British Dramatists

In the past 20 years there has been a considerable increase in the number of new playwrights in Britain and this has been encouraged by the growth of new theatre companies. In 1956 the English Stage Compa­ny began productions with the object of bringing new writers into the theatre and providing training facili­ties for young actors, directors and designers; a large number of new dramatists emerged as a result of the company productions. Regional repertory theatres, too, have helped contemporary dramatists by includ­ing new plays in their programmes. Among the drama­tists whose work was first produced by the English Stage Company are John Osborne, Arnold Wesker, Ed­ward Bonds, John Arden and David Storey. Television has been an important factor in the emergence of other dramatists who write primarily for it; both the BBC and IBA transmit a large number of single plays each year as well as drama series and serials.

(From The Promotion of the Arts in Britain)

VIII. Read the following jokes. Identify examples of inter- national words.

1. Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. 2. A psychologist is a man who watches everybody rise when a beautiful girl enters the room. 3. An expert is a man who knows a great deal about very little; and who goes on knowing more and more about less and less until finally he knows practi­cally everything about nothing; whereas a reviewer is a man who knows very little about a great deal and keeps on knowing less and less about more and more until finally he knows practically nothing about every­thing.

IX. State the origin of the following translation-loans. Give more examples.

Five-year plan, wonder child, masterpiece, first dancer, collective farm, fellow-traveller.

X. What is the difference between the words in the follow- ing pairs? Analyse the examples and prove that etymolog- ical and stylistic characteristics of words are closely inter- related.

Motherly — maternal, fatherly — paternal, child­ish — infantile, daughterly — filial, womanly — femi­nine, brotherly — fraternal, to begin — to commence, to wish — to desire, to love — to adore, to build — to construct, to go on — to proceed, to take part in -— to participate.

XI. Supply the adjectives of Latin origin corresponding to the following nouns. Comment upon their stylistic charac- teristics.

Nose, tooth, sun, hand, child, town, sea, life, youth.

XII. Describe the etymology of the following words. Com- ment upon their stylistic characteristics. If necessary use an etymological dictionary.

To rise — to mount — to ascend, to ask — to question — to interrogate, fire — flame — conflagra­tion, fear — terror — trepidation, holy — sacred — consecrated, time — age — era, goodness — virtue — Probity.

XIII. Read the following extract. State the etymology of the italicized words. Comment upon their stylistic charac- teristics.

The Oxford accent exists, but it defies definition. It is not, as the French think, the kind of English which is spoken within a twenty mile radius of the city. Indeed, it is not an accent at all, but a manner of speaking. In particular it is a manner of pausing in your speech, of pausing not at the end of sentences, where you might be interrupted, but in the middle of sentences. Nobody, it is to be hoped, will be so rude as to interrupt you when you are in the middle of a sentence. So pause there, to decide what your next sentence is going to be. Then, having decided, move quickly forward to it without a moment's pause at the full stop. Yes, jumping your full stops — that is the Oxford accent. Do it well, and you will be able to talk forever. Nobody will have the chance of breaking in and stealing the conversation from you.

(From Oxford Life by D. Balsden)

XIV. Read the following text. What words were borrowed into English during the period described in it? Describe the borrowings of this period. Comment upon the etymological and stylistic peculiarities of the italicized words.

Caesar Invades Britain

The first date in English History is 55 B.C., in which year Julius Caesar (the memorable Roman Em­peror) landed, like all other successful invaders of these islands, at Thanet. This was in the Olden Days, when the Romans were top nation on account of their classi­cal education, etc.

Julius Caesar advanced very energetically, but the Ancient Britons fought as heroically under their dash­ing queen Woadicea [^baudi'siia], as they did later under their good Queen Victoria. Julius Caesar was therefore compelled to invade Britain again the following year

(54 В. С, not 56, owing to the peculiar Roman method of counting) and having defeated the Ancient Britons by unfair means, set the memorable Latin sentence 'Ve-ni, Vidi, Vici'¹ which the Romans, who were all very well educated, constructed correctly.

The Britons, however, who of course still used the old pronunciation, understanding him to have called them 'Weeny, Weedy, Weaky*² — lost heart and gave up the struggle.

(From 1066 and All That by C. W. Sellar, R. J. Yeatman)