Lecture I. Introduction

Chapitre XIII

1. Traduisez et commentez les équivalents choisis:

avec soulagement, avec componction, avec autorité

sans ménagements, sans acrimonie

2. Donnez une définition / un synonyme et commentez dans le contexte du chapitre:

voiture décapotable une vitesse affolante un regard inquisiteur lancer une pointe broncher une grue

un godelureau une toquade un voyou considérer une corniche

3. Faites entrer dans des phrases:

fixer rendez-vous

faire part

joindre les deux bouts

peine perdue

complication

susurrer

4. Copmlétez et traduisez:

1. Il nous en fit part aussitôt, enchanté de _____________ un peu de cette solitude volontaire et un peu ___________ où nous vivions.
2. Il se demandait ____________ ce qu’Anna faisait avec ce _______________ de Raymond et sa fille.
3. Mon père se pencha vers lui comme il reprenait ____________ et déclara ______________.
4. Il les regarda ____________ l’un et l’autre, partaitement hébété.
5. Et vous ____________ beaucoup?
6. Anne me ___________ _____________ de ne pas broncher.

5. Traduisez:

1. К несчатью, Эльза знала этого друга, что удвоило ее желание пойти туда.
2. Ему было все равно, ехать в Сен-Рафаэль или нет.
3. Его жена была озадачена: она всегда с интересом посматривала на моего отца.
4. Поздравляю! – закричал Вебб наконец зычным голосом.
5. Они чуть не поссорились.
6. Такое часто случалось в нашей среде.
7. Главное – не стать озлобленной и завистливой, как мадам Вебб.

6. Décrivez l’idée de relations familiales et amicales dans le milieu où vit Cécile. Prouvez votre avis avec les exemples du texte.

7. Faites attention aux scènes où sont décrites des voitures. Quel rôole, selon vous, jouent ces déscriprions?

Literature:

1. Ilysh B.A. History of the English Language.-1973.-351 p.

2. Khomyakov V.A. A Story of English.-Pyatigorsk,2001.

3. Rastorgueva T.A. A History of English.-M., 1983.-347p.

4. ИвановаИ.П., БеляеваТ.М., ЧахоянЛ.П. История английского языка. Учебник. Хрестоматия. Словарь.-СПб.,2001.-512 с.

5. Иванова И.П., Беляева Т.М.,Чахоян Л.П. Практикум по истории английского языка.- СПб.,2001.-160 с.

6. Матвеева Е.А. История английского языка.-М.,2007.

7. Смирницкий А.И. Древнеанглийский язык.-М.,МГУ,1998.-318 с.

8. Смирницкий А.И. Хрестоматия по истории английского языка с 7 по 17 в.-М.,МГУ,1998.-270 с.

9. Хлебникова И.Б. Введение в германскую филологию и историю английского языка.-М.,2001.-180 с.

The English language of today reflects many centuries of development. During this long process many events (political and social) took place in the history of England and its people. These events had a recognizable effect on the language. The most important events are: 1) The Introduction of Christianity in Britain in the 6^th century. In 597 Pope Gregory the Great sent a select number of his monks, led by Fr. Augustine, to re-establish Christianity in England. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 601. He was very successful. This event brought England into contact with Latin civilization and made significant additions to its vocabulary.

2) The Scandinavian Invasion of Britain. The Scandinavian Invasion resulted in a considerable mixture of the two races and their languages, that is the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons and the languages they spoke. The Scandinavians (or the Vikings) sailed from Scandinavia and attacked villages in most parts of north-western Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries.

3) The Norman Conquest of Britain. The Norman Conquest made English for two centuries the language mainly of the lower classes, while the nobles used French on almost all occasions. And when English once more regained supremacy as the language of the whole population, it was the English Language which greatly changed both in form and in vocabulary; and it was different from what it had been before (in 1066).

In a similar way the other historical events, such as The Hundred Years’ War, The Renaissance, The Expansion of the British Empire, The growth of commerce and industry, of science and literature and many others, have contributed to make the English Language what it is today. In a word, the English Language reflects in its entire development the political, social and cultural history of the English people. That is why in studying the English Language of today, we come across a great number of examples which cannot be explained from the modern point of view, but which can be understood from the historical point of view. All these peculiarities are traced back to a distant past and can’t be explained without a study of history of the language.

Synchronic and Diachronic Aspects: Subject, aim, purpose. Languages can be studied synchronically and d iachronically. A language can be studied in various aspects: its phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, style and so on. In studding English we consider all these aspects synchronically and regard English as a fixed, unchangeable system. This approach is contrasted to the diachronic approach in which the elements of the language are not treated as fixed o r stable. When considered diachronically the linguistic facts are regarded as a step or a stage in the constant process of the evolution of the language. Thus, the History of English studies the English language diachronically, shows the ties of English with the languages of other groups.

Thus, the main purpose of the History of English is a systematic study of the evolution of English from Ancient Times to the Present Day. The History of English has its aim not only to state definite facts but to explain them.

The History of English shows that linguistic changes are closely connected with the events in the history of people speaking it, such historic events as social changes, wars, conquests, cultural contacts and the like they had a great influence on language, especially its vocabulary. That is why the subject of our lectures will be connected with the history of the British Isles.

Periods in the History of English. The History of the English Language is long and rich in events. It begins in the 5^th century, when groups of West Germanic tribes settled on the British Isles.

The evolution of English during the years of its existence has been an unbroken one. Within this development it is possible to recognize 3 main periods. This division into periods is based on a set of features, which serve to distinguish one period from another. Within each period it is possible to recognize certain characteristics and certain special developments that take place. The division of the History of the English Language into some periods makes it easier and more convenient for us to consider each period separately.

The English scholar Henry Sweet, author of a number of works on the English Language and on its history, proposed the following division of the History of the English Language according to the state of unstressed endings or inflections:

The division is based on features both phonetic (weakening and loss of unstressed vowel sounds) and morphological (weakening and loss of grammatical morphemes).

1^st period. Old English – the period of full endings. This means that any vowel may be found in an unstressed ending. The OE period begins at about 700 A.D. (the time to which the earliest writings in English belong) and lasts till about 1100.

2^nd period. Middle English – the period of leveled endings. During this period the inflections which had begun to break down towards the end of the OE period, become greatly reduced, and it is consequently known as the period of leveled endings. This means that vowels of unstressed endings have been leveled under a neutral vowel [ә], represented by the letter e. This period lasts from about 1100 till about 1500.

3^rd period. ModernEnglish – the period of lost endings. By this time a large part of the original inflectional system has disappeared entirely. This means that the ending is lost altogether. The MnE period begins at about 1500 and lasts well into our own times. Within the MnE period it is customary to distinguish between Early MnE (≈1500-1660) and Late MnE ((≈1660 till our own times).

It is easy to see that the approximate dates fixing the boundaries between the periods are very close to important events in the social and political life of the country: The end of the first period (1100) is close to 1066, the year of the Norman Conquest. The end of the second period is connected with the end of the Wars of Roses, which marked the decay of feudalism and the rise of capitalism in England. It is also a period of the introduction of printing (1475). The beginning of the Modern English period is the time when the English nation arises.

QUESTIONS: In what way are the linguistic facts regarded when considered diachronically (synchronically)? What is the main purpose of History of English? Who was the author of the division of History of English? According to what was the division of History of English proposed? What principles and characteristics is the division based on? Into how many periods is the History of the English Language divided? When does the OE period begin and end? Why is it called the period of full endings? Why was the Middle English period called the period of leveled endings? What date fixes the boundaries between Middle English and Modern English periods? What year is it close to? What did the event mark?

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