Practice the pronunciation of the following words.

Course, provincial, politics, universal, official, model, original, mentality, intellectual, inform, specialist, literature, architect, computer, communication, commerce, technology, diplomacy, business, manufacturing, associate, debates.

State apart of speech of the following words.

Cultural, expressive, economic, technological, information, frequently, population.

Give 3 forms of the verbs.

To become, to have, to compare, to speak, to do, to use, to teach, to acquire, to know, to read, to study, to receive, to give, to make, to consider, to help, to exceed

Read and translate the text A.

The use of the English language

It is only in the course of the last hundred years that English has become a world language. In Shakespeare's time, it was a «provincial» language of secondary importance with only 6 million native speakers. Nowadays English has become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations. In a number of speakers (more than 300 million) English is second only to Chinese. It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the Republic of South Africa, and the Irish Republic.

It is also spoken as a second language by many people in India, Pakistan, and numerous countries in Africa. The number of second- language speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers, if it has not done so already. About 1 500 million people — over a third of the world's population — live in countries where English is used and taught. In fact, it has become the language of international intercourse.

Even more widely, English is studied and used as a foreign language. In this respect, it acquired an international status. The English we study (the model used in the teaching of English overseas) is known as Standard English. Standard English is the official language used in Great Britain. It is taught at schools and universities.

Many people in our country study English. They study it to read and understand books in the original and to be able to speak. Speaking is considered by many as the main objective of language learning. The knowledge of spoken language will help to express the opinions and feelings, to give and receive information. Studying foreign language enriches the native language, makes it clearer, more flexible and expressive. It gives great opportunity to compare two languages, to understand the mentality of another nation. Knowledge of a foreign language is truly something that opens up a completely new world to the one who possesses it. And it is not surprising that a lot of intellectuals want to know English language.

However, the study of foreign language is not only the sign of intellectual vitality. Nowadays it becomes an absolute necessity for any good specialist — an engineer, an artist, a doctor or an architect. He must read muchof a special scientific literature in foreign languages to be well informed in his field of knowledge. And half of the world's scientific literature is in English.

So, English is used for communication across frontiers, listening to broadcasts, reading books and newspapers, in commerce and travel. English is associated with technological and economic development of the great manufacturing countries and it is the principal language of international aid. It is the language of automation and computer technology. It is not only the universal language of international aviation, shipping and sport; it is to a considerable degree the universal language of literacy and public communication. It is the major of diplomacy, and is the most frequently used language both in the debates in the United Nations and in the general conduct of UN business.

Give Russian equivalents.

A language of secondary importance, official language, native speaker, in this respect, to read and understand books in the original, flexible and expressive, to give opportunity, absolute necessity, field of knowledge, great manufacturing countries, public communication.

Choose the right variant.

1. Nowadays English acquired a status of … language.

a) native b) secondary c) international

2. Native speakers of English … 300 million.

a) exceed b) acquire c) consider

3. Standard English is an … language.

a) old b) official c) artificial

4. English is more widely used as … language.

a) official b) standard c) foreign

5. The knowledge of foreign language gives opportunity … .

a) to compare b)to become c) to communicate

6. People consider … as the main objective of language learning.

a) studying b) speaking c) many

7. Any good specialist must … foreign language.

a) possess b) respect c) read

8. In the time of Shakespeare English was of … importance.

a) world b) provincial c) less

9. Many people try … as many foreign languages as possible.

a) to receive b) to possess c) to enrich

10. The knowledge of a foreign language … the native language.

a) to enrich b) to become c) to give

Make up phrases.

levelled	majority
scientific	inflections
speech	pronunciation
native	discoveries
principle	sounds
inflectional	language
unstressed	impetus
to give	endings
to improve	vowel
to make up

Give a summary of the text.

Read and translate the text C:

The role of English in the 21 century

The world is in transition, and the English language will take new forms. The language and how it is used will change, reflecting patterns of contacts with other languages and the changing communication needs of people.

English is divesting itself of its political and cultural connotations as more people realize that English is not the property of only a few countries. Instead, it is a vehicle that is used globally and will lead to more opportunities. It belongs to whoever uses it for whatever purpose or need.

The widespread use of English as a language of wider communication will continue to exert pressure toward global uniformity. This could result in declining standards, language changes, and the loss of geolinguistic diversity.

On the other hand, because English is the vehicle for international communication and because it forms the basis for constructing cultural identities, many local varieties could instead develop. This trend may lead to fragmentation of the language and threaten the role of English as a lingua franca. However, there have always been major differences between varieties of English.

There is no reason to believe that any other language will appear within the next fifty years to replace English. However, it is possible that English will not keep Its monopoly in the XXI century. Rather, a small number of languages may form an oligopoly - each with a special area of influence. For example, Spanish is rising because of expanding trade and the increase of the Latino population in the United States. This could create a bilingual English-Spanish region.

A language shift, in which individuals change their linguistic allegiances, is another possibility. These shifts are slow and difficult to predict. But within the next fifty years, substantial language shifts could occur as economic development affects more countries. Because of these shifts in allegiance, more languages may disappear. Those remaining will rapidly get more native speakers. This includes English.

Internal migration and urbanization may restructure areas, thereby creating communities where English becomes the language of interethnic communication - a neutral language.

While languages such as English, German, and French have become international languages because of their governments' political powers, this is less likely to be the case in the XXI century where economics and demographics will have more influence on languages.

Give Russian equivalents.

patterns of contacts, cultural connotations, communication needs, a vehicle for international communication, to create a bilingual region, a language shift, a lingua franca, linguistic allegiances, to exert pressure,

Find in the text and read information to prove that:

1) The linguistic structure of English may be changed because of wider language using.

2) English language is a tool of international communication.

3) There will be more native speakers of English in the nearest future.

Put questions to find out.

1. English is the property of only a few countries.

2.The language takes new forms under certain circumstances.

3.Only a few languages can be considered a vehicle that is used globally.

4.The role of English as a lingua franca is recognized by everybody.

5.A language shift in favour of Spanish can be predicted.

6.Economic and political situation in the world results in changing the linguistic allegiances of the community.

7. In many regions English becomes the language of Interethnic communication.