Englishwordpowerblogspot: January 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

Being unintelligible

R.K. Bansal, the father of Indian English pronunciation observes that

“The incorrect word accentuation by Indian speakers has been found to be one of the most frequent causes of their being unintelligible to other speakers of English”.

The advice of English people to non-native speakers is that the English words should be learnt with stress. They find it very difficult to understand English spoken with wrong stress.

Generally, as a rule the nouns, adjectives, adverbs and main verbs are stressed in speech. The other grammatical words like prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions and helping verbs are not stressed in continuous speech. By following these principles of English pronunciation the foreign learner can attain the “speech flow”.

The cost-effective Virtual Dictionaries help the learners to acquire “the high degree of English fluency”. The youngsters who would like to appear for the tests like “TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) may acquire international intelligibility in English by using these virtual dictionaries. Those who would like to get job opportunities in BPO services like Call Centres, Medical Transcription etc., need not spend thousands of rupees to improve their listening and speaking skills.

A few words

Logistics – The careful organization of a complicated activity so that it happens in a successful and effective way – CALD

- The flow of goods, information, and other resources, including energy and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption, is defined as logistics. -The New Indian Express.

Amalgamate - (V) Combine, merge, unite, join, fuse, blend, meld, mix, incorporate-

(opp.) separate

Blueprint - (N) Plan, design, diagram, drawing, sketch, layout, model, template,

pattern, example, guide, prototype, pilot

Cache - (N) Hoard, store, stockpile, stock, supply, reserve, arsenal

Diagnose - (V) Identify, determine, distinguish, recognize, interpret, detect,

Pinpoint.

Excel - (V) Shine, be excellent, be outstanding, be skilful, be talented, stand

out, be second to none

Using a Dictionary

Using a Dictionary

Dictionaries have become resource books rather than reference books. Usually students and teachers use bilingual dictionaries. Today they have to learn to use advanced learners dictionaries like Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD), Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (CALD), Macmillan Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (MALD) and Longman Contemporary Dictionary (LCD).

The following points are important while looking up a word in the dictionaries:

v Pronunciation

v Syllable division

v Parts of Speech

v Spelling

v Meaning

v Root and Different usages of the word

ENGLISH WORDS EMPOWER YOU

Word Power empowers students and they should know the true value of improving their vocabulary. Students at the college level should have a minimum of ten thousand words for their active use. It is surprising to know that in speaking English, not more than a hundred words are used daily by any speaker in the world. In all the language activities like Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing (LSRW) not more than a thousand content words or meaningful words are used daily. All the other words are called passive words or words which are useful to understand messages and, these “Other words” are scarcely used words. Nevertheless they do the function of activating the cognitive abilities of students. Learn a few new words like the following and try to enrich yourselves.

IRREGULAR VERB GROUPS

Grammar Worksheet

Group 1:

Bet, burst, cast, cost, hit, hurt, let, put, set, shut, spread, thrust, upset

Group 2:

Beat- beat- beaten

Group 3:

Become – became – become

Come - came – come

Overcome - overcame – overcome

Overrun - overran - overrun

Run - ran – ran

Group 4:

Bend, bind, bleed, bring, build, burn, buy, catch, deal, dig, dream, feed, feel,

Fight, find, fling, get, hang, have, hear, hold, keep, lay, lead, lean, leap, learn,

Leave, lend, light, lose, make, mean, meet, mislead, mislay, overhear

Group 5:

Pay, read, seek, sell, send, shine, shoot, sit, sleep, slide, smell, spell, spend, spill,

Spin (spun), spoil, stand, stick, sting, strike, sweep, swing, teach, tell, and think,

Understand, weep, win, wind, withhold, wring

Group 6:

Arise, begin, bear, bite, blow, break, choose, do, draw, drink, drive, eat, fall, fly,

Forget, forgive, freeze, give, go, grow, hide, know, lie, mistake, ride, ring, rise,

Saw, see, sew, shake, show, shrink, sing, sink, speak, spin (span – spun),

Spring, steal, strive, swear, swim, take, throw, tread, undergo, undo, wake, wear,

Withdraw, write

Am, is, are - was, were - been

Correct pronunciation of the following words

The learners should concentrate on the correct pronunciation of the following words very carefully. J.D.O. Connor (1980) in his book “Better English Pronunciation” suggests to memorize the forty four sound symbols. He advocates the use of the weak forms of some thirty five English words to make their English sound English.

and am some

as are at

but be for

that is from

than was of

he to

has have had

him his her

them us do

does can shall

will would must

a an the

One word sentences used in the mobile phone:

One word sentences used in the mobile phone:

Create your own sentences as shown below:

Please call me later

Call, view, edit, send, add, delete, copy, move, import, export, start, help, exit, open, rename, format, sort by, chat, activate, customize, save, write, erase, and use

Templates: A few sentences for ready use

Call me now
How about lunch
Be right back
I’m busy now
I’m sorry
Thank you
How was the day
Long time to see
Lots of love
How are you?

A few voice messages for listening:

The subscriber you are calling is out of the coverage area
The number you are calling is busy at the moment
The number you are calling is switched off
The subscriber you are calling is busy on another call
Please, wait
You are in a queue
Please call after some time
The subscriber you have dialed is not accepting any call
Please send a voice message
The line you have dialed is out of order

Written messages flashing in the mobile:

1. Call aborted

2. Insert template

3. Save to drafts

4. Charger removed

5. Call cancelled

6. Press any key

7. Write message

8. Use number

9. Send SMS

10. Enter keypad lock code

One word sentences from irregular verbs:

Cut, hit, beat, come, run, buy, catch, fight, find, learn, meet, read, sell, shoot, sleep, stand, tell, teach, think, understand, win, begin, bite, break, choose, do, drink, drive, eat, forget, forgive, give, go, hide, read, rise, see, show, sing, speak, strive, swim, take, throw, and write

One word sentences from regular verbs:

Accept, achieve, act, add, address, admire, admit, advise, approve, argue, arrange, arrive, ask, attack, attempt, attend, explain, guess, jump, listen obey, play, promise, protest, prove, punish, refuse, stop, succeed, take, and try

Note: From the above imperative one word sentences, you can create negative sentences and form micro dialogues for practice

One word questions:

What? Where? When? Why? How? Who? and Whom?

Two word sentences (Imperative):

Be quick; Bear it; Beat it; Bless them; Bring water; Come here; Cut it; Drive carefully;

Eat slowly; Get up; Have sense; Hide yourself; Keep quiet; Kneel down; Know thyself;

Learn thoroughly; Run fast; Say something; Sell yourself; shake hands; Sit here; Sleep well; Speak loudly: Stand here; Strive hard; Tread slowly; Write again; Listen carefully; Read silently; Aim high; Arrive early; Believe it; Breathe slowly; Cool down; Calm down; Control yourself; Comfort him; Defend yourself; Encourage yourself; Excuse me; Greet them; Welcome them; Improve yourself; Introduce yourself; Learn properly; March forward

Note:

Try to create as many sentences as possible from the above one word sentences:

Three word sentences:

Begin your work; Buy a shirt; Catch the train; Do your work; Draw a line; Find the truth;

Forget your sorrows; Grind the flour; Grow a tree; Hear the noise; Hit the target; Lead the group; Lend your book; Make no noise; overcome your trouble; pay your fees; Quit the place; Ride the cycle; See the picture; Seek the truth; Send the message; Show your watch; Shut the door; Sing a song; Sow the seed; Spell the word; Take a photo;

Think a lot; Throw the ball; Wear your dress; Win the game; Withdraw the case; Accept the gift; Admit your fault; Add some milk; Achieve your goal; Advise your friend; Agree with me; Attend the function; Influence the people; amuse the audience; Avoid bad company; Blow the whistle; Borrow his book; Call a taxi; Brush your teeth; Buy a cake; Carry the luggage; Cross the road; Decorate your house; Defeat your enemy; Educate the poor; Empty the box; End the fight; Enjoy the food; Enter the room; Follow the teacher; Get the best; Join the club; Manage your time; Measure the length; Move a little; Obey the order; Pack the package; Paint the wall

These verb sentences can be changed into simple sentences, yes or no type questions, negative sentences, requests, and ‘Wh’ type sentences and micro dialogues can be created out of them.

SMALL WORDS WITH BIG TROUBLE

SMALL WORDS WITH BIG TROUBLE

1. Pronouns (106) What – watt

2. Auxiliary verbs / Modal / Helping verbs Would – wood

3. Prepositions Said – set

4. Conjunction Been – bean

different pronunciation can – Two meanings cane
used in Grammar Which – witch
not used in NM / Telegram Him – hymn
unstressed in speech Some – sum

I – eye – aye Its – it’s

Eyes – ice Her / here

We – wee Our – hour

Mine (two meanings) Where – were

Knot – not Than – then

Will (two meanings) I’m – am

The – thee Here – hear

The – Two types of pro Old - world

Of – off

To – too, do

In – inn

For – far

As – ass / us

Be – bee

But – butt

His – hiss

Are – or

By / bye – buy

An – Ann

We – wee

One – won / own

There – their

Words for correct Pronunciation

Aesthetic Woman / women

Cleanliness Reservoir

Risen Cliché

Depot

Guinea

Coup Nostalgia

Coupe Etiquette

Corps Entrepreneur

Corpse Psyche

Suit Mnemonics

Suite Physique

Goal Quote

Gaol / jail Quotient

Debut Able

Blitz / quartz Wrinkle

Desert Write

Bourgeois Writ

Bouquet Paper

Bureau Table

Ache Plea / please

Rendevous Engineer

Hop / hope Machine

Hoping / hopping Aeroplane

Key / quay (construction) Psychology

Wag / wage Resume

Waging / wagging Curriculum vitae

Class / clause Recipe

Lose / loose Spinach

Once / ones Plateau

Police Naught

Raging / ragging Hiccough

Practice / practise Neighbour

Advice / advise Queue

Haphazard Questionnaire

Bath / bathe Personal

Cloth / clothe Quote

Unique Hoax

Rescue Zero

Colleague Xerox

Genuine Read-read

Hitchhike Gesture

savvy

Words from known to unknown

Word power

Last – lost team – teem

Canon – cannon shot –shod

Canvas – canvass cast – caste

Cot – caught doctor – daughter

Are – or die – dye

Soar – shore hire – higher

Heaven- haven bag – back

All right – alright anger – anchor

Peace – piece opposite – apposite

Yeast – east oma – comma

Compliment – complement conform – confirm

Counsel -council death – dearth

Down – dawn dairy – diary

Duel – dual ensure – insure

Envelop – envelope fare – fair

Grave – crave greet – great

Kit – kid skid – skit

Hello – halo heal – heel

Whole – hole lion – line

Miner – minor knight – night

None – nun aught- (anything)

Petty- pretty ought – (should)

Son – sun story –storey

Stationary – stationery personal – personnel

Stand – strand college – collage

Done – don your – you’re

Weight – wait yearn – earn

Year – ear for – far

Farm – form farmer – former

Shop – sop soul - sole

Flower – flour route – root

Grand – grant many – money

Meet – mete can – cane

Know – no draught-drought

Vain – vein lock – log

Seen – scene here – hear

Hope – hop rage – rag

Wage - wag main – mane

Mat – mate tense – dense

Ten – den chief – cheap

Hose – home check – cheque

Farther – further later - latter

Hell – he’ll ill – I’ll

Hour – our tale – tail

Human – humane sell – cell

Dead – debt false – falls

Data – date steal – steel

Pay – bay patent – patient

Plait – (hair) pupil - people

plight – (condition) quote – quota

rational – (reasoning) ant – aunt

rationale – ( reasonable ) birth – berth

lice – lies sour – shower

roll – role poll – pole

riot – ryot salon – ( reception room)

see – sea saloon –

self – shelf seer – sheer

so – show some - sum

sign – shine cease – seize

wine – vine wet – wed

wrote – rote seal – zeal

through – threw past – paste

disease – decease loath – (hatred)

naught – nought loathe – (verb)

tri – try compeer – (equal)

plays – place compere – (radio organizer)

might – mite dam – damn

boy – bouy weight – wait

career – carrier sign – shine

principle - principal

I – eye – aye

Flower – flour – floor

Write - rite - right

Quite – quiet – quit

Sight – site – cite

Knot – not - naught – nought

Meet – mete – meat

To – two – too

Rain – rein – reign

Done – don- ton

Where – ware – were

Snack – snake – snag

Lack – lakh – lag

Man – main – mane

Mad – made – maid

Price – prize – praise

Die – dye – tie

See – sea – she

As – ass – us

Confident – feeling sure

Confidant – man confided to

Confidante – woman confided to

Key – quay – ghee

Sort – sought – short

Idle – ideal – idol