Pop Note

ENGLISH LOAN WORDS

Many of the English words that we have known are loan words from other languages. The list below is some of the words. Check it out!!!

LOAN WORDS	ORIGINAL LANGUAGE	MEANING
Banana	West Africa Senegal Wolof	Sweet yellow fruit.
Bravo	France Breton	a cry of encouragement
Breeze	Portugal Portuguese	light wind
Bungalow	India Bengali	small house -originally 'bangal'
Candy	Arabic	Crystallized sugar, named after the Qandi sugar refinery built by the Arabs on Crete around AD 1000.
Caramel	Arabic	a sickly kind of sweet, invented by Arab-speaking people in the Middle Ages -originally 'kurat al milh' meaning 'ball of sweet salt'
Cigarette	Ancient Yucatan and Guatemala Mayan	from Mayan 'cigar' -originally meaning 'smoke', via French 'cigarette' meaning 'little cigar'
Coffee	Ethiopia Ethiopian	a stimulating drink -coffee beans are reputed to have been first discovered in the town of Kaffa, Ethiopia
Diaper	Ancient Greece Byzantine Greek	baby's nappy -originally meaning 'white'
Embarrass	Portugal Portuguese	to make someone feel foolish or ashamed
Funky	West African Ki-Kongo	good, rhythmic music -originally 'lu-fuki' meaning 'positive sweat' and used by the Bakongo people of West Africa to convey praise for the integrity of an artist
Hunk	Belgium Flemish	an attractive male
Ketchup	China Amoy	a spicy sauce -originally 'ke-tsiap' made from pickled fish and spices
Lawn	Ancient France Gaulish	an area of grass -originally meaning 'a clearing in the woods'
Magic	Ancient Iran Avetsan	supernatural
Marmalade	Portugal Portuguese	a gooey spread made with boiled sugar and oranges
Moccasin	Native America Algonquin	one of a pair of soft shoes
Saga	Iceland Icelandic	a very long story
Shampoo	India Hindi	a hair-cleaning detergent
Tattoo	Tahiti Tahitian	inked design forced into the skin
Tobacco	Caribbean Arawak	the plant from whose leaves cigarettes are made
Vampire	Serbia Serbo-Croat	a kind of bat that sucks blood
Voodoo	Nigeria Ewe	a kind of animistic magic
Zombie	Congo and Angola Kongo	dead-but-still-alive -originally the name of a snake-god

 Source: http://www.feedback.nildram.co.uk/richardebbs/essays/loanword.htm

 


Informal English Contraction

Contractions are short forms of other words that people use in speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but a little bit like slang.

Please remember that these are informal contractions. That means that we do not use them in "correct" speech, and we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing, for example in a comic strip, that is because the written words represent the spoken words or dialogue).  

We normally use them only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends. Some people never use them, even in informal speech.
It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English.

Here are some examples of Informal English contractions to enrich your knowledge of English language, especially American English. DO NOT USE THEM IN A WRITTEN EXAM!

* What are you going to do?-> Whatcha going to do?->Whatcha gonna do?

* Do you want some juice?-> Do you wanna some juice?->D’you wanna some juice?->   D’ya wanna some juice?

* Give me five!! ->Gimme five!

* Nothing is going to change my love for you->Nothing’s gonna change my love for you

* I’m not sure ->I ain’t sure

* I haven’t done it yet->I ain’t done it yet

* I have got a pen -> I gotta pen

* I have got to go home now -> I gotta go home now

* She’s kind of cute -> She’s kinda cute

* Let me go! ->Lemme go!

* You go there alone? ->Ya go there alone?

* I don’t know-> I dunno

* We should have a lot of fun there ->We should have lotta fun there

 


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JEANS 

Jeans - a clothing item that has become quite essential in every wardrobe today. There will hardly be any person in this world, whose wardrobe does not have at least one pair of blue jeans. One of the most comfortable and most stylish attire of today, it is liked by one and all, irrespective of the age, size, sex, economic background, and so on. The name ‘jeans’ was kept after sailors from Genoa (Italy), who wore clothes from a material quite similar to the one used today for making jeans.

History of Jeans

The origin of denim, the cloth used for making jeans, can be traced back to somewhere around the 18^th century. During that time, it was made by mixing together a number of materials. With the increase in the practices of trade, slave labor and cotton plantations, ‘jeans cloth’ came to be made completely from cotton. The working class started favoring the material as it was very strong and did not wear out easily. The material was dyed with indigo, taken from American plants, thus giving the trademark color of ‘blue’ to jeans.

Around mid-19^th century, gold was found in California (near San Francisco) and with it, started the famous Gold Rush. Around this time, a German immigrant known as Levi Strauss came to San Francisco, with the purpose of selling dry goods. After reaching there, he noticed that there was much more need for pants, as compared to dry goods. He converted the canvas, which he had brought along, into waist overalls. Though the miners liked the overalls, their single complaint was that it tended to chafe.

To solve the problem of chafing, Levi substituted the canvas for a twilled cotton cloth from France, known as ‘serge de Nimes’, which later came to be known as denim. He later formed the Levi Strauss & Company and started using the pocket stitch design. Later, he and Nevada tailor David Jacobs co-patented the process of putting rivets in pants, for the purpose of making them much more durable. Levi Strauss & Company first used the two-horse brand design in the year 1886. Later, in 1936, the red tab attached to the left rear pocket came into being.

Popularity

The popularity of jeans increased with the release of the western movies made in Hollywood, in the 1930s. With the cowboys, the ‘jeans’ worn by them also became popular. However, it was the American soldiers who introduced jeans to the rest of the world, during World War II. After the war, Levi jeans started selling outside American West too. Jeans started becoming popular amongst the teenagers in the 1950s, while the 1960s brought the different styles in jeans - embroidered, painted, psychedelic, and so on. Today, jeans have become not only popular, but also a common clothing item, throughout the world.

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TAG QUESTION

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a positive or negative statement.

TQ is used to emphasize our certainty/ uncertainty about what we are telling or saying.

There are two types of TQ:

1. Canonical TQ ( Grammatical TQ)
2. Invariant TQ (Ungrammatical TQ)

1. CANONICAL TQ

->  grammatical structure in which a declarative/ a negative statement or an imperative is turned into a question by adding an interrogative fragment (the "tag")

Normally a positive statement is followed by a negative tag, and a negative statement is followed by a positive tag. The statement and the tag are always separated by a comma.

            +                                  -

You are just good, aren’t you?

-                                                                      +

You aren’t just good, are you?

 

The verb in the statement should be the same tense as the verb in the tag. If the verb used in the statement is an auxiliary verb, then the verb used in the tag must match it. If a modal (can, could, will, should, etc.) is used in the statement, then the same modal is used in the tag part. If the statement doesn't use an auxiliary verb, then the auxiliary do is used in the tag part.

Present Tense	Present Tense
You are a good singer,	aren't you?
Past Tense	Past Tense
You didn't go to work,	did you?

Auxiliary verb		Note
She is from England,	Isn't she?
She doesn't like it here,	does she?
Nothing is wrong,	Is it?
Modal verb
You can sing,	can't you?
They shouldn't do that,	should they?
No Auxiliary
He eats meat,	doesn't he?	(He does eat meat...)
He had a bath,	didn't he?	(He did have a bath...)

SPECIAL CASES

• Let's go out, shall we? (TQ for ‘let’s’ is ‘shall we?’)

·         I am clever, aren't I? (TQ for ‘I am’{declarative ONLY} is ‘aren’t I)

·         Open the window, will you

·         Don’t open the door, will you?  (Imperatives {declarative or negative} use ‘will you?’ as the TQ)

·         Nobody called, did they?    (‘they’ is used in a tag pronoun to refer to ‘someone, somebody, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody’)

·         This is your pen, isn’t it?   (the tag pronoun for this/that is ‘it’)

·         Those aren’t mine, are they?        (the tag pronoun for ‘these/those’ is ‘they)

·         Everything’s OK, isn’t it? (the tag pronoun for everything, something is ‘it’)

  

SAME-WAY QUESTION TAGS

Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is sometime possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-way question tags to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real questions.

• So you're having a baby, are you? That's wonderful!
• She wants to marry him, does she? Some chance!
• So you think that's amusing, do you? Think again.

Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:

• So you don't like my looks, don't you?

2. INVARIANT TQ

Is the non formal type of TQ. This TQ is used regardless of verb, person or negativity.

Some examples of Invariant TQ:

·        Right

·         Allright

·         Ok?

·         Innit

·         Eh

·         Huh

1.       You love me, right?

2.    Don’t go there, Ok?

3.      She left the city, huh?

THE INTONATION OF TQ

Tag questions are used to verify or check information that we think is true or to check information that we aren't sure is true. Sometimes we just use them for effect, when we are trying to be sarcastic, or to make a strong point. So be sure to use them with care.
We show the meaning of the tag question through intonation.
If the tag is a real question (we are not sure on what we are saying) it has a rising intonation.
For example:-

The chairman's coming at 3.00, isn't he?

If the tag is not a real question (we are sure on what we are saying) it has a flat or falling intonation.
For example:-

It's a nice day today, isn't it?

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ENGLISH SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

Synonyms are words which have similar or almost similar meanings to a certain word.

Antonyms are word with opposite meaning to the particular word

Vocabulary	Synonym(s)	Antonym(s)	Examples in use
Able(adj.)	Capable	Incapable	* I’m capable of doing some chores well * He’s incapable of working too hard
Accompany(v)	Escort	Abandon	* the boy always escorts his little sister where ever she goes * Don’t abandon me in this middle of no where!!!
Accurate(adj.)	Correct/Precise/True/ Right	Incorrect/ inaccurate/ False/ Wrong	* Please tell me the right things, instead of the wrong ones! Ok???
Blunt(adj.)	Dull	Sharp	*This knife is blunt. *The razor blade is sharp enough to shave
Seize(v)	Arrest/ Catch/Apprehend	Release/ Free	* The police have apprehended 15 suspects during these two weeks. However, some of them were just released yesterday
Cheer(v)	Comfort/ Solace/Gladden	Sadden/Discourage/ Deprecate	*As a good friend, you should comfort your friends when they are sad. You shouldn’t sadden them
Clear(adj.)	Definite/ Explicit/Unmistakable	Blurred/ Confused/ Doubtful/ Vague	*The solution to the problem isn’t definite yet. I’m still very confused with it.
Conceited(adj.)	Arrogant/ Egoistical/Narcissistic	Modest/ Humble	* Unlike his arrogant big brother, David is so humble about any achievement he’s obtained
Damp(adj.)	Clammy/Humid/Misty/ Muggy	Dry/ Arid	* Gosh!! It’s so clammy. I don’t like it. I want it to stay dry that we can go out for a picnic
Declare(v)	Announce/ Broadcast/Proclaim/ Enunciate/ Publish	Conceal/ Censor/Deny	* He has announced to every body at school that we are dating. He should have concealed it.
Destruction(n)	Devastation/Demolition/ Desolation	Production/ Construction/ Creation	*The destruction of the hotel because of the earthquake is inevitable
Distant(adj.)	Remote/Far away/ Inaccessible	Close/ Accessible	*If you live in a remote area, it’ll be difficult for you to communicate with your relatives and friends
Eager(adj.)	Anxious/Zealous/ Desirous/ Enthusiastic	Unconcerned/ Indifferent/Apathetic/ Disinterested	*Lois is so anxious to hear from you. It seems that you are unconcerned to even just text him
Enormous(adj.)	Huge/Gigantic/Immense	Tiny/Diminutive/Wee	*SBY won the 2009 election by the huge majority
Fabulous(adj.)	Fantastic/ Marvellous/Spectacular/ Superb/Amazing/ Incredible/Wonderful/	Common/Ordinary	*A: “I am so happy to hear that superb news”. B: “It’s common news, you know. Every body could marry a celebrity”
Gorgeous (adj.)	Magnificent/Splendid/ Grand/ Beautiful/	Simple/ Ugly/Unadorned	* I spent my vacation in a splendid country in Canada
Reluctant(adj.)	Unwilling/ Averse/Opposed	Desirous/ Inclined/ Eager/ Willing/ Disposed	* The students were reluctant to speak in English during the speaking test
Wicked(adj.)	Evil/Bad/Villainous	Benevolent/Noble	* I don’t want to be friend with that wicked boy.

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American English Vs British English

American and British English are two varieties of English languages that are taught in most English as Second/ Foreign Language (ESL/ EFL) Programs.The two are correct, BUT you’ve got to be consistent in the use. If you prefer, to use American English vocabulary, just use it then. If you prefer to use British English spelling, don’t bother yourself to mix it with the use of American English spelling.

Do you want to know some of the differences?? Check it out!!!

1. In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example: “I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?”

In American English the following is also possible:

“I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?”

In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English.

 

2. To show the expression of possession ‘have got’ as in “Have you got a car?” is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the ‘have’ as in “Do you have a car?”

 

3. The past participle of the verbs

             British English          American English

got	gotten
burnt	burned
learnt	learned
spoilt	spoiled
dreamt	dreamed
leant	leaned
smelt	smelled
spelt	spelled
spilt	spilled

   4. The use of preposition

                                                     British English     American English

at the weekend	on the weekend
in a team	on a team
write to me soon	write me soon

5. The Spelling

British English	American English
colour	color
humour	humor
favourite	favorite
theatre	theater
kilometre	kilometer
mum, mam or mom *	mom
cosy	cozy
realise	realize
dialogue	dialog
traveller	traveler
cheque	check
jewellery	jewelry
tyre	tire

6. Vocabulary

Probably the major difference between British and American English lies in the choice of vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties.

                                                British English         American English

Trousers	Pants
Jumper	Sweater
Waistcoat	Vest
Trainers	Sneakers
Dressing gown	Robe
Nappy	Diaper
Rubber	Eraser
Holiday	Vacation
Headmaster	Principal
Caretaker	Janitor
Car Park	Parking Lot
Zebra crossing	Cross walk
Lorry	Truck
Petrol	Gas
Pavement	Sidewalk
Cul- de-sac	Dead end
Phone Box	Telephone Booth
Number Plate	License Plate
Toilet	Restroom
Tap	Faucet
Cupboard	Closet
Curtain	Drape
Dust bin	Trash can
Bath(v)	Bathe(v)
Policeman	Cop
Postman	Mail Carrier/ man
Cashier	Teller
Solitor	Lawyer
Mum	Mom
Chemist	Druggist

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Hamburger

Hamburger is a common everyday English word. However, people often see that as an American invention holding a kind of national characteristic.

Originally, hamburger meant only ‘a fresh cooked or broiled meatball, ground meat steak or patty of meat served warm’. The secondary meaning, of ‘a sandwich, patty in circular or square form between two bun halves’ came into being in America.

The word “Hamburger” comes from the seaport city - Hamburg in Germany. During the time of American settlement, a lot of European immigrants moved to the New World. At that time the port of Hamburg meant the last piece of European soil immigrants felt under their feet before their voyage to the unknown. Hamburger was a food European immigrant often used to consume on the boats of the Hamburg-America Line. Like the Italians immigrant that brought in pizzas, the German immigrant brought in hamburger. Strangely enough they did not use the names for hamburger in their mother tongue (German name ‘Frikadelle’). Maybe that was because the word hamburger reminded them nostalgic of their voyage and was an element of recalling their old homeland.

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