ü The dark stories of the Tower of London;

ü The Irish Question – symbols, faces, places;

ü The University life of England – two major Universities: Oxford and Cambridge;

A Follow Up

It appears sometimes that foreigners are lost in translation for the meaning of the phrases stands far at first sight. Here are some outrageous phrases foreigners are confused in:

ü Black market

We use this term to describe any illegal trade whereby goods and services are bought and sold at cheaper prices than in legitimate outlets, and also to refer to currency-dealing where black-market exchange rates differ from official ones. A popular explanation of its origin is that it initially referred to the sale of “fire-damaged” goods, although there is not enough evidence to be sure of this;

ü Blue blood

The term blue blood has been widely used in Britain since nineteenth century to refer to a member of the aristocracy. It comes directly from the Spanish sangre azul, meaning, well, blue blood! Families from Castile were very keen to stress their difference from the Moors, who had controlled Spain for years. To prove their breeding, they claimed that their veins were a purer blue than those of inferior, foreign origin. The reason for this, of course, was because their blue blood could be seen through their white skin; the Moors had dark skin, so their veins couldn’t be seen;

ü Brouhaha

A tremendous word meaning, according to the dictionary, “commotion, sensation, hubbub, uproar”. Brouhaha was borrowed in the 19^th century directly from the identical French. Before then, it often appeared in 16^th century French dramas as the Devil cry, announcing his arrival in scenes;

ü Cockles of the heart

Flowers, weddings and presents beneath the tree on Christmas day all warm the cockles of your heart. The expression comes from a corruption of the Latin cochleae cordis, which refers top what we now call the ventricles of the heart. The ventricles are the chambers that pump blood around the body;

ü Coin a phrase

To make a new expression. The phrase is perhaps a little less unusual if you consider that coinen, in Middle English, meant to mint money. To coin a phrase, therefore, is to mint a new phrase;

ü Gibberish

One of the common explanations given for the origin of “gibberish” is that it has its basis in the old word “gibber”, which in turn is connected to “jabbering”, and therefore nonsense. The true origin of the word is found in the name of an 11^th century Arabian alchemist, Geber, who invented bizarre and coded terminology in order to hide the meaning of his work from others.

ü Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo, like hoo-ha, is a wonderfully effective word to sum up a situation of clamor uproar and general commotion. Although it sounds rather like nonsense word that is resonant of fuss and mayhem, both in its spelling and pronunciation, its origin lies in the French burluberlu, a 17^th century word in the meaning of scatter-brained;

ü Jeopardy

To be in jeopardy is to be in danger of injury, loss or death and so on. It derives directly from the French jeu parti, meaning “divided game” and therefore of uncertain, dangerous, outcome;

ü Nightmare

The term derives from Old English and from the word maere, ad evil friend. Night maeres would stalk about at night, causing wickedness and ill will. It was also assumed that they were the cause of terrifying dreams;

ü Pardon my French

Excuse my bad language. France has often been on the receiving end of the UK taboos. The associating of the French language with thing the British have regarded as obscene can also be found in such phrases as “French letter”, for condom and “French kiss”. The French came in for another recent linguistic bashing when moves were made in the USA government cafeterias to rechristen “French fries” and” French toast” as “freedom fries and toasts”, because of disagreement on foreign policy between the two countries;

ü Pidgin English

Pidgin English is though to have originated in China after the British established a trading post in Canton in 1664. However, Portugal established trade in China before the British, so they always neglected the influence on pidgin English. English didn’t fully emerged until the 17^th century. It was developed as a way of accommodating the speakers of two very different languages so that they could do business with each other. So “pidgin English” really means “business English”, and “pidgin” is thought to be a mispronunciation of the English word “business” by the Chinese;

ü Swag

Swag means different things to different people. It can refer to a robber's booty, free products, a prize giveaway or the sum of a traveller's – or a swagman's – worldly goods. Whether or nor we use it to mean “hot” property or giveaways, it always refers to something that has been gained freely. The word is Scandinavian origin, from swagga, meaning “to hang loosely”.

 

! For more information on British non-equivalent and connotative lexis see Attachment, Section 2, Culture-loaded linguistic articles (Articles 3 and 4), Tables (Table № 1)!

 

Block II

Non-equivalent and connotative lexis typical for the British Isles

We should proceed speaking about NEL and CL in connection with British Isles. But before touching upon the definite examples, let us again study the problem of country-oriented language studies and country studies. For doing this we will address to the article of professor of Moscow pedagogical university Elena M. Dianova and scan her point of view.

“Culture – oriented approach is an essential element of teaching English as a foreign language, when language learning is seen as a means of gaining access to the culture values of the native speakers community which is vital of adequate understanding and communicating with English speakers.

A language does not exist in a vacuum. It is embodied in the culture of people and it reflects the beliefs and sentiments of the given speech community.

So what is this special and necessary component of foreign language teaching and learning? There exist a number of terms determining this component. The most widely used are:

1. Country – oriented language studies

2. Socio – cultural language studies

3. Socio – cultural linguistics

While studying a foreign language every learner is introduced to a new culture, to national treasures, which have been accumulated and stored in the language.

Therefore, what do we mean by cultural literacy?

- To posses the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world. It is by no means confined to culture as an acquaintance with arts. Literacy is far