Unit 25. Deja Vu, Angst, Tsunami.

Foreign Words in English
Unit 25; Part A
Many English words have their origins in other languages. Some ofthese words are no longer thought of as 'foreign'; for example, bungalow (Hindi origin), caravan (Persian origin), tomato(Spanish origin). Others, however, are still associated with thelanguage they are borrowed from either because they are recentborrowings or because they keep the appearance of a foreign word. This unit looks at the pronunciation of words in this second group. Someof these words are said with a pronunciation that makes them sound likeEnglish words; others may also be said in a way that is close to theirpronunciation in the original language (marked * below). French words used in English I'm not really au fait with the rules of cricket. /,∂υ'feι/ ( = familiar with) The negotiations have reached an impasse, with neither side wanting to back down. /'æmpa:s/ or /'æmpa:s/* ( = a situation where progress is impossible) The symbol - is put over a vowel when it is pronounced with a nasal sound. Other examples: faux pas /,f∂υ'pa:/ joie de vivre /3wa:d∂'vi:vr∂/ déjà vu /,deι3a:'vu:/ fait accompli /,feιt∂'kompli:/ or /,fet∂ko:m'pli:/*. You can find the meaning of these and other foreign words in this unit in the Key. A number of French words in English are pronounced with a /ã:/ sound: They show a lot of avant-garde films at the cinema. /,ævã:n'ga:d/ ( = original and modern) Other examples: carte blanche /,ka:t'blã:nt∫/, entre nous /,antr∂'nu:/ or /,ã:ntr∂'nu:/*, en route /,an'ru:t/ or /,ã:n'ru:t/*, nuance /'nju:a:nts/ or /'nju:ã:ns/*. |
Unit 25; Part B
German words used in English He went through a long period of angst during his teens. /æηkst/ ( = worry and unhappiness about personal problems) Other examples: doppelgänger /'dор∂l,gæη∂/, realpolitik /reι'a:lpolι,ti:k/, wanderlust /'wond∂lΛst/ or /'va:nd∂lust/*. |
Unit 25; Part C
Spanish words used in English She's an aficionado of Spanish literature. /∂,fι∫ι∂n'ad∂u/ or /æ,fιθj∂'na:d∂u/* ( = very interested and enthusiastic about the subject) Other examples: incommunicado /,ιnk∂,mjuinι'ka:d∂u/, manana /mæn'jain∂/, El Nino (or El Niño) /el'ni:nj∂u/. |
Unit 25; Part D
Italian words used in English He complained that he couldn't go anywhere without being followed by the paparazzi. /,pæp∂r'ætsi/ ( = photographers who follow famous people to get pictures for newspapers) Other examples: cognoscente /,konj∂u'∫enti/, prima donna /,pri:ma'don∂/. |
Unit 25; Part E
Japanese words used in English The tsunami killed over a million people. /tsu'na:mi/ or /su'na:mi/ ( = a huge wave) Other examples: bonsai /'bonsaι/, kimono /kι'm∂υn∂υ/, origami /,orι'ga:mi/. |
Unit 25; Part F
Chinese words used in English He does an hour of t'ai chi every morning. /,taι't∫i:/ ( = a form of exercise originally from China) Other examples: feng shui /,fen'∫u:i/ or /,fΛn'∫wei/*, lychee /,laι't∫i:/, typhoon /tai'fu:n/. |
Exercises
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