EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• trade: the exchange of items and money between countries
• colonization: a process where one country takes control over another country’s land and people
• conquer: to colonize an area through violent force
• refined: elegant; sophisticated; associated with wealth and status
• connotation: an idea communicated by a word that is different from its literal definition
• acquire: to get something
• phonetically: according to the way a word sounds

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

A loanword is any word that one borrows from another language. This often happens when different interact through trade or colonization. The English language, for example, contains many loanwords from French. This is because England was conquered in 1066 by William, the duke of Normandy. As a result, many French loanwords entered the English . Because the ruling was mostly French, the French loanwords often had more “refined” connotations than Old English words. During the years of the British , the English language acquired more loanwords from cultures in North America, Africa, India, and Australia. English is the most spoken language today, and it has passed on many of its own loanwords. French now contains terms like “le shopping”, and even Japanese borrows English words phonetically.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. In 1066, England was conquered by the Duke of
   a. Normandy
   b. Norfolk
   c. Norway
   
2. Historically, French loanwords that entered the English vocabulary were considered
   a. vulgar
   b. common
   c. refined
   
3. “Le shopping” is an example of
   a. a loanword that English acquired when the British Empire colonized North America
   b. a loanword that English borrowed from French
   c. a loanword that French borrowed from English

Discussion/essay questions

1. A few English loanwords are ballet (from French), algebra (from Arabic), and tsunami (from Japanese). Can you think of any others? Does English have any loanwords from your first language?
2. What are some loanwords in your first language? Do any of them come from English?

Transcript

A loanword is any word that one language borrows from another language. This often happens when different cultures interact through trade or colonization. The English language, for example, contains many loanwords from French. This is because England was conquered in 1066 by William, the Duke of Normandy. As a result, many French loanwords entered the English vocabulary. Because the ruling class was mostly French, the French loanwords often had more “refined” connotations than Old English terms. During the years of the British Empire, the English language acquired more loanwords from cultures in North America, Africa, India, and Australia. English is the most spoken language today, and it has passed on many of its own loanwords. French now contains terms like “le shopping”, and even Japanese borrows English words phonetically.

Answers to comprehension questions

1a 2c 3c

Suggested links

• French Phrases in English
• Latin Phrases in English