vocabulary list

Question 1

A rapid rise

The use of continuous passive verb forms has also seen a rapid rise.

Answer 1

a fast increase

Question 2

a steady shift

There was a steady shift toward more frequent use of the verb + -ing and these forms are still on the increase.

Answer 2

a continuing change

Question 3

acquire a language

Some learners appear to be able to acquire a language withoutmuch formal study.

Answer 3

to learn a language

Question 4

acquisition

In this article, Ellen McArthur reflects on her acquisition of French.

Answer 4

the process of learning

or getting something

Question 5

attain a level / degree of
competence
I’m not sure if I’ll ever attain a native speaker level of competence.

Answer 5

to reach a particular

standard

Question 6

barely perceptible

One lasting change to English that was barely perceptible at the time is known as The Great Vowel Shift.

Answer 6

almost impossible to

notice

Question 7

be on the way out

Stiff, formal words like ‘shall’ and ‘ought’ are on the way out.

Answer 7

to start to disappear or

no longer exist

Question 8

brush up (one’s French /
German, etc)
Ellen MacArthur’s career forced her to brush up her school-girl French.

Answer 8

to improve your skills in a language

Question 9

capability

He has the capability to do well at school.

Answer 9

the ability or power to do something

Question 10

competence

What level of competence would you like to attain eventually?

Answer 10

the ability to do something well

Question 11

dedication

Learning a language requires dedication.

Answer 11

being willing to give a lot of time and energy to

something because you believe it is very important

Question 12

discipline

I don’t have the discipline to study alone.

Answer 12

the ability to control yourself and make yourself do things

Question 13

distraction.

I couldn’t understand him because there were too many distractions in the room.

Answer 13

something that makes you stop giving your attention to something else

Question 14

entirely unnoticed

These changes can have a hugely significant impact but can go entirely unnoticed while they are in progress.

Answer 14

not noticed at all

Question 15

exposure.

English speakers have little to no exposure to the sounds of foreign languages.

Answer 15

when someonenexperiences something
or is affected by it because they are in a
particular situation or place

Question 16

get accustomed to sth.

When he went to live in Korea, he quickly got accustomed to the sound of the language.

Answer 16

to experience something often enough for it to

seem normal to you

Question 17

get to grips with sth

The sounds of Finnish are quite unique, so I found it dificult to to get to grips with the pronunciation.

Answer 17

to understand and deal
with a problem or
situation

Question 18

gradually give way to sth

Modal verbs are gradually giving way to other less formal expressions.

Answer 18

to slowly be replaced by something

Question 19

grasp

Because I understood some French, I could grasp some of what they were saying.

Answer 19

to understand something

Question 20

grow substantially

to increase by a large amount

Answer 20

The use of get passives has grown substantially.

Question 21

have an ear for sth

Penny’s lucky – she has an ear for languages.

Answer 21

to be good at hearing, repeating, or

understanding a particular type of sound

Question 22

hold a conversation

After about a year, he found he could a hold a conversation in Italian without too much effort.

Answer 22

to have a conversation

Question 23

hugely significant

These changes can have a hugely significant impact but can go entirely unnoticed while they are in progress.

Answer 23

very important

Question 24

immerse oneself in sth

She spent six weeks in Poland and really immersed herself in the language and culture.

Answer 24

to become completely involved in something

Question 25

insight.

She has little insight into their lives.

Answer 25

the ability to understand what something is really

like, or an example of this

Question 26

interaction

Robots can never replace human beings in any context that requires interaction with people.

Answer 26

the activity of talking and doing things with

other people, or the way you do this

Question 27

interference
when something affects what you are trying to
achieve

Answer 27

They struggle with first language interference.

Question 28

keep at it

People tend to give up on second language learning too easily. You need to keep at it if you want to succeed.

Answer 28

to continue working hard at something

difficult

Question 29

lasting

One lasting change to English that was barely perceptible at the time is known as The Great Vowel Shift.

Answer 29

continuing to exist for a long time

Question 30

limitation

There are financial limitations on their education.

Answer 30

when something is controlled so that it is

less than a particular amount or number

Question 31

literacy

the ability to read and write

Answer 31

Literacy rates have gone up in the area.

Question 32

mentality

You have to have the right mentality to learn a language.

Answer 32

a person’s opinions or

way of thinking

Question 33

motivation

They have no motivation to learn the language.

Answer 33

the need or reason for doing something

Question 34

necessity

There is no necessity to learn the language.

Answer 34

something that you need

Question 35

on the increase

There was a steady shift toward more frequent use of the verb + -ing and these forms are still on the increase.

Answer 35

If something is on the increase, it is happening

more often.

Question 36

ongoing

There are far more subtle, ongoing language changes taking place at any given time.

Answer 36

still happening

Question 37

pick up (a new language,
phrases, etc)
She explained how she picked up the language.

Answer 37

to learn a new language by practising it and not

by being taught

Question 38

prestige

They like the prestige of knowing a second language.

Answer 38

when people feel respect
and admiration for you,
often because you are
successful

Question 39

put sth into practice

Unless I put a new piece of language into practice immediately, I find I forget it.

Answer 39

to start to do something
you have learned how to
do

Question 40

reluctance

Do you think that the reluctance to learn English is just a feature of Britain?

Answer 40

when someone does not

want to do something

Question 41

rusty

When I’m away from France, my French gets rusty.

Answer 41

If a skill you had is rusty,
it is not now good
because you have
forgotten it.

Question 42

struggle (with sth)

I really struggle with English idioms.

Answer 42

to find something

difficult

Question 43

subtle

There are far more subtle, ongoing language changes taking place at any given time.

Answer 43

not obvious or easy to notice

Question 44

take hold

Words such as ‘going to’, ‘have to’, ‘need to’ and ‘want to’ are taking hold.

Answer 44

to start to be frequent