Joy English · Level C1 · Linguisticsjoy-english.com
Why languages borrow words
Name:Date:
Follow a lecture that gives reasons, with a gradual change over time.
Listen to each sentence and write what you hear.
Audio and answer checking: https://joy-english.com/listening-lessons/why-languages-borrow-words
Words to know
- borrow
- To take and use something from another source.
- prestigious
- Respected and admired.
- loanword
- A word taken from another language.
- layers
- Levels placed one over another.
Answer key
- Languages borrow words constantly, and the reasons are usually more practical than people tend to assume.'Constantly' has stress on the first syllable: CON-stant-ly. 'Tend to' is said 'tenda'.
- When a new object or idea arrives from abroad, speakers often adopt the foreign name along with it.'Abroad' means in another country. 'Along with it' links as 'along-with-it'.
- Sometimes, though, a borrowed word simply sounds more prestigious than the native alternative, and fashion does the rest.'Though' here is placed in the middle and means however. 'Prestigious' is stressed on the second syllable.
- Over time, the loanword is reshaped to fit local pronunciation, until its origin is almost impossible to detect.'Loanword' may be written as two words. 'Pronunciation' has no 'ou' sound, unlike 'pronounce'.
- English is an especially generous borrower, which is why its vocabulary contains so many layers of history.'Which is why' refers to the whole idea before it. 'Especially' is often said 'speshully'.