Grammar exam 1 : Light History of the English Language

How did human beings communicate before using their voices (2)?

1. sign language
2. gestutres

When did language begin?

250 000 years ago

What were the two sounds made by human beings?

1. blowing air
2. humming

These two sounds correspond to which two letters?

w and m

What did humans imitate to make sound?

the sounds of nature

S + humming is equal to what letter?

z

P + humming is equal to what letter?

b

F + humming is equal to what letter?

v

T + humming is equal to what letter?

d

  K + humming is equal to what letter?

g

  How many vowel sounds are needed to make up the six vowels?

3

Name these sounds.

o, u and e

Which vowel has four variations?

e → a, i and y

  In 90% of the alphabets, which sound is classified as the first?

a

What are man’s (*and woman’s!*) two basic instincts?

1. sex
2. hunger

According to Mr. Engel, the history of English begins with a person. Who is this person?

Julius Cesar

What happened in 55 B.C. ?

the romans concquered England

Name three languages that we could say are « Latin with accents »?

french, italian and spanish

Is English a Latin-based language?

no

When did the Romans leave Britain? (*It coincides with the fall of the Roman Empire in Occidental Europe as it was facilitated by a century of decadence from its leaders.*)

476 A.D

In 500 A.D.\* three tribes invaded Britain. Name these tribes. \*(*Anno Domine, Latin for : « Year of God » ; meaning Christ had already been born*).

1. Angles
2. Saxons
3. Jutes

  Where did these tribes come from?

Scandenavia and Germany (The Netherlands and Denmark)

  English is considered to be what kind of language?

germanic

One-syllable words in English are basically from what language?

Anglo-Saxon German

The word « Anglo-Saxon » comes from what language?

latin

What language is spoken in Britain from 550 A.D. to 1050 A.D.?

Anglo-Saxon German

  Professor Engel believes that English was invented at a precise date in history. What is this important date in the history of the English language?

1066 A.D

Who invaded Britain on this date in history?

William the conqueror (french)

When we speak everyday English, from which language do the words come from?

Anglo-Saxon German

  When we use sophisticated English, from which language do the words come from?

French latin

The English word « sweat » is from the Germanic « swait ». (*Deutsch=Schweiβ*) What is the synonym for sweat in English which stems from Old French?

perspiration

What is another word in English for deer?

venison

How many words do we find in the Russian language?

150 000

How many words exist in French?

180 000

  What is the second most spoken language on the planet?

Mandarin chinese

How many words exist in English?

500 000+

Why are there so many words in English?

because English is the union of two languages : French and German

How many words does a 14-year-old use in a day?

890 words

Shakespeare used more different words than any other writer in the English language. How many words did he use?

21 500 words

  When speaking English, where does one usually place the accent in a word?

on the first syllable