relation, revolution, starvation, unification, temptation

I. Latin Affixes

Nouns	The suffix -ion	opinion, session, union
The suffix -tion	relation, revolution, starvation, unification, temptation
Verbs	The suffix -ate [eit]	create, congratulate, appreciate
The suffix –ute [ju:t]	attribute, contribute, distribute
The remnant ['remnent] –остаточный suffix -ct	act, conduct, collect
The remnant suffix –d (e)	divide, exclude, include
The prefix dis-	disable, disagree
Adjectives	The suffix -able	detestable, curable
The suffix -ate [it]	accurate, desperate, graduate
The suffix -ant	constant, important
The suffix -ent	absent, convenient, evident
The suffix -or	major, minor, junior, senior
The suffix -al	cordial, filial, fraternal, maternal
The suffix -ar	solar, familiar

II. French Affixes

Nouns	The suffix -ance	arrogance, endurance
The suffix -ence	consequence, intelligence, patience
The suffix -ment	appointment, development, experiment
The suffix -age	courage, marriage, passage, village
The suffix –ess	actress, tigress, lioness, adventuress
Adjectives	The suffix –ous	curious, dangerous, serious
Verbs	The prefix en-	enable,enslave

The Etymological Structure of English Vocabulary

The native element (words which were not borrowed from other languages but represent the original stock of this particular language)	The borrowed element
I. Indo-European element II. Germanic element III. English Proper element (not earlier than 5 th c. A.D.)	I. Celtic (5 th –6 th c. A.D.) II. Latin 1^st group: 1^st c. B.C. 2^nd group: 7 th c. A.D. 3^rd group: the Renaissance period III. Scandinavian (8 th – 11 th c. A.D.) IV. French 1. Norman borrowings: 11th – 13 th. c. A.D. 2. Renaissance V. Greek (Renaissance) VI. Italian (Renaissance and later) VII. Spanish (Renaissance and later) VIII. German IX. Indian X. Russian And some other groups

The table requires some explanations. Modern scientists estimate the percentage of borrowed words in the English vocabulary at 65-70 per cent. This anomaly is explained by the country’s eventful history and by its many international contacts.

The native element in English comprises a large number of high-frequency words like the articles, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions, auxiliaries and words denoting everyday objects and ideas (child, water, go, come, eat, good, bad).

The grammatical structure is essentially Germanic, it remained unaffected by foreign influence.

Now let us turn to the first column of the table which represents the native element, the original stock of the English vocabulary. The column consists of three groups, only the third being dated: the words of this group appeared in the English vocabulary in the 5 th c. A.D. or later, that is after Germanic tribes migrated to the British Isles. As to the Indo-European and Germanic groups, they are so old that cannot be dated.

By the Indo-European element are meant words of roots common to all or most languages of the Indo-European group. English words of this group denote elementary notions without which no human communication would be possible. The following groups can be identified.

I. Family relations: father, mother, brother, son, daughter.

II. Parts of the human body: foot, nose, lip, heart.

III. Animals: cow, goose, swine.

IV. Plants: tree, birch, corn.

V. Times of day: day, night.

VI. Heavenly bodies: sun, moon, star.

VII. Numerous adjectives: red, new, glad, sad.

VIII. The numerals from one to hundred.

IX. Pronouns – personal (except they which is a Scandinavian borrowing); demonstrative.

X. Numerous verbs: be, stand, sit, eat, know.

The Germanic element represents words of roots common to all or most Germanic languages. Some of the main groups of Germanic words are the same as in the Indo-European element.

I. Parts of human body: hand, head, arm, finger, bone.

II. Animals: fox, bear, calf.

III. Plants: oak, fir, grass.

IV. Natural phenomena: rain, frost.

V. Seasons of the year: winter, spring, summer.

VI. Landscape features: sea, land.

VII. Human dwellings and furniture: house, room, bench.

VIII. Sea-going vessels: boat, ship.

IX. Adjectives: green, blue, grey, white, small, thick, high, old, good.

X. Verbs: see, hear, speak, tell, say, answer, make, give, drink.

Some words stand quite alone in the vocabulary systems of Indo-European languages. They are examples of English proper: bird, boy, girl, lord, lady, woman, always.

Seminar №4

1. Answer the following questions.

1) What is the earliest group of English borrowings? Date it.

2) What Celtic borrowings are there in English?

3) Which words were introduced into English vocabulary during the period of Christianization?

4) What are the characteristic features of Scandinavian borrowings?

5) When and under what circumstances did England become a bilingual country? What imprint features were left in English vocabulary by this period?

6) What are the characteristic features of words borrowed into English during the Renaissance?

7) What suffixes and prefixes can help you to recognize words of Latin and French origin?

8) What is meant by the native element of English vocabulary?

9) Why does English vocabulary contain such an immense number of words of foreign origin?

2. Subdivide all the following words of native origin into a) Indo-European, b) Germanic, c) English proper.

Daughter, woman, room, land, cow, moon, sea, red, spring, three, I, lady, always, goose, bear, fox, lord, tree, nose, birch, grey, old, daisy, heart, hand, night, to eat, to see, to make.

3. In the following sentences find examples of Latin borrowings; identify the period of borrowings.

1. The garden here consisted of a long smooth lawn with rows of cherry trees planted in the grass.

2. The room was full of young men, all talking at once and drinking cups of tea.

3. “Lewis, dear,” Edwina said, “could you interrupt your speech and pour some wine?”

4. All Anna’s life worked to schedule; like a nun, she would have been lost without her watch.

5. I made my way to the kitchen and tried the kitchen door which gave on to the fire-escape.

6. Within the cathedral which was filled, a section near the altar had been reserved for Rosselli relatives and friends.

3. In the sentences given below find the examples of Scandinavian borrowings. How can the Scandinavian borrowings be identified?

1) She was wearing a long blue skirt and a white blouse.

2) The sun was high, the sky unclouded, the air warm with a dry fresh breeze.

3) He went on to say that he was sorry to hear that I had been ill.

4) If Eastin were right, Wainwright reasoned, the presence of the husband could tie in with Wainwright’s own theory of an outside accomplice.

5) Two eyes – eyes like winter windows, glared at him with ruthless impersonality.

4. Explain the etymology of the following words.

Sputnik, kindergarten, opera, piano, potato, tomato, violin, coffee, cocoa, blitzkrieg, steppe, komsomol, balalaika.

5. Read the following extract. Which of the italicized borrowings came from Latin and which from French?

Connoisseurs of the song will be familiar with the name of Anna Quentin, distinguished blues singer and versatile vocalist. Miss Quentin’s admirers, who have been regretting her recent retirement from the limelight, will hear with mixed feelings the report that she is bound to Hollywood. Miss Quentin, leaving for a short stay in Paris, refused either to confirm or to deny a rumour that she had signed a long-term contract for work in America.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04