COMPREHENSION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN ENGLISH

COURSE NO. ENGL-101

A TEXT BOOK FOR THE STUDENTS OF FIRST YEAR B. Sc (Ag.)

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
RAJENDRANAGA, HYDERABAD – 500 030.
COMPREHENSION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN
ENGLISH

A TEXT BOOK FOR THE COURSE NO. ENGL. 101 (NEW)

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

By

Dr. G. Shravan Kumar

Associate Professor & University Head

Ms. S.M. Padmasri

Assistant Professor

Mr. P. Ramesh Babu

Assistant Professor

2
 Preface

In the era of globalization, communication plays a vital role in the smooth

functioning of any organization; hence the need to impart communication skills to
undergraduate student assumed greate r importance.

This Text Book has been designed under different units to improve standards in
performing the communicative tasks. Précis writing, Business Correspondence, Report
Writing are major forms of written communication in the professional world wh ere as the
chapters on Verbal Ability, Functional Grammar and Usage are intended to help the
student to take care of the mechanics of writing, which enhance the effectiveness of
written communication. To impart oral communication skills chapters on Seminar s,
Conferences, Group Discussion, Meetings, Interviews, Telephonic Conversations Etc.,
are included.

I hope finally the exercises at the end of chapter will serve a useful purpose in
developing the spoken English and the communicative skills of professio nal students, in
view of all the scientific and technical advancement of the universe is being documented
in English only.

I appreciate the sincere efforts of the authors in bringing out this Text book.

Rajendranagar,
Hyderabad.

Dr. T. Yellamanda Reddy

Dean of Agriculture

3
 LECTURE OUTLINES

1. Course No. : ENGL 101

2. Course titles : COMREHENSION AND COMMUNICATION
SKILLS IN ENGLISH
3. Credit hours : 2 (1+1)
4. General objective : To develop the comprehension and communication
skills of I year B.Sc (Ag.) Students in English
5. Specific Objectives

a) Theory
By the end of the course the B.Sc (Ag) students will be able to
i) understand the basic concepts of comprehension
ii) understand the fundame ntals of grammar
iii) enhance their vocabulary
iv) improve their skills in written communication

b) Practical
By the end of the course, the B.Sc. (Ag) students will be able to
i) have a clear concept of communication skills in English by using AV aids in
spoken English
ii) improve their reading skills
iii) present the reports orally and participate in debates and Groups Discussions

A) Theory Lecture Outlines

1. War Minus Shooting, A lesson from the Text Book, “The Sporting Spirit” by
George Orwell. Comprehension pertaining to the Textual Grammar i.e., Fill
in the blanks, Matching and vocabulary
2. War Minus Shooting, A lesson from Text Book, “The Sporting Spirit”
Reading Comprehension and answering the questions related to the text
3. Synonyms, List of synonym s, Choose the correct synonyms, exercises –
practice and implementation
Antonyms, fill in the blanks, choose the correct Antonyms, exercises
Practice and Implementation
4. Verbal Ability, A list of Words often confused and misused – Practice and
Implementation
5. A Dilemma – A lesson from the Text Book, Layman looks at Science by
Raymond Fosdick Comprehension pertaining to the Textual Grammar i.e.,
Fill in the blanks, Matching, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
6. A Dilemma – A layman looks at Science , Reading Comprehension and
answering the questions

4
7. Homonyms, Homonyms are distinct words with quite different meanings -
use the following words in two ways , more words at a glance and exercises
related to GRE & TOEFL
8. Homophones, A list of homopho nes, Fill in the blanks, Underline the
correct word and exercises related to GRE & TOEFL
9. You and Your English, A lesson from the Text Book, Spoken English and
Broken English by G.B. Shaw, answering the questions related to the Text.
Fill in the blanks, Matching, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
10. You and Your English, Reading Comprehension and answering the
questions
11. Functional Grammar, Tenses, Active voice and Passive voice, Direct and
Indirect speech and Agreement of verb with subject
12. Functional Grammar, Articles, Prepositions, Parts of Speech and
Agreement of verb with subject
13. Business correspondence, Principles of letter writing, Courtesy and
Consideration, Directness and Conciseness, Avoid Verbosity and participial
Endings, Clarity and Precision, Negative and round about, Structure and
layout of letters , Planning a letter, Quotations, Orders, Tenders, Sales
letters, Claim and Adjustment Letters, Job application letters, Social
correspondence Personal Correspondence and CV
14. The Style, Importance of Professional Writing, Choice of words and
phrases , Cliches, Jargons, Foreign words and phrases
15. Precis Writing, Summarizing, The essential features of a good précis,
Important points while making a précis, Some Don’ ts, Make a précis of the
following paragraph and suggest suitable title. Figurative language
16. Interview, The Screening Interview , The informational Interview, The
Directive Style, The Meandering Style, The Stress Interview, The
Behavioural Interview, The Audition, The Tag -Team Interview, The
Mealtime Interview, The Follow -up Interview, Fermi Interview, Preparing
for the Interview, Body Language and Interview, Types of Interviews
Questions. Idiomatic language

5
 B) Practical Class Outlines
1. Effective L istening – Developing Listening Skills – Honing Listening skills
2. Listening to Short talks and Lectures from the cassettes of EFL University
3. Spoken English, Vowels, consonants, monophthongs, diphtongs, triphthongs
4. Stress, intonation, phonetic tra nscription
5. Seminars, Conferences, preparation and demonstration
6. Oral Presentation by students, Articulation and delivery – Evaluation sheet
for oral presentation
7. Communication skills – Verbal communication, written communication
8. Telephonic conversation
9. Reading Skills, Skimming, Scanning, Extensive reading, Intensive reading
examples
10. Meeting, purpose, procedure, participation, physical arrangements
11. Presentation of reports by using power point & L.C.D
12. Interviews – Mock interviews
13. Debate and Group discussion
14. Using a dictionary effectively
15. Vocabulary
16. Pronunciation practice

References

Balasubramanian T. 1989. A Text book of Phonetics for Indian Students, Orient

Longman , New Delhi
Balasubrmanyam M. 1985. Business Communication, Vani Educational Books, New
Delhi
Jean Naterop, B. and Rod Revell 1997. Telephoning in English Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge
Krishna Mohan and Meera Banerjee 1990. Developing Communication Skills,
Macmillan India Ltd. New Delhi.
Krishnaswamy,. N and Sriraman, T. 1995. Current English for Colleges, Macmillan
India Ltd. Madress
Narayanaswamy V R 1979. Strengthen your writing, Orient Longman, New Delhi
Sharma R C and Krishna Mohan 1978. Business Correspondence, Tata Mc Graw Hill
publishing Company, New Delhi

6
 THEORY

Lec. Topic/Lesson Time Teaching Teaching aid reference

No method
2. War Minus Shooting 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 1
Comprehension lecture Tape Recorder
3. War Minus Shooting, 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 1
Reading lecture Tape Recorder
Comprehens ion
4. Synonyms, Antonyms 1 hr Interactive Hand written 2,5
lecture Transparency
5. Words often confused 1 hr Interactive Typed 2,5
lecture Transparency
6. A Dilemma – A 1 hr Interactive Public address 1
layman looks at lecture system
Science reading
Comprehension
7. A Dilemma – A 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 1
layman looks at lecture Public address
Science Reading system
Comprehension
8. Homonyms, GRE & 1 hr Interactive Chalk Boar d & 2,5
TOEFEL exercise lecture Strip
Transparency
9. Homophones 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 2,5
lecture Strip
Transparency
10. You and Your English, 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 1
Reading lecture Public address
Comprehension system
11. You and Your English, 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 1
Reading lecture Public address
Comprehensio n system
12. Functional Grammar 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 2,5
Agreement of verb lecture Pull
with subject Transparency
13. Functional Grammar 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board & 2,5
Agreement of verb lecture 1 Single flap
with subject double
projection
Transparency
14. Business 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board 3
correspondence, lecture
Personal
Correspondence, CV

7
 15. Style in Report Writing 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
lecture and Public
address system
16. Precis Writing, 1 hr Interactive Chalk Board 6
Figurative language lecture and Window
Transparency
17. Interviews, Idiomatic 1 hr Interactive Public Address 2,5
language lecture system

PRACTICALS
Lec. Topic/Lesson Time Teaching Teaching aid Reference
No method
17. Listening to short 2 hr 30 mts Practice in Tape Recorder 7
talks and lectures listening
18. Spoken English, 2 hr 30 mts Listening to Tape Recorder 4
Stress and Spoken
intonation English
Cassettes
19. Seminars and 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
Conferences lecture & Public
Address
system
20. Seminars and 2 hr 30 mts Demonstration Public address 2,5
Conferences system
21. Oral Presentation 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk board 2,5
by students lecture
22. Evaluation of oral 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
presentation lecture & Tape
Recorder
23. Types of 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk Boards 6,7
Communication lecture, Role & Tape
Face to face paly Recorder
24. Types of 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk Board 6,7
Communication lecture, Role & Tape
Telephonic play Recorder
conversation
25. Reading Skills 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Public 2,5,6
lecture & Address
demonstration System
26. Meetings, Purpose, 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
procedure, lecture
Participation

27. Meetings, 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Public address 2,5

Chairmanship, lecture &
Phys ical demonstration

8
 arrangements etc
28. Presentation of 2 hr 30 mts Demonstration LCD projector 2,5
reports by using
power point and
LCD
29. Interviews 2 hr 30 mts Interactive Public address 2,5
lecture system
30. interviews 2 hr 30 mts Practice of Public address 2,5
Mock system
interviews
31. Group Discussion 2 hr 30 mts Interactive & Public address 2,5,6
& Debates Role play system &
Chalk Board
32. Using Dictionary 2 hr 30 mts Interactive & Chalk Board
Reading Dialogue Role play and
Dictionary

9
 CONTENTS

THEORY Pages

1. War Minus shooting Text 1- 3

George Orwell

2. War Minus shooting 4- 9

Comprehension and Notes

3. Synonyms, Antonyms 10 – 15

4. Verbal Ability 16 - 18
Words often confused and misused

5. A Dilemma Text 19 - 21
Raymond Fosdick

6. Dilemma 22 - 24
Comprehension and Notes

7. Homonyms 25

8. Homophones 26 - 27

9. You and Your English Text 28 - 30

G.B. Shaw

10. You and Your English 31 - 35

Comprehension and Notes

11. Functional Grammar 36 – 38

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 12. Functional Grammar Exercises 39 – 41

13. Business Correspondence 42 - 51

14. The style 52 - 54

15. Précis writing 55 - 58

16. Interviews 59 – 66

PRACTICALS

1. Effective listening 68 - 69

2. Listening to short talks 70

3. Introduction to Spoken English 71 - 75

4. Stress and intonation 76 - 78

5. Seminars and conferences 79 - 82

6. Oral presentation 83 - 87

7. Communication skills 88 - 89

8. Telephonic conversion 90 - 94

9. Reading skills 95 – 99

10. Meetings 100 - 102

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11. Presentation of reports by using Power point 103 - 107
L.C.D

12. Interviews 107

13. Group Discussion 108 - 109

14 How to use a dictionary well 110 - 113

15. Vocabulary 114 - 118

16. Pronunciation practice 119 - 121

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 1. WAR MINUS SHOOTING
The Sporting Spirit
George Orwell
George Orwell (1903-1950), who was born in Bengal and educated in England, is
well known for his greatest novel, Animal Farm, a masterly political satire on the Russian
revolution. His last work. Nineteen Eighty -four, is a grim forecast of the future of
totalitarianism, written in the form of a readable novel.

The Sporting Spirit first appeared in the Tribune, in December 1945 and is a
refreshingly frank expression of Orwell’s views on competiti ve games. You may or may
not agree with his views but the essay is certainly worth reading and talking about.

I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill
between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world c ould meet one
another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet one another at
football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one
didn’t know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that
international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it form general
principles.

Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the
game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where
you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play
simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as
you feel that you and some larger unit wil l be disgraced if you lose, the most savage
combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match
knows this. At the international level sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the signif icant
thing is not the behavior of the player but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the
spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and
seriously believe-at any rate for short periods -that running, jumping and kicking a ball are
tests of natio nal virtue.

13
 Even a leisurely game like cricket, demanding grace rather than strength, can
cause much ill -will, as we saw in the controversy over body -line bowling and over the
rough tactics of the Australian team that visited England in 1921. Football, a game in
which everyone gets hurt and every nation has its own style of play which seems unfair to
foreigners, is far worse. Worst of all is boxing. One of the most horrible sights in the
world is a flight between white and coloured boxers before a mixed a udience. But a
boxing audience is always disgusting, and the behavior of the women, in particular, is
such that the army, I believe, does not allow them to attend its contests. At any rate, two
or three years ago, when Home Guards and regular troops were holding a boxing
tournament, I was placed on guard at the door of the hall, w ith orders to keep the women
out.

In England, the obsession with sport is bad enough, but even fiercer passions are
aroused in your countries where games playing and nationalism are both recent
developments. In countries like India or Burma, it is necessary at football matches to have
strong cordons of police to keep the crowd form invading the filed. In Burma, I have seen
the supporters of one side break through the police and d isable the goalkeeper of the
opposing side at a critical moment. The first big football match that was played in Spain
about fifteen years ago led to an uncontrollable riot. As soon as strong feelings of rivalry
are aroused, that notion of playing the game according to the rules always vanishes.
People want to see one side on top and the other side humiliated, and they forget that
victory gained through cheating or through the intervention of the crowd is meaningless.
Even when the spectators don’t interven e physically they try to influence the game by
cheering their own side and ‘ratt ling’; opposing players with boos and insults. Serious
sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness,
disregard of all rules and sa distic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war
minus the shooting.

Instead of blah -blahing about a clean healthy rivalry on the football field and the
great part played by the Olympic Games in bringing the nations together, it is more useful
to inquire how an d why this modern cult of sport arose. Most of the games we now play
are of ancient origin, but sport does not seem to have been taken very seriously between
Roman times and the nineteenth century. Even in the English public school s the games
cult did not start till the later parts of the last century. Dr. Arnold, generally regarded as

14
the founder of the modern public school, looked on games as simply a waste of time.
Then, chiefly in England and the United States, games were built up into a heavily -
financed activity, capable of attracting vast crowds and rousing savage passions, and the
infection spread from country to country. It is the most violently combative sports,
football and boxing, that have spread the widest. There cannot be much doubt that the
whole thing is bound up with the rise of nationalism -that is, with the lunatic modern habit
of identifying oneself with large power units and seeing everything in terms of
competitive prestige. Also, organized games are more likely to flourish in urban
communities where the average human being lives a sedentary or at least a confined life,
and does not get much opportunity for creative labour. In a rustic community a boy or
young man works off a good deal of his surplus energy by walk ing, swimming,
snowballing, climbing trees, riding horses, and by various sports involving cruelty to
animals, such as fishing, cook -fighting and ferreting for rats. In a big town one must
indulge in group activities if one wants an outlet for one’s physic al strength or for one’s
sadistic impulse. Games are taken seriously in London and New York, and they were
taken seriously in Rome and Byzantium: in the Middle Ages they were played, and
probably played with much physical brutality, but they were not mixed up with politics
nor a cause of group hastreds.

If you wanted to add to the vast f ound or ill -will existing in the world at this
moment, you could hardly do it better than by a series of football matches between Jews
and Arabs, Germans and Czechs, India ns and British, Russians and Poels, and Italians
and Yugoslavs, each match to be watched by a mixed audience of 100,000 spectators. I
do not, of course, suggest that sport is one of the main causes of international rivalry; big -
scale sport is itself I thin k, merely another effect of causes that have produced
nationalism. Still you do make things worse by sending forth a team of eleven men,
labeled as national champions, to do battle against some rival team and allowing it to be
felt on all sides that whiche ver nation is defeated will ‘lose face’.

15
 2. War minus Shooting
Comprehension

2.1 Given below are some statements from the essay. If you agree, give reasons; if
you don’t, state the reasons.

• Nearly all the sports practiced nowadays are competitive.

• International sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred.
• Even a leisurely game like cricket, demanding grace rather than strength, can
cause much ill-will.
• In countries like India and Burma, it is necessary at football matches to have
strong cordons of polic e to keep the crowd from invading the field.
• Even then the spectators don’t intervene physically they try to influence the game
by cheering their own side and ‘rattling’ opposing players with boos and insults.
• Playing games is simply a waste of time.
• Games have been built up into a heavily financed activity.
• Big-scale sport is merely another effect of the causes that have produced
nationalism.

2.2 Answer the following

• What is sport? Try to define it.
• Who is a sportsman?
• What is sportsmanship?
• What is meant by ‘the sporting spirit’?
• What is the difference between ‘sporting’ and ‘sportive’?
• Make a list of the sports mentioned in the essay. (There are more than ten.)
• Do you regard the following as sports? Give reasons for your answer. Chess,
dancing, monopoly, knitting, fishing, cooking, bird -watching, motor -racing,
gardening, shooting.
• What are the differences between sports and hobbies? What is your hobby?
• What is body -line bowling?
• What is ‘ferreting for rat’?
• What are your favorite outdoor activities?

16
 • What are your favorite week-end-activities?

2.3 Match the activity/sport with its dominant criterion.

Martial arts gives a great sense of rhythm
Parachuting builds up stamina
Dancing gives moderate exercise and helps mobility
Boxing teaches self-discipline and self-defense
Ping-pong develops a sense of awe and mental peace
Jogging develops muscular strength
• Say whether you like or dislike each one of the activities/sports that you
like/dislike. Make use of the list given above and words like relaxing. Borin g,
disgusting, interesting and exciting.
a) playing cards b) digging in the garden c) mountain-climbing d) washing dishes
e) weight-lifting f) wrestling g) shopping h) gymnastics i) learning
languages j) rowing k) visiting relatives

Now give one reason for each of the activities/sports that you like/dislike. Make use of
the list given above and words like relaxing, boring, disgusting, interesting, and exciting.
Example: I like washing dishes because it is relaxing.
• a) Complete with be, camp, d o, drive, eat, get, go, lose, make, meet, spend, stay,
watch, wear.

2.4 TEST YOUR PERSONALITY

• Do you enjoy __________ people?
• Do you dislike __________ late for appointments
• Do you like __________ expensive clothes?
• Do you ever risked __________ to partie s to __________ TV at a home?
• Have you ever risked __________ your job?
• Do you enjoy __________ new friends?
• Do you like __________ cars?
• Do you prefer __________ at a hotel to __________ in a tent?
• Do you like __________ Chinese food?
• Do you enjoy _____ _____ money?

17
 • Do you enjoy __________ unusual things?
• Do you like __________ up early?

(If you have answered at leas t six questions with YES, proceed further.)

2.5 Fill in the blanks, with for, from, about, in, of, up, by, to, at. (Some are to be
used more than once.)
• Are you good __________ organizing?
• Are you used __________ working hard?
• Are up fond __________ solving problems?
• Are you interested __________ dealing with people?
• Are you used __________ making decisions?
• Are you tired __________ being one in a crowd?
• Are you good __________ working with numbers?
• Are you willing to give __________ smoking?
• Can you influence people __________ convincing them?
• Do you take pleasure __________ bringing people together?
• Can you prevent others __________ cheating your friends?
• Are you capable __________ attracting crowds __________ blah – blahing?
• Can you make use of your experience gained __________ blah -blahing
__________ selling things?
• Are you excited __________ going places?
• Do you feel confident __________ traveling alone?

(If you have answered all the questions with yes, call us today! Bell School of
Management, Tel. 868084.)
2.6 GRAMMER GUIDE
Infinitive Phrases as Direct Objects: Type I
Examples: They hope to win the game.
He claims to be a sportsman.
(In such cases, the ‘subject’ of the infinitive is the same as the subject of the main verb,
e.g. the subject of hope is the same as the ‘subject’ of win.)

Answer the questions, using a an infinitive phrase as the direct object.

18
 • What do you hope to do after you grad uation?
• What do you sometimes neglect to do?
• What do you sometimes refuse to do?
• What do you sometimes offer to do?
• What do you sometimes pretend to do?
• What are the thing you can’t afford to do?
• What are the things you fa il to do?

Infinitive Phrases as Direct Objects: Type II

Examples: The coach told us to an attacking game.
§ The spectators encouraged us to misbehave.
In such cases, the ‘subject’ of the infinitive is not the same as the subject of the
main verb; the subject of told is the coach but the ‘subject’ of play is us which is also the
object of told.

2.7 Answer the following questions, using the verb + object + to = verb.
• Who encouraged you to study English?
• What to do your teachers urge you to do?
• Who reminds you to do your work?
• What do your parents warn you not to do?
• What do your friends persuade you to do?

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 War Minus Shooting
Notes

George Orwell expresses his views on competitive sports in the lesson War Minus
Shooting, which also appeared as an article in Tribune in December 1945. He says that, in
good olden days that is dur ing Roman Times and in 19th century sports were not taken
seriously. Some games like fishing, cockfighting and ferrying of rats did exist lo ng ago,
but they were unorganized and were meant only for the rustic communities. The posh and
the elite never gave any importance to games Dr. Arnold, the founder of the Modern
Public School, viewed games as a more waste of time. It was later felt that some type of
group activity is essential for the outlet of physical strengthen and sadistic impulses. It is
this opinion which brought the existence of a more decent word “Sports”.

Then chiefly in England and in United States games were built up into a heavily
financial activity and attracte d the crows by rousing savage passions and this infection
spreaded country to country. Games are taken seriously in London and New York. In the
middle ages they were played with much physical brutality and were not mixed up with
politics nor a cause of gro up hatreds.

Organized sports then started gaining momentum and flouris hed in the Urban
Communities also. The English public schools in the later pa rt of the last century became
centers of several important sports. Countries like Rome, Byzantium, London, New York,
games were taken seriously. New sports namely walking, swimming, snowballing,
climbing and finding houses made inroads in different parts of the world. England and
United States w itnessed costly games in savage passions aroused.

Sports then began to be linked with nationalism. At the same time they were also
said to be the cause of politics, brutality and group hatred. Rivalry began to develop
especially when the games were played between Jews and Arabs, Germans and Czechs,
Indians and British, Italians and Yugoslavs, Russians and Poks. Sports have become one
of the main reasons of international rivalry. The author suggests that instead of making
things worst by sending forth a team of eleven men, labeled as national champions to do
battle against some rival team and allowing it to be felt on all sides that which ever nation
defeated “will loose face”.

20
 The huge crowds in Boxing, Football and Cricket matches started rattling the
opposite players with boos and insults. Harsh and fiercer passions b egan to be aroused in
England and also several other countries. Even a gentleman’s game like cricket, which is
also called a leisurely game was under question.

The controversy was witnessed over bodyline bowling and over the rough tactics
of Australian team that visited England in 1921. A boxing match between white and
colored boxers gave a horrible sight. In countries like India or Burma, it is necessary at
foot ball matches to have strong cordons of police to keep the crowd from invading the
field. The first big foot ball match that was played in Spain about some time ago led to an
uncontrollable riot.

George Orwell says that with the passage of time International sports became a mimic
warfare. Sports began to be equated with war minus shooting. Instead of promoting good
will, they were resulted in much hatred and further fostering the rivalry among the
nations. Sports have become competitive when they are played to win and the game has
little meaning unless it is won. As soon as the question of pres tige arises players do every
technique to win the game as I think that their countries dignity would be lost if that are
lost. The attitude of the spectators is also important in creating much rivalry they forget
that victory gained through cheating is mea ningless. Spectators definitely try to influence
the game by cheering their own side by insulting opposite players with boos and insults.
The authors feels that modern games have abundant hatred, jealousy, boastfulness and
ignoring of all the rules and wit nessed of all the violence. The author strongly feels that it
is a pressing need to inculcate sports man spirit among all of us to promote peace and
goodwill through sports.

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 3. SYNONYMS

Synonyms are those words, which are very nearly alike in meaning but not quite.
We have to choose from a number of synonyms, the particular word that exactly
expresses the idea that we wish to convey.

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the words provided in brackets:
• Here is a…………… sword; it is the …………… one used by Guru Gobind Singh
(actual, real)
• Give me a ……………account of the accident, use …………… language (concise,
brief)
• A …………… mind gives and …………… expression (vacant, empty)
• Captain Cook ……………the pacific, and …………… a great number of islands
(discovered, explored)
• The ship …………… and many sailors were…………… (sank drowned)
• In my new …………… I have not the comforts of a ……………(house home)
• Mountain …………… is enchanting. What a beautiful …………… (sight, scenery)
• It was …………… to the astronomer that the eclipse would be …………… at
midnight ( obvious, visible)
• She met with an …………… This …………… in her life was most memorable. It
was an …………… of historical importance (accident, incident, event)
• Opium smoking is a bad ……………this …………… existed among the ancient
tribes of India (custom, habit)
• A …………… is bound to take place in our country sooner or later. The ……………
against the dictator was put down with an iron hand (rebellion, revolution)
• Rain is …………… but not …………… before evening. Frost is …………… though
not …………… even at the end of May. (probable, possible)

22
Choose the correct synonym of the following words
• COMPLEMENT
a. disapproval b. praise c. complaint d. completion

• CONCEPT
a. idea b. belief c. deception d. control

• DUMB
a. clear b. rouge c. mute d. stupid

• DUBIOUS
a. cunning b. pretending c. resolved d. doubtful

• INDUCE
a. trap b. influence c. resolved d. inflict

• MUTTER
a. cry b. weep c. murmur d. blame

• SUMMON
a. call b. weep c. punish d. order

• COMPLIMENT
a. disapproval b. praise c. compliant d. completion

• RECKON
a. withdraw b. calculate c. estimate d. exclude

• INCULCATE
a. attract b. adapt c. cause d. exclude

• SEA-CHANGE
a. complete change b. partial change c. favourable d. unfavourable
change change
• ANONYMOUS
a. generous b. well-known c. reluctant d. One whose
name is not
known.
• ASSIDUITY
a. diligence b. bitterness c. peace d. intelligence

• CENSOR
a. deceive b. scold c. delete d. fabricate

• NOTHING
a. something b. cipher c. suffering d. everything

• ANGUISH
a. insult b. anger c. suffering d. desire

23
• COMPLACENCY
a. self-satisfaction b. negligence c. carelessness d. hesitation

• FLAIR
a. talent b. anger c. jealousy d. hatred

• JEOPARDY
a. upset b. confusion c. danger d. demolition

• POSTHUMOUS CHILD
a. brilliant b. physically weak c. illegitimate d. born after the
death of the
father
• INEFFABLE
a. not erasable b. inadequate c. inexpressible d. not effective

• ORATOR
a. speaker b. singer c. debate d. critic

• NOSTALGIC
a. indolent b. diseased c. homesick d. soothing

• PROCURE
a. preserve b. acquired c. recover d. harm

• ATHEIST
a. bachelor b. disbeliever in God c. heart doctor d. priest

• OPHTHALMOLOGIST
a. eye doctor b. skin doctor c. heart doctor d. cancer
specialist
• TERRESTRIAL
a. wide spread b. relating to the sky c. windswept d. earthly

24
3.1 ANTONYMS
Words having opposite or contrary meaning s are called Antonyms

• Attractive X Repulsive
• Acknowledge X Disown, deny
• Adversity X Prosperity
• Acquit X Convict
• Affirm X Deny

• Frugal, thrifty X Extravagant

• Fickle X Constant
• Condemn X Approve
• Savage X Civilized
• Persuade X Dissuade
• Prohibit X Permit

• Punish X Reward
• Retire X Advance, approach
• Work X Play
• Benefactor X Malefactor
• Base X Noble
• Frank X Reserved

• Complain X Refusal
• Ambiguity X Clarity

Underline the correct antonym of the following words

• DISTANT
a. remote b. far c. near d. yonder

• INEVITABLE
a. certain b. unavoidable c. escapable d. absolute

• INCREASE
a. augment b. decrease c. improve d. deceive

• NARROW
a. broad b. thin c. slime d. slender

25
• EXCLUSION
a. omission b. elimination c. inclusion d. exemption

• DETERIORATE
a. dwindle b. decrease c. increase d. diminish

• PROGRESS
a. develop b. advance c. recede d. prolong

• FAITH
a. trust b. doubt c. belief d. reliance

• FLUCTUATE
a. vacillate b. change c. shift d. settle

• BIAS
a. equity b. impartiality c. prejudice d. unfairness

• CELESTIAL
a. heavenly b. divine c. supernatural d. earthly

• PROTEST
a. objection b. disapproval c. assent d. contradiction

• LANKY
a. lean b. thin c. sturdy d. bony

• LAVISH b. miserly
a. profuse c. liberal d. bountiful

• GREAT
a. advance b. big c. large d. little

• IMPERFECT
a. absolute b. complete c. profound d. consummate

• SIGNIFICANT
a. important b. insignificant c. vital d. necessary

• ISOLATION
a. separation b. loneliness c. intimacy d. solitude

• UNIQUE
a. ordinary b. common c. singular d. unequalled

• SURMOUNT
a. surpass b. fail c. master d. overcome

26
• JEALOUSY
a. tolerance b. aware c. jubilant d. rustic

• AMBIGUITY
a. clarity b. certainty c. rationality d. perversity

• FEASIBILITY
a. unsuitability b. cheapness c. impropriety d. impracticability

• CIRCUITIOUS
a. round about b. aware c. complete d. direct

• GORGEOUS
a. fashionable b. desperate c. plain d. sumptuous in
appearance

27
 4. VERBAL ABILITY

4.1 WORDS OFTEN CONFUSED

Words that are similar in form or sound, but different in meaning. A list of such
words liable to be confused is given below.

• Accept: to receive with favour

• I accept your offer
• Except: to omit or exclude
• If you except the last term I shal l accept the contract.

• Alter: a place for offering

• The pibus old man bowed before the altar
• Altar: To change
• Nothing can alter my decision.

• Avocation: a subordinate occupation, usually one pursued for pleasure and

• Pastime rather than for gain
• His vocation is photography
• Vocation: chief occupation
• His vocation is banking and his avocation is painting.

• Womanly: befitting a woman

• Modesty is a womanly virtue
• Womanish: like woman (used contemptuously)
• It was womanish on his part to shed tears.

• Verbal: oral; not written

• I cannot carry out your verbal orders
• Verbose : containing more words than are wanted.
• He writes in a verbose style.

• Temporary: that which lasts only for a short period

• This post is purely temporary
• Temporal: earthly; opposed to spiritual
• I do not care for temporal interests.

• Conscious: aware
• She is conscious of her faults
• Conscientious: obedient to conscience, scrupulous
• He is a conscientious worker and always does his duty.

• Divers: several; sundry

• Divers men tried to solve the problems
• Diverse: Marked different or unlike
• Their views were diverse, as diverse as the East and West.

28
• Beneficial: advantageous
• Fresh air and the good food are beneficial to the health.
• Beneficent: doing good; kind
• A beneficent king wins the hearts of his subje cts.

• Childish: is used in a bad sense and suggests such as silliness, foolishness and
weakness.
• Your talk is becoming childish
• Child – like: is used in a good sense and suggests such as innocence, simplicity
and trustfulness
• Her child-like innocence appealed to all.

• Calender: The calender has gone out of order

• Roller machine for pressing and smoothing cloth or paper
• Calendar: Please consult the calendar and tell me on what day Deepawali falls:
• List of days, week’s months, of a particular year.

• Eminent: He is an eminent scholar of Sanskrit.

• Of great repute
• Imminent: there is an danger of the war breaking out.
• Events, specially dangers, likely to come or happen soon.

• Formally: The proposal has not yet been made.

• In accordance with rules, customs conventions
• Formerly: Dr. Bhandari was formely a professor of electrical engineering.
• Previously

• Honorary: Sri Govind Prasad is working as an Secretary of the Indian Chamber

of Commerce
• Holding office without remuneration
• Honorable: He retired after rendering service to the nation for 30 years.
• Worthy of respect

• Loose: The dg is too dangerous to be left

• free, not held
• Lose: he like wearing loose trouser.
• Not closing fitting

• Momentary : Many decisions taken in life are of only importance

• Lasting for a moment, short lived
• Momentous: The chairman said that at the next meeting some mimentous
decisions would be taken and so he would like all members to be present

• Stationery: The office manager occasionally carries out a physical verification of

stationery items in s tock

29
 • Articles use in connection with writing
Stationary: The sun is stationary body and the earth evolves round it
Not moving fixed

• Verbal: He sent me a verbal message that he will reach the office half an hour
before the meeting.
• Spoken, not written
• Verb ose: a verbose style leads to vagueness in communication.
• Using more words than necessary

• Zealous: For rural development we need an army of Zealous workers.

• Full of enthusiasm
• Jealous: He is jealous of his colleague’s promotion.
• Full of envy.

Underline the correct word out of those in brackets:

• His paintings show that he is a great (artist, artisan).
• Our teacher does not believe in (corporal, corporeal) punishment.
• He disliked his (childish, child like) habits.
• Would you mind just (checking, chequing) th ese figures for me?
• I’d like (complement, compliment ) you on your excellent taste in clothes.
• They have written a very (practical, practicable) grammar and composition book.
• Cross -examination failed to (elicit, illicit) any useful information.
• All civilized nations now believe in the (human, humane) treatment of prisoners.
• He is an (eminent, imminent) scientist.
• The smog (affects, effects) our lungs and has an unpleasant effect on the skin.
• Try to (adopt, adapt) your language to the speech of community.
• The crops have suffered from the long (drought, draught).
• A judge must be (uninterested, disinterested) in a case.
• He is honest (beside, besides) being hard working.
• He is very (conscious, conscientious) worker and always does his duty.
• I think it is very ( particular, peculiar) for a young man to use perfumed stationery,
stationary) for his letter

30
 5. A DILEMMA
A LAYMAN LOOKS AT SCIENCE

RAYMOND B. FOSDICK

AUGUST 6, 1945 – The day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima -
brought home to all of us in a dramatic fashion the significance of science in human life.
The impact of that bomb has left us stunned and confuse d. Certainly we laymen are
frightened by science as we never were before. And certainly too, we are bewildered by
the power which science has suddenly placed in our laps – bewildered and humbled by
our realization of how unequipped we are, in terms of ethics, law, and government, to
know how to use it.

That, I think, is the first reaction of a layman to the stupendous repe rcussion of
that bomb on Hiroshima. And the first question that comes to his mind is this: what use
are radio and automobiles and penicillin and all the other gifts of science if at the same
time this same science hands us the means by which we can blow ou rselves and our
civilization into drifting dust? We have always been incl ined to think research and
technology as being consciously related to human welfare. Now, frankly, we are not so
sure, and we are deeply troubled, by the realization that man’s brain can create things
which his will may not be able to control.

To the layman it seems as if science were facing a vast d ilemma. Science is the
search for truth, and it is based on the glorious faith th at truth is worth discovering. It
springs from the nobl est attribute of the human spirit. But it is this same search for truth
that has brought our civilization to the brink of destruction; and we are confronted by the
tragic irony that when we have been most successful in pushing out the boundaries of
knowledge, we have most endangered the possibility of human life on this planet. The
pursuit of truth has a at last led us to the tools by which we can ourselves become the
destroyers of our own institutions and all the bright hopes of the race. In this situation
what do we do – curb our science or cling to the pursuit of truth and run the risk of having
our society torn to pieces?

It is on the basis of this dilemma that serious questions are forming in the public
mind. Unless research is linked to a human and c onstructive purpose, should it not be
subject to some kind of restraint? Can our scientists afford to be concerned solely with
fact and not at all with value and purpose? Can they legitimately claim that their only aim
is the advancement of knowledge regar dless of its consequences? Is the layman justified
in saying to the scientists: ‘We look to you to distinguish between that truth which
furthers the well-being of mankind and that truth which threatens it?

One of the scientists who played a leading role in the development of the atomic
bomb said to the newspapermen: ‘A scientist cannot hold back progress because of fears
of what the world will do with his discoveries’. What he apparently implied was the
science has no responsibility in the matter, and tha t it will plunge ahead in the pursuit of
truth even if the process leaves the world in dust and ashes.

Is that the final answer? Is there no other answer? Frankly, as a layman, I do not
know. Offhand, this disavowal of concern seems callous and irrespon sible. But we may

31
be facing a situation where no other answer is realistic or possible. To ask the scientist to
foresee the use – the good or evil of the use – to which his result may be put is doubtless
beyond the realm of the attainable. Almost any disco very can be used for either social or
anti-social purposes. The German dye industry was not created to deal with either
medicine or weapons of war; and yet out of that industry came our sulphur drugs and
mustard gas. When Einstein wrote his famous transfor mation equation in 1905 he was not
thinking of the atomic bomb, but out of the equation came one of the principles upon
which the bomb was based.

Willard Gibbs was a gentle spirit whose life was spent in his laboratory at Yale
University, and who never dreamed that his work in mathematical physics might have
even a remote relationship to war; and yet it is safe to say that his ideas gave added power
to the armaments of all nations in both World War I and World War II.

I suspect that the way out of the dilemma is not as simple as the questions now
being asked seem to imply. The good and the evil that flow from scientific research are
more often then not indistinguishable at the point of origin. Generally they are by
products, or they represent distortions of original purpose, none of which could have been
foreseen when the initial discovery was made. We are driven back to a question of human
motives and desires. Science has recently given us radar, jet propulsion and power
sources of unprecedented magnitude. What does society want to do with them? It can use
them constructively to increases the happiness of mankind or it can employ them to tear
the world to pieces. There is scarcely a scientific formula or a process or a commodity
which cannot be used for war purposes, if that is what we elect to do with it. In brief, the
gifts of science can be used by evil men to do evil even more obviously and dramatically
than they can be used by men of goodwill to do good.

I fear there is no easy way out of our dilem ma. I would not absolve the scientists
from some measure of responsibility, for they are men of superior training and insight and
we are entitled to look to them for help and leadership more help and leadership, I venture
to add, than have thus far been gi ven. However, I note that a considerable number of
scientist who were connected with the atomic bomb project have publicly expressed their
apprehension of the consequences of their own creation. ‘All of us who worked on the
atomic bomb, said Dr Allison of the University of Chicago, had a momentary feeling of
elation when our experiment met with success; but that feeling rapidly changed to a
feeling of horror, and a fervent desire that no more bombs would be dropped.

Nevertheless, in the long run I do not believe that we shall be successful in

making science the arbiter of its discoveries. Somehow or other society itself must
assume that responsibility. The towering enemy of mankind is not science but war.
Science merely reflects the social forces by which it is surrounded. When there is peace,
science is constructive; when there is war, science is perverted to destructive ends. The
weapons which science gives us do not necessarily create war; they make war
increasingly more terrible, until now it has broug ht us to the doorstep of doom.

Our main problem therefore, is not to curb science but to stop war to substitute
law for force and international government for anarchy in the relations of one nation with
another. That is a job in which everybody must par ticipate, including the scientists. But
the bomb on Hiroshima suddenly woke us up to the fact that we have very little time. The
hour is late and our work has scarcely begun. Now we are face to face with this urgent

32
question: ‘Can education and tolerance a nd understanding and creative intelligence run
fast enough to keep us abreast with or own mounting capacity to destroy?

That is the question which we shall have to answer one way or another in this
generation. Science must help us in the answer, but th e main decision lies within
ourselves.

33
 6. A DILEMMA
COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding:

1. Who is a layman? What to do we call a person who is not a layman?
2. In the first two paragraphs the following words are used: stunned, frightened,
bewildered, confused, humbled, troubled. What will be the typical behavior of
people in each of the following situations:
a) A tiger is found in the garden or a house.
b) One is defeated in a match or a debate.
c) In the examination hall all the questions in the question paper ar e found to be
difficult.
3) Can you name a situation in which
a) You will be stunned?
b) You will be bewildered?
c) You will be troubled?
4. What was the first reaction of the layman to the effect of the dropping of an atomic
bomb on Hiroshima?
5. Why are we troubled by the realization that our brain can create things which we
may not be able to control?
6. How can our search for truth bring our civilization to the brink of destruction?
7. Can our scientists afford to be concerned solely with the pursuit of truth unmindful
of its consequences? What is the author’s opinion? What is your opinion?
8. What, according to the author, is the towering enemy of man-kind?
9. When did Einstein write his famous equation? What is it about? Wh y is it so
famous? Who is Eingstein?

Matching words with their meanings

Match the words with their meanings as used in the passage. Column II has one
‘extra’. You may use a dictionary and look back at the essay.
Column I Column II
1. Indistinguishable a. amazing in degree
2. Arbiter b. free
3. Repercussion c. unfeeling
4. Dilemma d. far-reaching effect
5. Perverted e. denial
6. Absolve f. cannot be differentiated being in spirits
7. Distortions g. The state of being in high spiri ts
8. Stupendous h. passionate
9. Callous i. turned to a wrong use
10. Elation j. having to choose between two equality
undesirable courses of action.
11. Fervent k. person in complete control
12. Disavowal l. false accounts
m. judge.

34
• Think and answer.
Distinguish between:

i. Culture and civilization

ii. Knowledge and wisdom
iii. Anarchy ad autocracy
iv. Education and literacy.

• Under each statement given below two meanings ar e given. Say which one correctly
explains the meaning of the italicized expression.

1. Science will plunge ahead in the pursuit of truth even if the process leaves the world in
dust and ashes.
a) in a highly pollute state.
b) in a state of destr uction
2. The weapons which science gives us have brought us to the door – step of doom.
a) close to ruin
b) close to evil
3. We have been most successful in pushing out the boundaries of knowledge.
a) limits of our knowledge
b) divisions of knowledge
4. We are bewildered by the power which science has placed in our laps.
a) in our power
b) at our disposal.
5. We are confronted by the tragic irony.
a) sad reversal of a situation.
b) disastrous outcome

35
 A DILEMMA
A LAYMAN LOOKS AT SCIENCE
Notes

Raymond B. Fosdick in the lesson ‘A Dilemma’ says that science should be used
only for the constructive purpose and not to be aimed at the degeneration of the society.
August 6, 1945, a day of unfortunate, on which the atomic bomb was dropped on
Hiroshima brought home to all of us about the significance (or) importance of science in
human life. Mankind was frightened by science and bewildered by its enormous power.
This instance has realised the mankind how unequipped we are in terms of ethics, law,
and government, to know how to use it. The author says that science is based on truth and
should spring from the noblest attribute of the human spirit.

There are certain inventions that can evoke both positive and negative responses.
Invention of Radio, Aut omobiles, pencillion Rodar and jet propulsions shall be aimed
towards the betterment of the society rather than creating ugliness and desolation. The
gifts of science, the author vehemently feels, should not blow our civilization into drifting
dust. The re search and Technology yield right fruits when they are related to human
welfare.

Science is the search for truth. But it is the same search for truth that has brought
our civilization to the brink of destruction. The writer strongly feels that research s hall be
subjected to some kind of restraint if it is not linked to human constructive purpose; it is
really disheartening to read about that leading scientists associated with atom bomb
saying that one should not hold back progress because of fear of misus e of science

Fosdick than says that some inventions are purely accidental and the scientists
never had any evil intentions while discovering them. For instance Albert Einestein never
thought of atom bomb while working for his transformation equation in 1 905. Yet, from
this come out one of the principles upon atom bomb is based. Similarly sulphur drugs and
mustard gas which are offshoots of German dye industry was not created to deal with
either medicine or weapons of war; Willard Gibbs was a gentle spirit whose life was
spent in his laboratory at yale university had never dreamt that his research in the
mathematical physics might have even a remote relationship to would war I & II. These
discoveries are classic examples where the gifts of science can be us ed by evilmen to do
evil men to do evil even more obviously and dramatically than can be used by men of
goodwill to do good.

The author concludes that the towering enemy of mankind is not science but war.
Science merely reflect the sowal forces by which if its surrounded. When there is peace,
science is constructive and when there is war, science is prevented to destructive ends.
Our problem therefore is not to comb science but to stop war - to substitute law for force
and international government for awa rely in the relations of one nation with another. He
feels that our education should be based on tolerance understanding and creative
intelligence that should run fast enough to put an end to the evil effects of the science
formally, Science must help us but the decision lies within ourselves ie., the role
responsibility is of human beings.

36
 7. HOMONYMS
Homonyms are distinct words with quite different meanings that are spelt and
pronounced just the same way.

Eg: 1. Grave….. serious, tomb

2. Bank ….. shore, place to deposit money
3. Bear…… a) animal b) to carry
4. bark……………….. a) the tough outer covering of tree trunks b) the short sharp
sound made by dogs.
5. bat ……………….. a) a small animal like mouse with wings. b) a piece of wood
6. fair ……………….. a) what is just or reasonable b) an exhibition
7. lie ……………….. a) to give a false impression b) to rest on a surface
8. rest ……………….a) to relaxb) an object that is used for support c) the
remaining part
Use the followin g words in two ways:

1. BANK 2. MATCH 3. CABINET 4. FACE 5. SPRING 6. BOWL

7. CALL 8. POST 9. CELL 10. CORD 11. COLD 12.PALM
13. PART 14. PAST 15.DISPLAY 16.DOUBEL 17.FOLD 18. PEN
19. LIKE 20. LIGHT 21. NAP 22. OVER 23.PASS 24.DON
25. ABOUT 26. ABSENT 27. AWAKE 28. GRATE 29. HOCK 30. QUAIL
31. SCHOOL 32. SCORE 33. SNAP 34. SPELL 35. CLUB 36. THROUGH
37. BOON 38. BOWLER 39. CHANCE 40.AFFECT 41. AIR 42. ADDRESS
More words at a glance
Acts/ax Aisle / I’ll
Ad/add All / awl
Adds / ads Allowed / aloud
Ade / aid Altar / alter
Aerie / airy An / ann
Aero / arrow Ant / aunt
Affect / effect Ante / auntie
Ail / ale Arc / ark
Air / are Ascent / assent
E’er / ere Ate / eight
Err / heir

37
 8. HOMOPHONES
Homophones are words, which sound identical but are spelt differently and have
different meanings.

A homophone is a word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning.
A list of homophones are given hereunder

1. Sew Sow 26. Toe Tow

2. Aisle Isle 27. Pair Pare
3. Profit Prophet 28. Altar Alter
4. Hair Heir 29. Bolder Boulder
5. Colonel Kernel 30. Pain Pane
6. Course Coarse 31. Pray Prey
7. Compliment Complement 32. Bow Bough
8. Sauce Source 33. Caught Court
9. Idol Idle 34. Bare Bear
10. Dough Dove 35. Vale Veil
11. Flower Flour 36. Tied Tide
12. Vein Vain, vane 37. Suite Sweet
13. Disease Decease 38. Paw Poor
14. Flea Flee 39. So Sew
15. Fair Fare 40. To Too
16. Key Quay 41. Made Maid
17. Cereal Serial 42. Saw Soar
18. Boy Buoy 43. Eight Ate
19. Bear Bare 44. Hoarse Horse
20. Air Heir 45. Knight Night
21. Steal Steel 46. Warn Worn
22. Place Plaice 47. Grate Great
23. Tale Tail 48. Isle I’ll
24. Son Sun 49. Beach Beech
25. Peal Peel 50. Mail Male

38
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with the suitable words from the blanks:
1. There is a __________ big fire burning in the __________ (grate, great).
2. You can eat the __________ but give me the knife to __________ the skin (pare, pear).
3. He was charged with stealing a __________ of cotton and was released on __________
(bale, bail).
4. The artist’s __________ showed a picture of a politician trying to __________ v otes
(canvass, canvas)
5. He is the __________of a plan to make slow pupils understand the difference between
a __________ and a multiplier (deviser, divisor)
6. There is thunder and __________ and dark stormy sky shows no sign of __________
(lightening, lightning).
7. The __________ of our college is a man of __________ (principal, principles).
8. She wrote a __________ on the history of peace __________ (treatise, treaties).

Underline the correct word:

1. What medicine did the doctor prescribe / proscribe for her?
2. Gandhi did not like corporeal / coporal punishment
3. Milton’s poetry is full of classical allusions / illusions.
4. Do you know the Archimedes principle / principal?
5. I passed the intermediate course / coarse.
6. This is not officious / official.
7. Canvass / Canvas cloth is used for tents.
8. Ramesh always sits beside / besides her.
9. The minister is appraised / apprised of the situation.
10. This film is an adaptation / adaptation of novel.

39
 9. YOU AND YOUR ENGLISH
SPOKEN ENGLISH AND BROKEN ENGLISH

G.B. SHAW

(In every country in the world in which literature holds a place, the name of
George Bernard Shaw is well known. No other writer, except, perhaps, Shakespeare, has
earned such world -wide fame. The following text, which the literary genius prepared and
spoke on a ‘gramphone’ recording for the Linguaphone Institute, is loaded with
characteristic Shavian wit, but with serious purpose behind it all. The provocative ideas
are couched in a simple but sparkling rhetorical style)

I am now going to suppose that you are a foreign student of the English language;
and the that you desire to speak it well enough to be understood when you travel in the
British Commonwealth or in America, or when you meet a native of those countries. Or it
may be that you are yourself a native but that you speak in a provincial or cockney dialect
of which you are a little ashamed, or which perhaps prevents you from obtaining some
employment which is open to those only who speak what is called “correct English”.
Now, whether you are a foreigner or a native, the first thing I must impress on you is that
there is no such thing a ideally correct English. No two British subjects speak exactly
alike. I am a member of a committee established by the British Broadcasting Corporation
for the purpo se of deciding how the utterances of speakers employed by the Corporation
should be pronounced in order that they should be a model of correct speech for the
British Islands. All the members of that Committee are educated persons whose speech
would pass as correct and refined in any society or any employment in London. Our
chairman is the Poet Laureate, who is not only an artist whose materials are the sounds of
spoken English, but a specialist in their pronunciation. One of our members is Sir
Johnston Forebes Robertson, famous not only as an actor but for the beauty of his speech.
I was selected for service on the “Committee because, as a writer of plays I am
accustomed to superintend their rehearsals and to listen critically to the way in which they
are spoken by actors who are by profession trained speakers (being myself a public
speaker of long experience). That committee knows as much as anyone knows about
English speech; and yet its members do not agree as to the pronunciation of some of the
simplest and commonest words in the English language. The two simplest and
commonest words in any language are “yes and “no”. But no two members of the
committee pronounce them exactly alike. All that can be said is that every member
pronounces them in such a way tha t they would not only be intelligible in every English -
speaking country but would stamp the speaker as cultivated person as distinguished from
an ignorant and illiterate one. You will say, “well’ that is good enough for me” that is
how I desire to speak. “ But which member of the committee will you take for your
model? There are Irish members, Scottish members, Welsh members, Oxford University
members, American members; all recognizable as such by their differences of speech.
they differ also according to th e country in which they were born. Now, as they all speak
differently, it is nonsense to say that they all speak correctly. All well can claim is that
they all speak presentably, and that if you speak as they do, you will be understood in any
English-speaking country and accepted as person of good social standing. I wish I could
offer you your choice among them as a mode; but for the moment I am afraid you must
put up with me-an Irishman.

40
 I have said enough to you about the fact that no two native speaker s of English
speak it alike; but perhaps you are clever enough to ask me whether I myself speak it in
the same way.

I must confess at once that I do not. Nobody does. I am at present speaking to an

audience of many thousands of gramo phonists, many of who m are trying hard to follow
words, syllable by syllable. If I were to speak to you as carelessly as I speak to my wife at
home, this record would be useless; and if I were to speak to my wife at home as carefully
as I am speaking to you, she would think that I was going mad.

As a public speaker I have to take care that every word I say is heard distinctly at
the far end of large halls s containing thousand of people. But at home, when I have to
consider only my wife sitting within six feet of me at breakf ast, I take so little pains with
my speech that very often instead of giving me the expected answer, she says “Don’t
mumble; and don’t turn your head away when you speak I can’t hear a word you are
saying.” And she also is a little careless. Sometimes I ha ve to say “What?” two or three
times during our meal; and she suspects me of growing deafer and deafer, though she
does not say so, because, as I am now over seventy, it might be true.

No doubt I ought to speak to my wife as carefully as I should speak t o a queen,

and she to me as carefully as she would speak to a king. We ought to; but we don’t.
(Don’t,” by the way, is short for “do not”.)

We all have company manners and home manners. If you were to call on a strange
family and to listen through the ke yhole – not that I would suggest for a moment that you
are capable for doing such a very unladylike or ungentleman like thing; but still – if, in
you enthusiasm for studying languages you could bring yourself to do it just for a few
seconds to hear how a family speak to one another when there is nobody else listening to
them, and then walk into the room and hear how very differently they speak in your
presence, the change would surprise you. Even when our home manners are as good as
our company manners – and of course they ought to be much better – they are always
different; and the difference is greater is speech than in anything else.

Suppose I forget to wind my watch, and it stops, I have to ask somebody to tell me
the time. If I ask a stranger, I say “What O’clock is it?” the stranger hears every syllable
distinctly. But if I ask my wife, all she hears is ‘cloxst.’ That is good enough for her; but
it would not be good enough for you. So I am speaking to you now much more carefully
than I speak to her ; but please don’t tell her!

I am now going to address myself especially to my foreign hearers. I have to give

them another warning of quite a different kind. If you are leaning English because you
intend to travel in England and wish to be understood th ere, do not try to speak English
perfectly, because, if you do, no one will understand you. I have already explained that
though there is no such thing as perfectly correct English, there is presentable English
which we call “Good English”; but in London nine hundred and ninety nine out of every
thousand people not only speak bad English but speak even that very badly. You may say
that even if they do not speak English well themselves they can at least understand it
when it is well spoken. They can when t he speaker is English; but when the speaker is a
foreigner, the better he speaks, the harder it is to understand him. No foreigner can ever
stress the syllables and make the voice rise and fall in question and answer, assertion and

41
denial, in refusal and consent, in enquiry or information, exactly as a native does.
Therefore the first thing you have to do is to speak with a strong foreign accent, and speak
broken English: that is, English without any grammar. Then every English person to
whom you speak wil l at once know that you are a foreigner, and try to understand you
and be ready to help you. He will not expect you to be polite and to use elaborate
grammatical phrases. He will be interested in you because you are a foreigner, and
pleased by his cleverne ss in making out your meaning and being able to tell you what you
want to know.

If you say “Will you have the goodness, Sir, to direct me to the railway terminus
at Charing Cross,” pronouncing all the vowels and consonants beautifully, he will not
understand you, and will suspect you of being a beggar or a confidence trickster. But if
you shout, ‘please! Charing Cross! Which way!” You will have no difficulty. Half a
dozen people will immediately overwhelm you with directions.

Even in private intercours e with cultivated people you must not speak too well:
Apply this to your attempts to learn foreign languages, and never try to speak them to
well: and do not be afraid to travel. You will be surprised to find how little you need to
know or how badly you ma y pronounce. Even among English people, to speak too well is
a pedantic affectation. In a foreigner it is something worse then an affectation: it is an
insult to the native who cannot understand his own language when it is too well spoken.
That is all I can tell you: the record will hold no more. Good -bye!

42
 10. YOU AND YOUR ENGLISH
COMPREHENSION
1. What according to Shaw are the advantages in learning to speak well?
2. a) What is meant by a provincial or cockney dialect?
b) Can you name some important native diale cts of English?
3. a) Is there such a thing as ideally correct English?
b) Do all British speakers speak exactly alike?
c) What are the examples cited by Shaw to prove his statement?
4. What are the two simplest and commonest words in English?
5. When can we say that somebody’s speech is acceptable?
6. Does Shaw offer himself as a model? What does he say about his own
speech?
7. Does Shaw speak to his wife as carefully as he would speak to a
queen?
8. If he were to speak tho his wife at home as carefully as a public
speaker speaking to a large audience, what would she think?
9. When he says ‘What?’ two or three times to his wife at breakfast
what does she suspect?
10. Does Shaw advocate listening through the keyhole? Why not?
11. Why are home manners different from company manners?
12. “What o’ clock is it?” – How does his wife hear it?
13. Why should we adjust our speech style to the occasion?
Do you do it in your own language?

14. a) Why does Shaw urg e foreigners not to try to speak English
perfectly?
b) Do you think it is sound advice? Is he speaking with his tongue
in his cheek?
c) Can you mention a play that Shaw wrote to prove his point of
view?
15. a) “In London nine hundred and ninety nine out of every thousand
people not only speak bad English but speak even that very badly.”
- Can you explain what it means?
b) “Even among English people, to speak well is a pedantic
affectation. “_ What does it mean? Why?

• Guess the intended meaning

Write out the sentence under each statement that correctly explains the meaning of
the italicized expression or expressions.
1. “I am afraid you must put up with me.” (Paragraph 1)
______________ Shaw is frightened and he is taking you to stay with him.
______________ He politely says that you must tolerate his way of speaking.
2. “That is good enough of her.” (Para 7)
_______________ That is all that is necessary or needed.
________________ She deserves only that.
3. “He will suspect you of being a beggar or a confidence trickster.” (para 8)

43
 _________________ He will think you are trying to cheat him.
_________________ He will think you are telling him some tricks to be kept
secret.
4. In a foreigner it is something worse than an affection.
_________________ It is something worse than a kindly feeling.
__________________ It is something worse than being unnatural or pretending to
be genuine.

The responses in the following conversation are those of a person whose knowledge of
English is very elementary. Do you think Shaw will approve of the responses? Rewrite
the responses in good English.

A: Where were you born?

B: I born on ship.
A: What was the name of the ship?
B: I not know.
A: What nationality was your mother?
B: She French.
A: Where is your mother now?
B: She die.
A: Who is your father?
B: I not know him.
A: Did your mother tell you about him?
B: He English. A seaman I never see.
A: When did your mother die?
B: Excuse _ I not know.
A: Do you know how old your were when your mother died?
B: I six year old.
A: Afterwards, who looked after you?
B: I take care myself.
A: Can you read and write?
B: I write name.

(From Arthur Hailey’s ‘In High Places)

In the following sentences the meaning intended is not clear. Can you rewrite
the sentences so that the meaning intended is made clear?
(Some clues are given to help you.)
1. He killed the man with a stick. (How? Who?)
2. I went to my villa ge to sell and land along with my wife. (What was to be
sold?)
3. The committee’s appointment was not satisfactory.
(What was not satisfactory?)
4. Do not go other shops to be disappointed, but come to us. (For What?)
5. Would you like to try on that dress in the window? (Where? What?)
6. He loves his dog more than his wife. (Who loves who?)

44
 7. I have smoked one of your cigarettes, and shall in future smoke no others.
(gave up smoking)
8. The college may refuse admission to anyone they think proper. (Wh o may be
effused admission?)
9. The report that the students were reading annoyed the warden. (What were
they reading?)
10. Jim curse the day he was born. (When? What?)

• The following expressions are used in the Indian variety of En glish.

Can you put them in Standard British English?
1. The meeting was pre -poned.
2. The matter will be referred to the concerned ministry.
3. Why you came late to the class?
4. They are having three cars.
5. Look at the alphabets of English.
6. Go and enjoy.
7. In find it difficult to make by both ends meet.
8. You may be knowing that officer.
9. We are living here since 1970.
10. Newspaper advertisement: “Wanted a Non-vegetarian Cooker 45 years old.”

• Shaw was outraged by the irrational spelling of English. He said, “My surnam e
has two sounds; but I have to spell it with four letters: another 100 percent loss
of time, labour, ink, and paper. The Russians can spell it with tow letters, as they
have an alphabet of 35 letters. In the race of civilization, what chance has a
power that cannot spell so simple a sound as Shaw against a rival that can?”

1. Can you suggest simpler ways of writing the following words?

a) enough b) queue c) should d) love e) through
f) finally g) quality h) photo i) all right

2. Indian English as it is sp oken is highly influenced by the spelling. There are

people who pronounce the following words as they are written. Can you say how
they are to be pronounced? Psychology, summer, plumber, subtle, bottle, bomb,
colonel, drought.

3. Think of your first langua ge (i.e your mother tongue). Do you think all those who
speak it speak exactly alike? Are there variations among individuals? Are there
variations between two speakers of your first language? Are the speech habits
identical? Similar? Can you point out some variations in accent, in the use of
words, etc., between individuals, regions, and social classes?

4. Think of your first language. Do you adjust your speech style to the occasion?
Can you give some examples?

45
 YOU AND YOUR ENGLSIH
SPOKEN ENGLISH AND BROKEN ENGLISH
Notes

This lesson is a Gramphone recording for the Linguaphone Institute given by

George Bernard Shaw, a well known personality in the history of world literature.

Shaw here emphasis the point that there is no such thing as ideally corre ct English
and no two Britishers speak English exactly in the same manner. He says that because of
his rich experience as a public speaker and also as a play wright he was appointed by the
British Broadcasting Corporation as a member of a committee whose m ain aim was to
develop a model of correct English speech for the British Islands. The Committee was
chaired by a poet Laureate who was also an artist and his materials are the sounds of
Spoken English, and a specialist in pronunciation Johnston Forebes Rob ertson, a well
known actor known for the beauty of speech was also a member of this committee which
was hetrogenous blend of Krish, Scottish, Welsh, Oxford and American members. All
theses members could be recognized by their difference in speech and hence we can’t
conclude that they spoke English correctly. They, of course Spoken English presentably
which is easy to comprehend. Imitating them would make us persons of good social
standing. It is also astonishing to note that this committee sometimes did not agree to the
usage and pronunciation of most of the simple and common words of English.

Shaw says that the two commonest words in English are ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. But no
two members of the committee pronounce them exactly alike. Yet there are some people
who find delight in avoiding them. Shaw points out that good effort is needed to
comprehend or to follow words, syllable by syllable. He says that he is speaking
carefully to an audience of thousands of gramphonists. But if he speaks carelessly as he
speaks to his wife, the audience can’t make out, and at the same time if he speaks
carefully at home, his wife thinks that he has gone mad.

The usage of English differs from situation to situation. One would indeed be
labeled mad or insane if one talks to his wife in the same manner as he does at a
Gramphone recoding and vice - versa. Shaw, in a lighter sense, asks us to be careful even
while speaking to wife and the conversation between a husband and wife should be like a
conversation between a King and a Quee n. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen with all of
us.

Shaw classifies manners into two types namely Company Manners and Home
Manners which also vary according to the situation. Family members do not speak among
themselves in the manner as they do on ordina ry occasions when they are in the presence
of an outsider. Shaw further adds by citing an example of ‘key hole moral’ the listener
gets surprised to note the difference between two situations. The difference is greater in
speech than in anything else.

Foreigners need not speak English perfectly if they want to travel in England and
if they are wise to be understood these. Even if they do so, they will not be understood
since a vast majority in London speaks bad English. If a foreigner speaks perfect Englis h,
he/she will be suspected of being a beggar or a confidence trickster. Speaking English too

46
well is in fact a pedantic affectation. George Bernard Shaw further mentions that the
stranger, hears every syllable distinctly when he asks him what O’ Clock is it? But his
wife hears it as “Cloxst”, because it is good enough for her but not to the listener.

Shaw emphasizes that there is no such thing as perfectly correct English and there
is presentable English which we call “Good English”. In London, Shaw point s out that
Nine hundred ninety nine out of every thousand people don’t only speak bad English but
speak even that very badly. They neither speak it correctly nor be understood when it is
well spoken. He suggests the foreigners, to speak with a foreign acce nt, and speak broken
English, that is English without grammar. Then, the native understands the foreigner and
try to understand and gets ready to help.

The native never expects the foreigner to be polite and to use elaborate
grammatical phrases. Shaw cites an example ie.,

“Will you have the goodness sir,

to direct me to the railway
terminus at charing cross”

But if the foreigner shouts

“Please! Charing Cross! Which way!”
the stranger would have no difficulty, responding to it half a dozen people will
immediately over whelm to help.

If any foreigner requests the native, pronouncing all the vowels and consonants
beautifully, how will not understand, and would suspect him to be a beggar or a
confidence trickster.

Finally, G.B. Shaw suggests us t hat one must not speak too well even with
cultivated people, during private inter course also. While dispelling the fears of foreigners
with regard to the language G.B. Shaw says that little knowledge is adequate to travel
England, and adds that to speak t oo well is a pedantic affectation, even among English
people. G.B. Shaw says that is an insult to the native who can’t understand his own
language when it is too well spoken.

47
 11. FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

A verb must agree with its subject in number and perso n i.e., the verb should be of the
same number and person as that of the subject.

1. Two or more singular subjects joined by ‘and’ take a plural verb.

Eg: Mohan and Sohan have passed.

2. But some times two subjects are regarded as presenting one idea and than the verb
is singular as
Eg: Bread and butter is a wholesome food.
Slow and steady wins the race.
3. If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular;
as
Eg: The orator and states man has arrived (here orator and stat esman refer to
the same person).

4. If the article is mentioned twice then two distinct persons are intended and the
verb following must be in plural number; as.
Eg: The poet and the philosopher are dead.

5. If two singular nouns joined by and pr eceded by each and every, the verb is
singular; as
Eg: Each day and every hour brings us a fresh anxiety.

6. Two or more subjects connected by or, nor, either….or, neither….nor take

singular verb; as
Eg: Neither Rama nor his brother was present.
Either Mohan or Sohan is in the wrong.
Any boy or girl sees it at once.
7. When one of the nouns or pronouns joined by or, nor is the singular and the other
in plural, the verb should be plural and the plural subject be placed near the verb;
as
Eg: John or his brot hers are to blame.
Neither Afzal nor his friends were present
8. If two subjects joined by or, nor are different persons, the verb agrees in person
with the subject nearer to it; as
Eg: Either you or he is telling a lie.

9. If two nouns are joined with or as well as, the verb, the verb agrees with the first
noun, i.e., if the first noun is singular the verb must be singular, even if the second
noun is plural; as
Eg: Rama as well as his friend has won the prize.
Iron as well as gold is found in India.
The king with his ministers was killed.
The manager as well as the workers is responsible for the accident.

10. Collective noun is a word that refers to a group of collections of persons or things.
Collective noun takes a singular or plural verb according to the s ense. If the idea

48
 of oneness is expressed, the verb must be singular; if the individuals of the
collection are thought of, the verb must be plural.
Eg: The Jury = men of jury were divided in their opinions.
The jury (= one body) has elected its president.

11. Indefinite pronouns: Pronouns, which do not refer to a particular person or thing,
take a singular verb. Some of the commonly used pronouns are: either, neither,
everyone, many must be followed by a verb in singular; as
Eg: Either of the two applicants is suitable.
Neither of the applicants is suitable.
Each one of these men is reliable.
Every one of the boat’s crew was drowned.
Many a flower is born to blush unseen.

12. Errors due to proximity should be avoided. Often verb is made to agree in number
with a noun near instead of the proper subject. This should be avoided.
Eg: The behavior of the children was excellent.
Not one of his lectures has ever been printed.
The cost of all these items has been raised.

13. When the plural noun denotes some specific quantit y or amount considered as a
whole, the verb is generally singular.
Eg: A thousand rupees is a good sum
Two thirds of the city is in ruins.

14. It is the same with names of books and names of sciences.

Eg: Arabian Nights is an interesting book.
Mathematics is his favorite subject.

15. Relative pronouns; a relative pronoun always agrees in number and person with its
antecedent; as
Eg: I am a woman who seeks my children’s welfare.
He is one of those men who know every thing.

16. Words that indicate part or portion: most often such words that indicate part or
portion occur as part of a phrase, which acts as the subject. The complete subject
determines the number of the verb in such cases.
Eg: Half of the job was completed within two days.
Half of the jobs were completed within two days.
Two thirds of the employees are in favour of this proposal.
Two thirds of the pole is rotten.
All the money is spent.
All the students have gone.

49
17. Compound subjects: When a subject consists of more than one word but refers to
a single person, idea, or unit or to the same person, or thing, it takes a singular
subject.
Eg: Many a student has joined the Sevasamithy to serve the local community.
Bread and butter was his sole concern.
Every clerk and every assistant is expected to know typing.

18. Words that indicate numbers: When number is preceded by ‘the’, it takes as
singular Verb and by ‘a’. a plural verb. This is because ‘the’ number is generally
considered to refer to a unit and ‘a’ number to individual terms of a unit.
Eg: The num ber of people who reported for the work this morning is small.
The number of crimes in Delhi is increasing.
A number of meetings were held to discuss the issue.
A number of books are missing from the library.

19. Words that indicate amount and people. These w ords generally take a singular
verb
Eg: Ten thousand rupees is a lot of money.
Three miles a day is a good walk.
But when such word is used to convey a general impression, it takes a
plural verb.

20. Introductory ‘there’ and ‘it’ : In sentences beginning wit h ‘there’, the true subject
which generally follows the verb, determines the number of verb.
Eg: There are various methods of collecting data.
There is no need for typing this report.
‘It’ always takes a singular verb, irrespective of whether the subject, which
usually follows the verb, is singular or plural.
Eg: It is the people who matter in a democracy.
It is the same draft which you showed me yesterday, isn’t it?

50
 12. FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR
EXERCISES

12.1 AGREEMENT OF VERB WITH SUBJECT

Identify the correct verb or pronoun that agrees with subject of the following
sentences:

1. The orator and statesman has/have arrived

2. The poet and philosopher is/are dead

3. Each day and every hour brings/bring a fresh anxiety

4. Neither Rama nor his brother was/were present there

5. Neither Afzal nor his friends was/were available for comment on the

developments

6. The king with all his ministers was/were killed

7. The council that met in the town Hall was/were divided

8. Every one of the boat’s crew was/were drowned

9. The behavior of the children was/were excellent

10. Not one of his lectures has/have ever been printed

11. A series of lectures has/have been arranged on the subject

12. Four weeks is/are a good holiday

13. He is one of those men who know/knows every thing

14. Four kilometers is/are a good dista nce

15. None but the brave deserve the fair

16. Neither children nor their mother is/are admitted

17. Many a flower is/are born to blush unseen

18. A large number of women was/were present at the meeting

19. Mohan as well as his friend is/are guilty

20. Time and tide wait/waits for no man

51
 21. A knowledge of modern languages is/are essential these days

22. The accountant and treasurer has/have absconded

23. Either Rama or his brother is/are a fault

24. Not one of these five boys is/are present in the class

25. Which one of these umbrellas belongs/belo ngs to you?

Identify the correct verb or pronoun that agrees with the subject of the following
sentences:

1. It is these people who instigate/instigates the workers.

2. Neither Mary nor Joseph has collected his/her admit card yet.

3. The multitude was/were frightened at the sight of the lion.

4. Any boy or girl sees/see it at once.

5. Everyman and every woman was/were terrified.

6. Each faculty member as well as most of those students know/knows the names

of the miscreants.

7. More than forty boys was/were present at the meet ing.

8. Bread and butter are/is a wholesome diet.

9. Mathematics seem/seems to be difficult.

10. I like every thing and everybody who/which reminds me of the greatness of

God.

11. The man and the woman, the judge said, is/are guilty.

12. The managing director, not his assis tants was/were responsible for the

omissioin.

13. Advice is/are more easily given than taken.

14. The furniture your wish to buy is/are very expensive.

15. The acoustics of new auditorium is/are excellent.

52
16. The proceeds of this programme go/goes to local charities.

17. The people of India have/has firm faith in democracy.

18. The jury has/have given its verdict.

19. The jury is/are in complete disagreement on the issue.

20. None wants/want a change in the working hours

21. I who is/am your fiend will help you.

22. I am the person who has/have done this.

23. The number of students who reported to the class this morning is/are small.

24. A number of books are/is missing from the library.

25. Every one is/are entitled to one month’s salary.

53
 13. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE

Business communication may be defined a s the use of effective language for

conveying a commercial or industrial message to achieve a predetermined purpose.

13.1 PRINCIPLES OF LETTER WRITING

Of all forms of written communication letters are the most common and
considered as the most personal . With the growth of commerce and industry their
usefulness has much increased.
When you enter a profession, you will have to write dozens of letters everyday as
a part of routine work, letters to other firms and companies, customers, suppliers associate
organization, government officers, credit agencies, employees etc. sch letters are called
business letters. Their aim is to achieve a definite purpose, such a s selling a product,
making an enquiry, seeking information or advice, mollifying the feelings of a customer,
creating good will etc.

13.2 Courtesy and Consideration

Necessary tact and courtesy are important, as it is the basic principle of social
relationship. Courtesy is like the oil, which removes friction and makes life smooth and
helps to win friends. Especially in business correspondence, discourtesy damages both
friendship and business.

13.3 Directness and Conciseness

Transmission of maximum information by using minimum of words should be the
aim in the letter writing. Attention of the reader can be caught with clarity and
conciseness. Unnecessary details and redundant expressions are to be avoid. In this
mechanical and busy world such expressions may irritate the reader.

13.4 Avoid Verbosity and participial Endings.

A study of busin ess correspondence reveals that there is a lot deadwood and
verbosity, which is to be avoided. Participial endings such as assuring, rusting, hoping
etc., are also to be avoided.

54
13.5 Clarity and Precision
One of the age -old adages tells us “one should speak as the common people do
and think as wise men do”. A simple expression and clear thinking are the most important
virtues of effective writing. Here Mathew Arnold rightly advised, “Have something to say
ands say it as clearly as you can”. This is onl y the secret of style.

PRACTICAL HINTS
Do’s Don’ts
Many thanks for your letter you state
We are glad to note that you are wrong in saying
We appreciate your writing it is difficult to believe
We regret to inform that we can’t accept your request
We are sorry that we are forced to refuse
We are grateful for the suggestions you have made we demand.

13.6 Negative and roundabout

1. You failed to tell us 1. Please let us know
2. We can not help you unless 2. We shall be pleased to help you if..
3. We can not help you with 3.We suggest that you
4. You have not cared to pay 4. Please look into our complaint.
Attention to our complaint

13.7 Structure and Layout of letters

Just as the “apparel of proclaims the man ”, the appearance of a letter often reveals
the character of the writer and the organization he belongs to.

a) Elements of structures
1. Heading 2. Date 3. Reference 4. Inside Address
5. Attention 6. Salutation 7. Subject 8. Body
9. complimentary close 10. Signature 11. Identification Marks 12. Enclosure.

b) Heading : Most of the business organizations use printed letterheads for

correspondence. The letterhead contains the name, the address, telephone number and e -
mail address.

55
c) Date: The date, month and year should be indicated in the upper right hand top corner.
d) Reference: If yours is a reply letter, give the correspondent’s reference number
against the first and your reference number against the second line.
e) Inside address: The full addr ess of the person or organization you are addressing
should be written two spaces below the date.
f) Attention line: To ensure prompt attention, sometimes a letter that is addressed to a
firm or company is marked to a partic ular officer in that organization.
g) Salutation: Salutation is nothing but greeting a person. It is placed two space below
the attention line.
h) Subject: The purpose of the subject line is to let the reader know immediately what
the message is about.
i) Body: The main purpose of a letter is to convey a message. This is done through the
body of the letter.
j) Complimentary close: This is nothing but – a polite way of ending a letter, the close
must agree with the salutation.
k) Signature: The signature is the singed name of the writer it is placed below the
complimentary close.
l) Identification Marks: These marks are put in the left margin to identify the typist of
the letter, one or two spaces below the signature.
m) Enclosure: If anything is attached to the letter. It must be indicated against
enclosure. Generally the abbreviated from Encl. is typed against which the number of
enclosures is indicated.

13.8 Planning a Letter

1. Set aside specific time for handling your correspondence.
2. Ask yourself, what is the main purpose of the letter.
3. Gather relevant information
4. Arrange the material in a logical order
5. Select the right tone.

56
13.9 Quotations, Orders and Tenders
Quotations, orders and tenders are some important types of business correspondence. It is
customary for a business organization to invite quotations from several sellers before
placing an olders.
The purpose is to find out eh cheapest and the best source of supply of goods
required. The following details are to be furnished in the latter.

• Describe your needs clearly and precisely and give the detailed specification such as
the shape, size, quality of the goods you require.
• Mode and terms of payment
• Place and time of delivery
• Method of transport
• Packing and forwarding charges.

13.10 Tende rs
While quotations are generally sought from a few selected sellers ,notices
regarding tenders are advertised in newspapers ,magazines etc. inviting prospective
sellers of services and goods to quote their rates for doing a job or supplying good
specified in the notice. When a tender is accepted, the successful seller ahs to sign a
contract to do what he has promised.

13. 11 Sales letters: A good sales letter is essentially like a successful advertisement,
it catches the attention of the reader, excites his interest and curiosity and induces
him to bu6y the goods or services offered. Here are few guidelines.
• Catching the readers’ attention through an attractive opening
• Convincing him that your product or service is the best in the market
• Motivating him to act quickly
The reader’s attention is caught by the layout, color, scheme, illustrations, catchy
phrases, striking statements, questions, etc. he is motivated by such as “Just fill in the
coupons below and dispatch it today, send no money. “Only mail the attached card”.
“Avail this special offer” etc.

57
 The purpose of every sales letter, as of every advertisement is to convert the
reader into a customer.

13. 12 Claim and Adjustment Letters

However efficient an organization may be mistakes are likely to be ma de owing to
human frailty or misunderstanding. Important services are sometimes unsatisfactorily
rendered, goods are consigned to wrong destinations sometimes late, sometimes in less
than the required quantities. Occasionally they reach their destination in damaged
condition because of faulty packing or improper handling in transit.
Letters written to bring these mistakes to the notice of those who must own the
responsibility for them are called claim or complaint letters and those written to take
action on them are known as adjustment letters.

13. 13 Job application Letters

An application for a job may the first important business letter that one will write after
getting graduated from a college or university.

There are two types of letters of applicat ion. In the first all information about
qualification, experience and personal details is given in one letter. In the second there are
two parts. Part one is a short covering letter, containing reference to the advertisement in
response to which you are applying and featuring your most significant qualifications for
the post. Part tw o consist of the resume, a sheet that lists details about you and your
qualifications. It includes the following.
• Personal details, age, fitness and marital status.
• Educational qualifications
• Specialized training, if any
• Experience and achievements
• Special honors and distinctions, if any
• Special personal qualities, which make you suitable for job references, Names and
addresses of persons who can vouch for your references.

58
 13. 14 Social correspondence:
Letters to fulfill social obligations or to meet personal needs that may not be
directly related to our official or professional activates are called social letters. Some of
these letters are letters of congratulation, invitatio n, condolences etc.

Inviting quotations
Write a letter to Mc. Milan Publishers asking to send quotations for the books you
require for your college library. Give a comprehensive list of the books also.

From
The Head
Department of English
College of Agriculture
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

To
Mc Milan Publishers
Pohar Gunj
New Delhi – 110055
Lr. No. 324/Engl/2010/dated:30/03/2010.
Dear Sir,

Sub: ANGRAU - College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Quotation for

certain books requested - Regarding.

I shall be obliged if you send the quotations for the books, we require for our
college library. A list of books is given hereunder, please quote your lowest rates and
discount particulars if any to the undersigned within a fortnight form the receipt of this
letter. Amount to be paid will be sent in the form of demand draft.
S. No. Author Title Edition Publisher No. of
copies
required
1. R.K. Bansal Spoken English 1995 Orient Long 50
J.B. Harrison man
2. N.K. Better English 1983 Arnold 30
Agarwala Grammar and Heinemann
Composition New Delhi
3. Allen. W. Living Engl. - Long man 40
Stannard Structure

Yours faithfully,

59
 • Sending Quotation
From
Mc. Milan Publishers
Pohar Gunj
New Delhi – 110055 New Delhi
26th April 2004

To
The Head
Dept. of English
College of Agriculture
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.

Lr. No.
Sir,
Sub: Mc. Milan Publishers – Sending quotation for the required books - Reg.
Ref: Lr.No. – 324/Engl/2010/dated30/03/2010 of the HOD.

I feel greatly privileged to send the quotation to your esteemed college. We are
pleased to quote the following rates for the books your require .

Sl. No. Title Price per book

1. Spoken English Rs. 60/-
2. Better English Grammar
and Composition Rs. 18/-
3. Living English Structure Rs. 100/-

Packing and transportation charges other duties and taxes are included in the price
quoted. We also allow 5% discount if No. of copies will be above 50.

We hope to receive your order soon.

Yours faithfully,

Sales Manager

60
13.15 JOB APPLICATION LETTER

606, Krishna Nagar,

Lucknow – 226002

14th January, 2004.

To
The Personnel Manager,
National Petroleum Company,
80 Netaji Marg,
New Delhi – 110009.

Sir,
Sub: Application for the post of Executive Engineer – Reg.
Ref: Times of India of 12 th January, 2010.

th
Your advertisement for an executive engineer in the Times of India of 12
January, 2010 interests me because I believe that I have the right qualif ication and
requisite experience for the job.

After doing B.E. in Chemical Engineering , I have worked as an Assistant

Engineer in India Oil Corporation for about six years. During this period I have gained
experience in using modern techniques for increa sing the production. The enclose
‘resume’ for kind perusal.

I am sure I would be able to make significant contribution for the growth and
expansion of your organization. I would therefore be grateful if you give an opportunity
to be interviewed.

Yours faithfully,

T. SATISH.
Encl: Resume

61
 RESUME

Personal Details
Name : T. Satish
Date of Birth : 15th July, 1974
Marital Status : Married, one son aged three
Nationality : 606, Krishna Nagar
Address : Lucknow – 226002 (UP)

Education
Year Examination Division Institution Remarks
1990 High School 1 Govt. Junior College, Lucknow
1992 Intermediate 1 - do-
1997 B.E. (Chemical Engg.). 1 Regional Engineering College,

Allahabad
Profile:
I did Chemical process technology and process Design Decision and Chemical process
calculation as part of my B.E. programme wh ich have given me an insight into the oil
processing technology.

Training
As a trainee from June 1998 to December 1998 in Indian Oil Corporation acquired
practical experience in oil processing.

Awards
Won a certificate of merit for record production in 2 000.

References
1. Prof. R. N. Bhandari
Head, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Regional Engineering College, Allahabad
2. Sri. B.D. Jaiswal
Deputy Chief engineer (Production)
Telbhavan,Sansad Marg. New Delhi – 110001

62
 3. Sri. R.P. Ghosh
Training Manager
Indian Oil Corporation, Goswami Road
Calcutta – 7000056.

Yours sincerely,

• Quotations
Write a letter to xyz chemicals and glassware to send the quotation for the
equipment you need.

• Letter of order
Write a letter of order to ‘REPUTED FURN ITURE’ to send the furniture as per
the list that your have already sent.

• Claim
Imagine that you are an officer of Sports Development Authority. Write a letter of
claim to VIP Sports Company that has sent you certain broken crick et bats.

• Social Correspondence
Write a letter to your friend congratulating him on his promotion as Marketing
Manager.

• Personal Letter
Write a letter to your friend explaining the importance of English Language Lab
in your college.

63
 14. THE STYLE

A report is the Verbal structure, and style is the way we select and arrange the
elements of structure. Jonathan Swift thought that style is “proper words in proper
places”. Lord Chesterfield said that style is the “dress of though ts”.

14.1 Importance of Professional Writing: The ability to communicate effectively is one

of the greatest assets anyone can acquire but the most common and perhaps the greatest
communication problem today is that many people are unaware that they lack
communicative ability.

To be an effective writer:

Visualize what you wish to say. If the picture you want to communicate is clear to you,
the words should automatically follow to express it.

Prepare the first draft without caring much for the mechanics of w riting.

Stop when you have finished saying what you wanted to say.

Revise the draft carefully; delete a word, phrase, sentence or paragraph that does not add
any meaning to point under discussion.

Approach the problems with scientist’s objectivity, detachment and passion for truth. This
will help make your writing crisp and sharp.

14.2 Choice of words and phrases: No two words in a language convey exactly the
same meaning. For example, pretty’, ‘charming’ and ‘delightful’ are not synonyms they
have only a c ommon area of meaning. Sometimes a wrong choice of words may lead to
embarrassment, confusion and misunderstanding.

Do’s

Prefer concrete to abstract words: A concrete word permits limited interpretation and
conveys more definite meaning. A few examples are names of persons. Number, words,
dates etc. (e.g. I, he, she, etc.). Abstract words have a tendency to be general and vague.

Original Revised

a. Fuel tanks deformation was present The fuel tank was deformed.

b. The reason for the popularity of slides Slides are popular because they are

is the simplicity of their preparation easy to prepare.

64
Precision

Prefer specific to general words: The use of specific words makes writing clearer and
immediately creates an image in the mind of the reader.

1. She has developed a new gas lighter (designed)

2. Transfer the liquid into the receptacle (pour, beaker)

Conciseness: Modifiers of nouns and verbs tend to be vague and subjective. Use verbs
instead of phrases having - -‘ation words’ formed from verbs.

Phrases (Modifier) Verbs

Make an investigation investigate

Prepare a formulation formulate

Plainness: Prefer plain and familiar to long and unfamiliar

Long and unfamiliar Short and familiar

Expedite hurry up

Optimum best

Residence house

Commence start

Endeavor try

Envisage foresee

14.3 Cliches: A cliché is a faded word or a phrase, which has lost its effectiveness
because of overuse. When it is first coined it is fresh and vigorous and conveys the
meaning vividly. With the passage of time it losses sharpness and ceases to exercise the
desired impact. Very often when you start writing, such words and phrases come to your
mind and if you are not alert, find a place in the text of your report and thus weaken it.

14.4 Avoid excessive us e of jargon: ‘The technical terminology or characteristic idiom

of a special language or group’ – jargon. Every group of specialists has developed a
highly specialized terms, yet these are the very words that cause readers a lot of difficulty.

14.5 Avoid using foreign words and phrases: Foreign words and phrases also like
jargon are often used to impress and mystify the reader or to parade one’s scholarship.
Some writers believe that their use would make the writing dignified. Thus instead of ‘see
above’ they use ‘vide supra’ but keep your writing simple, use plain English for foreign
words and phrases. Abbreviations like e.g. ie.e., viz., a.m., p.m., need not be avoided.

65
Avoid Redundancy: Redundancy is the part of message that can be eliminated without
loss of information. It may be either the use of unnecessary words or needless repetition
of an idea. It has been well said that a sentence should have no unnecessary words, just as
a drawing should have no unnecessary lines, and a machine no unnecessary parts . Here
are some of the superfluous words that the underlined:

1. Basic fundamental
2. Resume again
3. Absolutely essential
4. Completely eliminated
5. Through out the entire month
6. Repeated again
7. Fast speed-readers
8. Refer back

As detailed above, a report was to be prepared in the practical class room and attempt the
following.

1) Supposing you are a police inspector and the D.G.P has asked your to submit a
report about the smuggling of drugs from across the border, suggest what can be
done to check this.

2) Imagine that your are the Director of a private detective agency and you have been
employed by a client to find out who has been threatening him on phone. Prepare
a report of your investigation and findings and suggest what he should do.

3) Write a report about the need of the establishment of Medical Colleges in all tribal
areas of the state.

4) Write a report on the need to use non conventional energy sources like the wind
and the sun and how these will replace conventional energy sources in a few
decades.

66
 15. PRECIS WRITING AND SUMMARIZING

The word précis means an abstract, abridgement or summary; and précis writing
means summarizing. To make a précis of a given passage is to extract its main points and
to express them as clearly and as briefly as p ossible.

15.1 The essential features of a good précis are:

• It should be give the main points and the general impression of the passage
summarized.
• It should be read like a continuous piece of prose.
• It should be clear. It must present the substance of th e original in clear language
• It should be precise and brief. Cutaway all irrelevancies, omit all digressions and
remove all unimportant details.
• It should not be sketchy. It should be complete in every way. It should contain all
that is important in the original.

15.2 Important points while making a précis:

• Write down in order all the important points of the original passage, which serves
as a framework.
• Keeping this framework before you, now try to write your summary.
• Write simply, clearly and briefly.
• See that the parts of your précis have the same balance and proportion in relation
to one another, as do the parts of original.
• It will be advisable to present the facts in the same order as they appear in the
original.
• If the length of the précis is not prescribed, about one third of the original is
usually expected.
• Choose your words carefully. Avoid all unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. Pay
proper attention to important nouns and verbs that make your précis short and
impressive.
• The use of direct spee ch is to be avoided. The précis is written in indirect speech,
after a verb of saying in the past tense.
• Avoid figurative language, omit all metaphors and similes. Avoid redundancy and
ambiguous words.
• Precis must be connected whole.

Some Don’ts
• Don’t write your précis in a very small hand in order to give impression of
conciseness.
• Don’t add comments of your own or other irrelevancies.
• Don’t borrow phrases and sentences from the original.
• Don’t emphasize the wrong point.
• Don’t exceed or fall short of the prescribed limit by more than five and six words.
• Don’t make your précis a series of disjointed sentences.
• Don’t be so brief as to become unintelligible. Your précis must be brief and clear.
• Don’t use colloquial expressions, circumlocutions or rhetorical s tatements.
• Don’t write bad English. Avoid mistakes in spelling, grammar punctuation, idiom
and the like.

67
 • Don’t use personal construction when summarizin g. Avoid such phrases as I
think, I believe, and in my op inion etc.,

Make a précis of the following paragraph and suggest suitable title:

1. Speech is a great blessing, but it can also be a great cur, for, while it helps us to
make our intentions and desires known to our fellows, it can also, if we use it carelessly,
make our attitude completely misund erstood. A slip of the tongue, these of an unusual
word, or of an ambiguous word and so on, may create an enemy where we had hoped to
win a friend. Again different classes of people use different vocabularies, and the
ordinary speech of an educated man ma y strike an uneducated listener as showing pride;
unwittingly we may use a word, which bears a different meaning to our listeners form
what it does to men of our own class. Thus speech is not a gift to use lightly without
though, but one, which demands car eful handling. Only a fool will express himself alike
to all kinds and conditions of men.

2. Men are not made in the same mould, like a lot to bricks. It would have ill -suited
the wants of the world if it had been so. Consequently, even in the same cou ntry, men
differ in disposition, and inclination and manners, and opinion, more probably than they
do in face or form. And between the people of different countries the contract is even
more striking. We have then, also, different sentiments, different sym pathies, different
hopes, different ways altogether. It will always be so. So long as there are different
minds, there will be different views on all matters that admit of opinion. So long as there
are different degrees or latitude and longitude, as well a s differing circumstances there
will be different interests different attachment and different habits. It behoves us,
therefore, to cultivate a generous spirit of forbearance towards those, of whatever race,
who may think differently and act differently, f rom ourselves. Even though we may be
convinced that they are wrong, if we know them to be sincere, we should still bear with
them and give them credit for their sincerity.

This is the virtue of toleration or bearing with others when we may differ from
them, or may not like their ways. Toleration should be shown in all differences of opinion
on even the highest matters of life and death; and there it is of more value than anywhere
else. When we cannot agree with one about a point of science, or philosophy , or faith, we
can at least agree to differ from hi, and there is an end. We must always remember that
we are all likely to make mistakes and possess weaknesses, and that we ourselves need
the same forbearance and sympathy. We are, besides, all of the same human brotherhood,
and should, “like brothers, agree”.

68
 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Figurative language is associated with literature —and with poetry in a particular.

But the fact is, whether we’re conscious of it or not, we use figure s of speech every day in
our writing and conversations.

The Top Figures

1. Alliteration: Repetition of an initial constant sound. In this way language
becomes musical.
Eg: How high his honor holds his haughty head.
2. Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phr ases.
Eg: God made the country but man made the town unite d we stand divided we
fall.
3. Apostrophe: Breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing, some
abstract quality, an inanimate object, or a nonexistent character.
Eg: Wild west wind, thou breath of Antumns being.
4. Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term of one considered
offensively explicit.
5. Hyperbole: An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the
purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. Here is the smell of blood still; All
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.
6. Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A
statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or
presentation of the idea.
Eg: He is an honorable man (in fact he is not)
7. Epigram: A brief pointed saying. Eg: the child is the father of man.
8. Metaphor: An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually
something important in common.
Eg: The camel is the ship of the desert.
9. Metonymy: a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for
another with which it is closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of
describing something indirectly by referring to things around it.
Eg: The pe n is mighter than sword.

69
10. Onomatopoeia: The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated
with the objects or action they refer to. The murmurous haunt of files in summer
eves.
11. Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictor y terms
appear side by side.
Eg: James I was the widest fool in Christendom.
12. Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is
endowed with human qualities or abilities.
Eg: Opportunity knocks at the door but once.
13. Pun: A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and
sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.
Eg: An ambassador is a gentleman who lies abroad for the good of his country.
14. Simile: A stated comparison (usually formed with “like” or” “as”) between tw o
fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.
Eg: The younger brother is as good as gold.
15. Synechdoche: A figure of speech is which a part is used to represent the whole,
the whole for a part, the spec ific for the general, the general for the specific, or the
material for the thing made from it.
Eg: Kalidhasa is the shakespeare of India.

70
 16. INTERVIEWS
Interview is an interaction between two or more people. During an interview there
is usually an interviewee – a person who is posed to answer the questions on one side. On
the other, there is an interviewing team – also known as interviewers that consists of one
more persons. An interview may differ from occasion to occasion as it is conducted to
achieve different objectives. Interviews are usually conducted by the employers to recruit
and select employees and by the media to know the opinions of intellectuals and well -
placed people on various issues that effect us in one way or the other. Job interviews are
the most common method of recruitment and selection of candidates for different jobs.

16.1 The Screening Interview: The purpose of such interviews is to weed unqualified
and unsuitable candidates for a particular job. The interviewer here will be in terested in
looking for the gaps in your employment history. He may ask you the reason for such
gaps and what you did during this period. Obviously you have to sound convincing. The
interviewer usually looks for questionable matter in your bio -data. The purpose is to
disqualify you if your qualifications are not acceptable and convincing. The interviewer
will also examine your earlier experience and the new job fit.

Keep the following points in mind while participating in such interviews:

1. Give simple and direct answers.

2. Be ready to comment on your suitability for the job and difficult areas of your bio -
data.
3. Instead of quoting the exact figure for the salary your are expected to give your
employer the range, making his choice bigger. Do not raise the salary issue on
your own, let the interviewer talk about it.
4. Keep a note -card handy with important details when you are commenting on the
acceptability and recognition of your degrees and diplomas. You must possess
relevant documents in support of your statement s.

16.2 The informational Interview: The informational interview is conducted by a

company keeping in mind the future requirements of employees. The immediate objective
is not to hire your but to keep you on the list of candidates who are likely to be call ed for
interview when the demand in your area of specialization arises. Here the interviewer is
more interested in knowing the details of your education and experience, your interests
and your future plans. Since the interviewer would be examining your pro spective
employment in the company in future he is likely to ask questions to know your academic
standard, communicative competence and your approach to the issues being faced by the
company and even your approach to the issues being faced by the company a nd even
problems encountered by the public in general. Take care of the following while attending
such interviews:

1. Update your knowledge on academics and current issues.

2. Be ready to convince the interviewer about future role in the company. It will do
good if you match your ambition wit the expectation of the company.
3. You can inform the interviewer about the person who introduced you to the
company. This is especially important if the interviewer and your referee know
each other.

71
16.3 The Directive Style: While conducting such an interview will ask questions that are
already prepared. Sequence, questions and attitude of the interviewer are supposed remain
the same with all the candidates called for the interview. The objective is to compare the
answers given by the different candidates and then select the best person. The excel in
this type of interview you should keep the following in mind:

1. It is quality and not the quantity that is important. Ensure that the quality of your
answers is high and consistent.
2. Listen to the interviewer carefully and understand his questions in the right
perspective. This will raise the quality of your answers.
3. While tacking difficult questions, use your wit and common sense to arrive at a
reasonably good and acceptable answer.

16.4 The Meandering Style: This type is the opposite of the earlier directive type of
interviews. Such interviews are usually conducted by experienced interviewers. The
interview usually starts with easiest questions such as “introduce your self to the memb ers
of the panel.” The objective is to put you at ease and to let you talk without stress.
However, the interviewer will ask the next question based on the answer given by you to
his earlier question. Thus, in a way, you decide what will be his next questi on. If you are
careful, you will be able to control the direction of the interview in you favour. To excel
in this type of interview, you should keep the following in your mind:

1. Prepare your write -up to introduce yourself to the members of the panel and
practice it in front of a mirror or your friends.
2. Effective delivery and simple language is necessary to ensure that your message
gets across.
3. As these interviews also assess your communicative and inter personal skills it is
important to remain confident ti ll the end even when certain questions are difficult
to answer.

16.5 The Stress Interview: The stress interview involves keeping the candidate in stress,
in order to know how a candidate would react or respond in difficult and stressful
conditions. You may be asked to wait for a very long period of time without any plausible
reason. In such an interview, you may face cold stares, jeering and guffaws at your cost.
Someone may choose to humiliate you about your persona, your personal beliefs, even
your academic performance. Again the purpose is to provoke you and to put you under
stress and then examine your reaction in. While tackling such an interview you must bear
in mind the following.

1. Remember that your calm and confident attitude is your best asset in t his type of
interview.
2. Keep in mind that if you get provoked, you lose everything.
3. Presence of mind and your wit and humour can save you from a typically difficult
situation.

72
16.6 The Behavioural Interview: The company that wants to hire you would like t o
make a detailed inquiry about your problems, day routines, opportunities and challenges,
competition from colleagues, over-all prevailing environment, etc.

1. Have a critical look at your bio -data to include the skills you used ad initiative that
you showed in order to excel in a given situation.
2. Exclude from your bio -data what you think would be difficult to justify.
3. Prepare a story or an anecdote to explain a particular skill you practiced for
solving a problem.
4. Make a list of achievements in your previous job and the skills that helped you
make these achievements.

16.7 The Audition: Many companies are interested to know how you perform in a real -
job situation. The audition is, in fact, a good opportunity for those candidates who do not
possess extraordinary communication and interpersonal skills but have acquired all
requisite skills needed for their particular job, which otherwise does not need much
interaction with other individuals in the company. Such an interview can usually be
conducted when the compa ny is planning to hire employees for posts like computer
programmer, data analyzer, graphic designer, etc. keep the following in mind to do well
in this type of interview.

1. Revise and practice the skills that are useful to handle the job in question.
2. Have a hands-on experience on the apparatus, gadgets and machines you are
likely to use in your next job.
3. Your bio-data should specifically mention the skills that you possess and those
that are likely to be used frequently in your future employment.

16.8 The Tag-Team Interview: When you are made to face four or five persons
simultaneously or when your are supposed to see them one after another, your are passing
through the tag team interview. The tag team interview is arranged in a company when
the company wants to examine you as a candidate who can handle many persons at the
same time or different times of the day. They want to see your ability to make a
judgement taking into consideration the differing opinions of different people in the
organization. This inte rview also tests your ability to sift the grain from the chef. To do
well in such an interview you should keep the following in your mind.

1. Maintain eye contact with the person who you are taking to.
2. Acquire fine communicative competence and listen to every member very
carefully.
3. While responding to the questions of the panel, offer balanced opinion.
4. Maintain your cool when you have to adjust with the contradictory opinion of the
different members of the panel.
5. Remember that each member of the team is equall y important and neither should
be ignored

73
16.9 The Mealtime Interview: As the name suggest, mealtime interviews are conducted
over meals.

1. Stay controlled and observant throughout the interview.

2. Be guided by the eating habits and manners of your hosts as they may be
representing the company culture you are intending to work for.
3. Be polite and do not go for very expensive food items on the menu, in case your
are offered to make a choice.
4. Do not be very f inicky to display your strange food habits. Try to accommodate
with your hosts.
5. Listen to each and every member carefully and do not mix business with personal
talk.
6. It is always safer to reply to the interviewers’ questions on personal matters than
venturing on your interests without being asked to do so. However, one can
always take calculated risks on matters pertaining to office.

16.10 The Follow-up Interview: There is a possibility of your being called to second,
third or even fourth interview by the same company. A company chooses to call you for
more than one interaction for various reasons. If you are meeting the people you have met
earlier, use this opportunity to cement relationship and inquire about the goals of the
company.

1. On getting a call fro m the company where you have already been interviewed,
revise your facts, skills and aptitude carefully, keeping your earlier interaction in
mind.
2. You may also try to obtain more knowledge about the company and its products
3. If your are able to find somebod y who has already worked in the organization and
your are able to collect first hand information, it would prove be an added
advantage.

16.11 Fermi Interview: Fermi Interview takes its name from Enrico Fermi, a person who
always challenged his students wit h unique types of questions in the University of
Chicago. His Fermi questions involved making logical assumptions to most hypothetical
problems that seemed difficult, given inadequate data and restricted time. He developed a
new technique to assess the pra ctical implication of one’s knowledge in unheard of
situations. The candidate’s common sense as well as the sixth sense are tested in this
unique way. An example of a question asked in such an interview is, ‘if there was a well -
metalled road to the moon an d you were sitting in your car to drive to there, how long
would you take to reach there?

1. Keep cool headed whatever be the difficulty level of the question.

2. Polish your mathematical and reasoning faculties.
3. Be alert to each member’s question in the intervi ew.

74
Preparing for the Interview:

• Prepare an update on your newly acquired skills, interests, values and

accomplishments
• Show that you have really taken care of things and are well -prepared for the job at
hand.
• Do anticipate and practice elaborately t he questions that are likely to be asked in
the interview. Both content and style matter.
• Your must have full information about the location and the available transport
facilities to reach the venue of the interview. You must reach the place at least half
an hour early before the scheduled time. Keep enough margins for transport
delays.
• Decide in advance a suitable dress for yourself to be worn on the occasion.
• Keep a file in which you arrange the relevant pieces of information, articles, and
comments of the experts on matters related to your areas of study and interests.
• You can access the web site of the company or approach some of its past or
present employees.
• Do not forget to collect the business cards or the contact numbers of the experts.
This informa tion could be of great help at a later stage.
• You must make your presence felt at the interview.
• Sharpen your communication skills by developing a perfect command of a
suitable vocabulary range and structures.
• Your answers must exhibit your creativity and the originality of your approach.
• You must project yourself as a thorough professional who is going to be an asset
to your company. Your answers must reveal your profession.
• Think positively before and after the interview. Suppose you were not selected
somewhere, believe it was for the best.
• While leaving the venue do indicate to the panel that if position is offered you will
certainly join it.
• Finally, learn some calm down techniques. When you go to the interview venue
and feel very agitated, inhale and e xhale deeply three times and you will feel some
respite.

Body Language and Interview:

• Walk straight with confident steps after you have been called in.
• Politely greet the interviewer/interviewers, expressing your confidence and good
manners.
• If the interviewer holds out his hand, give him a firm handshake revealing your
interest and confidence.
• Do not shake your legs or hands while sitting in the chair. This reveals your
nervousness.
• Sit straight and look into the eyes of the person who wants to question y ou.
• You should smile confidently each time after a question has been thrown at your
to indicate that you have listened carefully and you are going to answer.
• Never interrupt your interviewer. Let him complete first.

75
 • Use your hands to explain things. Moveme nt of your hands should explain your
meaning. For example, do not spread your hand wide while you talk about small
sizes.
• Speak your answers in a clear audible voice. Never mumble and fumble for
words.
• Don’t forget to wish the people in the interview. Gree t them when you enter and
when you leave, leave with a cheerful ‘Thank you’.

The sole aim of an interview should be to probe into the psyche of a person and
bring out surprising and unknown facts that the interviewee may not know. Physical
appearance, gestures and the very way you communicate count a lot in an employment
interview.

Types of Interviews Questions: A true interview is a friendly discussion where in a

variety of questions are asked. They can be broadly classified as:

Direct Questions: They are explicit and demand specific information.

Eg. What is your name?

Open ended questions: They are not so straight. You are asked to elaborate on a specific
topic. Eg. 1. What is your opinion about Women’s reservation Bill?

2. Tell us something about your previous job?

Closed questions: They demand ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer or a one word or sentence
response

1. Are you comfortable?

2. Would you like to have a glass of water?
3. If selected how much of time would you take to join?

76
 IDIOMATIC LANGUAGE
An idiom is a form of expression peculiar to a language. For example, through it
is correct to say, “He found it hard to make both ends meet”, it is incorrect to say, “He
found it hard to make his two ends meet”.
1. A bed of roses: all easy prosperity
We cannot call this life full of cares and anxieties a bed of roses.
2. An axe to grind: some selfish interest to serve
Let me assure you gentlemen, that I have no axe to grind. Your adopting my plan
can in no way benefit me.
3. To nip in the bud: to des troy at an early age.
All evil tendencies should be nipped in the bud
4. Apple of one’s eye : the most treasured possession
His little son is the apple of his eye
5. With open arms : warmly, affectionately
A graduate is not welcomed with open arms in the offices and schools
6. To do yeoman’s service : to do substantial work
In fact the Scots did yeoman’s service by restoring the lost children to their is
respective parents.
7. in a fix: difficult situation
He put us in a real fix when he did not co me to pick up.
8. Bring to light : disclose
The parliamentary enquiry into the Before deal did not bring to light any startling
facts.
9. Throw dust in eyes: to deceive
He is in the habit of throwing dust in his superior’s eyes.
10. To bell the cat : to take lead in danger
Leaders should not only make speeches; they should also be prepared to bell the
cat.

Explain the underlined part of the sentence.

• I am prepared to meet you half way.
• He is not worth his salt if he fails at the juncture.
• His maiden spe ech fell very flat.

77
• Your arguments will not hold water.
• From his attitude it is clear that he wants to pay off old scores.
• He is always putting a spoke in my wheel.
• Fortune is ever fickle and every dog has his day
• They were bosom friends but now they are at daggers drawn.
• If you work by fits and starts, you will not progress much.
• You must lie on the bed you have made.
• I am not a t your beck and call
• As a warrior Sivaji was head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
• I am leaving India for good.
• Mrs. Mehta keeps an open house.
• With the small income, I find it rather difficult to keep my head above water.
• Mrs. Sharma keeps an open house.
• An honest man is not afraid of calling a spade a spade.
• She looks serious but she is laughing her sleeve.
• She is overhead and ears in live.
• You should leave no stone unturned to secure the first position in your semester
final examinations.
• The shopkeeper threw dust in the customer’s eye.
• He shot the man in cold blood.
• I greeted her but she gave me a cold shoulder.
• He was a square peg in a round hole.
• Don’t be a dog in the manger
• If the prince opened the right door, he was sure to be devoured by the famished
lion; if he opened the left one he was going to be imprisoned for life, he was,
therefore, between Scylla and Charybdis.
• When his misdeeds came to light, he was left with no option but to eat humble pie.
• It was the gift of the gab that made him popular.
• You cannot have your cake and eat it too.
• You must cut your coat according to the cloth; other wise you will come to gr ief.

78
PRACTICAL
Lec. Topic/Lesson Time Teaching Teaching aid Refer-
No method ence
33. Listening to short talks 2 hr 30 Practice in Tape Recorder 7
and lectures mts listening
34. Spoken English, Stress 2 hr 30 Listening to Tape Recorder 4
and intonation mts Spoken
English
Cassettes
35. Seminars and 2 hr 30 Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
Conferences mts lecture & Public
Address
system
36. Seminars and 2 hr 30 Demonstration Public address 2,5
Conferences mts system
37. Oral Presentation by 2 hr 30 Interactive Chalk board 2,5
students mts lecture
38. Evaluation of oral 2 hr 30 Interactive Cha lk Board 2,5
presentation mts lecture & Tape
Recorder
39. Types of 2 hr 30 Interactive Chalk Boards 6,7
Communication Face to mts lecture, Role & Tape
face paly Recorder
40. Types of Communication 2 hr 30 Interactive Chalk Board 6,7
Telephonic conversation mts lecture, Role & Tape
play Recorder
41. Reading Skills 2 hr 30 Interactive Public 2,5,6
mts lecture & Address
demonstration System
42. Meetings, Purpose, 2 hr 30 Interactive Chalk Board 2,5
procedure, mts lecture
Participation
43. Meetings, Chairmanship, 2 hr 30 Interactive Public address 2,5
Physical arrangements mts lecture &
etc demonstration
44. Presentation of reports by 2 hr 30 Demonstration LCD projector 2,5
using power point and mts
LCD
45. Interviews 2 hr 30 Interactive Public address 2,5
mts lecture system
46. Interviews 2 hr 30 Practice of Public address 2,5
mts Mock system
interviews
47. Group Discussion & 2 hr 30 Interactive & Public address 2,5,6
Debates mts Role play system &
Chalk Board
48. Using Dictionary 2 hr 30 Interactive & Chalk Board
mts Role play and
Dictionary

79
 1. EFFECTIVE LISTENING
Introduction:
Language begins with the ear and lives on the lips and tongue of the speaker,
listening should precede speaking, and is the secret of effective beginning in language
learning. It is impossible to expect a student to produc e a sound or a natural sentence of
the foreign language, which does not exist in mothe r-tongue, unless he has listens to a
model of the form is produce d. Speaking comes in a natural sequence after listening. In
other words, speaking is built upon accurate listening. In this chapter, we shall consider
these two activities, that is, listening and speaking.

1.1 Developing Listening Skill

At the first sight, it appears that listening is a passive skill. This is not true. A
receptive skill is involved in under standing the message. Indeed, it is essential to the
speaker in any interaction that the words are being unders tood. This is indicated by the
nods, glances, body movements and often by non -verbal sounds. Listening skills can be
classified into two types.

1) Extensive listening 2) Intensive listening. In extensive listening. The teacher’s

aim is to create a general familiarity with the phonological style of speaking. It is like
general listening to natural English, not necessarily under the teacher’s gu idance.
Extensive listening can be used for two different purposes. First, and the basic, use of the
type of listening is the re -presentation of already known material in a new environment.
This could be a recently taught as structure-point, or a set of wo rds which were
introduced months before and need revision. Secondly, extensive listening can serve the
purpose of letting the students to hear vocabular y items and structures which have not yet
familiar to them. These can be interposed in the flow of langu age which is in their
capacity to handle.

Intensive listening is controlled listening under the guidance of the teacher. It is

concerned with one or two specific points. It is concerned with language items a part of
the language teaching programme. Liste ning can be for grammatical as well as lexical
purposes. Passages with a high incidence of a given grammatical feat ure provide
excellent material.

In fact, listening is an important means of gathering information and acquiring

knowledge. As a student, one has to listen to lectures, seminar presentation, instruction,
and view expressed in discussions and conversations . And as a professional, one would
have to listen to outside contacts and your boss, colleagues, and subordinates within the
organization. Whatever be the circumstances, if you do not listen effectively, we may
land in trouble or in an embarrassing situation. Remember that all successful executives
and managers are usually good listeners. The cultivation, namely speaking, writing, and
reading. A number of benefits would accrue to you by cultivating this skill.

• Improve intellectual ability to understand and evaluate the view and opinion
expressed by others.
• Enable s to gather proper and accurate information, facilitating appropriate
decision making
• Assist to establish rapport with co-workers quickly
• Help the speaker give his best both in dyadic and group communication situations.

80
1.2 HONING LISTENING SKILL
• Prepare to listen by gathering information about the setting, the topic and the
speaker.
• Have a positive attitude towards both the speaker and the topic.
• Keep an open mind. First, try to understand what is being said and then evaluate it
withy reference to context.
• Observe the non -verbal clues such as twinkle in the eye, flourish of hand ,
shrugging of shoulders, facial expression, etc, that is, listen with eyes and not
merely with ears. The visual clues would assist in understanding not only what the
speaker says but also indicate his attitude towards the points he is making.
• Ignore distraction s uch as the gaudy dress, odd body movements, or speech
mannerism of the speakers
• Refrain form interruption, premature comments, direct advice, especially in
seminars and meetings. Wait till turn comes or till it is asked to comment and ask
questions.
• Have patience while listening the speed of thinking is much more than that of
speaking. The time between the two may lead to boredom to avoid these, may be
used the time gap for summarizing mentally what was spoken earlier - examing
the strategies being employed by the speaker for things such as main population of
language, management of transitions from one point to another, use of
embellishments such as anecdotes, jokes quotations, etc. to influence, cajole or
persuade you.
• Take notes systematically. Jot down n ot only the main points but also the gist of
supporting evidence or arguments. Invent your personal abbreviations to record
the key words and phrases. It is advisable to do so because we tend to forget
tomorrow what we hear today.

1.3 COMMUNICATION CORE

Listening is an important component in the process of communication. It is an
instrument which we keep on using throughout life for gathering information and
acquiring knowledge. There is a need , therefore to improve the skill of listening
through conscious efforts.

Listening skills allow you to understand what someone is “talking about”.

Good listening skills make workers more productive. The ability to listen carefully will
allow you to.
• Better understand assignments and what is expected of you;
• Build ra pport with co-workers, bosses, and clients;
• Show support;
• Work better in a team -based environment;
• Resolve problems with customers, co-workers, and bosses;
• Answer questions; and
• Find underlying meaning in what others say.

81
 2. LISTENING TO SHORT TALKS

2.1 How to listen well

The following tips will help us to listen well.
• Maintain eye contact;
• Don’t interrupt the speaker;
• Sit still’
• Nod your head;
• Lean towards the speaker;
• Repeat instruction and ask appropriate questions when the speaker has finished.

A good listener knows that being attentive to what the speaker doesn’t say is as important
as being attentive to what he does say. Look for non -verbal clues such as facial
expressions and posture to get the full gist of what the speaker presents.

2.2 B arriers to Listening

• Beware of the following things that may get in the way of listening.
• Bias or prejudice;
• Language differences or accents;
• Noise;
• Worry, fear, or anger; and
• Lack of attention.

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 3. INTRODUCTION TO SPOKEN ENGLISH

Language is a system o f communication through speech and writing. English is a

language spoken by vast majority of the population around the world. In India English is
spoken by the educated and the elite. It is also extensively used in the field of business.
Sports, films, jou rnalism and so on. Although belated, Spoken English is on its way to
establish a firm ground. Received pronunciation (R.P) is the standard form of spoken
communication accepted through out the world. It originated form the southern part of the
United Kingdom. Several dialects of English like the American English, Indian English,
Australian English have also made their way on the global horizon.

Indian English, in its spoken form, carries with it the regional accent and we can
easily identify the nativity of the speaker in majority of cases. Few Indian speakers
nevertheless do speak what can be called “neutral English” which is not overshadowed
either by the influence of mother tongue or the trace of regional accent.

Spoken English has given rise to seve ral branches. The two most common streams
connected with it are orthography and orteopy.
Orthography: It is the study of the spelling of words related to a particular language.
Ortheopy: It is the study of pronunciation of words related to a particular lan guage.
Improving Voice and Speech: Constant practice is a must to improve our speech. One
should regularly be in touch with the language in order to master it. A speech event is not
an ordinary one but involves a series of operations.
Phonetic Symbols: The way we spell a word and the way we pronounce it has a lot of
difference. In the oral delivery of the world LITTLE the letters T (the latter) and E are of
no significance. It is pronounced as LITL i.e. the spoken form of this words is / litl/. Two
slashes // are used, one at the beginning and one at the end of the word to indicate that we
are writing it in its spoken form or phonetic form. The following are the two forms of the
word LITTLE.

83
 Written Spoken Form
Little /litl/
The word CAT is written phonetically as /kat/ since the letter C has no sound in its
spoken form. The symbol ? in / kaet / represents the first sound of At, An, Angry etc. two
important points one has to remember while writing a word in phonetic sc ript are:
1. Always indicate the phonetic script in between two slashes – one at the beginning
and the other at the end of the word / sentence.
2. Always use small letters except while writing the letters Z and S. Small Z (z) does
not occur in phonetics. So also is the case with small S (s).

There are some words, although few in number, which are identical both in their
written and spoken forms one has to use slashes / / here to indicate its projection in
spoken form.

Written Spoken form

Put /p u t /
The letters that represent the phonetic script are known as phonetic symbols.
Some phonetic symbols are similar to that of the alphabet while some acquire totally
different form. Phonetic symbol may be vowel or consonant. Our study of vowels and
consonants shall be related to the study of phonetics or ortheopy.

Vowels: These differ form consonants in their manner of articulation. During

pronunciation or articulation of vowel , air escapes freely, openly and through the mouth.
The same may no t be true in the case of consonants. Vowels are further categorized into
Monophthongs, Diphthongs and Triphthongs.

3.1 Monophthongs: These are single symbols representing a single sound. There are
twelve monopthongs in English
1. / ? / — Initial sound of ‘About’ ‘Alike’ ‘Attempt’
2. / ^ / — Initial sound of ‘Umbrella’ ‘Understand’
3. /3:/ — Initial sound of ‘Earn’ ‘Early’
4. / ae / — Initial sound of ‘Apple’ ‘Ass’ ‘Ant’
5. / a: / — Initial sound of ‘Arm’ ‘Art’ ‘Ask’
6. /e/ — Initial sound of ‘Elephant’ ‘Enemy’

84
 7. /i/— Initial sound of ‘Ink’ ‘In’ ‘If’
8. / i:/ — Initial sound of ‘Eagle’ ‘Eat’
9. Initial sound of ‘Ox’
10. Initial sound of ‘ought’ ‘all’
11. / u / — Middle sound of ‘Push’ ‘Pull’
12. / u : / — Initial sound of ‘ooze’

3.2 Dip hthongs: are combinations of two symbols representing a single sound. There
are eight diphthongs in English
1. / e? / — Pronunciated from of ‘Air’
Final sound of ‘Tear’ (verb)
2. / I? / — Pronunciated form of ‘Ear’
Final sound of ‘Fear’
3. / u? / — Final sound of ‘Poor’

4. / ai / — Initial sound of ‘Ice’ ‘Eyes’

Middle sound of ‘Might’ ‘Sight’
Final sound of ‘Tie’ ‘Die’
5. / ei / — Final sound of ‘May’ ‘Say’
Middle sound of ‘Take’ ‘Say’
6. Initial sound of ‘Oil’
Middle sound of ‘Boil’
7. / ?u / — Initial sound of ‘Oxygen’ ‘Automobile’
Final sound of ‘No’ ‘So’
8. / ?u / — Initial sound of ‘Out’
Middle sound of ‘Shout’

3.3 Triphthongs: A diphthong and a monophthong combine to form a triphtohong.

There are five triphthongs in English.
1. ai +? = /ai? / -- Final sound of ‘Liar’ ‘Fire’
2. ei +?= / e i?/ -- Final sound of ‘Layer’ ‘Player’
3. Middle sound of ‘Loyal’ ‘Royal’
4. ?u+?=/?u?/ -- Final sound of ‘Lower’ “Mower’
5. ?u+?=/?u?/ -- Final sound of ‘Power’ Pronunciated form of ‘Hour’

85
3.4 Consonants: There are twenty-four consonants in English. It must be remembered
that the sounds of the consonants a kin dergarten child learns as a beginner of English are
not the same as the one we find in spoken English. The correct sound of the consonants is
indicated against the symbols below.
1. / K /-- Initial sound of ‘King’ ‘Come’ ‘Kiss’

2. / g / -- Initial sound of ‘Gas’ ;Go’ ‘Get

3. / n / -- Initial sound of ‘Nest’ ‘Note’ ‘ Number’

4. / ? / -- Final sound of ‘Beginning’ ‘turning’
5. /t ?/ -- Initial sound of ‘Cheese’ ‘Channel’ ‘Challenge’
6. / d3 / Initial sound of ‘Cheese’ ‘Channel’ Challenge’
7. / t / -- Initial sound of ‘Tin’ ‘Top’ ‘Tom’
8. / d /-- Initial sound of ‘Dust’ ‘dog’ ‘Dig’
9. / ð / -- Initial sound of ‘Then’ ‘Though’
10. / ? / -- Initial sound of ‘Thin’ ‘Thick’
11. / p / -- Initial sound of ‘Pen’ ‘Push’ ‘Purse’
12. / b / -- Initial sound of ‘Boy’ ‘Ball’ ‘Bell’
13. (No equivalent in Hindi or Telugu present)
Initial sound of ‘Van’ ‘Fit’ ‘Visit’
14. / v / -- (No equivalent in Hindi or Telugu present)
Initial sound of ‘Fan’ ‘Fit’ ‘Visit’
15. / m / -- Initial sound of ‘Man’ ‘Much’ ‘Must’
16. / j / -- Initial sound of ‘Yes’ ‘Youth’ ‘Use’
If slashes are not used it gives the sound of Jas in ‘Jet ’ ‘Just’
jet = Jet (meaning an air craft)
/jet = Yet (meaning ‘until now’)
17. / r / -- Initial sound of ‘Red’ ‘Rose’ ‘Roof’
18. / l / -- Initial sound of ‘Left’ ‘Leap’
19. / w / -- (No equivalent in Hindi or Telugu present)
Initial sound of ‘Won’ ‘West’ ‘Wheat’
20. / ? / -- Initial sound of ‘Shine’ ‘Ship’ ‘Shoot’

86
 21. / 3 / -- (No equivalent in Hindi or Telugu present)
Middle sound of ‘measure’ ‘Treasure’ ‘Pleasure’
22. / S / -- Initial sound of ‘Sun’ ‘Son’ ‘Sit’
23. / Z / -- Initial sound of ‘Zero’ ‘Zebra’ ‘Zest’
24. / h / -- Initial sound of ‘Hen’ ‘Horse’

NOTE: The symbols of 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2,4 may please be seen in Oxford advanced
dictionary
• Attempt a phonetic transcription of the following words. .
1) Apple 2) Comprehension 3) Ball 4) Jug
5) Man 6) Kill 7)Sun 8) Dull
9) Fast 10) Pass 11) Communication 12) Schedule
13) Procedure 14) Democracy 15) Embassy 16) Ordeal
17) Excellent 18) Sanction 19) Neighbor 20) Dais
21) Judge 22) Venue 23) Sensitive 24) Question
25) Negative 26) Exchequer 27) Transaction 28) disguise
29) Fountain 30) demolish 31) Compute 32) Ant
33) Fire 34) Information 35) Agriculture.

87
 4. STRESS AND INTONATION
The sound system involves two important features. These are segmental features,
namely, vowels and consonants, and supra -segmental features, namely, stress and
intonation.
Stress
‘Stress’ is an emphasis or loudness or force. It is “the degree of force with which a
sound or a syllable or a word is uttered.” This means if a word contains two or more
syllables, all the syllables are not uttered with the same degree of force.

English does not have rigid a sys tem of stress patterning as some other langu ages have.

For example:
In the following words, stress falls on the first syllable (denoted by upright bar ‘1’), as,
1 1 1
teacher doctor sister
1 1 1
damage useful father

In the following two syllabic words, the stress falls on the second syllable as:
be1 lieve mis1take a1gain
ex1 tent for 1 lorn re1 ply

Words with more than two syllables: have a third kind of stress that is mid -way to
strong stress and weak stress. It is known as secondary stress. It is marke d by a vertical
stroke below the syllable on which the secondary stress falls. Secondary stress may be
noted in the following words.
exami1nation, prepo1sition, advan1tageous.

Words of more than three syllables: generally have the primary stress on the 2 nd
syllable backward or the 3 rd syllable backward.
1
Education - e du ca tion
4 3 2 1
1
Democratic - de mo cra tic
4 3 2 1

88
 1
Alternative - al ter n tive
4 3 2 1
1
Interrogative - in te rro ga tive
5 4 3 2 1
As pointed out above, there are no set rules for the stressing and non stressing of a
syllable. We get to learn this quality only by practice.

Sentences Stress: “in normal speech all nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are
generally stressed while the other words viz, prepositions, conju nctions, articles, helping
verbs etc., are not stressed.” The following examples may be seen.
1. 1Bring me a 1 glass of water
2. Did you 1go to the market?
3. The 1 boy in the corner is 1 holding a ‘book.
4. The 1 rolling 1stone 1 gathers no 1mass.
5. A 1stitch in 1 time 1saves 1 nine.

INTONATION
Intonation is another quality of fluent speech. Some degree of intonation is
brought in by every person when he speaks because in speech the pitch of voice keeps
changing. Some utterances are made with high pitch while other are spoken at low pitch.
This rise and fall of the pitch of our voice is called intonation.

INTONATION TUNES:
Two important intonation tunes are in use. These are described below.
• Intonation Tune or Falling Tune. This is used in the following ca ses.
i) In Statements. For example,
a) Delhi is the capital of India
b) Man is mortal.
ii) In commands. For example,
a) Shut the door.
b) Do it just now.

89
• Intonation Tune or Rising Tune . This tune is used in the following cases:
i) In questions which can be answered in ‘Yes’ or No’: For example,
a) Is he your son?
b) Are you going to school?
ii) in Requests: For example,
a) Please, shut the door.
b) Please, wait here.

• Implications of stress
• Change in Meaning: As a result of changing pattern of stressing words in
sentences , there results change is the meaning of the utterance. Consider the
utterance,
1
• Geeta is my real sister. ‘Geeta is my real sister.’
• Geeta 1 is my real sister. (Geeta and no other girl)
• Geeta is 1my real sister. (No one else’s)
• Geeta is my 1real sister. (Not step – sister)

Identify the Stress of the following words

1) Axis 2) Examination 3) Psychology 4) Surveillance

5) Tunnel 6) Weather 7) Occupation 8) Habit
9) Socialism 10) Thread 11) Conscious 12) Witness
13) Punctuality 14) Constraint 15) Specific 16) English
17) Viewpoint 18) Faithful 19) Intrude 20) Lesson
21) Stigma 22) Practical 23) Specialization 24) Retirement
25) Horticulture

90
 5. SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES

In earlier times seminars and conferences were limited to the academic world
where the students presented their own research work through oral or written reports; now
these have become common in the professional world also. But life in this century has
become highly competitive owing to unprecedented advances in science and technology.
So there is the increasing need for proper utilization of materials as well as manpower.
These, in turn demand deep thinking and planning, which can be best done by a group
and not by an individual.

5.1 Discussion groups – Types

a) Seminar: This refers to a discussion in a small group in which the result of original
research or advanced study is presented through oral or written report. It may also be
organized for cross -fertilization of ideas. Generally , one person presents a leads paper
incorporating his findings and then there is in -depth discussion on the material presented.

The other members are knowledgeable and take active part in the discussion. They
closely interact with the lead speaker by expressing their views as seen from the
individual’s angle. The doubts, if any, are sought to be clarified by putting specific
questions. The main purpose of seminar is to share knowledge and to get the viewpoints
of the people who are equally well-informed persons.

b) Symposium: In a symposium a small group of experts or well informed persons

discuss different aspects a problem for the benefit or audience. Each speaker is allotted a
certain amount of time for his presentation. Speaker s follow each other in turn until all
have been heard. The audience may participate in the discussion. Though the symposium
is formal, an element of spontaneity is introduced through audience participation. It is
generally suited to programmes presented to a large audience.

c) Panel Discussion: Each member speaks on the announced topic, which is worded as
question instead of delivering a series of speeches on different aspects of the problem.
The members in a panel discussion are usual experts in dealing with the problem selected
for discussion. The panel discussion is a kind of cooperative thinking. This panel
discussion may be followed by question session where the listener may put forth their
questions to the panel members. This type of panel discussion is best suited to public
discussion programmes on radio and T.V.

5.2 Conference: Another type of meeting is conference. The name conference indicates
to confer with persons having the same interest and to collect their experiences and
opinions. The discussion usually results in the end with a set of suggestions or
recommendations on the central theme of the subject. The participants as well as the
subject matters are wider when compared to symposia or seminars. Different groups hold
discussion on different aspects of the conference theme simultaneously at the venue.
Formal lectures, audiovisual presentation, exhibitions are also arranged on this occasion.
The conference is a closed group discussion and the participants have to register their
names f or attending.

91
5.3 Colloquium: Colloquium is an organized conference or seminar on some subject,
involving a number of scholars of experts.

5.4 Convention: Convention is a fellowship meeting of a closely linked fraternal group.

It is more vigorously s tructured than a conference and only matters of professional
interest are discussed. Thus the term is applied to professional of gathering held by
companies, association, societies, etc., and applied to the assembly of the delegates of a
political party.

There are certain generalized rules applicable to all oral communication situations.
Body language plays a significant role in oral communication through which speech can
be regulated.

Regulating Speech: There are six elements of communication namely pitch, volume,
rate, quality, animation and pause.

Pitch: P itch is the tone of sounds depending upon the rate of vibration of vocal chords.
When we speak, there is continuous variation in the levels at which your voice is pitched.

Volume: Refers to the power of the sound and it ranges form very loud to very soft.

Soft: Is the degree of speed at which you speak words.

Quality: The characteristic tone of voice is its quality. Sometimes a voice may be termed
as creaky or jarring to the ears or it may be term ed as pleasant.

Animation: The liveliness of speech is known as animation.

Pause: Refers to junctures in speech.

If one wants to be a successful speaker one should exploit fully the potential of all
the six vocal elements. For self improvement we may tape record our speech and
critically examine it and in subsequent efforts try to suitably amend in the light of self-
analysis.

5.5 Personal appearance: The first impact on the audience is created by the personal
appearance of the speaker. Even before the speaker utters the first syllable we begin to
form an opinion and visualize the way he is going to talk.

a) Posture: Posture conveys a wealth of meaning in an economical way. It is an

important part of body language and refers to the way one stands and walks. The
movement of the body, the position of hands and legs and other parts of the body reveal
an individual’s personality-whether he is vibrant, alive, dynamic, nervous and self assured
etc., A good speaker stands tall, feet together with the wei ght directly over the instep
keeping his chin on a line parallel to the floor or at right angles to the backbone. Standing
in this posture before a group is in fact one of the first essentials for success in
speaking.

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b) Eye contact: Eye contact with th e listener is the most important aspect of the body
language. It has been rightly said that eye is an extension of the brain and window of the
soul. Stress is laid on continuous eye contact because it tells whether the speaker is
sincere and also whether t he listener is interested. Eye contact is a means of gaining
feedback, enabling the communicator to alert, adjust and reframe his message while
transmitting it. Very often this process is automatic and interaction through eyes between
the speaker and the listener takes place unconsciously. Studies have shown that better eye
contact leads to more effective communication. A good speaker looks at all section s of
audience and not on the ground, the ceiling or at the door.

c) Voice: A good voice is a gift of nature but anyone can improve the quality of his
speech with proper training. The three most mobile speech organs are the lips, jaws and
the tongue. They also need exercise. For this purpose, specifically read loud every day for
a few minutes. You will so on discover the rich variety and resources of your vocal
organs. Record your speech on a tape, if possible and listen to it for any flaws. Also mark
how effective speakers vary the pitch of their voice to match the thought, idea or feeling
they convey. The important points are:

• Variation in pitch and tempo of the voice is essential to convey your message. A
speech delivered in monotone makes the audience to sleep.
• Fast delivery betrays a lack of confidence. Normally you should speak 125 to 150
words/mt.
• Pronounce the words properly, putting stresse at the right places.
• Speak with enough volume so that every one in the audience can hear you clearly.
• Avoid nasalization and vocalized pauses such as ‘er’ ‘um’ etc.
• Take care not to use phrases ‘you see’, ‘I mea n’, ‘is it clear?’ etc.,

d) Audience: Before you begin your talk, size up your listeners – their age, sex,
background and interest.
Choose a suitable approach to your audience. In most cases if you speak directly,
you will be listened to. Each listener should feel free that you are talking to him
individually. If the subject is not interested , give it a personal touch. If necessary
dramatize certain ideas to break the barriers of communication. However, do not be too
dogmatic, instead give the impressio n that you wish to share your views and ideas with
audience. Another way to awaken the audience is to relate a joke. Humor arising from
personal anecdotes is perhaps the best. Some in the audience may have had similar
experience and they will quickly ident ify with you when your relate such a joke.

5.6 Preparation: The art of speaking is the reward of persistent effort. There is no magic
formula to make you an effective speaker. Adequate planning and preparation are
essential for successful presentation. In fact thorough preparation is the antidote for
nervousness.

Don’t read out a written speech word for word. A written speech seldom sounds
fresh or vigorous. Face to Face interaction demand thinking and speaking and not a mere
repetition of what you have l earnt by rote.

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 However, if any extremely complex subject is being presented (a research paper
for seminar) to the members of a professional body you may read the written material.
But even here you should acquaint your self with the material thoroughly. While reading
you should be able to lift your head and look at the audience after short intervals.

Indicate in the margin the time you want to devote to introduction and conclusion.

Notes should be written neatly in large letters on 3” x 5” cards or small sized

sheets. Cards are handy and since they are thicker than ordinary paper, their handling is
easy.

5.7 Visual aids: Visual aids can make your presentation more effective. The listeners feel
stimulated and take more interest in what is being prese nted. Your explanation with the
use of an aid can become more vivid and easily understandable. For example maps,
pictures, charts, motion pictures, slides and overhead projectors and a black board but
remember that too many aids may cripple the effect.

5.8 Conducting seminars and conferences

When a seminar has to be organized, it is advisable to draw a detailed plan. Each

Seminar has an objective, a lead speaker and a number of participants. Usually the person
who organizes the seminar is given a label such as seminar director or seminar
coordinator. If your are the coordinator of a seminar, first formulate the theme, determine
the lead speaker and identify the participants. Next select the venue and fix the time and
date of the seminar. If you anticipat e more than one session identify a chairperson for
each.

As the seminar coordinator it is your duty to send the above -mentioned

information well in advance to all participants either through a circular or a brochure with
a covering note. This communicati on should be properly structured, clearly stating the
objectives of the seminar and the arrangements that have been made for conducting it and
also those arrangements for boarding and lodging if you are inviting participants from
other places.

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 6. ORAL PRESENTATION

The Presentations are basically the same for all professional domains such as
business, technical, scientific, industrial, managerial, etc. Oral presentation is also a type
of public speaking. This term is generally used to refer to a speech c ontaining specialized
information on a specific topic or subject for a relatively smaller but knowledgeable
audience. As a student you will often be required to present to a group of student/teachers
the results of your advanced study, the findings of your research, a proposal which you
want to undertake or a report on the work you have already done. As a professional, in
addition, you may have to present technical, business or scientific information or to brief
your colleagues, about colleagues about a pro fessional issue or matter. You may even be
required to explain to employee’s major policy changes or decisions affecting the work of
the organization to which you belong. Further, you may have to present papers at
seminars, conferences, etc., on matters re lated to the area of your work or the field of your
study. In fact, the occasions for oral presentation increase with the advancement in one’s
carer. As a senior professional you will need to speak publicly more frequently and in
more diverse situations. So the need is to gear up and to get ready now so that you can
surge ahead with a bang.

6.1 Planning and Preparation: The steps to be taken for preparing an oral presentation
are similar to those taken for writing a composition. Keeping in mind the main pu rpose,
audience, time available, etc., gather the material from reliable sources and organize it in
a logical sequence under different sub -heading. Besides the points, in our note -cards we
may also write important quotations or hints for anecdotes, jokes e tc., which we propose
to narrate for greater impact. Give each note -card a number and a sub -heading. Once the
note-cards are ready, prepare slides if you plan to use an overhead projector or Power
Point for your presentation. Number the slide and ensure th at the matter on each slide
corresponds to that on the note -card. This would enable us to keep your attention focused
on the topic and enable you to maintain eye contact with the audience. Looking at the
points on the slide time and grain reduces the impac t of a presentation.

6.2 Practice and Rehearsal: For an effective oral presentation, practice and rehearsals
are as important as they for a stage performance, such as a play or dance. For doing this,
stimulate this situation by arranging a mike, audio -visual aids, etc., If possible do this
rehearsal before your friends, asking them to suggest improvements. Accept constructive
suggestions; these may enhance the effectiveness of your presentation. If we plan and
practice as suggested above, our confidence -le vel would rise and we would find
ourselves ready for the presentation. Remember, intensive practice and rehearsals are the
best antidote to nervousness.

6.3 Articulation and Delivery: Whether we have got with us the note -cards and the
slides and that the y are neatly kept in a proper size envelop and whether we are gracefully
dressed to suit the occasion.

On reaching the venue, size up the audience and carefully view the physical
arrangements, such as the placing of the lecture, mike and other technical e quipment, the
position of the display screen, etc. For this preliminary survey, the speaker would take a
few minutes – the time taken by the organizers to talk about the occasion and to introduce

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him to the audience. One should speak extemporaneously, whic h we consider to be the
most effective mode of delivery, especially when the matter is of a professional nature.
When your are invited to speak, walk gracefully to the lectern put your note -cards
on it, look at the entire audience, ask the technical assis tant to display the first slide and
start speaking. Pronounce each word properly stressing on the right syllable and using
appropriate intonation pattern. Do not eat any syllable or word.

6.4 Choice of words: If the thoughts are clear and well -organized, it will not find
difficult to express them in plain (also called simple) English. If the words are short,
concrete and familiar, the meaning would easily sink into the minds of listeners and
create the desired impact.

6.5 Cliches:
Original: Last but not the least, I would like to thank Mr.T.D. Soni who managed this
event efficiently.
Revised: In the end, I would like to thank Mr. T.D. Soni who managed this event
efficiently.
Original: In the next session, Prof. Kashiwal will throw more light on the c auses of noise
pollution.
Revised: In the next session, Prof. Kashiwal will provide more information on the causes
of noise pollution.
Whether it will even affect someone?
To be perfectly honest – This one really annoys me. Why, are you dishonest at other
times?
The fact of the matter is – Pay close attention to this and you’ll discover that it’s never a
fact, but usually a very biased opinion of the speaker.
Thinking outside the box – What’s the opposite? Do we otherwise think inside the box,
what box?
Customer-centric – Every single time someone uses this phrase, the final emphasis is to
eventually maximize the seller’s profits. Usually it’s not the system that cares, but an
individual serving an individual customer.
At this point in time – Time never stands still, except for politicians blaming previous
opposition governments for their own mistakes. So how can we be in a point in time? If
time is moving, it can’t be a point anymore. It’s a line then.
Having said that – If you’ve said something earlie r, does it become a fact or an
unforgettable expression or does it compel everyone to follow in a certain direction?
To be fair – Does this mean that you are making an exception and you are not fair at
other times?
You should give it 110% – Usually it’s other things, which weaken ends results, and not
whether someone has given 99% or 98%.
Paradigm shift – Company directors and consultants love using this phrase to mean that
everyone else should start thinking like them.
At the end of the day – What does this mean really? Did the speaker have a different
opinion in the evening, in the afternoon, or at noon?
With all due respect – People use this often. Then they follow it with some form of
disrespect or even insult.
I’d be more than happy to – What is more than happy? Does the speaker really mean
that she will be ecstatic, delirious, or blissful?
For the record – Who is keeping the record, what kind of record?

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He can talk the talk, but can he walk the talk? – Serious writers all over the world are
using this phrase to assess the enormity of president elect Obama’s task ahead. Does this
mean that until now he has been standing still while talking?
Lessons will be learned – Politicians and company directors use this when they can’t
find any other explan ation for some really tragic event. How can anyone predict that
everyone will learn identical lessons from the same incident or whether it will even affect
someone?

6.6 Jargons: refers to the technical terms or characteristic idioms of a specific discipli ne
such as Physics, Sociology or an activity such as cricket, dance, etc. But you must try to
avoid using jargon wherever possible. When you speak to an audience, knowledgeable in
the area, use the jargon freely. However, if the audience consists of both t he initiated and
non-initiated persons, make minimal use of jargon.

Jargon Plain Word

Compensation pay package
Hypertension blood pressure
Mach-2 twice the speed of sound
Maturity date final payment date
Equitable just, fair

It is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity,

profession, or group. "Every science requires a special language because every science
has its own ideas. "

In other words, the term most often covers the language used by people who work in a
particular area or who have a common interest. Much like slang, it can develop as a kind
of short-hand, to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group,
though it can also be developed deliberately using chosen terms. In many cases this
causes a barrier to communication with those who are not familiar with the language of
the field. As an example, the words RAM , bit, byte, CPU, and hexadecimal are jargon
terms related to computing. 144 secton, IPC, FIR etc related to police and plaintiff,
respondet claiment vendor, vendee extra terms related to Advocates and two stages of the
office of the sub registrar.

6.7 Construction of Sentences: To keep the attention of the audience focused on the
meaning, construct short and simple sentences. Just see how the main meaning is lost in
the deluge of words of the following sentences.

Example:
The proposal about which I have just spoken, was submitted by us about a
fortnight ago but it is yet to be examined by the new Director who, as you know, our
company last week after having served the Nationa l Steel Corporation which had started
functioning about 10 years ago with headquarters at Paro, a small town in Orissa. It can
be summarized in two short sentences, namely.

This proposal was submitted a fortnight ago. It is yet to be examined by the

Director.

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 If the sentences are short, the listeners feel more comfortable. For example, if you
use same expression such as the one given below, in quick succession, your presentation
would become dull and monotonous.
• I would like to point out….
• I would like to draw your attention….
• I would like to add…..
• I would like to repeat…

To keep monotony at bay, these expressions can be changed as follows:

• It may be pointed out….
• An aspect which deserves special attention is. …..
• Another significant point worth not ing is….
• May I remind you what I stated earlier?

Even if the topic is highly technical, try to enliven the presentation by expression which
are generally used in oral communication. A few examples follow:
• To explain this concept let us take an example
• Having said that, I proceed now to another significant point
• You can draw your own conclusions on the basis of supporting evidence which I
am going to present now.
• You may have observed that so far I have been explaining theoretical concepts, it
is time we moved to their application.

The visual aids that are commonly used may be divided into two categories.
• Projected aids, such as overhead projector, LCD, Video, TV -VCR, Computer
system.
• Unprojected aids, such as blackboard, whiteboard, etc.

Your Choice should be taken into account the following factors:

• Your familiarity with the aid;
• Size of the audience;
• Seating arrangement;
• Nature of the material to be presented through the aids, and
• Above all, facilities available at the presentation venue.

In preparing the illustrations, bear the following points in mind.

• Show the matter neatly
• Do not clutter the illustration with unnecessary information
• Highlight the key words/phrases by using different colours
• Number each illustration
• Give a heading to each illustrat ion.

For effective presentation of matter in illustration keep in mind the following points:
Display the matter in such a manner that the entire audience can easily view it
• Do not block the view of the listeners by standing in front of the display screen
• Talk about the points on the visual when it is displayed.
• Stop talking about the mater on a visual when it has been put aside.

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 • Maintain eye contact with audience.
• Speak with the help of note-cards rather than with the help of visuals.

6.8 Evaluating oral presentation: To evaluate quality presentation made by the officer,
you have to keep in mind the various factors that make a presentation effective.

Evaluation sheet for oral presentation

Name of the presenter: ______________________________

Date of Presentation : ______________________________

The qualitative meaning of the numbers is as follows.

1- Poor 2 – Average 3- Good 4-Very Good 5- Excellent

a. Introduction to the topic 1 2 3 4 5

b. Clarity of presentation 1 2 3 4 5
c. Sequence and continuity 1 2 3 4 5
d. Voice, pitch and delivery 1 2 3 4 5
e. Use of blackboard and other aids 1 2 3 4 5
f. Eye contact and audience awareness1 2 3 4 5
g. Interaction with audience 1 2 3 4 5
h. General poise and bearing 1 2 3 4 5
i. Knowledge of the subject 1 2 3 4 5
j. Style of concluding presentation 1 2 3 4 5
Total_____________________________

Remarks (if any)

Signature of
Evaluator

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 7. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Introduction:

Communication is the major of language. It is essenti al for survival of living

creatures. All living creatures have developed their own means of communication. These
means include the use of vocal noises, facial expressions or even body movements. Man
is the only living creature with highly developed and sys tematic means of
communication. He is able to exploit a variety of techniques for the purpose of
communication. These include vocal symbols, body movements as also facial
expressions. In this way, speech and of jestures coordinate to give meaning to human
thought.

7.1 Communication Skill: The word communication is derived from the Latin
‘Communicate’ or communico’ that means to share. Communication forms an essential
part of our life. In fact it is as important to us as air, food, clothing and shelter. A p erson
shares his sorrows, happiness, moments of excitement and grief with some one through
communication only. A man would become quite irritated and frustrated if he cannot
write or speak to his kith and kin for a long time. Those residing far away from t heir
associates communicate to their dear ones through letters, one telephone cells and add so
on. Official communication is carried out through letters, telephone fax, e -mail and
computers. About 70 to 80 percent of the total working time of a professiona l is spent on
communication. It may be verbal or non verbal. The success of communication is
measured in terms of not only the effective transmission of the message but also the
achievement of the intended result.

7.2 Verbal Communication: When two or mor e persons interact with each other through
conversation, they are said to be following the mode of verbal communication. Meetings,
Seminars, telephonic conversation, Face to face interaction between two individuals can
be cited as classic examples of verba l communication. The advantage of this
communication is that we can get immediate feed back. A speaker at a conference can
visualize without much difficulty the way his lecture is being received by the audience.
He can, as well, adjust the tenor of his com munication. Oral communication varies
according to person and also situation. A lawyer would be called ‘insane’ if he behaves in
the same manner as he does in the courtroom.

7.3 Written Communication: It is the commonest mode of communication in the

offic ial circles. Much of your success depends on your ability to communicate efficiently
through this mode. You may reproduce, multiply or store any information in this type of
transaction. Immediate feedback, however, is not possible through this type of
comm unication.

7.4 Non-Linguistic Communication:

Communication can also be made through symbols. Traffic lights, road signs, railway
signals are a few examples of non -linguistic communication. We also communicate
through gestures if we are at a far off dista nce or are not in a position to meet somebody
due to some obligations.

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 A new branch of communication called ‘KINESICS’ is on the way to
development that is the study of non -verbal communication like body movement,
appearance, voice etc.

7.5 Dyadic Communication: The term dyadic is derived from ‘di’ that means two. As
such, dyadic communication takes place between two persons. It may be verbal or non -
verbal. Informal conversation between husband and wife, two friends, two acquaintances
at a party and s o on. There are no hared and fast rules for this conversation. It is a routine
one and is a part and parcel of our life.

Formal dyadic conversation however demand artistry and can be acquired through
practice. Some of the common forms of formal dyadic c ommunication are Face-to-Face
conversation, Telephonic conversation, Interview, Instruction and Dictation.

7.6 Face to Face conversation: Majority of time at home is spent on face -to-face
conversation. This conversation does not require any official decor um. Conversation
outside our home i.e. the one which we have at restaurants, parties, parks and even offices
need not follow any rigid rule. However, if we keep in mind the following points, we may
be labeled as a pleasant ‘conversationalist’.

• Choose a topic that interests both the participants

• Be courteous and cheerful. Remember that there is no such thing as uninteresting
topic’. We only have ‘uninteresting people’.
Use simple, easy to understand language.

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 8. TELEPHONIC CONVERSION

8.1 TELEPHONIC CONVERSION: It is a means of communication. We can speak to

any person in the world within no time. Telephone was said to be ‘Neighbor’s envy and
owners pride’s a few decades ago but now it has entered even a layman’s residence. Very
soon it will become as common as our stove without which we cannot survive.
Telephonic conversation undoubtedly is an are and can be mastered by constant practice.
A learner of a new language is taugh ‘telephonic conversation’ since it is believed that if
you can speak on telepho ne well, you have conquered a language to the maximum
possible extent. It is so because in telephonic conversation, the advantage of body
language and eye contact is lost. mobile phones have also made in roads in India and a
person can be contacted anywher e in the globe within no time. Some useful tips for
efficient handling of Telephone are as follows.
• Cultivate a cheerful and friendly tone.
• Listen attentively to the caller. If the message is linger keep reassuring that your
are listening by speaking words like Yes, OK etc.
• Don’t engage your telephone longer than required.

Rules while receiving a phone call:

• Always don’t make the caller to wait much of the time.
• After attending the call first reveal your identity.
• Always lift phone with left hand and keep a pen and white paper to write
information.
• Don’t use slang (or) the language with difficult words so that he may not
understand.
• Always use simple language while you speak
• The words spoken by you should be with audible pitch and there should be very
clear.
• If they want to inform anything then write it on paper and make sure that you
pass on the information to the person to whom he wants you to convey.
• If you attend a wrong call then don’t cut down the phone, make sure that dialers
is not confused and make him clear about the call.

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Making a phone call:
• While making a phone call you should keep a telephone dictionary for whom
you want to talk.
• Make a prompt identification of yours and ask for whom you want to talk with.
• Always use simple language and there should not be any slang.
• Keep notes with point wise what you want to ask.
• Don’t keep the call for much time and make a call.
• Make sure that information you are dealing with and have a clear idea what you
want to talk.
• The words spoken by you should be very clear and without, any mistake’s and
an understandable language.
• Make sure that number is pressed by indication sound. Once and give gap.

8.2 HOW CAN I HELP YOU

Task I
Complete the sentences with words from the list below. Use each word once only.
1. Hello, is that Mauro…………………………..?
2. Just a ………………………, please.
3. Wait a minute, I’II……………………….. if she’s here.
4. I’ll get the information you want. Do you mind ……………………..on?
5. You should be able to reach her on her……………………………..
6. Try calling back ……………………..an hour’s time.
7. Sorry, he’s not ……………………….. at the moment.
8. I’ II have to put you on ………………. While I check.

Here In mobile speaking hold

See moment holding

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Task II
Choose the best responses.
1. I’d like to speak to Ms Chan, please.
a. Yes
b. I’ m afraid she’ s not here at the moment
c. Well, you can’t.

2. Can I speak to Mr. Ramirez, please?

a. Hold on, pleas
b. Don’t go way.
c. All right.

3. Who’s speaking?
a. I am called Pierre Marceau.
b. My name’s Pierre Marceau.
c. Pierre Marceau is speaking.

4. Could I speak to Marta Owen, please?

a. Who’s calling?
b. Who are you?
c. What’s your name?

5. Can I call you back latter?

a. Yes, call me.
b. Yes, please do.
c. Of course call, yes.
6. When will she be back?
a. One hour
b. after one hour.
c. In an hour’s time.

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Task III.
Complete these two conversations with sentences from the list below. Use each
sentence once only.
A: Hello, is the Motor Systems UK?
B.1..........................................................................................................................................
A: Can I speak to Mark Wheeler, please?
B: 2.………………………………………………………………………………………
A: OK, Do you know what time he will be free?
B: 3…………………………………………………………………………………………
A: Right, I’ll call again then. Thanks very much.
B: 4…………………………………………………………………………………………
A: Goodbye.

C: 5…………………………………………………………………………………………
D: I’d like to speak to someone about bringing forward a delivery date.
C: 6………………………………………………………………………………………...
E:
7…………………………………………………………………………………………...
D: I’ m phoning about our order for some special plugs.
E: 8…………………………………………………………………………………………
D: Yes, it’s MS/72/03. We’d like an earlier delivery date if possible.
E: 9………………………………………………………………………………………….
D: OK. Could you call me back today?
E:
10………………………………………………………………………………………….
D: That’ll be fine. Thanks very much.
a. I’ll put you through to Order Enquires.
b. From about three this afternoon.
c. Yes, later this afternoon if that’s convenient.
d. Yes, it is. Can I help your?
e. I’ m afraid he’s in a meeting at the momen t.
f. Motor Systems UK. Can I help your?
g. Can your give me the order number?
h. You’re welcome. Goodbye.

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Task 4
Study these examples of how to ask for information politely.
You don’t know a caller’s name (give)
Could you give me your name, please?
Your aren’t sure of the name of the caller’s company. (repeat)
Would you repeat the name of your company, please?
You want to know where the caller is calling form. (tell)
Can you tell me where your’ re calling from, please?
Could and would are more polite the can.

8.3 Now make questions using could, would and can in a similar way.
1. You aren’t sure exactly what the caller is phoning about. (tell)
2. You want to know the caller’s telephone number. (give)
3. You don’t know how to spell the caller’s name. (spell)
4. You didn’t hear the caller’s address clearly. (repeat)
5. You want to find out when the caller will be in the office tomorrow. (tell)
6. You aren’t sure about the delivery date of your order. (confirm)

ANSWER KEY
Task 1
1. speaking 2. moment 3. see 4. holding 5. mobile 6. in
7. here 8. hold.

Task II
1. b 2. a 3. b 4. a 5. b 6. c

Task III
1. d 2. e 3. b 4. j 5. f 6. a 7. I 8. h 9. g 10. c

Task IV
1. Could you tell me exactly what you’re phoning about?
2. Can you give me your telephone number, please?
3. Could you spell your name, please?
4. Would you repeat your address, please?
5. Can you tell me when you’ll be in the office tomorrow, please?
Would you confirm the delivery date of the order, please?

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 9. READING SKILLS
Ask yourself this question: Do I read every word in my own language when I am
reading a schedule, summary, or other outlining document?

The answer is most definitely: No! Reading in English is like reading in your
native language. This means that it is not always necessary to read and understand each
and every word in English. Remember that reading skills in native language and English
are basically the same.

Here is a quick overview of the four types of reading skills used in every language:

1) Skimming - used to understand the " gist" or main idea

2) Scanning - used to find a particular piece of information

3) Extensive reading - used for pleasure and general understanding

4) Intensive reading - accurate reading for detailed understanding

9.1 Skimming

Skimming is used to quic kly gather the most important information, or 'gist'. Run your
eyes over the text, noting important information. Use skimming to quickly get up to speed
on a current business situation. It's not essential to understand each word when skimming.

Examples of Skimming:

• The Newspaper (quickly to get the general news of the day)

• Magazines (quickly to discover which articles you would like to read in more
detail)
• Business and Travel Brochures (quickly to get informed)

9.2 Scanning

Scanning is used to find a particular piece of information. Run your eyes over the text
looking for the specific piece of information you need. Use scanning on schedules,
meeting plans, etc. in order to find the specific details you require. If you see words or
phrases that you don't understand, don't worry when scanning.

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Examples of Scanning

• The "What's on TV" section of daily newspaper.

• A train / airplane schedule
• A conference guide

9.3 Extensive reading

Extensive reading is used to obtain a general understanding of a subject and includes

reading longer texts for pleasure, as well as business books. Use extensive reading skills
to improve your general knowledge of business procedures. Do not worry if you
understand each word.

Examples of Extensive Reading

• The latest marketing strategy book

• A novel you read before going to bed
• Magazine articles that interest you

9.4 Intensive reading

Intensive reading is used on shorter texts in order to extract specific information. It

includes very close accurate reading for detail. Use intensive reading skills to grasp the
details of a specific situation. In this case, it is important that you understand each word,
number or fact.

Examples of Intensive Reading

• A bookkeeping report
• An insurance claim
• A contract

9.5 READING COMPREHENSION

Reading and comprehension of any given text is an essential component of the

four language learning skills. Reading could be of a familiar passage or an unseen
passage. In your examination, you may be required to answer some questions based on an
unseen reading passage. By an unseen reading passage what we mean is a reading
passage that your might not have read before. The reading passage can be on any subject.
It could be on a subject your are not familiar with. You should not be worried on th is
count. It doesn’t mater even if your do not have much previous knowledge about the
topic. What you need to do is read what is given in the passage and answers the questions
based on your understanding of the passage. In other words, your ability to extr act
information from the given text is being tested through this question.

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 How can you develop this ability to extract information from the text efficiently?
There is no short cut for this. In order to become a good reader you need to read a lot.
When you read a lot you will develop the ability to identify the main ideas in the text,
understand how the ideas are related in the text, and analyze the ideas in order to
understand the surface meaning and the underlying meaning. Once you develop the
ability to read the lines, read between the lines then you will be able to read beyond the
lines. you will be able to react to the text, agree and disagree with the view of the author
or form you own views own the text. If your are able to do all these you can be ca lled an
effective reader, as well. Ability to read fast with comprehension is necessary because
you will to write answers to questions based on your comprehension within the stipulated
time.

Let us take a reading passage and see how we can answer it.

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below it.

Example:

Pollution is the fouling of the environment, land, water and air by waste, smoke,
chemicals and other harmful substance. The most serious pollution occurs where there
are large citie s and many factories. Every industrial country faces the problem of
disposing waste.

a) What is meant by pollution?

b) Where does serious pollution occur?

c) How do wood and paper decay?

d) How is marine life harmed?

e) What causes damage to people’s health?

Many students read the passage carefully and then read one question at a time and
try to find an answer to that question. They repeat this for each question. If there are five
questions they need to read the passage five times. There is nothing wrong in this way of
trying to answer the questions. But don’t you think it is a very time consuming process?
Then what strategy should you use?

First, you can run your eyes through the passage in order to find out what the
passage is about. Second, read al the questions. Then scan the passage for answers.
Scanning is looking for specific information. For example, let us read the first question -
What is meant by pollution? As the passage is about pollution, you are likely to find the
meaning/definition of pollut ion in the first two or three lines. Look for the answer at the
beginning of the passage. You find it in the first line itself. For other questions, look for
key words in the question and try to locate them in the passage. The answer to that
question will be around those key words. For example, the keywords in the second
question are serious pollution. When you quickly run your eyes over the text, you will
locate these words in the second line itself. We can find the answer too in the same
sentence. Similar ly, key words of the third question are wood and paper decay. Scan the

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passage again for these words. You will find them in the sixth line and the answer to the
questions in to time. When you use this strategy, you don’t read the passage five times for
five questions. Instead you scan the passage five times. However, if there is a question,
where you need to give your views on something in the passage, then you need to make
sure that you have comprehended the passage correctly before answering the questions . In
other words you need to spend a little time on such questions.

Model paragraph (Exercise)

1. Red chillis are very rich in vitamin C and provitamin A Yellow and especially
green chillies (Which are essentially unripe fruit) contain a considerably lo wer amount of
both substances. In addition, peppers are a good source of most B6 in particular. They are
very high in potassium and high in magnesium and iron .their high vitamin C content can
also substantially increase the uptake of non -heme iron from ot her ingredients in a meal,
such as beans and grain. Recent studies reveal that chilli peppers can have a wide range of
benefits from helping alleviate pain in arthritis patients, can have a wide range of benefits
from helping alleviate pain in arthritis pa tients, to acting effectively against cancer
causing tumors. experts say capsaicin, the chemical that gives spicy food its kick, could
be used to kill tumours with few or no side effects for the patient. Hot peppers, along with
other spices are also known for their ability to kill parasites in the gastro -intestinal tract;
for this reason, they are a useful dietary component in tropical regions. Chilli peppers also
have cardiovascular benefits, weight loss properties (by inducing thermogenesis) and
helps to clear mucus from stuffed noses or congested lungs. Chilli also helps to lower the
risk of Diabetes; according to a study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the
amount of insulin required to lower blood sugar after a meal is reduced if the meal
contains chilli pepper. Canadian researchers believe that chillies could play a vital role in
curing diabetes. Chilli pepper as a weight loss technique has also been the subject of a
book titled “The Chilli pepper Diet” (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

1. Are chillies and peppers the same? What word/phrase in the text gives you the
clue?
2. How does the Vitamin C content in the chillies help a person?
3. Why should people in the tropical regions use chillies in their cooking?
4. List at least five benefits of using chillies in our diet.
5. What does the book “The Chilli Pepper Diet” focus on?

2. Life is not just party and pleasure; it is also pain and despair, unforeseen things
happen. Sometimes everything turns upside down. At times bad physical disability and
birth defects.

We cannot choose our parents of the circumstances of our birth. So if the ball bounces
that way, sorry. But what do we do from here? Cry, or take the ball and run? That is a
choice we have to make.

We can choose our attitude even though we ca nnot always choose our
circumstance. The choice is either to act like a victor or a victim. It is not our position but
disposition that determines our destiny.

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 It makes both rain and sunshine to create a rainbow. Our lives are no different. There
is happiness and sorrow. There is the good and the bad; dark and bright spots. If we can
handle adversity, it only strengthens us. We cannot control all the events that happen in
our lives, but we can control how we deal with them.

1) What is life?
2) Mention two things that are beyond our control.
3) What determines our destiny according to the author?
4) What happens if we can handle adversity?
5) What do we have control over?

3. Slavery can broadly be described as the ownership, buying and selling of human
beings of the p urpose of forced and unpaid labour. The institution of slavery is as old as
civilization. Many nations and empires were built by the muscles of slaves.

But what kinds of people were enslaved, and why? In ancient civilizations, slaves
were usually war capt ives. The victors in battle might enslave the losers rather than kill
them. Over time, people have found other reasons to justify slavery. Slaves were usually
considered somehow different than their owners. They might belong to a different race,
religion, nationality, or ethnic background. By focusing on such differences, slave owners
felt that they could deny basic human rights to their slaves.

The Greeks and Romans kept slaves as soldiers, servants, labourers and even civil
servants. The Romans captur ed slaves from what is now Britain, France and Germany.
Slave armies were kept by the Ottomans and Egyptians.

1. How can slavery be broadly described?

2. In ancient civilizations what did victors in battle do?
3. On what differences did slave owners focus in order to deny basic human rights to
slaves?
4. What did the Greeks and Romans use slaves for?
5. Where did the Romans capture slave from?

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 10. MEETINGS

The word ‘meeting’ is used in two senses. One to refer to a small group meeting,
meeting of Board of Directors, t wo refer to any coming together of two or more persons,
whatever be the label applicable to such a group.

The meeting is perhaps the most commonly used from of discussion in a

professional organization. The person who chairs the meeting acts as the lea der of the
group and usually has a higher status or enjoys authority over the other members. Every
meeting is result - oriented and therefore the discussion is directed towards a specific end.

10.1 PURPOSE:

• To convey information to a group at one time

• To instruct a group
• To exchange ideas and experiences
• To resolve conflicts, and confusions
• To generate a positive attitude.

Many of thee purposes cannot be achieved through person to person interaction

because of the nature of business to be transacted. B ut the group activity which a meeting
generates leads not merely to achievement of the objective for which it is called but also
to the development of a correct perspective failure to fulfill the expectation may exercise
a negative impact, besides causing loss of precious man -hours which could other wise
have been devoted to productive work. So to obtain results the organization of a meeting
needs expertise, careful planning and prompt follow -up action.

10.2 PROCEDURE:
A meeting is convened by the chairman or a member authorized by him. In certain
organizations like board of Directors, the Executive Committee a person is designated as
secretary or chairman or convener.
The chairman should bear in mind the following points.

• The announcement for every meetin g must be made in writing, at least a week
before the fixed date

• The notice should be sent to all members, even if it is known that some of them,
would not attend

• The notice should clearly state the agenda, i.e., the programme of business to be
transacted.

10.3 CHAIRMANSHIP:
Chairing a meeting requires tact, patience, a sense of humor and sound knowledge
of the technique of making people discuss a subject intelligently. Prepare a discussion
plan after reading the agenda carefully. Discussion plan is noth ing but a guide prepared
by the chairman reflecting his own thinking on the subject to be discussed, and about the

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question likely to be raised by the members and the conclusions that might be reached. He
should also estimate the time you would like to dev oted to each item in the agenda.

10.4 PARTICIPATION:
The role of a participant is an equally important aspect of a meeting which very
much depends upon the kind and quality of contributions made by the participants. A
participant should acquaint himself with the problems and topics to be discussed by going
through the agenda carefully.

Be a good listener, do speak up when you have something to say on it. Raise your
hand to draw the attention of the chairman when you want to speak, Jot down the
importa nt points at the meeting. Before you file the notes mention the date, name of the
chairman and the subject of the meeting.

10.5 PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS:

There is no ideal room for holding a meeting. So one has to be realistic enough to
make the best use of the existing environment and the facilities available.

The most favorable seating arrangement for a meeting is around a large round
table. Every member should be able to look directly at others without turning his chair.
The round table is not commonl y available and often the members have to sit at a
rectangular table. In this arrangement at least the chairman should seat himself at a
position from where he can face everyone directly as shown in Figure:
For small group

10 9 8 7

1 6

2 3 4 5

The chairman at (1) or (6)

Fig> 2: Seating arrangement for a large group.

3 2 1 Chairman 15 14 13

4 12

5 6 7 8 9 10 11
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Sitting sufficiently close together makes the interaction easy and also there is easy
accessibility to every member for the supply of water or tea. The room should have
privacy and it should be well ventilated and have arrangements for lights and provision of
facilities such as blackboard, display of diagrams, charts, maps, etc.

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Ten Rules for a successful Meeting

1. Convene a meeting when it is essential to consult others.

2. Hold a meeting when the consultations an telephone would not yield the desired
result.
3. invite those who are essential to the meeting
4. punctuality (5) clear objective of meeting
5. Agenda preparation
6. Circulate agenda among members to prepare for meeting
7. Set item – limit for discussion
8. Summarize the conclusions
9. Close the meeting on a pleasant note indicating the f uture course of action.

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 11. PRESENTATION OF REPORTS BY POWER POINT AND LCD

Power Point Presentation: Let us take an example. Prof. T.N Kashiwal had to make an
oral presentation before a group of about 50 teachers and research scholars from reputed
universities. He decided to use Power point, which, as you may be aware, is an important
presentation. It offers facilities such as word processing, drawing, outlining, and graphing
and presentation management tools. For the presentation, the following slides were
prepared by Prof. Kashiwal.

Slide 1
Role of Effective Communication
In
Classroom Management
By
Dr. T.N. Kashiwal

Slide 2
Introduction
• Preliminary remarks
• Objective
• Scope’
• Relevance

Slide 3
Teaching Involves
• Delineating theories
• Explaining concepts
• Describing processes, procedures, techniques
• Narrating events
• Expressing viewpoints
• Imparting skills

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 Slide 4
Requirement of Effective Teaching
• Planning and preparation
• Innovation and creativity
• Zeal and sincerity
• Passion and animation
• And above all, communicative competence

Slide 5
Audience Awareness
• Size
• Average age
• Background
• Interests
• Expectations

Slide 6
Opening Techniques
• Recapitulate and connect
• Outline contents
• State relevant fact or quotation
• Narrate a related experience
• Put a provocative question

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 Slide 7
Sustaining Interest – I
• Vary language
• Pause and dramatize
• Use proper volume, pace, pitch
• Improve quality of voice
• Start and finish on time

Slide 8
Sustaining Interest – II
• Appearance and facial expression
• Posture and gesture
• Eye contact
• Body movement
• Exercises (GD, role play, mini -presentation)
• Questions and quizzes

Slide 9
Ensure Effective Listening
• Hearing and listening
• Barriers to listening
• Adverse physical environment
• Lack of motivation
• Preoccupation and distractions
• Mental blocks created by speakers

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 Slide 10
Closing Techniques
• Summarization
• Using quotations
• Appealing statements
• Peeping into the future
• ;End with a bang, not with a w himper’.

Slide 11
Conclusion
• Communication, an integral part of teaching
• Transmitter of values
• Mark of culture and education
• Motto:
• Educate and elevate
• Not merely teach and test

11.1 Use of blackboard and whiteboard

There may, hover ever, be situations in which you may have to use a blackboard or a
whiteboard as an aid to presentation.
Divide the board into three parts
A. Left side 20%
B. Middle 70%
C. Right side 10%
Use A for writing those points that are going to stay throughout your presentation. Use B
for writing or drawing any graph, etc., related to the point or the sub -topic you are
discussing. Rub it off as soon as you move to another point or sub – topic. Use C for
writing any key word or highly technical word with which the audience may not be
familiar.

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 • Decide beforehand the matter you would present on the board
• Write fast and neatly. The letters should clearly stand out and be bold enough for
the audience to see.
• Use only standard abbreviations and short forms

• If you want to highlight any matter, use coloured chalk/marker of a different

colour for the purpose
• Keep speaking the words and sentences as you write them
• Avoid speaking to the board.

Conclusion:
The skills you need to acquire in order to make a spectacular presentation
• Pronunciation: Ability to produce individuals sounds of English, to put stress on
the right syllables, to use proper intonation patterns and to pause at appropriate
places.
• ‘You are never fully dressed unless you wear a smile’ – Anonymous
• ‘A flame should be lighted at the commencement and kept alive with unremitting
splendor till the end – Michael Farady

12. INTERVIEWS
The study material with re gard to this topic has already been given in this book
(Page No. to ) hence the teacher is requested to conduct Mock Interviews in the
class to impart training to the students. In this practical class various interviews types
may also be practiced for the benefit of the students .

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 13. GROUP DISCUSSION

Introduction:
You may be aware that the suitability of a candidates through a three -phased process, of
which GD is an important component; the other two being the written test and personal
interview. Since GD, today, is regarded important in the professional as well as the
academic world, you should seize every opportunity to participate in a group discussion
and try to imbibe the required skills and qualities.

13.1 Group Dynamics: The term group discussion is u sed to refer to a situation in which
a small number of persons meet face to face and through free oral interaction among
themselves exchange information or attempt to reach a decision on shared problems.

Researchers indicate that if the number of persons in a group is kept between five
to nine, fruitful discussions can take place.

There is no named leader of the group. As the discussion proceeds, one of the
participants may emerge as a leader. The expectation is that as responsible professionals
the members of the group would ensure the smooth flow of interaction and ultimately
arrive at an agreed solution or strategy purpose for which the discussion was organized.

One advantage of this type of discussion is that there is a self imposed discipline
on the discussion and greater responsibility on participants for making it useful.

To keep the discussion on the track it may be worthwhile for a participant to

summarize the points made till that time and then to present his view point.

Occasionally when the group discussion takes place some persons may be
invented as observers.

(i) To let the observers learn the process of group discussion and
(ii) To evaluate the contributions by members.

13.2 PURPOSES: Very often group discussion is used in addition to wri tten
test/interview for employment. A representative of the employer sits through the group
discussion and observes the group performance. He judges each individual’s personality
traits such as
• Intellectual ability, Creativity
• Approach to solving problems
• Qualities of leadership
• Tolerance and group behavior
• Clarity of thought
• Facility of Expression

This method of self -education meets the increasing desire for clearer understanding of
day-to-day problems, so essential to counter the isolation of individual thought which can
lead a biased judgement and prejudiced action. The modern democratic society expects
collective, mutually agreed, harmonious for nurturing and developing of an organization.

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13.3 MERITS
You may wonder why so much importance is attached to GD, both in the professional and
the academic worlds. (GD) reveals several significant aspects of a participant’s worth and
personality.

13.4 Communication skills: This includes the competence of a participant in speaking

spontaneously with proper pronunciation and appropriate use of body language besides
his ability to choose suitable words to express his thoughts clearly and precisely.

Leadership qualities:
• Regulating the discussion, keeping it on the track and leading it towards the
required goal.
• Ensuring that each member of the group participates in the discussion
• Being courteous while criticizing the views of others
• Listening to the views of others attentively
• Summarizing the points that emerge during the discussion
• Maintaining a uniform level of zeal throughout the discussion.

13.5 Thinking independently: One of the purposes of education is to develop the

intellect of the learner. For this, an ability to think independently is essential. Academic
exercises such as oral presentation, writing a term paper, preparing a report, etc., also
develop an individual’s intellect.

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 14. USNING A DICTIONARY EFFECTIVELY

14.1 How to check the spelling of a word?

To find words in the Dictionary it is important to know the alphabet well. Reader
will need to be able to judge quickly whether any word comes before or after another one,
this is called alphabetical order. If the first letters of two words are the same, look at the
next letters to decide the correct order.

Example: dare, dart, darn – in the case of these three words, ‘dare’ comes first, ‘darn’
second, and ‘dart’ last. The first three letters ‘d’, ‘a’, and ‘r’ are the same in all three
words so the correct alphabetical order is based on the fourth letter.

14.2 How to find a word in the Dictionary ?

Words are printed in large bold type at the upper top left -hand and right -hand
corner of any page to help you quickly find a word in the Dictionary. The first of these
two words show you which is the first word on that page, the second shows you which is
the last words to be found on that page.

Example: you are looking for the word ‘signal’. On the page which has the two words
signac and silage (Example taken from the Collins English Dictionary) printed at the
upper top left -hand and right-hand corner.

14.3 Learn the phonetic alphabet: At the beginning of most good English dictionaries,
you’ll find the phonetic table, which tells you how to pronounce the phonetic symbols
given with each word. If you learn these symbols, you’ll find it much easier to pro nounce
new words.

14.4 Learn how to use the stress marks: English dictionaries show where the stress of a
word is by using the mark. This means that the following syllable is stressed.

‘Pho-to-graph
Pho-‘to-gra-pher
Pho-to-‘gra-phic

14.5 Questions about dictionaries

1) Should I use a normal English dictionary, or a bilingual one?

It’s generally better to use a normal English (monolingual) dictionary. There are three
main advantages of these dictionaries.

• They give you practice in understandin g English.

• As the definitions and examples are in English, you can see immediately how a
word is used.
• Because many English words won’t translate directly into your language, you
have to be careful with bilingual dictionaries when you write down the meanin g of
the word.

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2) Why can’t I understand the definitions?
Perhaps your dictionary is too complicated. Try using tone that’s especially designed
for learners of English at your level. It’s annoying if you can’t understand the
definition or example sentence of a new word. It’s much better to start off with a
simpler dictionary, such as Longman Active Study Dictionary, then move on to a
more complex one later.

3) How many words should there be?

No dictionary contains all the words and expressions in English (currently estimated
to be around 1 million). The average person knows at least 60,000 words, so a useful
dictionary will have around 80,000 words and expressions.

4) Why can’t I find the words in my dictionary?

English is changin g – every year there are new words and expressions. Make sure
your dictionary is fairly new, as any dictionary older than a few years may be out -of-
date. If you’re looking for a special or technical word, it might be a good idea to
invest in a specialized dictionary.

While you are looking up the word, you have an opportunity to learn a number of
related words. The word may have several meanings. The more you learn English, the
greater the number of secondary meanings you want to look up. There are usuall y in order
of how commonly the sense is used. The better your English, the more senses you want to
become familiar with. This will avoid confusion in the future as you start reading more
complex documents. It is also useful to look up synonyms while you ar e there looking us
synonyms is a good way of confirming that you have actually understood the word.

Another great tool for learning is “related terms”. You can look up more general
or more specific terms. Looking up more general terms is great for readin g; it helps better
understand the word but letting look at words that have slightly different meanings and
understanding why they are not synonyms. You can look up a similar or related word, or
a general word, and by following the links you can find the ri ght word. For instance if
you are looking for a word that means to see something quickly, you can look up the
word “see” then find more specific terms like “get a look” or its synonym “catch a
glimpse”.

Dictionaries can be used to check spelling, to lear n new words, to find or double -
check the meaning of a word you encounter, or to find the right word to use. How to best
use a dictionary depends on what you are doing with words. A thesaurus is a great tool if
you are writing any essay.

However, a good dictionary can give you a lot of other information regarding the
word, in addition to its meaning.

14.6 Meaning (s) and word class

A word can have many meanings. A good dictionary gives you all the meanings
of the word. For example, the word, ‘coast’ has at least two meanings – depending on
whether it is used as a noun or a verb.

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Coast (n) – The land beside or near to the sea or ocean
Coast (n) – move down a hill without using any power.

Pronunciation
Pronunciation of the world, both British and Americ an, follows the word.
Coast / koust/ British English
Coast / koust/ American Enlish

Word Stress
Along with the pronunciation, word stress is also indicated. In the word record the stress
is different when it is used as a noun and verb.

Record noun/’ reko:d/

Record verb/ri’ko:d/

Usage
The dictionary also shows how the word can be used.
Coast (n) – Machilipatnam is a town on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh
Coast (n) – He took his feet off the pedals and coasted downhill.

Uncountable/countable
In a dictionary, you find these two symbols: C which stands for countable and U for
uncountable.
Coast noun (C, U)
In this case, Coast can be used both as a countable and an uncountable noun.

14.7 Synonyms
Synonyms are words which have already the same meaning. The word, ‘coast’ has
many synonyms such as seashore, beach, seaside, coastline, shoreline, and sand. The
between two synonyms, they are explained so that we use the right synonym. For
example, seashore is used to talk about the area by the sea in terms o f things such as
rocks and waves where people walk for pleasure. However, beach is the sandy area next
to the sea.

14.8 Antonyms
Antonyms are words with opposite meaning.
Opposites are also given in the dictionary.
Eg: Convex - concave
Shallow – deep
Barren - fertile

14.9 Patterns and collocations

A good dictionary gives all the expressions associated with the word along with
the collocation. By collocation what we mean is the combination of words that occur in a
language. For example, we can say. ‘Resounding success and ‘crying shame’ but we
cannot say ‘crying success’ and resounding shame’. A good dictionary tells us which
words go together. If you have a good dictionary, it is like having a good teacher with you
always. At any time if you have any doubt, the dictionary can help you in clearing your
doubt.

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14.10 Practice

1. Given below is a list of words. Arrange them in the order in which you find them
in a dictionary i.e., arrange them in an alphabetical order.
Decorate expansive compel formal compare
Money profit height dull learn
Hefty settle profuse parrot layer
Zoo flock cover modest stage

2. Write the part (s) of speech of each of the following words with the help of a
dictionary.
Fable install mercurial parliamentary satisfy
Safe relax gorgeous record sure
Triumph oath lexicon fountain corridor

3. Given below is a list of words/phrases. Look up the words in a dictionary. Find

out how each word is used. Write a sentence of your own using each of the
words/phrases.
Avail agenda quench clinch fictitious give up
Run out generous credential lay talk around sturdy

4. Find out how these words are pronounced (both British and American, if they are
different) with the help of a dictionary. Read them aloud .
Gadget rendezvous suggestion player schedule poem.

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 15. VOCABULARY

Words often Confused

a lot / allot criteria / criterion

a while / awhile custom / costume
a / an / and complement / compliment
accede / exceed compose / comprise
airs / heirs concurrent / consecutive
all right / alright conform / confirm
all together / altogether congenial / congenital
as / like connote / denote
ascent / assent conscience / conscious
ascetic / aesthetic continual / continuous
ascribe / describe convince / persuade
ambiguous / ambivalent corps / corpse
amiable / amicable correspondence / correspondents
among / between council / counsel
amused / bemused capital / capitol
any one / anyone climatic / climatic
aspersion / dispersion collaborate / corroborate
assistance / assistants canvas / canvass
auger / augur tenant / tenet
baited / bated torpid / turgid
bazaar / bizarre tortuous / torturous
belief / believe vane / vain
beside / besides venal / venial
between / among veracity /varacity
biannual / biennial vicious / viscous
bimonthly / semimonthly waist / viscous
blithe / lithe wary / weary
borrow / lend weather / whether
brake / break which / w itch

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bridal / bridle dairy / diary
descendant / devise deduction / induction
kind of / sort of effect / affect
knew / new describe / ascribe
latent / patent desert / dessert
in regard to / as regards diary / dairy
implicit / explicit different from / different than
imply / infer discreet / discrete
hall / hale disinterested / uninterested
hanged / hung dispersion / aspersion
herd / heard liable / libel
heroin / heroine loathe / loath
historic / historical manner / manor
hoard / horde militate / mitigate
foul / fowl mute / moot
found / founded quote / quotation
founder / flounder precede / proceed
figuratively / literally premise / premises
fiscal / physical quiet / quite
flammable / inflammable perspicacious / perspicuous
flare / flair persuade / convince
flaunt / flout piquant / pique
fair / fare plain / plane
ethereal / ephemeral pasture / pastor
exceed / accede penultimate / ultimate
elicit / illicit perspective / prospective
emigrant / immigrant obeisance / obsequious
emigrate / immigrate obtuse / abstruse
enervate / innervate one another / each other
entomology / etymology paean / peon
each other / one other pamper / pander
each / every raise / raze
sale / sail real / really

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sale / sell reality / reality
sanguine / saturnine retch / wretch
scene / seen road / rode
seam / seem sleight-of-hand / slight –of-hand
semimonthly / bimonthly stationary / stationery
serf / surf storey / story
shear / sheer supposedly / supposably
singly / singularly

HOMPHONES

1. Peak Peek 24. Waist Waste

2. Aloud Allowed 25. Root Route
3. Sail Sale 26. Principal Principle
4. Bread Bred 27. Ring Wring
5. Hole Whole 28. Knot Not
6. Heard Herd 29. Gait Gate
7. Groan Grown 30. Bouy Boy
8. Hall Haul 31. Dear Deer
9. Missed Mist 32. All Awl
10. Lead Led 33. Pedal Peddle
11. Sea See 34. Knead Need
12. Him Hymn 35. Weather Whether
13. Eye I 36. Hour Our
14. Hair Hare 37. Currant Current
15. Main Mane 38. Metal Mettle
16. Laps Lapse 39. Flaw Floor
17. Higher Hire 40. Flew Flu
18. Which Witch 41. Flea Flee
19. Brake Break 42. Cheater Cheetah
20. Die Dye 43. Cache Cash
21. Know No 44. Stair Stare
22. Berry Bury 45. Check Cheque
23. Ewe Yew 46. Tire Tyre

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47. Road Rode 80. Genes Jeans
48. Muscle Mussel 81. Key Quay
49. Read Reed 82. Weal We’ll
50. Heroin Heroine 83. Hew Hue
51. Pause Paws 84. Board Bored
52. Knew New 85. Cue Queue
53. Be Bee 86. Might Mite
54. War Wore 87. Sauce Source
55. Pail Pale 88. Seam Seem
56. For Fore 89. Cell Sell
57. Cite Sight 90. Shore Sure
58. Steal Steel 91. In Inn
59. Buy By 92. Choir Quire
60. Fair Fare 93. Find Fined
61. Ail Ale 94. Oar Or
62. Flour Flower 95. Morning Mourning
63. Swat Swot 96. Moor More
64. Blew Blue 97. None Nun
65. Berth Birth 98. Tea Tee
66. Cannon Canon 99. Vain Vain
67. Rain Reign 100. But Butt
68. There Their 101. Troop Troupe
69. Bean Been 102. Hoard Horde
70. Peace Piece 103. Scene Seen
71. Dew Due 104. Sole Soul
72. Ad Add 105. Tear Tier
73. Plain Plane 106. Coarse Course
74. Read Red 107. Team Teem
75. Knows Nose 108. Medal Meddle
76. Pea Pee 109. Hail Hale
77. Loan Lone 110. Rough Ruff
78. Clause Claws 111. Gorilla Guerilla
79. Clause Claws 112. Told Tolled

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113. One Won 137. Shear Sheer
114. Meat Meet 138. Rye Wry
115. Wood Would 139. Guise Guys
116. Heal Heel 140. Role Roll
117. Air Ere 141. Formally Formerly
118. Some Sum 142. Guessed Guest
119. Earn Urn 143. Mind Mined
120. Bail Bale 144. Aren’t Aunt
121. Draft Draught 145. Balmy Barmy
122. Succour Sucker 146. Calve Varve
123. Right Write 147. Farther Father
124. Weak Week 148. Fort Fought
125. Threw Through 149. Laud Lord
126. Hear Here 150. Wait Weight
127. Stalk Stork 151. Cause Cores
128. Bight Bite 152. Raise Raze
129. Tacked Tact 153. Cellar Seller
130. Ball Bawl 154. Ante Anti
131. Doe Dough 155. Flair Flare
132. Bard Barred 156. Ascent Assent
133. Mare Mayor 157. Aid Aide
134. Way Weigh 158. Leant Lent
135. Idle Idol 159. Rung Wrung
136. It’s Its

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 16. PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

Good number of words are given hereunder. Students are advised to refer Oxford
Advance Learner’s Dictionary and practice the pronunciation. Further, students have to
write phonetic transcription of each and every word to get familiarized with the vowels,
consonants, monopthongs, diphthongs, triphthongs, stress, intonation and accent. The
teacher is requested to play the cassettes of EFL University Imparting for adequate
practice

Gregarious Pander
Provisional Surreptitious
Docile Criterion
Homogenized Foible
Travesty Parsimony
Insinuate Condescend
Mannerism, Obtrude
Ethnology Tutelage
Imbibing Phi logy
Rote Ferret
Deist Sociology
Educe An entity
Canvass Ascertain
Assayed Stoicism
Refuted An anomaly
Verity Specious
Dogmatic Pertinent
Crux Purport
Cogitation Gibes
Lampoon Gripe
Lackluster Neurotic
Obligation A good lubricant
Necessary Infamous
Nauseate Effervescent

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Trenchant Plumb
Irrelevant Inferences
Dilate Incredible
Fidelity Plaintive
Infinite Feigned
Credence Gaunt
Eschew Lacerated
Laborious Satellite
Lowly Marital
Be subsumed Abated
Bard Laconic
Loquacious Indispensable
Mediation Admonished
Get under your skin Upbraided
Raillery Astringent
Chicanery Choleric
Innocuous Mundane
Renegade Rescinded
Squalor Enervating
Inexorable Aquiline
Desultory Sterile
Hiatus Petulant
Edible Obsolete
Dearth Hedonists
Obese Azure
Blatant Cursory
Fiscal Year
Derision Bankrupt
sumptuous affluence

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References

Balasubramanian T. 1989. A Text book of Phonetics for Indian Students, Orient

Longman , New Delhi
Balasubrmanyam M. 1985. Business Communication, Vani Educational Books, New
Delhi
Jean Naterop, B. and Rod Revell 1997. Telephoning in English Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge
Krishna Mohan and Meera Banerjee 1990. Developing Communication Skills,
Macmillan India Ltd. New Delhi.
Krishnaswamy,. N and Sriraman, T. 1995. Current English for Colleges, Macmillan
India Ltd. Madress
Narayanaswamy V R 1979. Strengthen your writing, Orient Longman, New Delhi
Sharma R C and Krishna Mohan 1978. Business Correspondence, Tata Mc Graw Hill
publishing Company, New Delhi

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