Receptive and expressive communication skills

One Word Substitution with Meaning

1. Audience a number of people listening to a lecture
2. Altruist one, who considers the happiness and well-being of others first
3. Atheist a person who does not believe in God
4. Anthropologist one, who studies the evolution of mankind
5. Autocracy government by one person
6. Autobiography the life history of a person written by himself
7. Amputate to cut off a part of a person's body which is infected
8. Arsenal a place for ammunition and weapons
9. Archives a place where government or public records are kept
10. Amateur a man who does a thing for pleasure and not as a profession
11. Aristocracy government by the nobles
12. Aquatic animals/plants ere which live in water
13. Amphibian animals which live both on land and sea
14. Ambidexter one, who can use either hand with ease
15. Alimony allowance paid to wife on legal separation
16. Anthology a collection of poems
17. Abdication voluntary giving up of throne in favour of someone
18. Arbitrator a person, appointed by two parties to solve a dispute
19. Astronomer a person, who studies stars, planets and other heavenly bodies
20. Astrologer a person who studies the influence of heavenly bodies on human beings
21. Anthology a collection of poems
22. Axiom a statement which is accepted as true without proof
23. Agenda a list of headings of the business to be transacted at a meeting
24. Anarchist one, who is out to destroy all governance, law and order
25. Almanac an annual calender with positions of stars
26. Bigamy the practice of having two wives or husbands at a time
27. Bibliophile a lover and collector of books
28. Bouquet a collection of flowers
29. Bureaucracy government by the officials
30. Belligerent a person, nation that is involved in war
31. Biennial an event which happens once in two years
32. Blasphemy the act of speaking disrespectfully about sacred things
33. Creche a nursery where children are cared for while their parents are at work
34. Cosmopolitan a person who regards whole world as his country
35. Chauffeur one, who is employed to drive a motor car
36. Curator a person incharge of a museum
37. Carnivorous one, who lives on flesh
38. Cannibal one, who feeds on human flesh
39. Contemporaries belonging to or living at the same time
40. Cloak room a place for luggage at railway station
41. Cynosure centre of attraction
42. Connoisseur a critical judge of any art and craft
43. Crusade a religious war
44. Choreographer one, who teaches dancing

45. Cacographist a person, who is bad in spellings

46. Calligraphist a person, who writes beautiful handwriting
47. Cynic one, who sneers at the aims and beliefs of his fellow men
48. Convalescent one, who is recovering health
49. Cavalry soldiers, who fight on horse back
50. Cardiologist a person, who is specialist in heart diseases
51. Cartographer one, who draws maps
52. Dormitory the sleeping rooms with several beds especially in a college or institution
53. Drawn a game that results neither in victory nor in defeat
54. Elegy a poem of lamentation
55. Epitaph words which are inscribed on the grave or the tomb in the memory of the buried
56. Ephemeral lasting one day
57. Effeminate a person who is womanish
58. Emigrant a person who leaves his own country and goes to live in another
59. Edible fit to be eaten
60. Egotism practice of talking too much about oneself
61. Encyclopaedia a book that contains information on various subjects
62. Epicure one, who is devoted to the pleasure of eating and drinking
63. Florist one, who deals-in flowers
64. Fastidious one, who is very -selective in one's taste
65. Fanatic or Bigot one, who is filled with excessive and mistaken enthusiasm in religious matters
66. Fatal causing death
67. Fatalist one, who believes in fate
68. Facsimile an exact copy of handwriting, printing etc
69. Fauna the animals of a certain region
70. Flora the plants of a particular region
71. Fratricide murder of brother
72. Fugitive one, who runs away from justice or the law
73. Fragile easily broken
74. Feminist one, who works for the welfare of the women
75. Granary a place for grains
76. Genocide murder of race
77. Gregarious animals which live in flocks
78. Hangar a place for housing aeroplanes
79. Hive a place for bees
80. Horticulture the art of cultivating and managing gardens
81. Homicide murder of man
82. Hearse a vehicle which is used to carry a dead body
83. Hedonist one, who believes that pleasure is the chief good (sensual)
84. Horizon a line at which the earth and the sky seem to meet
85. Honorary holding office without any remuneration
86. Heretic one, who acts against religion
87. Herbivorous one, who lives on herbs
88. Insolvent/Bankrupt a person who is unable to pay his debts
89. Inaudible a sound that cannot be heard
90. Inaccessible that cannot be easily approached
91. Incorrigible incapable of being corrected
92. Irreparable incapable of being repaired
93. Illegible incapable of being read

94. Inevitable incapable of being avoided

95. Impracticable incapable of being practised
96. Immigrant a person who comes to one country from another in order to settle there
97. Invincible one, too strong to be overcome
98. Indelible that cannot be erased
99. Incognito travelling under another name than one's own
100. Indefatigable one, who does not tire easily
101. Infallible one, who is free from all mistakes and failures
102. Invigilator one, who supervises in the examination hall
103. Itinerant one, who journeys from place to place
104. Infirmary a home or room used for ill or injured people
105. Infanticide murder of an infant
106. Infantry soldiers, who fight on foot
107. Inflammable liable to catch fire easily
108. Interregnum a period of interval between two reigns or governments
109. Kennel a place for dogs
110. Lunatic asylum a home for lunatics
111. Lexicographer one, who compiles a dictionary
112. Loquacious one, who talks continuously
113. Linguist one, who is skilled in foreign languages
114. Lapidist one, who cuts precious stones
115. Misanthrope a hater of mankind
116. Misogamist one, who hates marriage
117. Mortuary a place, where dead bodies are kept for post mortem
118. Mercenery working only for the sake of money
119. Matricide murder of mother
120. Martyr one, who dies for a noble cause
121. Maiden speech the first speech delivered by a person
122. Mint a place where coins are made
123. Misogynist a hater of womankind
124. Morgue a place, where dead bodies are kept for identification
125. Mammals animals which give milk
126. Monogamy the practice of marrying one at a time
127. Missionary a person, who is sent to propagate religion
128. Numismatics the study of coins
129. Namesake a person having same name as another
130. Nostalgia a strong desire to return home, home sickness
131. Novice or Tyro one, new to anything, inexperienced
132. Narcotic a medicine for producing sleep
133. Optimist a person who looks at the brighter side of things
134. Orphan one, who has lost parents
135. Omnipresent one, who is present everywhere
136. Omnipotent one, who is all powerful
137. Omniscient one, who knows everything
138. Opaque that which cannot be seen through
139. Obituary an account in the newspaper of the funeral of the one deceased
140. Orphanage a home for orphans
141. Obstetrician one, who is skilled in midwifery
142. Ostler one, who looks after horses at an inn

143. Omnivorous one, who eats everything

144. Pessimist a person who looks at the darker side of things
145. Potable fit to drink
146. Post mortem an examination of dead body
147. Philanthropist a lover of mankind
148. Patricide murder of father
149. Philatelist one, who collects stamps
150. Plagiarism literary theft or passing off an author's original work as one's own
151. Polygamy the practice of marrying more than one wife at a time
152. Polyandry the practice of marrying more than one husband at a time
153. Philogynist a lover of womankind
154. Plebiscite (a decision made by) votes of all qualified citizens
155. Philanderer one, who amuses himself by love making
156. Philistine one who does not care for art and literature
157. Plutocracy government by the rich
158. Pseudonym an imaginary name assumed by an author for disguise
159. Posthumous a child born after the death of his father or the book published after the death of the writer
160. Panacea a remedy for all diseases
161. Paediatrician a person, who is specialist in child diseases
162. Platitude ordinary remarks often repeated
163. Pedant one, who makes a vain display of his knowledge
164. Polyglot one, who speaks many languages
165. Paleography the study of ancient writing
166. Posse a number of policemen called to quell a riot
167. Parole pledge given by a prisoner for temporary release, not to escape
168. Pedestrian one, who goes on foot
169. Portable that can be carried easily
170. Quarantine an act of separation from other persons to avoid infection
171. Rhetoric the art of elegant speech or writing
172. Regicide murder of King or Queen
173. Sacrilege violating or profaning religious things/places
174. Sculptor one, who cuts in stones
175. Suicide murder of oneself
176. Stable a place for horses
177. Somnambulist a person, who walks in sleep
178. Somniloquist a person, who talks in sleep
179. Souvenir a thing kept as a reminder of a person, place or event
180. Swan song the last work (literary) of a writer
181. Sot, Toper one, who is a habitual drunkard
182. Sinecure a job with high salary but little responsibility
183. Stoic a person, who is indifferent to pleasure and pain and has control over his passions
184. Sanatorium a place for the sick to recover health
185. Sororicide murder of sister
186. Triennial an event which happens once in three years
187. Truant a person/student who absents himself from class or duty without permission
188. Teetotaller one, who does not take any intoxicating drink
189. Transparent that which can be seen through
190. Theocracy government by religious principles
191. Uxorious one extremely fond of one's wife

192. Utopia an imaginary perfect social and political system

193. Uxoricide murder of wife
194. Verbatim repetition of speech or writing word for word
195. Volunteer one, who offers one's services
196. Virgin a woman who has no sexual experience
197. Versatile interested in and clever at many different things
198. Veteran one, who has a long experience of any occupation
199. Venial a fault that may be forgiven
200. Wardrobe a place for clothes

Common idioms and phrases

1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!
2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.
3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems
he has bitten off more than he can chew.
5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and
watch TV.
20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!

List of English Words of Foreign Origin

To find a list of English words of foreign origin, you can go to Wikipedia. They have a gigantic list of English words
from many languages, including: African, Czech, Malay, Hawaiian, Persian, Tagalog, and many more. There are 61
pages to this list, each page containing one language or country of origin. Here is a sampling of what is available:

African - banana, jumbo, yam, zebra

Chinese - ketchup, pekoe, shanghai
French - catalogue, essence, gourmet, justice, massage, perfume, regret, terror
Japanese - anime, karaoke, tycoon, hibachi, sushi
Norwegian - fjord, krill, ski, slalom
Tagalog boondocks, manila, ylang ylang (a flower)
Welsh - corgi (dog), crag, penguin
Alarm - Italian - to arms
Ballot - Italian - small pebble or ball, people would vote by casting a pebble into a box
Cantelope - Italian - singing wolf, a town in Italy where the melon was grown
Companion - from both Spanish and French, but with a Latin root - one with whom you would eat bread
Denim - French - the cloth was developed in Nimes and called Serge di Nimes, later shortened to di Nimes,
then to denim. It was also made in Genoa, Italy, hence the name jeans
Genuine - Italian - placed on the knees. In Rome, a father placed a newborn on his knee to legally claim it
as his
Muscle - Latin - little mouse, when you flex a muscle, it was called a little mouse that runs beneath your
skin
Night - German - first meant day because the day began at sunset, like many other ancient civilizations
Ostracize - Greek - pottery, if someone was a danger to the town, the people would write their vote on
chunks of pottery to decide to banish him or not
Slogan - Celtic - two words together that mean battle cry
Victim - Latin - an animal that was to be sacrificed
Worm - Old English - dragon
Queueing is the only word with five vowels in a row.
Iouea contains all vowels and is a sea sponge.

Fashion and cushion are the only words that end with shion.
Suspicion, scion, and coercion are the only words that end in cion.
Having all vowels in order or reverse order are: abstemious, facetious, unnoticeably, subcontinental, and
uncomplimentary.
Allegator - a person who alleges
Batrachomyomachy - to make a mountain out of a molehill
Bowyang - a strap holding your pants legs
Bumbershoot - umbrella
Cantankerous - grouchy
Comeuppance - just dessert
Crapulence - uncomfortable after over-eating or over-drinking
Discombobulate - confuse
Eructation - belch
Fard - paint on the face or makeup
Fartlek - refers to a training routine
Firkin - small barrel
Flummox - to frustrate
Formication - the sensation of ants crawling on your skin
Hobbledehoy - clumsy or rude boy
Lollygag - to move slowly
Mollycoddle - to spoil a person
Skedaddle - move quickly
Snollygoster - untrustworthy person
Vomitory - an exit
Yahoo hillbilly

Precis Writing
A precise is like a miniature portrait of the passage, it retains the absolute essential points accompanied with
the mood and tone of the author of the passage. The one aspect one has to be careful about is that one should
not add ones subjective interpretation or comments to the prcis and should try to retain the original authors
voice and opinions. As far as the writing style is concerned, one must ensure that one write clear and effective
sentences (no rambling) and ones diction is flawless. Ultimately, it the coherence of the views that you
presented in the prcis that matter, and this can be achieved by making sure that one is precise and to the point
in ones approach. Unnecessarily long sentences or rambling thoughts are not required in prcis writing, and
one should make sure that one sifts from one point to another in a smooth matter. At the end of the day, the
prcis should make sense and be logical in its presentation. Thus a precis is not:

Simply a summary of a passage.

Simply an abstract of a passage.
An outline of a passage.
A mere selection of a few important sentences from a passage.
A collection of disconnected facts and statements.
.
When one is writing a prcis, one should take care of a few essential points. The first thing is that one needs to
convey the general idea of the argument with absolute clarity. The second thing that you need to do is to make
sure that all the important points of the original passage are included in the precis. Lastly, make sure that the
language of the prcis is clear, crisp and concise, and follows the rule for correct diction. The following rules
are general guidelines you should follow while writing a prcis. Kindly keep the following in mind :

Closely read the passage, and identify the central idea of the passage. It is vital to identify the general idea
of the passage and incorporate it in ones prcis.
Look-out for the total number of words. If the number is not provided, quickly calculate the number using
approximations.
In order to understand the passage clearly, make sure that you read the passage closely, and give it a couple
of reads before you start writing the prcis.
Highlight the most important points in the passage, and make notes. Leave out all non-essential information
from the prcis.
Provide an apt heading to your prcis.
Note making is an essential task for writing prcis. You should try to arrange the points in most logical
order, and ensure the order of thought is the same as the original.
The three grammatical rules you need to follow while writing a prcis are: write it in third person, indirect
form and appropriate past tense.
It is advisable to provide designations of officials rather than names and titles. In case the official
designation is not provided, you can use the personal name. kindly be consistent with the pattern you adopt.
Make sure you review your rough draft, remove the chinks and ensure that you have made no language
related errors.
Before writing your prcis, make sure you have a glance over the original to make sure you have not
missed anything.
Finally, a wise policy would be a count the words of your precis and put them down in a bracket at the end.

Writing a Precis of a given passage.

Passage
There is an enemy beneath our feet - an enemy more deadly for his complete impartiality. He recognizes no
national boundaries, no political parties. Everyone in the world is threatened by him. The enemy is the earth
itself. When an earthquake strikes, the world trembles. The power of a quake is greater than anything man
himself can produce. But today scientists are directing a great deal of their effort into finding some way of
combating earthquakes, and it is possible that at some time in the near future mankind will have discovered a
means of protecting itself from earthquakes.An earthquake strikes without warning. When it does, its power
is immense. If it strikes a modern city, the damage it causes is as great as if it has struck a primitive village.
Gas mains burst, explosions are caused and fires are started. Underground railways are wrecked. Buildings
collapse, bridges fall, dams burst, gaping crevices appear in busy streets.If the quake strikes at sea, huge tidal
waves sweep inland. If it strikes in mountain regions, avalanches roar down into the valley. Consider the
terrifying statistics from the past 1755: Lisbon, capital of Portugal - the city destroyed entirely and 450
killed. 1970: Peru: 50,000 killed.In 1968 an earthquake struck Alaska. As this is a relatively unpopulated
part, only a few people were killed. But it is likely that this was one of the most powerful quakes ever to
have hit the world. Geologists estimate that during the tremors, the whole of the state moved over 80 feet
farther west into the Pacific Ocean. Imagine the power of something that can move an entire subcontinent!
This is the problem that the scientists face. They are dealing with forces so immense that man cannot hope to
resist them. All that can be done is to try to pinpoint just where the earthquake will strike and work from
there. At least some precautionary measures can then be taken to save lives and some of the property. (330
Words)'
Based on the above paragraph, we-arrive at the following theme sentences for the four paragraphs:

Earthquake - the deadly enemy of mankind.

Damage caused by an earthquake in general.
Damage caused by an earthquake-in particular,
What can the scientists do?
The above four theme sentences can be developed into the following outline:
o
Earthquake - the deadly enemy of mankind.
o
Earthquake strikes all without a distinction of national boundary or political affiliation.

The power of a quake is greater than that of a man-made weapon of destruction.

Scientists are trying to find out means to combat earthquakes; they will find some way to protect
themselves from earthquakes.

Damage caused by an earthquake in general:

o
Strikes without warning.
o
Modern city when struck reduced to a primitive village.

Damage caused by an earthquake in particular.

o
Quake strikes plains, seas and mountains causing all round destruction.
o
In 1755, Lisbon destroyed, 450 killed.
o
In 1970, Peru struck, 50,000 killed.

What can the scientists do ?

o
In 1968, Alaska hit, subcontinent moved 80 feet into the Pacific Ocean.
o
Scientists cannot resist the powerful earthquake.
o
They can predict the place of origin of the quake so that precaution can be taken to save man &
property.

Based on the above outline, we can make the following rough draft:
o
Earthquake- The Great Destroyer
Earthquake is the deadly enemy of mankind. Earthquake strikes all without a distinction of nationality or
political affiliation. The power of a quake is greater than that of any man made weapon of destruction. An
earthquake strikes mankind without a warning. A modern city when struck is reduced to a rubble. A quake strikes
plains, seas and mountains causing all round destruction. The quake struck Lisbon in 1755 killing 450; Peru in
1970 killing 50,000; Alaska in 1968 moving it 80 feet into the Pacific Ocean. Scientists are trying to find out
means to combat earthquakes and they are able to predict at least where the earthquake will hit so that precaution
can be taken to save man and property from destruction. As the number of words in the rough draft is more
than required we shall have to reduce it further without reducing the ideas. The final draft would look as
follows:
o
o

Earthquake - The Great Destroyer

Earthquake is the mankind's deadly enemy. Earthquake strikes all without a distinction of nationality or political
affiliation. The power of a quake is greater than that of any man made weapon of destruction. An earthquake
strikes mankind without a warning. A modern city when struck is reduced -to a nibble. A quake strikes plains,
seas and mountains causing all round destruction. The quake struck Lisbon in 1755 killing 450; Peru in 1970
killing 50,000; Alaska in 1968 moving it 80 feet into the Pacific Ocean. Scientists are trying to find out means to
combat earthquakes, to predict the origin of the quake so that precaution can be taken to save man and property
from destruction.(115 words)

Significance of Audio-Visual Aids.

(1) The use of audio visual aids in classroom teaching stimulates interest in pupils. This leads to the whole hearted
attention on the part of learner, which ultimately develop a linking for subject.
(2) Audio visual aids bring the past into the present and cover the records of years and even centuries into a. short
period of minutes.

(3) These aids help in making the whole world a real audience of events occurring in the various parts of the world.
(4) Audio visual aids break the monotony of school routine and are always welcomed by pupils as a happy change in
the classroom.
(5) When audio visual aids are employed, the response of the class is always better.
(6) The use of audio visual aids provides a stimulus to pupils for making good use of textbooks rather than
depending on guides.
(7) They make teaching matter lively and interesting.
(8) It helps children to observe things in their most natural setting.
(9) They help to get a clear understanding by helping pupils to see and visualise things which can be best and most
clearly understood with the help of visual aids only.
(10) The visual aids are also found to be useful for the mass entertainment of an intellectual type.
(11) They also contribute to the growth of meaning and hence to vocabulary development.
(12) Audio visual instructions contribute to accurate thinking by furnishing some of the basic raw material for
thought and it can fill the storehouse of memory with nonverbal experience.
(13) Visual materials can be particularly used to provide new experiences or to correct wrong impressions.
(14) A good visual perception helps attitude formation. Classroom study situations based on concrete experiences
can create a good understanding of subject.
(15) Audio visual material are time saving. A small picture or diagram can explain things which require pages and
pages of written words.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

Verbal communication coexists alongside non-verbal communication, which can affect peoples perceptions and
exchanges in subtle but significant ways. Non-verbal communication includes body language, such as gestures,
facial expressions, eye contact and posture. Touch is a non-verbal communication that not only indicates a persons
feelings or level of comfort, but illustrates personality characteristics as well. A firm handshake or warm hug
indicates something very different than a loose pat on the back or a timid handshake does. The sound of our voice,
including pitch, tone and volume are also forms of non-verbal communication. The meaning behind someones
words is often entirely different than the literal translation, as is seen in instances of sarcasm and mockery. The
clothing we wear and the way we design our living space are also forms of non-verbal communication that
frequently shape peoples judgments about others, regardless of whether or not the perceptions are true.
Why is Non-Verbal Communication Important?

Think of how many relationships start with a man and woman making eye contact across a crowded room. A playful
wink tends to be more effective than a well-thought out pick-up-line. Michael Argyle, in his book Bodily
Communication, identifies five main functions of non-verbal communication: to express emotions, communicate
interpersonal relationships, support verbal interaction, reflect personality and perform rituals, such as greetings and
goodbyes. Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D., in his paper, The Importance of Effective Communication, details how
non-verbal communication interacts with verbal communication. We can reinforce, contradict, substitute,
complement or emphasize our verbal communication with non-verbal cues such as gestures, expressions and vocal
inflection. Avoiding eye contact when we tell someone we love them communicates something far different than do
spoken words, just as a bright smile when we say congratulations reinforces the sincerity of our words.
How to Improve Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

Verbal communication is enhanced when a person is an effective listener. Listening doesnt simply mean hearing; it
necessitates understanding another persons point of view. Take the time to think before you speak to ensure that you
articulate yourself clearly. Let other people interject and have the floor. Allow time for reflection on the subject at
hand.
Watching other peoples body language, facial expressions and intonations, and being conscious of your own
physicality and feelings can enhance non-verbal communication. Record yourself with both a video camera and an
audio recorder to see how you communicate non-verbally. Are your gestures matching your words, or giving away
what youre really thinking? Being aware of what we say and how we say it is the first step to successful
communication. The ability to adapt quickly to the situation and form of communication at hand is a skill that
people continue to hone for a lifetime.

Short stories
1) How Far Is The River
Between the boy and the river stood a mountain.
The boy was young and the river was small but the
mountain was big...

Once in a village in a mountain valley surrendered by woods lived a young boy. There was a
river whic flowed through the mountains some miles away from the village. The children of the
village

had

heard

about

the

river.

This young boy of 12 has a irresistible desire to see the river, because he had heard about the
rocks, currents and waterfalls. He wasted to touch the flowing water. So one day when his
parents we out and knew that they woun't come back home till late in the evening, he decided
to go and take a look at river. He took a loaf of bread from his house and started his journey to
the river. He took the steep path which went round the mountain and which was frequently
used by the wood cutters, mikman, mule drivers etc. It was a lonely and deserted path on his
way, he came accross a wood cutter, who was concern about the boy when he expressed his
desire

to

walk

miles

on

his

way

to

the

river.

Having crossed the dizzy wind path, he entered into a beautiful valley, where he came accross
a grass cutter who had a long knife in her hand. She was dressed in a very traditional way. She
absolutely had no idea about the distance to the river and how much time it might take to reach
there, having walked for an hour when the boy was sure that he had walked half wayi he saw a
boy he was driving a few goats up the path. The boy asked the shepherd or directions to the
river and was told what it was just around the hill, the boy began to walk with shepherd. He
shared with him the loaf of bread that he had brought with him till his companion had to go
another way. He was left alone again with no river in the sight and far away from home, he was
loss and discouraged. In the middle of nowhere he waked on the hard, dusty and snowy path
passing

mud

huts

and

fields.

Suddenlt the silence was broken by the roaring sound of the river. The boy was surpriesd by
the sight of the river, which he had longed to see and he run into it till he was ankle deep in
water and enjoyed the feel of the water flowing through his toes. Thus with a great

determination he could fulfill his desire of seeing and feeling the river.

2) My wood
English writer E(dward) M(organ) Forster, best known today forHoward's End (1910) and A
Passage to India (1924), was the author of a half-dozen novels, two biographies, a book of
criticism, and many essays and short stories.
The satirically serious essay "My Wood," first published in 1926, encourages us to think about the
nature of materialism and the seductive power of our possessions. In the book Queer
Foster(1997), Robert Martin and George Piggford observe that "Forster usually escapes from any
threat of pomposity through a consistent use of irony that can be directed against himself as well
as against others." See if you can find examples of such self-directed irony in "My Wood," and
then compare Forster's thoughts on ownership with those expressed by Henry Van Dyke in his
essay "Who Owns the Mountains?"

3) I have a dream
Martin Luther King powerfully begins his speech by recalling to our memories
those famous words spoken by Abraham Lincoln in his Emancipation
Proclamation that declare all slaves forever free from January 1st, 1863
onward. Of course this was not the end of black persecution. In fact, slavery was
not officially ended until October of 1865 with the addition of the 13th amendment
to the constitution. King reminds us that even today, 100 years later, the black
American lives under alienation and segregation. He metaphorically places the
Negro on an island of poverty amidst the seas of wealth and justice that America
has to offer.
With the history of the black plight in mind, King leads us into his
empowering purpose for presenting this argument. He brings the Constitution
and backbone of our nation into play and tells that his people are come to cash
a check. The check is written for the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit
of happiness that all men are entitled to under our Constitution and Declaration of
Independence. Yet he tells that instead of being granted their rightful earnings as

American citizens, the Negro people are given back a check marked insufficient.
King tells that his purpose is to bring to pass the time where his people will be
able to cash this check, and that time for them is now! Furthermore, he instills
determination in the hearts of his brethren with words of fellowship and
encouragement. His goal is to instill brotherhood and a sense of urgency unto
everyone that today is our day. He announces that there will be no turning back
and no giving up until they reach the peak of the hill which ends their summer of
discontent and brings on an autumn of tranquility.
As King concludes his purpose he begins to paint a vivid picture in our
eyes. His famous words, I have a dream, lead us into imaginary landscaped

Essay on "Spoken English and Broken English"

Introduction
George Bernard Shaw is a well known writer. He prepared and spoke on the topic Spoken English and
Broken English on a gramophone recording for the Linguaphone institute. In his speech the provocative ideas are
couched in a simple but sparkling rhetorical style.
Advantages in learning to speak well
Bernard Shaw says that when we travel in the British Commonwealth or in America or when we meet a
native of these countries, we have to speak English well for enough understanding. If we speak in a provincial or
cockney dialect it may prevents us from obtaining some employment which is open to those only speak what is
correct English.
No such thing ideally correct English
No two British subjects speak exactly alike. Even educated persons, the Poet Laureate and trained
speakers do not pronounce of some of the simplest commonest words in the English language exactly alike.
Members of the committee who are selected as models of correct speech speak differently. They differ according to
the country in which they were born.
Confession of Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw confesses that he himself does not speak English in the same way. When he speaks to
audience, he speaks carefully. If he were to speak carefully to his wife at home, she would think he was going mad.
As a public speaker he has to take care that every word he says is heard distinctly at far end of large halls containing
thousands of people. At home he speaks to his wife like mumbling. His wife also a little careless and so he
sometimes has to say What?

Advice to foreign students of English

Do not try to speak English perfectly because native speakers of English wont understand. In London
nine hundred and ninety nine out of thousand people not only speak bad English but speak even that very badly. No

foreigner can ever stress the syllables and make the voice rise and fall in questions and answer, assertion and denial,
in refusal and consent, in enquiry or information, exactly as a native does. Therefore the first thing they have to do is
to speak with a strong foreign accent, and speak broken English.

Conclusion
Bernard Shaw criticizes that it is an insult to the native speaker of English who cannot understand his own
language when it is too well spoken.