English words - Pronunciation Exercise No.8


English words - Pronunciation Exercise No.8


1) Lol */ Lolz                ::

(singular/plural)       :: Internet slang meaning ‘funny’, or ‘Laugh Out Loud’ (an acronym)

2) Volte-face       :: U-Turn, Complete turnaround or roll-back, திடீர் திருப்பம், குட்டி கரணம்.

3) Echelons                  :: Multi-layers / levels / units in an organization, all echelons of the society 

4) Shibboleth**            :: Distinguishing a particular class/group of people for giving respect and flattering, அடிமைத்தனமாக ஒருசாராரை எஜமானனாக  ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு புகழ்ந்து கூறுதல், *

5) Extempore               :: Spontaneous speech without any preparation or script on hand, ஆயத்தமின்றி பேச்சு


*LOL – this is an acronym. In English, acronym means formation of a word by taking the first letters of few words. Example - ‘WHO’ – World Health Organization.

 **The word ‘Shibboleth’ was used by Bharathi when a British officer claimed himself as a ‘distinguished person’ (தமிழில் ‘வெள்ளைக்கார துரை’). I have mentioned this word in my piece on Bharathi.

 *வெள்ளயரை ‘துரை’ என்றழைப்பது.

KEY:

 1) Lol / Lolz                ::

(singular/plural)      :: Loal/Loalz (mostly) or

Laul / Laulz (rarely)  -  லோல்/லோல்ஸ்  (அல்லது)  லால்/லால்ஸ் 

2) Volte-face                :: Voalt-faas, (‘voa’ as in ‘boat’), - வோல்ட்-ஃபாஸ்

3) Echelons                 :: Ye-sh-lawns, எஷ்லான்ஸ்

4) Shibboleth  ◊           :: Shi-ba-lath, ஷி(b)பலத்

5) Extempore               :: Ex-temperi  -  எக்ஸ்டெம்பரி


◊  The word ‘Shibboleth’ was used by ‘Bharathi’ to reject the superiority claimed by the ‘Whites’ (supposedly on the basis of their white colour, race and the so-called intelligence of theirs)


R.SAMPATH

20/4/2020

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