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WINNING WORDS
Our language experts Carolyn Samuel and Lise Winer discuss the social side of Canadian English
The word 'just' as a social cue
English teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel from McGill University join Carmel Kilkenny for the last segment of their column on the finer points of learning English as a Second language. Today, we have a discussion about 'just,' a word that can serve as a social cue in English. In most instances, its meaning is obvious to native English speakers but that intent can go right over the heads of many people who are just learning to speak the language.
Talking about pregnancy
The words we use to describe pregnancy and giving birth are obvious to most Canadians but they can be a bit ambiguous for those who are new to English. Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel specialize in the teaching of English as a second language and they join Carmel Kilkenny to talk about some of the words and expressions linked to advent of baby.
Heads-up or getting know how we use the word - head
McGill University teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel talk about the word "head" - a noun that can also be a verb. It's a word with many different uses and that can be confusing for anyone learning to speak English.
Renting a three-and-a-half
Canadians take much of our everyday English for granted. But McGill University teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel say it's not as simple as it seems as they join Marc Montgomery to talk about the words and expressions we use when we're renting an apartment.
Borrow, lend, loan
The words are different but they're all part of the same process. However borrow, lend and loan cannot be used in the same way and that's what McGill University teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel are in to explain and to offer examples and tips.
Recognizing the sarcasm
Canadian English is about more than words - it also has tone and feeling. And language teachers Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel say when it comes to sarcasm, tone is especially important. They look at the use of certain English words to convey negative emotions even though they would normally be understand as a positive words or phrases.
Utter or speak and how to know which to use when
There's no doubt that English can be confusing to learn and this week English teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel are in to tackle and differentiate between some very similar words, such as speak, mutter, whisper and utter and to talk about when each are used and why.
Afraid of rather than afraid from
Language teachers Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel are in to talk about why we say we are afraid of things rather than that we are afraid "from" those things.
She's a dark horse in that race
English teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel join Marc Montgomery to talk about some of the many expressions in English that use the horse while having nothing to do with that noble animal. On the list today just a few examples from 'Get off your high horse'; 'He eats like a horse'; 'I could eat a horse'; 'You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink'; 'Don't put the horse before the cart'; 'Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted'.
A look at the use and pronunciation of 'the'
McGill University English language teaching experts Lise Winer and Carolyn Samuel join Marc Montgomery to talk about the use of the word "the" when it's associated with superlatives such as, for example, the eldest, the tallest or the most expensive. They also address the differences in the pronunciation of "the" depending on the word preceding it and sometimes even the intent of the speaker. But, a warning, when it comes to "the," these are guidelines not rules because there are always exceptions when it comes to the use of this word.