Technical English

Task V Translate into Ukrainian

Hold your horses -, hold your tongue -, be my guest -, it doesn’t matter -, to my mind -, in good time -, joy go with you -, properly – speaking -, to put another way -, to put it briefly.

**Task VI Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian. Use the right tenses.

1. Computer (to contain) a number of parts that (work) together.

2. More powerful computers (work) at every plant in future.

3. We (to be) at the conference yesterday. Computer users (talk) only in special terms.

4. Modern computers (to be) extremely reliable.

5. What you (to do) now? – I (to store) some information.

6. They (to use) the information, and instructions for you, we (to talk) about.

**Task VII. Read and translate the text.

Technical English is often said to be difficult to understand. There are a number of reasons why technical writing is rather difficult. One of the reasons for this is that many English words can have several meanings.Each branch of science and technology has its own vocabulary (terminology). Many of them are formed on the basis of Greek or Latin words and are often international.

Some technical words, such as power, roll, stress, movement, etc. borrowed from everyday English sometimes cause much greater difficulty than terminology. In addition to terms, a text on some special problem usually contains so-called learned words, such as approximate, compute, indicate, etc.

As to the familiar grammatical patterns and models, they are the same as in everyday English. There is. certainly, a difference in the frequency with which certain grammatical forms occur.

Scientific and technical writing is usually about things, matter, natural processes, and it is impersonal in style. The first person singular is not generally used. The style of most scientific texts, besides being impersonal, is also very concise. It is because the author- scientist is writing primarily for other scientists.

In order to master technical English the student must first acquire a thorough knowledge of everyday English with its grammar, vocabulary and rules of word-formation. Then it will be easy for him to learn, step by step, the peculiarities of technical English.

The problem of vocabulary also causes difficulty to the reader of technical English. Ability to translate a foreign technical text demands sufficient technical knowledge to understand it and also a great linguistic knowledge and skill.

**Comprehension questions:

1. Is technical English completely different from literary English?

2. What distinguishes technical English from everyday English?

3. How can you master technical English?

Task VIII. Name the word-building elements (suffixes, prefixes) and the part of speech of each word. Translate them into Ukrainian:

Importance-important-unimportant; consider-consideration- considerable; oppose-opposite -opposition; even-uneven; regard-misregard; know-knowledge; practice-practical-unpractical; add-addition-additional: frequency-frequently; person-personal-impersonal.

Task IX. Read the following word-combinations and translate them into Ukrainian:

Total number, numerical distribution, cultural values, official status, technical English, literary English, learned words.

**Task X. Finish the sentences according to the text:

1. The total number of languages.... 2. The numerical distribution of people speaking different languages.... 3. For each people the language is not only... 4. The English language is spoken by more.... 5. English is the working language during.... 6. Each branch of science and technology has.... 7. In order to master technical English the learner must...

*** Task XI. Discuss such points:

- the importance of learning foreign languages;

- the difference of literary English and technical English;

- why it is important for a programmer to master English.

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