A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it. (Don Fraser)
How much in common must a couple have in order for them to stand a good chance of being reasonably happy together is a question that has always intrigued me. I used to think that the more their tastes agreed, the more possibilities they had of enjoying married bliss. Not any longer. Not since my friend Prof. Cuthbert Bradford, the distinguished phonetician from the University of London, met Amanda Lehmond, the now eminent philologist from the University of Richmond USA, at the 3rd Congress of Applied Linguistics in Malaga. That he should say /_________/ and _________/, and she, /__________/ and /___________/, that a motorway be a freeway, a highway or an expressway for her, a faucet a tap for him, and the pavement, the sidewalk for her, that he should put the luggage in the boot of his car and she in the trunk, that she should take the elevator and he the lift, or that he should stress laboratory on the second syllable and she on the first, is not really surprising considering their respective backgrounds, but their differences did not stop at pronunciation and vocabulary level; they were of many sorts and so marked that I’d venture to say that “poles apart” is the expression which would best define them, as you will presently see if you bear with me and my story.
As I was saying, Amanda and Cuthbert, Cuddy to his friends, met at a Congress of Linguists in Malaga. Prof. Bradford had just finished his lecture on the influence of Elizabethan English on American pronunciation, and was greedily helping himself to another handful of canapés at the subsequent reception, when he heard a sweet, well modulated, female voice say: “I enjoyed your talk, Prof. Bradford, but I come from Virginia and I don’t think my flat ‘a’ owes anything to the way the Pilgrim Fathers spoke.” Cuddy found himself staring, or gaping would perhaps be more accurate, at the most attractive black girl he had ever seen. “I…I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of…”, he stammered. “Dr. Lehmond, associate professor – Reader to you – at the University of Richmond, but you can call me Amanda.”
Amanda…´fit to be loved’, indeed, he was thinking, when he heard her humorously add: “my vowels are duly r-coloured, though, as befits my skin pigmentation.” For the layman’s benefit, I may as well explain what she meant by ‘flat a’ and ‘r-coloured vowels’. It’s only two of the most distinctive features of American English pronunciation: the ‘flat a’ is the American equivalent of the British English ‘broad a’ in words spelt with an ‘a’ followed by ss, th, st, sk, nt, or lf: father, glass, ask, bath, half, etc. (not more than 150 words or so, in fact), and ‘r-coloured’ refers to the different way the r before a consonant or at the end of a word is pronounced in British or American English. This difference in treatment of the r has given rise to a good number of funny misunderstandings. I remember the story told by the late Prof. Peter Strevens in his book British and American English about the Englishman who is asked by an American what his job is and answers that he is a clerk, and the astonished American exclaims: “Do you mean you go around tick-tock, tick-tock?” (Clerk, pronounced with a broad ‘a’ and no r, sounds more or less like clock to American ears).
But “to return to our sheep”, as the judge said to Maître Pathelin. From the very moment Amanda and Cuthbert met it was the end of the Congress for them, and they dedicated the rest of the week to going out together, sightseeing and so on, only to discover how widely their tastes differed. As a matter of fact, I can hardly conceive of two more disparate personalities. Apart from their shared interest in Linguistics and the fact that neither of them smoked, they had absolutely, but ab-so-lute-ly nothing in common. She was a vegetarian and a teetotaler (double l in British English, mind you), while he enjoyed the occasional whisky or gin and tonic, and there was nothing he relished more that a good steak – rare, please – with plenty of chips (no French fries for Amanda, thank you). She was a Baptist, and practising at that, whereas he was Church of England in theory, which in practice meant he seldom went to church, if at all. He was into woodwind musical instruments (especially the recorder and the oboe), she into modern dance; she couldn’t work without computers, he hated them, and so on and so forth. But opposed as their characters may have been, there was no denying that they enjoyed each other’s company tremendously, and though agreeing that getting married would be the greatest mistake they could make, over the next few years they managed to be together quite a lot. Sabbatical years, seminars, congresses and symposiums all over the world, lecture tours, and just when their resourcefulness for pretexts was beginning to wear thin, my friend received a tempting offer from the University of Richmond – did I hear something about curious coincidences? – where he was assured he would be able to carry on with his research work while earning twice as much as in England. He decided to accept, and three months after taking possession of his new Chair, he was happily married to Amanda, and continues to be so to this day, twenty-four years later.
Now if you were to ask me who wears the trousers in that home, or the pants as Amanda would say – not so Cuddy, for him pants and their feminine counterpart, knickers or panties, will always be just two items of underwear – if you asked me, I repeat, I wouldn’t know what to answer. If religious convictions, however weakened, are anything to go by, I can tell you that Cuddy, while still ascribing in theory to the Church of England, now regularly goes to the local Baptist centre (sorry, center) with his wife, and can often be seen in animated conversation with the pastor after services. And if a couple’s offspring’s education can be taken as a basis for judging their parents’ influence over them, I’m pleased to tell you that the fruit of their love whom, in a typical compromise between linguists, they named Abel (from the Hebrew ablu = ‘son’) is the genuine American prototype, who says /__________/ and /___________/, is jolly good at basketball, drinks Pepsi, likes to drive fast automobiles, which run on gas, of course, not petrol, and can be seen at any time of the day, smartphone in hand, texting his friends, sending a tweet to any of his more than 3,000 followers in Twitter, or posting intricate maths problems on his blog (he will soon major in maths, or take a degree in mathematics, as a proud Cuthbert would no doubt put it). And there’s also a little something (and I wonder if Cuddy derives any comfort from it), in which Abel, for all his conventional American ways, takes after his British father: he plays the recorder that he appropriately calls the English flute, and likes his meat underdone, I mean, rare.
SEMANTIC ANALYSIS (for help go here)
6.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES
as a matter of fact (de hecho)
as befits my skin pigmentation (como corresponde a la pigmentación de mi piel)
ascribing in theory to (perteneciendo en teoría a)
auto(mobile) (AmE) (coche, auto, automóvil)
Baptist (baptista)
blog (see 6.2.16)
clerk (oficinista)
Church of England (anglicano)
follower (see 6.2.16)
for the layman’s benefit (para que lo entienda el profano)
to gape (mirar con la boca abierta) (for ways of looking, see 1.2.8)
greedily (con gula, con avaricia)
handful (puñado)
to help oneself to (servirse)
however weakened (por muy debilitado que esté)
I may as well explain (mejor será que explique)
lecture tour (gira de conferencias)
married bliss (felicidad conyugal)
offspring [hijo(s), descendencia, prole]
only to discover (descubriendo)
to post (see 6.2.16)
recorder (flauta dulce) (for musical instruments, see 6.2.6a)
to relish (disfrutar de, deleitarse con)
resourcefulness (recursos, ingenio)
to return to our sheep (volviendo a nuestras ovejas/volviendo al tema que nos ocupa) (see Maître Pathelin at Cultural notes)
sabbatical year (año sabático)
sightseeing (visita turística)
smartphone (see 6.2.16)
teetotaller (abstemio)
to text sb (mandar a alguien un mensaje de texto por móvil)
(to) tweet (see 6.2.16)
Twitter ® (see 6.2.16)
vegetarian (vegetariano)
woodwind musical instruments (instrumentos musicales de viento) (for musical instruments, see 6.2.6a)
6.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS
accurate (exact, correct, precise)
to baffle (to confuse, to bewilder, to disconcert, to perplex, to mystify, to confound)
to bear with sb (to be patient with)
conventional (orthodox, traditional, established, accepted)
famous [distinguished, eminent, well-known, celebrated, outstanding, noted (for), notable, noteworthy]
to puzzle (to intrigue)
rare (of meat) (underdone)
to stammer (to stutter)
to venture (dare)
to wonder (to puzzle about; to be surprised, astonished, amazed, nonplussed)
6.2.3 ANTONYMS
accurate (inaccurate, inexact)
animated (dull, lifeless)
conventional (unorthodox, unconventional)
rare (well done)
regularly (occasionally)
sweet (harsh, discordant; bitter)
to weaken (to strengthen)
6.2.4 POLYSEMOUS TERMS
to go by [pasar (tiempo); pasar (oportunidad); pasar por delante de; pasarse por; guiarse por; juzgar por; atenerse a, acatar]
trunk (baúl; tronco de árbol; tronco del cuerpo humano; trompa de elefante; maletero del coche (AmE); en pl, bañador de hombre; trunk call llamada de larga distancia (antic.6); trunk road carretera principal
6.2.5 HOMONYMS
bear (from OE bera)/to bear (from OE beran)
may (from OE maeg)/May (ME from OF mai)
6.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS
- a) musical instruments:
accordion (acordeón)
bagpipe (gaita)
banjo (banjo)
bass drum (bombo)
bassoon (fagot)
clarinet (clarinete)
clavichord (clavicordio)
cymbals (platillos)
double bass (contrabajo)
drum (batería)
flute (flauta)
French horn (trompa)
guitar (guitarra)
harmonica (armónica)
harp (arpa)
kettledrum (timbal)
lute (laúd)
mandolin/mandoline (mandolina)
oboe (oboe)
organ (órgano)
panpipes (caramillo, zampoña)
piano (piano)
piccolo (flautín)
recorder/English flute (flauta dulce)
saxophone (saxofón)
tambourine (pandereta)
timpani/timps (timbales)
triangle (triángulo)
trombone (trombón)
trumpet (trompeta)
tuba (tuba)
viola (viola)
violin (violín)
violoncello/cello (violonchelo)
xylophone (xilófono)
- b) cooking terms:
to bake (cocer en el horno)
to beat (batir)
bitter (amargo)
to boil (hervir)
to cook (cocinar, guisar)
cookery book (libro de cocina)
to chop (cortar en trozos pequeños, picar)
to deep fry (freír en abundante aceite)
done to a turn (en su punto)
to drain (off) (escurrir)
to dress [aliñar (ensalada)]
to fold in (ir añadiendo ingredientes, mezclándolos poco a poco con otros)
fried in batter (rebozado)
to fry (freír)
to grate (rallar)
to grill (asar a la parrilla)
hot (picante)
insipid/bland (soso, insípido)
to marinate (dejar en adobo; macerar)
to mash (hacer puré)
to mix (mezclar)
overcooked/overdone (demasiado hecho)
to peel (pelar)
to pepper (sazonar con pimienta)
to poach (escalfar)
rare [poco hecho, vuelta y vuelta (carne)]
raw (crudo)
recipe (receta de cocina)
to roast (asar)
salty (salado)
to season (condimentar, sazonar)
to shred [cortar en trozos finos, picar (verdura)]
sickly (demasiado dulce, dulzón)
to sieve (pasar por el tamiz cosas finas, tamizar)
to sift (cribar)
to simmer (cocer a fuego lento)
sour (ácido, agrio)
spicy (sazonado, picante)
to sprinkle with paprika (rociar con pimentón)
to steam (cocer al vapor)
to stir (remover)
to stir-fry (rehogar, sofreír, freír sin dejar de remover)
to strain (colar líquidos)
sugary (azucarado, dulce)
sweet (dulce)
tasteless (insípido, que no sabe a nada)
tasty (sabroso)
tender (tierno,-a)
tough (duro, -a)
underdone [poco hecha (carne); demasiado poco cocido/casi crudo (plato de comida)]
well done (muy hecho)
to whisk (batir a punto de nieve)
- c) parts of a car:
accelerator (BrE)/gas pedal (AmE) (acelerador)
aerial (BrE)/antenna (AmE) (antena)
airbag (airbag)
air filter (filtro del aire)
axle (eje de una rueda)
axle shaft (palier)
back seat (asiento trasero)
battery (batería)
bearings (cojinetes)
blinkers (intermitente)
bonnet (BrE)/hood (AmE) (capó)
boot (BrE)/trunk (AmE) (maletero)
brake (freno)
brake disc (disco del freno)
brake drum (tambor del freno)
brake light (luz de freno)
brake pedal (pedal del freno)
bumper (parachoques)
camshaft (árbol de levas)
carburettor (carburador)
chassis (carrocería)
choke (stárter)
clutch (pedal) [(pedal del) embrague]
coil (bobina)
connecting rod (biela)
contact points (puntos de platino)
(convertible) top (capota)
crankcase (cárter)
crankshaft (cigüeñal)
cylinder (cilindro)
cylinder head (culata)
dashboard (salpicadero)
differential (diferencial)
disc brake (freno de disco)
distributor (distribuidor)
door handle (pomo)
driver’s seat (asiento del conductor)
dynamo (dinamo/dínamo)
engine (motor)
exhaust pipe (tubo de escape)
fan (ventilador)
fanbelt (correa del ventilador)
filler cap/ petrol cap (BrE)/gas cap (AmE) (tapón del depósito de gasolina)
fog lamps (BrE)/fog lights (AmE) (faros antiniebla)
front seats (asientos delanteros)
fuel gauge (indicador del nivel de combustible)
fuel injection pump (bomba de inyección)
gears (marchas)
gearbox (caja de cambios)
gear lever/gear stick (BrE)/gear shift/stick shift (AmE) (palanca de cambios)
glove compartment (guantera)
handbrake (freno de mano)
head gasket (junta de culata)
headlights (faros)
headrest (reposa-cabeza)
hooter (obs) (claxon)
horn (claxon)
hubcap (tapacubos)
ignition (key) (llave de contacto)
indicator (BrE)/turn signal (AmE) (intermitente)
inner tube (cámara)
instrument panel (cuadro de mandos, panel de instrumentos)
mudguard (BrE)/fender (AmE) (guardabarros)
number plate/registration plate (BrE)/license plate (AmE) (matrícula)
oil filter (filtro del aceite)
passenger’s seat (asiento del copiloto)
petrol gauge (indicador del nivel de gasolina)
petrol tank (BrE)/gas tank (AmE) (depósito de gasolina)
radiator (radiador)
radiator grille (rejilla del radiador)
rear light/tail light (piloto trasero)
rearview mirror [espejo retrovisor (dentro del coche)]
reversing light (luz de marcha atrás)
roof rack (BrE)/luggage rack (AmE) (baca)
seat belt/safety belt (cinturón de seguridad)
shock absorber (amortiguador)
sidelights (BrE)/parking lights (AmE) (luces de posición)
silencer/muffler (silenciador)
spare tyre (BrE)/spare tire (AmE) rueda de repuesto
spare wheel (rueda de repuesto)
sparking plug (BrE)/spark plug (AmE) (bujía)
speedometer (cuentakilometros)
spokes (varillas de las ruedas)
springs (muelles)
starter (arranque)
steering wheel (volante)
sunroof (techo corredizo)
suspension (suspensión)
transmission (transmisión)
tyres (BrE)/tires (AmE) (neumáticos)
valve (válvula)
wheels (ruedas)
windscreen (BrE)/windshield (AmE) (parabrisas)
windscreen wiper (BrE)windshield wiper (AmE) (limpiaparabrisas)
wing (BrE)/fender (AmE) (aleta)
wing mirror (BrE)/side-view mirror (AmE) [espejo retrovisor (fuera del coche)]
- d) types of car:
cabriolet (hist.) (descapotable)
caravan/trailer (caravana, roulotte)
coupé (cupé)
convertible (descapotable)
estate car (BrE)/station wagon (AmE) (coche familiar, ranchera)
hardtop (de techo duro)
hot rod (coche preparado)
limousine (limusina)
lorry (BrE)/truck (AmE) (camión)
patrol car (BrE)/cruiser (AmE) (coche patrulla)
people carrier (BrE)/minivan (AmE) (monovolumen)
roadster (dos plazas sin capota)
saloon (BrE)/sedan (AmE) (berlina)
soft top (de techo blando)
sports car (coche deportivo)
- e) computer/Internet/social media:
@ (pronunciado at) (arroba)
.com (dot com) (punto com)
anti-virus program (programa antivirus)
attach(ment) (archivo adjunto)
backup (copia de seguridad)
banner (anuncio en página web)
blog (diario en línea) (see also 6.2.16)
blogger (persona que mantiene un diario en línea)
to boot (up) (iniciar el ordenador)
to bounce (venir devuelto un e-mail)
to browse (nevegar por Internet)
browser (navegador)
buffer (búfer – memoria de almacenamiento intermedio)
bug (error en el funcionamiento de un programa)
cache (caché, memoria de almacenamiento temporal)
CD (compact disc)
CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory) CD-ROM
(to) chat (chat, chatear)
to click (on) (hacer click con el ratón en, pinchar)
clipboard (portapapeles)
cookie (galleta – mensaje enviado por un servidor web a un navegador para que éste lo guarde en el ordenador del usuario y sea enviado de nuevo al servidor, cada vez que el usuario consulte una de sus páginas)
crack (crack – programa que rompe la seguridad de otro programa o sistema)
to crash (bloquearse, colgarse el ordenador)
crash (caída del sistema informático)
cross-posting (envío simultáneo de un mensaje por Internet a varios usuarios)
cursor (cursor)
cut and paste (cortar y pegar)
daisywheel printer (impresora de margarita)
to debug (depurar/quitar errores)
to defrag (desfragmentar)
to delete (borrar)
desktop (escritorio)
disabled (desactivado)
to double-click (on) (hacer doble click con el ratón en)
down (fuera de servicio, sin línea)
(to) download (descarga, descargar)
drag and drop (arrastrar y soltar)
e-mail (correo electrónico, e-mail))
to email (poner un correo electrónico, e-mail)
to enter [introducir (datos) en el ordenador]
to exit [salir (de)]
to feed [introducir/meter (datos/información) en el ordenador]
file (archivo) (to open/close/save/copy/delete a file – abrir/cerrar/guardar/copiar/borrar un archivo)
(floppy) disk drive (disquetera)
font (fuente – estilo/tamaño de letra)
to format (formatear)
hacker (pirata informático)
hard copy (copia impresa)
hard disk (disco duro)
hardware (hardware)
hit (acierto al hacer una búsqueda)
home(page) (página de inicio de un sitio web)
icon (icono)
inbox (bandeja de entrada)
ink-jet printer (impresora de chorro de tinta)
to install (instalar)
Internet user (internauta)
jewel box/case (caja de plástico para el CD)
keyboard (teclado)
laptop (ordenador portátil)
laser printer (impresora láser)
link (enlace)
to load [cargar (programa/archivo)]
to log in/on (iniciar sesión, entrar en el sistema)
to log off/out (terminar sesión, salir del sistema)
login name (nombre de usuario para el acceso a un sistema con seguridad)
loop (bucle)
mailbox (buzón)
memory capacity (capacidad de memoria)
modem (módem)
mouse (ratón)
mouse mat/pad (alfombrilla del ratón)
netiquette (comportamiento y modales adecuados en Internet)
netizen (ciudadano de la red, usuario de Internet)
notebook (ordenador portátil)
offline (desconectado de Internet)
online (en línea, conectado a Internet)
outbox (bandeja de salida, que contiene los mensajes no enviados aún)
password (contraseña)
pendrive/pen drive (lápiz de memoria, pendrive)
phishing (envío de e-mails fraudulentos para obtener los datos bancarios del usuario)
pop-up (ventana anunciando algo que suele aparecer de pronto en la pantalla del ordenador)
to print (up) (imprimir)
printer (impresora)
RAM (Random Access Memory) (RAM)
to reboot (reiniciar)
to reset (resetear)
ROM (Read-Only Memory) (ROM
to run a program (ejecutar un programa)
to save (as) [guardar (como)]
screensaver (salvapantalla)
scroll bar (barra de desplazamiento)
search engine (buscador)
sent box (bandeja de elementos enviados)
set-up (configuración)
shortcut (acceso directo)
smiley (emoticón)
snail mail (correo tradicional comparado con el correo electrónico)
social media (redes sociales)
software (software)
space bar (barra espaciadora)
spam (correo basura)
spyware (programa espía)
streaming (acceso a audio o video por Internet sin descarga)
tab key (tecla de tabulación)
toolbar (barra de herramientas)
to uninstall (desinstalar)
to upload (subir)
user name/username (nombre de usuario)
wastebasket (papelera de reciclaje)
webpage/web page (página web)
website (sitio web)
window (ventana)
word processor (procesador de textos)
zip file/zipped file (archivo comprimido)
6.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES
enjoyment/happiness/pleasure (diversión/felicidad/placer):
fun [ + enjoyable experience or activity] (diversión)
joy [ + vivid emotion of pleasure, extreme happiness] (alegría, gozo)
gladness [ + joy, happiness (lit.)] (contento, alegría, gozo)
delight [ + great pleasure] (deleite)
cheerfulness [ + showing joy and happiness, with laughter and gaiety] (ánimo, alegría, buen humor)
satisfaction [ + happiness because sth meets your expectations or desires] (satisfacción)
felicity [ + intense happiness (formal)] (felicidad intensa)
merriment [ + exuberant enjoyment, happy talk, laughter and enjoyment] (alegría, regocijo, júbilo)
mirth [ + fun and laughter] (alegría, risas)
glee [ + feeling of delight, often because sth bad has happened to sb else ] (regocijo, a menudo por algo malo que le ha ocurrido a otro)
rapture [ + ecstatic delight, mental transport] (éxtasis)
bliss [ + perfect joy or happiness] (felicidad perfecta o total)]
6.2.8 METONYMY AND METAPHOR
…he was Church of England is a metonymy for he ascribed to the Church of England
…after taking possession of his new Chair (Chair is a metonymy for professorship)
to be poles apart is a metaphor for ‘to differ greatly, esp. in nature or opinion’
to wear the trousers is a metaphor for ‘to be the dominant partner in a marriage’
…the fruit of their love is a metaphor for ‘their son as a result of their marriage’.
6.2.9 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED
to earn/to win/to gain/to beat:
to earn (ganar con esfuerzo, trabajo o méritos): to earn money (ganar dinero): he earns ₤25,000 a year (gana ₤25,000 al año); to earn a fortune (ganar una fortuna), to earn a rest (ganarse un descanso), to earn a living as (ganarse la vida como), to earn a reputation as (ganar fama como)
to win (ganar en contextos competitivos o en los que interviene la suerte): to win an election (ganar unas elecciones), to win a game/a match/a cup/a race, etc (ganar un juego/un partido/una copa/una carrera, etc.), to win a battle/the war (ganar una batalla/la guerra), to win a prize (ganar un premio), to win a case (ganar un caso), to win at cards/at chess (ganar a las cartas/al ajedrez), to win sb’s approval/trust/love (ganar la aprobación/la confianza/el amor de alguien), to win friends (ganar amigos)
to gain (ganar, consiguiendo o aumentando): to gain weight (ganar peso), to gain speed (aumentar velocidad), to gain access to (conseguir acceso a), to gain time (ganar tiempo), to gain experience/support/a reputation (ganar experiencia/conseguir apoyo/fama), to gain in popularity (aumentar la popularidad)
to beat (ganar, derrotar, batir, vencer algo o a alguien): Brazil beat England 2-1 (Brasil gana/vence/derrota a Inglaterra 2-1); to beat inflation (vencer/derrotar la inflación), to beat sb at cards/chess, etc (ganarle a alguien a las cartas/al ajedrez)
6.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
to do:
to do a course hacer un curso
to do a crossword hacer un crucigrama
to do a favour hacer un favor
to do a job hacer un trabajo
to do a place visitar un lugar (turismo)
to do a translation hacer una traducción
to do an exercise hacer un ejercicio
to do business hacer negocios
to do damage hacer daño
to do evil hacer el mal
to do exercise(s) hacer ejercicio(s)
to do good hacer el bien
to do harm hacer daño
to do honour hacer honor
to do justice hacer justicia
to do miracles hacer milagros
to do one’s best hacer lo posible
to do one’s duty cumplir con el deber
to do one’s hair arreglarse el pelo
to do one’s homework hacer los deberes
to do one’s teeth limpiarse los dientes
to do research investigar
to do right hacer bien
to do sb good sentar bien
to do some work trabajar algo
to do sums sumar, hacer sumas
to do sport hacer deporte
to do the cleaning hacer la limpieza
to do the cooking hacer la comida
to do the dishes (AmE) lavar los platos
to do the gardening trabajar en el jardín
to do the house hacer la casa
to do the ironing planchar
to do the housework hacer las tareas de la casa
to do the rooms hacer las habitaciones
to do the shopping hacer la compra
to do the washing hacer la colada
to do time cumplir condena
to do well irle a uno bien
to do wonders hacer maravillas
to do wrong hacer mal
to do the ironing planchar, hacer la plancha
to do the washing-up (BrE) lavar los platos
to make:
to make (a) noise hacer (un) ruido
to make a cake hacer un pastel
to make a change ser novedad
to make a comment hacer un comentario
to make a complaint formular una queja
to make a confession hacer una confesión
to make a date citarse (para salir)
to make a decision tomar una decisión
to make a demand hacer una reivindicación
to make a discovery hacer un descubrimiento
to make a dress hacer un vestido
to make a fire encender un fuego
to make a fool of oneself hacer el ridículo
to make a gesture hacer un gesto
to make a journey/trip hacer un viaje
to make a living ganarse la vida
to make a mistake cometer un error
to make a movement hacer un movimiento
to make a plan trazar un plan
to make a profit obtener beneficios
to make a promise hacer una promesa
to make a remark hacer un comentario
to make a request hacer una petición
to make a speech pronunciar un discurso
to make a statement hacer una declaración
to make a will hacer testamento
to make an accusation hacer una acusación
to make an appointment pedir cita/hora (al médico, etc.), concertar una cita
to make an attempt hacer un intento
to make an effort hacer un esfuerzo
to make an estimate hacer un cálculo/presupuesto
to make an excuse dar/poner una excusa
to make an impression impresionar
to make an offer hacer una oferta
to make arrangements hacer planes/preparativos
to make enquiries hacer indagaciones
to make friends (with) hacer amigos, trabar amistad (con)
to make fun of reírse/burlarse de
to make love hacer el amor
to make money ganar dinero
to make peace firmar la paz
to make progress hacer progresos
to make sense tener sentido
to make tea/coffee hacer té/café
to make the beds hacer las camas
to make trouble crear problemas
to make war hacer la guerra
6.2.11 DIFFERENCES BRE./AME.
autumn/fall (otoño)
banknote/bill (billete)
biscuit/cookie (galleta)
car park/parking lot (aparcamiento)
chips/French fries (patatas fritas)
colour/color (color)
crisps/chips (patatas fritas de sobre)
draughts/checkers (juego de damas)
drawing pin/thumbtack (chincheta)
film/movie (película)
flat/apartment (piso)
ground floor/first floor (bajo/primer piso)
holiday/vacation (vacación)
hoarding/billboard (valla publicitaria)
lift/elevator (ascensor)
motorway (BrE)/freeway/highway/expressway (AmE) (autopista)
pavement/sidewalk (acera)
petrol/gas (gasolina)
post/mail (correo)
pram/baby carriage (cochecito de niños)
pushchair/stroller (sillita para pasear al bebé)
railway/railroad (ferrocarril)
roundabout/traffic circle (glorieta)
spanner/wrench (llave inglesa)
tap/faucet (grifo)
teetotaller/teetotaler (abstemio)
torch/flashlight (linterna)
tram/streetcar (tranvía)
vest/undershirt (camiseta interior)
to wash up/to do/wash the dishes (lavar los platos)
(see also 9.2.12 ,10.2.13, and parts of a car, 6.2.6c and types of car, 6.2.6d above)
6.2.12 FALSE FRIENDS
agenda means ‘agenda’ in the sense of ‘orden del día’, ‘puntos a tratar en una reunión’ or ‘relación de cosas que han de ejecutarse’, but not in that of ‘libro de notas’ (notebook)
to assist means ‘asistir’ only in the sense of ‘socorrer, ayudar’, but not in the sense of ‘asistir a un acto’ (to attend)
attic does not mean ‘ático’ (top-floor apartment/flat), sino ‘desván, buhardilla’
carbon does not mean ‘carbón’ (coal), sino ‘carbono’ o ‘papel carbón’
carton does not mean ‘cartón’ (el material) (cardboard), sino ‘caja de cartón’ or ‘cartón de tabaco’
commodity does not mean ‘comodidad’ (comfort), but ‘mercancía, artículo comercial’
disparate does not mean ‘disparate’ (nonsense), but ‘completamente diferentes’
escalator does not mean ‘escalador’ (climber), but ‘escaleras mecánicas’
fabric does not mean ‘fábrica’ (factory), but ‘tejido’
to intend does not mean ‘intentar’ (to try, to attempt), but ‘tener la intención de hacer algo’
jubilation does not mean ‘jubilación’ (retirement), but ‘júbilo, gozo’
marmalade does not mean ‘mermelada’ (en general) (jam), but ‘mermelada de naranja o limón’
miserable means ‘miserable’ only in the sense of ‘cantidad escasa’, but not in that of ‘tacaño’ (mean, stingy), or ‘desgraciado (wretched)
motorist does not mean ‘motorista’ (motorcyclist), but ‘automovilista’
physician does not mean ‘físico’ (physicist), but ‘médico’
to probe does not mean ‘probar, demostrar’ (to prove), or ‘probar’ (alimentos) (to taste, to try), but ‘sondar’; ‘sondear’, ‘explorar’
prospect does not mean ‘prospecto’ (leaflet, handout, flyer, brochure), but ‘perspectiva, posibilidad’
rape does not mean ‘rape’ (el pez) (anglerfish/monkfish), or ‘pelado al rape’ (closely cropped hair), but ‘violación’
to remove does not mean ‘remover’ (to stir), but ‘retirar, quitar algo/a alguien’ (de un sitio) or ‘quitarse’ (prendas de vestir)
spade means ‘pala’ and ‘espada’ (palo en naipes), but not ‘espada’ (arma) (sword)
suburb does not mean ‘suburbio’ (barrio pobre) (slum), but ‘barrio residencial en las afueras’; ‘the suburbs’= las afueras, el extrarradio
ultimately does not mean ‘últimamente’ (lately), but ‘finalmente’
vague means ‘vago’ in the sense of ‘impreciso’, but not in that of ‘perezoso’ (lazy)
vase does not mean ‘vaso’ (glass), but ‘jarrón’
voyage does not mean ‘viaje’ (en general) (journey, trip), but ‘viaje por mar o por el espacio’
(see also 2.2.9, 5.2.15 and 9.2.11)
6.2.13 WORD FORMATION
compound nouns:
air shuttle (puente aéreo)
answering machine (contestador) (en el teléfono)
ashtray (cenicero)
boarding house (pensión)
burglar alarm (alarma antirrobo)
cash dispenser (cajero automático)
couch potato (persona que se pasa el día entero sentada en el sofá viendo la tele)
dishwasher (lavavajillas)
frying pan (sartén)
hothouse (invernadero)
junk food (comida basura)
looker-on (mirón)
money laundering (blanqueo de dinero)
mother-in-law (suegra)
pacemaker (marcapasos)
screensaver [salva pantalla (en el ordenador)]
tape measure (cinta métrica)
washing machine (lavadora)
compound adjectives:
absent-minded (distraido)
blue-eyed (de ojos azules)
evil-smelling (maloliente)
flat-nosed (chato)
homesick (con morriña)
nature-friendly [(de un producto) que no daña la naturaleza]
oven-ready (preparado para el horno)
sun-tanned (bronceado)
user-friendly [(de un electrodoméstico, ordenador, etc.) de fácil manejo]
two-faced (con dos caras, falso, hipócrita)
compound verbs:
to babysit (cuidar de un bebé)
to brainwash (lavar el cerebro)
to house-hunt (buscar casa)
to shortchange (dar de menos en la vuelta)
to soft-soap (dar coba)
to window-shop (ir a mirar escaparates)
reduplicatives (a special type of compounds, mainly onomatopoeic and informal in style, formed by repeating a word, gen. with a slight modification of the second element):
bow-wow (guau-guau)
goody-goody (mosquita muerta, santurrón)
chit-chat (charla, palique)
choo-choo (tren) (lenguaje infantil)
hanky-panky (tejemanejes; juegos sexuales ‘traviesos’)
helter-skelter (a lo loco, atropelladamente); [tobogán en espiral (BrE)]
hocus-pocus (supercherías, patrañas)
knick-knacks (chucherías de adorno)
knock-knock (pom-pom)
pell-mell (revuelto, en confusión)
see-saw (balancín)
teeny-weeny (pequeñín)
tick-tock (tictac)
tip-top (de primera)
wee-wee (pipí) (lenguaje infantil)
clippings:
advertisement → ad
aeroplane → plane
bicycle → bike
cellular phone (esp. AmE) → cell (phone)
condominium (AmE) (bloque de pisos en régimen de propiedad horizontal) → condo
discotheque → disco
examination → exam
goodbye → bye
gymnasium → gym
handkerchief → hanky
influenza → flu
laboratory → lab
mathematics → maths
microphone → mike
mobile phone → mobile
newspaper → paper
omnibus → bus
photograph → photo
picture (photo or film) → pic
poliomyelitis → polio
perambulator (BrE, antic.) (cochecito de niños) → pram
professor → prof
promenade → prom
public house → pub
refrigerator → fridge
telephone → phone
television → telly
vegetables → veg
veterinary surgeon → vet
violoncello → cello
6.2.14 IDIOMS
mind you/mind (atención, cuidado; en realidad, claro, naturalmente)
to be poles apart (ser polos opuestos)
twice as much (dos veces más)
to wear the trousers (llevar los pantalones)
to wear thin (desgastarse; acabarse)
6.2.15 PHRASAL VERBS
to be into (estar muy interesado/apasionado por)
to bear with (tener paciencia con)
to go by (guiarse por)
to take after (parecerse, salir a)
6.2.16 CULTURAL NOTES
Don Fraser (1924- ) – contemporary American politician.
associate professor – profesor adjunto (AmE)/Reader (BrE).
blog – a web page containing information or opinions from a particular person about a particular subject, to which new information is added regularly.
followers – the people who have agreed to receive your tweets and updates through Twitter.
Maître Pathelin – an unscrupulous lawyer, the main character in an anonymous French farce from the 15th c. who, when defending his client, a shepherd who had been accused by a draper7 of ill-treating his sheep (moutons in French), kept going off at a tangent, and the judge kept telling him “revenons à nos moutons” = “let’s return to our sheep” (‘let’s return to the subject’).
Pepsi – ® together with Coca-Cola ®, the best known American cola drink.
University of Richmond (Virginia, U.S.) – it was founded in 1830 by Virginia Baptists.
smartphone – a mobile phone that also works as a PDA (personal digital assistant).
to post – to put a message on the Internet so that other people can see it – publicar un post, ‘postear’.
tweet – a post on Twitter – un tuit; to tweet – tuitear.
Twitter ® – a social networking service (red social) on the Internet that allows sending short text messages to other users.
6.3 GRAMMAR REVISION
6.3.1 Infinitive of purpose (see also 2.3.5)
…in order for them to stand a good chance…
6.3.2 Non-defining relative clauses (see also 4.3.1)
…which in practice meant he seldom went to church…
…which run on gas…
6.3.3 -Ing clauses with concessive value
…and though agreeing that getting married…
…while still ascribing in theory to…
6.3.4 That nominal clauses as subject
…that he should stress laboratory in the second syllable and she on the first is not really surprising
6.3.5 Words that only occur in the plural
- a) tools and instruments:
bellows (fuelle),
binoculars (prismáticos),
clippers (tijeras para podar,
para cortar el pelo, para las uñas),
forceps (forceps),
glasses/spectacles (gafas),
goggles (gafas protectoras),
handcuffs (esposas),
headphones (auriculares),
pincers (tenazas, pinzas),
pliers (alicates),
scales (peso),
scissors (tijeras),
shears (tijeras grandes, para podar, etc.),
tongs (tenazas),
tweezers (pinzas pequeñas, de depilar), etc.
- b) clothes:
braces (BrE)/suspenders (AmE) (tirantes),
breeches (pantalones de montar; bombachos),
dungarees [mono; pantalón de peto (BrE)],
jeans (vaqueros), jodpurs (pantalones de montar),
knickerbockers (bombachos – hist.),
knickers/panties/pants (bragas),
leggins (polainas; leotardos, mallas),
pyjamas (BrE)/pajamas(AmE) (pijama),
shorts (pantalones cortos, shorts),
(swimming) trunks (bañador de hombre),
tights (pantis; leotardos, mallas para ballet),
trousers (pantalones),
underpants/pants (calzoncillos), etc.