English as a World Language
The English language has nowadays become the “new Latin”
of the century. One billion people speak English. That’s 20% of the
world population. For the other 600 million it’s either a second
language or a foreign language.
There are more than 500,000 words in the Oxford English
Dictionary. Compare that with the vocabulary of German (about
155200,000) and French (about 100,000). At present no other language
on the Earth is better suited to play the role of a world language.
There are many reasons for this. First, English is easier to learn
than any other languages. Second, it borrows words and phrases
from the very countries into which it expands. Eighty per cent of
all English vocabulary comes from other languages. For example,
such words as pork, mutton, beef, etc. were borrowed from French;
book, renew, water, etc. were borrowed from German; library,
renovate, aquatic, etc. were borrowed from Latin; bibliography,
hydraulic, telephone, television, etc. were borrowed from Greek.
Many words have entered English as a result of trade and colonial
expansion: alcohol and algebra have come from Arabic; divan and
khaki from Persian; chocolate and tomato from Native American
languages; tea and tycoon from Chinese.
English is so widespread nowadays because it has become the
standard language for all kinds of international communication:
80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English; nearly
50% of all the companies in Europe communicate with one another
in English; 75% of all international letters and telexes are in English.
English is also the international language of businesspeople, pilots,
diplomats and politicians, sportsmen and scientists, doctors and
students, musicians and singers.
Today in Russia the English language has become the most
popular one among foreign languages. Learning English helps in
talking to people, reading and writing, in understanding foreign
music and foreign films. It opens up much a wider range of sources
of information.
Besides, when you travel in different countries, you can manage
to communicate a lot better if you understand people and people
understand you. When you speak English to people, they’re often a
lot more friendly and helpful. English is the language of
communication between different peoples and countries. If you are
interested in science, business, medicine, literature, music and you
want to be up¬to¬date with progress in those fields, you can always
read the latest report in English and know the latest information
about the question you are interested in. Learning English broadens
your mind and way of thinking.
English is a global language. The problems of the twenty¬first
century, such as the problems of war and peace, ecology,
156demographics, democracy and many others cannot be solved if
people do not speak the same language. I think that English is going
to become even more important as a global language, dominating
the world’s trade, computers and media while other languages will
become localized or just die out.
I think it’s very valuable and helpful in learning English if you
start learning it from an early age. People can learn the best up to
about the age of 20, as they have a lot of time for it, which later
isn’t possible. Learning English is not like learning maths or science
because it involves a different way of thinking. You have to learn to
think in English. And, of course, you have to learn the grammar
and vocabulary too if you want to know the language quite well.
Questions ответить н во используя текст и добавляя свое личное мнение.
1. Why is English a global language nowadays? 2. What will the
role of the English language be in the twenty ¬first century? 3. Which
vocabulary is the largest in the world? 4. What percentage of words
in English comes from other countries? 5. What borrowed words in
English do you know? 6. Why is English a language of
communication? 7. Why do people in Russia learn English? 8. What
is the best suitable age to begin to learn English? 9. What is the best
way to learn English?
1. David goes to the concerts every weekends.
David is going to the concert this weekend.
2. She often plays chess at home.
She is playing chess at home now.
3. I cook fish every day.
I'm cooking fish now.
4. -
The Pattisons are watching TV now.
5. Victoria studies English at university.
Victoria is studying English at university now.
6. We often read books about animals.
We are reading a book about animals.
7. Nick like to listen rock music.
Nick is listening rock music now.
8. Carry usually gets up at 8 o'clock.
Carry is getting up now.
Olympic games and Kazakhstan
July 17 at 11:35 am
Taufik KARIMOV, a political analyst
On the eve of the main sporting event of the quadrennial year-the London Olympics-let's remember the achievements of Kazakhstani athletes at the Olympic games of our time.
Participation of Kazakhstani athletes in the Olympic games of our time should be divided into two parts – first as part of the USSR national team, and then, after independence, as part of the national team under its national flag.
However, first I want to warn readers – here you will see some discrepancies with the generally accepted data. For example, it is believed that for the first time Kazakhstan took part in the Olympics in 1956, in my opinion – in 1952 (then, by the way, the first medal was won, and not in 1960, as it is believed).
The first Olympic champion-Kazakh in official sources is called the wrestler Zhaksylyk USHKEMPIROV (1980), although in fact this is Alzhan ZHARMUKHAMEDOV (1972). Without detracting from the merits of our outstanding athlete, we just note that Ushkempirov is indeed the first Kazakh Olympic champion who represented Kazakhstan directly. And Kazakh Zharmukhamedov, who became the champion of the Munich Olympics in the Soviet basketball team, then lived in Moscow and played for CSKA. Then we all lived in a single state called the USSR, and it often happened that the best athletes, and not only from Kazakhstan, played for other Union republics. However, in order