Modality
&
Readings
Sergio Pizziconi
Plan of the day
- Review
- Q&A
- A particular type of verbs
Plandiscussion about the reading
- Class
assignment ((6)-13 & Supermarket)
EXTRA-CLASS work: read
Chapter 6, pp. 207-210 & p 213 (cover letter) [mark verb
and subject]
Chapter 7, [mark verb and subject]
Start your CV, also search the net and download the
European CV format
Start a template of a cover letter as if applying to a
position advertized (mainly UK: -ised) on
www.jobsite.co.uk
Review 1/3
Phonology: Vowels: exercises from /i/ to /a/ and from /u/ to /ɒ/
(lowering your jaw) from /i/ to /u/ mind driven; puff of air (see IPA
chart). Where accent falls is relevant: 1) OBject (n.) – obJECT (v.),
Access (n.) – aCCESS (v.), PROtest (n) – proTEST (v.) 2) if lost,
stress the first syllable, you’re likely to sound right.
Stress movement shortens/weakens previously
stressed vowels (also in writing):
proNOUNce  pronunCIAtion
Morphology: ADJ+lyADV; N+lyADJ; V+er N(s.o./s.t. does
V)
To+N(and most words)V (googleto google;
wowto wow)
V + ance/ence  N (differ+ence, prefer+ence,
perfom+ance, attend+ance)
Review 2/3
Syntax: Verbs: transitive Vs. intransitive (Direct object, Indirect
object, Oblique object) (just hints). passive Vs. active
(mentioned)
AUXILIARY verb for the perfect tenses (actually, aspect)
ALWAYS to have (e.g., Things have changed)
BUT: passive voice (e.g., Rules were changed by the CEO) or
few constructions (e.g., are you finished?)
Phrasal verbs. Verb+ ADV or Prep.
Typical declarative sentence structure: Subj +
Verb +…..
Review 3/3
Pragmatics: Do not pick on students or class fellows.
“See you later.” Language varies across jobs.
Think it over before saying “No, this is
wrong” Recommended: “Very interesting
point/question. Let me point out though
that…” or some sort of hedging
(softening expression).
Tools: www.thefreedictionary.com Also, the financial and
legal dictionaries within and the Idioms section
Course organization
- University home page:
http://www.economia.unina2.it/suneco/site/it/ind
ex
- http://www.economia.unina2.it/suneco/site/it/docenti/
details?username=serpizz
- Facebook page
- Posts, surveys, material
- Structured lexicon: maps
- The portfolio: procedures
Marking code 1/2
Xxxxx solid strong underline means [that] there’s
a mistake of some sort. No specification is
likely to mean [that] you have to use upper
case:
-i  I
- english  English
Xxxxxx under-wave means that what [=the thing
that] you wrote is readable but not the preferred
way to word [NV] it.
Xxxx or xxx xxx xxxx
circle or loose [>< to
lose] underline means that there’s something
werid, usually about the content.
Marking code 2/2
something is missing
SPELL wrong spelling
LEX wrong word choice
MS wrong morphology or syntax (e.g.:
agreement/accord, wrong grammar CAtegory,
presence/absence of article)
FOEs
- Information
- Economy Vs Economics
- Frequent Vs attend
- I study English Vs I study the English language
- I’m graduated FROM Aversa high school
I graduated FROM/AT Aversa high school
- Such as (listing examples) as (in the function of)
- Comparison and manner: As (+entire clause) like (+noun)
- Wal-Mart is one of the largest employers in the US. In
fact it’s the largest (A dire il vero)
- Industry (usually means productive sector). Plant,
factory (are the word for the place where things are
manufactured)
A particular type of verbs 1
I ask a question.
I do ask a question.
Do I ask a question?
I do not ask a question.
clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9--u5ULLnIA&NR=1
A particular type of verbs 2
I ask a question.
I do ask a question.
Do I ask a question?
I do not ask a question.
clip
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Dorothy: Better than anyone I know!
Why do they laugh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9--u5ULLnIA&NR=1
Two contrasting meanings 1
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
What is the
meaning/function
of “can”?
What should
Dorothy’s answer
be according to
this meaning?
Two contrasting meanings 2
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Do I have
permission to ask
a dumb question?
Dorothy: Of
course! Go ahead!
There’s no such
thing as a dumb
question.
Two contrasting meanings 3
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Do I have
permission to ask
a dumb question?
What is the
meaning/function
of “can” for this
humorous answer?
Dorothy: Of
course! Go ahead!
There’s no such
thing as a dumb
question.
Dorothy: Better
than anyone I
know!
Two contrasting meanings 4
Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Do I have
permission to ask
a dumb question?
Am I able (how
able am I) to ask a
dumb question?
Dorothy: Of
course! Go ahead!
There’s no such
thing as a dumb
question.
PERMISSION
Dorothy: Better
than anyone I
know!
ABILITY
What other one-word verbs like can
or do fit the blank below?
I ask a dumb question.
I do ask a dumb question.
I can ask a dumb question.
I _____ ask a dumb question.
Main modal verbs
I
can
could
may
might
shall
should
will
would
must
ask a dumb question
Exercise
Explain in maximum three lines, the following
sentence:
We can say everything, but we may not.
Reading: BSA
- What’s the main difference between a building
society and a bank?
- Explain pros and cons of mortgages from a
bank and from a building society.
- Categorize [US; -ise UK] the types of barriers
according to the bulleted list on page 48.
Difference = (to) differ
+ ence  N
Preference = (to) prefer + ence  N
_________ = (to) perform + ____  N
Reading: Skoda
- Look at the chart (not the pics) at the bottom of
page 97. The text-book explicitly explains the
horizontal connections between the terms of the
pairs S-W and T-O. What are the vertical and
slant connections, if any?
- At the time of writing, Skoda’s USP is: ______ ?
What was the previous/former one?
Why does the author describe it as “defensive” on
page 101?
What is the sentence (it must be a declarative one)
in which Subject and Verb are in reversed position?
Reading: Supermarket Strategies
• After the reading, explain the connection
between the following concepts:
– Differentiate
– Diversify
– Channel cannibalization
• The fake interpreter Catherine Tate skit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNKn5ykP9PU