This article gives a brief outline of the problem of improving the monologic skills. It provides the features of the monologue and stages of its improving by inductive way. It also studies linguistic and speech exercises playing an important role in training the monologue.
English-Japanese code-mixing in J-pop and J-rock song texts
This article presents the results of a study in the field of contact variantology or World Englishes. It describes the results of the English and Japanese languages contact in Japan’s popular music culture. Phonetic, lexical and grammatical features of Japan English in J-pop and J-rock song texts are presented and analyzed. Code-mixing is examined at the levels of the text, paragraph and phrase.
Foreign Language Learning in Modern Russia and the World: National Peculiarities in Aims, Reasons and Methods
The aim of the research under consideration is to figure out the cultural peculiarities of studying foreign languages in modern Russia. To achieve this aim a survey concerning the aims, reasons and ways of studying foreign languages and cultures was conducted. It was aimed at schoolchildren in Moscow, students, graduates and postgraduates, international students, visitors and trainees of higher linguistic institutions in Russia. Contrastive study of the answers given by the respondents from various world regions helped to single out the peculiarities of foreign language studies in Russia.
The fairy-tale law of retribution in Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Little Snow-White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel
Nowadays fairy tales are of particular interest to the Western culture, especially to the culture of the United States. The present article focuses on the categories of good and evil and their roles in the description and evaluation of characters in the following brothers Grimm tales: Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel. An analysis of the fairy-tale endings where the law of retribution manifests itself is carried out.
Russia’s image in France and the “soft power” of lyric and comic art
The article brings out the problem of Russian lyric and comedy genres being scarcely absent in France. Apart from the objective historical reasons, the problem has its roots in the difficulties of Russian humor and poetry translation and in profound world-view differences that require not only an elaborate translation of these tricky art works, but also a constant enlightening work aimed at the prospective audience.
The paradox of understanding Russian art in France
The article brings out the absence of Russian lyric and comedy genres in France. The problem has its roots not only in the difficulties of Russian humor and poetry translation, but also in profound world-view differences that require a proper adaptation of the translated pieces and a deliberate sociological work with the prospective audience.
The Variability of Idiom Component Structure in Dictionaries and Corpora
The article deals with the issue of shortening and lengthening of the component structure of German and Russian idioms. In language corpora numerous examples of the varying lexical structure of idioms can be found. From the lexicographic point of view, the description of new variants and of differences between German and Russian quasi-equivalents appears to be most problematic.
The Category of the Tragic in Dramatic Discourse: German and Russian Languages
In this paper, the ways of making the category of the tragic in German dramatic discourse are researched. Also, a problem of its pragmatic reconstruction in translation of dramatic text into Russian is attended.
A Lexicographic Analysis of Conceptual Verbalizators: The Germanic REBEL(L)
This article rationalizes a lexicographic study of the cognitive concept explicators REBEL and REBELL existing in the German language and in American English. Key concept names, or verbalizators, are detected and classified according to their semantic characteristics, including those historically inherent in the words` inner forms. Finally, substantial changes in concept names` meanings are laid out based on a diachronic analysis of a number of dictionary entries.
Challenges in studying regional identity
In the article the author looks into the challenges one faces when trying to explore the notion of regional identity. Firstly, it is a problem of terminology, problem of defining the region and dominants of its development as well as challenges in understanding how regional identity is formed depending on these dominants and region defining. Also problem of natural and artificial ways of regional identity forming is discussed based in historical experience of Russia. The topic of regional identity is considered to be of great interest for discipline of regional studies.
A Corpus-based Approach to Semantics of German Idioms
The article deals with the question, what new information about the semantics of
German idioms can be acquired from computer-readable text-corpora. Illustrative
material is taken from the dictionary articles, which were composed by the author. The analysis of corpora data gives an opportunity to detect meanings, which have not yet been fixed in dictionaries, to reveal, what meanings are the most frequent, and to order them accordingly to their frequency, as well to consider cases of non-idiomatic or weakly idiomatic usage.
A comparative study of Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco and Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans
The article presents a comparative study of two operas on the same subject: Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans and Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco. Revealing principal differences in the composers’ treatment of the plot, the author explores historic and cultural background that affects the operatic versions of the story of Joan of Arc.
The role of modern technologies in presentation making
Representation of anthropocentrism in the texts of the English- language business press
In the texts of the business press anthropocentrism manifests itself through the so- called communication triangle “author-text-reader” and is expressed by the medium of a variety of means. Among them the structural-grammatical means play an important role because they reflect most clearly the anthropocentric nature of the texts of the business press, help the author get into an indirect dialogue with the reader and affect him or her as appropriate.
Concepts “honneur” – “déshonneur” in the Linguocultural Content of French Phraseologisms
The article presents the results of the research concerning antonymous concepts “honneur” and “déshonneur” and their place in French linguistic picture of the world. These notions represent in a language a semantic unity based on opposite concepts-universals and the ways of linguistic expression. These concepts are reflected in French proverbs and go back to different ages of the development of the French nation. The main aim of the article is to specify the notion “concept” on the basis of the works of Russian linguists, to present the results of the analysis of the paremiological materials of phraseological dictionaries.
Comparative analysis of cognitive mechanisms of B. Obama and A. Merkel’s discourse
This article is aimed at description and comparison of cognitive mechanisms of B. Obama and A. Merkel’s political discourse for the right understanding of their views on policy. Comparative analysis is based on such components of cognitive model as cognitive and conversational strategies and emotionality. The results testify that there are both similarities and differences, which are caused by cultural peculiarities and politicians’ views.
The pedagogical implications of using computer-mediated communication in language learning and teaching
Although foreign language instruction has seen a big surge in the integration of technology- enhanced forms of delivery of knowledge and interaction, research focusing on the value of computer- mediated communication (CMC) in the language classroom has not been extensive and has not received wide coverage. This article examines and outlines general findings regarding the educational capacity, benefits and limitations of three major CMC tools (text-based chats, discussion boards and wikis) for enhancing foreign and second language acquisition processes. Some insights are offered into the importance of specific CMC tools for supporting the collaborative nature of learning and learner autonomy, fostering students’ reflection and critical thinking skills and affording higher motivational gains and engagement in the language learning process.
Main features of realia and lacunae interrelation in fiction
The article deals with the main features of ethnographical lacunae elimination considered as renomination process. The study is based upon French translations of novels and short stories by I. Bunin. Different types of renomination used for lacunae elimination both in the text and the translator’s metatext are analyzed. The author comes to the conclusion that lacunae and realia are complementary phenomena and their systemic analysis helps to study the peculiarities of rendering the culture-specific notions in a target language. It also can reveal the possible loss of culture-specific information in translation.
Formative Assessment in Language Teaching
Speaking Training within “English for Specific Purposes” Blended Learning Model
The article describes the key features of monologue and dialogue speaking skills development within the course of English for specific purposes (ESP) in higher educational institutions of engineering implemented on the basis of blended learning. According to the latest Federal state educational standards of higher professional education the share of students’ self- study increases. Thus it is vital to work out a system of exercises including preparatory and communicative assignments as well as Speaking Guide which is a special unit of speaking exercise tips and comments. Such a set of exercises being used in an ESP blended learning model, Speaking skills are formed and developed in a more efficient way.